I watched the Oscars last night. I was torn between the intense jealously from seeing beautiful people and the intense joy from seeing beautiful women. I did not agree with all of the winners, but I really did not give a damn about who won. Well, I did care for video store purposes.
But the hypocrisy of Hollywood and the Left iritated me. The global warming film won numberous awards. Many Hollywoodites considered themselves activists, but they were wearing $10,000 suits and $50,000 dresses. (I actually have no idea what their dresses and suits cost.) How can you claim to care about the poor, global warming, or any other issue that requires sacrifice and be wearing $100,000 worth of jewlry.
I am a libertarian. Hollywoodites should make as much money as they can. They should buy as expensive clothes as they want. But do not stand on a million dollar stage and tell me to sacrifice.
They once had a global warming conference in Japan. American and European scientists jumped on hundreds of planes, burnt tons of jet fuel, and went to Japan for a conference on how to limit global warming.
Non-profit directors and employees get paid huge salaries. Sam says that non-profits need good people, and you get good people by paying them. Again that is fine, but do not fake moral superiority and ask me to sacrifice.
If Al Gore spends $50,000 on a suit and after-parties, then I should be able to spend my $50,000 on a carbon emitting Cheverolet 3500 pick-up truck without his interference.
I comes before you.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Things To Do Today
My Dad has this saying on his wall: "Things to do today: My best."
I could never determine what "my best" entails. I always thought it was a meaningless statement. He and I always do our best given the constraints of the situation. And he and I always think we could do better if we could change the constraints.
But I am begining to understand why he likes that saying. It is easy to sit around in fear. Many people live in fear. Academia, bureaucracy, and goverment survives by fear. Everyone is afraid, afaid to fail, afraid to live, afraid to say fuck it.
When you do your best, you do not worry about what "my best" entails. You do not worry about failure. You give a big "fuck you" to fear and all of those who are afraid.
You probably have to be my Dad's age before you can understand "my best." But I can appreicate the sentiment.
I could never determine what "my best" entails. I always thought it was a meaningless statement. He and I always do our best given the constraints of the situation. And he and I always think we could do better if we could change the constraints.
But I am begining to understand why he likes that saying. It is easy to sit around in fear. Many people live in fear. Academia, bureaucracy, and goverment survives by fear. Everyone is afraid, afaid to fail, afraid to live, afraid to say fuck it.
When you do your best, you do not worry about what "my best" entails. You do not worry about failure. You give a big "fuck you" to fear and all of those who are afraid.
You probably have to be my Dad's age before you can understand "my best." But I can appreicate the sentiment.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Things I Have Learned
1. I shaved my full beard. The people who noticed and commented are the people who I want to be like.
2. Ayn Rand said "There are no contradictions." She is right. One cannot avoid all contradictions, but he should recongize and rectify them.
3. Google Calendar is a wonderful thing, if you use it right.
4. A secret in life is to never let anyone offend you. An offended man has no courage. (Hat tip to Jeff on this one.)
5. You can dream. You can read all the books you want. But eventually, you have to wake up and realize everyone has had a shitty asshole and the ability to wipe. You cannot let the people who refuse to wipe bother you.
6. I have not comitted suicide yet. I do not know what that exactly means, but it says something.
2. Ayn Rand said "There are no contradictions." She is right. One cannot avoid all contradictions, but he should recongize and rectify them.
3. Google Calendar is a wonderful thing, if you use it right.
4. A secret in life is to never let anyone offend you. An offended man has no courage. (Hat tip to Jeff on this one.)
5. You can dream. You can read all the books you want. But eventually, you have to wake up and realize everyone has had a shitty asshole and the ability to wipe. You cannot let the people who refuse to wipe bother you.
6. I have not comitted suicide yet. I do not know what that exactly means, but it says something.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Unilateralism Or I Comes Before You
GGM irked me a few weeks ago. He criticized a mutual organization that I (involuntarily) control. He had legitimate points. But he refused to do a damn thing to change the direction of the organization. He was given ample opportunities but refused to participate and enact his ideas.
I idly bitch and complain much more than GGM, but sometimes you have to see someone else making an ass of themselves before you see how asinine your own actions are. One can complain, but eventually, he has to shut up or put up.
Sam called the police on some boy who was walking on a frozen pond earlier this week. I made some comment like "I thought you were a libertarian." He came back with some Christian ethic that requires us to help our fellow man. I came back with: "Why did you call the police? Why didn't you stop and talk to him?" He eventually admitted that his real reason was personal guilt. He was afraid the boy would fall through, die, and he would have to read about it the next morning. He was afraid that the boy's mother's grief would haunt him for the rest of his life.
I do this type of thing all the time. I delegate personal problems and responsiblities to someone else.
Within this discussion lies a problem with our society. We expect someone else or the collective to do something for us. Someone said if I were a true libertarian, I would quit my government job. As long as I work for the government, I cannot complain about the government. I hate it, but she has a point (see note at end).
Sometimes you have to go out on a limb. The United States should do this with free trade and forget the WTO. Successful economists and professionals always do this. They do what they think is right, accept the consequences, and make no apologies. You cannot live a life waiting for others to see the light.
I comes before you.
[Note at end: Don Boudreaux (and I think I have to) has addressed this issue before, and there are arguments (rationalizations) against her proposition. I am not scared to find a non-governmental job, but as long as government handouts exist, why should I deny them. There is a positive and a normative world, and I can separate between them. Like with GGM, I disapproved of her presentation more than her idea.]
I idly bitch and complain much more than GGM, but sometimes you have to see someone else making an ass of themselves before you see how asinine your own actions are. One can complain, but eventually, he has to shut up or put up.
Sam called the police on some boy who was walking on a frozen pond earlier this week. I made some comment like "I thought you were a libertarian." He came back with some Christian ethic that requires us to help our fellow man. I came back with: "Why did you call the police? Why didn't you stop and talk to him?" He eventually admitted that his real reason was personal guilt. He was afraid the boy would fall through, die, and he would have to read about it the next morning. He was afraid that the boy's mother's grief would haunt him for the rest of his life.
I do this type of thing all the time. I delegate personal problems and responsiblities to someone else.
Within this discussion lies a problem with our society. We expect someone else or the collective to do something for us. Someone said if I were a true libertarian, I would quit my government job. As long as I work for the government, I cannot complain about the government. I hate it, but she has a point (see note at end).
Sometimes you have to go out on a limb. The United States should do this with free trade and forget the WTO. Successful economists and professionals always do this. They do what they think is right, accept the consequences, and make no apologies. You cannot live a life waiting for others to see the light.
I comes before you.
[Note at end: Don Boudreaux (and I think I have to) has addressed this issue before, and there are arguments (rationalizations) against her proposition. I am not scared to find a non-governmental job, but as long as government handouts exist, why should I deny them. There is a positive and a normative world, and I can separate between them. Like with GGM, I disapproved of her presentation more than her idea.]
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Counting Crow's "A Murder Of One"
A Murder Of One
Blue morning Blue morning
Wrapped in strands of fist and bone
Curiosity, Kitten,
Doesn't have to mean you're on your own
You can look outside your window
He doesn't have to know
We can talk awhile, baby
We can take it nice and slow
All your life is such a shame, shame, shame
All your love is just a dream, dream, dream
Are you happy where you're sleeping?
Does he keep you safe and warm?
Does he tell you when you're sorry?
Does he tell you when you're wrong?
I've been watching you for hours
It's been years since we were born
We were perfect when we started
I've been wondering where we've gone
All your life is such a shame shame shame
All your love is just a dream dream dream
I dreamt I saw you walking up a hillside in the snow
Casting shadows on the winter sky as you stood there
counting crows
One for sorrow Two for joy
Three for girls and four for boys
Five for silver Six for gold and
Seven for a secret never to be told
There's a bird that nests inside you
Sleeping underneath your skin
When you open up your wings to speak
I wish you'd let me in
All your life is such a shame shame shame
All your love is just a dream dream dream
Open up your eyes
You can see the flames flames flames of your wasted life
You should be ashamed
You don't want to waste your life baby
I walk along these hillsides in the summer 'neath the sunshine
I am feathered by the moonlight falling down on me
Change, change, change
Blue morning Blue morning
Wrapped in strands of fist and bone
Curiosity, Kitten,
Doesn't have to mean you're on your own
You can look outside your window
He doesn't have to know
We can talk awhile, baby
We can take it nice and slow
All your life is such a shame, shame, shame
All your love is just a dream, dream, dream
Are you happy where you're sleeping?
Does he keep you safe and warm?
Does he tell you when you're sorry?
Does he tell you when you're wrong?
I've been watching you for hours
It's been years since we were born
We were perfect when we started
I've been wondering where we've gone
All your life is such a shame shame shame
All your love is just a dream dream dream
I dreamt I saw you walking up a hillside in the snow
Casting shadows on the winter sky as you stood there
counting crows
One for sorrow Two for joy
Three for girls and four for boys
Five for silver Six for gold and
Seven for a secret never to be told
There's a bird that nests inside you
Sleeping underneath your skin
When you open up your wings to speak
I wish you'd let me in
All your life is such a shame shame shame
All your love is just a dream dream dream
Open up your eyes
You can see the flames flames flames of your wasted life
You should be ashamed
You don't want to waste your life baby
I walk along these hillsides in the summer 'neath the sunshine
I am feathered by the moonlight falling down on me
Change, change, change
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