Philosophy

The Oatmeal has published a fantastic lesson for us all . . . [Read More]

It’s been years since I last set down to write anything long form that’s remotely political, in fact 2008, if my search is correct.  In some ways, I can hardly recognize that passionately pedantic punk that felt the urge to scream into the void in the hope of persuasion by shouting (though my friends might argue about that on the occasions when I have more than a couple of gins in me).  I realized around that time that no one was really interested in what I was selling and that I could spend my life in a happier place by worrying about the things that I know I could change which is myself and to focus my time on those around me that I love. I know I’ve been better off for it. [Read More]

Ayn Rand’s massive work Atlas Shrugged turns 50 this year and the editorials are starting the flow in. The best so far has been from, ironically, the former editor of National Review, Maggie Gallagher. Included in the editorial is one of the best descriptions of why Rand continues to appeal after all of these years: The key to Ayn Rand is that she pictured America largely from early films from Hollywood. [Read More]

My friend Peter, owner of PowTen.com, has a new blog called RomanOkie.com where he will post about all things religious and specifically Catholic.  My own nasty opinions on religion aside, Peter is a thoughtful and contemplative man of faith who practices Christianity without the stink of irony so common today.  It should be a good read and something to add to your blog rolls.

Reason Magazine dug up this quote from a letter to the editor written by a young Alan Greenspan: Atlas Shrugged is a celebration of life and happiness. Justice is unrelenting. Creative individuals and undeviating purpose and rationality achieve joy and fulfillment. Parasites who persistently avoid either purpose or reason perish as they should. [The New York Times reviewer] suspiciously wonders “about a person who sustains such a mood through the writing of 1,168 pages and some fourteen years of work. [Read More]

Ayn Rand Today would have been Ayn Rands 100th birthday. Tonight I drink a toast to a remarkable woman with a remarkable mind who can truly hold claim to being part of the “motor of the world”. The greatest compliment I can give her is to say that my ideas have been transformed by hers, though through a process of a constant antagonistic fight. However, I can truly say that John Galt lives on in this one corner of the world . [Read More]