Monthly Archive for July, 2008

Shows 069 & 070

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Brandon
on July 27, 2008
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OCON ‘08 & Trip to Israel (Show 069)
This week Arthur returns and relays his experiences from the 2008 Objectivist Conference (OCON), as well as from his recent trip to Israel. He tells us that OCON’s theme this year was cultural change and included various lectures on this as well as other topics. After reviewing some of these lectures, Arthur explains the basic structure of OCON: there is a general session and a number of optional courses that can also be taken. This year there were various special events such as the opening and closing banquet, the State of ARI presentation, Independence Day celebration, and dance workshop. The largest donation to ARI made in history was also made at the Conference! It’s a great time and you get to meet other people who share some similar values. Next year it will be in Boston, MA. Be sure to try and make it!

Arthur then discusses some interesting things about his trip to Israel: the flight security, a bomb scare, his visit to the city of Petra, and someone who he met that shared some of his views on foreign policy. Check it out!

Ideas Behind the Dark Knight & Other Movies (Show 070)
This show consisted of a philosophic look at the ideas behind the Dark Knight and other movies. Warning: there are potential spoilers.

Mosley and Arthur discuss how the Dark Knight was an enjoyable movie, but like most, if not all movies today, it has philosophical flaws. I won’t try to rehash the arguments here, but there are various points made regarding what the good ideas and bad ideas are in the movie. It’s definitely worth checking out.

There is also a discussion on an Atlas Shrugged movie, as well as other topics, such as how our enjoyment from movies is not a meaningless and mindless self-indulgence that has no relation to life, but rather a reflection our values.

Iran & Foreign Policy (Show 068)

Published
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Brandon
on July 15, 2008
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For this show, Mosley reads and discusses an ARI op-ed, With or Without Nukes, Iran Is a Moral Threat by Elan Journo. It argues that “if the mullahs got a nuke, Iran would not suddenly undergo a Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation from a friendly neighbor into a rabid enemy. Iran long ago proved itself a threat that must be stopped; a nuclear arsenal would only make it a far worse threat.” Mosley then expresses his views, how he doesn’t necessarily agree, and has a conversation with the members of the chat room on their views as well.

Arthur should be returning next week. The show will either consist of a discussion with Arthur on the recent OCON (and maybe his trip to Israel) and/or a discussion on the anti-smoking political movement.

Independence Day (Show 067)

Published
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Brandon
on July 7, 2008
in Show Notes
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This show focuses on the significance of Independence Day, July 4th, which was just a few days ago. Mosley reads an excellent op-ed by ARI’s Dr. Michael S. Berliner, Put the “Independence” Back in Independence Day (which can also be viewed as a video narrated by Dr. Berliner himself). Afterward, he discusses the op-ed and gives his own observations and views on the topic of Independence Day. He explains how the Day has lost its much of its meaning to many of us today. Instead of “Independence Day” it is often just called “the Fourth of July,” while forgetting what it stands for — which is not fireworks and cookouts — but of “the moral right of an individual to live his own life as he sees fit.”