Erik Christensen

Gary Johnson is my pick, though I would prefer he be more hawkish on his foreign policy. My second choice is Cain who needs a more thorough foreign policy understanding / plan.

American citizen or not, an enemy combatant has no rights to a trial in a criminal court. If you are at war with the USA you have drawn your line in the sand. Citizenship is not some magical shield that can trump justice.

Ron Paul's foreign policy is suicidal and irrational. The Paulian libertarian/anarchists are pacificistic nutjobs over on Facebook. I used to like Ron Paul, but not anymore. Have you noticed how the Paulian's love to use !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! marks all the time?

I also think that moderating our intake of any drug whether as a pill or coffee, or inhalant etc is essential. For instance, Ritalin can help one study or write a paper, Propranolol can help one with stage fright during public speaking, Ativan can help with anxiety experienced while flying. Cost versus benefit needs to be weighed objectively for he prospective user. Ayn Rand probably used Dexamyl to assist in her writing and speaking of Objectivism in that it helped her mind coalesce her ideas together well and clearly. If you think about it, every action and reaction in life takes place on a chemical level. From atoms to DNA to single cells and neurons, there is a constant chemical interplay occuring.

Drug use should also be looked at in terms of context. What they knew then and what we know about many drugs has changed over time as more information and knowledge about them has been discovered.

http://www.theatlasphere.com/

I too, second a good read of P.G. Wodehouse. His benevolent sense of humor is uplifting and enjoyable.

I think that Ayn Rand was against the idea of a white bearded old man in the sky sitting on a throne doling out salvation and damnation as envisaged by church goers of her time, however I don't think that she was ever against truly understanding the unknown component of man's mind / soul and other dimensions of reality not easily observable by physical measurement. She was against the generic W.A.S.P. christianity that dominates religion in general. This book was a terrific read - I highly recommend it; "Inner Paths to Outer Space" http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Paths-Outer-Space-Psychedelics/dp/159477224X -

Edgar Rice Burroughs "Martian Chronicles" are a great read.

If homosexuality is permissible then why not relations with animals?-or machines?-or plastic yard flamingos? Ayn Rand was against the moral anarchy of anything goes relationships. She understood that rational/moral happiness based upon objective criteria, and it's biological function (ie law of identity), were essential to rational happiness in an objectivist context. Sure, people can choose to live all sorts of lifestyles that they think can make them happy, but rational happiness must be defined within the context of reason or else you end up with hedonism and/or nihilism, which is prevelant in the libertarian/anarchist circles.

"I am more interested in their ideas" Homosexuality IS part of that arena of idea's found in the laws of biological identity. It's not a separate metaphysical concept out of the perview of it. That's the beauty of Ayn Rand's Objectivist philosophy; it is an integrated whole. Caring whether one is homosexual or not is different from WHY one is homosexual.

LovesLife, are you saying that you do not believe that homosexuality is a choice? Are you familiar with Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism? "The law of identity does not permit you to have your cake and eat it, too. The law of causality does not permit you to eat your cake before you have it. . . . The law of causality is the law of identity applied to action. All actions are caused by entities. The nature of an action is caused and determined by the nature of the entities that act; a thing cannot act in contradiction to its nature."-----Ayn Rand

Interesting. Thanks for the info!

I am curious; does anyone know what type of car Ayn Rand drove? Did she have any favorite makes or models?

Ayn Rand has stated explicitly that homosexuality was not normal homo sapien behavior. I support that view. It appears as though, in terms of morality, too many proclaimed Objectivists of this generation take the anarchist/subjectivist approach. This line of reasoning is simply not in line with the philosophy of Objectivism that that Ayn Rand created, Peikoff maybe, but not Ayn Rand. That being said, I don't think she would have an issue with someone choosing to be gay, but she would certainly not endorse it as Objectivist approved morality. The Objectivism of today seems more concerned with a libertarian approach to subjects that Miss Rand stated were contrary to her philosophy. Will the defenders of Rand's work and beliefs please stand up?

Nigel, hope your day is going well. Have you considered psychotherapy? You may want to seek out a psychotherapist (preferably cognitive if you can find one) I don't think I would solely rely on medication. In fact, I would use the lowest and least psycho-impacting drug as possible if you are going to use medication.-ask your Dr. Anyhow, Dr. Michael Hurd and Nathaniel Branden (both Objectivists) have excellent writings on the subject of mental health. http://drhurd.com/index.php/Life-s-a-Beach/Published-Columns/Pills-cant-cure-Victim-Think.html

The prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she murdered her child. I agree with that 100%. I am stating that what I, myself, thinks likely happened. Of course it's circumstantial. I am merely making a likely scenario based on avail. evidence and testimony. The justice system did succeed and worked as it should have, however did justice objectively rule the day? She is complicit in her childs death, how is yet to be determined.

What I think happened is this; we know that she was searching "chloroform" quite a bit on google. We know that she likes to party. I think that she was giving Caylee small amounts of chloroform so she would zonk out, then she would go out and party with her friends- then one time she went over the line and killed her with an OD of chloroform. Her dad being a cop, it's possible she told him in a fright, and using his police skills disposed of the body.

I would be happy with either Johnson or Paul as President. I hope to gawd the GOP doesn't give the nomination to Romney...

too old my eye

As of now Trump and Paul are at the top of my list. Romney, Gingrich, and Huckabee are my least favorite.

Yes, he is the worst President in US history - both ideologically and in terms of his rampant lying.-not too mention the sketchy and disgusting people he adores, ie Ayers, J. Wright, etc.

Read this; http://volokh.com/2011/01/08/what-were-jared-loughner%E2%80%99s-politics/ and this; http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-giffords-gunman-left-wing-quite-liberal/ Of course, the media will do all they can to blame the Tea Parties. Even the victims father blamed the Tea Parties. Such is the irrational knee jerk emotionalism that fuels the politics of the left.

The new Hawaii five-o series is excellent.

I've been doing a lot of research online looking for a "safe spot" (safe from man-made and natural disasters, crime, and with relatively stable economies and ) within the lower 48. Not too much government, either. And so far my top pick would have to be St. George, Utah. I'm curious to know other posters recommended spots.