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dan_edge

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Everything posted by dan_edge

  1. Man, if that's old school, then I'm in the ancient school. I got the original Castlevania 1 for the NES (when I was about 8 years old). As good as it was, it was surpassed by Castlevania 2, which had a significant adventure/rpg element to it. I still play Castlevania 2 from time to time, as recently as a few months ago. I don't have all that new fandangled technology you kids are using nowadays. The newest system I have is the Super NES. DK Country rocks! --Dan Edge
  2. By Dan Edge from The Edge of Reason,cross-posted by MetaBlog The UFC website posted a "keys to the fight" analysis yesterday on the upcoming Lightweight championship bout between BJ Penn and Joe Stevenson here. From that article: "...Penn is so talented that the outcome of a fight rarely depends on what his opponent does in the ring. He doesn’t need to key off any one Stevenson weakness. He doesn’t need to worry about avoiding any particular Stevenson strength." Considering Joe's Lightweight record and his dominant performances in the UFC, I'm surprised that the UFC website writers consider Penn to be such a heavy favorite. I mean, Penn "doesn’t need to worry about ... Stevenson['s] strength"? If Penn is as intelligent a fighter as he seems, I'm sure he is not taking this perspective. One can be sure that Penn is busy in the gym working on a game plan with his trainers to deal with Joe's considerable strengths, and exploit his relative weaknesses. If Penn takes the attitude that he can just come in and impose his will, without taking Joe's heavy hands and grappling skills into account, then we're in for a very short fight. Fortunately for fight fans, I seriously doubt that Penn is taking Joe lightly -- which means that we're in for an exciting bout that could go the distance. I hesitate to make a prediction since I'm such a big Joe "Daddy" fan, but I'll do it anyway. If Penn pushes the pace early and spends most of the first two rounds on top of Joe, then I'd have to give the advantage to Penn. But if Penn is unable to maintain a dominant position for the first two and a half rounds, I don't think he will have what it takes to go the distance with Joe. My upset prediction: Joe "Daddy" Stevenson wins by unanimous decision after five rounds of exciting MMA action. --Dan Edge View the full article
  3. "Many times did it seem like I was reading my own mind, the trail of thoughts I’ve had numerous times." Many people describe this same experience after reading Atlas Shrugged. The best phrase I've heard to describe the feeling is "the shock of recognition," which interestingly enough is the same phrase many use to describe meeting their lover for the first time. Welcome to the forum! The people are really cool here, except for this one guy named Dariusoft Nerd, or something like that. Stay away from him. --Dan Edge
  4. Athena, It's a pleasure to welcome you the forum. There are a lot of good folks here, as I'm sure you'll find. I'm very happy for you that you have found someone through the Atlasphere. Best Wishes, --Dan Edge
  5. Hello All, I agree with West and Kendall. Occasional drinking is fine, but there is something wrong with one who customarily consumes alcohol for the express purpose of getting intoxicated. One major problem is that drugs and alcohol can grow to replace other values and hobbies in one's life. (Incidentally, I believe there is no significant difference between alcohol and other recreational drugs in this regard.) If all you need to feel good is to consume a substance, then it can sap one's motivation to seek pleasure from other, more productive sources. Also, just as with smoking, drug and alcohol use is extremely psychologically addictive. One may not acknowledge that he has a problem until his life starts to go downhill. Even if drug use doesn't totally destroy one's life, it can stunt his development as a human being. Imagine the difference in character that would result from two men who lead very similar lives, except that one goes out Swing Dancing once a week, while the other gets trashed on vodka once a week. The latter's life would fall apart very quickly. Heavy alcohol use can, and often does, lead to using more serious and addictive substances. Many people are introduced to the "harder" drugs for the first time while they are drunk, when their judgment is warped. Besides, what in principle is the difference between drinking liquor to get high and using cocaine for the same purpose? There is none. If the former is a justifiable form of recreation, then so is the latter. I will strongly discourage my children from using any drugs of any kind (including alcohol). --Dan Edge
  6. By Dan Edge from The Edge of Reason,cross-posted by MetaBlog Most internet users have heard at least a few of the satirical Chuck Norris Facts that have been circulating on the web for the past year. Like: "When the Incredible Hulk gets mad, he turns into Chuck Norris," or: "Before the Bogeyman goes to bed, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris." These Facts became so widespread that Norris's popularity rose significantly, and he was asked about it often during interviews. He seemed to have a good sense of humor about the whole thing, and read off a few of his favorite Facts on the Tony Danza Show. He wrote that the phenomenon was mostly "just promoting harmless fun," and that "maybe these one liners will prompt some one to seek out the real facts about [him] and the beliefs that have shaped [his] life." Many of the Facts I found to be hilarious, but I didn't "seek out the real facts" about Chuck Norris when I first heard about it. He was so cool about the whole thing, I thought he must be a decent guy -- someone whose books and movies I might buy. Ian Spector, the college Freshman who started the original Chuck Norris Facts website, published a book of the Facts late last year. In the introduction, he wrote about how he had actually met Chuck Norris, Norris's wife, and their lawyer after the website got popular. At first, Spector was terrified that Norris would deliver him a roundhouse kick to the face. But Norris was very friendly and seemed to appreciate all the attention from the Chuck Norris Facts phenomenon. Spector was confident enough after that meeting to allow Penguin to publish a collection of the Facts. Norris is now suing Spector and Penguin. I have no idea of the merits of his case against Spector; for all I know, Norris's lawsuit could be valid or entirely frivolous. But I am thankful that he sued because otherwise I might not have done any research on Norris, to discover the true "beliefs that have shaped his life." Chuck Norris is an evangelical Christian and political activist. He publishes a blog on World Net Daily, a leading conservative Christian news website. He has developed a new career writing Christian fiction novels for young people. He doesn't believe in evolution. He is on the National Council of Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, which is fighting to have Bible classes in public schools across America. On his blog, he touts a new Censorship Bill (formally named the Protecting Children From Indecent Programming Act), which is up for vote in the senate. Norris is a fundamentalist, "born again", bible thumping Theocrat. And he is aggressively campaigning for Mike Huckabee for President. On his blog, Norris explains that, after "praying about who could lead this country as our next president," he divined that Huckabee was the best choice. Why? Here's a few of the reasons cited: - Huckabee is an ordained minister. - He will "stand up for a Creator and against Secularist beliefs" in government. - He initiated a government-sponsored health insurance program in Arkansas. - He wants to reform the public education program... again. (I wonder if Biblical teachings will be part of that "reform?" I'm sure Chuck Norris is praying for that.) - He supports a constitutional ban on gay marriage. - He supports a Federal ban on abortion. Huckabee is officially "Chuck Norris Approved." For the past few weeks, Norris and his wife have been on the campaign trail with Huckabee in Iowa. Norris and Huckabee actually use some of the Chuck Norris Facts in a http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDUQW8LUMs8. Not surprisingly, when Huckabee gave his speech after winning the Iowa primary last night, his evangelical bodyguard Chuck Norris was right behind him. I do have to thank Chuck Norris for one thing: he has helped me see that Mike Huckabee is the very last person I would want in charge of this country. If Mike Huckabee earns the nomination for the Republican party, I will vote for whoever is running against him. Also, I know now not to make the mistake of buying any of Norris's books or videos, ever. Any dime given to Norris is money in the pockets of the fundamentalist, evangelical, Christian Behemoth that has swallowed the Republican party whole. So, why does the Bogeyman check his closet for Chuck Norris before he goes to bed? Because he's afraid of those goddamn Fundamentalist Christians! Me too. --Dan Edge View the full article
  7. I just made a post about Huckabee and the Chuck Norris connection on my blog here. --Dan Edge
  8. Well, Bah Humbug, Diana! While I didn't fawn over the movie like some, I still enjoyed it. I did like the fact that Leonidas tells the religious nuts to go screw themselves while he saved his people. Never give up, never surrender! Oh wait, that's the Galaxy Quest anthem... --Dan Edge
  9. By Dan Edge from The Edge of Reason,cross-posted by MetaBlog Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was murdered this morning at a political campaign rally. She was shot in the neck by an assassin while a suicide bomber (possibly the same person?) blew himself up to claim 20 more casualties. I don’t know much about Mrs. Bhutto, but I do know that she was the loudest voice in Pakistan opposing Musharraf’s dictatorial military rule. The crazy thing about this is that, while there is no evidence implicating Musharraf’s government in the attack, it’s quite possible that the assassination was carried out under his direct orders. That alone tells you what kind of people are our “strong allies.” Musharraf is the Saddam Hussein of Southeast Asia. Not that I advocate his overthrow -- just a recognition of the quality of man we are dealing with over there. If Musharraf declares martial law to combat the eruption of protests that follow the assassination, then we’ll know he probably had a part in it. How clever to murder the leader of the opposition, then use the resulting public outcry as an excuse to seize more control. What a sad, sad country Pakistan is. And how sad it is that they are our ally. --Dan Edge View the full article
  10. By Dan Edge from The Edge of Reason,cross-posted by MetaBlog www.edgefunandgames.com Edge Fun and Games is a small business based out of Pomona, NY. The owner is a fan of the Harry Potter series, and is happy to offer the best Harry Potter toys on the market. The quality of NECA toys is second to none. We look forward to offering a wider variety of NECA toys as our business grows. Please check out the website, and order early while we still have “Harry Potter” himself in stock! This is a great gift for kids and those who are (like me) young at heart. Mention this letter, and get $3 off on the “Harry Potter” action figure with the purchase of any other toy (this includes multiples of “Harry Potter”). You must call or email to take advantage of this offer. Feel free to call or email with any other questions. -------------- Dan Edge President Edge Fun and Games 845-694-8337 office 845-558-9328 cell [email protected] View the full article
  11. Edge Fun and Games is a small business based out of Pomona, NY. The owner is a fan of the Harry Potter series, and is happy to offer the best Harry Potter toys on the market. The quality of NECA toys is second to none. We look forward to offering a wider variety of NECA toys as our business grows. Please check out the website, and order early while we still have “Harry Potter” himself in stock! This is a great gift for kids and those who are (like me) young at heart. Mention this letter, and get $3 off on the “Harry Potter” action figure with the purchase of any other toy (this includes multiples of “Harry Potter”). You must call or email to take advantage of this offer. Feel free to call or email with any other questions. -------------- Dan Edge President Edge Fun and Games www.edgefunandgames.com 845-694-8337o 845-558-9328c [email protected]
  12. Since we're on the light bulb kick: Q: How many Feminazis does it take to screw in a light bulb? A: Two. One to screw in the light bulb, and one to give me a blow job. --Dan Edge
  13. Howdy Jon, One could quibble about the structure of your essay, but overall I think it displayed a very good "chewing" of the issue. I thought the best-written section was part 2, where you introduce some of the arguments in favor of religion. You gave the opposing viewpoint a fair shake, which is important. Also, I think the content of part 4 shows that you have given a lot of thought to the issue, and that you take it very seriously. One thing you could have done to make the paper flow more smoothly is to place your counterarguments in part 3 instead of part 4. You do a good job of presenting opposing viewpoints in part 2, but you don't present your counterarguments until part 4. As I was reading part 3, I was thinking: "So what are his answers to these arguments?" By the time I got to part 4, I had to go back and reread sections of part 2 to remind myself what you were refuting. Also, you didn't go through and systematically refute all of the arguments in part 2. You raised the Cosmological argument, but I didn't see a clear answer to it. While it is important to give the opposing view a fair shake, you still want to blast them out of the water! Finally, I note that your paper argues for agnosticism, as opposed to atheism, which is the Objectivist viewpoint. I encourage you to continue to look into the Objectivist view, especially Objectivist epistemology, because in the end that's what this issue comes down to. You may be interested in George H. Smith's "Atheism: The Case Against God" and of course the Objectivist non-fiction. I hope my comments were helpful. --Dan Edge
  14. Descartes walks into a bar. OWWWWW! --Dan Edge
  15. By Dan Edge from The Edge of Reason,cross-posted by MetaBlog In my last blog entry, I presented an example of the ‘cash value’ of mind-body integration. I showed how an understanding of one’s own psycho-epistemology could help him train his emotional responses to values. Also in that entry, I promised another example of the benefits of mind-body integration -- this time related to sexuality. I will fulfill that promise here. Let us consider another example: A young man discovers Objectivism as a freshman in high school. He dives into Rand’s philosophical works with gusto. On the weekends, while many of his peers are competing in sporting events, or going to dance clubs, or going out on dates -- he is cloistered in a local coffee shop with Atlas Shrugged. Intellectually, he is light years ahead of his classmates. But (in part) as a consequence of his self-imposed isolation, he becomes socially awkward. He has very little experience talking to women, especially in a romantic context. This awkwardness continues into young adulthood, even after he graduates college and develops a healthy self-esteem. He continues to have difficulty attracting the kind of woman he desires. His romantic life is suffering. What can he do to improve this situation? Obviously, he must continue to broaden his mind and practice a rational philosophy. This will ensure that he has all the tools he needs to live productively and foster a healthy self-esteem. Additionally, if he is a student of mind-body integration, then he can focus his productive efforts on developing his sexuality – to become more desirable to his ideal woman. He can learn to become more masculine. How is this possible? As I argued in my essay The Psycho-Epistemology of Sexuality (from part 6), “Men can develop masculinity, and women femininity, by automatizing physical motions that are consonant with one’s distinctive physiology.” A man can become more masculine by learning to act, physically, like a man. He can train his body to automatize expressions of masculine power. As a responsible and avid reader of The Edge of Reason, the young man in our example begins to think of ways to develop his masculinity. He joins a gym and takes the free lessons that teach him how to use the equipment. He goes 3 times a week to make his body strong. Every now and then, he changes up his workout and experiments with different physical activities (swimming, climbing, kettle bells, etc.). He takes a martial arts class and practices the movements at home. He takes dance lessons and learns how to lead a woman gracefully across the floor. Each of these activities involves a repetition of physical motions, which are then automatized by the subconscious. Whether one is aware of it or not, this automatized physicality travels with him wherever he goes. It effects the way he walks down the street, the way he stands in the subway, the way he holds his body while he’s reading, everything. If one has learned to lead a woman around a dance floor, those instincts are with him as he leads her into his arms for their first kiss. There are psychological benefits to this kind of self-training, as well. If one is training his body with the conscious effort to improve his sexual physicality, then it can enhance his self-esteem and give him more confidence in romantic situations. As any man will tell you, it can take large kettle bells to kiss a woman for the first time. It takes courage, and being comfortable with one’s own body is crucial. To conclude our example: It should come as no surprise that our young man, having developing his body along with his mind, has become more attractive to women. Not only does he look more desirable, he moves and feels more desirable. He begins to meet women at the gym, at the swing dance club, and at NYU Objectivist Club events who notice and appreciate his new physicality. His confidence soars, and he emails Dan Edge to thank him for his advice. I hasten to add that physical training alone will not “cure” a socially awkward personality. I offer here only one method in what must be a life-long series of conscious, continual self-improvement. That said, I hope you would agree that working towards mind-body integration most certainly has ‘cash value.’ --Dan Edge View the full article
  16. G'day, Welcome to the forum. --Dan Edge
  17. Thomas, I appreciate the feedback. I disagree with the implication that a change in one's explicit value-judgments will effect his emotional reactions immediately. In my experience, it can take weeks, months, or even years to bring one's emotional reactions in line with his explicit value judgments. Just as one does not develop instantaneous muscle memory the very first time he hops on a bicycle, so he does not automatize a principle the moment he discovers it. It often takes a series of "repetitions" with the principle - practice in applying it - before the subconscious has automatized it. Also, philosophical errors can be complex and deeply ingrained in one's subconscious. This is especially true regarding bad habits left over from childhood. I am operating from the principle that emotions are a response to automatized value judgments. The question is: what does it take to automatize a value judgment? Or, as Michelle might put it: What does it take for a value-judgment to "sink in"? Does a principle sink in as soon as one acknowledges its truth, or can it take longer? Thomas, your post implies the former, but I argue that the latter is true. Michelle pretty much answered this one. Part of being a good communicator is learning how to monitor and control one's reactions. People who don't know how to do this are often poor communicators in a romantic relationship, especially when it comes to conflict resolution (a critical skill in any relationship). Thanks, --Dan Edge
  18. Hi softwareNerd, I agree. Someone brought up a very similar example in my blog comments, and I responded: "Good point. That's why, in the example, I noted that she must be absolutely certain that she was in fact overreacting. Can you imagine the psychological turmoil one would create in himself in he were re-automatizing emotional responses without knowing exactly why he was doing it? Talk about f*cking yourself up. That's one of the problems I see in the Motivational Psychology field (folks like Tony Robbins and Dr. Phil): they advocate re-automatizing emotional responses for the purpose of self-motivation, but they don't have a fully integrated, rational philosophy to guide them. So, in general they often give good advice, but one can create massive anxiety in himself if he re-automatizes his physical and emotional reactions without first making sure his ideas are in line. That's when you start to cross the line from rational suppression of emotional responses, to irrational repression." --Dan Edge
  19. Michelle, I agree with you. My article describes a strategy for optimizing the "sinking in" process. Note that it is easier for things to "sink in" to the subconscious of a rational adult. An irrational person will find it more challenging to bring his ideas and emotional reactions in line -- he is struggling with internal contradictions. Young adults may also have difficulty because they often struggle with issues from childhood, like irrational premises ingrained in them by their parents. The method I propose is more helpful to these kinds of people, though I still think a rational, fully integrated adult can benefit from it. Thanks, --Dan Edge
  20. By Dan Edge from The Edge of Reason,cross-posted by MetaBlog Followers of my blog will note my fascination with the subject of psycho-epistemology, especially how it relates to mind-body integration (see The Psycho-Epistemology of Acting, Self-Love as a Prime Mover, Mind-Body Integration, The Benevolent People Premise, The Psycho-Epistemology of Sexuality, Are There “Bad” Emotions?). I love thinking about these topics, writing about them, and discussing them with friends. So I was very pleased recently when a new friend expressed an interest in my thoughts on the subject. Before we got too embroiled in discussion, my friend smartly asked: “What is the ‘cash value’ of these theories?” He wanted to know what applications and implications could be drawn from psycho-epistemology. This is an absolutely brilliant question which can never be asked often enough. If one cannot apply his principles to his life, then his philosophical ramblings are nothing more than armchair rationalisms. With that in mind, I would like to offer an extended example of why the psycho-epistemology of mind-body integration is a very practical field of study. If one understands the interrelationship between automatized physical, conceptual, and psychological units stored in his subconscious (see Mind-Body Integration and The Psycho-Epistemology of Sexuality Part III), then he is better able to “train” his emotions. If one’s emotional responses are not consonant with his explicit value hierarchy, then he can “retrain” his mind to respond appropriately. Consider an example: A woman overreacts to minor disagreements with her husband. When he spills milk on the counter, she scowls at him and burns a hole into his head with her eyes. When he protests that she is overreacting, she becomes upset and defends her response by pointing out the value of a clean kitchen. She may not even realize that she was giving him a dirty look. A needless fight over spilled milk explodes. If one asks the woman how much she values her husband, she would say that she loves him dearly. And she may freely admit that spilling milk on the counter is no big deal. Even when she acknowledges that she is overreacting, she may have difficulty bringing her emotions in line. Emotional responses are automatic, after all, and are not always easy to change. How should she proceed in “retraining” herself? The first step is to get her priorities straight. She must learn to properly evaluate the relative importance of minor annoyances vs. the value of her relationship with her husband. She must introspect and determine with absolute certainty that she is in fact overreacting. She must introspect in the moment, while she is getting upset about something, and stress to herself her hierarchy of values. Over time, this will allay the intensity of her negative emotional reactions. But there is something else she can do that will help her “retrain”: she can make sure that her mind and body are integrated in her reactions. One important element of her emotional reaction is the way her body responds. She automatically scowls and narrows her eyes at any minor annoyance. This kind of body language is often strongly associated with very negative evaluations and emotions. If the subconscious treats automatized physical motions, evaluations, and emotions as related units, then by scowling, she is actually communicating to her subconscious – telling it “I am very upset.” Her subconscious responds by stressing negative evaluations and emotions. Assuming that she has brought her mind in line by clarifying her hierarchy of values, she can bring her body in line by controlling her automatized physical reactions. The next time her husband spills ketchup on the kitchen floor and she starts to get upset, she can monitor her facial movements, remove the scowl from her face, slow her breathing, and otherwise physically act as if she is not upset. Now she is sending a different message to her subconscious. Not only is she training herself to evaluate the situation properly, she is training her subconscious how to respond physically to the situation. Since mind and body are integrated in the way I have described, controlling the physical elements of an emotional reaction facilitates retraining. It can help effect a change much more quickly. As an added benefit, positive body language communicates the proper message to one’s lover as well as oneself. Paying attention to the physical elements of one’s emotional reactions can be greatly beneficial in many areas of one’s life. It can help one become a better communicator, a better friend, a better lover and, most importantly, a better valuer. If one trains his mind and body to respond to values appropriately -- then he will be happier, more passionate, and more motivated. Tune in next week, when I will offer another “cash value” example, this time relating to sexuality and romantic love relationships. --Dan Edge View the full article
  21. By Dan Edge from The Edge of Reason,cross-posted by MetaBlog I came across a truly disgusting article today on Foxnews.com: 19-Year Old Saudi Rape Victim Ordered to Undergo 200 Lashes. Some excerpts: --------------- "A 19-year-old female victim of gang rape who initially was ordered to undergo 90 lashes for "being in the car of an unrelated male at the time of the rape," has been sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail for telling her story to the news media. ... The court last year sentenced the six heavily-armed men who carried out the attack against the Shiite woman to between one and five years for committing the crime. But the judges had decided to punish the woman further for "her attempt to aggravate and influence the judiciary through the media," a court source told the Arab News. ... Saudi Arabia enforces a strict Islamic doctrine that forbids unrelated men and women from associating with each other, bans women from driving and forces them to cover head-to-toe in public." --------------- So the men who gang-raped this girl might get as little as a year in prison, while the victim is imprisoned, beaten, and humiliated by the Saudi government for "being in the car of an unrelated male." I am beyond disgusted. This kind of thing makes my blood boil. The Saudis deserve the very worst of our ire. What more evidence do we need that they are our enemies, not our allies? They are nothing more than 3rd world barbarians who stole a fortune in oil wealth from American companies back in the 50's. Saidi Arabia is the spiritual heart of Sunni Islam (the same sect as Osama bin Laden), and as such they are our #2 enemy next to Iran. Death to Islamic Totalitarianism! --Dan Edge View the full article
  22. Peikoff's History of Philosophy part II Course provides a very good overview of Kant's philosophy. He spends 3-5 hours just on Kant, if I remember correctly. Peikoff's aim with those lectures was to give a summary of Kant's ideas, not necessarily criticize them, but as one can imagine there is a huge amount of implied criticism. He also spends a good 30-45 minutes focused on refuting the worst of Kant's arguments. I highly recommend this lecture series and the History of Philosophy part 1 lectures as well. --Dan Edge
  23. I'm so pleased that Andy will be lecturing in my hometown. For those of you who live within driving distance of Greenville, I highly recommend making the trip. For one, meeting Andy Bernstein is a unique experience -- he's one of the "coolest" Objectivists you'll ever meet. For two, the Greenville-area Objectivists are an amazing bunch of people. The core members of the New South Objectivists are some of the nicest folks I've ever met. I'd love to hear a report from someone who is able to attend. --Dan Edge
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