Blogroll Additions

Hong Kong Capitalist [Simon Patkin] and his Hong Kong think tank Capitalist Solutions, both added to blogroll today. Go check 'em out ;-)

Gus's Birthday!

Gus van Horn's blog turned one year old recently!!! Hooray!

Congrats

Biopolis

Singapore has established a hub for biomedical reasearch, that may be the envy of the world. [With the usual flaw of government-private "partnership"]. Johns Hopkins is there, among others.

http://www.one-north.com/pages/lifeXchange/bio_intro.asp

Related links:

The Singapore Model and Latin America
http://www.techcentralstation.com/102405A.html

The Seoul of Clones
http://slate.msn.com/id/2128361/

Immoral to Ban Human Cloning
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=5164

The Anti-Life Opposition to Embryonic Stem Cell Research
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=11113

Bush's Biotechnology Blinders
http://www.aynrand.org/site/News2?news_iv_ctrl=-1&page=NewsArticle&id=7376

'The Fountainhead' in Chinese!

Diana [from Noodle Food] reports on Ian Hamet's blog Bananna Oil that 'The Fountainhead' has been published and released in the Chinese language! Excellent news.
Echoing Diana's thoughts, let's hope it sells well among the young and they solve the conflict between individualism vs. collectivism both in their own souls and in politics.

http://blog.ianhamet.com/index.php/archive/2005/10/19/1426/

Is Ayn Rand Optional?

Guest blogger Don Watkins III, over at Noodle Food writes an excellent, incisive article concerning Miss Rand's own character and the importance of each of us integrating the concern for character into our own lives.

Go. Read. You'll enjoy it.

http://www.dianahsieh.com/blog/2005/10/is-ayn-rand-optional.html

The Capitalist Manifesto

Received the book yesterday. Have finished, and savored the Introduction. Soon to feast on the main content.
It's thrilling to see this, and other books making their way into the mainstream. Let's hope it becomes a torrent.

[Major Hat Tip to Andy Bernstein]

Chávez Moves Reserves Out of US Treasuries

From The Financial Times
October 7,2005


http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6349

Societies decline when "God is on their side"

DUH! I thought this was obvious to any thinking person. Thanks to Paul @ Noodle Food for the story and link.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1798944,00.html

As an aside, I hardly think comparing the US to Britain, and the rest of Europe, who are bathed in a secularized form of altruism is a valid indication of America's ills. Altruism kills everywhere it is tried and practiced. Whether it takes an hour or a hundred years, altruism, religion, any form of mysticism is in its essence: death worship.
I've never heard of the journal this report is published in, and I can guess, with high certainty, that the professors undertaking this study were "liberal/socialist" in nature.
Neither European's nor American's understand that in America, people are free to believe whatever they wish--in private--that is what the principle of Individual Rights stands for, as an philosophical absolute. Since we no longer govern by, nor understand, that founding principle, in the 'majority-rule democracy' that we have lowered ourselves too, it's gang rule baby! Whoever has the biggest gang of the moment, rules to pander to their own kind.
America is a secular Republic, not a democracy. Founded as a tribute to the Enlightenment, American government must remain secular, or impartial, only taking action to protect the Individual Rights of its citizens.
If Christianity, or any religion for that matter, were the actual foundation of human freedom, as nearly every conservative claims, then why, when religion held sway over the entire earth, is that period known as the Dark Ages?

Serenity

I went to see Serenity yesterday afternoon and was not too disappointed. The movie version/extension of the TV series Firefly was visually appealing and Joss Whedon (sp?) writes a good script in a "Man vs. State" old-west/futuristic themed motion picture.
Rumor has it the crew of Serenity has signed a three picture deal, with yesterday's release being their first.
It's always intriguing to see someone who grasps, if only rudimentarily, that necessary theme of the individual against the massive mindless bureaucracy [The Alliance, in this case.]
The only gripes I have are one minor and one major. They [the gripes] have to deal with what happens to Wash [Alan Tudyk, the pilot] and to Book. We are left hanging with Book, [Ron Glass] as it is never explained what his purpose is/was either in the series or this movie, other than he was some sort of 'freelance' preacher, walking a thin line between The Alliance and The Independents. Speaking for myself, this is a glaring omission, but it doesn't detract from the film.
Nathan Fillion [Mal Reynolds] looks to be a superb actor and I hope he has a bright future

Overall, if you like good acting and smart dialogue, check out Serenity. It helps if you know the tv series, but it's not vital.

4 out of 5 stars

New Blog added

I've added Self Uncensored to the Bloglist at left. He has posted some wonderful photos of New York City just recently.

Quote of the Day

"The individual human mind (is holy to me). In a child's power to master the multiplication table there is more sanctity than in all your shouted amens and holy-holies and hosannas. An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral and the advance of man's knowledge is a greater miracle than all the sticks turned to snakes and the parting of the waters."

Henry Drummond "Inherit the Wind"

The Anti-Christian Marriage Amendment (Satire)

The shoe's on the other foot! Let's see how they like it...

http://www.deism.org/antichristianmarriageamendment.html

[The appearance of this satire on my blog is not an endorsement of its contents. But it sure is funny!]

Reason: The Only Oracle of Man

Yesterday, I discovered that Ethan Allen's seminal work is now an online book! I long for a hardbound copy of this book, and have for many years.
If any reader's know where I can order/find/buy a copy of the actual book, please write to me at secularfoxhole@Gmail.com

Read. Enjoy.

http://www.deism.org/ethanallen.htm

"Missed It By That Much"

Sad news today as Don Adams passed away. Playing Maxwell Smart in the TV comedy "Get Smart" he was one of my all-time favorites. "Would you believe!", I will miss him.

Least we forget, here's a hat tip to the beautiful Agent 99, Barbara Feldon.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=1160715

The Epistemological 'Perfect Storm'

Author Dan Simmons, whom I've mentioned favorably on this site before, publishes a monthly letter to fans on his website, that I'm linking to below.
Readers of this blog may know that I've recommended some of his books, especially 'Darwin's Blade' and 'The Crook Factory', along with his sci-fi series 'Hyperion'.
In this month's letter, he talks of his epistemological 'storm' i.e., "one of those rare and serendipitous conjunctions of books randomly read resulting in a quantum leap in conceptual understanding on an important issue or opaque era or human dilemma or complex idea or all four of these catagories and more..."

Mr. Simmons goes on to lambast creationism among other things, but says this interesting quote: "How can I think and write with greater clarity while simultaneously discovering and creating more ambiguity?"

I'm linking to this open letter not as an endorsement of Mr. Simmons own epistemology or of his conclusions, but as an exercise in 'Philosophical Detection' for those who wish to read a stimulating article.

Best premises!

http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message.htm

Bush considering use of military on U.S. soil

Am I growing more paranoid as I get older, or does this sound as ominous to you as it does to me?

"President Bush's push to give the military a bigger role in responding to major disasters like Hurricane Katrina could lead to a loosening of legal limits on the use of federal troops on U.S. soil."

Here's a sentence I just love...

"Bush did not define the wider role he envisions for the military."

That's right! I forgot! We must be flexible in our policy making! No firm principles here!

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,77271,00.html?ESRC=army-a.nl

Had the National Guard been here to do its job, instead of in Iraq and wherever else he's put them, this discussion wouldn't be necessary now, would it? Perhaps that's why he and his braintrust moved the NG offsite to begin with, to set up this discussion and possible implementation. Again, is this paranoia or just observation of fact?
Readers of this blog should know I have great respect for our military, but that I strongly dislike the way they are being manipulated by this administration.

New Blog Added

I've added Armchair Intellectual to my Blogroll. Click on the link at left to visit and read Gideon's excellent critique of the latest smear job on Miss Rand.

Disturbing Events in Gaza and in Britain

Armchair Intellectual has posted, with links some disturbing news out of Gaza and Britain, via Caroline Glick. Disturbing, but sadly, not surprising in the least.

Once again, Go. Now.

http://armchairintellectual.blogspot.com/2005/09/todays-commentary-part-1-there-seems.html

[Hat tip: Thrutch]

Al Gore: New Darling of the Religious Right

Per The American Thinker, Al Gore officially endorses creationism being taught in public schools.
http://www.americanthinker.com/comments.php?comments_id=3094

Also see Gus van Horn's commentary on the above subject.

http://gusvanhorn.blogspot.com/2005/09/science-at-american-hypocrite.html

Never Forget

Capitalism Magazine has an excellent compendium of articles on September 11. Dr Peikoff leads the list, with his superb 'End States that Sponsor Terrorism'.

Excellent

http://www.capmag.com/shownews.asp#1459