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walsh

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Everything posted by walsh

  1. My own personal favorite is just mild to hard calisthenics, coupled with half an hour on an exercise bike 3-5 times a week. Plus I just try to watch the fats a little bit. But seriously, if you're looking for a nice easy way to get started, try a good calisthenics program (John Basedow, who advertises often on ESPN, has one that is effective, according to a few friends of mine).
  2. CNN had an article online today about the cancer-preventative effects of coffee. Apparently (in a study done in Japan) the incidence of liver cancer was halved in those who reported at least one cup of coffee a day. And the incidence decreased for increased coffee consumption! This, apparently, isn't just one of those flash-in-the-pan studies that newsmen like to bring up every now and then, because it appears the effects of caffiene have had the same effects on rats, which is what prompted the study. http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/...r.ap/index.html
  3. CNN had an article online today about the cancer-preventative effects of coffee. Apparently (in a study done in Japan) the incidence of liver cancer was halved in those who reported at least one cup of coffee a day. And the incidence decreased for increased coffee consumption! This, apparently, isn't just one of those flash-in-the-pan studies that newsmen like to bring up every now and then, because it appears the effects of caffiene have had the same effects on rats, which is what prompted the study. http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/...r.ap/index.html
  4. This is fascinating. Thomas Stanley is a demographer that has done a series of studies on millionaires in America, and by far (like 88% to 15% or so) they chose integrity/honesty over a high IQ to account for their success. There's quite a bit more data to support Objectivism, but that's neat that it shows up in Ayn Rand. edited to correct spelling.
  5. Wow. That author is completely confused. That's a trashy way of paying a compliment.
  6. In case either of you (A is A and Inspector) would like to see another view of some of this information, including a view refuting the more Puritanical stance on relationships, Dr. Hurd wrote an essay on Sex and Morality you can get from his website for like 5 bucks. And he's a real, live, accomplished psychologist, not just some guy who talks to girls and reads books.
  7. Don, just so you know, I'm enjoying the hell out of this discussion. This thread isn't populated solely by people who want to pick apart minutia. For everyone else, this kind of thing is not very new. That Al Kufr suggested a site, and in my memory there's a guy on Askmen.com who has very similar (although, not the same) ideas as Don. I understand the differences between what they advocate and what Don is saying, but it may be helpful for those who want to destroy Don's ideas to find out at least what the literature's ideas are, and to understand where they differ from Don's. Anyway, thanks Don.
  8. I might have something to add. I'm not sure if the particular addiction being discussed is chemical in nature, but if so, that lends another dimension to the process of removal. I recently kicked a nicotine habit, which is a chemical addiction that quickly and insidiously becomes a mental/psychological addiction. While I have not written anything on my experiences, the process (similar to my own) is documented at Don Watkin's Anger Management. It is an interesting, more epistemological, study of addiction, particularly nicotine.
  9. This is a fascinating discussion. I have a roommate with whom I don't get along (for a number of reasons, but that's beside the point) and before she began the process of moving out, she told me in an argument that I was always condescending. I heard from a second source who was around at least some of the time that that was their perception too. And now I find out that it is at least fairly widespread. I appreciate the responses, perhaps they'll help me deal with her in the far more limited dealings we'll have in the future.
  10. walsh

    Birth out of wedlock

    I'd like to point out that Dr. Hurd tackled this same issue (abstinence among Objectivists and students of Objectivism) in a paper entitled Sex and Morality, available on his website for a nominal fee. I bought and downloaded it a while ago, and in true Dr. Hurd fashion, it is well thought out. I would recommend it highly.
  11. House is fantastic, but I keep missing it. I hope they don't cancel it in the meantime.
  12. I don't know if you are specifically looking for Objectivist teachers, but there are two at the University of Texas, although they are not graduate history teachers. Ultimately, your choices for colleges with explicitly laissez-faire focus are limited. If you are willing to attend a college that is oriented that way, without being principled, the Chicago school is famous for Friedman's laissez-faire ideas. And while I do not know how laissez-faire Stanford is as a whole, Thomas Sowell holds the Milton Friedman chair in Economics there. At the very least, you would potentially be able to associate with what amounts to a top flight laissez-faire intellectual. I don't know of any colleges or universities in America with a specific Austrian bias, but should you find one, you will probably find it more inconsistent with an Objectivist stance than the University of Chicago. Edited for web links: Chicago Stanford
  13. To him, a dollar is worth a dollar, and everything that is not a dollar is worth zero dollars. Time with family? Worth zero. Playing in a great baseball town? Worth zero. Winning games? Zeeeerrrooooo. A legacy? Well, that’s worth…let’s see…one, two, three…nope, still zero. His philosophy appears to be – if it ain’t worth a dollar, it ain’t worth sh*t. -Jose Melendez (keystothegame.blogspot.com) Sorry about the profanity, but this quote is one I've kept because it reminds me of the money speech. It's about Scott Boras, a particularly effective agent for baseball players who is basically in charge of the best players this offseason. He is famous for having his players sign for the absolute most amount of money the market can bear. This blogger does not like his style.
  14. I have a very limited-use litmus test. Because I am in college and meeting people is a generally large part of the experience, one rule that I have found is that I really only get along with those who have a job. That doesn't mean that I get along with everyone who has a job (I have a roommate who works with Americorps, and we've already had a fight about me paying indirectly for her rent). The ones who do have a job may have some contradictory ideas, but generally don't try to deny Reason, etc. Usually, they at least have their heads on straight.
  15. Wow, thanks for recommending My Chemical Romance. I enjoy them. I'm usually into a bit more screaming, but they work for me.
  16. I started out in a Methodist Christian family in the south. Ultimately, the home was governed by two forces, faith (mother) and reason (father). I was forced to attend church until I was old enough to work a job on Sundays. Throughout high school I had played around with a few ideas, but found that I thought within the range of collectivist ideas. I then joined the debate team and realized what a powerful force reason was. I, like a few others on the board, was struck by a need to have everything be consistent and right, especially if I wanted to win a debate round. So I kept researching philosophy, ran into Nietzsche, who I agreed with at the time, and stalled there until college. In college, I met a girl, a professed Objectivist, who after a few dates spurned me. Now, I'm not entirely certain why, but I attributed this to her philosophy. Interestingly enough, my dad used to keep a copy of Atlas Shrugged on his bookshelf for almost all of my boyhood, until he re-converted to Christianity. So I borrowed the book, and read it in a week. I wasn't entirely certain about the ideas, but I knew it was the greatest book I had ever read. Ultimately the ideas integrated, and about six months later I started to read the rest of the fiction, and moved onto the non-fiction, of which the only title I haven't read is the epistemology.
  17. I'm pretty sure that "Liberty dollars are accepted in 95% of the stores in Austin Tx" thing is total crap. I've never even seen one and I live here. I mean, I know there's a significant libertarian population here, but there's simply no way that's true.
  18. You know, I've thought of that poll tax before. Anyone have any justification against it via individual rights? Or can we just look at it as a justice issue (pay and decide or don't pay and don't decide)?
  19. On one of the major cable TV networks the other day, I saw this commercial that might edify some Objectivists: Two men are sitting outside a cafe in Paris. One says, "Ah Pari. Love is everywhere." The other says, "Is that what you see?" The first replies, "Yes, what do you see?" The other counters, "I see commerce. I see wireless networks instantly accepting transactions, (etc, etc, about wireless and electronic commerce in general)." The first says, "Aren't you a romantic?" (dripping with sarcasm). The other replies, "Yes, I am." While I'd doubt the advertising execs who came up with this commercial put together the connection between business and Romanticism, I still liked it, because one company takes a (albeit small) stand.
  20. Definitely. I bought "Remember the Titans" as soon as it came out on DVD because of those themes. Having some really good sports scenes didn't hurt either. The hits are almost real when you play it on a decent hi-fi.
  21. I don't know if y'all have ever seen Hoosiers (Gene Hackman, slightly young), but it makes my top ten. It's usually widely discussed as the best sports movie, and I saw it for the first time a week or so ago. Blew me away. Great directing and maybe the best sports plot ever. It's not just an underdog story, it really tries hard to depict man at his best.
  22. GC- I'm one of the BMW owners. The 325 Convertible is a great car: it's relatively sporty and can be had with a stick. Plus, mine was from '89 with great mileage, and it was only 6k. So, chances are you can get a much later one (just a guess: 323ic's from 1998 and newer go for about 18k in College Station via Autotrader.com). The only caveat I'd say is that you should be prepared to pay quite a bit for parts and to suffer a lot of depreciation should you buy a newer model. My car is on the verge of becoming a classic, and so it is actually going to slow depreciation and soon enough appreciate. This car you buy for say 18k will probably only be worth half or less in about 5 years. Keep that in mind if you start seriously looking at Beemers. I'll second the above recommendations too, but add one more: A Ford Probe (although it isn't a convertible). I'm a mechanic outside of classes, and my roommate (also a mechanic) has one. The newer ones with GT badging are quite quick, and should be fairly cheap (although the Autotrader search doesn't reveal anything worthwhile in your area). The most important aspect to my roommate is that they are really cheap to maintain. They are a japanese car that Ford rebranded, so you don't have to worry as much about durability, either. The reason I'd recommend a car to you that doesn't meet your specification quite so exactly is that I would be extremely wary of buying a car with a drop-top (even though I have one). Too many times the top is on its way out when you get it, and then you're stuck replacing it. How much does it rain where you live? Chances are even if the top looks absolutely perfect, it's got a leak. Just a few things to consider.
  23. To second an earlier post: Where do I find an "Ayn Rand was right" frame? I don't think the "John Roberts BMW" frame is exhibiting my selfishness quite as well as it could be.
  24. I thought about getting a 325 with the 's' package, but, it is Texas, so I figured I'd get some great life out of a drop-top. And yes, it leaks, and is disintegrating as we speak. Sometime in the next month it's going to get it's first non-dealer service, when I have the local top shop replace the top. BMW wanted about 2g's to do it, and I simply won't pay that much.
  25. Greedy Capitalist-- As far as Texas goes, Austin is okay, but head out 15 miles in any direction (Williamson, Hays, etc.) and you'll see far, far more enforcement of penalties. Having paid a good portion of my earnings from my job in high school to pave roads in Dripping Springs, it's just a heads up. Edited: I seemed to remember that GC was in Austin (from seeing his picture on Atlasphere), if this turns out incorrect, just consider this a general warning, to TX Objectivists.
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