This story, if true, is quite disturbing, to say the least...
Air Marshals: Innocent People Placed On 'Watch List' To Meet Quota
Excerpts:
DENVER -- You could be on a secret government database or watch list for simply taking a picture on an airplane. Some federal air marshals say they're reporting your actions to meet a quota, even though some top officials deny it.
The air marshals, whose identities are being concealed, told 7NEWS that they're required to submit at least one report a month. If they don't, there's no raise, no bonus, no awards and no special assignments.
"Innocent passengers are being entered into an international intelligence database as suspicious persons, acting in a suspicious manner on an aircraft ... and they did nothing wrong," said one federal air marshal.
The Link:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9559707/detail.html?taf=den
Our Electoral College under widespread attack...
Excerpts:
(07-24) 04:00 PDT Sacramento -- A Stanford University computer science professor has come up with an idea to circumvent the more than 200-year-old Electoral College system and institute a national popular vote to elect the president of the United States.
The proposal by John Koza, who also invented the scratch-off lottery ticket, is receiving serious consideration by lawmakers in several states. Legislators in California, New York, Colorado, Illinois and Missouri have sponsored bills to enact such a plan.
Koza's scheme calls for an interstate compact that would require states to throw all of their electoral votes behind the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of which candidate wins in each state. The plan doesn't require all 50 states to join, but a combination of states that represent a majority (at least 270) of the electoral votes. If the largest states join in the agreement, only 11 would be needed. [Holy S**T! [Ed.]
Proponents say Koza's proposal is ingenious because it would avoid the immensely difficult task of trying to get rid of the Electoral College system by amending the U.S. Constitution.
Koza, who co-wrote a 620-page book detailing why it's time to change the system and how his plan would work, said his goal for this year was to let his ideas germinate with hopes of catching the attention of some state lawmakers. But the proposal caught on faster than expected.
Read the whole thing:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/24/MNGIHK4CSQ1.DTL
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
A Convenient Lie?
John Stossel hammers Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth at Real Clear Politics
Sample:
When he was in college, atmospheric-science professor John Christy was told, "it was a certainty that by the year 2000, the world would be starving and out of energy."
That prediction has gone the way of so many others. But environmentalists continue to warn us that we face environmental disaster if we don't accept the economic disaster called the Kyoto treaty. Lawyers from the Natural Resources Defense Council (another environmental group with more lawyers than scientists) explain: "Sea levels will rise, flooding coastal areas." And Al Gore's new movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," depicts a future in which cities are submerged by rising sea levels.
Wow.
But many scientists laugh at the panic.
Christy says, "Doomsday prophecies grabbed headlines but have proven to be completely false. Similar pronouncements today about catastrophes due to human-induced climate change sound all too familiar."
But the media can't get enough of doomsday.
Here's the linkup:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/07/a_convenient_lie.html
Sample:
When he was in college, atmospheric-science professor John Christy was told, "it was a certainty that by the year 2000, the world would be starving and out of energy."
That prediction has gone the way of so many others. But environmentalists continue to warn us that we face environmental disaster if we don't accept the economic disaster called the Kyoto treaty. Lawyers from the Natural Resources Defense Council (another environmental group with more lawyers than scientists) explain: "Sea levels will rise, flooding coastal areas." And Al Gore's new movie, "An Inconvenient Truth," depicts a future in which cities are submerged by rising sea levels.
Wow.
But many scientists laugh at the panic.
Christy says, "Doomsday prophecies grabbed headlines but have proven to be completely false. Similar pronouncements today about catastrophes due to human-induced climate change sound all too familiar."
But the media can't get enough of doomsday.
Here's the linkup:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/07/a_convenient_lie.html
Thursday, July 20, 2006
I Thought Conservatives Detested Suicide?
Then why pursue these suicidal policies against our enemies?
From ARI:
The U.S.-Israeli Suicide Pact
By Elan Journo
The Iran-Hamas-Hezbollah axis is fully responsible for initiating the war on Israel, but the Islamists' aggression is the logical product of U.S.-Israeli policy. The longstanding commitment of Israel and America to "diplomatic engagement" with Palestinians and Islamists--a euphemism for appeasement--is suicidal.
For decades America has urged Israel to placate and surrender to our common enemy. The U.S.-endorsed "Road Map to Peace," like the "Peace Process" and sundry initiatives before it, rationalized Palestinian terrorism as the result of a legitimate grievance. If only the Palestinians' wish for a civilized, peaceful state were fulfilled--Washington deluded itself into believing--terrorism would end. And fulfilling this wish requires not smashing their terrorist infrastructure, but showering them with land and loot.
But the majority of Palestinians actually seek the destruction of Israel, and the slaughter of its people. Because they embrace this vicious goal, hordes of Palestinians idolized arch terrorist Yasser Arafat for waging a terrorist war to wipe out Israel and establish a nationalist dictatorship. They abetted Arafat's terrorism and celebrated his atrocities. They served as cheerleaders or recruits for terrorist groups--and when they had the chance, they embraced the even more militant religious zealots of Hamas. It is no surprise that, according to a recent poll, 77 percent of Palestinians support their government's kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and that 60 percent support the continued rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.
But even as Palestinians mounted more attacks, Washington pressed Israel for more concessions--and bolstered the terrorist-sponsoring Palestinian Authority with millions of dollars in aid. The U.S. forbade Israel from laying a finger on Arafat, and extended this tender solicitude to Hamas leaders. Washington actually whitewashed the blood-stained Arafat and his crony Abbas as peace-loving statesmen and invited them to the White House. And when Hezbollah now fires rockets at major cities in northern Israel, President Bush demands that Israel show "restraint."
Depressingly, Israel has continually relented to American pressure to appease our common enemy. It has prostrated itself before the Palestinians, with flamboyantly self-sacrificial offers of land-for-peace; it has withdrawn from southern Lebanon, ceding ground necessary to its self-defense; it has withdrawn from Gaza, leaving its southern cities at the mercy of rocket fire from the Hamas-run territory.
Such U.S.-endorsed appeasement by Israel, across decades, has enabled Hezbollah and Hamas to mount their current attacks. Yet America remains undeterred in its commitment to appeasement.
The U.S. is now trying to woo Iran with endless offers of economic "incentives," if only Iran promises to stop chasing nuclear weapons. Evading Iran's lust to "wipe Israel off the map," evading its funding of Hezbollah and Hamas, evading its avowed enmity to America, evading its decades of fomenting and orchestrating a proxy terror war against American civilians--evading all of this, Washington deludes itself into believing that paying Iran off will, somehow, wipe out its hostility.
Inevitably, this encourages Iran to continue its aggressive support for terrorists and its fervent quest for nuclear weapons. Merely by prolonging the negotiations endlessly, Iran gains time to acquire a weapon to wield against its neighbors, to provide to Hamas and Hezbollah or to other proxies to use against the United States. And were Iran eventually to accept some deal, American aid would merely be sustaining Iran's regime--and, inexorably, a covert nuclear program.
We are teaching the Islamic totalitarians in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran that their goal of destroying us is legitimate; that aggression is practical; that the more aggressive they are, the more we will surrender. U.S.-Israeli policy has demonstrated that we lack the intellectual self-confidence to name, let alone condemn, our enemies--and that we lack the will to deal with threats mercilessly. It vindicates the Islamists' premise that their religious worldview can bring a scientific, technologically advanced West to its knees.
To protect the lives of our citizens, America and Israel must stop evading the nature of the enemy's cause: our complete destruction. We must stop appeasing our common enemy--and embrace self-defense as a matter of intransigent principle. To put an end to the current rocket attacks from Lebanon and Gaza, America should urge Israel to annihilate the annihilators: Hamas and Hezbollah. And to thwart Iran's nuclear ambition, America must use as much military force as is necessary to dispose of that catastrophic threat and the regime responsible for it.
Elan Journo is a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute (http://www.aynrand.org/) in Irvine, Calif. The Institute promotes Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand--author of "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead." Contact the writer at media@aynrand.org.
Copyright © 2006 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.
From ARI:
The U.S.-Israeli Suicide Pact
By Elan Journo
The Iran-Hamas-Hezbollah axis is fully responsible for initiating the war on Israel, but the Islamists' aggression is the logical product of U.S.-Israeli policy. The longstanding commitment of Israel and America to "diplomatic engagement" with Palestinians and Islamists--a euphemism for appeasement--is suicidal.
For decades America has urged Israel to placate and surrender to our common enemy. The U.S.-endorsed "Road Map to Peace," like the "Peace Process" and sundry initiatives before it, rationalized Palestinian terrorism as the result of a legitimate grievance. If only the Palestinians' wish for a civilized, peaceful state were fulfilled--Washington deluded itself into believing--terrorism would end. And fulfilling this wish requires not smashing their terrorist infrastructure, but showering them with land and loot.
But the majority of Palestinians actually seek the destruction of Israel, and the slaughter of its people. Because they embrace this vicious goal, hordes of Palestinians idolized arch terrorist Yasser Arafat for waging a terrorist war to wipe out Israel and establish a nationalist dictatorship. They abetted Arafat's terrorism and celebrated his atrocities. They served as cheerleaders or recruits for terrorist groups--and when they had the chance, they embraced the even more militant religious zealots of Hamas. It is no surprise that, according to a recent poll, 77 percent of Palestinians support their government's kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and that 60 percent support the continued rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.
But even as Palestinians mounted more attacks, Washington pressed Israel for more concessions--and bolstered the terrorist-sponsoring Palestinian Authority with millions of dollars in aid. The U.S. forbade Israel from laying a finger on Arafat, and extended this tender solicitude to Hamas leaders. Washington actually whitewashed the blood-stained Arafat and his crony Abbas as peace-loving statesmen and invited them to the White House. And when Hezbollah now fires rockets at major cities in northern Israel, President Bush demands that Israel show "restraint."
Depressingly, Israel has continually relented to American pressure to appease our common enemy. It has prostrated itself before the Palestinians, with flamboyantly self-sacrificial offers of land-for-peace; it has withdrawn from southern Lebanon, ceding ground necessary to its self-defense; it has withdrawn from Gaza, leaving its southern cities at the mercy of rocket fire from the Hamas-run territory.
Such U.S.-endorsed appeasement by Israel, across decades, has enabled Hezbollah and Hamas to mount their current attacks. Yet America remains undeterred in its commitment to appeasement.
The U.S. is now trying to woo Iran with endless offers of economic "incentives," if only Iran promises to stop chasing nuclear weapons. Evading Iran's lust to "wipe Israel off the map," evading its funding of Hezbollah and Hamas, evading its avowed enmity to America, evading its decades of fomenting and orchestrating a proxy terror war against American civilians--evading all of this, Washington deludes itself into believing that paying Iran off will, somehow, wipe out its hostility.
Inevitably, this encourages Iran to continue its aggressive support for terrorists and its fervent quest for nuclear weapons. Merely by prolonging the negotiations endlessly, Iran gains time to acquire a weapon to wield against its neighbors, to provide to Hamas and Hezbollah or to other proxies to use against the United States. And were Iran eventually to accept some deal, American aid would merely be sustaining Iran's regime--and, inexorably, a covert nuclear program.
We are teaching the Islamic totalitarians in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran that their goal of destroying us is legitimate; that aggression is practical; that the more aggressive they are, the more we will surrender. U.S.-Israeli policy has demonstrated that we lack the intellectual self-confidence to name, let alone condemn, our enemies--and that we lack the will to deal with threats mercilessly. It vindicates the Islamists' premise that their religious worldview can bring a scientific, technologically advanced West to its knees.
To protect the lives of our citizens, America and Israel must stop evading the nature of the enemy's cause: our complete destruction. We must stop appeasing our common enemy--and embrace self-defense as a matter of intransigent principle. To put an end to the current rocket attacks from Lebanon and Gaza, America should urge Israel to annihilate the annihilators: Hamas and Hezbollah. And to thwart Iran's nuclear ambition, America must use as much military force as is necessary to dispose of that catastrophic threat and the regime responsible for it.
Elan Journo is a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute (http://www.aynrand.org/) in Irvine, Calif. The Institute promotes Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand--author of "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead." Contact the writer at media@aynrand.org.
Copyright © 2006 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
There is No Need for Endless Global Conflict
From ARI---
Dear Editor:
Islamic totalitarians have explicitly stated their goal: to
forcibly impose Islamic law around the world. To succeed, they will
continue to attack those parts of the world that oppose
their "divine mission." The United States, Israel, Canada,
England, India, and any other country that places the least bit of
value on freedom and progress, will continue to be targets.
The freer nations need to recognize the real nature of this
enemy: an ideology that demands complete submission to Allah,
either voluntarily or at the point of a knife. Do you wait for the
knife to slit your throat or do you fight back and defend yourself?
The combined military strength of the freer countries is more than
enough to eliminate decisively and definitively the assorted
collection of murderous terrorists and the governments that support
them financially or ideologically. There is no need for an
endless global conflict. What there is a need for is a
recognition that those of us living in freer countries have the right
to take any necessary actions to defend ourselves--and that our
lives are at stake.
Debi Ghate
Vice President, Academic Programs
Copyright (c) 2006 Ayn Rand(R) Institute. All rights reserved.
To which I, personally, add, why hasn't Israel used nuclear weapons against Damascus, Tehran, and hell, ALL of Lebanon? The reason? The corrupt immoral morality of altruism.
Dear Editor:
Islamic totalitarians have explicitly stated their goal: to
forcibly impose Islamic law around the world. To succeed, they will
continue to attack those parts of the world that oppose
their "divine mission." The United States, Israel, Canada,
England, India, and any other country that places the least bit of
value on freedom and progress, will continue to be targets.
The freer nations need to recognize the real nature of this
enemy: an ideology that demands complete submission to Allah,
either voluntarily or at the point of a knife. Do you wait for the
knife to slit your throat or do you fight back and defend yourself?
The combined military strength of the freer countries is more than
enough to eliminate decisively and definitively the assorted
collection of murderous terrorists and the governments that support
them financially or ideologically. There is no need for an
endless global conflict. What there is a need for is a
recognition that those of us living in freer countries have the right
to take any necessary actions to defend ourselves--and that our
lives are at stake.
Debi Ghate
Vice President, Academic Programs
Copyright (c) 2006 Ayn Rand(R) Institute. All rights reserved.
To which I, personally, add, why hasn't Israel used nuclear weapons against Damascus, Tehran, and hell, ALL of Lebanon? The reason? The corrupt immoral morality of altruism.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Short Notes
This I found somewhere on the net. The runner-up to the annual Bad Writing contest. Hilarious!!
"I know what you're thinking, punk," hissed Wordy Harry to his new editor, "you're thinking, 'Did he use six superfluous adjectives or only five?' - and to tell the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement; but being as this is English, the most powerful language in the world, whose subtle nuances will blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' - well do you, punk?"
I'll do more research to credit the actual author of the above, and the site/blog where I found it.
[1:46pm] Found it. The "blog" is philosophicaldetective.com. The writer, and runner-up, is, Stuart Vasepuru Edinburgh, Scotland
2nd Note:
Serious pet peeve of mine...
The abuse of language, philosophy, morality and politics in equating/calling dictatorships "sovereign nations". If this is not a moral obsenity, I don't know what is.
"I know what you're thinking, punk," hissed Wordy Harry to his new editor, "you're thinking, 'Did he use six superfluous adjectives or only five?' - and to tell the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement; but being as this is English, the most powerful language in the world, whose subtle nuances will blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' - well do you, punk?"
I'll do more research to credit the actual author of the above, and the site/blog where I found it.
[1:46pm] Found it. The "blog" is philosophicaldetective.com. The writer, and runner-up, is, Stuart Vasepuru Edinburgh, Scotland
2nd Note:
Serious pet peeve of mine...
The abuse of language, philosophy, morality and politics in equating/calling dictatorships "sovereign nations". If this is not a moral obsenity, I don't know what is.
Democracy as applied to everything, or, Using the Net to destroy the Net.
This editorial sums up my position, exactly.
Thank you, Alex.
Net Neutrality vs. Internet Freedom
by Alex Epstein
Posted by ARI Media at 2:27 PM
America's leading Internet service providers (ISPs) have spent many years and billions upgrading their transcontinental networks, which constitute the backbone of the Internet. Now they are eager to profit by offering new, compelling services. One plan is to give certain websites high priority on their data, so as to guarantee "quality of service"—the speed, frequency, and reliability with which data is delivered. This would enable content providers to offer high-quality live TV and videoconferencing or advanced remote medical monitoring, without the delays and unreliability that plague the Internet today. Unfortunately, data prioritization is fiercely opposed by advocates of "Net Neutrality," who claim paradoxically that freedom and innovation demand that companies not be free to make this innovation.
Net neutrality is the idea that ISPs should not be able to favor some types of data over others; their networks must be "neutral" among all the data they carry. Net-neutrality supporters claim that if ISPs are free to give preferential treatment to certain websites' data, they might drastically slow down un-favored or less-wealthy websites, diminishing their ability to offer content and make innovations. A prominent net-neutrality coalition cautions: "If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, you may be impeded from providing the 'next big thing' on the Internet."
But such scenarios are nonsensical. For any of the nation's competing ISPs to offer customers slow, patchy, let alone nonexistent access to the websites they seek to visit, would be commercial suicide. As for innovation, websites are free to continue using standard, non-prioritized Internet service. The fact that this would be slower than premium service does not mean that it would be slow, just as UPS's decision to offer overnight delivery did not lead them to suddenly degrade their Ground shipping. Premium Internet services would enable, not stifle, innovation, by giving websites creative options they did not have before.
The specter of ISPs offering glacial access to certain websites is a smokescreen, designed to obscure the net-neutrality movement's goal: preventing anyone from having superior, unequal access to customers. In the minds of net-neutrality advocates, the Internet is a collectively owned entity, to which all websites have an equal claim and are entitled "equal access." As the title of a leading net-neutrality group proclaims: "It's our Net."
But it isn't.
The Internet is not a collectivist commune; it is a free, voluntary, and private association of individuals and corporations harmoniously pursuing their individual goals. (While it began as a government-funded project, the Internet's ultra-advanced state today is the achievement of private network builders, hardware companies, content providers, and customers.) Because the Internet is based on voluntary association, no one can properly compel others for their ad space, bandwidth, publicity—or data prioritization. Those who create these values have the right to use and profit from them as they see fit. Google has no more right to demand that Verizon be "neutral" with its network than Verizon has a right to demand that Google be "neutral" with its coveted advertising space.
The only thing equal about the participants on the Internet is that all have equal freedom to deal with others voluntarily. This means they are equally free to compete for the bandwidth, dollars, and talents of others—but not entitled to an unearned, equal portion of them.
It is the freedom of participants on the Internet to offer and profit from whatever products, services, or content they choose that has made it such a phenomenal source of content and innovation. Net neutrality would deny ISPs that freedom. It would deny their right to engage in creative, innovative, and profitable activity with those networks—in the name of those who demand their bandwidth, but are unable or unwilling to earn it in a free market.
The widespread support for net neutrality among successful Internet companies—including Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, eBay, and Amazon—is short-sighted and contemptible. These companies, which have benefited greatly from the unimpeded freedom of the Internet, are now trying to deny the same freedom to innovative ISPs and ambitious competitors under the egalitarian banner of "equal access." This is an invitation for any clever moocher to demand "equal access" to their hard-earned resources; indeed, Google is already being sued because its proprietary search engine allegedly gives "unfair" rankings to certain companies.
The Internet is one of the great bastions of freedom and innovation in our civilization. Let us keep it that way by rejecting "net neutrality."
Alex Epstein is a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, CA. The Institute promotes Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand—author of "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead."
Copyright © 2006 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.
Thank you, Alex.
Net Neutrality vs. Internet Freedom
by Alex Epstein
Posted by ARI Media at 2:27 PM
America's leading Internet service providers (ISPs) have spent many years and billions upgrading their transcontinental networks, which constitute the backbone of the Internet. Now they are eager to profit by offering new, compelling services. One plan is to give certain websites high priority on their data, so as to guarantee "quality of service"—the speed, frequency, and reliability with which data is delivered. This would enable content providers to offer high-quality live TV and videoconferencing or advanced remote medical monitoring, without the delays and unreliability that plague the Internet today. Unfortunately, data prioritization is fiercely opposed by advocates of "Net Neutrality," who claim paradoxically that freedom and innovation demand that companies not be free to make this innovation.
Net neutrality is the idea that ISPs should not be able to favor some types of data over others; their networks must be "neutral" among all the data they carry. Net-neutrality supporters claim that if ISPs are free to give preferential treatment to certain websites' data, they might drastically slow down un-favored or less-wealthy websites, diminishing their ability to offer content and make innovations. A prominent net-neutrality coalition cautions: "If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, you may be impeded from providing the 'next big thing' on the Internet."
But such scenarios are nonsensical. For any of the nation's competing ISPs to offer customers slow, patchy, let alone nonexistent access to the websites they seek to visit, would be commercial suicide. As for innovation, websites are free to continue using standard, non-prioritized Internet service. The fact that this would be slower than premium service does not mean that it would be slow, just as UPS's decision to offer overnight delivery did not lead them to suddenly degrade their Ground shipping. Premium Internet services would enable, not stifle, innovation, by giving websites creative options they did not have before.
The specter of ISPs offering glacial access to certain websites is a smokescreen, designed to obscure the net-neutrality movement's goal: preventing anyone from having superior, unequal access to customers. In the minds of net-neutrality advocates, the Internet is a collectively owned entity, to which all websites have an equal claim and are entitled "equal access." As the title of a leading net-neutrality group proclaims: "It's our Net."
But it isn't.
The Internet is not a collectivist commune; it is a free, voluntary, and private association of individuals and corporations harmoniously pursuing their individual goals. (While it began as a government-funded project, the Internet's ultra-advanced state today is the achievement of private network builders, hardware companies, content providers, and customers.) Because the Internet is based on voluntary association, no one can properly compel others for their ad space, bandwidth, publicity—or data prioritization. Those who create these values have the right to use and profit from them as they see fit. Google has no more right to demand that Verizon be "neutral" with its network than Verizon has a right to demand that Google be "neutral" with its coveted advertising space.
The only thing equal about the participants on the Internet is that all have equal freedom to deal with others voluntarily. This means they are equally free to compete for the bandwidth, dollars, and talents of others—but not entitled to an unearned, equal portion of them.
It is the freedom of participants on the Internet to offer and profit from whatever products, services, or content they choose that has made it such a phenomenal source of content and innovation. Net neutrality would deny ISPs that freedom. It would deny their right to engage in creative, innovative, and profitable activity with those networks—in the name of those who demand their bandwidth, but are unable or unwilling to earn it in a free market.
The widespread support for net neutrality among successful Internet companies—including Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, eBay, and Amazon—is short-sighted and contemptible. These companies, which have benefited greatly from the unimpeded freedom of the Internet, are now trying to deny the same freedom to innovative ISPs and ambitious competitors under the egalitarian banner of "equal access." This is an invitation for any clever moocher to demand "equal access" to their hard-earned resources; indeed, Google is already being sued because its proprietary search engine allegedly gives "unfair" rankings to certain companies.
The Internet is one of the great bastions of freedom and innovation in our civilization. Let us keep it that way by rejecting "net neutrality."
Alex Epstein is a junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, CA. The Institute promotes Objectivism, the philosophy of Ayn Rand—author of "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead."
Copyright © 2006 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Another Salem?
Here in the States, we're hearing more and more about how Christians are the persecuted minority "the world over". [But especially in America]. This message is being broadcast by an extremely well-funded PR machine, no doubt. Perhaps that machine is in use to cover-up stories like this one from Oklahoma, where we see just who is persecuting who--if it can be believed. I, personally, have no doubts about it.
Here are some excerpts:
Just Another Salem: Christian Persecution of Atheists in the American Heartland
Not long ago I wrote about the experiences of Charles Smalkowski and his family in Oklahoma. Falsely charged with assault, Smalkowski was offered the chance to leave the state and not file suit against the school district because of their official Christian prayers and persecution of his daughter. He resisted, the charges were increased to a felony, and his family suffered. In the end, he won.
Here's Mr. Smalkowski himself, writing in American Atheist...
"The loving Christians brought their children to hear the verdict. They brought the town. They brought ministers. I even saw another Judge in the back of the room. The Judge who in an earlier hearing while slapping an inch thick stack of papers on his bench saying with a list of witnesses this big you had better be a good boy. It was lies then, it was lies now and the DA knew it! (She was later forced to hand over a written statement she denied for over a year existed!) People prayed openly for a conviction."
So many people attended... but for some reason, neither the so-called victim of Smalkowki's alleged assault nor the assistant district attorney bothered to show up. Why? Perhaps they had a good idea that the case wasn't going to go there way.
Here's the links. Go. Now.
http://atheism.about.com/b/a/257839.htm
Here's the American Atheist link:
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/smalko2.htm
SecFox note: I don't necessarily support the American Atheist organization. They are merely against God. Against theism. Which leaves wide open what the do believe in, usually a 'secular' or 'liberal' version of mysticism/religion, such as Humanism or Unitarianism. I reject both of these as variants of the same bankrupt altruist coin.
Here are some excerpts:
Just Another Salem: Christian Persecution of Atheists in the American Heartland
Not long ago I wrote about the experiences of Charles Smalkowski and his family in Oklahoma. Falsely charged with assault, Smalkowski was offered the chance to leave the state and not file suit against the school district because of their official Christian prayers and persecution of his daughter. He resisted, the charges were increased to a felony, and his family suffered. In the end, he won.
Here's Mr. Smalkowski himself, writing in American Atheist...
"The loving Christians brought their children to hear the verdict. They brought the town. They brought ministers. I even saw another Judge in the back of the room. The Judge who in an earlier hearing while slapping an inch thick stack of papers on his bench saying with a list of witnesses this big you had better be a good boy. It was lies then, it was lies now and the DA knew it! (She was later forced to hand over a written statement she denied for over a year existed!) People prayed openly for a conviction."
So many people attended... but for some reason, neither the so-called victim of Smalkowki's alleged assault nor the assistant district attorney bothered to show up. Why? Perhaps they had a good idea that the case wasn't going to go there way.
Here's the links. Go. Now.
http://atheism.about.com/b/a/257839.htm
Here's the American Atheist link:
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/smalko2.htm
SecFox note: I don't necessarily support the American Atheist organization. They are merely against God. Against theism. Which leaves wide open what the do believe in, usually a 'secular' or 'liberal' version of mysticism/religion, such as Humanism or Unitarianism. I reject both of these as variants of the same bankrupt altruist coin.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Reparations for slavery going "Mainstream" into Culture
This article points out that although quiet for a while, the reparations for slavery movement is gaining traction again in America.[Perhaps its gaining only in the American Left and is not in the mainstream yet. Ed]
Excerpts:
Advocates who say black Americans should be compensated for slavery and its Jim Crow aftermath are quietly chalking up victories and gaining momentum.
Fueled by the work of scholars and lawyers, their campaign has morphed in recent years from a fringe-group rallying cry into sophisticated, mainstream movement. Most recently, a pair of churches apologized for their part in the slave trade, and one is studying ways to repay black church members.
"This matter is growing in significance rather than declining," said Charles Ogletree, a Harvard law professor and a leading reparations activist. "It has more vigor and vitality in the 21st century than it's had in the history of the reparations movement."
Here's the link for the rest of the story, with apologies to Paul Harvey.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Slavery_Reparations.html
What is worrisome to me, is that "conservatives" have no fundamental opposition to this idea and will put up a bravely brief front, but succumb to it due to their own altruistic faults, namely that "we are our brothers keeper".
The Ayn Rand Institute provides some needed intellectual ammunition against the above here: [Copy and paste the whole link].
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?keywords=reparations&news_iv_ctrl=0&security=0&cmd=search&entry=true&scope=all
Excerpts:
Advocates who say black Americans should be compensated for slavery and its Jim Crow aftermath are quietly chalking up victories and gaining momentum.
Fueled by the work of scholars and lawyers, their campaign has morphed in recent years from a fringe-group rallying cry into sophisticated, mainstream movement. Most recently, a pair of churches apologized for their part in the slave trade, and one is studying ways to repay black church members.
"This matter is growing in significance rather than declining," said Charles Ogletree, a Harvard law professor and a leading reparations activist. "It has more vigor and vitality in the 21st century than it's had in the history of the reparations movement."
Here's the link for the rest of the story, with apologies to Paul Harvey.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Slavery_Reparations.html
What is worrisome to me, is that "conservatives" have no fundamental opposition to this idea and will put up a bravely brief front, but succumb to it due to their own altruistic faults, namely that "we are our brothers keeper".
The Ayn Rand Institute provides some needed intellectual ammunition against the above here: [Copy and paste the whole link].
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?keywords=reparations&news_iv_ctrl=0&security=0&cmd=search&entry=true&scope=all
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Spiritual Fuel
Got back from the free event at the Objectivist Conference in Boston shortly after 1am this morning. Inspiring is all I can say. The event was a panel discussion on the state of Objectivism in academia and prospects for future growth. I can say that things are looking good and are getting better each academic year. Yes, there's still opposition, but it is waning. Dr. Brook also publicly paid tribute to four graduates of the OAC [Objectivist Academic Center] that have been accepted into major university graduate programs in philosophy. All in all, this was an inspirational talk and did provide spiritual fuel to those in attendance.
After that event, the Anthem Foundation held a party celebrating its fifth birthday. Here I got to meet Tara Smith, Debi Ghate, John Lewis [whom I had met previously, a few years ago, and who remembered me from that visit][!]. C. Brad Thompson of Clemson, Rob Tarr of the Thrutch blog, Paul and Diana Hsieh of Noodle Food fame. Betsy Speicher and I renewed our acquaintance from years ago. There were other heavyweights there, but I didn't get the chance to thank them and speak to them. Darn it!
Note to ARI's conference co-ordinator---have more conferences on the east coast!!!
After that event, the Anthem Foundation held a party celebrating its fifth birthday. Here I got to meet Tara Smith, Debi Ghate, John Lewis [whom I had met previously, a few years ago, and who remembered me from that visit][!]. C. Brad Thompson of Clemson, Rob Tarr of the Thrutch blog, Paul and Diana Hsieh of Noodle Food fame. Betsy Speicher and I renewed our acquaintance from years ago. There were other heavyweights there, but I didn't get the chance to thank them and speak to them. Darn it!
Note to ARI's conference co-ordinator---have more conferences on the east coast!!!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Two recent stories show that Faith and Force are Corollaries
In Delaware, Christian/religious school board flexes its muscle--against Jewish student(s)...
http://www.jewsonfirst.org/06b/indianriver.html
Although no force is exhibited in this article, a Slate writer offers tribute to the faith of Democratic Senator Barack Obama, whom I predict will be the unanimous choice for Vice-President on the Democratic ticket in 2008. [You heard it here first].
http://www.slate.com/id/2144983/?nav=ais
Revisions done 7/8/06
http://www.jewsonfirst.org/06b/indianriver.html
Although no force is exhibited in this article, a Slate writer offers tribute to the faith of Democratic Senator Barack Obama, whom I predict will be the unanimous choice for Vice-President on the Democratic ticket in 2008. [You heard it here first].
http://www.slate.com/id/2144983/?nav=ais
Revisions done 7/8/06
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
America, 'Tis of thee I sing!
Various quotes from two of my favorite people:
"Since the golden age of Greece, there has been only one era of reason in twenty-three centuries of Western philosophy. During the final decades of that era, the United States of America was created as an independent nation. This is the key to the country--to its nature, its development, and its uniqueness: the United States is the nation of the Enlightenment.
Leonard Peikoff, from his book, 'The Ominous Parallels'
"The basic premise of the Founding Fathers was man's right to his own life, to his own liberty, to the pursuit of his own happiness--which means: man's right to exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; and that the political implementation of this right is a society where men deal with one another as traders, by voluntary exchange to mutual benefit."
Ayn Rand, 'For the New Intellectual'
"The difference between an exchange of ideas and an exchange of blows is self-evident. The line of demarcation between freedom of speech and freedom of action is established by the ban on the initiation of physical force."
Ayn Rand 'Capitalism:The Unknown Ideal'
"Every argument for God and every attribute ascribed to Him rests on a false metaphysical premise. None can survive for a moment on a correct metaphysics.
For instance, God is infinite. Nothing can be infinite, according to the Law of Identity. Everything is what it is, and nothing else. It is limited in its qualities and in its quantity: it is This much and no more. "Infinite" as applied to quantity does not mean "very large": it means "larger than any specific quantity." That means: no specific quantity--i.e., a quantity without identity. This is prohibited by the Law of Identity.
Is God the creator of the universe? There can be no creation of something out of nothing. There is no nothing.
Is God omnipotent? Can he do anything? Entities can act only in accordance with their natures; nothing can make them violate their natures...
"God" as traditionally defined is a systematic contradiction of every valid metaphysical principle. The point is wider than just the Judeo-Christian concept of God. No argument will get you from this world to a supernatural world. No reason will lead you to a world contradicting this one. No method of inference will enable you to leap from existence to a "super-existence."
Leonard Peikoff 'The Philosophy of Objectivism" lecture series.
"Mankind is not an entity, an organism, or a coral bush. The entity involved in production and trade is Man. It is with the study of man--not of the loose aggregate known as "community"--that any science of the humanities has to begin...
A great deal may be learned about society by studying man; but this process cannot be reversed: nothing can be learned about man by studying society-by studying the inter-relationships of entities one has never identified or defined."
Ayn Rand 'What is Capitalism?'
"Since the golden age of Greece, there has been only one era of reason in twenty-three centuries of Western philosophy. During the final decades of that era, the United States of America was created as an independent nation. This is the key to the country--to its nature, its development, and its uniqueness: the United States is the nation of the Enlightenment.
Leonard Peikoff, from his book, 'The Ominous Parallels'
"The basic premise of the Founding Fathers was man's right to his own life, to his own liberty, to the pursuit of his own happiness--which means: man's right to exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself; and that the political implementation of this right is a society where men deal with one another as traders, by voluntary exchange to mutual benefit."
Ayn Rand, 'For the New Intellectual'
"The difference between an exchange of ideas and an exchange of blows is self-evident. The line of demarcation between freedom of speech and freedom of action is established by the ban on the initiation of physical force."
Ayn Rand 'Capitalism:The Unknown Ideal'
"Every argument for God and every attribute ascribed to Him rests on a false metaphysical premise. None can survive for a moment on a correct metaphysics.
For instance, God is infinite. Nothing can be infinite, according to the Law of Identity. Everything is what it is, and nothing else. It is limited in its qualities and in its quantity: it is This much and no more. "Infinite" as applied to quantity does not mean "very large": it means "larger than any specific quantity." That means: no specific quantity--i.e., a quantity without identity. This is prohibited by the Law of Identity.
Is God the creator of the universe? There can be no creation of something out of nothing. There is no nothing.
Is God omnipotent? Can he do anything? Entities can act only in accordance with their natures; nothing can make them violate their natures...
"God" as traditionally defined is a systematic contradiction of every valid metaphysical principle. The point is wider than just the Judeo-Christian concept of God. No argument will get you from this world to a supernatural world. No reason will lead you to a world contradicting this one. No method of inference will enable you to leap from existence to a "super-existence."
Leonard Peikoff 'The Philosophy of Objectivism" lecture series.
"Mankind is not an entity, an organism, or a coral bush. The entity involved in production and trade is Man. It is with the study of man--not of the loose aggregate known as "community"--that any science of the humanities has to begin...
A great deal may be learned about society by studying man; but this process cannot be reversed: nothing can be learned about man by studying society-by studying the inter-relationships of entities one has never identified or defined."
Ayn Rand 'What is Capitalism?'
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Book'em Dan-o
July's reading selections:
Fiction: A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva
Non-F: The Computer Privacy Handbook by Andre' Bacard
"Death" is Silva's fourth installment in the Gabriel Allon espionage series. Overall the series is an excellent read if you like spies and treachery.
Bacard's book is about PGP [Pretty Good Privacy] encryption and a few other things concerning privacy in the information age. Poorly written, you have to sift through fits of the authors paranoia to get to the good stuff.
Slightly revised 7/8/06
Fiction: A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva
Non-F: The Computer Privacy Handbook by Andre' Bacard
"Death" is Silva's fourth installment in the Gabriel Allon espionage series. Overall the series is an excellent read if you like spies and treachery.
Bacard's book is about PGP [Pretty Good Privacy] encryption and a few other things concerning privacy in the information age. Poorly written, you have to sift through fits of the authors paranoia to get to the good stuff.
Slightly revised 7/8/06
Superman Revisited
I went to see the new Superman movie yesterday and I want my money back. The one glaring fact about this new version of Superman is the obvious hatred of dogs by the scriptwriters.
I've no trouble with Routh, who plays Superman. He did his best with a bad script. A script that leans heavily on the mystical/religious side of things.
James Marsden stands out [but not too far], in an otherwise dreadful selection of cast members, who show their complete lack of acting abilities in every scene. Parker Posey, whom I loathe on principle, plays her usual role of the slut. Kevin Spacey is unconvincing as arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. Spacey is an actor so overrated I'm sure he laughs all the way to the bank, and back home again. I cannot think of a single role of his where he deserves even the slightest praise.
A telling moment in the movie is when we hear that astronomers have discovered remnants of Superman's home planet [or, where it might have been], and he leaves the world to travel there to see for himself. Apparently this was way too selfish on his part and why Lois Lane is pissed, confused and pathetic. In Metropolis, as well as in real-life, any thought of self is hailed as all-encomassing evil.
This movie deserves no more than a D+ or C-.
Don't take my word for it, see for yourself.
[Slightly revised 7/8/06]
I've no trouble with Routh, who plays Superman. He did his best with a bad script. A script that leans heavily on the mystical/religious side of things.
James Marsden stands out [but not too far], in an otherwise dreadful selection of cast members, who show their complete lack of acting abilities in every scene. Parker Posey, whom I loathe on principle, plays her usual role of the slut. Kevin Spacey is unconvincing as arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. Spacey is an actor so overrated I'm sure he laughs all the way to the bank, and back home again. I cannot think of a single role of his where he deserves even the slightest praise.
A telling moment in the movie is when we hear that astronomers have discovered remnants of Superman's home planet [or, where it might have been], and he leaves the world to travel there to see for himself. Apparently this was way too selfish on his part and why Lois Lane is pissed, confused and pathetic. In Metropolis, as well as in real-life, any thought of self is hailed as all-encomassing evil.
This movie deserves no more than a D+ or C-.
Don't take my word for it, see for yourself.
[Slightly revised 7/8/06]
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Quote of the Day
"All people, Jews or gentiles, who dare not defend themselves when they know they are in the right, who submit to punishment not because of what they have done but because of who they are, are already dead by their own decision; and whether or not they survive physically depends on chance. If circumstances are not favorable, they end up in gas chambers."
— Bruno Bettelheim, "Freud's Vienna and Other Essays"
My thanks to Gideon @ Armchair Intellectual for pointing out the article where the above quote was taken. Here's the link to the article:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20060621-085648-9557r
The above quote also reminds me of the importance of both Free Speech and the recognition of what that particular moral principle [and all authentic moral principles] rests on---reason. Here's a related, crucial article in that regard, from the Objective Standard.[Registration or subscription required]
http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2006-summer/religion-vs-free-speech.asp
— Bruno Bettelheim, "Freud's Vienna and Other Essays"
My thanks to Gideon @ Armchair Intellectual for pointing out the article where the above quote was taken. Here's the link to the article:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20060621-085648-9557r
The above quote also reminds me of the importance of both Free Speech and the recognition of what that particular moral principle [and all authentic moral principles] rests on---reason. Here's a related, crucial article in that regard, from the Objective Standard.[Registration or subscription required]
http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2006-summer/religion-vs-free-speech.asp
Friday, June 23, 2006
Laugh your *** off
Monty Python [and YouTube] present:
drumroll please.....
The International Philosophy Soccer Match!!!!!
Hilarious is all I can say, between bouts of laughter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrShK-NVMIU
Go. Now.
drumroll please.....
The International Philosophy Soccer Match!!!!!
Hilarious is all I can say, between bouts of laughter.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrShK-NVMIU
Go. Now.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Myrhaf has returned...
...albeit for a brief message at his blog ;-)
Go check him out and wish him well.
Go check him out and wish him well.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Flying in the face of reality
As Objectivists, we know how crucial fundamental ideas are, for good or ill. Apparently, we're the only ones, as this article about Afghanistan shows. The Taliban is increasing its presence there due in part to what they conceive as a weakness in America's position. This Washington Post article has a 'money quote' that just can't be overlooked, and I highlight it here.
"The Taliban are opportunists," said John Stuart Blackton, a retired U.S. diplomat who consults on Afghan issues with the National Intelligence Council, which produces government intelligence forecasts. "They have no deep ideology and no deep theory that informs what they are doing. . . . In other words, they are better understood as being like a crime family in New Jersey."
The rest of the article should be read, as well. Here's the link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/17/AR2006061700784_pf.html
"The Taliban are opportunists," said John Stuart Blackton, a retired U.S. diplomat who consults on Afghan issues with the National Intelligence Council, which produces government intelligence forecasts. "They have no deep ideology and no deep theory that informs what they are doing. . . . In other words, they are better understood as being like a crime family in New Jersey."
The rest of the article should be read, as well. Here's the link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/17/AR2006061700784_pf.html
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Truth Meter
...pegged once again by Ed Cline over @ The Rule of Reason. His target this time is the suicides at Gitmo.
Excerpt:
All right. Two Saudis and one Yemeni committed suicide at the Guantanamo Bay prison. And? As one correspondent of mine remarked: "Since Muslims are committing suicide on a daily basis all over the world -- and killing as many others as is possible with themselves -- what is so hard to believe about three suicides in a jail?" Remember that every one of the 460 detainees at Gitmo was either taken in combat against U.S. forces in Afghanistan or Iraq or elsewhere, or taken as a suspect with terrorist or Taliban connections, and scheduled to be tried by a tribunal.
It is hard to believe if reality does not conform to one's wishes.
Remember that these are not "rockin'" fans of the Dixie Chicks or gentle Bono groupies or twittering sycophants of Muslim-patronizing Prince Charles of Britain, spirited away from Pennsylvania Avenue or the Strand and unlawfully incarcerated without charge. These are men who would just as soon as cut the throats of American civilians with box-cutters, hijack another planeload of them and smash it into the U.S. Capitol in an act of suicidal jihad. Or at least stockpile bags of ammonium nitrate fertilizer to grow more piles of Western bodies and rubble.
Go. Read it all.
http://ruleofreason.blogspot.com/archives/2006_06_01_default.htm#115021092008546132
Excerpt:
All right. Two Saudis and one Yemeni committed suicide at the Guantanamo Bay prison. And? As one correspondent of mine remarked: "Since Muslims are committing suicide on a daily basis all over the world -- and killing as many others as is possible with themselves -- what is so hard to believe about three suicides in a jail?" Remember that every one of the 460 detainees at Gitmo was either taken in combat against U.S. forces in Afghanistan or Iraq or elsewhere, or taken as a suspect with terrorist or Taliban connections, and scheduled to be tried by a tribunal.
It is hard to believe if reality does not conform to one's wishes.
Remember that these are not "rockin'" fans of the Dixie Chicks or gentle Bono groupies or twittering sycophants of Muslim-patronizing Prince Charles of Britain, spirited away from Pennsylvania Avenue or the Strand and unlawfully incarcerated without charge. These are men who would just as soon as cut the throats of American civilians with box-cutters, hijack another planeload of them and smash it into the U.S. Capitol in an act of suicidal jihad. Or at least stockpile bags of ammonium nitrate fertilizer to grow more piles of Western bodies and rubble.
Go. Read it all.
http://ruleofreason.blogspot.com/archives/2006_06_01_default.htm#115021092008546132
Sunday, June 11, 2006
"Nuance" or Whitewash, anyone? What's your definition of definition?
From the International Herald Tribune, we have the following headline:
Iran's Leader and Israel: What did he say, and what did he mean?
Ever since he spoke at an anti-Zionism conference in Tehran last October, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has been known for one statement above all. As translated by news agencies at the time, it was that Israel "should be wiped off the map."
...more...
For months, a debate among Iran specialists over both questions has been intensifying. It starts as a dispute over translating Persian, but quickly turns on whether the United States (with help from Israel) is doing to Iran what some believe it did to Iraq - building a case for military action predicated on a faulty premise.
...still more...
"Ahmadinejad did not say he was going to wipe Israel off the map, because no such idiom exists in Persian," remarked Juan Cole, a Middle East specialist at the University of Michigan and a critic of U.S. policy who has argued that the Iranian president was misquoted.
"He did say he hoped its regime, i.e., a Jewish-Zionist state occupying Jerusalem, would collapse." Since Iran has not "attacked another country aggressively for over a century," he said If Steele and Cole are right, not one word of the quotation - Israel should bBut translators in Tehran who work for the president's office and the Foreign Ministry disagree with them. All official translations of Ahmadinejad's statement, including a description of it on his Web site, www.president.ir/eng/, refer to wiping Israel away.
e wiped off the map - is accurate.
...the hook...
If Steele and Cole are right, not one word of the quotation - Israel should be wiped off the map - is accurate.
But translators in Tehran who work for the president's office and the Foreign Ministry disagree with them. All official translations of Ahmadinejad's statement, including a description of it on his Web site, www.president.ir/eng/, refer to wiping Israel away.
Sohrab Mahdavi, one of the most prominent Iranian translators, and Siamak Namazi, managing director of a Tehran consulting firm, who is bilingual, both say "wipe off" or "wipe away" is more accurate than "vanish" because the Persian verb is active and transitive.
Full story:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/11/news/iran.php
Iran's Leader and Israel: What did he say, and what did he mean?
Ever since he spoke at an anti-Zionism conference in Tehran last October, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has been known for one statement above all. As translated by news agencies at the time, it was that Israel "should be wiped off the map."
...more...
For months, a debate among Iran specialists over both questions has been intensifying. It starts as a dispute over translating Persian, but quickly turns on whether the United States (with help from Israel) is doing to Iran what some believe it did to Iraq - building a case for military action predicated on a faulty premise.
...still more...
"Ahmadinejad did not say he was going to wipe Israel off the map, because no such idiom exists in Persian," remarked Juan Cole, a Middle East specialist at the University of Michigan and a critic of U.S. policy who has argued that the Iranian president was misquoted.
"He did say he hoped its regime, i.e., a Jewish-Zionist state occupying Jerusalem, would collapse." Since Iran has not "attacked another country aggressively for over a century," he said If Steele and Cole are right, not one word of the quotation - Israel should bBut translators in Tehran who work for the president's office and the Foreign Ministry disagree with them. All official translations of Ahmadinejad's statement, including a description of it on his Web site, www.president.ir/eng/, refer to wiping Israel away.
e wiped off the map - is accurate.
...the hook...
If Steele and Cole are right, not one word of the quotation - Israel should be wiped off the map - is accurate.
But translators in Tehran who work for the president's office and the Foreign Ministry disagree with them. All official translations of Ahmadinejad's statement, including a description of it on his Web site, www.president.ir/eng/, refer to wiping Israel away.
Sohrab Mahdavi, one of the most prominent Iranian translators, and Siamak Namazi, managing director of a Tehran consulting firm, who is bilingual, both say "wipe off" or "wipe away" is more accurate than "vanish" because the Persian verb is active and transitive.
Full story:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/11/news/iran.php
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
June reading
I'm starting a new trend here at SecFox HQ. Instead of having a dozen--or more-- half-read books stacked all around the house, I'm picking one fiction and one non-fiction book to read, per month.
June selections:
Fiction: The Exile by Alan Folsom
Non-Fiction: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
June selections:
Fiction: The Exile by Alan Folsom
Non-Fiction: Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Toronto & Homegrown Terrorists [Global Guerrillas]
The story of the 17 arrests in Toronto has been out for a few days now. I've discovered a website/blog that deals with 'systems disruption' and many other issues concerning the new face of war in the 21st century.
John Robb is a former Air Force officer and Department of Defense Counter-terrorism expert who now has a website dedicated to reporting on 'open-source warfare' and other issues affecting economics. He has an article devoted to what the discovery of these homegrown [for now, alleged] terrorists means to all of us in the West.
Do not fail to copy and paste this link in your browser. Agree or disagree with him, he provides plenty of food-for-thought. Read his 'About' page,too.
Here's a snippet:
Patterns
Like London, the Toronto cell came together in a familiar pattern of community formation (for more see the brief on emergent communities dedicated to war). This community formation is a classic indicator of open source warfare, since the group didn't need to have any direct connection with al Qaeda in order to form. However, in one area it appears the group fell short. It appears that the group absorbed very little of the innovation developed in other theaters (fortunately):
Symbolic terrorism. The attacks were planned against hard government targets.
These targets required large quantities of explosives and a large team.
The large team and extensive provisioning required for these attacks made it possible to catch them.
Here's what this means
In no particular order:
The incident in Toronto is yet another demonstration that globalization has melted the map. The old boundaries that used to protect us are both ineffective and of little consequence in a world where ideas and people can flow without much restriction.
It also demonstrates that the call of primary loyalties can emerge even within the relative prosperity of a western nation. We are fragmenting, and this is a demonstration of that. As things continue to heat up in the Middle East, particularly when Iran is attacked, we will see an acceleration of fragmentation.
Finally, the errors and failures of this group will likely serve as further reinforcement among prospective actors towards the adoption of systems disruption (which we are seeing emerge globally). We won't be so lucky in the future. Those groups that have adopted this approach are demonstrating that it is possible to remain small and undetectable, reduce provisioning to household items and still achieve massive impact, and survive.
Here's the link and I'm adding Global Guerrillas to my Blogroll.
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2006/06/global_guerrill.html
John Robb is a former Air Force officer and Department of Defense Counter-terrorism expert who now has a website dedicated to reporting on 'open-source warfare' and other issues affecting economics. He has an article devoted to what the discovery of these homegrown [for now, alleged] terrorists means to all of us in the West.
Do not fail to copy and paste this link in your browser. Agree or disagree with him, he provides plenty of food-for-thought. Read his 'About' page,too.
Here's a snippet:
Patterns
Like London, the Toronto cell came together in a familiar pattern of community formation (for more see the brief on emergent communities dedicated to war). This community formation is a classic indicator of open source warfare, since the group didn't need to have any direct connection with al Qaeda in order to form. However, in one area it appears the group fell short. It appears that the group absorbed very little of the innovation developed in other theaters (fortunately):
Symbolic terrorism. The attacks were planned against hard government targets.
These targets required large quantities of explosives and a large team.
The large team and extensive provisioning required for these attacks made it possible to catch them.
Here's what this means
In no particular order:
The incident in Toronto is yet another demonstration that globalization has melted the map. The old boundaries that used to protect us are both ineffective and of little consequence in a world where ideas and people can flow without much restriction.
It also demonstrates that the call of primary loyalties can emerge even within the relative prosperity of a western nation. We are fragmenting, and this is a demonstration of that. As things continue to heat up in the Middle East, particularly when Iran is attacked, we will see an acceleration of fragmentation.
Finally, the errors and failures of this group will likely serve as further reinforcement among prospective actors towards the adoption of systems disruption (which we are seeing emerge globally). We won't be so lucky in the future. Those groups that have adopted this approach are demonstrating that it is possible to remain small and undetectable, reduce provisioning to household items and still achieve massive impact, and survive.
Here's the link and I'm adding Global Guerrillas to my Blogroll.
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2006/06/global_guerrill.html
Monday, May 29, 2006
Sunday, May 28, 2006
America's Future...
...belongs to her best and brightest. Dr. Hurd explains:
A recent MSNBC story discusses the sad state of American public schools. Surprise, surprise; President Bush's (and Ted Kennedy's) "No Child Left Behind" act has only led public schools to scramble more to make it LOOK like they're doing better. In actual practice, according to the study, there are more inexperienced teachers than ever; fewer and fewer children are grasping the facts and principles of basic science; and textbooks are being left to do the work while psychologists, claiming that now a near-majority of kids suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder, ensure that most children can be excused from the ability to read textbooks since they "can't pay attention."
The story goes on to ask, "Can America compete?"
My answer is an overwhelming yes. Why? Because it isn't the majority of adults (who are presently school-age kids) who will lift the society in the future. It's the brightest, most innovative and most hard-working few who accomplish out of proportion to the rest. They build the businesses, create the jobs, and make the discoveries. These few will rise above the mediocre public school system, as well as the inadequacies that most (but not all) private schools possess. Many innovative geniuses, upon whom we all depend whether we know it or not, do poorly in school, and it's no wonder given the awful state of schools, past and present.
I don't mean to minimize the problem. I don't mean to deny that education, properly done, is profoundly important. I don't mean to back away from my own ongoing position that public schools be phased out, dollars be returned to taxpayers and parents be put in charge of finding education for their kids in the marketplace. What I do mean to suggest is that the best and brightest can rise above a lot of things, so long as they live in freedom. It's worse than futile to think that public schools can do anything to educate kids at all; they're nothing more than babysitting services designed to herd kids together and go through the motions of "socializing" them. Even mediocre schools can usually manage to help kids learn to more or less read and write; but you can forget independent thinking and, according to the MSNBC story, you can forget about math and science skills.
Those who want to think will think, through it all. The public school system will never be good. If you care about the future, and the present, fight for the preservation and expansion of individual freedom. Individual freedom is for everyone, but it protects and nourishes the best, the brightest and the most innovative among us. And that's still the greatest hope for our future. It always has been.
A recent MSNBC story discusses the sad state of American public schools. Surprise, surprise; President Bush's (and Ted Kennedy's) "No Child Left Behind" act has only led public schools to scramble more to make it LOOK like they're doing better. In actual practice, according to the study, there are more inexperienced teachers than ever; fewer and fewer children are grasping the facts and principles of basic science; and textbooks are being left to do the work while psychologists, claiming that now a near-majority of kids suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder, ensure that most children can be excused from the ability to read textbooks since they "can't pay attention."
The story goes on to ask, "Can America compete?"
My answer is an overwhelming yes. Why? Because it isn't the majority of adults (who are presently school-age kids) who will lift the society in the future. It's the brightest, most innovative and most hard-working few who accomplish out of proportion to the rest. They build the businesses, create the jobs, and make the discoveries. These few will rise above the mediocre public school system, as well as the inadequacies that most (but not all) private schools possess. Many innovative geniuses, upon whom we all depend whether we know it or not, do poorly in school, and it's no wonder given the awful state of schools, past and present.
I don't mean to minimize the problem. I don't mean to deny that education, properly done, is profoundly important. I don't mean to back away from my own ongoing position that public schools be phased out, dollars be returned to taxpayers and parents be put in charge of finding education for their kids in the marketplace. What I do mean to suggest is that the best and brightest can rise above a lot of things, so long as they live in freedom. It's worse than futile to think that public schools can do anything to educate kids at all; they're nothing more than babysitting services designed to herd kids together and go through the motions of "socializing" them. Even mediocre schools can usually manage to help kids learn to more or less read and write; but you can forget independent thinking and, according to the MSNBC story, you can forget about math and science skills.
Those who want to think will think, through it all. The public school system will never be good. If you care about the future, and the present, fight for the preservation and expansion of individual freedom. Individual freedom is for everyone, but it protects and nourishes the best, the brightest and the most innovative among us. And that's still the greatest hope for our future. It always has been.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Apple vs. Bloggers
Wired Magazine reports on a court case that Apple brought against two Blog sites that reported on, at the time, [2004] future Apple products. Here's and excerpt:
A California appeals court has smacked down Apple's legal assault on bloggers and their sources, finding that the company's efforts to subpoena e-mail received by the publishers of Apple Insider and PowerPage.org runs contrary to federal law, California's reporter's shield law, and the state Constitution.
Read the rest...
http://blog.wired.com/27BStroke6/index.blog?entry_id=1489151
A California appeals court has smacked down Apple's legal assault on bloggers and their sources, finding that the company's efforts to subpoena e-mail received by the publishers of Apple Insider and PowerPage.org runs contrary to federal law, California's reporter's shield law, and the state Constitution.
Read the rest...
http://blog.wired.com/27BStroke6/index.blog?entry_id=1489151
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Blog Addition
I'm adding Principles in Practice, the blog of The Objective Standard, to my blogroll. Doing some housecleaning there, also.
A Case of Envy and Jealousy, me thinks.
"Art Critics" blast Dan Brown and DaVinci Code.
Here's the juicy bits...
..."With its flat prose, stick-figure characters, wooden dialogue, perfunctory scene-setting and an unfortunate tendency to interrupt the action with momentum-killing lectures, the novel is in some ways the unlikeliest of best sellers. Many Chicago writers, critics, scholars and book-industry insiders are flummoxed by the book's success."
...Author James McManus, who teaches creative writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and writes about poker for the New York Times, had a similar experience with The Da Vinci Code. "It's painful to read stuff like that," he says. "Give me some Novocain."
"He's telling you the story and then telling you what to think about the story," says Donna Seaman, associate editor of Booklist, a review journal published by the American Library Association. "He's always preaching."
"There's no interest in psychological complexity, depth, growth, development," says Barbara Newman, a professor of English, religion and classics at Northwestern University. "And I want to say this also: The two villains in the book turn out to be an albino and a cripple, which I think is regressive and prejudicial in a very nasty, stereotypical kind of way. The beautiful people are good; the people who have distorted bodies also have distorted souls. A book that prides itself on being so progressive should have a more enlightened consciousness about disability."
Here's the clincher!
But McManus, for one, argues that the Da Vinci Code phenomenon isn't good for the cause of literature in a broader sense.
"As a person who knows a lot of talented people who write wonderful books and can't get them published, as well as published writers with only a tiny audience, I regret the herd mentality in which everyone needs to read one particular book, leaving so much strong work unread," he says. "It's an unfortunate aspect of human nature that there's so little independence of mind about choosing one's reading material. People are such lemmings, and it's pathetic."
[Gee, I don't think I'm a lemming. Ed.]
Link to full article:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-davinci15.html
Here's the juicy bits...
..."With its flat prose, stick-figure characters, wooden dialogue, perfunctory scene-setting and an unfortunate tendency to interrupt the action with momentum-killing lectures, the novel is in some ways the unlikeliest of best sellers. Many Chicago writers, critics, scholars and book-industry insiders are flummoxed by the book's success."
...Author James McManus, who teaches creative writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and writes about poker for the New York Times, had a similar experience with The Da Vinci Code. "It's painful to read stuff like that," he says. "Give me some Novocain."
"He's telling you the story and then telling you what to think about the story," says Donna Seaman, associate editor of Booklist, a review journal published by the American Library Association. "He's always preaching."
"There's no interest in psychological complexity, depth, growth, development," says Barbara Newman, a professor of English, religion and classics at Northwestern University. "And I want to say this also: The two villains in the book turn out to be an albino and a cripple, which I think is regressive and prejudicial in a very nasty, stereotypical kind of way. The beautiful people are good; the people who have distorted bodies also have distorted souls. A book that prides itself on being so progressive should have a more enlightened consciousness about disability."
Here's the clincher!
But McManus, for one, argues that the Da Vinci Code phenomenon isn't good for the cause of literature in a broader sense.
"As a person who knows a lot of talented people who write wonderful books and can't get them published, as well as published writers with only a tiny audience, I regret the herd mentality in which everyone needs to read one particular book, leaving so much strong work unread," he says. "It's an unfortunate aspect of human nature that there's so little independence of mind about choosing one's reading material. People are such lemmings, and it's pathetic."
[Gee, I don't think I'm a lemming. Ed.]
Link to full article:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-davinci15.html
Puff piece on Chavez in the Guardian
Excerpts:
He's the new hero of the left - a socialist leader who is tackling poverty in Venezuela while leading the Latin American backlash against 'the empire' of George Bush. But what is Hugo Chávez really like? And how does he feel about being portrayed as a dictator by much of the British press? Jonathan Steele and Duncan Campbell meet him.
Chávez's critics have also made their voices heard. An anti-Chávez website, www.vcrisis.com, has also been running lengthy attacks on the visit, accusing him of human rights abuses, of locking up political opponents, and making a weapon out of la lista (the list) of the several million people who signed petitions calling for a referendum to recall him from power in 2004. They claim signatories suffer discrimination now. There has also been some dissent from people who support what he is trying to achieve. Nicaragua-born Bianca Jagger, for instance, criticised Chávez for supporting the Sandinista leader, Daniel Ortega, even though Ortega has made what she sees as an unholy alliance with the rightwing in his country in this autumn's elections.
[I have stopped buying any Citgo product, years ago. A small protest I know, but nonetheless...Editor]
Full article's link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329481171-111259,00.html
He's the new hero of the left - a socialist leader who is tackling poverty in Venezuela while leading the Latin American backlash against 'the empire' of George Bush. But what is Hugo Chávez really like? And how does he feel about being portrayed as a dictator by much of the British press? Jonathan Steele and Duncan Campbell meet him.
Chávez's critics have also made their voices heard. An anti-Chávez website, www.vcrisis.com, has also been running lengthy attacks on the visit, accusing him of human rights abuses, of locking up political opponents, and making a weapon out of la lista (the list) of the several million people who signed petitions calling for a referendum to recall him from power in 2004. They claim signatories suffer discrimination now. There has also been some dissent from people who support what he is trying to achieve. Nicaragua-born Bianca Jagger, for instance, criticised Chávez for supporting the Sandinista leader, Daniel Ortega, even though Ortega has made what she sees as an unholy alliance with the rightwing in his country in this autumn's elections.
[I have stopped buying any Citgo product, years ago. A small protest I know, but nonetheless...Editor]
Full article's link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329481171-111259,00.html
Monday, May 08, 2006
Follow-up to May 1 story on Government snooping in data retention...
Here's the latest endorsement, by more Republican's, of government snooping of the ISP records...
WASHINGTON--A key Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives plans to find a way to force Internet providers to keep records of their customers' activities, an aide said Friday.
The aide said Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who chairs the House committee responsible for writing Internet and telecommunications law, has pledged to work on legislation related to mandatory data retention--a concept recently endorsed by the Bush administration as a way to crack down on child pornographers.
"We have made a commitment with the congresswoman to address that issue," David Cavicke, general counsel to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said at the Computers, Freedom & Privacy conference here. Cavicke was referring to Rep. Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat, who has drafted legislation making it unlawful for an Internet provider to delete certain types of customer information.
The Link:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6069210.html?tag=sas.email
WASHINGTON--A key Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives plans to find a way to force Internet providers to keep records of their customers' activities, an aide said Friday.
The aide said Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, who chairs the House committee responsible for writing Internet and telecommunications law, has pledged to work on legislation related to mandatory data retention--a concept recently endorsed by the Bush administration as a way to crack down on child pornographers.
"We have made a commitment with the congresswoman to address that issue," David Cavicke, general counsel to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said at the Computers, Freedom & Privacy conference here. Cavicke was referring to Rep. Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat, who has drafted legislation making it unlawful for an Internet provider to delete certain types of customer information.
The Link:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6069210.html?tag=sas.email
Sunday, May 07, 2006
MyWorld66
Via Nick at The Rule of Reason, here's my map of states visited, so far. I've only been to one foreign country, Bermuda.
32 and counting...
create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide
32 and counting...
create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide
Friday, May 05, 2006
Special Treatment....again
WASHINGTON - Rep. Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) says he'd taken a prescription anti-nausea drug that can cause drowsiness, but consumed no alcohol, before crashing his car near the Capitol.
In a statement, Kennedy, D-R.I., said the attending physician for Congress had prescribed Phenergan to treat Kennedy's gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Louis P. Cannon, president of the Washington chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, who was not on the scene, said the congressman had appeared intoxicated when he crashed his Ford Mustang into a barrier on Capitol Hill.
Cannon said the officers involved in the accident were instructed by an official "above the rank of patrolman" to take Kennedy home and no sobriety tests were conducted at the scene. [Italics mine.(If this were you or me, I can hear those handcuffs clicking on our wrists as I write this...)]
Kennedy said that after working Wednesday evening he went home and took "prescribed" amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, another drug that he sometimes takes to fall asleep.
In his statement, Kennedy said he was apparently disoriented from the drugs when he got up a little before 3 a.m. Thursday and drove to the Capitol thinking he needed to be present for a vote.
"At no time before the incident did I consume any alcohol," he said.
A letter written by a Capitol Police officer to Acting Chief Christopher McGaffin said Kennedy appeared to be staggering when he left the vehicle after the crash about 3 a.m. The letter was first reported by Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.
Kennedy reportedly told the police he was late for a vote, but the final vote of the night had taken place some six hours earlier.
The Capitol Police did not return phone calls for comment.
Kennedy spent time at a drug rehabilitation clinic before he went to Providence College. He has been open about mental health issues, including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
In a statement, Kennedy, D-R.I., said the attending physician for Congress had prescribed Phenergan to treat Kennedy's gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Louis P. Cannon, president of the Washington chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, who was not on the scene, said the congressman had appeared intoxicated when he crashed his Ford Mustang into a barrier on Capitol Hill.
Cannon said the officers involved in the accident were instructed by an official "above the rank of patrolman" to take Kennedy home and no sobriety tests were conducted at the scene. [Italics mine.(If this were you or me, I can hear those handcuffs clicking on our wrists as I write this...)]
Kennedy said that after working Wednesday evening he went home and took "prescribed" amounts of Phenergan and Ambien, another drug that he sometimes takes to fall asleep.
In his statement, Kennedy said he was apparently disoriented from the drugs when he got up a little before 3 a.m. Thursday and drove to the Capitol thinking he needed to be present for a vote.
"At no time before the incident did I consume any alcohol," he said.
A letter written by a Capitol Police officer to Acting Chief Christopher McGaffin said Kennedy appeared to be staggering when he left the vehicle after the crash about 3 a.m. The letter was first reported by Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.
Kennedy reportedly told the police he was late for a vote, but the final vote of the night had taken place some six hours earlier.
The Capitol Police did not return phone calls for comment.
Kennedy spent time at a drug rehabilitation clinic before he went to Providence College. He has been open about mental health issues, including being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
New Hampshire can stop the coming federal police state
Has anyone heard the outcome of the Senate vote in NH?
Excerpt:
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE Senate will soon vote on what might be the most important bill to protect our freedoms in many years. House Bill 1582, which the House overwhelmingly passed last month, would preclude New Hampshire from participating in the REAL ID Act, a federal law passed last year establishing a de facto national ID card.
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 as a part of a "must-pass" military appropriations bill, though it had nothing whatsoever to do with the military. It requires that all states comply with certain federal requirements in the creation of driver's licenses, and would likely include a microchip containing information such as a digital photo, Social Security number and digital biometric information like the fingerprint or retinal scan of the license holder. It would force the repeal of several important privacy protections currently in New Hampshire law.
If a state doesn't comply with REAL ID, its residents risk being forced to purchase passports just to drive in other states or enter federal facilities. Thus, it reveals itself to be a Soviet-style internal passport.
History has shown that national identification systems are one of the critical pieces of infrastructure needed to foist complete tyranny upon a nation. They are used as the basis for tracking movements, purchases and monitoring activities
Full Article:
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=f4cf7065-257b-4950-849e-5bfd2f5b5284
Excerpt:
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE Senate will soon vote on what might be the most important bill to protect our freedoms in many years. House Bill 1582, which the House overwhelmingly passed last month, would preclude New Hampshire from participating in the REAL ID Act, a federal law passed last year establishing a de facto national ID card.
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 as a part of a "must-pass" military appropriations bill, though it had nothing whatsoever to do with the military. It requires that all states comply with certain federal requirements in the creation of driver's licenses, and would likely include a microchip containing information such as a digital photo, Social Security number and digital biometric information like the fingerprint or retinal scan of the license holder. It would force the repeal of several important privacy protections currently in New Hampshire law.
If a state doesn't comply with REAL ID, its residents risk being forced to purchase passports just to drive in other states or enter federal facilities. Thus, it reveals itself to be a Soviet-style internal passport.
History has shown that national identification systems are one of the critical pieces of infrastructure needed to foist complete tyranny upon a nation. They are used as the basis for tracking movements, purchases and monitoring activities
Full Article:
http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=f4cf7065-257b-4950-849e-5bfd2f5b5284
Monday, May 01, 2006
Feds set 'cover' for possible government invasion of ISP records
Excerpt:
Last week, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, a Republican, gave a speech saying that data retention by Internet service providers is an "issue that must be addressed." Child pornography investigations have been "hampered" because data may be routinely deleted, Gonzales warned.
Now, in a demonstration of bipartisan unity, a Democratic member of the Congressional Internet Caucus is preparing to introduce an amendment--perhaps during a U.S. House of Representatives floor vote next week--that would make such data deletion illegal.
Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette's proposal (click for PDF) says that any Internet service that "enables users to access content" must permanently retain records that would permit police to identify each user. The records could not be discarded until at least one year after the user's account was closed.
Here's the whole story:
http://news.com.com/Congress+may+consider+mandatory+ISP+snooping/2100-1028_3-6066608.html
Last week, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, a Republican, gave a speech saying that data retention by Internet service providers is an "issue that must be addressed." Child pornography investigations have been "hampered" because data may be routinely deleted, Gonzales warned.
Now, in a demonstration of bipartisan unity, a Democratic member of the Congressional Internet Caucus is preparing to introduce an amendment--perhaps during a U.S. House of Representatives floor vote next week--that would make such data deletion illegal.
Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette's proposal (click for PDF) says that any Internet service that "enables users to access content" must permanently retain records that would permit police to identify each user. The records could not be discarded until at least one year after the user's account was closed.
Here's the whole story:
http://news.com.com/Congress+may+consider+mandatory+ISP+snooping/2100-1028_3-6066608.html
Monday, April 17, 2006
Completely slipped my mind...
...but last friday, April 14, marked my Two Year Anniversary as a blogger!
Thanks to all my readers and friends who visit. This is a great venue and one I hope is left free to operate without government oversight.
OK, now I really am outta here!
Thanks to all my readers and friends who visit. This is a great venue and one I hope is left free to operate without government oversight.
OK, now I really am outta here!
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Vacation
I'm headed on vacation early this week and probably won't even get online, let alone post here. Be back on or around May 1.
See ya!
See ya!
Monday, April 10, 2006
A new breed of paternalists is seeking to promote virtue and wisdom by default. Be wary.
The latest issue of The Economist has, as its cover story, The 'Soft Paternalism' of the state. Those who want to oversee our health and virtue!
Here's an excerpt:
But a new breed of policy wonk is having second thoughts. On some of the biggest decisions in their lives, people succumb to inertia, ignorance or irresolution. Their private failings—obesity, smoking, boozing, profligacy—are now big political questions. And the wonks think they have an ingenious new answer—a guiding but not illiberal state.
What they propose is “soft paternalism” (see article). Thanks to years of patient observation of people's behaviour, they have come to understand your weaknesses and blindspots better than you might know them yourself. Now they hope to turn them to your advantage. They are paternalists, because they want to help you make the choices you would make for yourself—if only you had the strength of will and the sharpness of mind. But unlike “hard” paternalists, who ban some things and mandate others, the softer kind aim only to skew your decisions, without infringing greatly on your freedom of choice. Technocrats, itching to perfect society, find it irresistible. What should the supposed beneficiaries think?
The Link:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6772346
Here's an excerpt:
But a new breed of policy wonk is having second thoughts. On some of the biggest decisions in their lives, people succumb to inertia, ignorance or irresolution. Their private failings—obesity, smoking, boozing, profligacy—are now big political questions. And the wonks think they have an ingenious new answer—a guiding but not illiberal state.
What they propose is “soft paternalism” (see article). Thanks to years of patient observation of people's behaviour, they have come to understand your weaknesses and blindspots better than you might know them yourself. Now they hope to turn them to your advantage. They are paternalists, because they want to help you make the choices you would make for yourself—if only you had the strength of will and the sharpness of mind. But unlike “hard” paternalists, who ban some things and mandate others, the softer kind aim only to skew your decisions, without infringing greatly on your freedom of choice. Technocrats, itching to perfect society, find it irresistible. What should the supposed beneficiaries think?
The Link:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=6772346
Monday, April 03, 2006
The Islamist Challenge to the U.S. Constitution
From the Middle East Quarterly:
The Islamist Challenge to the U.S. Constitution
by David Kennedy Houck
Excerpt:
The Internal Muslim Enclave
The internal Muslim enclave proposed by the Islamic Center for Human Excellence in Arkansas represents a new direction for Islam in the United States. The group seeks to transform a loosely organized Muslim population into a tangible community presence. The group has foreign financial support: it falls under the umbrella of a much larger Islamic group, "Islam 4 the World," an organization sponsored by Sharjah, one of the constituent emirates of the United Arab Emirates.[5] While the Islamic Center for Human Excellence has yet to articulate detailed plans for its Little Rock enclave, the group's reliance on foreign funding is troublesome. Past investments by the United Arab Emirates' rulers and institutions have promoted radical interpretations of Islam. [6]
The Islamic Center for Human Excellence may seek to segregate schools and offices by gender. The enclave might also exercise broad control upon commerce within its boundaries—provided the economic restrictions did not discriminate against out-of-state interests or create an undue burden upon interstate commerce. But most critically, the enclave could promulgate every internal law—from enforcing strict religious dress codes to banning alcohol possession and music; it could even enforce limits upon religious and political tolerance. Although such concepts are antithetical to a free society, U.S. democracy allows the internal enclave to function beyond the established boundaries of our constitutional framework. At the very least, the permissible parameters of an Islamist enclave are ill defined.
The greater American Muslim community's unapologetic and public manifestation of belief in a separate but equal ideology does not bode well. In September 2004, the New Jersey branch of the Islamic Circle of North America rented Six Flags Adventure Park in New Jersey for "The Great Muslim Adventure Day." The advertisement announcing the event stated: "The entire park for Muslims only." While legal—and perhaps analogous to corporate or other non-religious groups renting facilities, the advertisement expressly implied a mindset that a proof of faith was required for admission to the park. In his weblog, commentator Daniel Pipes raises a relevant and troubling question about the event: because it is designated for Muslims only, "Need one recite the shahada to enter the fairgrounds?"[7]
Here's the link to the full article:
http://www.meforum.org/article/920
The Islamist Challenge to the U.S. Constitution
by David Kennedy Houck
Excerpt:
The Internal Muslim Enclave
The internal Muslim enclave proposed by the Islamic Center for Human Excellence in Arkansas represents a new direction for Islam in the United States. The group seeks to transform a loosely organized Muslim population into a tangible community presence. The group has foreign financial support: it falls under the umbrella of a much larger Islamic group, "Islam 4 the World," an organization sponsored by Sharjah, one of the constituent emirates of the United Arab Emirates.[5] While the Islamic Center for Human Excellence has yet to articulate detailed plans for its Little Rock enclave, the group's reliance on foreign funding is troublesome. Past investments by the United Arab Emirates' rulers and institutions have promoted radical interpretations of Islam. [6]
The Islamic Center for Human Excellence may seek to segregate schools and offices by gender. The enclave might also exercise broad control upon commerce within its boundaries—provided the economic restrictions did not discriminate against out-of-state interests or create an undue burden upon interstate commerce. But most critically, the enclave could promulgate every internal law—from enforcing strict religious dress codes to banning alcohol possession and music; it could even enforce limits upon religious and political tolerance. Although such concepts are antithetical to a free society, U.S. democracy allows the internal enclave to function beyond the established boundaries of our constitutional framework. At the very least, the permissible parameters of an Islamist enclave are ill defined.
The greater American Muslim community's unapologetic and public manifestation of belief in a separate but equal ideology does not bode well. In September 2004, the New Jersey branch of the Islamic Circle of North America rented Six Flags Adventure Park in New Jersey for "The Great Muslim Adventure Day." The advertisement announcing the event stated: "The entire park for Muslims only." While legal—and perhaps analogous to corporate or other non-religious groups renting facilities, the advertisement expressly implied a mindset that a proof of faith was required for admission to the park. In his weblog, commentator Daniel Pipes raises a relevant and troubling question about the event: because it is designated for Muslims only, "Need one recite the shahada to enter the fairgrounds?"[7]
Here's the link to the full article:
http://www.meforum.org/article/920
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Happenstance II
Dateline Sunday April 2, 2006 3:50pm EST.
Went to Barnes and Noble to buy a couple of books for a friend that I thought I'd lost contact with, who recently sent me a letter, and that's a good thing. [A four year absence].
While at the bookstore, I just happened to be in the aisle that Rand's books were opposite where I was looking, when a tall drink of blonde fox stepped in the aisle as the clerk showed her where Miss Rand's books were. I didn't catch it till I turned around and she had the trade edition paperback of The Fountainhead in her hand and was speaking to her mother about it. I waited for a break and said, "that's a great novel. You won't regret reading it". She smiled and continued looking thought it and talking to her mom about it. As they read the back cover,her mom cooed about 'the romantic angle'. As they left with book in hand, she turned back to me and I said, "Good luck with it" and smiled. She smiled and went on her way.
Just another day in the life...
I'm thinking about changing my name to Rand's Babe Magnet. Whaddya think? Heh.
Hooray for me! ;-)
Went to Barnes and Noble to buy a couple of books for a friend that I thought I'd lost contact with, who recently sent me a letter, and that's a good thing. [A four year absence].
While at the bookstore, I just happened to be in the aisle that Rand's books were opposite where I was looking, when a tall drink of blonde fox stepped in the aisle as the clerk showed her where Miss Rand's books were. I didn't catch it till I turned around and she had the trade edition paperback of The Fountainhead in her hand and was speaking to her mother about it. I waited for a break and said, "that's a great novel. You won't regret reading it". She smiled and continued looking thought it and talking to her mom about it. As they read the back cover,her mom cooed about 'the romantic angle'. As they left with book in hand, she turned back to me and I said, "Good luck with it" and smiled. She smiled and went on her way.
Just another day in the life...
I'm thinking about changing my name to Rand's Babe Magnet. Whaddya think? Heh.
Hooray for me! ;-)
Saturday, April 01, 2006
ARI: The Fear To Speak Comes To America's Shores
Europeans are all too well acquainted with the fear of criticizing Islam.
To cite just a few of depressingly many examples: a painter, Rashid Ben Ali, is forced into hiding after one of his shows "featured satirical work critical of Islamic militant's violence"; a politician, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, must go underground after it becomes known that she has renounced her Islamic faith; and a film director, Theo van Gogh, is savagely stabbed to death for making a film critical of Islamic oppression of women. And most recently, of course, there were the Danish cartoons. When the Jyllands-Posten, in order to expose and challenge this climate of intimidation, printed an article and accompanying cartoons, some of which portrayed Mohammed in a negative light, the response was torched embassies, cries for government censorship, and death threats.
It appears that we should now begin to get used to a similar climate in America.
Borders and Waldenbooks stores have just announced that they will not stock the April-May issue of Free Inquiry magazine because the issue reprints some of the cartoons. Is the decision based on disagreement with the content of the magazine? No, not according to Borders Group Inc. spokeswoman Beth Bingham. "For us, the safety and security of our customers and employees is a top priority, and we believe that carrying this issue could challenge that priority."
Borders Group's capitulation to Islamic thugs is understandable given the pathetic response of our and other Western governments.
Has any Western government declared that an individual's freedom of speech is sacrosanct, no matter who screams offense at his ideas? No. Has any Western government proclaimed each individual's right to life and pledged to hunt down anyone, anywhere, who abets the murder of one of its citizens for having had the effrontery to speak? No--as they did not when the fatwa against Rushdie was issued, American bookstores were firebombed, and Rushdie's translators were attacked and murdered.
On the contrary, our government went out of its way to say that it shares "the offence that Muslims have taken at these images," and even hinted that they should not be published. The British police, Douglas Murray reports, told the editor of a London magazine that they could not protect him, his staff, or his offices from attack--so the magazine removed the cartoons from its website. (A few days later, Murray notes, "the police provided 500 officers to protect a 'peaceful' Muslim protest in Trafalgar Square.")
In the face of such outrages, we must demand that the U.S. government reverse its disgraceful stand and fulfill is obligation to protect our right to free speech.
Freedom of speech means the right to express one's ideas without danger of physical coercion from anyone. This freedom includes the right to make movies, write books, draw pictures, voice political opinions--and satirize religion. This right flows from the right to think: the right to observe, to follow the evidence, to reach the conclusions you judge the facts warrant--and then to convey your thoughts to others.
In a free society, anyone angered by someone else's ideas has a simple and powerful recourse: don't buy his books, watch his movies, or read his newspapers. If one judges his ideas dangerous, argue against them. The purveyor of evil ideas is no threat to those who remain free to counter them with rational ones.
But the moment someone decides to answer those he finds offensive with a knife or a homemade explosive, not an argument, he removes himself from civilized society.
Against such a threat to our rights, our government must respond with force. If it fails to do so, it fails to fulfill its reason for being: "to secure these rights," Jefferson wrote, "Governments are instituted among Men." And if it fails to do so, we the people must hold it to account.
We must vociferously demand that our government declare publicly that, from this day forward, it will defend by force any American who receives death threats for criticizing Islam--or religion--or any other idea. We must demand that the government protect the stores and employees of Borders, of Waldenbooks, and of any other organization that reprints the cartoons.
We must demand this, because nothing less will prevent America's climate of freedom from disintegrating into Europe's climate of fear.
Copyright © 2006 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.
Op-eds, press releases and letters to the editor produced by the Ayn Rand Institute are submitted to hundreds of newspapers, radio stations and Web sites across the United States and abroad, and are made possible thanks to voluntary contributions.
To cite just a few of depressingly many examples: a painter, Rashid Ben Ali, is forced into hiding after one of his shows "featured satirical work critical of Islamic militant's violence"; a politician, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, must go underground after it becomes known that she has renounced her Islamic faith; and a film director, Theo van Gogh, is savagely stabbed to death for making a film critical of Islamic oppression of women. And most recently, of course, there were the Danish cartoons. When the Jyllands-Posten, in order to expose and challenge this climate of intimidation, printed an article and accompanying cartoons, some of which portrayed Mohammed in a negative light, the response was torched embassies, cries for government censorship, and death threats.
It appears that we should now begin to get used to a similar climate in America.
Borders and Waldenbooks stores have just announced that they will not stock the April-May issue of Free Inquiry magazine because the issue reprints some of the cartoons. Is the decision based on disagreement with the content of the magazine? No, not according to Borders Group Inc. spokeswoman Beth Bingham. "For us, the safety and security of our customers and employees is a top priority, and we believe that carrying this issue could challenge that priority."
Borders Group's capitulation to Islamic thugs is understandable given the pathetic response of our and other Western governments.
Has any Western government declared that an individual's freedom of speech is sacrosanct, no matter who screams offense at his ideas? No. Has any Western government proclaimed each individual's right to life and pledged to hunt down anyone, anywhere, who abets the murder of one of its citizens for having had the effrontery to speak? No--as they did not when the fatwa against Rushdie was issued, American bookstores were firebombed, and Rushdie's translators were attacked and murdered.
On the contrary, our government went out of its way to say that it shares "the offence that Muslims have taken at these images," and even hinted that they should not be published. The British police, Douglas Murray reports, told the editor of a London magazine that they could not protect him, his staff, or his offices from attack--so the magazine removed the cartoons from its website. (A few days later, Murray notes, "the police provided 500 officers to protect a 'peaceful' Muslim protest in Trafalgar Square.")
In the face of such outrages, we must demand that the U.S. government reverse its disgraceful stand and fulfill is obligation to protect our right to free speech.
Freedom of speech means the right to express one's ideas without danger of physical coercion from anyone. This freedom includes the right to make movies, write books, draw pictures, voice political opinions--and satirize religion. This right flows from the right to think: the right to observe, to follow the evidence, to reach the conclusions you judge the facts warrant--and then to convey your thoughts to others.
In a free society, anyone angered by someone else's ideas has a simple and powerful recourse: don't buy his books, watch his movies, or read his newspapers. If one judges his ideas dangerous, argue against them. The purveyor of evil ideas is no threat to those who remain free to counter them with rational ones.
But the moment someone decides to answer those he finds offensive with a knife or a homemade explosive, not an argument, he removes himself from civilized society.
Against such a threat to our rights, our government must respond with force. If it fails to do so, it fails to fulfill its reason for being: "to secure these rights," Jefferson wrote, "Governments are instituted among Men." And if it fails to do so, we the people must hold it to account.
We must vociferously demand that our government declare publicly that, from this day forward, it will defend by force any American who receives death threats for criticizing Islam--or religion--or any other idea. We must demand that the government protect the stores and employees of Borders, of Waldenbooks, and of any other organization that reprints the cartoons.
We must demand this, because nothing less will prevent America's climate of freedom from disintegrating into Europe's climate of fear.
Copyright © 2006 Ayn Rand® Institute. All rights reserved.
Op-eds, press releases and letters to the editor produced by the Ayn Rand Institute are submitted to hundreds of newspapers, radio stations and Web sites across the United States and abroad, and are made possible thanks to voluntary contributions.
Friday, March 31, 2006
How to Call the Police [True Story]
HOW TO CALL THE POLICE:
George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi
was going up to bed when
his wife told him that he'd left the
light on in the garden shed,
which she could see from the bedroom
window. George opened the back
door to go turn off the light, but saw
that there were people in the
shed stealing things.
He phoned the police, who asked "Is
someone in your house?" and he
said no. Then they said that all
patrols were busy, and that he
should simply lock his door and an
officer would be along when
available. George said "Okay," hung up,
counted to 30, and phoned
the police again.
"Hello. I just called you a few seconds
ago because there were
people in my shed. Well, you don't have
to worry about them now
hung up.
Within five minutes, three police cars,
an Armed Response unit, and
an ambulance showed up at the Phillips'
residence. Of course, the
police caught the burglars red-handed.
One of the policemen said to George: "I
thought you said that you'd
shot them!"
George said, "I thought you said there
was nobody available!"
George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi
was going up to bed when
his wife told him that he'd left the
light on in the garden shed,
which she could see from the bedroom
window. George opened the back
door to go turn off the light, but saw
that there were people in the
shed stealing things.
He phoned the police, who asked "Is
someone in your house?" and he
said no. Then they said that all
patrols were busy, and that he
should simply lock his door and an
officer would be along when
available. George said "Okay," hung up,
counted to 30, and phoned
the police again.
"Hello. I just called you a few seconds
ago because there were
people in my shed. Well, you don't have
to worry about them now
hung up.
Within five minutes, three police cars,
an Armed Response unit, and
an ambulance showed up at the Phillips'
residence. Of course, the
police caught the burglars red-handed.
One of the policemen said to George: "I
thought you said that you'd
shot them!"
George said, "I thought you said there
was nobody available!"
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Harry Binswanger posts @ Immigration Daily
Dr. Binswanger has an essay favoring open immigration over at Immigration Daily. Here's an excerpt...[It's excellent. Read it all].
An end to immigration quotas is demanded by the principle of individual rights. Every individual has rights as an individual, not as a member of this or that nation. One has rights not by virtue of being an American, but by virtue of being human.
One doesn't have to be a resident of any particular country to have a moral entitlement to be secure from governmental coercion against one's life, liberty, and property. In the words of the Declaration of Independence, government is instituted "to secure these rights"--to protect them against their violation by force or fraud.
A foreigner has rights just as much as an American. To be a foreigner is not to be a criminal. Yet our government treats as criminals those foreigners not lucky enough to win the green-card lottery.
Seeking employment in this country is not a criminal act. It coerces no one and violates no one's rights (there is no "right" to be exempt from competition in the labor market, or in any other market
Here's the link to the full article:
http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0329-Binswanger.shtm
[HT:Charlotte Capitalist]
An end to immigration quotas is demanded by the principle of individual rights. Every individual has rights as an individual, not as a member of this or that nation. One has rights not by virtue of being an American, but by virtue of being human.
One doesn't have to be a resident of any particular country to have a moral entitlement to be secure from governmental coercion against one's life, liberty, and property. In the words of the Declaration of Independence, government is instituted "to secure these rights"--to protect them against their violation by force or fraud.
A foreigner has rights just as much as an American. To be a foreigner is not to be a criminal. Yet our government treats as criminals those foreigners not lucky enough to win the green-card lottery.
Seeking employment in this country is not a criminal act. It coerces no one and violates no one's rights (there is no "right" to be exempt from competition in the labor market, or in any other market
Here's the link to the full article:
http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0329-Binswanger.shtm
[HT:Charlotte Capitalist]
An Interview with Lee Sandstead
Objectivist Art Historian Lee Sandstead sat still long enough to give this interview and I call it to your immediate attention. I've known Lee for almost a dozen years, perhaps longer, as I was living in central Tennessee at the time and he showed up at our Objectivist gatherings.
It's always great to see younger people succeed and I am proud of him and the work he's doing.
Don't miss this interview. You'll be glad you read it.
http://www.monumentlight.com/interview/interview.html
It's always great to see younger people succeed and I am proud of him and the work he's doing.
Don't miss this interview. You'll be glad you read it.
http://www.monumentlight.com/interview/interview.html
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Some General Observations...
My friend Simon over at Capitalist Solutions in Hong Kong has some general observations, including this little gem:
Over 500,000 students demonstrated in France last week against labour reform, but only a handful protested against Islamic threats to free speech.
Here's the link. Go. Read.
http://www.hkcapitalist.com/hkcapitalist/2006/03/some_general_ob.html
Over 500,000 students demonstrated in France last week against labour reform, but only a handful protested against Islamic threats to free speech.
Here's the link. Go. Read.
http://www.hkcapitalist.com/hkcapitalist/2006/03/some_general_ob.html
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Atheists identified as America's Most Distrusted Minority
University of Minnesota study concludes, among other things...
From a telephone sampling of more than 2,000 households, university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in “sharing their vision of American society.” Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.
Even though atheists are few in number, not formally organized and relatively hard to publicly identify, they are seen as a threat to the American way of life by a large portion of the American public.
“It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common ‘core’ of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that ‘core’ has historically been religious."
Here's the whole article:
http://www.ur.umn.edu/FMPro?-db=releases&-lay=web&-format=umnnewsreleases/releasesdetail.html&ID=2816&-Find
From a telephone sampling of more than 2,000 households, university researchers found that Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians and other minority groups in “sharing their vision of American society.” Atheists are also the minority group most Americans are least willing to allow their children to marry.
Even though atheists are few in number, not formally organized and relatively hard to publicly identify, they are seen as a threat to the American way of life by a large portion of the American public.
“It seems most Americans believe that diversity is fine, as long as every one shares a common ‘core’ of values that make them trustworthy—and in America, that ‘core’ has historically been religious."
Here's the whole article:
http://www.ur.umn.edu/FMPro?-db=releases&-lay=web&-format=umnnewsreleases/releasesdetail.html&ID=2816&-Find
Noam Chomsky: Closet Capitalist?
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
Hey Noam, contradictions cannot exist.
Here's the story:
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=1385b76d-6c34-4c22-942a-18b71f2c4a44&k=53758
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.
Op-eds, press releases and letters to the editor produced by the Ayn Rand Institute are submitted to hundreds of newspapers, radio stations and Web sites across the United States and abroad, and are made possible thanks to voluntary contributions.
If you would like to help support ARI's efforts, please make an online contribution at http://www.aynrand.org/support.
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.
Op-eds, press releases and letters to the editor produced by the Ayn Rand Institute are submitted to hundreds of newspapers, radio stations and Web sites across the United States and abroad, and are made possible thanks to voluntary contributions.
If you would like to help support ARI's efforts, please make an online contribution at http://www.aynrand.org/support.
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
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.
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