In His Excellency, I came across a particularly enjoyable slice of history.
The context is Washington putting his entire army at risk in the battle in New York during July 1776. Though I'm familiar with how narrowly Washington escaped the British here, I didn't know this—Abigail Adams, upon hearing from husband John that Howe was poised to close the trap utterly to destroy Washington's army, declared "even if all America's brave men were killed or captured...the British army would find itself opposed by 'a race of Amazons in America'".
Man, how I do like Abigail! I admired her when I first got to see her via McCullough's biography of John Adams. But the spirit of that statement sums up so much that is good, all I can say is "Wow!".
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Patriots: 18 down and 1 whopper to go
38 year old Junior Seau is one of the solid players who got the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl. Here's hoping the Patriots can pull off one more win to make NFL history!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Bellini's
During the holidays, I enjoyed a very nice dinner at Bellini's Italian Eatery in Clifton Park, NY. It was a pleasant surprise because this fine restaurant was in a strip mall. It seemed oddly out of place. But there it thrives as if it were situated in midtown Manhattan.
Since that's quite a hike, I can't return there regularly, of course. However, I was pleased to find that Bellini's has a location at The Shops at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor, CT. That's close to the expansive Buckland Hills Mall, which means it's close to me!
Since that's quite a hike, I can't return there regularly, of course. However, I was pleased to find that Bellini's has a location at The Shops at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor, CT. That's close to the expansive Buckland Hills Mall, which means it's close to me!
Is Objectivism Winning?
Some friends recently said that they felt Objectivism wasn't winning.
Winning? By what standard?
My standard of judgment is how this philosophy of reason helps and has helped me personally. By that standard, it has already "won". I put that in quotes because I don't embrace the idea of intrinsicism—the view that things can hold value apart from a valuer. To put it precisely, I won, putting these rational ideas to work for my happiness across decades.
What about the rest of the world? Follow my example. Save your own personal world. The more people who focus first on saving their own world, their own life in it, the better off the world as a whole will be.
That said, the critical question "By what standard?" still applies. "Save your own personal world"? Does that mean I can do whatever the hell I want, stepping all over people in the process? Certainly not—that's a Nietzschean view, not an Objectivist view. The standard of judgment here is man's life, man qua man as a rational animal with a life normally spanning decades.
A full exposition of standards and Objectivism is well outside the scope of this post. For starters, visit the Ayn Rand Institute.
I just wanted to write enough to convey this idea: when you ask a question like that be prepared to state your standards.
Winning? By what standard?
My standard of judgment is how this philosophy of reason helps and has helped me personally. By that standard, it has already "won". I put that in quotes because I don't embrace the idea of intrinsicism—the view that things can hold value apart from a valuer. To put it precisely, I won, putting these rational ideas to work for my happiness across decades.
What about the rest of the world? Follow my example. Save your own personal world. The more people who focus first on saving their own world, their own life in it, the better off the world as a whole will be.
That said, the critical question "By what standard?" still applies. "Save your own personal world"? Does that mean I can do whatever the hell I want, stepping all over people in the process? Certainly not—that's a Nietzschean view, not an Objectivist view. The standard of judgment here is man's life, man qua man as a rational animal with a life normally spanning decades.
A full exposition of standards and Objectivism is well outside the scope of this post. For starters, visit the Ayn Rand Institute.
I just wanted to write enough to convey this idea: when you ask a question like that be prepared to state your standards.
Grammar Blogs
I was happy to stumble across, of all things, grammar blogs. My happy stumble started with a Google search on "moot point". That brought me to a site named "Language Rules!".
During and after college, I invested long stretches of time in learning English grammar. My elementary education on the subject sucked. So, I had tons of work to do overcome the deficiency. I've been told that the hard work is evident in my writing here and elsewhere. While I welcome the compliment, I find that I'm still learning. Precision of thought as well as its expression is a lifelong challenge.
So, it's no surprise that I welcome finding grammar resources on the net. Thank you, virtual grammar community!
During and after college, I invested long stretches of time in learning English grammar. My elementary education on the subject sucked. So, I had tons of work to do overcome the deficiency. I've been told that the hard work is evident in my writing here and elsewhere. While I welcome the compliment, I find that I'm still learning. Precision of thought as well as its expression is a lifelong challenge.
So, it's no surprise that I welcome finding grammar resources on the net. Thank you, virtual grammar community!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer has passed away. Growing up during the Cold War era, I regarded him as one of my heroes. His epic chess battles against Soviet Boris Spassky was an integral part of that experience. But his amazing success at such an early age was also one my first experiences seeing a superlative mind in action.
That said, he did not remain one of my heroes.
It's not that I "grew up", which is a rationalization too many use to give up on their values. It's the fact that Fischer turned about to be as nutty as he was brilliant at chess. Check out the Globe article referenced above.
In effect, he was my first exposure to a common phenomenon—a compartmentalized mind, one which applies reason to a very narrow range of human activity but not nearly enough to practical matters, including and especially simple justice to other human beings.
Speaking of justice, that's why I took some time to write about his passing here—to take a moment to remember the best within him. His best was simply amazing and a pleasure to behold.
That said, he did not remain one of my heroes.
It's not that I "grew up", which is a rationalization too many use to give up on their values. It's the fact that Fischer turned about to be as nutty as he was brilliant at chess. Check out the Globe article referenced above.
In effect, he was my first exposure to a common phenomenon—a compartmentalized mind, one which applies reason to a very narrow range of human activity but not nearly enough to practical matters, including and especially simple justice to other human beings.
Speaking of justice, that's why I took some time to write about his passing here—to take a moment to remember the best within him. His best was simply amazing and a pleasure to behold.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Computer Incantations For World Peace
Computer Incantations For World Peace is an upbeat jazz instrumental by Jean-Luc Ponty on his album Individual Choice. It's one of my favorite tunes.
The title makes me smile because it's a silly, sweet sentiment. I don't care what he calls it; I just like it. :^)
The title makes me smile because it's a silly, sweet sentiment. I don't care what he calls it; I just like it. :^)
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