Our new offices are so cool. I spent the day, Sunday, moving my stuff and I love my new desk. I have a
 lot of room and any file cabinets.

Look fairies outside a building I saw today

There are alot of Lawyer cartoons framed in one part of our office

Objection sustained, why is everyone laughing?


Objection overruled. I don't get it. There are a ton of these, very funny alot of them.



This is our conference room


Artwork is everywhere. beautiful artwork



This painting is in one lawyers office and as big as
 an entire wall. Very nice,  I wonder
what it means,
I hope the lawyer I will be working with does not
 put up his Goya paintings , very
violent as well.



I wonder what it means

I went out with my friend, we went to her house,
snuggled up and watched La
 Vie En Rose. So sad, then we watched romantic
chick flicks at my house. She told
me tonight she is so glad I am her friend. It was nice,
 but I don't like hearing stuff
like that. I took this of her today, 6 hours ago.
She
 took alot of me too. I bought her dinner. She can
 eat. She is so pretty. I
looked at her prom pictures at her house.


This is this cool pool I saw , the edges come up
on glass so it looks like it is spilling over.
This was last
 week.
It's funny how I can sense things. I notice every
thing. That is RL. I felt a little tension in
 the way he was
talking with his client, that day, and they had a fight
 soon after. I equalized this photo.







I posted this, now its gone, so I put it back up.


I just think it is a nice picture. 


 I made it white like I am glowing. and I blurred
out some skin blemishes. I used the burn tool
around my eyes.
 I was experimenting here with a new eyeshadow
 technique. No like this one. I did this one night,
I tried new makeup and took photos. My bras are
 too small they push up like that.


 Why do I love
makeup? Who knows
 I just got my Mac turkish delight lip gloss in the
 mail. I also got leonard Peikoff's "Ominous
Parallels". I
 think
he is so smart. It is about how Nazi germany
came to power. The people voted Hitler, when
they had
a chance
 to leave, the majority stayed, people liked him,
they vote for him many times. It also compares
that
system, statism, to
what is happening in the USA. I will let him
explain himself and see if I agree after I am finished
reading it.


This ginger apple salsa recipe I made



I made huge bowl of it., It was good. I do not
 know why I put cayenne on this bowl. Not nice.
I have been eating mad avocados lately.
Have a big belly. Drinking lots of OJ, I got 6
 watermelons. I think I will juice fast this week
 for fun. Makes my mind race! Lots of
Oranges I eat, cut in fourths. I want to be really
 really strict with the fruit thing. This
 week, I will be.

This is old, I may have posted this a month ago.,
 I made my dress pink


Review of book I am reading
"Ominous parallels"

This book answers the plaguing question:
How could it happen? How could ordinary people,
 seemingly decent Germans, turn into goose-
stepping, Sieg-Heil-ing robots, eager to obey
any orders, even to administer the "final
solution" — the Holocaust? 

This book answers those questions, and makes
the rise of the Nazis finally intelligible. The cause,
 Dr. Peikoff demonstrates, lies in certain philoso
phic ideas — the anti-reason, anti-self, anti-freedom
 ideas that were already deeply imbued in German
culture long before Hitler's rise.

/



Germany was the “land of poets and philosophers”
—an educated, industrialized, civilized nation that
 took
pride in its artists, thinkers, and culture. Yet it
first appeased, then elected, then obediently
followed a man who led it into a global, syste
matic campaign of aggression, racism, horror,
 and mass extermination that defied all reason,
values,
and precedent.

Dr. Peikoffs thesis is that the seemingly
incomprehensible madness of National Socialism
 seized Germany not in spite of, but precisely
 because
 of, her “poets and philosophers.” The “ominous
parallels” are that similar ideas—and the cultural consequences—are sprouting in America today.



/

As a Jew, I have watched, read, and visited countless accounts of the Holocaust - but not one of them
correctly identified the ideas that brought it
 about or the ideas that will prevent it from
happening again. In some cases, I was first
shocked by the accounts of survivors and
then horrified when they offered as a
solution the same ideas that created the Nazis.

/

Excerpt from Chapter One.

The Nazis were not a tribe of prehistoric
 savages.  Their crimes were the official,
 legal acts and policies of modern Germany
 — an educated, industrialized, CIVILIZED
 Western European nation, a nation renowned throughout the world for the luster of its
 intellectual and cultural achievements. 
By reason of its long line of famous artists
and thinkers, Germany has been called 
"the land of poets and philosophers."

But its education offered the country no
protection against the Sergeant Molls in its
ranks.  The German university students
 were among the earliest groups to back
Hitler.  The intellectuals were among his
regime's most ardent supporters. 
Professors
 with distinguished academic credentials,
eager to pronounce their benediction on the
Fuhrer's cause, put their scholarship to work
full time; they turned out a library of admiring volumes, adorned with obscure allusions
and learned references.

The Nazis did not gain power against the
country's wishes.  In this respect there
was no gulf between the intellectuals and
 the people. The Nazi party was elected to
 office by the freely cast ballots of millions
of German voters, including men on every
social, economic, and educational level. 
In the national election of July 1932, the
Nazis obtained 37% of the vote and a
 plurality of seats in the Reichstag.  On
January 30, 1933, in full accordance with
the country's legal and constitutional principles, Hitler was appointed Chancellor.  Five
 weeks later, in the last (and semi-free) election
of the pre-totalitarian
period, the Nazis obtained 17 million votes,
 44% of the total.

The voters were aware of the Nazi ideology. 
Nazi literature, including statements of the
Nazi plans
 for the future, papered the country during the
last years of the Weimar Republic.   "Mein
Kampf" alone sold more than 200,000 copies between
1925 and 1932.  The essence of the political
 system which Hitler intended to establish in Germany was clear.

In 1933, when Hitler did establish the system
 he had promised, he did not find it necessary to forbid foreign travel.  Until World War II, those Germans who wished to flee the country
could do so.  The overwhelming majority
 did not.  They were satisfied to remain.

The system which Hitler established — the
social reality which so many Germans were
so eager to embrace or so willing to endure —
the politics which began in a theory and ended in Auschwitz — was: the "total state".  The term
, from which the adjective  "totalitarian"
 derives, was coined by Hitler's mentor,
 Mussolini.

In place of the despised  "private individuals," the Germans heard daily or hourly about a different
kind of entity, a supreme entity, whose will, it was
said, is what determines the course and actions of the state: the nation, the whole, the GROUP. 
Over and over, the Germans heard the idea that underlies the advocacy of omnipotent govern
ment, the idea that totalitarians of every kind
 stress as the
justification of their total states: COLLECTIVISM.

Collectivism is the theory that the group (the collective) has primacy over the individual.  Collectivism holds that, in human affairs, the collective — society, the community, the nation,
the proletariat, the race, etc. — is THE UNIT OF
REALITY AND THE STANDARD OF VALUE.  On this view, the individual has reality only as part of the group, and value only insofar as he serves it; on his own he has no political rights; he is to be sacrificed for the group whenever it — or its representative,
the state — deems this desirable.


During the Hitler years — in order to finance the party's programs, including the war expend
itures — every social group in Germany was mercilessly exploited and drained.  White-collar salaries
 and the earnings of small businessmen were deliberately
 held down by government controls, freezes,
 taxes.  Big business was bled by taxes and 
"special contributions" of every kind, and
 strangled by the bureaucracy. 


But the Nazis defended their policies, and the
country did not rebel; it accepted the Nazi
argument.  Selfish individuals may be
unhappy, the Nazis said, but what we have established in Germany is the ideal system, SOCIALISM. 


"To be a socialist", says Goebbels, 
"is to submit the I to the thou; socialism is
sacrificing the individual to the whole."

By this definition, the Nazis practiced what
they preached.  They practiced it at home and
then abroad.  No one can claim that they did not
 sacrifice enough individuals




LOOK SOMEONE IS COMPARING NAZIS TO ENVIRONMENTALISTS, I DO AGREE, I hate green people. Uh.  I have more rights than Planet Earth, and I want it to stay that way. Who makes anyone the authority on planet earth, who thinks they
are big enough to speak for it?
Don't I have as much say, since I live here too?

From Click

.












//

"Capitalism" is a totally different approach to government, from socialism— private property, representative government, individual rights, unregulated free markets to trade and sell, etc., exist in a capitalist system primarily for the purpose of allowing the minds of individuals to rise to their fullest potential, unhindered, to fulfill their own "selfish" ends ( man's pursuit of happiness), "neither sacrificing themselves to others, or others to themselves" according to free will of all, and all of the values that these individuals create— all the wealth, the technology, the innovations, inventions, etc., that they bring into existence, and all of the incalculable benefits which society experiences as a result of this, are noted and appreciated, but are secondary results, and not the primary justification for the existence of the capitalist system.

The primary justification is the sanctity of the individual; the triumph of "right" over "might" or force, and recognition of the fact that a human mind requires freedom to think on its own, and not to be forced to pursue goals which are foreign to it; and the recognition that Man is not a "sacrificial animal,"  to others, or the state, but is rather an end in himself."


1/8/2008


I am now Assistant Manager of the law office I work at, and still on my probationary period. The other girls told me, with such slithery anger, and they said they are not angry with me but pissed nonetheless because it is so unfair! They have been there longer and I did not mention they are always absent and on myspace. I feigned ignorance. Lol. The only reason I am not the manager is cause the old lady has been there 8 years. She is too busy to be Office Manager and only wants to work 4 hours a day. I am the real one. That is how I act anyways, soon it will just be.

Plus I am the voice on our new phone messages. I sound too uptight because my boss was staring at me asking me to repeat it until it was perfect.

I slept 12 hours last night. I can do that. I do no know many people who can. The night before I slept 4 hours. I get cranky if I sleep too much, and the next day, time goes by slower. We'll see.

Yesterday all I had was watermelon juice and Oj.
Today I might too, Juice fast was necessary. Over the weekend I had a ton of guacamole and tomatoes with so much salt. I weighed in at 120. I am usually 110. This morning I am 113, yesterday 118. I like being 110 that is my ideal weight, I am short, and all my clothes fit me right at that.

I got my Nars blush makeup in the mail, pink.


I wrote some of my novel yesterday. I like doing it. It's really long. Ideas I want change all the time.

I was thinking, what makes people irresistible, what makes me drawn to them, I am surrounded by dead faces with empty personalities all day. I see tons of women, all fat, all ugly, all..well, boring as hell to look at. What makes someone unique and beautiful and inspiring? Is it self confidence, or self love? Or are people just mirrors to everyone else?

There was a study of the perfect woman and the one who had all the right proportions, I mean, they ased pygmies and indians, and civilized people, anyways the girl who was universally the most beautiful, was Marilyn Monroe. So that is what the world thinks of beauty, united. The perfect face. Now is it the face or the energy behind it, the joy and inncocence she beamed, heroic in its own way.
Or the sexuality> the fun and aliveness of play?

She could n't have been acting, it was her, it was a real her, I think. I read her autobiography, I could not read it, she writes like a 10 year old, it was much more than that, it was , well, was it anti reality? And if so, wouldnt that be destructive? But she wasn't a destructive force, she was life giving, so I am confused. I have to think this out and think about it.

We share an office , well, it's huge, a whole quarter floor of large building, with real estate lawyers. The girls all wear no makeup, are overweight, have bad skin. There is an Indian Layerette that is pretty. There is an italian lawyer the girls love, but I don't find him attractive. I like American types. We are litigation.

I brought my camera. I have to sell my boss's old loveseat on craigslist. It's real new, but leather, which is gross. I am going over to the Brickell Offices to help clean up after work and photograph it..

 Since me and the other girls work closer, things and behaviors are mimetic. They copy each other and if one works harder, everyone does, its contagious. Before our offices were all far away from each other. We are close here. I can hear their phone conversations and I can hear them talking in the boss's office which is close. I hear all of them working hard. That is good. Before the

I am just drinking Oj so far. I had 1/3 of an ounce of wheatgrass, by dare at Jamba juice, I wanted to vomit. It was Nasty.

My boss gave me the Brooks Brothers catalog, it is very nice, the heels are too short in shoes and the suits are all wool. I like the cashmere wool turtle necks but that is not vegan. They look nice. I may go to the consignment shop for designer turtlenecks this afternoon.

The boss told me today I can tell his clients I am his assistant. So I am technically the assistant office manager and the legal assistant. Nice. I admit, its a little more of a Peter Keating type accomplishment, meaning my appearance and social skills are nice, excellent, but I do not want my life to be like that, just smiles and looks. I dress nice and am pretty. I would like to be known for my work. I learn stuff all the time, but I want to do the real important stuff.  I took the trolley to the Gables courthouse yesterday. Our courier was not to be found.

Part of the Peter Keating Personality is bragging too, yet somehow, inside not feeling it is deserved. Bragging about names, titles, awards..yet he felt it was all undeserved inside and somehow he felt people knew. Or did they?

Looks are not important, the meaning of life is one's work. To be known for your work, that is genius, that is really hard, anyone can be a charmer!

How do I become a heroine? How do I keep my ideals that do not turn friable when a person is in front of me. What is this lacuna I feel, this space I need to find, for me? To fill. This perfect space of me as whole as possible.

I also helped my boss, pick out his business cards. I liked Eggshell and raised black ink, on canvas paper. I wanted a gold border but he said no..

/

What is it I want to do but dedicate myself to my work. My work, I am a writer. What am I to accomplish? Overcome, find the right ideas for and to. I want to scrabble through my brain, and find the most heroic sentiments. For myself, for life.

/

Guess what? I am looking at an apartment in the David William Hotel in Coral Gables, tonight. It would be perfect for me. It is convenient and close to everything. A one bedroom. I would be so happy there. Its a sister hotel to the Biltmore.

""The David William Hotel was acquired by a group affiliate and re-opened in the fall of 1997. Their has been enthusiastic acceptance of its refurbished 116 rooms, meeting rooms and updated restaurant Donna’s Bistro, which has received acclaim from area newspapers such as the Miami Herald. This property is particularly appropriate for longer term travelers such as training groups, movie production crews and extended stay guests who value that each unit offers kitchen facilities. Organizations based in the Downtown Coral Gables, the Miami International Airport Area, and Downtown Miami are attracted by the properties upscale Coral Gables location and the hotels extended stay amenity package.""

 

I need to exercise more. Now that I am getting a place I need to save my money, jogging is free so that is what I will do. Should I do this in the mornings or at night. Maybe I will prompt my ipod with an audio book, and jog to that. I do not like to think about running, I just like to do it. I get alot of oxygen and I get really inspired and I love the Granada golf course..

I want to go shopping for juice food too. I want to juice greens with apples or cucumbers. I just want them. I love apple juice. SOmetimes it gets clogged in the screens.

I have a coconut I can make coconut mylk with ,but I need water for that, not tap. Maybe I will get a water purifer. 3 watermelons I bought at Publix were bad. I need garbage bags. I am right by the kitchen at work so all day I saw and hear people. I saw Boston Market mashed potatoes, I saw chicken baked with limes, they ate the limes too, I saw an old lady with chopped tomatoes and cucumbers. I overheard one fat girl say she is experimenting with vegetarian food. I smelled chicken and there is a fridge full of diet coke.

I come in to my desk, through the kitchen. It leads to the hallway. When you walk in the reception area there is a large HDTV screen playing CNN, and a book on skyscrapers and some magazines on the table. There is a large conference room in the back, not ours, and the floors are all wooden, shiny and dark brown. When we moved it was nerve wracking.






1/9

Why do I keep checking my email? Why do I keep checking for messages on my phone? What am I looking, waiting for? What? it is not worth even looking. Nothing is there, noone is coming. The only thing I am waiting for is my perfect self to come and love me, my beautiful self to come and protect me and to love me.

Who am I? I am the speaker and the listener. I am the one I talk to and the one who talks to me. I am the one who loves me and I am the one loved by me. I am more precious and important than anything. I am so valuable, but, why? What have I done that makes me valuable? Am I valuable just cause I
exist? That is ridiculous. Everybody exists. That is a given, I do not think one is valuable just by existing, that is like everybody else? I think it takes more than being alive to be valuable. One has to do something important, important to life. I have to be special. But by what? Am I important to myself? why? Whst have I done to impress myself?

They say we are our own worst critics, I disagree, I think we are OUR ONLY HONEST critics of ourselves. Everybody else doesnt care anyway and always just tell you or agree to what you want to hear. Noone cares about you unless you have something they want in value. We are the only accurate critics of ourselves.

I saw the movie ATONEMENT, man what a depressing movie. I wandered around the supermarket afterwards and cried. For no reason, dead drowned girls, and impossible real love affairs in my mind. Keira is the most beautiful woman in the world, she is more precious than I am to me. I am so into beauty.

What is it I want for myself, and whatever it is, is it important enough. Imagine the thing, that matters most to you, discovering it has no value.
I want the best for me, in every area of my life. I want it and I want to give it to me. I want a meaningful everything, and I want to be rich, not from my looks, but from my brain. I want to be special and I want to do what has never been done before for reasons that are beyond me and more important than I.

At work, Myspace girl sent my boss an email, asking for a raise,  he forwarded it to the other lawyer, saying he is sick of her, and nasty jokes about how she should do more legal complaints rather than verbal complaints. He accidentally hit the reply button and it went to her. All morning I had to calm her down, she was crying and freaking out, threatening to quit, saying we are not appreciated, and we are taken advantage of, etc.. I admit I got caught up.

 I got mad at my boss. I ignored him, and didnt say goodbye to him. He called me later hysterical. Well, not really, he just wanted to know why I didn't say goodbye to him. I was kind of mad. I am very bossy to him lately. I lose my patience with him. He wastes so much time on stuff like labels and cards and I can take care of all that. He knows I want to be in charge of all administrative stuff, which he likes to do. Like labels and ordering stamps, He is a lawyer not an office manager. Let me handle that stuff.

I went to whole foods, and bought three watermelons, berries, pineapples, some really raw cashew butter and tons of oranges.

Who am I, what do I want? And why? I want a car, and I want a nice place and I want everything all for myself and I do not want to share any of it, and I want to get it all on my own.

What else do I want, I do want a lot of money at work, but do I deserve it? Am I that much better of a worker? Am I calm enough or caffeined out ? Am I too bossy? Am I beautiful, to myself? If I am not beautiful to myself, then I am not beautiful. I do not want to be what I hate about women, I want to be what I love, the impossible kind of beauty. Tall skinny, with no smile lines ever. But then what about growing old, will I love myself then, will I be a pretty old lady?


Myspace girl is obese, but has a devoted hisband, not bad looking who loves her, and always buys her stuff, bought her a car, takes her out all the time, movies, etc, comes to work, always is on the phone. He works night shift and she day shift and they have tons of kids. I asked her what her secret is, and she gave me the blow job sign language.

Yuk. I told her I hate doing that and she made a comment like that is why you have been single for so long. Yuk, I don't care. No guy is good enough for me to do that to. Disgusting. Maybe I am too much of a prude. I really am too much of a hermit, and I like being alone and I would rather be alone than doing that to some guy. Yuk.

I am disgusted with 99% of men. I want my hero to appear. I want sex to be much higher than getting some guy off by degrading myself on my knees..That will never work for me. I am much more valuable to myself than that. What for? Tell me?

 I want it to be attainment of something valuable. I want real love. I want it, but it is much more, it is like getting a pet, a HUGE responsibility. 

Maybe she is just making up stuff. SHe does cook, I mean she makes him stuffed shells and sheperds pie and vodka sauce with pasta and lasagna. She is so overweight. She loves me now. Myspace girl is my best friend at work, what have I become? I am so two faced. I can't stand people. The old lady I am friends with also, how did that happen? I used to only have models as friends, now I have old fat legal secretaries as buddies.

Thank god for my 19 year old friend. I need her more than ever now. SHe is like a fresh breath of air. She can suffocate me all she wants, she calls me non stop. Comes over, sleeps over every night. I like her. I do not want to be with anybody else.


I feel, estranged, like tonight, watching ATONEMENT I realized I spent my whole life thinking other people are what mattered, and what they thought of me. I thought I had to fit in, I always did, and I always sought approval outside of myself.

I think I am immune to that, or immune from falling in love. Once I fell in love with me, there is no higher love. Nobody else deserves me. Once I fell in love with me, I am so precious to myself, how could I have ever sold myself at so low a cost? How could I put up with some of the men I enslaved myself to? For what? For their approval and love.  How and why? I know better now.

I think love is beautiful, but it is a huge responsibilty, one bigger than ourselves and if we are still kids at heart, it may be too big for us.

I only love that which is a high value to me. I love only exceptional men. The ones who are better than most. By talent, looks, or accomplishments.

What I get in life, is what I get for myself. I will never degrade myself ever again, for someone else. I will never.

I got alot of my mom's curse, willing to please curse, I need to snuff that out. They ( other people) are not important, I am. Noone deserves me, or can ever appreciate the stuff I do for them, noone can appreciate what others do for them.  Only what they get themselves for themselves.

I am talented. I need to appreciate myself, all the stuff I have done for others, I need to do for myself now. For the first time in my life I can say, noone deserves me. It used to be the other way around. I thought I was wrong somehow, that whatever failure I had, was because of me. Everyone else was right and I was wrong. I was wounded and hurt all the time, why? I do not know anymore, silly. The only failure of mine, was that I failed myself, and I put others before me. People are disgusted with themselves, me putting them before me, the thought is abhorrent to them.

What is my life, my job, my work? What is my work? This blog? My legal stuff? My novel? What for? What is it worth? To whom?

AM I in the middle like everyone else, doing good stuff only sometimes and bad stuff other times, and always in the middle, mediocre? What if I want to be all good? Then I have to choose good, meaning I have to suffer alot at first.




"Alot of laws that are put out to fight sexism are sexist, and alot of laws that are put out to stop racism, are racist." Some guy named Prodos said that, I like it.

Does anyone ever evaulate the relationship one has to oneself? The conversation between I and I? Is it friendly, is it benevolent or complaining and harsh? That is the only real relationship that matters.
That is the only real relationship. being with yourself 24-7. Isn't it the greatest thing ever? Or is it hard , is it hard to look in the mirror? Why is that so important? Why is it so hard to see? Because I cannot hide anything from myself, I am either proud of myself or ashamed, I cannot fool myself, I can fool others all day every hour and if others think highly of me, or LOVE me, if I do not love myself, I will be repelled by that.
Loved for what? What am I loved for? Doing good work, having values like virtue, self respect, good choices, drive and goals for the betterment of me? Loved for beauty? Loved for being alive ( I don't think so, last one, people don't love each other for just being people. People love values people have inside that are considered good to them. I don't love bums on the streets but love heroes and amazing men because of what they DO, or choices they make )

I love myself, I do, I love myself more as I have a relationship with myself. How have I missed this all my life? Is it fruitarianism or is it Ayn Rand's ideas who helped me so much?

I may change to raw vegan this year, I have not decided. Too much temptation to, and when my mind wants something it has to have it. I will always be high fruit, 90% or higher. It probably still makes me fruitarian, but I like to have integrity and be honest, like a purist in all that I do.



Here are some interviews I have been listening to

#1, #2, #8 ( I read all three books they are discussing) #46 looks real interesting. I am not that into political stuff too much, I am more concerned with me and day to day stuff, although I know ideas are powerful. There are out there exactly the ideas one has inside, don't settle for anything less.

# 51   I may listen to as well. I agree that the internet should be completely free, a little censuring, ruins the entire thing, the entire integrity, and if people start saying what is right and wrong, who is deciding? They can say anything! men's minds need to be free, free to choose on their own. Its what makes great men great.

ALLAN GOTTHELF DISCUSSES HIS BOOK "ON AYN RAND" From the PRODOS.COM archives 2000 ... “On Ayn Rand” – at the time of the interview – was the latest addition to the Wadsworth Philosophers Series. Topics covered in this interview include: The Benevolent Universe Premise and the Heroic View of Man. What value is central to Ayn Rand’s view of a hero? What is reason? What are emotions? Is there a connection between the two?  Are reason and emotions at odds with each other?  Are reason and passion mutually exclusive? Reason and self-esteem. How should a person gain his philosophy? What is philosophy? What is the meaning of life?  And is mysticism required to answer this question? What is “value”? What does human survival require? What does it mean for a human being “to live”? Selfishness: what is it according to Ayn Rand? Contrasting it with the Nietzchien view. The harmony of rational interests. In Ayn Rand’s novel, "The Fountainhead," Howard Roark gives up a job that would bring him wealth and fame.  How was that, by Ayn Rand’s philosophy, a selfish act? How did Allan Gotthelf first meet Ayn Rand? THE CAPITALIST MANIFESTO BY ANDREW BERNSTEIN Andrew Bernstein describes his book, The Capitalist Manifesto, as “One-stop shopping” for capitalism. Some of the issues discussed in the interview include: How Capitalism is "The system of the Enlightenment" - even though that happened a century or so earlier. The connection between human rights, freedom, and prosperity. What do you need to get to a system of progress and prosperity? What two aspects of human life did Enlightenment culture glorify? What capitalism has done for the Arts. What is the point of government according to the Enlightenment and pro Capitalism view? What is ACTUALLY the central, foundational principle of the capitalist system? Capitalism as the system of the mind. Can there be slavery under capitalism?  Is slavery good for business?  Is slavery practical? Under capitalism, do the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? Why did Communism “work” as long as it did in the Soviet Union? The inductive method and structure of “The Capitalist Manifesto”. The nature of force and what is it good for. What should and should not be privatized? "The great disconnect” – the clash between the ethics that freedom demands versus the underlying moral idea that many people in the west accept; the mind-boggling destruction this “great disconnect” has wrought in the world. JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS: A JOURNEY INTO AMERICAN IDEALS In his "dissenting opinion" in the Kelo vs New London eminent domain case, United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas takes us on a journey into the thinking and the spirit of the American Founding Fathers. With San Diego based attorney, James Valliant, we analyse Justice Thomas's approach and learn about how the framers of the American Constitution approached defending man's rights - defending it against the very kinds of people represented by Justice Stevens and the Supreme Court's majority opinion! CAPITALISM THE MAGNIFICENT Guests: Philosopher & Novelist, Andrew Bernstein & Psychologist & Writer, Michael Hurd. As well as being practical AND being moral, the Celebrate Capitalism™ campaign maintains that capitalism is also MAGNIFICENT. Literally, actually, objectively so. That's what is explored in this interview. Topics covered include: More choices under capitalism. Freedom of the mind vs repression of the mind. Creativity vs boredom. The results of mental repression. The encouragement of invention in a capitalist society. Depression as engendered by a lack - or perceived lack - of choice. The excitement of the entrepreneur, the inventor, the creative mind. “Value intoxication.” The idea of "adventure and romance". Career choice/changing career. The interaction of inventions. Surprise. Unpredictability. What is heroism? Are there more heroes under capitalism? How the division of labor - a key feature of capitalism - opens up more choices for everyone - the opportunity to do what you love most and are best at. Becoming the hero of your own life. WHY IS STATISM SO UNBEARABLY BORING? Guest: Psychologist and writer, Dr Michael Hurd. Topics covered include: Is there a connection between boredom and statism? Fear and the absence of creativity. What happens under the most extreme forms of statism to a person’s mind?  How might this relate to what happens under milder forms? The risk-averse personality and depression. How a statist government helps instill the risk-averse psychology.The conflict between coercion and creativity. What, except physical force can silence active minds? The difference in the effect between private support of the arts versus government support. Government favoritism. EMINENT DOMAIN: KELO v NEW LONDON & THE LOGIC OF DESTRUCTION 5 out of 9 Supreme Court judges have now said it is Constitutional to seize the private property of some citizens and to hand it over to others - if that results more taxes or greater employment for the community. ”Promoting economic development is a traditional and long-accepted governmental function.” wrote Justice Stevens. In this interview, Property Rights activist, Erich Veyhl, analyzes this recent absolutely awful turn of events in the Land of Liberty. Why did Susette Kelo not want to accept “just compensation” for her property? Did everyone who gave in to eminent domain in this case want to sell? Economic fascism. To what extent is the 5th  Amendment about granting government the power to take property and to what extent is it about limiting that power? How is the right to private property of *spiritual* concern?  How does it affect the creative mind? How today’s use of eminent domain attacks personal values. The final verdict as written by Justice Stevens – government planning as the god of the scheme to undermine private property rights. How ”The Plan” supersedes individual rights, in Justice Stevens’s verdict. The re-defining of “public use” to be whatever the government says is its purpose in the name of the public. EMINENT DOMAIN: HOW THE FIFTH AMENDMENT IS BEING EXPLOITED BY GOVERNMENTS TO DESTROY PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS Why the Founders of the USA intended to limit the power of eminent domain. Did all of them believe eminent domain was right and necessary? Contrasting what the US Founders intended versus what is being done with eminent domain today. In Australia it's called "compulsory acquisition". Court decision regarding the Federal Urban Renewal program, when the Supreme Court re-defined term “public use” in a loose, vague way that left property rights vulnerable to virtually anything the government chooses to call “public use” or “public good” or “public interest”, including taking property from a homeowner or small business owner to give it to a company that will bring in more taxes. VALLIANT VS BRANDEN & BRANDEN James Valliant talks about his book, The Passion of Ayn Rand's Critics: The Case Against The Brandens and sheds light on the "Manchurian Candidate Effect". James has made an extensive analysis of the claims made by Barbara and Nathaniel Branden and shown how the Brandens contradict each other AND themselves. The clincher is that Ayn Rand's private journals were made available to hime by the Estate of Ayn Rand. You'll be astounded at what they reveal about her. THE POWERFUL MINDS PROJECT Glenn Woiceshyn discusses: Why developing the mind should be the primary focus of education. The importance of history and historic heroes - a vital part of education. Teaching induction. Teaching courage and intellectual independence. The problems of Progressive Education, cognitive relativism and other modern approach that dampen children's love of learning and the development of vital knowledge and skills. The "Powerful Minds" approach to developing curriculum material. A NEW DIRECTION IN PHYSICS Lewis Little discusses the Theory of Elementary Waves. Wave goodbye to: wave-particle duality, entanglement, non-locality, faster-than-light signalling, instantaneous action, Schroedinger's paradox, the fashionable modern indifference and dogmatic contempt for physical explanation, and all the spooky Zen-like convolutions and contortions of standard quantum and relativity theory. Wave hello to: cause and effect, locality, the law of identity, solving the EPR paradox, putting physicality back into physics, explaining the constant speed of light. Say G'day to logic and reality! Yippee! THE MEANING OF THE MURDER OF DUTCH POLITICIAN, PYM FORTUYN How the media and the left contributed to the murder of Pym Fortyn. Through prejudice and character assassination. Popular, flamboyant, openly gay Dutch politician, Pym Fortuyn ("Professor Pym") was portrayed by Dutch, European, and international media as: Far right, New Right, extreme-rightist, Racist, Fascist, neo-fascist, anti-immigration, similiar to France's Jean Marie LePen, and sometimes even as a radical laissez-faire supporter (which is the exact opposite of statist fascism of course - but these left-wing journalists aren't known for their intelligence). But Pym Fortyn was NONE of these things. ALINA FERNANDEZ: FIDEL CASTRO'S DAUGHTER [From the archives] How did Alina escape from Cuba? What does she think of her father, Fidel Castro?  When the cartoons disappeared forever. Did Alina ever get involved in Cuban politics?  What did Castro say when 14-year-old Alina told her father she wanted to leave Cuba? What was the “Peter Pan” plan? The Elian Gonzales case – why “parental rights” do not apply in Cuba.  What is family life actually like in Cuba? Health and education is “free” in Cuba – why is Alina Fernandez not impressed?  THE MORAL AND PRACTICAL CASE FOR COMPLETELY PRIVATE EDUCATION James Stanfield in the UK and Marshall Fritz in the USA present convincing research from country after country, school after school, that shows why the government really must get OUT of the education business. Private enterprise can do it better. The evidence is now overwhelming! Then there are the moral arguments and the social consequences to consider when goverments run schools. EDWARD DE BONO (2 interviews) What is lateral thinking? Humor – how does it tell us more about the human mind than any other behavior? What has been the driving force of Western science? How Chinese technology was far advanced - way beyond that of the West - 2000 years ago.  But Chinese technological progress then came to a dead end. Why? The value and importance of play and provocation. What is “po”?  How do you use it? “Parallel thinking” – the 6 Thinking Hats method. Why is Australia Edward DeBono’s favorite country?  The habits of “wisdom” versus the habits of traditional thinking. Traditional approaches to creative thinking – brainstorming and suspending judgment - how they are weak or ineffective. Deliberate provocations as aids to creative thinking. REVIVAL AND INFLUENCE OF ANCIENT SKEPTICISM IN MODERN SCIENCE Skepticism’s Medieval alliance with theology. Extreme skepticism and moderate skepticism. Montaigne’s skeptic view regarding the statement “honey is sweet”. Rene Descartes –– the material universe as a giant piece of clockwork; “I think; therefore I am.”  Looking for that which cannot be doubted.  The “evil demon” hypothesis. When Science shook up the old views of the world. Thomas Hobbes – his solution for the problem of finding a criteria for true knowledge. Influence of skepticism on modern science.  Newtonians: “We can do science without knowing the ultimate causes of things.” Is statistical evidence proof of cause and effect?Skepticism and quantum mechanics Skepticism in ethics and politics. The elephant and the 3 blind men. COMMERCIAL VS POLITICAL SPEECH: DIVIDING AND DESTROYING THE FIRST AMENDMENT In 1942 the Supreme Court began to differentiate between "commercial speech" such as advertising, and political speech. The "commercial speech doctrine" holds that commercial or "self-interested" speech is NOT protected by the First Amendment. Nicholas Provenzo from the Center for the Advancement of Capitalism (CAC) argues there should be no such division. THE SWASHBUCKLING SPIRIT OF THE ENTREPRENEUR How Cornelius Vanderbilt challenged Robert Fulton’s state-sponsored monopoly. the entrepreneur as a daring, enterprising adventurer with a great, original  vision. Creative minds in the material realm of business just as creative as those in the spiritual realm of art. The mind as the real business capital. Does greed for money drive the entrepreneur? What does money and profit mean to the entrepreneur? Ayn Rand as an entrepreneur. PROHIBITIONISM - BANNING FOR A BETTER WORLD? Prohibition in America (1920 - 1933), Australia, Britain, and elsewhere. How the ban was actually not about drinking alcohol, but against producing and selling alcohol. How the consumer was treated as a victim. Temperance crusaders tended to also be for ending slavery - what did these two issues have in common at the time? The role of the Quakers. It was actually not a "Puritan" movement. Early crusaders relied on persuasion and advocated moderation - but this changed to using force of law and advocating a total ban. How Prohibition caused disrespect of law. Violation of property rights. The rise of organized crime. That the backlash and the move to repeal Prohibition was itself based on flawed arguments. And much more! USA-AUSTRALIA (FTA) FREE TRADE AGREEMENT Australia has ALWAYS stood beside the USA. We’ve fought with United States – for better or for worse – in EVERY major war – including Vietnam and Korea. And most recently in Afghanistan and Iraq. Without doubt, Australia is the most USA-friendly country in the world. We’ve been prepared to fight together and die together for the cause of liberty. Are we now prepared to TRADE together? BETTINA BIEN GREAVES ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF LUDWIG VON MISES Topics covered include: The personality and personal style of Mises, his views of morality, his passion and unswerving dedication to liberty, accurate predictions of future world events by noting prevailing ideas and ideologies ("as I see from the books being written"), how capitalism has been maligned, gossip regarding run-in with Ayn Rand (but UNVERIFIED), when governments should "do nothing", Greenspan's current view regarding the Gold Standard, the importance and impact of ideas, a BATMAN comic issue based on Ludwig Von Mises (!), the recovery of Mises papers taken by the Nazis and showing up in Moscow, his rejection of anarcho-capitalism and anarchy, the Mises Institute "does a good job ... but ... torn between the teachings of Mises and the teachings of Rothbard", love of opera, and much, much more! IRANIAN STUDENT UPRISING While the intelligentsia of what we call the free world – the West – Australia … the USA … Europe .. Canada and so on – tell us that dictators like Castro are “freedom fighters” and that social systems like Capitalism are the root of all evil .. and seek to slander great men like Thomas Jefferson … in the heart of one of the world’s most brutal and fanatical regions – a region that mass produces terrorists the way Henry Ford first mass produced the Model T ... within the axis of evil itself … there are individuals who are upholding the American Founding Fathers and believe that free trade is a basic human right. They believe in: capitalism, private property rights, secular government, free speech.    WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF POVERTY IN POOR COUNTRIES? Why are some people rich and some people poor? Why are some countries rich and others poor? The governments of many poor countries seem to oppose free trade and the entry of big corporations. But the citizens want the corporations and they WANT capitalism. Regarding anti-capitalist demonstrators? James Shikwati: "(The demonstrators) didn't seem to be informed about the poor people ... and didn't seem to be intersted in the concerns of the poor people." Barun Mitra: "(The demonstrators) by and large have little understanding of the issues ... most are not even making an effort to understand the issues." ARCHIVE: MIKE MENTZER, HOW FITNESS SCIENCE HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY AYN RAND Recorded about a year before Mike Mentzer's death. This interview looks at how Ayn Rand's ideas in Epistemology (reason), Metaphysics (reality), and Ethics (personal happiness) influenced one of the world's most successful and revolutionary musclemen and fitness experts. RATIONAL ENTHUSIASM & A 'SERMON ON THE MOUNT' "Fill your life with the things you love most!" says Dr Andrew Bernstein, Author, Heart of a Pagan. This interview with Dr Bernstein and a group of highly motivated members of the "Swoop Troop" was recorded during their trek up Breakneck Ridge, Cold Springs, New York. Topics covered include: Mind/body integration. The Classical Greek ideal of sound body and sound mind. Treat your body as a consecrated thing. The pursuit of excellence in the mental, moral, and physical realm. Is rational enthusiasm an American invention? Since the USA was explicitly founded on the ideal of the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, what that means is that individuals have the inalienable right to pursue their own values. The right to devote every second of your life to the things your love and the idea that no one has the right to get in your way. You have the moral right to go after what you want. THE COOLING VEST THAT DOES THE SWEATING FOR YOU Discussion of a new "cooling vest" designed to be worn under the NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protective clothing of soldiers, fire fighters, etc. How it works - how it "does the sweating for you". The physiology of body cooling, why does sweating cool us down. The application of 'heat pipe' technology first developed for satellites to conduct heat away from circuitry. The operational edge this vest gives a soldier. The way the vest was developed. MYTHS ABOUT ISRAELI OCCUPATION Daniel Mandel exposes the many myths regarding the Israel/Palestine conflict - especially the myth that Israel is somehow "occupying" land that "rightfully" belongs to Palestine or Palestinians. HISTORY OF MUSICALS & THE FREE MARKET The development of The Musical over the last few centuries! We look at its transformation as a genre plus we check whether there is any link between its development and Capitalistic ideals in society: Free trade, individual rights, free speech, free association, rule of law, esteem of reason. HEART OF A PAGAN: THE STORY OF SWOOP Swoop - the hero of Andrew Bernstein's novel, Heart of a Pagan, is not only a visionary, a philosopher, and a genius - he's the world's greatest athlete. And he's on a mission from the gods - the pagan gods of Ancient Greece - to inspire the worship and achievement of mental, physical, and moral excellence! Thus, using basketball as a metaphor, through the irrepressible character of Swoop, and the unstoppable, unbeatable Swoop Troop, this story takes us from the conquests of Alexander the Great and the feats of Achilles and Odysseus to the basketball court - and back again! FOREIGN TRADE RESTRICTIONS Two leading free market writers discuss the problems with trade restrictions such as: Tarrifs, Anti dumping laws (including criticism of the WTO), Tarrifs, Foreign Ownership restrictions, Multi-lateral trade agreements, etc. LINDSAY PERIGO INTERVIEWED Interview with New Zealand radio presenter and free-market activist, Lindsay Perigo. Topics covered include: The challenge of encouraging others to think in principles. How does cultural change happen - it's not 'linear.' How to treat your philosophy selfishly. It's those few people who do care who make a difference. Going from Communism to cynicism. Then finally discovering Ayn Rand. THE CHENEY-MUELLER PRE-EMPTIVE *SURRENDER* TO TERRORISM American Vice President, Dick Cheney says that another terrorist attack on the USA is "Almost a certainty." FBI Director, Robert Mueller says "I think it's inevitable ... There will be another terrorist attack ... We will not be able to stop it. It's something we all live with." WRONG! In fact there is a great deal more the USA can do. For instance, a decisive, pre-emptive military *strike* against states that sponsor terrorism. ISRAEL'S OPERATION DEFENSE SHIELD Palestinian terrorist groups have been competing with each other on who can create the most havoc and kill the most Israelis. Operation Defense Shield aimed at reducing Palestinian suicide attacks on Israel and destroying or reducing Palestinian terrorist capabality. Was it successful? What methods did it use? What about the deeper and more long term problems of terrorism? Why fighting terrorism in Israel makes the world whole a safer place. HOW BUREAUCRATS TRY TO 'IMPROVE' THE FREE MARKET Every one seems to have one. No government is complete these days without it's very own Anti-trust agency. To "protect" the consumer from price-fixing, under-pricing, over-pricing, whatever- you- do- is-bound- to- be- wrong- anyway- pricing. To fix this imperfect market in this imperfect world. To make sure there are no anti "competitive" business practices taking place anywhere any time. WHY ISRAEL HAS MUCH TO BE PROUD OF Israel is a beacon of Western values, Capitalism, and success - smack in the middle of the Middle East. Surrounded by 'neighbours' for whom freedom is a foreign tongue, by poverty ridden dictatorships who view Israel's prosperity with a mixture of paranoid suspicion, hate, and envy. Israel does not allow itself to forget that "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" (Wendell Phillips) They have paid a high price for it - and they should be proud of what they have created and defended. TOWARDS A POSITIVE VISION FOR CUBA What's wrong with Communism in both theory and practice - how it is an airtight guarantee of poverty and misery. Why Capitalism - free trade, free speech, individual rights, etc. - is the only moral and practical solution for Cuba. LIVING IN ISRAEL TODAY: NAOMI RAGEN ONLINE FROM JERUSALEM At a time when innocent Israelis are being murdered indiscriminately by Arafat's suicide bombers ... As the media portrays these terrorists and their brutal leadership as heroes and condemns Israel - the freest, most prosperous state in the Middle East - for seeking to defend herself ... what is it like living Israel? Getting on a bus? Shopping at the local market? Eating in a restaurant? CHINA: FACTS AND "FACE" Western appeasement is rewarding Chinese aggression and oppression. Can trading with China lead to the spread of better ideas? Or will it end up arming and encouraging a force of destruction? A brutal force aimed at both foreigners and Chinese citizens? CHINA: WHY IT SHOULD LOSE THE OLYMPICS The world's biggest dictatorship - a country which has slaughtered more people than Hitler, is hostile to Western values, throws a tantrum if anyone suggests it may not be allowed to have Taiwan all to itself - but it gets handed Hong Kong and the Olympic Games. So what gives? CHINA: WHERE IS THE LANGUAGE OF LIBERTY? China has some deep problems. As well as its Communist and authoritarian traditions, the Chinese language lacks the words/concepts necessary to grasp the ideas of liberty, individualism, free choice, etc. And the Western concepts it has picked up are Kantian and Keynesian. The worst of all worlds. Yet the West constantly appeases and even rewards China. SOUTH KOREAN CULTURE, CONCEPTS, AND CAPITALISM Does South Korea have the foundations for Capitalism? Individual Rights? The Pursuit of Happiness? Does it have the concepts which are the precondition of achieving freedom and prosperity? CUBAN DISSIDENT, EX COMMUNIST, FERDINANDO CASTRO DE LARDILLER, ONLINE FROM CUBA We know what the Cuban oppositionists are against: Castro and Communism. But what are they fighting FOR? And how does a dictator like Castro stay in power? In this illegal (according to Cuban law) interview we speak with one of Cuba's leading dissidents. LEON LOUW: PROMOTING FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES IN SOUTH AFRICA AND BEYOND "Contrary to what Socialists and Communists think, when people are trading they're all blissfully happy - buyers and sellers alike!" observed Leon Louw on his recent visit to Melbourne, Australia. The Founder of the South African based Free Market Foundation talks about the programs and activities his organization run to promote free market ideas and policies. Among other things, find out about the young black Communist who now works as a lecturer promoting the virtues of Capitalism HOW DOES FANTASY AND ADVENTURE WORK IN LITERATURE? As humans we seem to be preoccupied with two seemingly opposed activities. The first is to identify reality. The second is to escape it - through the use of fiction, fantasy, fairytales. What is the role of fantasy in human life? MORE CAPITALISM MEANS MORE AND BETTER ART "Artists flourish in a capitalistic system!" says Art Historian, Professor Lee Sanstead. So why are so many Artists so hostile towards Capitalism? Example after historic example is provided of the link between Capitalism (the system of the mind) and Artistic quality and quantity. A chilling contrast is made with the Artistic desolation of oppressive regimes such as modern Afghanistan as well as the anti objectivity of Post Modernism. Listen now to this informative and uplifting affirmation of creative freedom and prosperity - including some ground-breaking insights by one of the world's foremost authorities on Romantic Realism. HOW GOVERNMENTS GET AWAY WITH SEIZING PRIVATE PROPERTY Using the example of the Brazilian Government's threat to seize the patent to AIDS drug, Viracept, we look at how Governments get away with such breaches of property rights. Topics covered include: The often-used trick of declaring a "state of emergency" as an excuse to trample on rights. The false dichotomy inherent in the "Put lives before profit" slogan. The contribution of altruism to the destruction of rights. The fraud of claiming to "help" people - whilst punishing the Drug companies for their success. The widespread notion that profits are bad. Should Atlas go on strike? The possible idea of micro strikes. How companies are hampered from defending themselves - by their shareholders' structures and by their own short term mentalities. A TURN FOR DE WURST The Artist at Work Series: Sydney Kendall is author of 'A Turn for DeWurst', a thought-provoking novel about a brilliant little girl who fights back against a teacher that is out to crush her mind and spirit. It shows the importance of independence, and of freedom of choice in education. Why is fiction so important? The nature of the creative process. Homeschooling. Having a primary purpose in writing a novel. Creation of characters. How fiction can express radical ideas better than non-fiction — showing the practical consequences of ideas and values. "Good versus evil" — how moral issues stir emotions. THE ART & SCIENCE OF SELFISHNESS Why is the concept of selfishness so misunderstood and misrepresented? Isn't everyone selfish? Selfishness is not the same as gratifying your every desire. How ALTRUISM painted self-interest as harming others. Who gave selfishness a bad name and how they did it. Tricks used by advocates of selflessness - For instance: The benevolence trap. SelfLESSness is opposed to happiness. How altruism has created the modern trend of "victim competition". The selfish person is focused on respecting and valuing others. Ayn Rand's remarkable clarification of this most misunderstood idea. WORSE THAN MINDLESS THUGS. THE M1 EXPOSED. AND CHALLENGED! They smashed windows, they screamed slogans, they burned effigies, they hurled paint, they pushed, hit, threatened, swore, and shouted down dissenters. They terrorized the innocent. Were the M1 protesters mindless thugs? No. Something much worse. On May 1, 2001, The "M1" demonstrators rallied in every city around Australia. Their goal was to stage a "peaceful protest." which "Shut Down Corporate Australia". Doesn't make sense? It does actually, from a very particular perspective as you'll find out shortly. HECTOR PALACIOS: CUBAN THOUGHT CRIMINAL Online from within Cuba. Founder of the Democratic Solidarity Party of Cuba, arrested sixty times, spent twelve years in jail. Discusses: The extent to which Cubans are restricted and enslaved. What happened to Elian Gonzalez. The Valera Project seeking to change the Cuban constitution. Those who have fled Cuba. How to remain positive and strong, even under the most dire conditions, his own dreams and hopes. FATAL BOLT OF TRUTH FOR GUILT INDUSTRY Melbourne Herald Sun columnist, Andrew Bolt, recently confronted Australia's most honored Aboriginal leader, Dr Lowitja O'Donogue with facts that contradict her long held stance that she was a 'stolen child' i.e. forcibly removed from her parents by white authorities. She came clean and confessed that her parents had HANDED HER OVER to Colebrook Homes. The guilt industry is imploding in slow motion. CYBERHATE: WHO CAN SLAY THE HYDRA? Discussion includes: Sophisticated organizational structures and technologies used by Neo Nazis and 'extreme right (don't you "hate" that term?) groups.' Past and current examples. Can current laws cope with the problem? The dangers of censoring the web. Some non-government, free market solutions. Modern trend towards direct action and emotionalism. Can one combat stupidity and prejudice? How education can help. How young people should approach the internet. DEFENDING CAPITALISM: CONTRASTING CHRISTIANITY & OBJECTIVISM Most Christians I know are opposed to capitalism, profit, and 'materialism'. But does this necessarily follow from Christian principles? Michael Novak, from the American Enterprise Institute, one of the world's most eminent defenders of capitalism and a devout Catholic doesn't think so. He joins Andrew Bernstein from the Ayn Rand Institute as we contrast the way Objectivism and Christianity defend Capitalism. THE HISTORY OF RELIGION AND SCIENCE Interview includes: Newton's search for a "scientific theology" and his study of alchemy. His use of gravitation and the notion of action-at-a-distance as evidence of God's intervention. Galileo's crime. Why was he persecuted by the Church? His claim that there were two books of God - the bible and the natural world. Could he prove the Copernican view? HOW TO FIND LOVE AND ROMANCE Topics covered include: What does a woman look for in a man? What does a man look for in a woman? Differences and similarities. Why do we NEED love and romance? Why pursue it? Are we 'incomplete' without a 'soul-mate'? What to look for in a soul-partner. Keeping the love alive - over decades. The feeling of "I'm melting" that comes with being in love. How the internet may be changing some of the old rules - maybe for the better! THE MORAL AND MILITARY DEFENCE OF ISRAEL Topics covered include: The ideological war behind the violence. The media's role in not only reporting events but in determining the outcome. The lengths to which Israel has gone to encourage peace. Is it time to take back some of the territory? The problem with the concept of "self-determination" based on heritage or religion - for both Israelis and Palestinians. THE MANY MASKS AND GRINNING SKULLS OF MULTICULTURALISM Multicultralism wears many masks. It pretends to stand for: tolerance, diversity, defending the underdog, redressing past wrongs, progressive thinking, justice, anti-racism, an open society, human values, empowerment. But in reality it creates a culture of intimidation and intolerance; obliterates judgement, values and virtue; brings people down to a lowest common denominator; creates victims out of the very people it purports to help; creates a new class of oppressors; replaces individualism with tribalism. Of course, apart from all that it's a great idea. NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE AND THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE Topics covered include: America's past posture of 'purposeful vulnerability'. Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" speech. Rogue states now developing advanced missile capabilities. Arms Control "Theology". Chinese "vociferous" opposition to NMD - and what it really means. New Chinese missiles look very much like the American ones - why? China's "energetic upgrade" of its offensive capabilities. UNDERSTANDING GOOD AND BAD INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHIES Topics covered include: The contrasting views of Keynes (who was friendly with Hayek it seems). Methodological individualism. The practical problems of government controlling economic activity. Social justice. Why market forecasters get it wrong so often. The decision in the 1930's to opt for market intervention when a "hands off" policy would have been better. Chris Leithner's experience in lecturing to up and coming public servants. The notion that the government must provide the money and the answers. The latest fad: "ethical investment". A PALESTINIAN STATE? BUT WHY? Topics covered include: How an emphasis on the peace 'process' has allowed Israel to ignore the obvious bad character and violent track record of someone like Yassar Arafat. Anyway, what is a Palestinian State? Will it be free and democratic or just another little authoritarian outpost? Is there any point at all for having a Palestine? Why have the Israelis gone along with this idea? Wouldn't an Arab living in Israel actually be freer than an Arab living in the proposed Palestine? COERCION AND HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS In the 17th Century, John Locke identified the fact that using force to get one's way degraded, not just the victim, but the wielder of the force. In the 20th Century, Ayn Rand identified the connection between coercion and mental paralysis - "Force and mind are opposites" - and went on to identify the sort of social system most conducive to human consciousness - laissez faire capitalism. SOCIAL SECURITY: A SACRED COW OF A SYSTEM Topics covered include: The history of Social Security and its German and Marxist roots. SS as an instrument of egalitarianism. Comparing America, Europe, and Australia. The big mistake of the 1935 Great Depression. The 'Salsman Plan'. The moral issue of compulsorily funding government SS. Comparisons with privately run retirement and superannuation systems. The effect on savings. Welfare spending. Work-for-the dole. Minimum wages. DISPOSING OF THE INDISPENSIBLE: DESTROYING PRIVATE PROPERTY 100,000,000 acres - 30% - of America is now owned by the Federal Government. CARA (The Conservation & Reinvestment Act) makes billions of taxpayers' dollars available to buy out private property and maintain it as 'pristine wilderness' - i.e. free of human intervention. Since that day twelve years ago, when Erich Veyhl happened to notice an article in The Boston Globe showing how the National Parks Service planned to designate his property as part of a national park, he has been fighting at the moral and practical level to protect his and others' property rights. HOW GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF THE ARTS KILLS LEADERSHIP AND CREATIVITY Do the Arts actually NEED government funding? Arguments used to defend funding such as - providing community access, it's too important to be left in private hands, necessary to shape national identity, countries like Australia are too small to succeed without it, etc. The historic development of Arts funding. Shifting the focus from creativity towards pleasing funding bodies. The importance of individual passion and how creative types are undercut by the funding regime. UNDERSTANDING DRUG USE - Part 1: From the viewpoint of users Two 'recreational users talk about: Their favorite drugs. Why they use them. The experience of using each drug. How they started. The notion of escapism and comparing different types of 'recreational' escapism with using drugs like: travel, fishing, going to Disneyland, seeing a movie. The use of drugs for 'enhancement' and celebration. Telling reality from fantasy. Can drugs enhance creativity? Their views on using drugs safely, like checking the quality, buying from trusted suppliers. And much more. UNDERSTANDING DRUG USE - Part 2: Can drug use ever be rational? Topics covered include: Can there be a safe use of drugs? Would there be anything wrong with invoking pleasure, confidence, ecstasy by direct stimulation of the brain? The cause-and-effect connection between emotions, values, action. The issue of escapism, recreation and fun. Using drugs to deal or alter feelings. Can 'cocaine confidence' be transferred to everyday life? Achieving the virtue of independence. Emotions as a reward for achieving values. Emotions as signals that guide us. Can one be better off in any way by using drugs? Given the potential life offers is drug use selfish enough? SO YOU WANT TO BE A SPY? What personal attributes does a spy agency look for. The kind of training they receive. Comparing the differences in being a spy in China, Singapore, and the USA. Recruiting traitors. The difficulties in dealing with double agents and individuals who might be monitored by counter intelligence services. Why he defected. Also, what is happening in Russia today and the problems with the Putin regime. BENEVOLENCE versus ALTRUISM The connection between rational self-interest and goodwill. The importance of pursuing your own happiness. The malevolence and destruction which inevitably follows from practicing altruism. Altruism's bloody reign of hate and violence - from Christianity to Marxism, from Eastern religion to Tribalism. Is Ayn Rand and Objectivism opposed to helping others? Rand's revolution in ethics. How altruism can affect our daily decision making. What rational selfishness is NOT. Helping loved ones, friends, strangers - why and on what basis. The 'help = sacrifice' package deal and fallacy. DEFENDING THE FOREST INDUSTRY AGAINST THE GREENS AND THEMSELVES Eighty year old, retired forester, Tom Brabin, is still active in fighting Green lies and anti-industry propaganda. Unfortunately, the Forest industry is busily self-destructing. They refuse to recognize what they're actually up against. "The Greens never give in", says Brabin. In contrast, the industry keeps doing 'deals', making compromises and beating around the bush (pardon the pun). Tom Brabin was head the Victorian Association of Forest Industries from 1962 - 1982. S11 BRAZENLY EMBRACES VIOLENCE AGAINST DISSENT "Shutdown the World Economic Forum!" That is the express goal of The s11, a network of organizations and demonstrators who are protesting outside Melbourne's Crown Casino complex and the Melbourne Exhibition buildings. Business leaders, including Bill Gates, along with political leaders have gathered in Melbourne for three days to discuss international trade. S11 is not planning just to object to their meeting. It plans to prevent it from taking place. The demonstrators have formed human chains around the entrances to Crown and are preventing anyone from entering the building. Mario tried to enter the building earlier and was grabbed by several protestors, and pushed back forcefully. When he said he had to enter to go to work he was told no-one is coming in today, "Take the day off, you don't have to go to work today." HOW THE BOSTON GLOBE PURGED JEFF JACOBY eff Jacoby talks about how he was recently suspended by The Boston Globe, and invited to resign, for "serious journalistic misconduct". It was alleged that his article on the fate which befell the signers of The Declaration of Independence did not attribute its sources and amounted to plagiarism. Wrong. He used information and some expressions which were in the public domain - the story was a well known historical retelling. A closer examination, to me, suggests that, as the Globe's only NON left columnists, he has been singled out for special treatment. WHAT EXACTLY IS COCA COLA? Coca Cola was invented in 1886. Today it is the most recognizable product brand on the face of the earth. Even if you don't drink it you know what Coke is. OK, so what is it? Not just a drink! Coca Cola has been designed as a complete sensory experience. In Rumania Coke was viewed as a mysterious 'symbol of the free world'. Also covered: Approaches to sponsorship, the reinvention of Santa Claus, principles of marketing and advertising, the ingredients of Coke's success, packaging and distribution, maintaining leadership, identifying with lifestyles, finding a unique place in the consumer's consciousness, remaining dynamic all these years, and lots more. CATHY FREEMAN RUNS WITH THE 'SORRY' PACK Greatly admired, part-aboriginal, Australian Olympic runner, Cathy Freeman, recently made headlines across Australia and internationally when she claimed that her grandmother had been removed from her parents "because she had fair skin". A few years ago Sir Ronald Wilson compiled a report called Bringing Them Home based on interviews with mixed race aboriginals who claimed they had been forcibly removed from their families as part of a 'social engineering' program. It is claimed that they are part of 'The Stolen Generation'. The only problem seems to be that evidence of a 'Stolen Generation' cannot be found. DE BONO METHOD: CREATIVE HARVESTING As well as using formal lateral thinking methods like 'po' to generate a quantity of diverse ideas, we also need to develop the skill of 'harvesting' our thinking. Stopping only at the wiz-bang ideas means that we miss some valuable creative products which we've come up with but haven't identified. During this session we show how to: extract and pull back concepts which can be applied to other fields, identify seedling ideas, define new focus points and starting points, examine how our thinking might have shifted from one perspective to another. GENETIC ENGINEERING AND THE SEINFELD EFFECT The GM Food scare campaign is a 'big show about nothing'. That's what I call the Seinfeld Effect. A recent study has shown that the general public does not find GM Foods as terrifying as the Greenies do. The anti-GM Food lobby seems to be trying to scream the facts into submission. But the more consumers know about GM foods the more positive they are about it. THE RATIONAL RADIO CONNECTION Three of the world's four Objectivist (Ayn Rand) radio presenters get together. They compare notes and discuss: Why Objectivists make good communicators, why altruism is anti-fun, the Objectivist method of being anchored to reality. Open-minded versus active-minded. Emotions. Taking ideas seriously - even passionately. Having a positive, benevolent outlook on life. How treating your audience as individuals with free will avoids cynicism. Having a sort of 'crusading spirit'. CONTRASTING THEORY OF ELEMENTARY WAVES WITH STANDARD QUANTUM AND RELATIVITY "In 1996 the physicist Lewis Little published his paper The Theory of Elementary Waves. For the first time since Planck's quanta in 1900, a rational basis for quantum mechanics has been established," says Stephen Speicher, who joins the creator of this revolutionary new theory at PRODOS.COM to discuss the radical concepts involved with two prominent advocates of the standard theory. A historic moment!

                       I OWN ME

 

There is a few anti capitalism pics online I actually like, this is on a pro socialism website ( what Nazi's made famous)


Isnt it funny? What is the alternative? That the parents ( the government ) TAKE all your toys and give it to all the kids to share, and who will make the toys if they are free? Every kid has a right to his own toys if he earns them, he values them. He also  will have many friends andwill bring many new toys to the circle. He will be popular, loved and admired. Reality people.
 This drawing does not mention this kid earned all this himself by talent and brains and MORALS. you have to have morals to be success. Or you will fail.

Only losers resent prosperity because they know they can't earn it so they need to steal , like communists do, ( by robbery) and see the producer as evil, I see right thru it.
 















Here is another one OH MY GOD I can't believe people , in the prosperity they live in, thanks to industry, actually bite the hands that feed them! And blame technology for the myth of man made global warming being the fault of our success and production! Its the beginning of communism! That is the most atrocious system in the world. People will become slaves with no rights. There will be nothing to eat, and anyone killed for dissenting. for not being green enough, I see it beginning already.


Cars were created to SOLVE the problem of pollution, horse manure was even more disgusting and caused many health problems.

And I see Banks in the comic strip, uh, duh, everybody has a bank account, even the green dumb hippies. What is wrong with banks and lending people money, how would you have your house or car?

If you dont like pollution, then go live with the amish. See how fun and popular they are.

/

ok I see this anti capitalist photo . Um, this little boy is obviously a capitalist, probably saved himself from (death by) starvation or from predators by working, what is so wrong with that?

Are these people suggesting he HAS a RIGHT to a job, like the rich guy? Without earning it? There will be no jobs for anyone if that is the case, ahahah. We will become slaves, our jobs will be given to us by who...the government? We know what that is, EVIL! 

This photo and its point is stupid, this kid IS a capitalist. He is not begging or looking for welfare. He is working, got his own business.

Is it the CHILD labor they are hinting at? Because  in a capitalist society there ARE tons of jobs for parents.  That is exactly what happened in our country eons ago. Kids had to work in factories or elsee they would DIE, from starvation.  When we became prosperous it stopped. Work was easy like watching strings, very simple.


Mothers had to work in factories, because there was no food to cook at at home. That was considered really bad, women should stay at home, but they had no homes to cook in! Unless they worked! Now that is a thing of the past because capitalism brought prosperity to this country. ( starvation, is a thing of the past, not women workers, which yay for us..thank Capitalism!)



I like this symbol of capitalism




/

Don't be so naive, people, look at history. This is how it starts, for the "good of all", for our "brothers" for the "state", master race, our country, GOD, planet earth,       anybody or anything, but you! 
 

Choose capitalism.

Be the authority yourself on what is good for the planet. Dont give others power over your planet. If you love it, you know what is best, let it be your decision, THINK, and look at the facts, most HUGE MOST of real scientists/professors of climate, say we have nothing to do with global warming..and planet Mars ice caps is melting too!

Anything else is just lies, because, this is WORLD wide stupidity. The WORLD has bought into it and it is global, and such an opportunity for the socialists for world domination plans. 1984!
 
And what EVERYBODY else is doing/believing is never "good" or truth, people. You know that.

I already see blogs where people accuse celebrities of not being green enough, and accusing them, of being green "when it suits them". Already brother against so called brother. Get the pitchforks. burn the factories, see what happens..Total totalitarian state. or one world government, 1984. Lines a mile long for moldy beans and lots of guns and police. No rights for you. (the planet will be more important)








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from SUN SENTINEL:
Heroes don't always wear capes and battle super-villains. Sometimes they walk among us.

The philosopher Ayn Rand knew this every time she looked at an audience of powerful faces and said: "You are the true heroes!"

I was reminded of this classic Rand bon mot when I attended meeting of Florida TaxWatch, the venerable non-partisan watchdog group. The directors gathered at The Breakers included some of the most talented executives Florida has to offer. Over a half-dozen of them were from our county.

Ayn Rand frequently made a spellbinding point in her lectures to such business leaders with questions like, which groups contribute most to making the world a better place? Or which occupation is the most useful socially?

Man's basic tool for survival is his mind, and the most crucially important occupation is the discovery of knowledge, the occupation of scientists. Before the 20th century, many scientific and technological facts that could have affected human existence lived and died with the scientists who had no real connection with the rest of mankind.

Now, suppose that a group of men and women decided to make it their job to bring the results of scientific achievements to mankind, to apply scientific knowledge to the improvements of life on Earth. Wouldn't such people be the greatest social benefactors? Shouldn't the socially concerned humanitarians, Rand would ask, those do-gooders who hold social usefulness as their highest value, regard such men as heroes?

The heroes of today are the individuals who have devoted themselves to the world of business. Left to pursue their own ends, they make the world a better place, even when they profit personally. Often, they make the world better even as they may lose their own fortunes in the doing.

It is the businessperson who has elevated mankind by bringing medicines that conquer disease, the higher-yielding crops that combat starvation, the electricity that powers our tools, the medical equipment that saves lives, the refrigeration that keeps food from spoiling, the air-conditioning that lengthens life spans.

After scientists discovered quantum mechanics, business people brought the fruits of that discovery, in the form of computer chips, lasers and fiber-optics. It is the businessperson who creates the jobs that bring security to the worker and the worker's family needed to sustain existence and enjoy life, even as the business person risks his own capital.

Yet, to hear the voices of the left, business is the predator. These are the capitalist demons who "create wealth on the backs of the poor." The left makes business pay dearly for the benefits business leaders bring to the world, both in the form of confiscatory taxation and the contemptible condemnation they spew.

An example of poisonous spin and disregard for truth is what the left is doing to drug companies. These companies brought AIDS drugs to market, yet are criticized for people dying. That's truth turned inside out in a world turned upside down.

Go to a local city council meeting and watch how the "lowly" developer or builder is treated by the sanctimonious politicians, who regard him as a necessary evil whose only value is to pay the lion's share of taxes.

In truth, it is the builder who provides the second-most basic need of humankind — shelter. Why should he have to slink into the council chambers, head bowed, mentally prone, and beg for the right to provide shelter to citizens? Why should he have to pay exorbitant fees and jump through 50 kinds of hoops for the privilege of jeopardizing his own capital?

Politicians forget business people drive the engine that makes this county go. Nothing happens until they sell or build something or provide some service.

Back at The Breakers, I looked over the group of TaxWatch leaders and thought about Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged, and I was proud to be there, pleased to be listening to Florida's version of the true heroes who are creating the greatness of this country.

John R. Smith is chairman of Palm Beach County's BizPac and owner of a financial services company.

Businesspeople are true heroes of the local economy


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“The best reason to be virtuous is increased personal well-being in the midst of social pressure - if you are dishonest and cruel