Noam Chomsky, the man who endlessly speaks of class warfare, who claims that tax 'havens' are 'allowed' so the brunt of the tax burden is laid on the poor...has decided to put his growing wealth [$2 million] in a Trust Fund of his own!
Hey Noam, contradictions cannot exist.
Here's the story:
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=1385b76d-6c34-4c22-942a-18b71f2c4a44&k=53758
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Monday, March 13, 2006
The Teaching Company Lectures
I remember some time back, when Diana [Noodle Food] mentioned she'd been racing through the lecture series she'd purchased from the above company. I thought, that's interesting, and promptly forgot about it.
Last month, I got one of their sale catalogs and boy, I ordered three series of lectures. Ancient Greece, History of Jazz, and Plato's Republic. As you might guess, I couldn't stop there, last week, I ordered FIVE more series.[!] Luckily, these are all 'sale' prices, or I would be bankrupt. Heh. The five new ones are: Science and Religion, Aristotles Ethics, Argumentation and Rhetoric, The Aeneid by Virgil, Einstein's theory for non-scientists. Quite a line-up, I must say.
One thing I've noticed is that the majority of these lectures [or, at least, the ones I have so far,] are "Catholic-centered." In a way, since Catholics are more philosophical than most all other religions [I think] it is a good test of Objectivist epistemology, and my own thinking skills, to listen, learn and compare. I am currently listening to the Science and Religion course, where Dr. Principe denounces that there was/is a schism between faith and reason. Can you guess, though, where 'reason' is placed in this equation? Right. As the 'handmaiden' of faith. One simply can't exist without the other according to him.
These courses are first rate, high quality lectures that can sharpen your thinking and reasoning skills, and when on sale, are a wonderful augment to any college or university training you may have, or have had in your life. Some courses are as low as $19.95, regularly $130. So you can get some bargains, and you have a money back guarantee.
Here's Diana's link:
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2004/10/teaching-company-loves-me.html
Last month, I got one of their sale catalogs and boy, I ordered three series of lectures. Ancient Greece, History of Jazz, and Plato's Republic. As you might guess, I couldn't stop there, last week, I ordered FIVE more series.[!] Luckily, these are all 'sale' prices, or I would be bankrupt. Heh. The five new ones are: Science and Religion, Aristotles Ethics, Argumentation and Rhetoric, The Aeneid by Virgil, Einstein's theory for non-scientists. Quite a line-up, I must say.
One thing I've noticed is that the majority of these lectures [or, at least, the ones I have so far,] are "Catholic-centered." In a way, since Catholics are more philosophical than most all other religions [I think] it is a good test of Objectivist epistemology, and my own thinking skills, to listen, learn and compare. I am currently listening to the Science and Religion course, where Dr. Principe denounces that there was/is a schism between faith and reason. Can you guess, though, where 'reason' is placed in this equation? Right. As the 'handmaiden' of faith. One simply can't exist without the other according to him.
These courses are first rate, high quality lectures that can sharpen your thinking and reasoning skills, and when on sale, are a wonderful augment to any college or university training you may have, or have had in your life. Some courses are as low as $19.95, regularly $130. So you can get some bargains, and you have a money back guarantee.
Here's Diana's link:
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2004/10/teaching-company-loves-me.html
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Carnival of the Objectivists: # 1!
Nick over at 'The Rule of Reason' has posted his first edition of the Carnival!
WHAT A LINEUP!!!! I am honored to be included in this illustrious company! Although I'm sitting here at home in Connecticut, my 'spirit' is in Denver at the Law conference there. Hope there are many more of those kind of gatherings.
Sadly, no new 'babe' spottings at the bookstore :-(
But I remain ever vigilant. Heh.
Here's the Carnival link:
http://ruleofreason.blogspot.com/archives/2006_02_26_default.htm#114148875229409634
Huge 'Hat Tip' to all of us!!!!
WHAT A LINEUP!!!! I am honored to be included in this illustrious company! Although I'm sitting here at home in Connecticut, my 'spirit' is in Denver at the Law conference there. Hope there are many more of those kind of gatherings.
Sadly, no new 'babe' spottings at the bookstore :-(
But I remain ever vigilant. Heh.
Here's the Carnival link:
http://ruleofreason.blogspot.com/archives/2006_02_26_default.htm#114148875229409634
Huge 'Hat Tip' to all of us!!!!
Friday, March 03, 2006
My Blog's Worth...
...over Nine Grand! Okay! Now, I wonder if my bank will let me use my blog as collateral? I've always wanted to go to the US Virgin Islands ;-) Nine grand should give me a wicked good time!!!!! HA.
[Hat tip: Gus via Literatrix]
[Hat tip: Gus via Literatrix]
Monday, February 27, 2006
The Savage Battleground of our Public Schools
This cogent editorial was found at Capitalism Magazine. An excellent critique of how our schools aim to destroy the self, and the tools needed, by the individual student, to successfully combat that battleground.
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4585
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4585
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Drawings of Leonardo da Vinci
Found this wonderful website via Reddit.com. Adding it to blogroll under DaVinci Drawings.
http://www.visi.com/~reuteler/leonardo.html
http://www.visi.com/~reuteler/leonardo.html
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Happenstance
I've just returned from the bookstore, where I had a pleasant conversation with a fine looking young woman who, as it happened, was looking in the philosophy section at Rand's books :-) I couldn't let this opportunity slip by so I said, "excuse me, are you interested in Ayn Rand's ideas?" She said a friend had recommended her works to her and what would I recommend to her (!). I said she should read 'The Fountainhead' but then asked if she preferred fiction or non-fiction. She said non-fiction, and had 'Return of The Primitive' and 'Philosophy: Who Needs It?' already in hand, which I praised highly and also recommended to her 'The Virtue of Selfishness,' "which explains her theory of ethics". We then sauntered over to the Literature section, where I pulled out FH for her.
We continued our conversation about Rand and FH in particular briefly. I left before she did, but she had all four books in hand when we parted company.
Talk about a mood lift! I needed that!
We continued our conversation about Rand and FH in particular briefly. I left before she did, but she had all four books in hand when we parted company.
Talk about a mood lift! I needed that!
Introducing: The Objective Standard
Craig Biddle's Introduction is now online. Is it ever worth reading! This is a landmark event in Objectivism's history and I welcome this quarterly magazine to the world arena of ideas.
Best premises!
http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2006-spring/introducing-the-objective-standard.asp
Best premises!
http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2006-spring/introducing-the-objective-standard.asp
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Behind the Scenes on the Ports Issue
Federal Computer Week has a 'back story' on the Ports/Dubai issue. Speaking for myself, handing over our Ports to our avowed enemies is not "good for business". [Homeland Security Chief said that].
This isn't capitalism. It may be "crony capitalism", but it's not capitalism. It is suicidal. This is the perfect nightmare blend of altruism and appeasement. Bush is finally becomming more consistent in his policies, and that's not good.
Excerpt from FCW:
Last year, Bush tried to consolidate the port security program into the larger grant program, but Congress rebuffed him and chose to keep the grant program separate. TIP was created to enhance security at port, railway, mass transit and other critical infrastructure facilities.
However, officials from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), which represents 80 U.S. ports, said if the program is consolidated into a larger program, they would have to compete for funds against other transit systems, such as buses or rail.
Port security “needs will be marginalized or get lost in the shuffle,” Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and chief executive officer, said at a press conference today in Washington, D.C.
Officials said security needs for port operators remain great. Port officials want to implement wireless networks, interoperable communications equipment, a Global Positioning System, credentialing systems, closed-circuit television, surveillance cameras, radar tracking and other related technologies, they said.
But Bernard Groseclose, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) and AAPA chairman, said the grants program has been drastically underfunded despite the need to meet certain federal security requirements. The current level of funding for the program is $175 million. He said federal funds, which are supposed to pay for a larger share of security improvements, have only matched a small portion of what ports have spent on security so far.
Link to full story:
http://www.fcw.com/article92241-02-07-06-Web
This isn't capitalism. It may be "crony capitalism", but it's not capitalism. It is suicidal. This is the perfect nightmare blend of altruism and appeasement. Bush is finally becomming more consistent in his policies, and that's not good.
Excerpt from FCW:
Last year, Bush tried to consolidate the port security program into the larger grant program, but Congress rebuffed him and chose to keep the grant program separate. TIP was created to enhance security at port, railway, mass transit and other critical infrastructure facilities.
However, officials from the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), which represents 80 U.S. ports, said if the program is consolidated into a larger program, they would have to compete for funds against other transit systems, such as buses or rail.
Port security “needs will be marginalized or get lost in the shuffle,” Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and chief executive officer, said at a press conference today in Washington, D.C.
Officials said security needs for port operators remain great. Port officials want to implement wireless networks, interoperable communications equipment, a Global Positioning System, credentialing systems, closed-circuit television, surveillance cameras, radar tracking and other related technologies, they said.
But Bernard Groseclose, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) and AAPA chairman, said the grants program has been drastically underfunded despite the need to meet certain federal security requirements. The current level of funding for the program is $175 million. He said federal funds, which are supposed to pay for a larger share of security improvements, have only matched a small portion of what ports have spent on security so far.
Link to full story:
http://www.fcw.com/article92241-02-07-06-Web
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Blog Housecleaning
It's been awhile since I went through my blogroll and 'cleaned house' so that's what I've done today. Sites that haven't posted in months are gone and other sites, which are interesting, but not blog related, are gone [except for a few that are Objectivist related, of course].
New Model for Lara Croft Video Games [MMmmmmmm]
Karima Adebibe, an unknown 20-year-old model from London, has been unveiled as the new face of Lara Croft for publicity purposes for the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legend game, publisher Eidos announced.
[Image won't upload at this time. Go here.]
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=10&id=1713&type=10
[Image won't upload at this time. Go here.]
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=10&id=1713&type=10
40% of British Muzzle-ims
Poll reveals 40% of Muslims want sharia law in UK.
Excerpt...
Four out of 10 British Muslims want sharia law introduced into parts of the country, a survey reveals today.
The ICM opinion poll also indicates that a fifth have sympathy with the "feelings and motives" of the suicide bombers who attacked London last July 7, killing 52 people, although 99 per cent thought the bombers were wrong to carry out the atrocity.
50pc said interracial relations were worsening
Overall, the findings depict a Muslim community becoming more radical and feeling more alienated from mainstream society, even though 91 per cent still say they feel loyal to Britain.
Link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/19/nsharia19.xml&sSheet=/portal/2006/02/19/ixportaltop.html
When you get there, see also "Related Links" where British Muslims say they want a 'state within a state'.
Excerpt...
Four out of 10 British Muslims want sharia law introduced into parts of the country, a survey reveals today.
The ICM opinion poll also indicates that a fifth have sympathy with the "feelings and motives" of the suicide bombers who attacked London last July 7, killing 52 people, although 99 per cent thought the bombers were wrong to carry out the atrocity.
50pc said interracial relations were worsening
Overall, the findings depict a Muslim community becoming more radical and feeling more alienated from mainstream society, even though 91 per cent still say they feel loyal to Britain.
Link:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/19/nsharia19.xml&sSheet=/portal/2006/02/19/ixportaltop.html
When you get there, see also "Related Links" where British Muslims say they want a 'state within a state'.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
'Atlas Shrugged' on UPN show
Ayn Rand's novel, 'Atlas Shrugged' was shown, and discussed properly, on a UPN sitcom [One On One] in January. I have taken the liberty of using the links provided at Noodle Food, who was given permission from Betsy Speicher at CyberNet. Copy and paste these in your browser.
I only hope more than a handful of viewers actually went out and purchased a copy to read for themselves. Now that would be great!
For the Clip:
http://www.4cybernet.com/One_On_One_01-09-06_158kbps.wmv
For Betsy's newsletter:
http://www.4cybernet.com
I only hope more than a handful of viewers actually went out and purchased a copy to read for themselves. Now that would be great!
For the Clip:
http://www.4cybernet.com/One_On_One_01-09-06_158kbps.wmv
For Betsy's newsletter:
http://www.4cybernet.com
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Weekend Conference on Law in Colorado
Diana Hsieh has asked many of her fellow bloggers to post a link to Front Range Objectivism's Weekend Conference on Law, Individual Rights and the Judicial System.
Taking place on March 4-5 2006, in Denver Colorado. I city I love and would dearly like to revisit someday.
It looks to be an awesome gathering of 'New Intellectuals' and therefore worth the effort to attend.
http://www.frontrangeobjectivism.com/2006-law.html
My apologies for posting this 'late'. Early registration [where you could've saved $75] deadline was yesterday. My bad, and I'm sorry. Still, what price freedom?
Taking place on March 4-5 2006, in Denver Colorado. I city I love and would dearly like to revisit someday.
It looks to be an awesome gathering of 'New Intellectuals' and therefore worth the effort to attend.
http://www.frontrangeobjectivism.com/2006-law.html
My apologies for posting this 'late'. Early registration [where you could've saved $75] deadline was yesterday. My bad, and I'm sorry. Still, what price freedom?
Snow anyone?
Nor'easter dumped about 20 inces of snow here in central Connecticut today. Still snowing lightly. It was an adventure driving home from work this morning, let me tell ya! [I work night shift].
Now the @#$%^*U#@$@$%^@$ clean-up begins. I hope my teeny snow blower is 'man enough' to get this outta here!
Snow. It's beautiful to look at, hell to shovel.
Now the @#$%^*U#@$@$%^@$ clean-up begins. I hope my teeny snow blower is 'man enough' to get this outta here!
Snow. It's beautiful to look at, hell to shovel.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
History: Taught is it might, and ought to be...
In other words, history taught by Objectivists, for Objectivists [and for that matter...anyone who cares to Think].
Announcing a new lecture series...
http://www.powellhistory.com/
Hat Tip: Capitalism Magazine advertisement
Announcing a new lecture series...
http://www.powellhistory.com/
Hat Tip: Capitalism Magazine advertisement
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
The Simplest Thing...[and In Protest!]
I had not realized, until today, that Gus has been linking to, and quoting from Bruno's Blog "The Simplest Thing". Bruno has posted two great quotes from two great authors concerning the Muslim protests about the cartoons that this illiterate mob is 'offended' by.
Anyway, I visited his blog because of Gus's reference and found, to my delight, Bruno has a link to The Secular Foxhole. Well now! I must return the favor and tell all my readers to go and visit his blog, now posted in my Blogroll of Fame.
Here are the two quotes I favor so much...
From "The Lord of the Rings":
“Hold your ground, hold your ground. Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day. This day we fight! For all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!”
From Ayn Rand's "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal":
"The only power of a mob, as against an individual, is greater muscular strenght--i.e., plain, brute physical force. The attempt to solve social problems by means of physical force is what a civilized society is established to prevent. The advocates of mass civil disobedience admit that their purpose is intimidation. A society that tolerates intimidation as a means of settling disputes--the physical intimidation of some men or groups by others--loses its moral right to exist as a social system, and its collapse does not take long to follow." (bolds are mine)
To join the fray, in protesting the protester's, I say this:
Mohammed, I spit in the drunken derelict sperm that made you and your pathetic faith.
You can quote me.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Two of My Favorites..
Here's song lyrics to two of my favorites. They're under copyright protection from their publishers, so watch it!
1] How Long
Ace
How long has this been goin' on
How long has this been goin' on
Well, if friends with their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
But I can't help but have my suspicions
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
And you said you was never intendin'
To break up our singing this way
But there ain't any use in pretendin'
It could happen to us any day
How long has this been goin' on
How long has this been goin' on
---- musical interlude ----
Oh, your friends with their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
But I can't help but have my suspicion
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
Oh, you said you was never intending
To break up our singing this way
But there ain't any use in pretendin'
It could happen to us any day
And how long has this been going on
How long has this been going on
How long
How long has this been going on
How long has this been going on
How long has this been going on
How long
How long has this been going on
2] Capitalism
Oingo Boingo [Danny Elfman]
from the CD "Only A Lad"
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with free enterpirse
Don't try to make me feel guilty
I'm so tired of hearing you cry
There's nothing wrong with making some profit
If you ask me, I'll say it's just fine
There's nothing wrong with wanting to live nice
I'm so tired of hearing you whine
About the revolution
Bringin' down the rich
When was the last time you dug a ditch,
baby
If it ain't one thing
Then it's the other
Any cause that crosses your path
Your heart bleeds for anyone's brother
I've got to tell you you're a pain in the ass
You criticize with plenty of vigor
You rationalize everything that you do
With catchy phrases and heavy quotations
And everyone is crazy but you
(Chorus)
You're just a middle-class socialist brat
From a suburban family and you never
really had to work
And you tell me that we've got to get back
To the struggling masses(whoever they are)
You talk, talk, talk about suffering and pain
Your mouth is bigger than your entire brain
What the hell do you know about suffering
and pain...
(Repeat first verse)
(Repeat chorus)
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
1] How Long
Ace
How long has this been goin' on
How long has this been goin' on
Well, if friends with their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
But I can't help but have my suspicions
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
And you said you was never intendin'
To break up our singing this way
But there ain't any use in pretendin'
It could happen to us any day
How long has this been goin' on
How long has this been goin' on
---- musical interlude ----
Oh, your friends with their fancy persuasion
Don't admit that it's part of a scheme
But I can't help but have my suspicion
'Cause I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
Oh, you said you was never intending
To break up our singing this way
But there ain't any use in pretendin'
It could happen to us any day
And how long has this been going on
How long has this been going on
How long
How long has this been going on
How long has this been going on
How long has this been going on
How long
How long has this been going on
2] Capitalism
Oingo Boingo [Danny Elfman]
from the CD "Only A Lad"
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with free enterpirse
Don't try to make me feel guilty
I'm so tired of hearing you cry
There's nothing wrong with making some profit
If you ask me, I'll say it's just fine
There's nothing wrong with wanting to live nice
I'm so tired of hearing you whine
About the revolution
Bringin' down the rich
When was the last time you dug a ditch,
baby
If it ain't one thing
Then it's the other
Any cause that crosses your path
Your heart bleeds for anyone's brother
I've got to tell you you're a pain in the ass
You criticize with plenty of vigor
You rationalize everything that you do
With catchy phrases and heavy quotations
And everyone is crazy but you
(Chorus)
You're just a middle-class socialist brat
From a suburban family and you never
really had to work
And you tell me that we've got to get back
To the struggling masses(whoever they are)
You talk, talk, talk about suffering and pain
Your mouth is bigger than your entire brain
What the hell do you know about suffering
and pain...
(Repeat first verse)
(Repeat chorus)
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
There's nothing wrong with Capitalism
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Gideon's Back
Armchair Intellectual has a post from friday, Feb 3rd, on Israel. It is excellent and you should go check out his blog.
Reading his post triggered a memeory of mine. I wish I could remember the exact quote and what Greek spoke it, but it went something like this:
"He who controls definitions, controls the world".
If anyone knows the actual quote, please use the comments and provide the source.
Thanks ahead of time.
Reading his post triggered a memeory of mine. I wish I could remember the exact quote and what Greek spoke it, but it went something like this:
"He who controls definitions, controls the world".
If anyone knows the actual quote, please use the comments and provide the source.
Thanks ahead of time.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Final Salute
Every military family dreads the knock on the door, or phone call giving bad news.
Here's the story of the men and women who have a painful duty.
Hat tip: The Rule of Reason
http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/
Here's the story of the men and women who have a painful duty.
Hat tip: The Rule of Reason
http://denver.rockymountainnews.com/news/finalSalute/
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Write your congressoids...
Hat tip: reddit.com
Five Things You Should Know Before Privacy Becomes Optional
I'll let this blogger explain:
http://wulfsnews.blogspot.com/2006/01/5-things-you-should-know-about-before_28.html
Five Things You Should Know Before Privacy Becomes Optional
I'll let this blogger explain:
http://wulfsnews.blogspot.com/2006/01/5-things-you-should-know-about-before_28.html
I'm always grateful...
to those who can express issues better than I can. Here's a great example from the Ayn Rand Institute.
The Injustice of Saddam's Trial
By granting Hussein a trial, justice is perverted.
By Elan Journo
The American-endorsed trial of Saddam Hussein is touted as an opportunity to render justice and lay the groundwork for an Iraqi transition from the arbitrary courts of a dictatorship to a proper legal system. But the trial will accomplish neither goal.
A trial that presumes Hussein's innocence can achieve nothing but a travesty of justice.
Saddam Hussein is not a private citizen, whose guilt requires proof in an objective court of law, but a dictator whose incontestable evil was manifest to any rational observer of his tyranny. The Bush administration, after all, determined that Hussein was so vicious that we had to go to war to topple his regime.
Once we defeat and capture a militant dictator like Hussein, he deserves to be definitively condemned as evil and then executed--immediately, or after any valuable information is extracted from him. Prior to his execution, there can be a legitimate reason to hold a public hearing--not to establish his guilt, but to fully expose his secretive dictatorship by publicly cataloguing its myriad vile deeds. Such a hearing would recognize that, unlike a private citizen, a dictator is responsible not merely for his own individual acts of violence but for all crimes committed by his regime, whether or not in any given case he himself pulled the trigger or gave a direct order to murder the victims.
But the trial now underway evades Hussein's incontrovertible culpability, absurdly presumes him innocent, and demands that his "command responsibility" be established for particular acts of murder. In the case that began Oct. 19, the prosecution is required to prove that Hussein specifically ordered his thugs to carry out the 1982 massacre of some 140 people. This is as perverse as presuming Hitler, Stalin, or Mao innocent in the millions murdered by their regimes--and then groping for evidence that they personally ordered the execution of a handful of dissidents in one small village.
It is outrageous that after more than two years into a war that has cost billions of dollars and thousands of American lives, we regard as legitimate the possibility that Hussein could be found culpable for only some minuscule number of murders or even not guilty. It is outrageous that he is given a defense team of 1,500 lawyers, that he is granted the right to appeal a guilty verdict, and that he is allowed to address the court. In one more injustice against all his victims, domestic and foreign, Hussein has eagerly exploited this international stage--paid for with American money and blood--to challenge and scold his Iraqi victims, to rail against the United States, and to cheer on the insurgents murdering Americans.
And yet this trial, the epitome of injustice, is defended as paving the way for a truly just legal system. Proponents argue that, whatever one thinks of the specifics of the trial, it marks the transformation of Iraq's judiciary from courts subservient to a dictator's whims, to courts objectively determining guilt or innocence. But the trial does no such thing.
Observe that only Iraqis were deemed qualified to decide Hussein's culpability. With President Bush's encouragement and blessing, the Iraqi leadership was given full control of the proceedings--and deliberately excluded American judges. Though there are plenty of American judges with decades of experience under a proper legal system--and few, if any Iraqis with comparable experience--American participation was viewed as unacceptable. Why were only members of Hussein's ethnic tribe deemed fit to judge him?
Because justice, on the premise of the trial, is determined by the tribe; the tribe alone is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, good and evil, innocence and guilt. On this view, a meticulously logical assessment of universally available facts has no bearing on justice. Whatever the tribal group feels is just--regardless of evidence or logic--is just. A trial conducted on this premise is a repudiation of justice as an objective principle.
The trial is not, in essence, a departure from the subjective courts of the former regime. Instead of Hussein capriciously prescribing a "just" verdict, that arbitrary power now belongs to the Iraqi tribe--or any sub-tribe (whether Sunni, Shiite, Kurd) that wrests control of the courts.
This trial is irredeemably corrupt. The United States--which gave Iraq millions of dollars and sent lawyers and forensic investigators to launch the proceedings--must immediately withdraw its moral sanction from this travesty of justice.
Elan Journo is a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, Calif. The Institute promotes the ideas of Ayn Rand--author of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead and originator of the philosophy of Objectivism.
Copyright © 2006 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.
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This release is copyrighted by the Ayn Rand Institute, and cannot be reprinted without permission except for non-commercial, self-study or educational purposes. We encourage you to forward this release to friends, family, associates or interested parties who would want to receive it for these purposes only. Any reproduction of this release must contain the above copyright notice. Those interested in reprinting or redistributing this release for any other purposes should contact media@aynrand.org. This release may not be forwarded to media for publication.
The Ayn Rand Institute, 2121 Alton Pkwy, Ste 250, Irvine, CA 92606
The Injustice of Saddam's Trial
By granting Hussein a trial, justice is perverted.
By Elan Journo
The American-endorsed trial of Saddam Hussein is touted as an opportunity to render justice and lay the groundwork for an Iraqi transition from the arbitrary courts of a dictatorship to a proper legal system. But the trial will accomplish neither goal.
A trial that presumes Hussein's innocence can achieve nothing but a travesty of justice.
Saddam Hussein is not a private citizen, whose guilt requires proof in an objective court of law, but a dictator whose incontestable evil was manifest to any rational observer of his tyranny. The Bush administration, after all, determined that Hussein was so vicious that we had to go to war to topple his regime.
Once we defeat and capture a militant dictator like Hussein, he deserves to be definitively condemned as evil and then executed--immediately, or after any valuable information is extracted from him. Prior to his execution, there can be a legitimate reason to hold a public hearing--not to establish his guilt, but to fully expose his secretive dictatorship by publicly cataloguing its myriad vile deeds. Such a hearing would recognize that, unlike a private citizen, a dictator is responsible not merely for his own individual acts of violence but for all crimes committed by his regime, whether or not in any given case he himself pulled the trigger or gave a direct order to murder the victims.
But the trial now underway evades Hussein's incontrovertible culpability, absurdly presumes him innocent, and demands that his "command responsibility" be established for particular acts of murder. In the case that began Oct. 19, the prosecution is required to prove that Hussein specifically ordered his thugs to carry out the 1982 massacre of some 140 people. This is as perverse as presuming Hitler, Stalin, or Mao innocent in the millions murdered by their regimes--and then groping for evidence that they personally ordered the execution of a handful of dissidents in one small village.
It is outrageous that after more than two years into a war that has cost billions of dollars and thousands of American lives, we regard as legitimate the possibility that Hussein could be found culpable for only some minuscule number of murders or even not guilty. It is outrageous that he is given a defense team of 1,500 lawyers, that he is granted the right to appeal a guilty verdict, and that he is allowed to address the court. In one more injustice against all his victims, domestic and foreign, Hussein has eagerly exploited this international stage--paid for with American money and blood--to challenge and scold his Iraqi victims, to rail against the United States, and to cheer on the insurgents murdering Americans.
And yet this trial, the epitome of injustice, is defended as paving the way for a truly just legal system. Proponents argue that, whatever one thinks of the specifics of the trial, it marks the transformation of Iraq's judiciary from courts subservient to a dictator's whims, to courts objectively determining guilt or innocence. But the trial does no such thing.
Observe that only Iraqis were deemed qualified to decide Hussein's culpability. With President Bush's encouragement and blessing, the Iraqi leadership was given full control of the proceedings--and deliberately excluded American judges. Though there are plenty of American judges with decades of experience under a proper legal system--and few, if any Iraqis with comparable experience--American participation was viewed as unacceptable. Why were only members of Hussein's ethnic tribe deemed fit to judge him?
Because justice, on the premise of the trial, is determined by the tribe; the tribe alone is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, good and evil, innocence and guilt. On this view, a meticulously logical assessment of universally available facts has no bearing on justice. Whatever the tribal group feels is just--regardless of evidence or logic--is just. A trial conducted on this premise is a repudiation of justice as an objective principle.
The trial is not, in essence, a departure from the subjective courts of the former regime. Instead of Hussein capriciously prescribing a "just" verdict, that arbitrary power now belongs to the Iraqi tribe--or any sub-tribe (whether Sunni, Shiite, Kurd) that wrests control of the courts.
This trial is irredeemably corrupt. The United States--which gave Iraq millions of dollars and sent lawyers and forensic investigators to launch the proceedings--must immediately withdraw its moral sanction from this travesty of justice.
Elan Journo is a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, Calif. The Institute promotes the ideas of Ayn Rand--author of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead and originator of the philosophy of Objectivism.
Copyright © 2006 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.
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This release is copyrighted by the Ayn Rand Institute, and cannot be reprinted without permission except for non-commercial, self-study or educational purposes. We encourage you to forward this release to friends, family, associates or interested parties who would want to receive it for these purposes only. Any reproduction of this release must contain the above copyright notice. Those interested in reprinting or redistributing this release for any other purposes should contact media@aynrand.org. This release may not be forwarded to media for publication.
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Friday, January 27, 2006
That Game Thingy
Ok. Literatrix and Myhraf have done it, so why not me? Let's Rock:
Four Jobs I Have Had in My Life:
Burger Flipper
Mailroom Clerk in a Large Southern Bank
Government Employee [I'll say no more]
Scheduling Specialist
Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over [Own 'em too]
Casablanca
Lord of The Rings
Dangerous Beauty
The Dish
Four Places I Have Lived
Pittsburgh PA
Cleveland OH
Nashville TN
Connecticut
Four TV Shows I Love To Watch
Stargate SG-1
24
As Time Goes By
Star Trek NG
Four Places I Have Been on Vacation
Bermuda
Denver [and I loved it]
Florida
NYC
Four Websites I Visit Daily
GusVanHorn
NoodleFood
Myrhaf
Capitalism Magazine
Four Favorite Foods
Homemade Hamburgers
Steak and Baked Potato
Shrimp [and a trainload of it ;-)]
Bacon & Eggs
Popcorn [YEAH YEAH. I KNOW THAT'S FIVE. SUE ME]
Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now
Hawaii
Florida
Australia
Yes, between a woman's legs [Hat Tip: Myrhaf] ;-)
Four Jobs I Have Had in My Life:
Burger Flipper
Mailroom Clerk in a Large Southern Bank
Government Employee [I'll say no more]
Scheduling Specialist
Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over [Own 'em too]
Casablanca
Lord of The Rings
Dangerous Beauty
The Dish
Four Places I Have Lived
Pittsburgh PA
Cleveland OH
Nashville TN
Connecticut
Four TV Shows I Love To Watch
Stargate SG-1
24
As Time Goes By
Star Trek NG
Four Places I Have Been on Vacation
Bermuda
Denver [and I loved it]
Florida
NYC
Four Websites I Visit Daily
GusVanHorn
NoodleFood
Myrhaf
Capitalism Magazine
Four Favorite Foods
Homemade Hamburgers
Steak and Baked Potato
Shrimp [and a trainload of it ;-)]
Bacon & Eggs
Popcorn [YEAH YEAH. I KNOW THAT'S FIVE. SUE ME]
Four Places I Would Rather Be Right Now
Hawaii
Florida
Australia
Yes, between a woman's legs [Hat Tip: Myrhaf] ;-)
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Milestone
Well, Secular Foxhole has reached 10,000 "hits" on my counter!!! That is just waaaay coooool, if you ask me.
Let me take a moment to thank all my visitors and fellow bloggers who have linked to me since April of 2004. It's been fun and I look forward to continuing.
By way of celebrating, I'm gonna throw John Fogerty's Greatest on the CD player and have a tiny little party.[!]
Let me take a moment to thank all my visitors and fellow bloggers who have linked to me since April of 2004. It's been fun and I look forward to continuing.
By way of celebrating, I'm gonna throw John Fogerty's Greatest on the CD player and have a tiny little party.[!]
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The Human Code
Researcher’s handcrafted work makes
world’s fastest computers run even faster.
Intelligence is still rewarded...
http://www.utexas.edu/features/2006/goto/
world’s fastest computers run even faster.
Intelligence is still rewarded...
http://www.utexas.edu/features/2006/goto/
Google fighting Bush Administration on subpoena for search records...
Slate has the story:
http://www.slate.com/id/2134670/fr/rss/
We should applaud Google for fighting this breach and send them messages of support.
http://www.slate.com/id/2134670/fr/rss/
We should applaud Google for fighting this breach and send them messages of support.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
The Book Meme
gus van horn threw down the gauntlet, so I'm picking it up...
Total Number of Books Owned
Probably close to five hundred. Of which 100 to 200 have been read. Lots of boxes filled with books I want to get to but can't find the time. Yet.
Last Book Bought
Two actually. "Going Postal" by Pratchett [One of Gus's links mentioned this and I thought I'd give this writer a shot. Apparently this is one of a whole slew of books set in the author's universe. I hope I'm not joining the story in mid-stream]
"Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. I prefer foreign films to the dredge Hollywood produces, and this was assumably the companion to the movie.
Last Book Read
"The Lions of Al-Rassan" by Guy Gavriel Kay. Canadian author. This man is a real craftsman. In short, if you want to read "near literature quality" fantasy, he's your man.
Five Books That Mean A Lot To Me [In no particular order]
1] The Fountainhead. Rand. The book that opened up the universe for me. I was a total slug. An aimless drifter of 23 when this book was handed to me. I started reading and could not let the book out of my sight, even for a moment. It was my 'security blanket' for months, until I finished it. Hell, I even slept with it! Also, reading it made me use a dictionary for the first time. A practice I embrace even more so, today.
2] Atlas Shrugged. Rand. Is there a theme here? The great American novel has been written and this is it. I have read this novel cover to cover 25 times, since first reading it in 1979. Literally hundreds more times just opening it and reading whatever my eyes fall on until I have to stop to sleep or go out. When depressed, I would reach for this book and start reading Part III in Atlantis. My thoughts and mood changed quickly, as you might imagine.
3] The Ominous Parallels. Leonard Peikoff. A masterwork his first time out of the blocks, if you ask me. I have read this book four times and learn more each time. Too bad for America this book is all but unknown and unappreciated. Maybe in the near future, it will get its just reward. I hope it happens when Leonard is still with us.
4] "93". Victor Hugo. A book so powerful, I still vividly remember sitting at the edge of my chair, rigid, stiff, sweating--and unable to stop reading. Talk about captivation!
5] Booked to Die. John Dunning. Another good craftsman who is serious about presenting intelligent stories for his readers. You owe it to yourself to give this man a try and start with this book, please.
Total Number of Books Owned
Probably close to five hundred. Of which 100 to 200 have been read. Lots of boxes filled with books I want to get to but can't find the time. Yet.
Last Book Bought
Two actually. "Going Postal" by Pratchett [One of Gus's links mentioned this and I thought I'd give this writer a shot. Apparently this is one of a whole slew of books set in the author's universe. I hope I'm not joining the story in mid-stream]
"Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden. I prefer foreign films to the dredge Hollywood produces, and this was assumably the companion to the movie.
Last Book Read
"The Lions of Al-Rassan" by Guy Gavriel Kay. Canadian author. This man is a real craftsman. In short, if you want to read "near literature quality" fantasy, he's your man.
Five Books That Mean A Lot To Me [In no particular order]
1] The Fountainhead. Rand. The book that opened up the universe for me. I was a total slug. An aimless drifter of 23 when this book was handed to me. I started reading and could not let the book out of my sight, even for a moment. It was my 'security blanket' for months, until I finished it. Hell, I even slept with it! Also, reading it made me use a dictionary for the first time. A practice I embrace even more so, today.
2] Atlas Shrugged. Rand. Is there a theme here? The great American novel has been written and this is it. I have read this novel cover to cover 25 times, since first reading it in 1979. Literally hundreds more times just opening it and reading whatever my eyes fall on until I have to stop to sleep or go out. When depressed, I would reach for this book and start reading Part III in Atlantis. My thoughts and mood changed quickly, as you might imagine.
3] The Ominous Parallels. Leonard Peikoff. A masterwork his first time out of the blocks, if you ask me. I have read this book four times and learn more each time. Too bad for America this book is all but unknown and unappreciated. Maybe in the near future, it will get its just reward. I hope it happens when Leonard is still with us.
4] "93". Victor Hugo. A book so powerful, I still vividly remember sitting at the edge of my chair, rigid, stiff, sweating--and unable to stop reading. Talk about captivation!
5] Booked to Die. John Dunning. Another good craftsman who is serious about presenting intelligent stories for his readers. You owe it to yourself to give this man a try and start with this book, please.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Medical Emergency in Indiana...
Steelers 21
Colts 18
Can you say, "CHOKE"?
"This is an emergency. We need trauma and suicide prevention teams immediately dispersed to the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Problem? There needs to be teams available to remove large gagging objects from the throats of Colt players, coaches and fans. There's an epidemic of choking coming from the stadium. How soon can you get there?"
OOOPS.
TOO LATE.
Colts 18
Can you say, "CHOKE"?
"This is an emergency. We need trauma and suicide prevention teams immediately dispersed to the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Problem? There needs to be teams available to remove large gagging objects from the throats of Colt players, coaches and fans. There's an epidemic of choking coming from the stadium. How soon can you get there?"
OOOPS.
TOO LATE.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Definitions
Andrew Dalton has pegged the truth meter on defining terms used by Leftist's.
http://witchdoctorrepellent.blogspot.com/2006/01/lefties-dont-want-to-be-taken.html
http://witchdoctorrepellent.blogspot.com/2006/01/lefties-dont-want-to-be-taken.html
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
America's Shifting Leftward...
...according to Dick Morris. A man I have virtually no respect for at all. This article actually starts out decently [first paragraph] then nosedives from there. He then claims the leftward tilt is due to the 'success' of the Bush administration in 'solving' [yes, solving!] the Republican agenda.
But, the kicker for me was this paragraph:
"On the environment, Americans have already decided that global warming is causing weather aberrations like the hurricane activity this summer. The administration can no longer keep its head in the sand on this issue. More than any other subject, this area of Bush blindness is making America Democratic."
Funny thing that last paragraph. Listening to coworkers, sadly, it appears he's right. People are accepting the global warmimg scare by osmosis, or rather, by default. The lack of critical thinking by -far too many- American's is increasing the dangers we face as a country and as individuals.
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Comment/DickMorris/011106.html
But, the kicker for me was this paragraph:
"On the environment, Americans have already decided that global warming is causing weather aberrations like the hurricane activity this summer. The administration can no longer keep its head in the sand on this issue. More than any other subject, this area of Bush blindness is making America Democratic."
Funny thing that last paragraph. Listening to coworkers, sadly, it appears he's right. People are accepting the global warmimg scare by osmosis, or rather, by default. The lack of critical thinking by -far too many- American's is increasing the dangers we face as a country and as individuals.
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Comment/DickMorris/011106.html
Monday, January 09, 2006
Nick's Back!
Nick over at The Rule of Reason has returned to writing and his stuff is as good [if not better] as ever. Scroll my Blogroll and hit on The Rule of Reason.
Good to see you back, Nick.
Good to see you back, Nick.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
New Mexico Spaceport
I became a "Space Cadet" on July 20 1969, my fifteenth birthday. When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Living in Ohio at the time, it was hard not to be impressed! I still vividly remember watching every moment of that mission I could, whenever it was on tv.
I don't know how old this press release is, but VirginGalactic, has purchased a 27 square mile tract of land in New Mexico to build a spaceport for their space tourist vehicles, built in co-operation with Burt Rutan's company, Scaled Composites.
http://www.virgingalactic.com/en/news.asp
As an aside, Overstock carries a great Australian DVD film, "The Dish" about their space telescope assistance in that mission. It is a wonderful, heartwarming film. Under $10 at Overstock.
[Editors note: I still am having problems with Blogger in trying to add links to my posts. Their help guys have not assisted me once. Any suggestions?]
I don't know how old this press release is, but VirginGalactic, has purchased a 27 square mile tract of land in New Mexico to build a spaceport for their space tourist vehicles, built in co-operation with Burt Rutan's company, Scaled Composites.
http://www.virgingalactic.com/en/news.asp
As an aside, Overstock carries a great Australian DVD film, "The Dish" about their space telescope assistance in that mission. It is a wonderful, heartwarming film. Under $10 at Overstock.
[Editors note: I still am having problems with Blogger in trying to add links to my posts. Their help guys have not assisted me once. Any suggestions?]
Saturday, January 07, 2006
More Blogs!
It's an explosion!!
Two new blogs added today.
Andrew Dalton's Witch Doctor Repellent [Love that name ;-)]
Steve Brockerman's American Renaissance
Check 'em out.
Two new blogs added today.
Andrew Dalton's Witch Doctor Repellent [Love that name ;-)]
Steve Brockerman's American Renaissance
Check 'em out.
Infiltration
Just finished watching BookTV on C-SPAN who had author Paul Sperry on, talking about his new book, "Infiltration: How Muslim Spies and Subversives have Penetrated Washington".
The book is an expose on how our PC leadership has compromised our saftey and security to apppease Muslim fanatics in this country. The author probably has no familiarity with Objectivism, but this book may be of interest to any American who wants to keep, and expand, the all but forgotten political ideal of Individual Rights and personal freedom.
The book is an invitation for citizens to 'wake up' to the dangers we face from our own cowardly leadership, as well as the enemies within and without our borders.
Sperryfiles.com will be added to my Blogroll.
http://www.sperryfiles.com
The book is an expose on how our PC leadership has compromised our saftey and security to apppease Muslim fanatics in this country. The author probably has no familiarity with Objectivism, but this book may be of interest to any American who wants to keep, and expand, the all but forgotten political ideal of Individual Rights and personal freedom.
The book is an invitation for citizens to 'wake up' to the dangers we face from our own cowardly leadership, as well as the enemies within and without our borders.
Sperryfiles.com will be added to my Blogroll.
http://www.sperryfiles.com
Thursday, January 05, 2006
One more Blog Added...
Today, adding Myrhaf to my blog roll. I especially liked his most recent post on Romantic Drama, as I've been searching for english translastions of Hugo for decades, myself!
http://myrhaf.blogspot.com/
http://myrhaf.blogspot.com/
Sunday, January 01, 2006
1-1-06
I started the new year Chasing Freedom. That is, I rented a movie called by that name featuring Juliette Lewis and Layla Alizada. Inspired by a true story, it is about a lawyer [Lewis] "who takes on the pro-bono case of a woman seeking her freedom in America. After barely escaping the unspeakable horrors of her Taliban controlled homeland. Meena arrives in the United States only to have her freedom stripped away again. Now she must convince her lawyer and herself that she is worth fighting for and face the toughest battle of her life. If she fails, she will be returned to Afghanistan and face certain death."
This movie may be of interest to those who are concerned about immigration law and protecting our own freedoms. The films flaws are minor compared to what any thinking person can gain from watching it.
Recommended.
This movie may be of interest to those who are concerned about immigration law and protecting our own freedoms. The films flaws are minor compared to what any thinking person can gain from watching it.
Recommended.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
What's Up, God?
Noodle Food's Don Watkins III, has a great post on a book his parents "made" him read, I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist
Another great article by Don. Recommended.
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2005/12/whats-up-god.html
Another great article by Don. Recommended.
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2005/12/whats-up-god.html
Friday, December 23, 2005
Merry Christmas everyone
To all my readers, Merry Christmas! No blogging for the next week or so, as I'm preparing for a visit from ol' Saint Nick.
I leave you with a link to Dr. Leonard Peikoff's editorial: Christmas Should Be More Commericial...
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?id=2254
I leave you with a link to Dr. Leonard Peikoff's editorial: Christmas Should Be More Commericial...
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?id=2254
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Clueless
While grocery shopping yesterday, I passed by a pick-up truck in the parking lot with this bumper sticker:
Privatization Equals Corruption
Sometimes ya' just gotta feel sorry for people. Know what I mean?
Privatization Equals Corruption
Sometimes ya' just gotta feel sorry for people. Know what I mean?
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Guy Gavriel Kay
Here’s a new author, added to my list of favorites. I get so much good feedback when I mention my favorite authors, I’m adding this Canadian to the “list”.
I am currently reading The Lions of Al-Rassan, a stand-alone novel of his. GGK specializes in ‘historical fantasy’. That is, he spends about six months a year, during a writing project, to immerse himself in a period and a region he wants to explore. This novel is based on Moorish Spain and one of the characters is modeled after El Cid. His characterization is splendid, the background is tantalizing and the storyline keeps you invested for the ride. I have not yet read his other works, but plan to do so during the year next year. Recommended.
Here is his "official" website.
http://www.brightweavings.com/
Here is the historical background on the book Lions
http://www.brightweavings.com/books/lions.htm
I am currently reading The Lions of Al-Rassan, a stand-alone novel of his. GGK specializes in ‘historical fantasy’. That is, he spends about six months a year, during a writing project, to immerse himself in a period and a region he wants to explore. This novel is based on Moorish Spain and one of the characters is modeled after El Cid. His characterization is splendid, the background is tantalizing and the storyline keeps you invested for the ride. I have not yet read his other works, but plan to do so during the year next year. Recommended.
Here is his "official" website.
http://www.brightweavings.com/
Here is the historical background on the book Lions
http://www.brightweavings.com/books/lions.htm
Friday, December 16, 2005
Spiritual Crisis in America
From Dr. Michael Hurd's Daily Dose of Reason:
"The spiritual crisis is psychological in nature. It stems from the fact that people don't know The spiritual crisis in America today is not from a lack of religion, or a lack of government programs. The spiritual crisis is psychological in nature. It stems from the fact that people don't know why life on earth, and specifically in America, is, and should be, a great thing. Despite this spiritual crisis, much is still great in the Westernized world. Therein lies the hope."
I would argue that religion is one of the main causes of said 'crisis'. Our self/mind/soul is all we possess, but we are ceaselessly told to sacrifice all our wants/desires/thoughts and place faith in other's or place it in an alleged 'higher being'
"The spiritual crisis is psychological in nature. It stems from the fact that people don't know The spiritual crisis in America today is not from a lack of religion, or a lack of government programs. The spiritual crisis is psychological in nature. It stems from the fact that people don't know why life on earth, and specifically in America, is, and should be, a great thing. Despite this spiritual crisis, much is still great in the Westernized world. Therein lies the hope."
I would argue that religion is one of the main causes of said 'crisis'. Our self/mind/soul is all we possess, but we are ceaselessly told to sacrifice all our wants/desires/thoughts and place faith in other's or place it in an alleged 'higher being'
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Sister site
Okay. I'm trying out new blog sites and I've come across ThinkertoThinker.com, an Aussie Objectivist's enterprise, that offers free blogs based on Word Press, which, I admit, I'm badly fumbling around with, trying to set up a decent blogsite.
Check out Fish Wrap @
http://fishwrap.thinkertothinker.com
Fishwrap ;-) was another name I was considering for my initial blog. After all, what are newspapers really good for nowadays? Hehehehe.
Check out Fish Wrap @
http://fishwrap.thinkertothinker.com
Fishwrap ;-) was another name I was considering for my initial blog. After all, what are newspapers really good for nowadays? Hehehehe.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Conservatism = Hash of Contradictions
From the Reagan 2020 website, we have the blueprint for defining the conservative platform for this American Century..
http://reagan2020.us/platform
Here's the Preamble:
We the New Federalists advocate individual, family and community rights and responsibilities in acts of self-governance, as set forth by our Founders, in originally establishing our nation by the Declaration of Independence and later codifying our governing principles in our Republic's Constitution. We begin from our Founders' premises, that self-evident truths exist, and are the only right ground for political declarations that offer a decent respect for the opinions of humankind in establishing a nation among the powers of the earth.
[Editor's Note: I see that Blogger's "improvements" have screwed up being able to post links to sites or stories. GOOD JOB GUYS!!!!]
http://reagan2020.us/platform
Here's the Preamble:
We the New Federalists advocate individual, family and community rights and responsibilities in acts of self-governance, as set forth by our Founders, in originally establishing our nation by the Declaration of Independence and later codifying our governing principles in our Republic's Constitution. We begin from our Founders' premises, that self-evident truths exist, and are the only right ground for political declarations that offer a decent respect for the opinions of humankind in establishing a nation among the powers of the earth.
[Editor's Note: I see that Blogger's "improvements" have screwed up being able to post links to sites or stories. GOOD JOB GUYS!!!!]
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving!
"Thanksgiving is a typically American holiday. In spite of its religious form(giving thanks to God for a good harvest), it's essential, secular meaning is a celebration of successful production. It is a producer's holiday. The lavish meal is a symbol of the fact that abundant consumption is the result and reward of production. Abundance is (or was and ought to be) America's pride--just as it is the pride of American parents that their children need never know starvation."
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
My friend Shadow
I lost my best pal yesterday. Shadow was a Pomeranian who was a unique and amazing dog. He was the coolest of cool. Smart, sophisticated, well-mannered, loyal. All of five pounds, he had the heart of a Lion. All he did was give love. I've had dogs as pets all my life. He was the best of the best. Sixteen years old. There's a hole in my heart. I will miss him.
Monday, November 14, 2005
More on "America's Persecuted Minority"
Anyone with common sense knows that when the Senate "ordered" Big Oil execs to appear before a panel and "explain" third quarter profits, it was just another grandstanding sham, used to pacify "angry voters". [Another grandstanding sham was the hearings on the 'steroid scandal' in baseball]...
Via Charlotte Capitalist, here's a Bloomberg columnist saying much the same...
Excellent.
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&refer=columnist_baum&sid=abQjzJy3TPU8
Via Charlotte Capitalist, here's a Bloomberg columnist saying much the same...
Excellent.
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000039&refer=columnist_baum&sid=abQjzJy3TPU8
Saturday, November 12, 2005
The Anti-Capitalist "A-Team"
Via Yale Global Online and the Detroit Free Press, here's an "emporer is naked" type of article exposing The Left's anti-globalization Goon Squad's, that seem to be able to afford to travel the world to disrupt any and every meeting of the world's economic leaders...
http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/ejohnson11e_20051111.htm
In a related article, the Miami Herald reports...
The Final Outcome of Summit: Two Americas
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6467
http://www.freep.com/voices/columnists/ejohnson11e_20051111.htm
In a related article, the Miami Herald reports...
The Final Outcome of Summit: Two Americas
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6467
Friday, November 11, 2005
Angry Jordanians Rally to Protest Bombings
Yahoo News and AP report that, "Thousands of Jordanians rallied in the capital and other cities shouting "Burn in Hell, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi!" a day after three deadly bombings that killed at least 59 people. Officials suspected Iraqi involvement in the attacks, which were claimed by al-Qaida's Iraq branch."
Either last year, or earlier this year, I remember seeing on the National Geographic Channel, an interesting bio of King Abdullah II, who appears to be a staunch ally of ours.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051111/JORDAN11/TPInternational/Africa
From CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/11/11/jordan.blasts/
Either last year, or earlier this year, I remember seeing on the National Geographic Channel, an interesting bio of King Abdullah II, who appears to be a staunch ally of ours.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051111/JORDAN11/TPInternational/Africa
From CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/11/11/jordan.blasts/
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Freedom of Religion?
Dr. Michael Hurd on "Freedom of Religion"
"There is not, and there should not be, any such thing as "freedom of religion." Think about what this simple little phrase implies. It implies that people have freedom not merely to privately practice (if any) they choose; it implies that people have the "right" to impose the practice of religion on other people. Freedom OF religion is a blank check for religion being free to do what it pleases. The ultimate manifestation of this idea, that today we know all to well, is that of militant Islamics."
Go. Read the rest of it.
2 new CD's
Yesterday I went to Border's and found two new CD's to add to my collection. The Long Road Home, the Ultimate John Fogerty collection and a dual CD/DVD of Chris Botti's To Love Again.
Both were on sale and are well worth having. I recommend them highly.
The production quality of the Fogerty CD is nearly flawless. The song selection equally so. The wife 'discovered' Chris Botti at work one day earlier this year and let's just say, I'll eventually own all he does. A man of enormous talent and sophistication, it's a shame he's hardly known outside a small circle of listeners and admirers.
Both were on sale and are well worth having. I recommend them highly.
The production quality of the Fogerty CD is nearly flawless. The song selection equally so. The wife 'discovered' Chris Botti at work one day earlier this year and let's just say, I'll eventually own all he does. A man of enormous talent and sophistication, it's a shame he's hardly known outside a small circle of listeners and admirers.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Gus on the Paris riots/insurgency
Gus van Horn has an excellent commentary on the recent Paris rioting. These riots are noticeably absent in the Leftist MSM.[ Naturally.]
Additionally, I think Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Interior Minister, is pro-west, therefore viciously denounced in all the leftist rags in France.
http://gusvanhorn.blogspot.com/2005/11/all-riot-on-western-front.html
Additionally, I think Nicolas Sarkozy, France's Interior Minister, is pro-west, therefore viciously denounced in all the leftist rags in France.
http://gusvanhorn.blogspot.com/2005/11/all-riot-on-western-front.html
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Pun Intended????
Women of Curling Gain Greater Exposure...
The Women of Curling Calendar now available. Say no more.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051031.wcurl1031/EmailBNStory/Sports/
Re: Biopolis
South Korean Stem Cell Center Draws Hundreds to apply...
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/health/13055351.htm
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/health/13055351.htm
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Blogroll Additions
Hong Kong Capitalist [Simon Patkin] and his Hong Kong think tank Capitalist Solutions, both added to blogroll today. Go check 'em out ;-)
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
Biopolis
Singapore has established a hub for biomedical reasearch, that may be the envy of the world. [With the usual flaw of government-private "partnership"]. Johns Hopkins is there, among others.
http://www.one-north.com/pages/lifeXchange/bio_intro.asp
Related links:
The Singapore Model and Latin America
http://www.techcentralstation.com/102405A.html
The Seoul of Clones
http://slate.msn.com/id/2128361/
Immoral to Ban Human Cloning
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=5164
The Anti-Life Opposition to Embryonic Stem Cell Research
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=11113
Bush's Biotechnology Blinders
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=7376
http://www.one-north.com/pages/lifeXchange/bio_intro.asp
Related links:
The Singapore Model and Latin America
http://www.techcentralstation.com/102405A.html
The Seoul of Clones
http://slate.msn.com/id/2128361/
Immoral to Ban Human Cloning
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=5164
The Anti-Life Opposition to Embryonic Stem Cell Research
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=11113
Bush's Biotechnology Blinders
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=7376
Saturday, October 22, 2005
'The Fountainhead' in Chinese!
Diana [from Noodle Food] reports on Ian Hamet's blog Bananna Oil that 'The Fountainhead' has been published and released in the Chinese language! Excellent news.
Echoing Diana's thoughts, let's hope it sells well among the young and they solve the conflict between individualism vs. collectivism both in their own souls and in politics.
http://blog.ianhamet.com/index.php/archive/2005/10/19/1426/
Echoing Diana's thoughts, let's hope it sells well among the young and they solve the conflict between individualism vs. collectivism both in their own souls and in politics.
http://blog.ianhamet.com/index.php/archive/2005/10/19/1426/
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Is Ayn Rand Optional?
Guest blogger Don Watkins III, over at Noodle Food writes an excellent, incisive article concerning Miss Rand's own character and the importance of each of us integrating the concern for character into our own lives.
Go. Read. You'll enjoy it.
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2005/10/is-ayn-rand-optional.html
Go. Read. You'll enjoy it.
http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2005/10/is-ayn-rand-optional.html
Saturday, October 08, 2005
The Capitalist Manifesto
Received the book yesterday. Have finished, and savored the Introduction. Soon to feast on the main content.
It's thrilling to see this, and other books making their way into the mainstream. Let's hope it becomes a torrent.
[Major Hat Tip to Andy Bernstein]
It's thrilling to see this, and other books making their way into the mainstream. Let's hope it becomes a torrent.
[Major Hat Tip to Andy Bernstein]
Monday, October 03, 2005
Societies decline when "God is on their side"
DUH! I thought this was obvious to any thinking person. Thanks to Paul @ Noodle Food for the story and link.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1798944,00.html
As an aside, I hardly think comparing the US to Britain, and the rest of Europe, who are bathed in a secularized form of altruism is a valid indication of America's ills. Altruism kills everywhere it is tried and practiced. Whether it takes an hour or a hundred years, altruism, religion, any form of mysticism is in its essence: death worship.
I've never heard of the journal this report is published in, and I can guess, with high certainty, that the professors undertaking this study were "liberal/socialist" in nature.
Neither European's nor American's understand that in America, people are free to believe whatever they wish--in private--that is what the principle of Individual Rights stands for, as an philosophical absolute. Since we no longer govern by, nor understand, that founding principle, in the 'majority-rule democracy' that we have lowered ourselves too, it's gang rule baby! Whoever has the biggest gang of the moment, rules to pander to their own kind.
America is a secular Republic, not a democracy. Founded as a tribute to the Enlightenment, American government must remain secular, or impartial, only taking action to protect the Individual Rights of its citizens.
If Christianity, or any religion for that matter, were the actual foundation of human freedom, as nearly every conservative claims, then why, when religion held sway over the entire earth, is that period known as the Dark Ages?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1798944,00.html
As an aside, I hardly think comparing the US to Britain, and the rest of Europe, who are bathed in a secularized form of altruism is a valid indication of America's ills. Altruism kills everywhere it is tried and practiced. Whether it takes an hour or a hundred years, altruism, religion, any form of mysticism is in its essence: death worship.
I've never heard of the journal this report is published in, and I can guess, with high certainty, that the professors undertaking this study were "liberal/socialist" in nature.
Neither European's nor American's understand that in America, people are free to believe whatever they wish--in private--that is what the principle of Individual Rights stands for, as an philosophical absolute. Since we no longer govern by, nor understand, that founding principle, in the 'majority-rule democracy' that we have lowered ourselves too, it's gang rule baby! Whoever has the biggest gang of the moment, rules to pander to their own kind.
America is a secular Republic, not a democracy. Founded as a tribute to the Enlightenment, American government must remain secular, or impartial, only taking action to protect the Individual Rights of its citizens.
If Christianity, or any religion for that matter, were the actual foundation of human freedom, as nearly every conservative claims, then why, when religion held sway over the entire earth, is that period known as the Dark Ages?
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Serenity
I went to see Serenity yesterday afternoon and was not too disappointed. The movie version/extension of the TV series Firefly was visually appealing and Joss Whedon (sp?) writes a good script in a "Man vs. State" old-west/futuristic themed motion picture.
Rumor has it the crew of Serenity has signed a three picture deal, with yesterday's release being their first.
It's always intriguing to see someone who grasps, if only rudimentarily, that necessary theme of the individual against the massive mindless bureaucracy [The Alliance, in this case.]
The only gripes I have are one minor and one major. They [the gripes] have to deal with what happens to Wash [Alan Tudyk, the pilot] and to Book. We are left hanging with Book, [Ron Glass] as it is never explained what his purpose is/was either in the series or this movie, other than he was some sort of 'freelance' preacher, walking a thin line between The Alliance and The Independents. Speaking for myself, this is a glaring omission, but it doesn't detract from the film.
Nathan Fillion [Mal Reynolds] looks to be a superb actor and I hope he has a bright future
Rumor has it the crew of Serenity has signed a three picture deal, with yesterday's release being their first.
It's always intriguing to see someone who grasps, if only rudimentarily, that necessary theme of the individual against the massive mindless bureaucracy [The Alliance, in this case.]
The only gripes I have are one minor and one major. They [the gripes] have to deal with what happens to Wash [Alan Tudyk, the pilot] and to Book. We are left hanging with Book, [Ron Glass] as it is never explained what his purpose is/was either in the series or this movie, other than he was some sort of 'freelance' preacher, walking a thin line between The Alliance and The Independents. Speaking for myself, this is a glaring omission, but it doesn't detract from the film.
Nathan Fillion [Mal Reynolds] looks to be a superb actor and I hope he has a bright future
Overall, if you like good acting and smart dialogue, check out Serenity. It helps if you know the tv series, but it's not vital.
4 out of 5 stars
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
New Blog added
I've added Self Uncensored to the Bloglist at left. He has posted some wonderful photos of New York City just recently.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Quote of the Day
"The individual human mind (is holy to me). In a child's power to master the multiplication table there is more sanctity than in all your shouted amens and holy-holies and hosannas. An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral and the advance of man's knowledge is a greater miracle than all the sticks turned to snakes and the parting of the waters."
Henry Drummond "Inherit the Wind"
Henry Drummond "Inherit the Wind"
The Anti-Christian Marriage Amendment (Satire)
The shoe's on the other foot! Let's see how they like it...
http://www.deism.org/antichristianmarriageamendment.html
[The appearance of this satire on my blog is not an endorsement of its contents. But it sure is funny!]
http://www.deism.org/antichristianmarriageamendment.html
[The appearance of this satire on my blog is not an endorsement of its contents. But it sure is funny!]
Reason: The Only Oracle of Man
Yesterday, I discovered that Ethan Allen's seminal work is now an online book! I long for a hardbound copy of this book, and have for many years.
If any reader's know where I can order/find/buy a copy of the actual book, please write to me at secularfoxhole@Gmail.com
Read. Enjoy.
http://www.deism.org/ethanallen.htm
If any reader's know where I can order/find/buy a copy of the actual book, please write to me at secularfoxhole@Gmail.com
Read. Enjoy.
http://www.deism.org/ethanallen.htm
Monday, September 26, 2005
"Missed It By That Much"
Sad news today as Don Adams passed away. Playing Maxwell Smart in the TV comedy "Get Smart" he was one of my all-time favorites. "Would you believe!", I will miss him.
Least we forget, here's a hat tip to the beautiful Agent 99, Barbara Feldon.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1160715
Least we forget, here's a hat tip to the beautiful Agent 99, Barbara Feldon.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1160715
The Epistemological 'Perfect Storm'
Author Dan Simmons, whom I've mentioned favorably on this site before, publishes a monthly letter to fans on his website, that I'm linking to below.
Readers of this blog may know that I've recommended some of his books, especially 'Darwin's Blade' and 'The Crook Factory', along with his sci-fi series 'Hyperion'.
In this month's letter, he talks of his epistemological 'storm' i.e., "one of those rare and serendipitous conjunctions of books randomly read resulting in a quantum leap in conceptual understanding on an important issue or opaque era or human dilemma or complex idea or all four of these catagories and more..."
Mr. Simmons goes on to lambast creationism among other things, but says this interesting quote: "How can I think and write with greater clarity while simultaneously discovering and creating more ambiguity?"
I'm linking to this open letter not as an endorsement of Mr. Simmons own epistemology or of his conclusions, but as an exercise in 'Philosophical Detection' for those who wish to read a stimulating article.
Best premises!
http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message.htm
Readers of this blog may know that I've recommended some of his books, especially 'Darwin's Blade' and 'The Crook Factory', along with his sci-fi series 'Hyperion'.
In this month's letter, he talks of his epistemological 'storm' i.e., "one of those rare and serendipitous conjunctions of books randomly read resulting in a quantum leap in conceptual understanding on an important issue or opaque era or human dilemma or complex idea or all four of these catagories and more..."
Mr. Simmons goes on to lambast creationism among other things, but says this interesting quote: "How can I think and write with greater clarity while simultaneously discovering and creating more ambiguity?"
I'm linking to this open letter not as an endorsement of Mr. Simmons own epistemology or of his conclusions, but as an exercise in 'Philosophical Detection' for those who wish to read a stimulating article.
Best premises!
http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message.htm
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Bush considering use of military on U.S. soil
Am I growing more paranoid as I get older, or does this sound as ominous to you as it does to me?
"President Bush's push to give the military a bigger role in responding to major disasters like Hurricane Katrina could lead to a loosening of legal limits on the use of federal troops on U.S. soil."
Here's a sentence I just love...
"Bush did not define the wider role he envisions for the military."
That's right! I forgot! We must be flexible in our policy making! No firm principles here!
http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,77271,00.html?ESRC=army-a.nl
Had the National Guard been here to do its job, instead of in Iraq and wherever else he's put them, this discussion wouldn't be necessary now, would it? Perhaps that's why he and his braintrust moved the NG offsite to begin with, to set up this discussion and possible implementation. Again, is this paranoia or just observation of fact?
Readers of this blog should know I have great respect for our military, but that I strongly dislike the way they are being manipulated by this administration.
"President Bush's push to give the military a bigger role in responding to major disasters like Hurricane Katrina could lead to a loosening of legal limits on the use of federal troops on U.S. soil."
Here's a sentence I just love...
"Bush did not define the wider role he envisions for the military."
That's right! I forgot! We must be flexible in our policy making! No firm principles here!
http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,77271,00.html?ESRC=army-a.nl
Had the National Guard been here to do its job, instead of in Iraq and wherever else he's put them, this discussion wouldn't be necessary now, would it? Perhaps that's why he and his braintrust moved the NG offsite to begin with, to set up this discussion and possible implementation. Again, is this paranoia or just observation of fact?
Readers of this blog should know I have great respect for our military, but that I strongly dislike the way they are being manipulated by this administration.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
New Blog Added
I've added Armchair Intellectual to my Blogroll. Click on the link at left to visit and read Gideon's excellent critique of the latest smear job on Miss Rand.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Disturbing Events in Gaza and in Britain
Armchair Intellectual has posted, with links some disturbing news out of Gaza and Britain, via Caroline Glick. Disturbing, but sadly, not surprising in the least.
Once again, Go. Now.
http://armchairintellectual.blogspot.com/2005/09/todays-commentary-part-1-there-seems.html
[Hat tip: Thrutch]
Once again, Go. Now.
http://armchairintellectual.blogspot.com/2005/09/todays-commentary-part-1-there-seems.html
[Hat tip: Thrutch]
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Al Gore: New Darling of the Religious Right
Per The American Thinker, Al Gore officially endorses creationism being taught in public schools.
http://www.americanthinker.com/comments.php?comments_id=3094
Also see Gus van Horn's commentary on the above subject.
http://gusvanhorn.blogspot.com/2005/09/science-at-american-hypocrite.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/comments.php?comments_id=3094
Also see Gus van Horn's commentary on the above subject.
http://gusvanhorn.blogspot.com/2005/09/science-at-american-hypocrite.html
Monday, September 12, 2005
Never Forget
Capitalism Magazine has an excellent compendium of articles on September 11. Dr Peikoff leads the list, with his superb 'End States that Sponsor Terrorism'.
Excellent
http://www.capmag.com/shownews.asp#1459
Excellent
http://www.capmag.com/shownews.asp#1459
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Hat Tip to all Foreign Visitors
Site Meter not only keeps track of all visitors to The Secular Foxhole, it also designates their location by city, state and country.
So I want to tip the hat to all my "friends" from France, Australia, Sweeden, Portugal, and England--as well as all points North America. Thank you for taking the time to peruse my blog. I would love to hear from you, if you choose to write. Just click on 'Email Me!" near the top of my blogroll.
So I want to tip the hat to all my "friends" from France, Australia, Sweeden, Portugal, and England--as well as all points North America. Thank you for taking the time to peruse my blog. I would love to hear from you, if you choose to write. Just click on 'Email Me!" near the top of my blogroll.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Further Proof that Altruism Destroy's the Good
The author of the article linked below states that we've 'gifted' Iran with the defeat of Hussein in Iraq. I, and many other Objectivist's have seen that the neo-cons rush to invade Iraq was not the correct way to go about defeating terrorism, or Islam, for that matter.
Yes, Saddam was a thug--and wrongly perceived as secular by our genius intellectuals and politico's--but now Iran is doing an end-run to Syria and other Muslim states. They are not going to allow, next-door, a pro-American form of government (weak as that is). That's why they are in hot pursuit of nuclear weapons and deals with other muslim states to spread that 'technology'.
Go. Read. Write to your reps and the President.
Our Gift to Iran
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4394
Yes, Saddam was a thug--and wrongly perceived as secular by our genius intellectuals and politico's--but now Iran is doing an end-run to Syria and other Muslim states. They are not going to allow, next-door, a pro-American form of government (weak as that is). That's why they are in hot pursuit of nuclear weapons and deals with other muslim states to spread that 'technology'.
Go. Read. Write to your reps and the President.
Our Gift to Iran
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4394
Friday, September 02, 2005
Scarce dollars and a contribution quandary
Obviously, the tragedy in New Orleans and other parts of the hurricane ravaged south are a gut-wrenching sight and my sympathies abound for the honestly struggling people who have lost "everything". Gus van Horn has a very worthy organization that has requested funds to assist in rebuilding it's home for veterans, and I certainly would donate to that cause---however---I recently received a letter from the Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship requesting a donation, or pledge of a donation, for the work it is doing in spreading the good works of young, talented, Objectivist scholars who are already in academia and the prospects of new programs, especially at an Ivy League school, among others, that the foundation has already received requests to set up as soon as possible. They are soliciting $140,000.00 from ARI donors to assist in this hugely important step to spread Ayn Rand's ideas in five new universities across the country.
Setting aside the fact that millions and billions of dollars are already pouring into New Orleans and other ravaged areas, via many good American's, and all of us via the Federal Government, the sum of $140,000 is not that much to try to obtain from a small group of dedicated people.
Speaking for myself, my dollars will have more positive long-term effect for me, for America and for the American people, going to the Anthem Foundation, than to any relief charity. If I could do both, I would, without hesitation. This month however, my meager/spare dollars are going to plant the seeds for a more positive future. Even if I don't live to see it, I know that my efforts will have made it come into being.
Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship
900 East Hamiltion Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008
[Update: 9/4/05. The Anthem Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, so your contributions are tax-deductible. Hey, there's really no 'quandary' at all, is there? ;-) ]
Setting aside the fact that millions and billions of dollars are already pouring into New Orleans and other ravaged areas, via many good American's, and all of us via the Federal Government, the sum of $140,000 is not that much to try to obtain from a small group of dedicated people.
Speaking for myself, my dollars will have more positive long-term effect for me, for America and for the American people, going to the Anthem Foundation, than to any relief charity. If I could do both, I would, without hesitation. This month however, my meager/spare dollars are going to plant the seeds for a more positive future. Even if I don't live to see it, I know that my efforts will have made it come into being.
Anthem Foundation for Objectivist Scholarship
900 East Hamiltion Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008
[Update: 9/4/05. The Anthem Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, so your contributions are tax-deductible. Hey, there's really no 'quandary' at all, is there? ;-) ]
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Why We Are Losing Hearts and Minds
This editorial, by Keith Lockitch, really pegged the truth meter for me, when I read it. Here's a sample:
"Where have our leaders gone wrong? What kind of leadership failure can demoralize a whole nation of honest, productive citizens, while leaving suicide murderers stirred to righteous action?"
Go. Now.
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4382
"Where have our leaders gone wrong? What kind of leadership failure can demoralize a whole nation of honest, productive citizens, while leaving suicide murderers stirred to righteous action?"
Go. Now.
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4382
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Why the India Deal is Good
Here's another Yale Global article saying that:
" A closer look reveals the benefits of the US-India nuclear technology agreement."
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6190
[Yale Global Online magazine added to Blogroll]
" A closer look reveals the benefits of the US-India nuclear technology agreement."
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6190
[Yale Global Online magazine added to Blogroll]
Osama's Endgame: Saudi Arabia
This article points out the many failures bin Laden has endured since 9/11 and suggests his trump card may be in turning his attack onto his fellow Saudi muslims, in the form of destroying the "largely unguarded" oil pipelines there, to do more damage to America's economy.
Interesting read...
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6194
Interesting read...
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6194
Salman Rushdie Cuts to Chase
per Gus Van Horn's Blog, an excellent snippet from a debate between Rushdie and British MP George Galloway [along with a great observation from Gus] on multiculturalism's "Argument from Intimidation."
Don't miss it...
http://gusvanhorn.blogspot.com/2005/08/salman-rushdie-cuts-to-chase.html
Don't miss it...
http://gusvanhorn.blogspot.com/2005/08/salman-rushdie-cuts-to-chase.html
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Puff Piece on Chavez in Houston Chronicle
Viva la revolution! HaHa
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/3328106
The above story says that the U.S. State Department claims there are no political prisoners in Venezuela. [Seeing how State is dominated by leftist career intellectuals/diplomats, I see why that statement was made.]
Let's let the blogger from The Devil's Excrement, straight from Venezuela, tell a different story:
http://blogs.salon.com/0001330/2005/08/27.html#a2437
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/headline/world/3328106
The above story says that the U.S. State Department claims there are no political prisoners in Venezuela. [Seeing how State is dominated by leftist career intellectuals/diplomats, I see why that statement was made.]
Let's let the blogger from The Devil's Excrement, straight from Venezuela, tell a different story:
http://blogs.salon.com/0001330/2005/08/27.html#a2437
Friday, August 26, 2005
9/11
Inside911.com is a companion to the National Geographic Channel's 4 hour special on the activities that led up to the attack on American soil by 19 radical Islamist terrorists.
An encore presentation of this four-hour investigative report will be broadcast on September 8, 2005.
"...there must be widows. There must be orphans...We do not differentiate between those in military uniforms and civilians."
The above quotes are just a taste of the kind of savagery we still don't take seriously in this country.
[Inside911.com added to Blogroll]
"Yes this is an age of moral crises...Your moral code has reached its climax, the blind alley at the end of its course. And if you wish to go on living, what you now need is not to return to morality...but to discover it."
Ayn Rand 'Atlas Shrugged'
An encore presentation of this four-hour investigative report will be broadcast on September 8, 2005.
"...there must be widows. There must be orphans...We do not differentiate between those in military uniforms and civilians."
The above quotes are just a taste of the kind of savagery we still don't take seriously in this country.
[Inside911.com added to Blogroll]
"Yes this is an age of moral crises...Your moral code has reached its climax, the blind alley at the end of its course. And if you wish to go on living, what you now need is not to return to morality...but to discover it."
Ayn Rand 'Atlas Shrugged'
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Good News Bad News
First, the good news. I did some hunting around the internet and found Tara Smith's newest book on Objectivism, Ayn Rand's Normative Ethics: The Virtuous Egoist.
It will be available in March 2006. Here's a link. Hopefully, too, there will be a less expensive(!) quality paperback version available.
http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521860504
Now, the Bad News..
Grooming Politicians for Christ
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-statesman23aug23,1,5389280.story?coll=la-news-politics-national
Here's one of the scarier aspects of a very scary article...
"Through seminars taught by conservative college professors and devout members of Congress, the students learn that serving country means first and always serving Christ..."
"That puts them at the vanguard of a bold effort by evangelical conservatives to mold a new generation of leaders who will answer not to voters, but to God."
That says it all. Theocracy anyone?
[8/25/05. My thanks to Existence Is Identity for pointing to this article, and my Blog. Added Theocracywatch.org to Blogroll.]
It will be available in March 2006. Here's a link. Hopefully, too, there will be a less expensive(!) quality paperback version available.
http://www.cambridge.org/us/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521860504
Now, the Bad News..
Grooming Politicians for Christ
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-statesman23aug23,1,5389280.story?coll=la-news-politics-national
Here's one of the scarier aspects of a very scary article...
"Through seminars taught by conservative college professors and devout members of Congress, the students learn that serving country means first and always serving Christ..."
"That puts them at the vanguard of a bold effort by evangelical conservatives to mold a new generation of leaders who will answer not to voters, but to God."
That says it all. Theocracy anyone?
[8/25/05. My thanks to Existence Is Identity for pointing to this article, and my Blog. Added Theocracywatch.org to Blogroll.]
Monday, August 22, 2005
My Random Top Ten Tunes that Kept Me Going Today...
1 Any Time At All -- The Beatles
2 Dear God -- XTC
3 Limelight -- Rush
4 If I Follow My Mind -- Jimmy Cliff
5 Who Knows Where The Time Goes? -- Sandy Denny
6 Atlas Eyes -- Tangerine Dream
7 Shoot Out the Lights -- Richard & Linda Thompson
8 If Sugar Was as Sweet as You -- Rockpile
9 Look Through Any Window -- The Hollies
10 Shadow On the Wall -- Mike Oldfield
[Idea Tip: Benjo Blog!]
2 Dear God -- XTC
3 Limelight -- Rush
4 If I Follow My Mind -- Jimmy Cliff
5 Who Knows Where The Time Goes? -- Sandy Denny
6 Atlas Eyes -- Tangerine Dream
7 Shoot Out the Lights -- Richard & Linda Thompson
8 If Sugar Was as Sweet as You -- Rockpile
9 Look Through Any Window -- The Hollies
10 Shadow On the Wall -- Mike Oldfield
[Idea Tip: Benjo Blog!]
A Picture Worth a Thousand Words?
Charlize Theron stars as the acrobatic assassin in 'Aeon Flux'. Due in theaters 12/2/05.Needless to say, I'll be first in line.
Enterprising 16 year-old...
...Kinda neat.
16 Year Old sells ad on Backpack....for Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0508210502aug21,1,2060253.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorth-hed
16 Year Old sells ad on Backpack....for Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0508210502aug21,1,2060253.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorth-hed
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Methinks Thou Protest Too Much
Just finished "The DaVinci Code" last night. Has anyone noticed the incessant howl from religionists about how "false" Mr. Brown's book is?
Ol' Danny must've stubbed some 'devout' toes to generate the kind of heat he's been taking on this book. Notwithstanding that this is a work of fiction mind you!!!
It is an excellent, thought provoking read. By far his best of the four novels he's written.
Here, we have a Nun protesting on the film set of The DaVinci Code.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/08/16/davinci.protest/index.html?section=cnn_latest
Ol' Danny must've stubbed some 'devout' toes to generate the kind of heat he's been taking on this book. Notwithstanding that this is a work of fiction mind you!!!
It is an excellent, thought provoking read. By far his best of the four novels he's written.
Here, we have a Nun protesting on the film set of The DaVinci Code.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/08/16/davinci.protest/index.html?section=cnn_latest
Monday, August 15, 2005
Public Service Announcement
State Farm Insurance has posted a "Disaster Preparedness Page" and I thought it was a pretty decent thing for others to take a look at. Just in case...
http://www.statefarm.com/consumer/disaster.htm
http://www.statefarm.com/consumer/disaster.htm
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Benjamin Netanyahu
I once respected this man totally. Now I see that he's just another hapless "politician". It's a shame.
http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/000640.html
http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/000640.html
It Takes an Individual
...rather than a "village" or a "family". Excellent commentary from Dr. Michael Hurd.
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4345
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=4345
Green + Stupid = Dangerous
The Resident Egoist over at Existence Is Identity, has an article on an environmentalist who is advertising against getting your children vaccinated (!)
Well worth your time to read.
http://existenceisidentity.blogs.ie/2005/08/10/love-them-protect-them-let-them-die/
Well worth your time to read.
http://existenceisidentity.blogs.ie/2005/08/10/love-them-protect-them-let-them-die/
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Cultural Ideas
Amit over at THRUTCH has a cogent analysis of the failure of subjectivism and multiculturalism in Britain [and everywhere else, too] and, offers us the antidote as well.
Go. Read the whole thing. Excellent.
http://amitghate.blogspot.com/2005/08/cultural-ideas.html
Go. Read the whole thing. Excellent.
http://amitghate.blogspot.com/2005/08/cultural-ideas.html
Monday, August 08, 2005
By Reason or By Force: Chile
Here's a decent article on the Chilean economy and how "markets" are the unchallenged politico-economic model of their rising standard of wealth. Note however, [what I consider to be a misnomer in] the actual title of the piece. Doesn't this equate "reason" with dictatorhip? See for yourself, if I'm correct.
http://www.techcentralstation.com/080405A.html
http://www.techcentralstation.com/080405A.html
Citizen Bloggers
Does citizen journalism during the London bombings signal a media revolution? The average person now has the tools to become a key newsgatherer, whom big media will ignore at their peril.
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6075
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6075
For Shame of Doing Wrong
Arkansas dinosaur museum adopts creationism.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/chitribts/20050807/ts_chicagotrib/museumexhibitsacreationistviewpoint
http://news.yahoo.com/s/chitribts/20050807/ts_chicagotrib/museumexhibitsacreationistviewpoint
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Innocents in War
Don Watkins, over at Anger Management, has a cogent blog post on who is to blame for the death of innocents in wartime.
It's always a great pleasure to read younger men and women who are gifted thinkers and writers. Mr Watkins is definetly one of them. I visit his blog every day.
Go. Read.
http://angermanagement.mu.nu/archives/109692.html
It's always a great pleasure to read younger men and women who are gifted thinkers and writers. Mr Watkins is definetly one of them. I visit his blog every day.
Go. Read.
http://angermanagement.mu.nu/archives/109692.html
Friday, August 05, 2005
Two Peas in a Pod
I'm currently enjoying "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown. In that novel, the organization known as Opus Dei is used as a backdrop of corruption and conspiracy. Well, knowing Mr. Brown's capabilities as a thorough researcher, I wonder. Anyway, the teachings of this "cult" are based on a book known as "The Way" or "My Way" by Josemaria Escriva.
All this blather is to point to an Letter I found from Escriva to General Francisco Franco, that endorses Franco's pronouncement of the catholic faith as the barometer of his rule.
http://www.odan.org/escriva_to_franco.htm
Here is the key passage of that letter: [quoting Escriva]
"...I cannot help but rejoice as a priest and Spaniard that the Chief of State's authoritative voice should proclaim that, "The Spanish nation considers it a badge of honor to accept the law of God according to the one and true doctrine of the Holy Catholic Church, inseperable faith of the national conscience which will inspire its legislation."
As objectivists, we know that altruism is the foundation of all religion, and, "the hatred of the good, because it is good." Speaking for myself, I didn't learn that it was also the foundation of Marxism until I read Miss Rand. Marxism being the secularized version of religious ethics.
It all boils down to, "those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."
Sad. Damn sad.
All this blather is to point to an Letter I found from Escriva to General Francisco Franco, that endorses Franco's pronouncement of the catholic faith as the barometer of his rule.
http://www.odan.org/escriva_to_franco.htm
Here is the key passage of that letter: [quoting Escriva]
"...I cannot help but rejoice as a priest and Spaniard that the Chief of State's authoritative voice should proclaim that, "The Spanish nation considers it a badge of honor to accept the law of God according to the one and true doctrine of the Holy Catholic Church, inseperable faith of the national conscience which will inspire its legislation."
As objectivists, we know that altruism is the foundation of all religion, and, "the hatred of the good, because it is good." Speaking for myself, I didn't learn that it was also the foundation of Marxism until I read Miss Rand. Marxism being the secularized version of religious ethics.
It all boils down to, "those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it."
Sad. Damn sad.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Joke of the Day
WARNING: Not rated PG-13
Jesus walks into the hotel, approaching the check-in. He tosses three nails upon the counter and asks, "Can you put me up for the night?"
[Rim-shot]
Jesus walks into the hotel, approaching the check-in. He tosses three nails upon the counter and asks, "Can you put me up for the night?"
[Rim-shot]
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