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Egoism Individualism Sovereignty Splendor (These ideas are explicated in this sloppy manifesto) SplendorQuotes: Splendor is the interior experience of being so enthralled by the act of creating the values that contribute to and ultimately comprise your idealized perfect self that, while you are experiencing it, you are your idealized perfect self. Living is what you're doing when you're too enthralled to notice. Dying is what you're doing when all you can do is notice. Man is the only animal capable of comprehending what his life requires, and he is the only animal capable of failing to do what his life requires. Self-love is the joy and reverence you earn and deserve by the relentless pursuit of your deepest desire. Self-esteem is the high regard in which you presume to hold yourself in appreciation for the accomplishment of absolutely nothing. Greg Swann's writings Wild Cochise Gang: Our family pages and Christmas cards Read my free e-book about love, splendor and philosophy, The Unfallen My Myers-Briggs type is ESTJ: Administrator--Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of population. Take a free Myers-Briggs personality test. War with Iraq: The Cain Doctrine The 'wrest' of the story Taking a better grip Why the Bush Doctrine will prevail--and fail A Just and Libertarian war... Persephone's second coming... presence of the recent past Nick and Norm drive the point home A Costco family Christmas Hang tough The season's greetings Curing the incuriosity of the East A canticle for Kathleen Sullivan Colloquy with a goat Back-handing the sinister American left To Condi, with sweetness Reds Sacrificing Diana Defusing the Unabomber Let 'em eat steak Shyly's delight Anastasia in the light and shadow Archives Join the email update list 
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Saturday, July 16, 2005
Taking back the sky... Richard Nikoley has been writing soaringly about his quest to learn to fly small aircraft. I think this much is great. I deeply admire people--especially set and settled adults--who strive to master new and difficult disciplines. And, of course, there is no better metaphor for the idea of human splendor than soaring, a glorious ascendance. But... In light of Kelo, it is worth noting that aviation was one of two outrageous wholesale "takings" in the last century. The other was broadcasting. In both cases, the previously sacrosanct air rights of millions of innocent owners or private property were expropriated--without any sort of due process or 'just compensation,' whatever that might be. All, almost entirely, to the benefit of private parties, if that matters. I have never heard any sort of libertarian commentary about this vicious theft. Missy Rand wrote about the supposed private property rights of broadcasters, but she did not address the rent-free bandwidth broadcasters usurp by beaming radio waves across other people's air spaces. And to my knowledge no libertarian has admitted that, when Richard flies his plane over my house, he is trespassing on my private property no less than if he had driven his Hummer across my lawn. This is theft plain and simple, and I don't think it has ever been addressed in law at all. Our forebears were awed into thoughtlessness, a common enough twentieth century malady. Of course, Richard is not to be faulted for doing things the way they are done now. It is vicious and unjust that ancient old crones in Brooklyn are taxed to build roads they will never use, but this is not a reason for me not to use those roads, even though I don't like the way they are funded. But it seems obvious to me that, in a society based solely on consent, with zero resorts to force to resolve disputes, Richard's available airspace would would be much circumscribed. And broadcasting would not exist at all... |
SplendorQuests
Work
I am a a Realtor working in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, and the Designated Broker for Bloodhound Reatly. I am an Accredited Buyer's Representative, a Certified Buyer's Representative, a Certified Residential Specialist, an E-Pro Internet Certified Realtor and a Graduate of the Realtor Institute. I speak frequently on real estate issues and write a weekly column for West Valley sections of the Arizona Republic. If you need--or you know someone who needs--to buy or sell a home in the Metropolitan Phoenix area, I would be grateful for the opportunity to compete for the business. I think I represent the best of all worlds: Objectivist intelligence, Libertarian integrity and Catholic conscientiousness. For a liberty-loving take on real estate news, visit the Bloodhound Home Marketing Group weblog. And if what I'm doing suits the readership of your web site or weblog, please do link to it. Or go me one better by putting the customizable button above on your web page. Either way, for every person you refer who buys or sells a home with us, we will donate 10% of our net commission to the charity or advocacy group of your choice (within limits; we won't give money to people who kill people). Find out more from our referral page.
Play
If you don't know how to play poker, but want to learn, a place to begin is my Amazon list of poker books for beginners. Just remember: If you don't have a Positive Expected Value--you're gambling... | ||
