Walker

The following was stated in the thread on the Microsoft looting: I recognize that Stewart is a phenomenal business woman. However, I don't think she handled her case in court that much better than Microsoft handled theirs. Whether under oath or not, she lied to the authorities questioning her. I haven't read her exact statements, but I think this is enough to say that her and her defense are pursuing a pragmatic defense. Instead of arguing that the law Stewart had broken was completely unjust, they tried to duck the charges. It would take Stewart refusing to enter a plea - like Rearden in AS - to "[earn] the sign of the dollar," which I'm assuming means being a hero.

I agree with many of the recommendations already made (Braveheart, Shawshank, Inherit the Wind, Chocolat, etc...) Here's a few that I remember enjoying off the top of my head: The Patriot (Yea, I know - it's just like Braveheart. But, it's still really good.) Shakespeare in Love Rebecca (A Hitchcock film - definitly my favorite thriller) Miracle & Return of the King I think the whole Lord of the Rings series was awesome. Return of the King was definitly my favorite, I had goosebumps half the time. (I'm sure someone will bring up the environmentalist tone in parts of Two Towers as well as how some of the heroes are not always rational. However, I think the heroic portrayal of good vs. evil completely outweighs these negative aspects.) That's all for now. I love threads like this - they make visits to Blockbuster 30 minutes shorter than usual.

I agree with you both. I only have a little bit of background in music (played viola in Highschool and I still write songs on my guitar for fun) - so, I don't know if I'll be of much help in identifiying specific musical techniques used to create certain effects in a piece of music. However, I can say this. To inspire a feeling of triumph or victory there has to be tension in the piece followed by some type of catharsis. In Saint Saens Organ Symphony, the last movement from beginning to end is that catharsis (and I love listening to it). How is the tension created? My answer, based on my limited knowledge, would be to use conflicting tones or chords, which I hear in Rachmaninoffs piano concertos. This is a very interesting topic though, and I'd like to hear what people with music theory knowledge have to say about it.

Halley, What exactly do you mean by "listen closely and notice what is being said (again this is abstractly i am talking about) and decide if you like the message (using objectivism)?" When I listen to classical music, I find myself evaluating the piece based on the emotional response I have from it. For example, when I listen to Yanni, I feel jubilant and happy. When I listen to Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, I feel victorious and triumphant. When I listen to most "non-art music", I usually feel disgust in response to the words and boredom in response to the music. With "art-music," while I can identify general emotions that the piece is meant to inspire, I have never been able to identify a specific message. So, would you say that a piece that inspires a feeling of triumph in the listener is a piece about reaching a goal in the face of opposition? Is this what you mean by "the message?" P.S. I'm expecting a good answer, since you've chosen "Richard Halley" as your s/n.

Here are some of the pieces I enjoy listening to: - Dvorak: New World Symphony. - Beethoven: 9th, and especially his 5th. - Tchaikovsky: In addition to Romeo & Juliet, I like the 1812 overture. - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto no.2 and no.3 - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons. Incredibly violin solos - especially on the opening to "Winter." - Camille Saint-Saens: Symphony No.3 "Organ Symphony," Danse Macabre is fun, and I love the violin solo in "Introduction Et Rondo Capriccioso." My absolute favorite CD = Yanni, "Live at the Acopolis." I can't recommend it enough - every track is wonderful. With pop/rock music, I generally don't have anything wrong with it. As long as the lyrics aren't horrible and the music doesn't hurt my ears, I'll listen to it while I drive. But, when I sit down and really listen to music, I listen to the stuff I've already listed.

Hi everyone. My name is Stephan (Stef-in) Walker. I live in NYC and am a freshmen attending the Stern School of Business @ NYU. I'm majoring in Finance and something else (which I hope to determine by the end of this year). I've been interested in Ayn Rand and her philosophy Objectivism since I first read The Fountainhead at the beginning of my Junior year in highschool. My interests include listening to good music (Rachmaninoff, Yanni, Saint-Saens, Beethoven, etc...), playing my guitar, learning about investing (and very soon actually investing), and reading. I look forward to taking part in the discussions on this forum with you all!