The Political Left's Method of Argumentation and How to Undercut it

In his brilliant op-ed this month in Forbes, Why Is The Tea Party 'Extremist,' But Democratic Support For Big Government 'Moderate'?, columnist Peter Schwartz dissects the political left's method of combining non-essentials into deceptive "package-deals," - obfuscating ideas that group together non-essentials, thereby confusing issues.

The foremost example Schwartz provides is the left's labeling of their enemies as "extremists", a package-deal that groups together anyone who passionately stands by their beliefs, whether they be extreme advocates of slavery or extreme advocates of liberty. By dissecting this method of thinking and argumentation, Schwartz provides advocates of freedom with an understanding of how to fundamentally undercut the left's intellectual attacks.  If you read any op-ed this month, read this important piece. It will truly enable you to better defend liberty.

What Obamacare Really Means

This humorous 1 minute video shows, in the most concise way I have seen, the sort of private information the government will have access to if Obamacare is not defunded.

The Moral Case for Insider Trading

Dr. Harry Binswanger of the Ayn Rand Institute does an outstanding job in his latest Forbes column laying out the moral case in favor of insider trading.  It exposes the injustice and irrationality of our insider trading laws and the premises underlying them. This article deserves to be read far and wide.  

The Facts About the Trayvon Martin - George Zimmerman Trial

If you really want to know the unbiased truth - the facts - about the Trayvon Martin - George Zimmerman trial, and the media's coverage of it, then you need to watch this video from PJTV

The Death Of The American Way Of Life

In the overwhelming traffic of political rhetoric that floods our daily media, there are few pieces of wisdom that are worth their weight in gold. This piece from Don Watkins at the Ayn Rand Institute on the fundamental principles of America is one of them.

It is the kind of writing that changes minds, and changes them to face urgently important truths. If you can read anything this day, this week, this month, or this year, go read Don's piece. Whether you agree with it or not, you will be a better person for having read and seriously considered it.

Google Fiber infographic: Will it Take Over the World?

Interesting Google News. They continue to innovate in new areas.

Tech Debate of the Century

At lifehacker: Mac vs. Windows: Your Best Arguments.
I am a Windows guy, but I am open to read what the Apple fans have to say. Like so many others, I learned computing in school on a Mac, but switched to Windows when I graduated and started work in the "real world".
What about you?

U.S. CEO Blasts French Work Habits

According to an article by Gabriele Parussini in today's Wall Street Journal: "The chief executive of a U.S. company that had considered buying a tire factory in northern France delivered a blistering critique of French work habits, writing to France’s industry minister that he would be “stupid” to operate in a country where workers get high wages for little actual work. Maurice Taylor, the CEO of Titan [...]"


I do not doubt that there are plenty of hard-working people in France, but the story is telling. It makes me think of the work habits of those who think they are entitled to a job, a vacation, medical care, etc. Why work hard if one is entitled to all these benefits?

Chinese Army Unit Is Seen as Tied to Hacking Against U.S.

A very scary story appeared in the NYT today regarding Chinese cyber-espionage against the United States.  According to the story,

"On the outskirts of Shanghai, in a run-down neighborhood dominated by a 12-story white office tower, sits a People’s Liberation Army base for China’s growing corps of cyberwarriors.

"The building off Datong Road, surrounded by restaurants, massage parlors and a wine importer, is the headquarters of P.L.A. Unit 61398. A growing body of digital forensic evidence — confirmed by American intelligence officials who say they have tapped into the activity of the army unit for years — leaves little doubt that an overwhelming percentage of the attacks on American corporations, organizations and government agencies originate in and around the white tower."

The story links to a report by Mandiant, an American computer security firm. The report ties Chinese hacking groups to the P.L.A. Unit 61398 headquarters. 

This report should cause the US officials to consider if China is a greater threat to US interests than previously thought. Of course, given its ineptitude, this is not likely to occur under the Obama administration.