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Free Thinker

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Everything posted by Free Thinker

  1. I went and watched Crash last night; and I was impressed by it. Here are some of my observations: 1) One of the main themes that the movie pulled across is the idea that racism is a debase and debilitating idea. It is one of the most vicious and primitive forms of discrimination. 2) The idea that "what goes around comes around" also was important. Racism didn't just affect one or two people - it affect a whole city. 3) There were no overt political ideas - such as socialism is what is needed, etc.
  2. I loved playing it really fast!! It got me really pumped up! I agree though that the risk of speeding up is that the woodwinds can't keep up. Interesting...thanks for the heads up!
  3. I play the trumpet. I read in the liner notes of the recording of the fifth I was listening to a while ago that he dedicated the fifth to the "glorious Russian Socialist experiment", or something like that... Shosty didn't try to leave Russia during the Stalin's reign. I agree!
  4. I really like do-wop. His music videos are also really funny. I can't seem to find complete versions of them on the internet; although I know he has a DVD that features his songs on them.
  5. I finished the third book yesterday (It was amazing!) , and now am on to the fourth!
  6. Great! I will have to check that out!
  7. I don't really feel comfortable with that. Could you explain why? I agree.
  8. Good assessment. I found it funny that (I believe Francis) was claiming to be a "free market advocate", but yet a staunch supporter of altruism.....
  9. Click on the link that is located in the first post on this thread. (The underlined word "this")
  10. I just got this interview in my inbox featuring Onkar Ghate speaking on altruism. Here is the description :
  11. I will look into that, thanks! Yes it does; but let me rephrase my question more simply: Why do I get songs in my head? (I realize I added way too much unnecessary info there!) I agree!!! Someday, but right now I am too poor! Thanks! (I like how you worded that as well!)
  12. When you click on the link "An Innocent Man", search Innocent Man, then click on the first link. Underlined, under the title "Longest Time", will be "An Innocent Man". Click on that, and you are there.....Or else you go could to Amazon.com and find the exact same thing.
  13. I apologize, I should have provided a definition. I am not a nihilist, nor do I think like one, but I have in the past. Nihilism is the belief in nothing, meaning nothing has value, purpose, or worth. So (hypothetically), if a person is stuck in that frame of mind, and is trying to "reason out" of nihilism, it becomes incredible difficult. As you try and provide reason and administer logic to your conscious mind, your subconscious keeps telling you that it is all pointless and ideas don't mean anything. You feel like you are stuck in a rut. Your emotions bleed into senses; meaning it becomes very hard to trust anything, not even yourself. It is very painful. At least that is the experience I've had. (Removed quote of entire previous post. - softwareNerd)
  14. What are some of your favorite songs off that record?
  15. Billy Joel rocks! I love the simplicity his songs have; they are fun and honest at the same time. I think his best album is "An Innocent Man". (Click on the link and here samples of his songs!) If I had to pick one song I liked the best from his work, it would have to be "The Longest Time". The Longest Time An Innocent Man Released: 1983 Oh, oh, oh For the longest time Oh, oh, oh For the longest time If you said goodbye to me tonight There would still be music left to write What else could I do I'm so inspired by you That hasn't happened for the longest time Once I thought my innocence was gone Now I know that happiness goes on That's where you found me When you put your arms around me I haven't been there for the longest time Oh, oh, oh For the longest time Oh, oh, oh For the longest time I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall And the greatest miracle of all Is how I need you And how you needed me too That hasn't happened for the longest time Maybe this won't last very long But you feel so right And I could be wrong Maybe I've been hoping too hard But I've gone this far And it's more that I hoped for Who knows how much further we'll go on Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone I'll take my chances I forgot how nice romance is I haven't been there for the longest time I had second thoughts at the start I said to myself Hold on to your heart Now I know the woman that you are You're wonderful so far And it's more that I hoped for I don't care what consequence it brings I have been a fool for lesser things I want you so bad I think you ought to know that I intend to hold you for The longest time Here a site with searchable lyrics.
  16. What is the best way of combating nihilism; when it destroys and corrupts even your ability to think clearly, i.e. the ability to sort and identify the source of one's emotions?
  17. I would consider endeavors such as this to be quite superfluous and a waste of time. What is needed is a genuine cultural change, here in America. I for one am not willing to give up this great land and go live on a dinky island.
  18. I thought Mr. Schwartz did a great job of defending AR (being quite outnumbered). Most, if not all the people on that show, who claimed to have been fond of AR or Objectivists at one point clearly did not understand her or her ideas.
  19. This was an incredible movie. Lauren Bacall became my favorite actress as a result of seeing it. What does anyone else think? imdb.com
  20. I have. I considered the movie to be trash. The story is nothing more than one long ad for Existentialism. I got a headache after watching it. I honestly find no redeeming value for it, other than the main characters were trying to "find the meaning of life" (quite unsuccessfully, I might add). The actual plot itself, is as follows (courtesy of imdb.com) : Here's trailer as well.
  21. I realize that there is a thread already started about this, but it is not in the Fiction Book Reviews sections (it is in Aestheics), so I'll start a new one. I have reserved the newest novel that is soon to be released ( at Barnes and Noble, where I am getting a 40% discount for doing so), and have been reading nothing but HP for the past couple days. I am currently on the thrid book, " The Prisoner of Azkaban". To list a series of adjectives to describe the series would probably considered lazy, but regardless : I find the books funny, inspiring, suspenseful, imaginative, and wonderful. They are crafted in a such a way that it transports the reader to a wonderous land; a land of magic and heroism. They are also well written, you won't find any dumbed down language or plot lines here. The website has a trailer for the newest film, "The Goblet of Fire", which is due in November. It looks incredible. It's funny though; in order to show that the characters have aged, they make their hair longer. (Same thing was done in Star Wars! )
  22. COuld you explain that a bit more? I have always been wondering what exactly the nature of music is. Let me give you an example, and maybe you can shed light on it. I will, on occassion, watch BET. I don't exactly know why (my conscious philosophy is in direct conflit with all the trash on that station), but I do. Nevertheless, I find that songs that I were "pop into my head" (if that makes any sense), and I can't "get them out". That song may be with me for the rest of the day, the week, or may "pop into my head" after a month. Why does my mind do that? I agree. I think that he (Mozart) was technically brilliant, but I still don't like his music. Interesting. On a side note, I just finished Verdi's opera "Otello", and I found it much more bearable and interesting than anything Mozart has done. Have you seen it? BTY, OCON this year has a optional course called "Giuseppe Verdi: The Man and His Operas" . Are you going? I also have started watching hte operas on DVD. That has made the shows much more interesting.
  23. I agree with your assessment and conclusion; but I want add some of my thoughts. I believe that a person's ideas can only come from context of knowledge, i.e. the sum total of all existing knowledge. The Founding Fathers, as you pointed out: because the idea of individual rights and of liberty were a recent invention (the Enlightenment) i.e. a new expansion of their knowledge.
  24. Which version did you see? There was one released in Japan (or China), and there was also one recently put out with Jennifer Lopez staring. I have only seen the later. I found it to be inspiring and upbeat as well (although I though J Lo wasn't esp. good in it.) , and enjoyed the movie. I think that the characters you didn't like were meant to be disliked, so I wouldn't necessarily see that as a flaw of the movie.
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