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Chris.S

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Everything posted by Chris.S

  1. I would tend to agree with this, and thought as much when I saw the teaser video a couple days ago. Unless there is some built in chance of delay for the computer to miss a buzzer click, it could win nearly every time. As for actual buzzer technique, contestants are able to hammer on the button while hearing the answer. You can see contestants, including Jennings, doing this a few seconds before the answer is finished, but it will not sound until enabled. And how fast is the answer uploaded to the computer? Faster or equal to the visual and auditory transfer of information of the human contestants?
  2. The good thing about those comments is that they're so out of whack that they'll be dismissed by newcomers to Objectivism who watch the trailer. Another good thing is the 1000+ "Likes" vs 500 or so "Dislikes".
  3. I read somewhere that he doesn't care if people pirate his movies. He loses millions there and doesn't bat an eye, but he just had to go after those rich fat cat capitalists (who may be committing accounting fraud).
  4. There are in general two ways foreign intervention is used: 1) in the context of stopping or preventing genocide in a country where the government is carrying out that genocide or where a government fails to protect the victims and keep order (common examples are the Holocaust; Hutu vs Tutsi in Rwanda; Khmer Rouge in Cambodia; Muslim vs Christian in the Balkans); 2) in the context of removing a dictatorial government in some country (e.g. Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq). There's a lot of academic articles both for and against intervention no matter the context or consequences (intervention as controlled by the U.N.), but I argue we should only intervene when it's in our (Canada or America, NATO in general) self-interest.
  5. The Spanish were not a shining example of morality in the sense of protecting individual rights, just based on their religious beliefs. They invaded central America for conquest, spreading Christianity through force and stealing gold. The EU is not a great example of anything but collectivism, cultural subjectivism and irrational policy, both foreign and domestic. There might be some decent beer there though. Removing a dictatorship is not forcing anything on the people of that country - it is actually removing the force that has been restricting the individual rights of those citizens. And doing so is not a moral duty; it is a choice made in the self-interest of the nation removing the dictatorship. I also don't think most people here would argue against the idea that the wars carried out in order to "spread democracy" were not really to the best interests of America and the rest of NATO (or have not been carried out in such a fashion). Saying the wars were carried out because of economics is a bit absurd because wars do not produce anything - they are in fact destruction of wealth, in the attacking country and the defending country. Wars could be waged economically, in terms of money spent per kill or buildings destroyed per cost of bomb, but they don't produce any wealth. Lastly, what America et al. do in terms of warring currently is not necessarily what an "Objectivist" government(s) would do.
  6. April 15 release! It'll be a nice reward after an exam that morning.
  7. Go take a look at wattsupwiththat.com (from there you can branch out). There's a lot of info to wade through, but assuming that AGW is correct is exactly what environmentalists and politicians want you to do so they can get their tendrils around your neck.
  8. The message on that flag is so simple and so powerful. It's really an awesome flag. I'm gonna have to get one someday and hang it with my Canadian flag. Then all I need to do is start a Tea Party-like movement up here...
  9. "Shadowy outside organizations"! Oh my lawd!
  10. How did Homo sapiens ever survive eating food for the past 100 000 years without this bill??? Even just the slightest bit of critical thought and someone who respects the intelligence of other men would have to vote this down, but I guess that would take too much effort. This is only a little bit humorous, but people here in Canada have some vague worry about America invading Canada (for water, oil, what-have-you), but it seems more like Canadian policies are invading America That quotation of Jefferson is right on the money. Is there anything that guy said that isn't coming to pass? (or Rand for that matter?)
  11. LoL is pretty fun, and much more balanced than WC3-DotA. Some interesting news from this year's Blizzcon was a Blizzard-developed DotA game, with heroes from WC and SC matching up. I tried to find a video, but no luck, so here's the article: SC2 DotA
  12. Awesome! This would improve my gaming ability and scores immensely. I only have the use of my right thumb (and full left hand) due to some neurological damage, so I dont generally play FPS games on consoles, and I shy away from FPS on computer. The games I do play (WoW, SC2) are easily playable with a mouse and a few key clicks. Judging that I'm generally on par with other average players, this device could possibly bump me up quite a bit. Can't wait!
  13. S'pose I jumped the gun on that. But this is still really nifty.
  14. That's amazing. I'm not an architect, but I'll be in construction management soon, and I can already see how awesome that would be on site or in head office combined with the ability to update in real time the design according to new specs and integrate data from BIM or project schedule and cost control software. Add in touch screen or motion sensors to be able to manipulate the image... Or am I mistaken and that is a static holographic image lighted by a bulb overhead?
  15. Hi everybody I'm not involved in arranging or sponsoring his appearance at the University of Toronto (ARI and the UofT Objectivist club are), but I thought I'd post it here to possibly get a few more attendees. Tuesday November 9 at 7pm, in the Bahen Centre for Information Technology, Rm 1190 Facebook page Hope to see you there!
  16. D'Souza was interviewed on PJTV this week, taking questions about and breaking down Obama's political philosophy. He really does hit the nail on the head with Obama. http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=mpg&mpid=74&load=4379
  17. Maximus: check out Noodlefood for a presentation of the facts as found and written by Diana and Paul Hsieh. They include a link to McCaskey's defense of himself there as well.
  18. Lol! Well, that's why I asked. The Horde guild mount just happens to be a scorpion, and since I've been playing the expansion beta for this game, it reminded me of that
  19. I'm probably way off base here, but is it a replica of the Horde guild mount in WoW (in necklace form)? Looks cool even if it isn't.
  20. What happened in Canada that UN troops had any part in?
  21. I would argue that by his actions in labouring to produce goods and services to trade with others an immigrant is in fact trying to be a good citizen that respects the laws and general customs of that country. Forcing him to sing a song and dance a jig to fit in culturally aren't going to change his actions or motivations in increasing the general wealth of himself and the country. Saying he has certain inalienable rights and then saying that he can't exercise those rights (through choosing where to live and trading and sharing with other citizens) is a contradiction. He either has rights and can peaceably exercise them or he doesn't and can't due to government interference (elected or not). Rights extend to all men. Protection of rights is limited to a specific geographic area by the individuals in that area. That some groups choose to try and vote away those rights is wrong and would not happen if they really thought that all men have certain inalienable rights.
  22. Wow, very nice, crisp, clean It actually reminds me of the feeling I got when I saw WoW on my new computer and a 5770 after a 6 year old piece of trash
  23. Actually, most everyone is arguing that intentionally buying the book with the intent to return after reading, regardless of if you gain a value or not, is wrong. A trade occurred wherein the buyer bought the item with the intent to try and gain value from the item and still return the item for a refund after gaining that value. It was a dishonest trade on the buyers part. This is different than the situation you're describing, where somehow the buyer was persuaded into thinking the book would be a good value, so he bought it. After reading the book and deciding he didn't gain anything of value, he returns the book. This is a more legitimate trade and refund, but I would still say that the buyer bought the book for a chance to gain a value. Say he really really likes the writings of a certain author. That author releases a new book which the man buys. One problem: this book sucks and the guy doesn't gain any value out of having it. Even though the man loves all the previous writings of the author, there's no telling that he'll write another book as good, and buying the book was merely a chance to gain value. This is why people should read some of the book before buying, as a sort of preview or taste-test. As I said before, the other option of getting some or all of your money back is to resell the book to a friend or online.
  24. If one didn't enjoy the book there's the other option of selling it to a friend or on Craigslist for a couple dollars off the original price. Rather than giving it back to the store for a full refund (because I find it hard to believe one can get zero value out of a book, and it was at least bought on the chance of obtaining some value). Return policies are for times where say, the book was gifted, or the pages inside were unreadable, or was a misprint, or instances where the publisher or manufacturer allowed some defect in the item that was not noticeable on first inspection. If the buyer has read the covers and a few pages in the book and decided to buy, read the whole thing, then return - that is immoral, even if it's within the store's policy. Especially when the buyer buys the book with the specific intention of returning it rather than abiding by an honest trade.
  25. I know it's been shown already, I've seen everything on Breitbart and PJTV. The idea is that it had to be shown that they were involved in evil doings, not just because they were Muslim or because violent Muslims see it as a victory, which I think is lost on too many people campaigning against the mosque (not necessarily you or Grames or anyone here). Grames: if the treehouse is built in a city, how does that change the situation? What right does an adjacent property owner have to justify preventing a treehouse being built next to them? If it is of sound construction and no danger of tipping over, etc.
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