Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee?
I haven't read the Judge Dee stories; just researched them here: the criminal is introduced at the very start of the story and his crime and reasons are carefully explained, so removing any mystery from the story at the start. The stories always have a supernatural element with ghosts telling people about their death and even accusing the criminal. The stories are filled with digressions into philosophy. The Chinese writers spent little time on the details of how the crime was committed and great deal of time on describing the torture of the criminals, even going on into their further torments in one of the various hells for the damned" No wonder you're a bit stymied even though you've read it. But if these are the things the author focused on, it sounds like, (mingled with where Chinese culture was at in this time period) that the stories were a snapshot of Chinese feeling at the time: Imperial traditions no longer are going to answer modern issues, families (which used to heavily lean on family traditions, worship of ancestors, etc) uncomfortable with the new state of change going on around them, and thus causing society to "crumble". Sounds like, especially from my first source (listed) that the emerging European influx into China, and the recognition of the Chinese elite that they were starting to look sort of backward compared to the rest of the world. They didn't have a whole lot of faith in their own political system, based much off of traditions. And if they suddenly began to realize that their traditions didn't necessarily have answers for modernity, it could really make them question the rest of their traditions. Hopefully, with this in mind, you can pull out an example or two from the stories you read. Best of luck on the essay!
Should I start off by the judge introducing the case? If so, give an example?
"We are gathered here today to..." Wait no, that's a wedding >.< Hahahhaha it was the first thing that came to mind. A good way to start is always, "Order in the court!" This is the C.O.M.B right (I'm such a stalker)? Maybe introduce his race. Eg "Xavier Samuels,
What's the best P.I./Gumshoe/Detective novel of the 20th century?
Can't pick just one: Meh...professor, I'm thinking you'll probably be looking for Dashiell Hammet's Sam Spade "The Maltese Falcon" or Ray Chandler's Philip Marlowe in "The Lady in the Lake" or John D MacDonald's Travis McGee, I read all the Travis McGee stories and bawled when I read "The Lonely Silver Rain" because that was the end of Travis McGee. I also like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone stories, I can't pick just one favorite book but she's a great PI and Grafton writes a pretty good story. Personal preference, I have to go with Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child, they wrote in the 80s and 90s so I guess they count. EDIT- Women aren't very well represented in the 20th century, but then again, there aren't too many women gumshoes except above Kinsey Milhone and Sarah Paretsky's VI Warshawsky, she's pretty hardboiled.
Why was Sodom & Gomorrah destroyed?
It was because of SIN pure and simple. No one type, just SIN and Disobedience. There was not one righteous person who could be found there, and not all of the people were hedonistic or homosexual, like Lot and His family they were good, but His wife did not obey and she looked back so she was punished for disobedience. This was about SIN and disobedience and not any one type of doing wrong, it was all wrong. It was destroyed because it needed to be cleansed, it was unclean, impure and unfit, too far gone to be turned around or made a difference in.
Was it the Buddhist prayer "Om Mani Padme Hum" what inspired Lucas to name the princess "Padme" in Star Wars?
I can't seem to find anything confirming that, but from what I just found I would not doubt that you are correct. Also, George Lucas is a pretty intelligent fellow and does tie a lot of history and religion in his movies. Great question!
Who is your favorite anarchist and why?
I don't have a favorite anarchist because I don't think hero-worship is in the spirit of anarchism. I'm more interested in anarchism for the ideas than the people. That said, I found the story of Lucy Parsons pretty inspiring. From http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Arc... A bomb was thrown at police during the Haymarket riot. Although Albert Parsons was not even present, he was indicted and convicted for his alleged participation... Albert Parsons was hanged along with the other Haymarket martyrs... Lucy Parsons' belief in justice and in the necessity for revolution was confirmed... What was most striking about this heretofore forgotten heroine was the depth of her courage. Lucy Parsons was undaunted by physical abuse by the police, undeterred by vile threats from thugs, or by malicious lies in the Chicago newspapers. She cried in despair over the dead body of her husband Albert in 1886. After that, she never shed another tear. Lucy preached justice for the poor by way of revolution. She was forceful and convincing. The most powerful men in the city - Field, Armour, Pullman, etc. - made a concerted effort to silence her. For the next 50 years, in blatant disregard of her rights, she was arrested wherever she spoke... When Lucy Parsons died, the police seized and destroyed her letters, writings and library. And so she has virtually disappeared from our memory. ...the 1920s and '30s, the Chicago Police Department described her as "more dangerous than a thousand rioters." As for Emma Goldman, I like this quote from her: "Necessity knows no law, and the starving man has a natural right to a share of his neighbor's bread... Ask for work. If they do not give you work, ask for bread. If they do not give you work or bread, then take bread."