CmdrBretz

When I first discovered Objectivism, I was reading my values come to life in Atlas Shrugged. The non-fiction, I read later as a means to articulate and better apply Objectivism into my daily life.

I am perceived at work as an up and comer for the value of my work. I tend to focus on the job and if I am successful everything will fall in place. It is amazing to watch coworkers get caught up in office politics. However, when I am around my girlfriend. I practically beam with joy as I brag about my accomplishments. I have the classic muahahaha! laugh down to an art as I slowly assume more responsibility and power within my workplace. Muahahahaaha! Derrick

I am an avid college sports fan, especially the Ohio State Buckeyes. I love Video Games, especially any in the Halo series of FPS. I have my TiVO programmed for Dexter on Sundays, Heroes on Monday, House and Boston Legal on Tuesday, and South Park on Wednesday. I find value in all of them. Define what would be an obsession? I engage one of my coworkers in conversation concerning Boston Legal quite often. With me often referring to myself as 'Denny Crane'. It is both fun and lighthearted. What is wrong with discussing South Park? Why do you care? What sort of crutch are you referring to? Don't make assumptions you have no reasons to make. Many people have different tastes and find different aspects of the same show mentally stimulating. Not everyone is evading reality by choosing to watch a TV program as some form of escapism. I can appreciate the intellect and ability of the writers and actors to put forth an excellent performance of either drama or humor and often times a mixture of both. While I engage my coworkers in the philosophical intricacies of reality, often it is rather enjoyable to share a moment with a coworker discussing the timing of a well crafted joke.

Quite correct it should be Mad Men. However, you didn't answer if you were indeed watching the series or share any insight as to the nature of the characters.

Is anyone watching this series? I am hearing they make quite a few references to Ayn Rand. I have even heard talk that a character is supposed to be the embodiment of Objectivist values. I am intrigued and thought someone might share their insight. Derrick

I am on Facebook as Derrick Bretz

Go Bucks!

The essay is up at ARI's website. http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pag..._tf_winner_2007 Congratulations Mimpy!

http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070604/full/447618a.html Neat.

Inspector, How do you handle attending a restaurant with a party of 6 - 8 where a restaurant in their menu openly declare that parties will be charged a mandatory gratutity of 15% to 18%? Side Story: I was eating at PJ Clark's in Chicago on Illinois Ave. with 3 friends for Sunday brunch. It was exceptional I might add. We asked for seperate checks. I pay with a debit card for everything. It is the industry I am in and just makes things easier. We had gotten up from a night in the city and strolled down from a friends apartment in the Northpier Tower builing. We did not look like bankers but neither did we look like hippies. When the waiter brought our bill at the bottem of each was a stamp of red ink telling us that 15% gratuity had been added with the manager's approval with his signature at the bottom. Keep in mind we had never eaten at this restuarant or given any cause for such actions. If anything the waiter made decidedly less money as I tip on average 20% for almost everything. I worked as a bartender while in college for a summer.

My family has an informal tradition of naming, my father was named for his grandfather and I for mine. My grandfather was Arthur George Bretz, my father Gary Edward Bretz, and I am Derrick Arthur Bretz. If and when I have a son, I will more than likely use Gary as my son's middle name because of the love and appreciation I have for my father. He is a great man. I can only hope to be as good a father to my children. It would be recognition of the value I have for him to name my son after him. No name defines who a person is and I challenge anyone to prove it does?

One of my all time favorite movies. Saddest part... was leaving the theatre looking around at the faces of the other patrons knowing that 90% of them didn't get it. I wasn't sad however because I knew 10% did.

I play a considerable amount of Halo 2 competitively and have earned over $3,000 winning tournaments in 2006. My Xbox Live gamertags are Diddys and xAchiIIes I encourage you to send me a friend request but please identify yourself so you don't appear as some random.

Thanks David for taking all the fun out of it.

I am currently kinda excited about Mike Pence for President. As soon as I have time I am going to do more research and formally decide if I intend to help his campaign.

In no way do I hold this as good science. I found it laughable at best. I posted it because I dislike the underlying intent and tone of the article.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/01/22/brain.altruism.reut/ They are going to test children next to see what helps foster such brain activity.

Warner Bros. have often registered decoy trademarks with the real Harry Potter titles, for example the trademarks HARRY POTTER AND THE GREEN FLAME TORCH, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALLOWS OF HOGWARTS, HARRY POTTER AND THE HOGSMEADE TOMB, HARRY POTTER AND THE HOGWARTS HALLOWS are some of those registered on 24th July 2003 under the alias “Seabottom Productions Limited”. They obviously do this because they need the title registered before it is announced, but HP fans do occasionally check the registrations in publically accessible databases, so registering just the real titles would be a bit of a giveaway. This is from a cached Fan site that I did not originally have as my source. I first learned this information from MuggleNet. http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:OSM1I...lient=firefox-a

Boston Legal, the Shat

Rome, the HBO series now in it's second season South Park, hilarious Shark, I am attracted to the character Madaliene Poe. Grey's Anatomy, witty dialogue

Before Book 6's titles was release several were copyrighted and websites registered. One title, was Harry Potter and Hogwart's Hallows. I have taken this to mean for Book 7 that the Dealthly Hallows are a place in or around Hogwarts.

This is a memo sent to every team in 1991 banning steroids. http://www.businessofbaseball.com/docs/199...ion_Program.pdf Mark McGwire retired in 2001 and never tested positive for steroid use. Major League Baseball didn't start testing until 2002. My earlier statement concerning the character of Mark McGwire is a result of his public statements and testimony to congress concerning his use of steroids. The Hall of Fame is a recognition of ability, we can not be sure of Mark McGwire's ability. I would not vote for him. Continue to evade reality at your own peril.

Steroids were first banned in 1991 by Major League Baseball. Mark McGwire based on his own statements is of questionable character. I would not vote for him. Article discussing the first steroid ban. http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archi...ids_were_a.html

I am a current semi-professional Halo 2 gamer. My XBL tag is Diddys Heroes, Diddys, and most recently using xAchiIIes.

If this belongs in another topic subset please correct my mistake. I want to get your reactions to this article. I found it to be very selfish and I liked it. http://www.drudgereport.com/flash1jr.htm