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In her interview with Playboy, Ayn Rand stated "My views on charity are very simple. I do not consider it a major virtue and, above all, I do not consider it a moral duty. There is nothing wrong in h...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
In Mel Brooks's very funny History of the World Part I, King Louis XVI is told by his advisor that the people are revolting. The king replies "You said it. They stink on ice."
As the UK government...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
All he needs is a grand jury in one small town in America... who's going to step-up? Watch the trailer for The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder (10 minutes, but worth every second)....
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Talk about creating an atmosphere of fear... FTA: "It was meant to be an imaginative way of hammering home the message that some householders are making life too easy for burglars. But police were un...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
No significant intellectualism here in this video. Just an older couple learning how to use a computer to make you feel good.
May we all be as happy as they are at this age.
What's your experie...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
A placebo is a sham or simulated medical intervention by a doctor in which some patients experience actual improvements in their conditions. Although it doesn't work on everyone, these effects in pat...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
When people argue against capitalism (aka the free market), almost never do they argue from an efficiency perspective. Instead, the arguments typically claim capitalism exploits the working class by...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Article 21 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the following:
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely ch...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Is feminism doomed to fail? Is there even one accepted definition of feminism? Are there any benefits of feminism?
FTA: "Although it is not Susan Pinker's intention in writing it, reading her exce...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
And the court jesters speak: Yes, we know your client is innocent of sexual abuse and sodomy... don't speak to us about irrelevant ideas like innocence - we don't care. I am physically sick to my sto...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
"Facts don't necessarily have the power to change our minds. In fact, quite the opposite."
Before you read this article to determine where that conclusion came from, ponder that quote for a moment...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Libertarians and others who don't like government (e.g., anarchists) are always talking about limiting and shutting down government programs. Yet they continue to use the benefits of these programs....
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
There's a new 5-day "morning-after" pill that's been tested for US approval (New 5-Day 'Morning-After' Pill Tested For U.S. Approval).
Some people say the choice to abort is moral and use various...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
I was recently having a conversation with a friend who was getting on my case because I don't vote in political elections. She likes Ron Paul but ultimately decided to vote for Obama because she knew...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Ah, the first date. Men seem to go to a first date with a mattress strapped to their backs. But I don't move a relationship to a first date often, so this is a real treat for me. An opportunity for f...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
A few days ago, the US celebrated a holiday dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. A prominent leader of the civil rights movement, he was a huge proponent of civil disobedience. As the "did they kill...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned how cats and dogs drink water. The water sticks to their tongues and the upward pull creates a water column from inertia (the liquid continues to move in the direction pulled). Then,...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
If you have children in school, or if you are a teacher, you MUST watch this video. Pass it on to anyone who has children. It is THAT important. Why are so many children not learning in America's sch...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Once upon a time, in a land far away which has nothing at all in common with the world we humans inhabit, a horse was running free in the plain. He longed to climb up the mountains and see the world...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout says to Jem: ’Naw, Jem, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.’ With that in mind, has Morgan Freeman discovered the way to get rid of all racism...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Don't even get me started on the vicious "family" laws and their completely immoral courts, but I couldn't pass up providing this particular continued proof of government stupidity:
"France to int...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
From the court jester files, we find supreme stupidity in the Ohio Supreme Court. If you live in Ohio, get ready to see police pulling everyone over for "speeding." After all, police never lie, right...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
For those of you who refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils, take comfort in knowing that you're in the majority. Politicians are always claiming their wins indicate that "the people have spoken....
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
As Thanksgiving rolls around to the US, children will be taught the false story of the first Thanksgiving (just one of many myths children are taught). The real story is a case study that teaches a v...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The history of humanity is based on progress. Progress has been the result of individuals coming together to solve problems and to enhance our lives. But history also provides numerous examples of gr...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Can you think of any other or, at this point, are we out of options? How do you convince and/or reason with people who think civility is no longer an option? What other ways do you suggest to people...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
One of the many fun things to do as a kid is to sit around a campfire late at night and hear adults tell ghost stories. Our imaginations would run wild - are there really such things as ghosts?
Bu...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
I bet you didn't think it was possible to fit the 100 greatest movie lines of all time into 200 hundred seconds did you? What are your favorites?
FTV: "Yo' Adrian! I did it!"
100 Best Movie Lin...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Democracy and the 10 commandments: "Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote."
DISCUSS!
Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Mar 29, 2010 at http://www.braincrave.com/viewbl...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Liberals in the US are in an uproar, claiming that the recent murder of six individuals and the attempted murder of the Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords were the by-product of rhetoric by Sar...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
It's the typical Catch-22. You can't get hired for a job because you have limited experience, and you can't get experience until you get a job. It appears there are many young people who are having ...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
FTA: "...no company or person has the right to tell you that you may not do what you like with your own property. Let us say that you bought a hammer. The hammer is clearly designed for hitting nails...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
I won't repeat the statistics, as there are too many. Bring a strong stomach when you read these. Politicians are not your friends. Unless you are in the top 1%, government is hurting you and your ch...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
France is well-known for its protests, one of its most famous being the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille. There was violence. There was bloodshed. The king was executed. The French...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Steve Lee says he never set out to be an Internet hit. He just loves guns - and thought he would write a song about it. He says he is as shocked as anyone that his YouTube clip I Like Guns has been v...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
A week ago, we discussed a court ignoring the proven innocence of a convicted man because he missed a filing deadline. Here we have a case where a victim attempts to protect himself and his property....
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Good evening all. As we're in the holiday season, I ran across this story of the origin of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and I wanted to share it with you. Rather than sending it out in a notecard,...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Did you know that politicians in New York City have tried to play-up crime statistics showing that crime was down? It's becoming clear that it appeared as such because the statistics were faked. FTA:...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Just when you thought you understood how the world works, the tachyons come to shake things up.
For those who haven't heard by now, the masterminds at CERN who brought you the LHC rap have made wh...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
First, they teleported photons, then atoms and ions. Now one physicist has worked out how to do it with energy, a technique that has profound implications for the future of physics.
Physicist Disc...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
"Gamers are super-empowered hopeful individuals." They are masters at figuring things out, even medical problems. So who wants to use gaming to change the world?
There are many problems to address...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The so-called rule of law in the US is a big joke. You really need more proof? Dick Cheney, former vice president to George Bush, went on TV on Feb 14 to assert he is "a big supporter of waterboardin...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Possibly suggesting that religious beliefs were necessary for maintaining social order, Voltaire once wrote: "If God did not exist, he would have to be invented." Karl Marx agreed, calling it the "o...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Why is the US government trying to pass a law that creates a "kill switch" to shut down the Internet at its whim? What are they preparing for? What is it that is about to happen?
FTA: "A new U.S....
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The printing press: what a great invention... It fostered a rapid development in and dissemination of art and science through the production of books. But one wonders if Johannes Gutenberg would be a...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Discussing sports, Noam Chomsky once remarked: "Take, say, sports -- that's another crucial example of the indoctrination system, in my view. For one thing because it -- you know, it offers people so...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
FTA: "For men, offering a lady a drink is such a reflex that, certainly for the first round, we scarcely give it a second thought. The problem is the second round, and the third, and so on. Some wome...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
A few snippets from a brilliant article:
FTA: 'There is a long and sordid tradition of trying to socialise children by scaring them. The aim of such socialisation-through-fear is twofold: firstly,...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
As I get closer to formally launching the real-life dating website braincrave.com, I've spent a lot of time reading about how to advertise. Not having any real experience, I first turned to the maste...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned hot water sometimes freezes faster than cold water. Although there isn't one, conclusive scientific explanation for the phenomenon, one of the theories for why this occurs is that hot...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned the adage "you can't prove a negative" is false because you can prove a negative. It's very easy. We need to stop saying that. A better statement to use is "he who asserts a positive...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Granted, not everyone values freedom and wants to be free. But why do so many people think that prosperity is greater the larger/more powerful government is? Given how terrible the economy is, and gi...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable. - John F. Kennedy
DISCUSS!
Original posting by Braincrave Second Life staff on Mar 8, 2010 at http://www.brain...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Alexander Pope once said: "A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." As in any discussion about a topic of...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Someone once made a comment that he was 100% supportive of a tyrannical, socialist government as long as he was the only citizen of his country (paraphrased). Throughout the world, and especially in...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Is there any circumstance in which the government should be a gate-keeper of information? What are the benefits of holding back information vs. letting information flow freely?
FTA: "In a recent c...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
What do you mean people are actually capable of driving on the streets safely without signs?!? But that's unheard of! How absurd! It must be chaos! Complete craziness! How is it possible that people...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned that ostriches do NOT bury their heads in the sand. (People are said to bury their heads in the sand when they refuse to confront or acknowledge a problem.)
OSTRICHES BURY TH...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. - George Bernard Shaw...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
I went to a high school in this district many years ago.
FTA: "Make sure you notice 'Codell, Neil C.' who is 4th from the top of the list. Career pension of $26,661,604. That's almost $27 million...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Everyone's familiar with the expression "love at first sight." But is that really the way love works? According to a recent scientific study, the answer is yes. But what about romance? What about val...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned that the US government ordered a farmer to destroy his own crops in order to increase market prices. The case, Wickard v. Filburn, went to the US Supreme Court, and the court sided wi...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
From the "all governments are stupid" files, Italy brings us this: Sticking out your tongue ruled illegal
ROME, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Italy's highest court of appeal affirmed the illegality of insu...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned that Hong Kong gets 1 Gbps broadband service for $26 a month while the FCC tries to LEGISLATE an "ambitious" goal of 100Mbs. Perhaps it's time to get rid of the wankers at the FCC? (I...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Ayn Rand claimed that morality is a "code of values to guide man's choices and actions - the choices and actions that determine the purpose and the course of his life. Ethics, as a science, deals wit...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
In the movie Braveheart, William Wallace says, "Every man dies, not every man really lives." For thousands of years, people have thought about the values to live for. Aristotle suggest we should live...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
By now, I'm assuming that most all of you have heard of the disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which is destroying marine life. (It started as a result of an oil rig explosion on April 20, 20...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
If we don't stand for something, then we stand for nothing. In her famous novel Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand asks through Dr. Robert Stadler: "Have you ever felt the longing for someone you could admire?...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
The senses have no power of distortion; what they observe is what is. Optical illusions do not validate the claim that the senses can deceive us: optical illusions are the senses making valid observa...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
In group chat, we recently went on a tangent to discuss the effectiveness of charity. (To quote one of our Braincravers, "teach a man to fish and he'll stay drunk on a boat.") Benjamin Franklin obser...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Philip Larkin once wrote in a poem: "They fuck you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do." We've discussed in this forum the benefits of self-responsibility on self-esteem. But what...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Politics. Morality. Religion. Relationships. Even science. These are examples of the many categories in which you will find disagreements. These debates occur just as much with intelligent people as...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned that Platonic love isn't what we thought it was. In fact, Plato didn't even believe in it, was pro-sex, thought erotica was a spiritual force that helps us find our true selves, and e...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Ayn Rand warned us. She did it in her books such as Atlas Shrugged (and, to a certain extent, >The Fountainhead). She did it on TV such as in this famous interview between her and Mike Wallace on...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
This animation drawing alone is enough reason to watch this video, even if you have no interest in the topic. It's amazing...
FTV: "As long as the task involved used only mechanical skill... the h...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Today I learned from "America's worst mom" that the earliest episodes of Sesame Street are "for adult viewing only" for fear they will give kids dangerous ideas (Sesame Street just couldn't bring its...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
There's a funny wedding tradition where the married couple eats the top layer of their wedding cake one year later. (How great to finally have the extra space in your freezer, right?) For about half...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Throughout history, machines, tools, devices, etc. have become smaller. But not until recently have we been able to see down to the lowest level - to that of the nano. With electron microscopes, nano...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
"I think we've been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem, I'll get a grant.'...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Jesse Ventura, of wrestling, acting, and conspiracy theory fame, is disgusted with politics. (And anyone who isn't disgusting isn't sane.) So he's come up with some new ideas.
What do you think el...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
In order to avoid offending, is it proper to limit your criticism of someone's beliefs? Which is more respectful: critically examining someone's belief system or ignoring the topic to keep the relati...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
How can laws be legally binding on me if I haven't explicitly and voluntarily agreed to them? Why is it automatically assumed that I agree to them even though I didn't sign anything agreeing to them?...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Irony: Politicians make thousands of laws to protect us from all of the irrational, destructive, and harmful decisions that we make as individuals. Then we go to the voting booths…
Should there...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
By definition, a contract has to be an agreement. It's intellectually dishonest to call something a contract without an agreement. To paraphrase Lysander Spooner, a contract made hundreds of years ag...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Selfishness is often defined as an evil that deals with one caring for oneself more than for others. Many evils in the world are blamed on selfishness. Hunger, poverty and illness are supposedly all...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We're no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozl...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Bad sex is all on your head. Either that or sugar is now an aphrodisiac. One-third of women having sexual problems experienced a placebo effect from sugar pills. Why is it that some people feel that...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Come explore the geek in me.
I've been a lifelong artist and these days, most of my work is inspired by roleplay characters, sci-fi or fantasy novels and films, and my love of Star Wars. M...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Space is a concept which is very rarely correctly understand by anybody, including modern physicists. However, the purpose of this essay is not to discuss the confusions of others in relation to this...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
I'm talking about the real anarchists here, not bloody bomb-throwers or anti-capitalist window breakers. I'm referring to people who have faced the scary fact that all coercive power corrupts and tha...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
A teacher can present information, but there can be no transfer of learning... learners must "act" upon the information to learn it. Can anyone teach something to someone else?
DISCUSS!
Origina...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
On this Father's Day, perhaps it's proper to be reminded of all of the good fathers who are not allowed to see their children just because they got divorced. This occurs all across the world. Putting...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Thanks to the Land Destroyer blog for spotting this excellent analysis of what appears the next phase in false-flag interventionist propaganda -- the use of so-called "social media" with heavy celebr...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
Is your "mood" changing about government largess? Do you believe the government works for you, or is it the other way around? In the poor economy, are government workers becoming scapegoats or is ang...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
When I first joined Second Life (SL), I was like most noobies and started searching different places using the search tool within the browser. I stated finding things that were more than dance clubs...
editorial posted by
braincrave
in braincrave
You have never seen a bigger pain in the ass than the father who wants to get involved; he can be repulsive. He wants to meet the kid at three o'clock, take the kid out to dinner during the week, hav...