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PollWhat should the government do about ailing financial institutions? Nothing, except to back off and get out—as any Objectivist knows, intervention is treating the disease with the disease 85% Intervene judiciously—enough to avert a catastrophe that is otherwise imminent 4% Intervene massively—as it's doing 2% Nationalize the whole economy and be done with it. Bring on the USSA! 2% Something else (specify) 7% Total votes: 54
 Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell
 Economics In One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt
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Flowers for Algernon Submitted by Rick Giles on Tue, 2007-07-10 17:17.
From the stranger than fiction file,... Scientists Reverse Mental Retardation in Mice ..just as scientists did in the classic 1966 novel Flowers for Algernon. In the book by Daniel Keyes, scientists use experimental surgery—first tested on a mouse named Algernon—to dramatically boost the intelligence of a mentally retarded janitor named Charlie Gordon. I read that. It's a really good book. Further, paraphrasing, I am impressed by the kinds of different symptoms that seem to be under the governance of this single signaling pathway, If you take a retard and feed them or inject them with a compound that will inhibit their own endogenous PAK enzyme,... Isn't it great? You hear about this stuff and imagine these Lab Coats working away year after year to cure cancer etc etc- it's nice to get some pay-back for one's hope invested in scientific progress. I still want my rocket pack and flying car though. Now then, next order of business. How do we turn our politicians into mice?  Tips to: Lance, on Free Domain Radio; Pic from
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User loginFeatured BookNavigationSyndicate  The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
 Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
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No more fortune cookies
No more fortune cookies before bed, young man.
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Spaceplayer Sight and Sound
Redeemed
No worries, mate. Thought I was going to have to hurt you for a moment there.
I like people with a bitter drop, it shows they've thought about the world enough to know it's sad and cruel. But I like people better who have thought a little further and been strong enough to shoulder that burden and accept it with good character. Be happy in the face of it.
Deeper thinking makes it harder to find friends and lovers but it also makes them richer, more rewarding, when one does.
Better to be an unhappy man than a happy swine.
No, it's opposite day, Rick,
No, it's opposite day, Rick, and you're my hero.
Seriously, though, If you want clarity on the Rand quote: I think it's clear that I don't endorse the Simpson's moral, but regarding Rand's quote: it was meant as an aside, but I agree with it in the sense that Rand meant: a frown is the natural facial expression of a mind in thought. The eureka! moment is rewarded with a coke and a smile. Therefore, happiness and intelligence aren't exclusive.
Better now?
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Spaceplayer Sight and Sound
crayolla oblongota
Cool, now my thread's got product placement.
While he gets closer to Lisa through trips to the museum, she explains through Luke Setzer styled-charts that happiness decreases as intelligence increases.*
* Rand has commented that the frown is the first sign of intelligence.
What rubbish. Intelligence and happiness are not set against one another.
What is this, April Fools day in Joeworld?
US$12.49 from Amazon - a bargain!
Worst Episode Ever (after all the Lisa saves the environment eps
It was a Simpsons episode as well. Homer has a crayon removed from his brain (to increase his killing power, or something.) He becomes smart, and finds his happiness decrease as he gets smarter (because the audiences in the movie are too dumb to tell the difference between Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman.) While he gets closer to Lisa through trips to the museum, she explains through Luke Setzer styled-charts that happiness decreases as intelligence increases.* Lisa makes a lot of charts. Homer, having tasted both worlds, has Moe the Bartender, apparently an unlicensed surgeon ("that's right...I'm a surgeon!) replace the crayon deep enough into the crayolla oblongota and reclaims the status of donut eating nuclear meltdown causing boob that frustrates fellow unhappy smart guy Frank Grimes (who liked to be called Grimy, it seems) to have his own Linz-styled meltdown, resulting in Grimy's death. This was all based on the Charlie/Flowers for Algernon craze that swept through the hip cats of yesteryear...
I say worst episode ever, because while the book and movie have the effects only temporary, the Simpsons episode has Homer VOLUNTARILY choosing to be stupid, which is consistent with the overall theme of the show, and, despite any strengths the show might have, justifies any Objectivist criticisms of the show as a pop icon.
* Rand has commented that the frown is the first sign of intelligence.
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Spaceplayer Sight and Sound
It's a film too?
It's a film too?
Along with politicians, who else can we put in that movie?
I remember the film, Rick!
Saw it when I was eight... "Charly"... won Cliff Robertson the Oscar for Best Actor! Pity it had a nihilistic ending... made me cry...
But now the prognosis seems to be on the right track – thanks for the good news!