neverborn

Had a debate with a Communist today... interesting arguments I didn't really know what to say to... He said that since we are all made from genetic code that dictates basic responses to one another, and our genetic code responses interact with other peoples' genetic code responses, that free will does not exist. Quantum physics says that there is enough indeterminism to allow for SOME choice, but not much, and only a chance. He then goes off at the end with "This means your morality has no basis, there is no good or evil, just action. Read some Kant." I'm speechless.

Instead of controlling the borders, this is to stop illegal immigration? Laugh...

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5702505.html http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/05/05/11/01192...172%26tid%3D219 http://www.dailybulletin.com/Stories/0,141...2863429,00.html If the act's mandates take effect in May 2008, as expected, Americans will be required to obtain federally approved ID cards with "machine readable technology" that abides by Department of Homeland Security specifications. Anyone without such an ID card will be effectively prohibited from traveling by air or Amtrak, opening a bank account, or entering federal buildings.

Author is just someone I'm friends with and debate with. By "reality exists independent of mind" he meant that reality exists without perception being necessary. Religions do not necessarily advocate altruism - if you look at the religions - really, they're acting in selfish fashion - they do things to get them into their "heaven" - so I've heard..

Thought I'd share. The author is just someone I'm friends with and debate with.

Why are some of you trying so desperately to deride others' taste in music? It's a matter of taste, simple enough. There's no changing that I feel that metal is the best music out there, and probably no changing your opinions contrary either.

I wholeheartedly urge you to listen to a song or two from the following bands, and tell me metal is "noise": Nightwish: A metal band with a classically trained female opera singer. Dream Theater: A progressive metal band with a guitarist that has been compared to Satriani and Vai. (Edited to remove an impolite remark.)

Books on Objectivism? Keep reading Rand

I was talking with my girlfriend today, who is also an Objectivist - and she was filling out a Teamsters Union scholarship. In it, you basically have to kiss Teamster Union ass - questions such as "What does Teamsters Union mean to you?" - the answer being collectivist corruption wouldn't behoove her. Would it be immoral to betray your ideals to write something so pro-Union and pro-collectivist to receive a scholarship?

I have pretty much every book - not Ominous Parallels or ITOE yet. I've read We the Living, Atlas, Fountainhead, and Anthem. Starting nonfiction, just not sure where to start.

edit: ignore me, I am dumb

Certainly - the horror of statism and the USSR is so clearly portrayed. One of the quotes - simply for its brutal nature, showing what Communism truly is - that I like from WTL is: "One hundred thousand workers died in the civil war. Why - in the face of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - can't one aristocrat die?" It did make me sad that Andrei and Kira died, and the last exchange between Kira and Leo...

Indeed she did. Andrei reminded me of Gail Wynand a lot as well.

Great book, but what a depressing end.. :/

I invite you to try out the hardest riddle on the Internet - "This Is Not Pron" - located at www.notpron.com. It tests your mental skills as well as your computer skills at times - it's not a conventional riddle by any means - with 120 "levels" so far, each with a different method of solving. I'm rediculously addicted to it, see how you do.

I don't agree with many of your points, but the sex scenes are a bit on the S&M side - especially the one with Roark and Dominique the first time - but also some in Atlas and We the Living.

I, personally, am fairly new as well. I first discovered Rand last August, when I started reading Atlas Shrugged. I've read Atlas, Anthem, and Fountainhead. I own those 3, OPAR, Philosophy: Who Needs It?, For the New Intellectual, Virtue of Selfishness, Capitalism: the Unknown Ideal, The Voice of Reason, The Ayn Rand Lexicon, We the Living(reading now)... So, should I do things like PWNI, VoS, and C:tUI and THEN OPAR, or the other way around? I don't yet own ITOE.

Umm... Fountainhead>?

Pale girls are the hottest, my friend

Condi Rice.

Is it possible to read the ones after Pillars w/o Pillars? I'm told it's not about Richard/Kahlan/etc at all..? I will go back and read Faith after my Rand collection is done.

Sorry for bump, but am interested. I'm a big fantasy reader, I love Tolkien, Jordan, Eddings, and have read a bit of Goodkind. I read up to Soul of the Fire, bought Faith of the Fallen, and never read it. I've heard Faith and especially Pillars are absolutely horrible, and I got dissuaded. :?

I was a hardcore Communist, and in my process of debating with various libertarians and right-wingers, a poster named TheAbleFew (one of the three I immensely respect for opening my eyes to the failings of my views) said "Honestly - go pick up "Atlas Shrugged" - it WILL change your life." It did.

Bill O'Reilly Michael Savage

Here's an example. He's equating our bringing democracy to Iraq to someone invading America and setting up a fascist state morally.