Objectivist Living Updates


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Objectivist Living Update 0001 - January 22, 2006

Folks,

Barbara just posted a wonderful article on OL, "The Psychology of Suicide Bombers." Here is the link (you may have to copy/paste in the URL field):

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=216

It is one of her best. Enjoy.

Michael

Edit: The link was changed because of the new domain.

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Objectivist Living Update 0002 - February 10, 2006

We’ve had some interesting things happen recently on OL. Here are some highlights.

1. Roger Bissell just posted his article, “Art as Microcosm: The Real Meaning of the Objectivist Concept of Art.” This was first published in The Journal of Ayn Rand Studies 5, no. 2 (Spring 2004): 307–63. It is one of the most important works dealing with Objectivist aesthetics to appear in recent years. It is a bit hard going, but well worth the effort to understand his microcosm concept.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=259

2. Did you know that Ayn Rand liked modern art when she was younger? Read what she wrote about it from an earlier draft of We the Living.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=248

3. Want to see Ayn Rand’s favorite painting?

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=255

4. Speaking of paintings, Kat came up with an absolutely gorgeous one by Martin Johnson Heade, Cattleya Orchid and Three Brazilian Hummingbirds (1871). There are not many works in our little Art Gallery yet, but every one is extremely inspiring and/or challenging.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=249

5. We have had some very good discussion about the movie version of The Passion of Ayn Rand by Barbara Branden. Jody Gomez kicked it off, Barbara weighed in with other OL members and I wrote a small review.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=240

6. Nathaniel Branden wrote a play in 1971. Dayaamm! He’s now offering his own audio reading of it.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=261

7. In the Creative Writing section, Landon Erp posted a draft of a “shooting script” of a comic he is writing, Frontier War: Manipulation Family Curse. Although not specifically an Objectivist project, it is highly interesting to see the birth of a comic by a talented young writer. It should be quite a treat to see how the finished version of the story differs from this early draft and watch how it develops. Landon has opened his draft to the public for comments.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=245

8. Ciro keeps sending us delicious recipes in The Kitchen and Kat keeps cooking them. Other posters are also sharing their own favorite meals.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...hp?showforum=22

On a personal note, I’m having a ball with this. And that’s because of you all. So see you there and be happy.

Michael

btw – You are receiving this update because you joined the OL forum or you are someone I like a lot. There is no set date for OL Updates. They will be sent only when there are interesting things to highlight. If you do not want to receive these updates anymore, please send me a return email stating your wish and I will take you off the list. This is not automatic yet. I’m doing it all by hand.

Edit: The links were changed because of the new domain.

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Objectivist Living Update 0003 - February 14, 2006

Some very interesting things happen recently on OL in the last four days. Here are some highlights.

1. Robert Hessen authorized us to post a glowing statement from him about Barbara Branden and her general account of Ayn Rand’s personality. It is entitled “Ayn Rand's Angry Answers--A Statement by Robert Hessen.” (You have to scroll to the bottom after going to the thread, Statements from those who knew Ayn Rand from NBI & such, at the link below.)

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...hp?showtopic=60

2. Nathaniel Branden’s magnificent work, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, is being studied at Harvard.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=263

3. Surfing the Internet a while back, I came across a very interesting set of study questions on ITOE from the Enlightment website. I have organized the links for easy reference. I am thinking about putting together a small OL study group for this work. I will keep you posted.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=268

4. Kat has drawn up a most charming visual chart for the five disciplines of philosophy according to Objectivism. As there is some disagreement on what should be included and what should go where, even among more learned Objectivists, she is inviting comments to try to make it as accurate as possible.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=264

5. Blowing my own horn, I did a little rant about recognizing where Ayn Rand’s real influence is in the majority of her reader’s lives, and big frogs in little ponds, “The Ayn Rand Love/Hate Myth.”

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=262

6. Still tooting, I wrote a Valentine poem “Passing Spell” for by beloved Kitten.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=271

7. On a lighter note, Ciro and I are playfully and mightily bantering on “Irrationality” (although it started as a serious topic).

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=266

Happy Valentine’s Day to all.

Michael

btw – You are receiving this update because you joined the OL forum or you are someone I like a lot. There is no set date for OL Updates. They will be sent only when there are interesting things to highlight. If you do not want to receive these updates anymore, please send me a return email stating your wish and I will take you off the list. This is not automatic yet. I’m doing it all by hand.

Edit: The links were changed because of the new domain.

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Objectivist Living Update 0004 – February 19, 2006

Some mighty interesting things have happened recently on OL. Things are happening quicker than I imagined. Here are the highlights.

1. There have been two new additions to the thread, Statements from those who knew Ayn Rand from NBI & such: one by Brant Gaede and one by Ellen Stuttle. These statements from those who actually knew Ayn Rand are highly appreciated. I am sure that scholars and people interested in Rand will value them for many, many years to come.

Note: This thread is locked because of a recent invasion. If you knew Rand, or someone you know did, and you wish to record a statement for history, please contact me or post it on another suitable thread in the Branden corner. Then I will either set a time to unlock the thread for you, or copy the statement in the manner that the others are posted.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...hp?showtopic=60

2. Speaking of Ellen Stuttle, she wrote a very poignant impression of Ayn Rand, including impressions Allan Blumenthal discussed with her previously. This was prompted by reading Rand’s 1968 journal entries.

Barbara Branden joined the thread to give an amazing analysis of Leonard Peikoff’s nature, explaining the root of his religiosity toward Rand and his vicious hatred of her and Nathaniel.

Even the streaker in the Academy Awards ceremony that Rand analyzed gained something – after all these decades, he finally received a pardon from Kantian disgrace and repudiation hell.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=275

3. Mike Lee recently made a couple of extremely perceptive posts on Nathaniel Branden’s Yahoo forum. He presented a very different historical analysis of the 1968 break than the spite that has normally been touted these days. He allowed me to join and edit his posts and publish them on OL. Frankly, I have not read anything as inspiring as this about the Brandens this past year. Mike’s colorful and analysis hit me like a breath of fresh air – a voice of sanity amidst all the irrational hatred. Thank you, Mike.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=278

4. Up for a little fun? Do you like wicked lampoons? Folks, I do not allow bickering on OL and avoid negative commentary about other sites and luminaries in our small Objectivist subculture. But when the talent of an author like Roger Bissell shines so brilliantly with his creation, Dizzy Vertigo, I not only have to applaud, I can’t resist joining in the fun. (Hell, the purpose of OL is to foster talent, anyway.)

I went ahead and started a small collection of descriptive (and highly “rational”) phrases lovingly bestowed upon my very being by those who wish me well.

But then out of the blue, I received an email from a devoted fan of Dizzy Vertigo of the world famous Dizzy and the Gang. He provided us with a picture that captured the essence of Dizzy’s multi-faceted personality. Dayaamm! Whatever on earth made Rand say that photography was not an art form?

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=272

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=284

5. On a more somber note, I believe in practicing what you preach. I have eschewed the uncontrolled hair-trigger hate-and-bash approach that seduced me on the old forum where I used to post. (I came to the conclusion that this practice – especially the manner in which it has been practiced throughout the Objectivist subculture – is highly irrational, destructive and disgusting.) That meant taking a good hard look at myself and correcting past mistakes. Here is my public apology to a person I had been unfair to back then.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=282

6. Roger Bissell posted the first review on OL of “that book.” But don’t worry. Over time, OL will post a few more reviews of that thing, but no long drawn-out, hair-splitting, acrimonious discussions will happen to bore our audience to tears.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=286

7. A new section has been added to OL on parenting. There is not much to see yet, but contributions of ideas and experiences are welcome. (Thanks to Patrick Peterson for the suggestion.)

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=276

We just had a small influx of new members. Welcome newbies! Any of you have any talent you want to show off or hone in public? Talent’s the name of the OL game. We will be working hard to make this site useful to you.

Be happy everybody. Kat and I sure are.

Michael

btw – You are receiving this update because you joined the OL forum or you are someone I like a lot. There is no set date for OL Updates. They will be sent only when there are interesting things to highlight. If you do not want to receive these updates anymore, please send me a return email stating your wish and I will take you off the list. This is not automatic yet. I’m doing it all by hand.

Edit: The links were changed because of the new domain.

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Objectivist Living Update 0005 – February 26, 2006

It was a fine busy week on OL. Here are the highlights.

1. There has been a new addition by Tibor Machan to the thread, Statements from those who knew Ayn Rand from NBI & such. (These are statements from those who actually knew Ayn Rand.) It consists of excerpts from his autobiography, The Man Without a Hobby, Adventures of a Gregarious Egoist and he has graciously authorized the version presented on OL.

Note: This thread is locked. If you knew Rand, or someone you know did, and you wish to record a statement for history, please contact me or post it on another suitable thread in the Branden corner. Then I will either set a time to unlock the thread for you, or copy the statement in the manner that the others are posted.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...hp?showtopic=60

2. Very exciting news. I received scans of two partial transcripts of the taped interviews that Ayn Rand granted to Barbara Branden in preparation for her title biographical essay in the 1962 book, Who is Ayn Rand?. These are previously unpublished words of Rand and give her appraisal of Nathaniel and Barbara at the beginning of the 1960’s – including the importance she attributed to NBI in helping her to overcome her post-Atlas Shrugged depression. Also included is the inscription she wrote on the copy of Atlas Shrugged of Barbara’s parents.

Incidentally, it was pointed out to me once in a discussion that Rand never defined the word “genius” and used it very little. In these comments, she both defines the word and uses it to describe Nathaniel, way back at the beginning of the 1960’s.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=301

3. A new expanded version of “The Psychology of Romantic Love” by Nathaniel Branden is on the way!

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=298

4. Paul Mawdsley made an extremely perceptive post on Nathaniel Branden’s Yahoo forum on the differences between him and Rand. He has authorized it to be posted on OL. I personally call this the quiet voice of reason.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=290

5. John Enright dug into his files and came up with a lovely perceptive poem from the 1970’s on Ayn Rand’s favorite painting. A wonderful idea is hatching to pair up some masterpieces with poems to enrich the experience of both.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=255

6. Barbara contributed a brilliant article (in addition to her normal brilliant posts) by constitutional scholar Henry Mark Holzer, entitled “The Press Defaults On Its Duty.” It is a damaging look at American media’s behavior in light of the Danish newspaper’s publication of Muhammad cartoons.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=297

7. In Aesthetics, there is a new thread open on music theorist, Joseph Schillinger, and how his theories this might tie in with Objectivist esthetics. The idea came from the enthusiasm of Dr. Wesley H. Lowe, who recently joined OL.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=300

8. I got into a bit of a tussle on a discussion of rights. The pros and cons are presented in a rant (and analysis) I wrote that ran off from another forum, plus the comments to it. This topic seems to have gotten under everybody’s skin, which is a good indication of its importance. (Notice that I do not claim here to be 100% right – or agree that anybody is. We are still chewing on it and the implications that have arisen from several quarters are both interesting and critical.)

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=293

9. Blowing my own horn, Kat posted in the “Parenting” section a sign she made of my words a few months ago. (Yup folks, lil’ ole’ me.) In an unrelated discussion with another person, I tried to simplify learning morality by presenting the process from a child’s point of view. Kat found this to be good advice in general for children, so she made the sign.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=303

10. A new member to OL, Eudaimonist (Mark) from the Fellowship of Reason, contributed a very interesting article on rational spirituality and a science fiction short story that is almost a parable for adopting a philosophy of reason.

Article: http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=306

Short story: http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=307

11. Roger Bissell’s wicked parodies just don’t stop. Here is an essential reading list.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=295

One complaint I received from several people is that I was not putting the group email addresses in BCC. I have corrected this. Chalk it up to growing pains. My apologies for any inconveniences.

Be happy everybody. Best wishes from Kat and me.

Michael

btw – You are receiving this update because you joined the OL forum or you are someone I like a lot. There is no set date for OL Updates. They will be sent only when there are interesting things to highlight. If you do not want to receive these updates anymore, please send me a return email stating your wish and I will take you off the list. This is not automatic yet. I’m doing it all by hand. This list will not be shared with anyone.

Edit: The links were changed because of the new domain.

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Objectivist Living Update 0006 – March 6, 2006

More highlights on OL. Some are very charming.

1. There has been a new addition by Robert Davison to the thread, Statements from those who knew Ayn Rand from NBI & such. (These are statements from those who actually knew or met Ayn Rand.).

Note: This thread is locked. If you knew Rand, or someone you know did, and you wish to record a statement for history, please contact me or post it on another suitable thread in the Branden corner. Then I will either set a time to unlock the thread for you, or copy the statement in the manner that the others are posted.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...hp?showtopic=60

2. Following a suggestion by Patrick Peterson, we set up a new section at the head of the opening page where it can easily be found by newcomers. It is called Objectivist Living Corner Office. A statement of what to expect on OL is given here:

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=318

In the same vein, Dennis Edwall, asked for an index to the site. We will do something as time permits, but for now, there is a section called Selective Index and Updates. Only updates are filed there, but this will be expanded as time goes on. If you can’t find an update from before, you will find it there.

3. There have been several new additions to our little online art gallery. They are too many for the scope of this update, though. All I can say is go there and drool:

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...hp?showforum=29

4. There were some highly intelligent and interesting additions to the discussion on the ethics of emergencies and children on this thread (click to the end):

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=293

To my delighted surprise, Nathaniel Branden joined in with a letter to me a couple of days ago, which he authorized me to post. As the issue is really one of ethics, I moved it to the Ethics section and started a new discussion. The high intellectual level and civility of the comments there on this controversial issue for Objectivists is making me very proud of OL.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=328

5. A very good discussion started up about marketing Objectivism, with Barbara furnishing some tidbits about why and how NBI was so successful and her upcoming TOC lecture. No other Objectivist organization has been able to equal NBI’S achievement so far.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=176

6. Speaking of the TOC seminar, I put together an overview of the topics for browsing. I am including it at the end of this update, but nobody from TOC asked me or knew that I was going to do this, so any mistakes are mine. Still, I feel that it is good for whetting your appetite before going to the TOC site for more information.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...php?showtopic=6

7. Roger Bissell just put up his devastating essay from 2000, “A Critical Note on the Boeckmann Transcript.” Roger’s thoughts on aesthetics are some of the most important ones in the Objectivist world. Here he is taking Boeckmann and Peikoff to task for trying to tidy up Ayn Rand’s own concepts for her.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=341

8. An extremely interesting thread on Rand’s life, started by Ellen Stuttle, has been growing and growing as more people who actually knew Rand join in.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=275

9. John Enright has been busy. He shared his fine poem “Commuter Train” with us, and there followed a nice little discussion on poetry. If your eyes glaze over when you see verse, these types of discussions are great for learning a bit so you can let this important art form enrich your life.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=315

Then John opened up a limerick thread in Humor with a cute little diddley on Ayn Rand. Inevitably, the mischievous nature of some of our more talented members began to appear. (John and I are included in that appraisal, of course). Jonathan and Gary were especially wicked. Even Kat joined in the fun.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=324

10. It was wonderful to see Marsha Enright show up with a very perceptive post on a discussion of the general emotional demeanor of Objectivists and why this is so (started by Kevin Haggerty). She took the issues to a deeper level in terms of the human condition and Rand’s fiction. I personally will be jumping in that one shortly.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=235

11. George Reisman’s March 4 blog essay, “Ayn Rand Answers, The Best of Her Q&A, Edited by Robert Mayhew, New American Library, 2005. x + 241 pp.” is reprinted with his personal blessing.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=334

12. A most amazing situation just occurred with Nathan Hawking (a former opponent and now friend). He wrote me an email announcing his own imminent death, and set up a new site to look at this from his unique perspective. I am still in a bit of shock.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=342

There are several other things happening. Please do not feel slighted if something important to you was not mentioned. A lot of good things are starting to go up. Welcome newbies! Thank you so much, everybody. Your contributions are enriching the lives of Kat and me - and of most everybody who reads us.

Be happy. Best wishes from Kat and me.

Michael

btw – You are receiving this update because you joined the OL forum or you are someone I like a lot. There is no set date for OL Updates. They will be sent only when there are interesting things to highlight. If you do not want to receive these updates anymore, please send me a return email stating your wish and I will take you off the list. This is not automatic yet. I’m doing it all by hand. This list will not be shared with anyone.

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TOC 2006 Summer Seminar – Lectures and Events

Objectivism in Theory and Practice

Chapman University in Orange, California

July 1 - 8, 2006

Functions

  • (There are Participant Sponsored Sessions and free time randomly interspersed between scheduled events.)
  • About TOC: Q&A Session
  • Common Room (which will also include -1- toast American Independence Day and -2- Recount the day's adventures on July 5, “free day”)
  • How to Write for the New Individualist—Robert Bidinotto
  • Optional full evening function: TOC/TAS Sponsors Dinner—Site to be announced
  • Group Photograph
  • Closing Banquet and Dance

Art and Aesthetics

  • (Evening Arts Series) Vox Americana: More of The Best of Berton Braley—Performed by Linda Tania Abrams
  • 100 Years of the Blues—Robert Campbell, Ph.D.
  • Kant and Modern Art—Stephen Hicks, Ph.D.
  • (Evening Arts Series) Composer on a Bare Mountain: The Life and Music of Modest Mussorgsky—Michael Shapiro, M.A.
  • Fiction Writing: Lessons from Ayn Rand —Erika Holzer, J.D.
  • Ayn Rand vs. the German Romantics—Jack Criss
  • (Evening Arts Series) Romantic and Jazz Music: Performance with Commentary—Roger Bissell and Ben Di Tosti
  • Anthem: a new theatrical adaptation—Duncan Scott and friends

Applied Objectivism

  • Collecting Rare Ayn Rand Books and Documents for Pleasure and Profit, Plus: Ayn Rand’s Playboy Interview: The Unpublished Papers—Michael Keith Montagna and Don Hauptman
  • Children and the Embodiment of Objectivism— Marsha Enright, M.A. (2-part lecture)
  • Yoga Practice for Objectivists—Jay Friedenberg, Ph.D.
  • Eliminating the Altruistic Baggage—Joseph Rowlands, M.S.
  • The Objectivist History Project: Exclusive New Interviews—Duncan Scott
  • Rage and Objectivism—Barbara Branden, M.A.
  • Heroes and Role Models—Philip Coates
  • The Positive Psychology Movement—Robert Campbell, Ph.D, and Joe Duarte
  • The Joy of Entrepreneurship—Jack Criss
  • At the Signpost Up Ahead: Galt's Gulch... Fiction and Reality in Building an Objectivist Community—Barbara Branden, M.A. and Nathaniel Branden, Ph.D., with Duncan Scott
  • The Implications of Love—Nathaniel Branden, Ph.D.
  • The Habits of Excellence—Stephen Nahm
  • The Virtues of Homemaking—Molly Johnson

Philosophy

  • Empiricism, Hold the Skepticism: Locke, Hume, and Rand—Shawn Klein, M.A. (3-part lecture)
  • Atlas Shrugged as a Philosophical Novel—David Kelley, Ph.D. & William Thomas, M.A. (6-part lecture)
  • Knowledge without Omniscience—Christopher Robinson, Ph.D.
  • An Introduction to Cognitive Science—Jay Friedenberg, Ph.D. (2-part lecture)
  • Who is an "Objectivist"?—William Thomas, M.A.
  • Wittgenstein's Naturalist Ethics?—Tibor Machan, Ph.D.
  • Aristotelian Ethics for Objectivists—Alexander Cohen, M.A., J.D. (2-part lecture)
  • The Content of Perception—David Kelley, Ph.D.
  • Limited vs. Small Government—William Thomas, M.A.
  • Neuroscience and the Measure of Man—Walter Donway
  • Panel on Cognitive Science and Philosophy—Jay Friedenberg, Ph.D., Walter Donway, and David Kelley, Ph.D.

Political /Cultural

  • The State of the Culture 2006—Edward Hudgins, Ph.D.
  • Eminent Domain Abuse: Its Philosophical Roots—Timothy M. Sandefur, J.D.
  • American Exceptionalism—C.A. Baylor, M.A.
  • Individualism and Community—Edward Hudgins, Ph.D.
  • The Anatomy of Cooperation—Robert Bidinotto
  • Classical Greece's Lessons for Objectivism—Philip Coates
  • Politics, Faith, and God's Non-Existence—Tibor Machan, Ph.D.
  • Overcoming Ethical Relativism in the College Classroom—Susan Dawn Wake

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  • 2 weeks later...

Objectivist Living Update 0007 – March 17, 2006

Great highlights on OL. Time to catch up.

1. It is finally out. Barbara Branden has revealed her sources for reporting Frank O’Connor’s heavy drinking in PAR. Go to page 4 at the link below to read Ellen Stuttle’s initial question, then follow the posts to see how they developed until Barbara answered (page 5). Barbara’s sources and the reasons for keeping them anonymous for so long should finally lay this controversy to rest.

Page 4:

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...c=275&st=60

Page 5:

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...c=275&st=80

btw – On page 5 I discuss the 1979 Phil Donahue interview with Rand. I finally saw it and wrote a report for those who have not, but have read about it.

2. Sometimes things happen unexpectedly and one thread turns into quite something else. Roger Bissell posted his highly important and devastating essay from 2000, “A Critical Note on the Boeckmann Transcript,” concerning The Art of Fiction. During the ensuing discussion, people started remembering Rand at some fascinating, but unrelated, moments in her life. I have tried to think about how to divide this thread, but some of the memories are too intertwined with the fiction writing course Rand presented in her living room, thus the article. There are charming memories by Marsha Enright, John Enright, Philip Coates and Ellen Stuttle. All I can say is that this is one damn interesting read, both the article and the discussion.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=341

3. Some intriguing discussion has gone on at the “Air brushed Objectivist publications and materials” thread. If you haven’t seen this thread yet, it is an eye-opener:

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=218

4. “Objectivist Living Posting Guidelines and Legal Notice” is finally up. If you want to know what our copyright policy on OL is, please read this.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=355

5. For those who like determinism discussions, the following thread was started by Roger Bissell: “Paul Mawdsley's view of causality in re Objectivism.” Not for everybody, but fascinating for those who like it.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=357

6. Some more profound thinking and probing have been added in the continuation of “Letter from Nathaniel Branden on Morality”

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...c=328&st=20

7. Barbara reanimated a somewhat dormant thread “Two General Comments.” This is something I really like, since it shows that the good ideas on OL do not die. They just lay waiting for a reader to come along and pick them up. This kind of thing has happened several times and it is like finding a treasure. (You have to scroll down some to get to Barbara.)

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...c=236&st=60

8. A very heart-wrenching and inspiring story has been added to “Articles” by new member, Jenna – “Finding myself and atheism.” In addition to attempted suicide as a child, she tells of belonging to a religious cult and breaking free – a story of the triumph of the human spirit.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=351

9. Several new paintings (and a statue) were added to the Art Gallery. They are all stunningly beautiful, but John Enright submitted Vermeer’s Girl With a Pearl Earring together with an extremely charming poem he wrote for it. This is a wonderful idea.

Art Gallery

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...hp?showforum=29

Girl With a Pearl Earring

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...p?showtopic=350

10. We now have a section called “Movies and Entertainment.” You are invited to share some of your favorite flicks and see what others like – and even read some reviews by members.

http://www.objectivistliving.com/forums/in...hp?showforum=34

There is lots more happening. Please do not feel slighted if you or something important to you was not mentioned. A lot of good things are going up and a lot of good people are among us. You are all important to us. Thank you so much, everybody.

Be happy, healthy, rational and prosperous. Best wishes from the heart from Kat and me.

Michael

btw – You are receiving this update because you joined the OL forum or you are someone I like a lot. There is no set date for OL Updates. They will be sent only when there are interesting things to highlight. If you do not want to receive these updates anymore, please send me a return email stating your wish and I will take you off the list. This is not automatic yet. I’m doing it all by hand. This list will not be shared with anyone.

Edit: The links were changed because of the new domain.

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  • 4 months later...

Objectivist Living Update 0008 – July 30, 2006

Dear Objectivist Living Member,

As you probably know, the Objectivist Living site has been down for a few days. We were hacked and our databases were destroyed. What this means is that all the posts, usernames, etc., on OL were permanently deleted. Fortunately we have backups.

The fact that you are receiving this e-mail at all is a concrete indication of that. Every one of our almost 200 members is receiving an identical e-mail. (The BCC field for sending e-mails was used.)

The phpbb software is open source and it is free, so it is incredibly easy to hack. Also it is incredibly hard to work with – there are a gazillion files and about 50 pounds of tutorials all written in Greek. For this reason, Kat and I are migrating the OL forum to a proprietary software package with far better security and a highly competent and friendly technical support team.

What all this means to you is that your posts (and those of everybody on OL) were preserved, although we did lose about a week and a half at the end due to an improper function of the phpbb backup utility. (That malfunction was another reason for our decision to migrate.) Other than that, we will be up and running again soon, hopefully within a couple of days. If it takes a bit longer, this will be due to an unforeseen technical problem, nothing more. The good part is that we are at a stage where all possible technical problems have a solution. OL was not destroyed.

The person who did this hack did not attack only Kat and me or even the organization, Objectivist Living. He attacked you. He knew that many OL members posted their thoughts and work, but did not keep copies. He tried to destroy your work, regardless of who you are. He was indiscriminate. His mentality is that of a terrorist. He has my utmost contempt.

Please accept our apology for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We are working hard to assure that something like this will not happen again.

One of the wonderful aspects of being an Objectivist is that we are producers – all of us. Thus, when we are attacked by a malicious person for no other reason than a wish to destroy the good, we simply build again. That has been the way of the world throughout mankind’s history. That is the way of this event.

Our new software will keep all the old functions and come with some new bells and whistles that everyone should enjoy. We will have a hot new look, but the basic layout will be similar to the one before. Thus it will be quite easy to use.

One other nice improvement is that the URL with the name “objectivistliving” will no longer be changed into “wheelerdesignworks.” We will be officially Objectivist Living all the way. This may cause come of you inconvenience if you saved the site’s address under “Favorites” or similar browser shortcut, but it is easy to replace. Simple instructions for the main issues will be provided once we go back up.

Kat and I are very grateful to all the talented intelligent people of goodwill who made Objectivist Living such a friendly and dynamic place where important work gets done. We are filling a glaring need in the Objectivist community and we are making an enormous difference. This is an exciting time to be alive.

Kat and I thank you for your understanding from the bottom of our hearts. May you all have wonderful premises.

Michael

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