For the past two days I have discussed some of the highlights of my year. Today I conclude that discussion.
The Power of Lyric Poetry
My wife made her first presentation to the Houston Objectivism Society this year. Her topic was the power of lyric poetry, and it was one of the best presentations made to the group in 2009. Her talk renewed my appreciation of poetry, and her.
Tea Parties
While I have very mixed thoughts about the future of the Tea Party movement, my participation in two Tea Parties was a bright spot in the year. We distributed nearly 200 copies of Atlas Shrugged, and hundreds of copies of other Objectivist literature. At a minimum, hundreds of people were given a chance to learn more about Ayn Rand. And that is always a good thing.
Favorite Posts
I had several posts this year that rose above the others for one reason or another. Some were more challenging intellectually, some were simply more fun to write, and some gave me more insight into the subject. Below are several that I particularly enjoyed.
My Virtual Platform: Statement of Principles--This was probably my favorite post of the year, though I enjoyed the entire "virtual platform" series. These posts proved to be a challenge, as it is easy to criticize politicians but another thing entirely to put forth suggestions that could move us towards greater freedom. I learned a great deal in thinking through this issue.
An Interview with Gus Van Horn--I have known Gus for many years and I long enjoyed his intelligent insights and his serious approach to ideas. It was a delight to interview him. Unfortunately, he no longer lives in Houston, but I still get to partake of his wit and intellect via his blog.
If I Can't Park in My Yard, Can I Park in Yours?--More than anything, the title of this post cracks me up every time I read it. I love to amuse myself.
A Lovely Surprise--This post tells the story of a wonderful surprise supplied by my wife, and why we do such things for one another.
Peter Brown: Then and Now--Mayoral candidate Peter Brown repeatedly claimed that he had not supported zoning in the 1990s. In this post, I called him on his dishonesty. What I enjoyed about this post was the fact that I had to do some digging to find documentation to support my claims.
As previously noted, I enjoy amusing myself. Thus I write the occasional satire piece. I had two satirical pieces that I particularly enjoyed--My "Green" Initiative and They Don't Wear No Britches. In the former I discuss my efforts to make my yard greener, including the rambunctious use of man-made pesticides. In the latter, I discuss a fictitious lawsuit against the nude gardeners who have been fighting the Ashby High Rise.
I could probably cite several dozen more posts that I particularly enjoyed, but the above will have to suffice. As I said at the start of this review, I have had a good year. This recap has reminded me of many events and experiences that I had forgotten about, which leads me to conclude that my year was even better than I originally thought. And that is not a bad thing.
Thanks for reading. I wish you and yours a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Showing posts with label Live Oaks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Live Oaks. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The 2009 Live Oaks Awards, Part 2
Yesterday I discussed some of the highlights of my year. I continue that discussion today.
Home Remodeling
In keeping with my long held belief that if I am not engaged in some form of home improvement project then the world--or at least Home Depot and Lowes--wil
l face imminent financial collapse, I remodeled three rooms in my house this year. These projects included re-texturing and painting the walls, putting new tile in our laundry room, replacing nine doors, replacing light fixtures, and building a new dining room table. The highlight is our living room, which features faux bricks and a new laminate floor.
My wife was initially unexcited about my idea to create an "old world" look with faux bricks and broken plaster, but she warmed to the idea after I did a number of samples. She pointed to one "brick" and said, "I like that one. Can you make them all look like that?" I realized that I was heading for weeks of agony attempting to create the look she wanted and suggested that she be responsible for painting the "bricks". She eventually spent dozens of hours on that project, and the results are spectacular. And our new sofa turned our formerly drab living room into a very enjoyable area of our home.
Real Estate
When the year began our goal was to own four rental properties by the end of 2009. Despite our constant and diligent efforts, we entered November with zero properties and we were wondering if we would own any. Our perseverance paid off, as we closed on two properties during November and will own a third in early January.
Mother's Day
In May I visited my mother for Mother's Day weekend. My brother, sister-in-law, a
nd nephew also made the trek to Ohio, which made for a wonderful weekend for all. Shortly after arriving we took a walk in the woods behind my mother's house in search of morel mushrooms (pictured to the right are two that we found). After some time my mother announced that she needed to return to prepare dinner. Being the experienced city-slickers that we are, we assured my mother that we could find our way back. It wasn't like we had wandered for hours into some dark, forbidding forest.
It soon began to rain, a development for which I was not properly dressed. We started back to my mother's but soon found ourselves in unfamiliar territory as the rain increased in intensity. Wandering rather aimlessly we managed to lose my nephew for a short period of time. We came upon an old farm house that we knew was not anywhere near my mother's house. It was at that point that we officially declared ourselves lost. None of us had our cell phone--we thought we were just taking a casual stroll through the woods--so we had to rely on our wits to return to civilization.
We eventually stumbled back to my mother's neighborhood, cold and wet. A kind neighbor gave us a ride back to the welcoming arms of our worried mother, which was fortunate because we were more than a mile away. My mother had been concerned, and was curious why she hadn't seen us emerge from the woods. "I was afraid that you got lost," she said. After feigning indignation at such a suggestion, we confessed and everyone enjoyed a good laugh.
On Saturday the Phillips brothers prepared a barbecue feast for my favorite aunt and uncle. My uncle is always a delight to be around. He has always been a "tinkerer". He fli
es radio controlled airplanes, rebuilds old farm equipment, and has built a few cars from scratch. Perhaps the most enjoyable thing about him is the enjoyment he gets from these activities. It is an enjoyment that he can't contain and it is very infectious.
The weekend concluded with us cooking Mother's Day dinner . The meal featured steak, sweet potato fries, roasted vegetables, and morel mushrooms. It was one of the best meals I had all year, and to prepare it for my mother made it even more special.
Home Remodeling
In keeping with my long held belief that if I am not engaged in some form of home improvement project then the world--or at least Home Depot and Lowes--wil
l face imminent financial collapse, I remodeled three rooms in my house this year. These projects included re-texturing and painting the walls, putting new tile in our laundry room, replacing nine doors, replacing light fixtures, and building a new dining room table. The highlight is our living room, which features faux bricks and a new laminate floor.My wife was initially unexcited about my idea to create an "old world" look with faux bricks and broken plaster, but she warmed to the idea after I did a number of samples. She pointed to one "brick" and said, "I like that one. Can you make them all look like that?" I realized that I was heading for weeks of agony attempting to create the look she wanted and suggested that she be responsible for painting the "bricks". She eventually spent dozens of hours on that project, and the results are spectacular. And our new sofa turned our formerly drab living room into a very enjoyable area of our home.
Real Estate
When the year began our goal was to own four rental properties by the end of 2009. Despite our constant and diligent efforts, we entered November with zero properties and we were wondering if we would own any. Our perseverance paid off, as we closed on two properties during November and will own a third in early January.
Mother's Day
In May I visited my mother for Mother's Day weekend. My brother, sister-in-law, a
nd nephew also made the trek to Ohio, which made for a wonderful weekend for all. Shortly after arriving we took a walk in the woods behind my mother's house in search of morel mushrooms (pictured to the right are two that we found). After some time my mother announced that she needed to return to prepare dinner. Being the experienced city-slickers that we are, we assured my mother that we could find our way back. It wasn't like we had wandered for hours into some dark, forbidding forest.It soon began to rain, a development for which I was not properly dressed. We started back to my mother's but soon found ourselves in unfamiliar territory as the rain increased in intensity. Wandering rather aimlessly we managed to lose my nephew for a short period of time. We came upon an old farm house that we knew was not anywhere near my mother's house. It was at that point that we officially declared ourselves lost. None of us had our cell phone--we thought we were just taking a casual stroll through the woods--so we had to rely on our wits to return to civilization.
We eventually stumbled back to my mother's neighborhood, cold and wet. A kind neighbor gave us a ride back to the welcoming arms of our worried mother, which was fortunate because we were more than a mile away. My mother had been concerned, and was curious why she hadn't seen us emerge from the woods. "I was afraid that you got lost," she said. After feigning indignation at such a suggestion, we confessed and everyone enjoyed a good laugh.
On Saturday the Phillips brothers prepared a barbecue feast for my favorite aunt and uncle. My uncle is always a delight to be around. He has always been a "tinkerer". He fli
es radio controlled airplanes, rebuilds old farm equipment, and has built a few cars from scratch. Perhaps the most enjoyable thing about him is the enjoyment he gets from these activities. It is an enjoyment that he can't contain and it is very infectious.The weekend concluded with us cooking Mother's Day dinner . The meal featured steak, sweet potato fries, roasted vegetables, and morel mushrooms. It was one of the best meals I had all year, and to prepare it for my mother made it even more special.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
The 2009 Live Oaks Awards, Part 1
I have had a very good year. I didn't meet all of my goals, but I never do. I always want to accomplish more than I can. That doesn't discourage me, but drives me forward, trying to cram more into each precious year. Over the next three days I will present some of the highlights of my year.
Happiness Journal
At the beginning of the year I started keeping a Happiness Journal. Each day I write down three things that brought me pleasure. These ranged from significant accomplishments--such as having an article published in The Objective Standard--to the mundane--such as cooking a particularly enjoyable meal. But this exercise reminded me, each day, how much enjoyment life offers. And when I did not have a good day, it also reminded me that even the worst of times can hold nuggets of joy if one chooses to focus on the positive.
My Wife's Train Set
My wife received her first train set--the North Pole Express--for Christmas this year. It was a gift from her daughter and son-in-law, and I will admit that I thought it was a strange gift. But after my wife set it up, and beamed with delight as the train chugged around the track, I realized that it wasn't so strange after all. Even though the train set is recommended for children aged 3 to 6, her reaction showed me (once again) that one is never too old to delight in some of life's simple pleasures.
Fantasy Football
For a long time I thought fantasy football was a silly activity--until I tried it last year. I did not expect to do well, and thoroughly lived up to that expectation. But I enjoyed the expe
rience and had fun plotting strategies and player moves. I also found that by being more interested in particular players and their opponents each week my enjoyment of the NFL also increased. This year my team--named for the alter ego of one of my cats--won its league. Vince Lombardi once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." I don't agree with that sentiment, but winning is certainly more fun than losing.
OPAR Study Group
In March I began hosting a study group for Leonard Peikoff's Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand. Based on a similar study group I had hosted shortly after the book was published, I expected us to take about a year to go through the material. After nine months, we are approximately one-third of the way through the book. This slow "chewing" of the ideas has greatly enhanced my understanding of the philosophy. Perhaps most enjoyable has been renewing old friendships and developing new ones through our discussions.
Happiness Journal
At the beginning of the year I started keeping a Happiness Journal. Each day I write down three things that brought me pleasure. These ranged from significant accomplishments--such as having an article published in The Objective Standard--to the mundane--such as cooking a particularly enjoyable meal. But this exercise reminded me, each day, how much enjoyment life offers. And when I did not have a good day, it also reminded me that even the worst of times can hold nuggets of joy if one chooses to focus on the positive.
My Wife's Train Set
My wife received her first train set--the North Pole Express--for Christmas this year. It was a gift from her daughter and son-in-law, and I will admit that I thought it was a strange gift. But after my wife set it up, and beamed with delight as the train chugged around the track, I realized that it wasn't so strange after all. Even though the train set is recommended for children aged 3 to 6, her reaction showed me (once again) that one is never too old to delight in some of life's simple pleasures.
Fantasy Football
For a long time I thought fantasy football was a silly activity--until I tried it last year. I did not expect to do well, and thoroughly lived up to that expectation. But I enjoyed the expe
rience and had fun plotting strategies and player moves. I also found that by being more interested in particular players and their opponents each week my enjoyment of the NFL also increased. This year my team--named for the alter ego of one of my cats--won its league. Vince Lombardi once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." I don't agree with that sentiment, but winning is certainly more fun than losing.OPAR Study Group
In March I began hosting a study group for Leonard Peikoff's Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand. Based on a similar study group I had hosted shortly after the book was published, I expected us to take about a year to go through the material. After nine months, we are approximately one-third of the way through the book. This slow "chewing" of the ideas has greatly enhanced my understanding of the philosophy. Perhaps most enjoyable has been renewing old friendships and developing new ones through our discussions.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Kelly Osbourne on Dancing
Several years ago my wife suggested that we watch an episode of Dancing with the Stars. Reluctantly I agreed and I was quickly hooked on the show. Though I am not a fan of dancing, I found the graceful elegance of a waltz enjoyable, the sensuality of a tango mesmerizing, and the fun of a quick-step a pure delight.
It also became clear that the celebrities were way out of their comfort zone. Many had never danced before, and with few exceptions, they reveled in challenging themselves and competing against their fellow stars. Combined with the benevolence of the judges and hosts, the show has been a source of inspiration and enjoyment.
Another benefit of the show is getting to know some of the celebrities a little better. Rodeo star Ty Murray for example, was virtually unknown to me prior to his appearance on the show. Though he was clearly more comfortable sitting on a bucking bronco than dancing on live television, his conscientious effort to improve was fun to witness.
This season's great surprise has been Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of Ozzy. I knew little of her before this season, and what I did know was not favorable. I saw her as a rebellious brat, driven by whims. And for the first portion of the season my initial impression was confirmed.
In many of the first shows Kelly regularly whined about the difficulty of dancing, complained about various minor issues, and seemed destined to be quickly booted off of the show. She exhibited virtually no self-confidence. Yet somehow she managed to escape elimination (perhaps because of her fan base--viewer voting counts for half of the contestant's score).
And then something remarkable happened. As the season progressed Kelly became a very competent dancer, and in the process her self-confidence began to improve. Her somber, morose demeanor gave way to a cheerful expression. And she verbalized this transformation numerous times, stating that she has learned that hard work and persistence can create amazing results.
Her realizations are certainly not a news flash for many people. But to see her come to this understanding, and explicitly state it on national television, has truly been inspiring.
Several philosophical points are worth noting:
It also became clear that the celebrities were way out of their comfort zone. Many had never danced before, and with few exceptions, they reveled in challenging themselves and competing against their fellow stars. Combined with the benevolence of the judges and hosts, the show has been a source of inspiration and enjoyment.
Another benefit of the show is getting to know some of the celebrities a little better. Rodeo star Ty Murray for example, was virtually unknown to me prior to his appearance on the show. Though he was clearly more comfortable sitting on a bucking bronco than dancing on live television, his conscientious effort to improve was fun to witness.
This season's great surprise has been Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of Ozzy. I knew little of her before this season, and what I did know was not favorable. I saw her as a rebellious brat, driven by whims. And for the first portion of the season my initial impression was confirmed.
In many of the first shows Kelly regularly whined about the difficulty of dancing, complained about various minor issues, and seemed destined to be quickly booted off of the show. She exhibited virtually no self-confidence. Yet somehow she managed to escape elimination (perhaps because of her fan base--viewer voting counts for half of the contestant's score).
And then something remarkable happened. As the season progressed Kelly became a very competent dancer, and in the process her self-confidence began to improve. Her somber, morose demeanor gave way to a cheerful expression. And she verbalized this transformation numerous times, stating that she has learned that hard work and persistence can create amazing results.
Her realizations are certainly not a news flash for many people. But to see her come to this understanding, and explicitly state it on national television, has truly been inspiring.
Several philosophical points are worth noting:
- Kelly has demonstrated a focus on reality, both in her training and in her assessment of herself. As her long hours of training began to bear favorable results, she objectively re-evaluated her self-image. She recognized that she was getting better (and surprisingly so). She realized that she could achieve values, even when they seemed immensely difficult.
- Kelly has shown us free will in action. Rather than simply accept herself as she was and complain about being a dumpy, talentless young woman, she recognized that she was making choices. She took responsibility for those choices, and in doing so, began to make better decisions.
- Perhaps most importantly, Kelly has allowed us to witness the achievement of values. The struggle to improve her skills, the dedication required, and the pride that she has earned are all worthy of admiration.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Playing Like We Are Told to Live
I sometimes wonder how people would react if the same principles that govern society were applied to professional athletics.
For example, if we are our brother's keeper, if need is a legitimate claim on the property of others, then shouldn't the New England Patriots give Tom Brady to the Detroit Lions? The Patriots have been the dominant team in the NFL for years, and the Lions desperately need a good season. A trade would be out of the question, because the Patriots would get some value in return (such a trade would probably require half of the Lions team). No, the Patriots should just give Brady away, and their only reward will be the knowledge that they helped someone in need.
Or, why don't we allow the fans to vote on strategy during a major league baseball game. Personally, I am tired of managers making bone-headed decisions. If the bases are loaded and Albert Pujols is coming to the plate, let the fans vote on whether he should be walked or pitched to. Why should the elitist manager get to make all of the decisions? Too often they just go by the statistics, or worse yet, their "gut". What about the will of the people? This is a democracy isn't it?
And speaking of Albert Pujols, I am really tired of watching him beat up on my beloved Astros. He already has 42 home runs and 111 RBIs this season. I think that that is plenty for anyone in a single year. He's just being greedy trying to get more, and I suggest that he sit out the month of September and let someone else get a few dingers and ribbies. I think a law should be passed that sets a limit on how many home runs and RBIs Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Adam Dunn, and others are allowed to get in a season. I would argue that anyone wearing an Astros uniform is exempt from the law.
I also think that all of the major sports leagues should implement an affirmative action program. I realize that all of the leagues are racially integrated, but discrimination still persists. As one example, all of the leagues hire only the most talented players. This is very discriminatory against those who have trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time. What about their dreams? And other than football, none of the leagues hires the obese, which clearly demonstrates collusion. I think our professional sports teams should reflect society at large, and that means that we should see more fat, balding, middle-age white men playing professional basketball.
As much as I love Tiger Woods, I think his practice should be seriously curtailed. He has become so good that the other players have to spend more time on the range, watch their diets, and many are now even lifting weights. It isn't fair that one enormously talented and hard working person is causing professional golfers around the world to miss time with their families just so they can compete. I thought of suggesting that Tiger be forced to play with a broken leg and a torn ligament in his knee, but he has already proven that that isn't much of a hindrance. If a lack of practice doesn't level the playing field, then we could consider making Tiger play with Phil Mickelson's clubs.
A final recommendation doesn't pertain to the activity on the field, but rather the concessions. When I attended my first major league baseball game, I bought four bags of peanuts for a quarter. Today, I doubt you can buy a single peanut for a quarter. This makes it really difficult for a father to take his son to a ball game. We have a program for women, infants, and children. How about a program for beer-guzzling dads and their sons? What is more American than taking your son to a baseball game and downing gallons of beer? A father shouldn't have to choose between that eighth beer or buying his son a hot dog. Of course, this program should only allow the father to buy cheap domestic beer, not that fancy imported swill. After all, we need to be principled about this and support American industries.
If our lives are to be governed by the idea that one man's need is a claim on the life and property of another, that the successful have a duty to sacrifice to the mediocre, that the talented and able should moderate their ambitions, if government must intervene in our businesses to create a "level playing field", then why shouldn't our games be governed by the same principles?
For example, if we are our brother's keeper, if need is a legitimate claim on the property of others, then shouldn't the New England Patriots give Tom Brady to the Detroit Lions? The Patriots have been the dominant team in the NFL for years, and the Lions desperately need a good season. A trade would be out of the question, because the Patriots would get some value in return (such a trade would probably require half of the Lions team). No, the Patriots should just give Brady away, and their only reward will be the knowledge that they helped someone in need.
Or, why don't we allow the fans to vote on strategy during a major league baseball game. Personally, I am tired of managers making bone-headed decisions. If the bases are loaded and Albert Pujols is coming to the plate, let the fans vote on whether he should be walked or pitched to. Why should the elitist manager get to make all of the decisions? Too often they just go by the statistics, or worse yet, their "gut". What about the will of the people? This is a democracy isn't it?
And speaking of Albert Pujols, I am really tired of watching him beat up on my beloved Astros. He already has 42 home runs and 111 RBIs this season. I think that that is plenty for anyone in a single year. He's just being greedy trying to get more, and I suggest that he sit out the month of September and let someone else get a few dingers and ribbies. I think a law should be passed that sets a limit on how many home runs and RBIs Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Adam Dunn, and others are allowed to get in a season. I would argue that anyone wearing an Astros uniform is exempt from the law.
I also think that all of the major sports leagues should implement an affirmative action program. I realize that all of the leagues are racially integrated, but discrimination still persists. As one example, all of the leagues hire only the most talented players. This is very discriminatory against those who have trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time. What about their dreams? And other than football, none of the leagues hires the obese, which clearly demonstrates collusion. I think our professional sports teams should reflect society at large, and that means that we should see more fat, balding, middle-age white men playing professional basketball.
As much as I love Tiger Woods, I think his practice should be seriously curtailed. He has become so good that the other players have to spend more time on the range, watch their diets, and many are now even lifting weights. It isn't fair that one enormously talented and hard working person is causing professional golfers around the world to miss time with their families just so they can compete. I thought of suggesting that Tiger be forced to play with a broken leg and a torn ligament in his knee, but he has already proven that that isn't much of a hindrance. If a lack of practice doesn't level the playing field, then we could consider making Tiger play with Phil Mickelson's clubs.
A final recommendation doesn't pertain to the activity on the field, but rather the concessions. When I attended my first major league baseball game, I bought four bags of peanuts for a quarter. Today, I doubt you can buy a single peanut for a quarter. This makes it really difficult for a father to take his son to a ball game. We have a program for women, infants, and children. How about a program for beer-guzzling dads and their sons? What is more American than taking your son to a baseball game and downing gallons of beer? A father shouldn't have to choose between that eighth beer or buying his son a hot dog. Of course, this program should only allow the father to buy cheap domestic beer, not that fancy imported swill. After all, we need to be principled about this and support American industries.
If our lives are to be governed by the idea that one man's need is a claim on the life and property of another, that the successful have a duty to sacrifice to the mediocre, that the talented and able should moderate their ambitions, if government must intervene in our businesses to create a "level playing field", then why shouldn't our games be governed by the same principles?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Banning Live Oaks
I must admit that when I heard that Houston's city council is considering a ban on Live Oaks, my mouth began watering for a fight. If they want to ban my blog, they have finally exposed themselves for the tyrants they are. However I was wrong--it is not my blog that they want to ban, but the trees.
Houston city council is considering banning live oaks and other tall trees under power lines. Council member and "quality of life" Queen Sue Lovell said:
I don't think city council is an appropriate place for would-be dictators, but there you go. Lovell, who normally insists on forcing people to plant trees or protect those already in place, apparently isn't content to simply force people to plant trees. She now wants to mandate what kind of trees.
Lovell and Mayor Bill White contend that this ban will reduce pruning costs of trees near power lines. Since those costs are passed on to electricity consumers, they argue that this prohibition will save people money.
While this measure may save consumers money, so what? The purpose of government is to protect our rights, not our wallet. They could save us money by prohibiting us from driving certain days of the week, or forcing us to keep our thermostats at 85 degrees in the summer, or a myriad other things. If saving consumers money is a valid justification for violating the rights of the citizens, then city council has carte blanche.
And if saving us money is really their concern, what about the taxes and fees taken from us by force? What about the economic impact of regulations on land-use and energy conservation? These have been documented to cost consumers significant amounts of money. Yet, city council continues to rape and pillage Houstonians.
Supporters of the ban point to the damage done to power lines during Hurricane Ike; critics argue that other trees were the culprit.
Critics--or at least this one--don't have a problem with the fact that the proposed ban violates the rights of property owners. They oppose it because they like live oaks. They don't have a problem using force to achieve their desires; they just don't like this particular use of force.
The author of the article cited above is a former executive with CenterPoint. He implies that the power company may be behind this ban.
A basic principle of business is that customers pay for the expenses incurred by the business. Of course, CenterPoint isn't a typical business--it is heavily regulated by the state. It is expected to deliver power, or else. But the costs of delivering that power are socialized--they are spread among all customers because CenterPoint cannot "discriminate". It cannot charge customers who need more maintenance for that maintenance.
Whether CenterPoint is behind this or not is really irrelevant. City officials think that they have a moral right to dictate what citizens plant in their back yard. They have no such right. Any issues regarding trees and power lines are between CenterPoint and its customers. Both the city and the state should allow each party to address these issues privately and voluntarily.
But government officials will not do this. When faced with a perceived conflict between the moral and the practical, they will always choose the moral. When faced with a perceived conflict between the "general welfare" and the rights of individuals, their moral code--altruism--dictates that they sacrifice the individual to the collective. Altruism demands that the "public good" supersede the good of any individual.
Years ago, Eleanor Tinsley led the charge to outlaw Chinese Tallows, because she regarded them as "trash trees". Now Queen Lovell wants to ban another type of tree because of some alleged public threat. Both made a career out of "quality of life" issues. Both believe that their vision of "quality of life" should be imposed on me. Both believe that they have a right to tell me what to plant in my back yard.
As I write this, I am looking out my office window at the six live oaks in my back yard. They are my trees, not Sue Lovell's, or Mayor White's, or "the public's". If I choose to plant more, I have a moral right to do so. While I have no need or desire for more live oaks, I may plant one just as a matter of principle.
Houston city council is considering banning live oaks and other tall trees under power lines. Council member and "quality of life" Queen Sue Lovell said:
Power lines are not an appropriate place for a live oak. And I don’t think taking an incredibly majestic tree like a live oak and pruning it around power lines, is the right way to treat something so beautiful.
I don't think city council is an appropriate place for would-be dictators, but there you go. Lovell, who normally insists on forcing people to plant trees or protect those already in place, apparently isn't content to simply force people to plant trees. She now wants to mandate what kind of trees.
Lovell and Mayor Bill White contend that this ban will reduce pruning costs of trees near power lines. Since those costs are passed on to electricity consumers, they argue that this prohibition will save people money.
While this measure may save consumers money, so what? The purpose of government is to protect our rights, not our wallet. They could save us money by prohibiting us from driving certain days of the week, or forcing us to keep our thermostats at 85 degrees in the summer, or a myriad other things. If saving consumers money is a valid justification for violating the rights of the citizens, then city council has carte blanche.
And if saving us money is really their concern, what about the taxes and fees taken from us by force? What about the economic impact of regulations on land-use and energy conservation? These have been documented to cost consumers significant amounts of money. Yet, city council continues to rape and pillage Houstonians.
Supporters of the ban point to the damage done to power lines during Hurricane Ike; critics argue that other trees were the culprit.
During Hurricane Ike, thousands of tall pines and majestic water, willow, red and post oaks toppled into power lines, wreaking carnage on the city’s electric system.
One kind of tree, however, added nothing to our misery: the venerable live oak, the glory of South Main and a genetically programmed hurricane survivor. This species defies hurricanes in its native coastline habitats from Virginia through the Carolinas, Florida and around to the Central Texas coast. It survives hurricanes in an inland location like Houston even better.
Critics--or at least this one--don't have a problem with the fact that the proposed ban violates the rights of property owners. They oppose it because they like live oaks. They don't have a problem using force to achieve their desires; they just don't like this particular use of force.
The author of the article cited above is a former executive with CenterPoint. He implies that the power company may be behind this ban.
So what is the problem now? Well, trees buckle sidewalks. Of course, trees do this whether there is a power line nearby or not, so that can’t be the answer. So only one explanation remains: CenterPoint is tired of spending money to trim trees.
A basic principle of business is that customers pay for the expenses incurred by the business. Of course, CenterPoint isn't a typical business--it is heavily regulated by the state. It is expected to deliver power, or else. But the costs of delivering that power are socialized--they are spread among all customers because CenterPoint cannot "discriminate". It cannot charge customers who need more maintenance for that maintenance.
Whether CenterPoint is behind this or not is really irrelevant. City officials think that they have a moral right to dictate what citizens plant in their back yard. They have no such right. Any issues regarding trees and power lines are between CenterPoint and its customers. Both the city and the state should allow each party to address these issues privately and voluntarily.
But government officials will not do this. When faced with a perceived conflict between the moral and the practical, they will always choose the moral. When faced with a perceived conflict between the "general welfare" and the rights of individuals, their moral code--altruism--dictates that they sacrifice the individual to the collective. Altruism demands that the "public good" supersede the good of any individual.
Years ago, Eleanor Tinsley led the charge to outlaw Chinese Tallows, because she regarded them as "trash trees". Now Queen Lovell wants to ban another type of tree because of some alleged public threat. Both made a career out of "quality of life" issues. Both believe that their vision of "quality of life" should be imposed on me. Both believe that they have a right to tell me what to plant in my back yard.
As I write this, I am looking out my office window at the six live oaks in my back yard. They are my trees, not Sue Lovell's, or Mayor White's, or "the public's". If I choose to plant more, I have a moral right to do so. While I have no need or desire for more live oaks, I may plant one just as a matter of principle.
Monday, January 5, 2009
An Interview with Gus Van Horn
It is with great pleasure that Live Oaks presents an interview with Gus Van Horn. Gus is an award winning blogger and also the author of an article and book review in the latest issue of The Objective Standard.
LO: Why did you start a blog? What was your goal?
GVH: I started a blog for many reasons, the most important ones being that after grad school, I began to notice that I missed both my activities with the Rice Objectivist Club (as it was called then) and writing opinion pieces for the Rice Thresher. I was also performing a stretch of experiments that involved numerous short waiting periods that were conducive to checking the Internet for news, and little else. So I began thinking about writing columns again, but quickly realized that I had no print outlet, and that the bar for publication in a real newspaper would be much higher than it had been for the student paper. I wanted to write columns again, but saw no good way to get started.
Around that time, I went to the Ginger Man with a friend from Rice who writes science fiction for a hobby, and, over a pint, he suggested I consider blogging as a way to at least get to write. He said something like, "Some bloggers have even been discovered by Fox News." I didn't see that happening, but the fact that I could put my writing out there, be heard by somebody, and get some kind of feedback as I practiced sounded very good to me. It was a couple of weeks after my birthday, so a few days later, I gave myself the blog as a belated birthday gift.
Incidentally, the pen name arises from an in-joke I had going with a small circle of friends a few years before. The friend who suggested I try blogging, Raymund Eich, was part of that circle, and has been in on the running joke from the get-go!
LO: Do you have any suggestions for someone who is considering starting a blog?
GVH: I have three general suggestions.
First, be open to the possibility that your goals as a blogger might change quite a bit from what you originally had in mind. I say this because blogging occupies a position somewhere between thinking out loud (or even “chewing” difficult concepts) and more formal writing. The lack of editorial input will permit you to explore more topics than if you stopped and polished up a single piece, if you decide to post daily, as I do, or more frequently. This is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it can be easy to become unfocused. On the other, you have the freedom to explore lots of intellectual terrain.
Second, establish a routine and stick to it. Many bloggers just toss something out into the either when they feel like it, and then are silent for weeks or months on end. If you see blogging as more of an exercise in keeping a personal journal, that’s fine, but don’t complain if you never build an audience. But if you want to be heard, or if you want to practice thinking, you will shortchange yourself and your readers by not writing on a regular basis. Like any other activity, practice makes perfect, and regularity makes it easier to incorporate that practice into the already-existing rhythms of one’s daily life.
Third, seek out the advice of more experienced bloggers. At the risk of sounding pompous by recommending my own advice, I refer you to my own posting, “Blogging as Intellectual Activism”, which I wrote some time back. That was rather well-received, even by non-Objectivists, a couple of whom sent their own readers.
LO: Gus Van Horn seems like a combination of journalism and intellectual activism. How do you remain objective while promoting a particular philosophical position?
GVH: I think it really boils down to two things: (1) Being certain that I am right, which means understanding for myself how Ayn Rand's positions and arguments conform (or apply) to the facts of reality; and (2) Keeping my audience in mind, which means never, ever, insulting their intelligence by appealing to authority rather than making a principled, factual argument. Ayn Rand treated me with that respect, and I follow her example as well as I can.
LO: With the Internet, there are a seemingly infinite number of issues and stories to write about. How do you choose your topics?
GVH: That’s a challenging question. Broadly, I usually enjoy considering how philosophical ideas affect the culture through public opinion and the psychology and personal choices of large numbers of people, especially when the effect is not necessarily straightforward. (For example, current fashion among educators is to praise children for being “smart”, which denigrates hard work and, seemingly paradoxically, hinders the development of genuine self-esteem.)
I also tend not to want to write about the same thing over and over, so I am always keeping an eye out for new material when I hunt for it, usually in the morning before I write. It’s hard to articulate exactly what I do, because the process is almost automatic. I scan headlines, something piques my interest, and if I see something unusual or new in the story, I write it up.
If I am lucky, something will just hit me, like Bush’s recent silly utterance that he “abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system”. As soon as I saw that on The Drudge Report one evening, I knew I had a post the next day without even having to read the article. But sometimes, the search for something “blogworthy” can consume most of the time I have to blog.
LO: Have you learned anything through blogging that has really surprised you?
GVH: Yes. As I said, before one can write an opinion piece of any kind, one must understand what he is going to say. This means that I have had to examine my own positions closely many times over the years and, as a result, my thinking on some issues has gradually evolved over time.
For example, I supported the reelection of George Bush on the premise that his course of action regarding the War We Should Have Won Already was better than the alternative offered by John Kerry. Fairly shortly after the election, however, I recanted. The alternate position put forth by other Objectivists, that Bush's half-battle was even worse, finally "clicked" for me some time after I'd read several other Objectivist bloggers and intellectuals, and digested their arguments.
I have long regarded myself as someone who understands Objectivism pretty well, and yet I had to admit that I'd misapplied it to that question! Such things deepen my respect for Ayn Rand, and cause me to appreciate her subtlety as a thinker.
LO: You seem to have a sizable audience, which I have to assume includes many non-Objectivists. What kind of challenges do you face writing for an audience that may not be familiar with Objectivism?
GVH: My biggest challenge is usually figuring out whether I am doing an adequate job of explaining my principles. This is because it is challenging to explain abstract principles to begin with, while at the same time, the prevalence of pragmatism in our culture makes many people unable to understand or appreciate the importance of philosophical principles. The latter makes my job harder to do, and my performance harder to evaluate.
Am I having to explain the same thing to this commenter again because I didn't explain it well the first time, or because he just doesn't get principles? Did that A-list blogger not send readers my way because I didn't make my point well enough, or because he didn't/can't/will never get it? Or for some other reason?
When I am dealing with someone who can follow a principled argument, like my wife (who is intelligent, but is neither philosophically inclined nor an Objectivist), I usually seem able to get my point across reasonably well, so I have over the years come to see pragmatism as perhaps the single biggest obstacle to a more widespread acceptance of Objectivism.
Another challenge is the fact that many issues are not clear-cut. Lots of pro-capitalist people favor "privatization", for example. But if you look at what governments actually do most of the time when they privatize, you will see that it is a privatization in name only, with the "owner" having very little freedom to dispose of his own property. Or, to take a related example, consider the fact that school vouchers, if they ever were a first step towards getting the state out of education, are now just a slick way to give government funding to religious schools. Thanks to the Republicans, who support such measures, many people have serious misconceptions about what capitalism is. So just saying that "I am a capitalist," ends up requiring further elaboration.
Of course, the flip side to all this is that such issues give me more to write about!
One thing I have had little trouble from has been that I have caught essentially zero flak simply for openly espousing Objectivism. You can chalk that up as another big surprise blogging has given me.
LO: That surprises me as well, given that there is a lot of antagonism towards principles in general, and Objectivism in particular, in the culture. To what do you attribute the lack of flak?
GVH: It is probably about equal parts relative obscurity and a growing acceptance of Objectivism as a serious school of thought with worthwhile things to say. On the first score, I have a good following for a blog, but it is still tiny compared to that of Fox News, or even certain A-list bloggers, such as Glenn Reynolds or Andrew Sullivan.
On the second score, the efforts of the Ayn Rand Institute, the Anthem Foundation, academic Objectivists such as Tara Smith, and grassroots intellectual activists, such as that of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Medicine are beginning to pay off. Even people who might be likely to pooh-pooh Objectivists as being “doctrinaire” have to take notice when the people making the best case for freedom always seem to be Objectivists.
We have a unique, much-needed, and truly alternative perspective to the religious and nihilistic viewpoints (and the mindless non-viewpoint of pragmatism) that have turned our intellectual mainstream into a sewer. We will always have our opponents, as any intellectual movement will, given the fact that man has free will. But they and those who sit on the fence are increasingly realizing that they ignore us at the peril of their own credibility.
LO: Thank you for your time and insightful answers. On a more personal note, I greatly appreciate the support you have given Live Oaks and the many helpful tips you have shared with me.
LO: Why did you start a blog? What was your goal?
GVH: I started a blog for many reasons, the most important ones being that after grad school, I began to notice that I missed both my activities with the Rice Objectivist Club (as it was called then) and writing opinion pieces for the Rice Thresher. I was also performing a stretch of experiments that involved numerous short waiting periods that were conducive to checking the Internet for news, and little else. So I began thinking about writing columns again, but quickly realized that I had no print outlet, and that the bar for publication in a real newspaper would be much higher than it had been for the student paper. I wanted to write columns again, but saw no good way to get started.
Around that time, I went to the Ginger Man with a friend from Rice who writes science fiction for a hobby, and, over a pint, he suggested I consider blogging as a way to at least get to write. He said something like, "Some bloggers have even been discovered by Fox News." I didn't see that happening, but the fact that I could put my writing out there, be heard by somebody, and get some kind of feedback as I practiced sounded very good to me. It was a couple of weeks after my birthday, so a few days later, I gave myself the blog as a belated birthday gift.
Incidentally, the pen name arises from an in-joke I had going with a small circle of friends a few years before. The friend who suggested I try blogging, Raymund Eich, was part of that circle, and has been in on the running joke from the get-go!
LO: Do you have any suggestions for someone who is considering starting a blog?
GVH: I have three general suggestions.
First, be open to the possibility that your goals as a blogger might change quite a bit from what you originally had in mind. I say this because blogging occupies a position somewhere between thinking out loud (or even “chewing” difficult concepts) and more formal writing. The lack of editorial input will permit you to explore more topics than if you stopped and polished up a single piece, if you decide to post daily, as I do, or more frequently. This is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it can be easy to become unfocused. On the other, you have the freedom to explore lots of intellectual terrain.
Second, establish a routine and stick to it. Many bloggers just toss something out into the either when they feel like it, and then are silent for weeks or months on end. If you see blogging as more of an exercise in keeping a personal journal, that’s fine, but don’t complain if you never build an audience. But if you want to be heard, or if you want to practice thinking, you will shortchange yourself and your readers by not writing on a regular basis. Like any other activity, practice makes perfect, and regularity makes it easier to incorporate that practice into the already-existing rhythms of one’s daily life.
Third, seek out the advice of more experienced bloggers. At the risk of sounding pompous by recommending my own advice, I refer you to my own posting, “Blogging as Intellectual Activism”, which I wrote some time back. That was rather well-received, even by non-Objectivists, a couple of whom sent their own readers.
LO: Gus Van Horn seems like a combination of journalism and intellectual activism. How do you remain objective while promoting a particular philosophical position?
GVH: I think it really boils down to two things: (1) Being certain that I am right, which means understanding for myself how Ayn Rand's positions and arguments conform (or apply) to the facts of reality; and (2) Keeping my audience in mind, which means never, ever, insulting their intelligence by appealing to authority rather than making a principled, factual argument. Ayn Rand treated me with that respect, and I follow her example as well as I can.
LO: With the Internet, there are a seemingly infinite number of issues and stories to write about. How do you choose your topics?
GVH: That’s a challenging question. Broadly, I usually enjoy considering how philosophical ideas affect the culture through public opinion and the psychology and personal choices of large numbers of people, especially when the effect is not necessarily straightforward. (For example, current fashion among educators is to praise children for being “smart”, which denigrates hard work and, seemingly paradoxically, hinders the development of genuine self-esteem.)
I also tend not to want to write about the same thing over and over, so I am always keeping an eye out for new material when I hunt for it, usually in the morning before I write. It’s hard to articulate exactly what I do, because the process is almost automatic. I scan headlines, something piques my interest, and if I see something unusual or new in the story, I write it up.
If I am lucky, something will just hit me, like Bush’s recent silly utterance that he “abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system”. As soon as I saw that on The Drudge Report one evening, I knew I had a post the next day without even having to read the article. But sometimes, the search for something “blogworthy” can consume most of the time I have to blog.
LO: Have you learned anything through blogging that has really surprised you?
GVH: Yes. As I said, before one can write an opinion piece of any kind, one must understand what he is going to say. This means that I have had to examine my own positions closely many times over the years and, as a result, my thinking on some issues has gradually evolved over time.
For example, I supported the reelection of George Bush on the premise that his course of action regarding the War We Should Have Won Already was better than the alternative offered by John Kerry. Fairly shortly after the election, however, I recanted. The alternate position put forth by other Objectivists, that Bush's half-battle was even worse, finally "clicked" for me some time after I'd read several other Objectivist bloggers and intellectuals, and digested their arguments.
I have long regarded myself as someone who understands Objectivism pretty well, and yet I had to admit that I'd misapplied it to that question! Such things deepen my respect for Ayn Rand, and cause me to appreciate her subtlety as a thinker.
LO: You seem to have a sizable audience, which I have to assume includes many non-Objectivists. What kind of challenges do you face writing for an audience that may not be familiar with Objectivism?
GVH: My biggest challenge is usually figuring out whether I am doing an adequate job of explaining my principles. This is because it is challenging to explain abstract principles to begin with, while at the same time, the prevalence of pragmatism in our culture makes many people unable to understand or appreciate the importance of philosophical principles. The latter makes my job harder to do, and my performance harder to evaluate.
Am I having to explain the same thing to this commenter again because I didn't explain it well the first time, or because he just doesn't get principles? Did that A-list blogger not send readers my way because I didn't make my point well enough, or because he didn't/can't/will never get it? Or for some other reason?
When I am dealing with someone who can follow a principled argument, like my wife (who is intelligent, but is neither philosophically inclined nor an Objectivist), I usually seem able to get my point across reasonably well, so I have over the years come to see pragmatism as perhaps the single biggest obstacle to a more widespread acceptance of Objectivism.
Another challenge is the fact that many issues are not clear-cut. Lots of pro-capitalist people favor "privatization", for example. But if you look at what governments actually do most of the time when they privatize, you will see that it is a privatization in name only, with the "owner" having very little freedom to dispose of his own property. Or, to take a related example, consider the fact that school vouchers, if they ever were a first step towards getting the state out of education, are now just a slick way to give government funding to religious schools. Thanks to the Republicans, who support such measures, many people have serious misconceptions about what capitalism is. So just saying that "I am a capitalist," ends up requiring further elaboration.
Of course, the flip side to all this is that such issues give me more to write about!
One thing I have had little trouble from has been that I have caught essentially zero flak simply for openly espousing Objectivism. You can chalk that up as another big surprise blogging has given me.
LO: That surprises me as well, given that there is a lot of antagonism towards principles in general, and Objectivism in particular, in the culture. To what do you attribute the lack of flak?
GVH: It is probably about equal parts relative obscurity and a growing acceptance of Objectivism as a serious school of thought with worthwhile things to say. On the first score, I have a good following for a blog, but it is still tiny compared to that of Fox News, or even certain A-list bloggers, such as Glenn Reynolds or Andrew Sullivan.
On the second score, the efforts of the Ayn Rand Institute, the Anthem Foundation, academic Objectivists such as Tara Smith, and grassroots intellectual activists, such as that of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Medicine are beginning to pay off. Even people who might be likely to pooh-pooh Objectivists as being “doctrinaire” have to take notice when the people making the best case for freedom always seem to be Objectivists.
We have a unique, much-needed, and truly alternative perspective to the religious and nihilistic viewpoints (and the mindless non-viewpoint of pragmatism) that have turned our intellectual mainstream into a sewer. We will always have our opponents, as any intellectual movement will, given the fact that man has free will. But they and those who sit on the fence are increasingly realizing that they ignore us at the peril of their own credibility.
LO: Thank you for your time and insightful answers. On a more personal note, I greatly appreciate the support you have given Live Oaks and the many helpful tips you have shared with me.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The 2008 Live Oaks Awards
It is relatively easy to find fault with many things within our culture. But it is also important to identify and recognize the many individuals, events, and experiences that provide inspiration, make our lives better, and bring enjoyment. These are men and women who bring joy to our lives and improve our standard of living. These are experiences that make us laugh, or show us beauty, or express the sublime. Below are some of my Live Oaks for 2008.
Blogging
I started this blog in late April, with the express purpose of defending property rights in Houston. While that remains a primary interest and purpose, after several months I began to realize that there are many other topics of interest to me. In addition, writing on property rights issues in Houston can get rather repetitive, and that could seriously quell my enthusiasm. Writing a blog post six days a week can be a burden at times--I'm not always in the mood. But forcing (I use "force" in the sense of will power) myself to write has become easier, and the overall experience has been one of the absolute delights of the year. I owe a special thanks to Gus Van Horn for his support and suggestions in developing this blog. And his gumbo is pretty good too--I had the pleasure of sampling it at the Houston Objectivism Society Christmas party this year.
Yaron Brook
Yaron seemed to be everywhere this year, in print, on the air, and in person. While many Objectivist intellectuals had successful years, Yaron was a dynamo. His efforts served as my greatest inspiration in 2008. His articulate, insightful, and positive leadership gives me more hope for the future than I have experienced in many years.
There are many others who have brought me joy and improved my life during 2008. My failure to mention them in no way diminishes my appreciation of their efforts.
Blogging
I started this blog in late April, with the express purpose of defending property rights in Houston. While that remains a primary interest and purpose, after several months I began to realize that there are many other topics of interest to me. In addition, writing on property rights issues in Houston can get rather repetitive, and that could seriously quell my enthusiasm. Writing a blog post six days a week can be a burden at times--I'm not always in the mood. But forcing (I use "force" in the sense of will power) myself to write has become easier, and the overall experience has been one of the absolute delights of the year. I owe a special thanks to Gus Van Horn for his support and suggestions in developing this blog. And his gumbo is pretty good too--I had the pleasure of sampling it at the Houston Objectivism Society Christmas party this year.
Yaron Brook
Yaron seemed to be everywhere this year, in print, on the air, and in person. While many Objectivist intellectuals had successful years, Yaron was a dynamo. His efforts served as my greatest inspiration in 2008. His articulate, insightful, and positive leadership gives me more hope for the future than I have experienced in many years.
Fantasy Football
I played in my first fantasy football league this fall. (I know I say below that I'm not a big football fan, but it sounded like it might be fun.) I invested 20 to 30 minutes per week on the league, and it gave me a much greater appreciation of the decisions that coaches must make. Identifying the skills and weaknesses of each player, the opponent he would be facing, and other factors was an interesting and enjoyable experience.
The Houston Astros
I have long been a fan of the 'Stros. They have had good teams and bad teams, but for more than a decade they have always been a classy team. The owner--Drayton McLane--does not tolerate aberant behavior, and he sets the tone for the entire organization. As an added bonus, this season I had the pleasure of attending the retirement of Craig Biggio's jersey.
Mamma Mia! The Movie
I was never a fan of ABBA, but a friend insisted that I see the movie. Within two minutes I was smiling; within five minutes I wanted to sing along (but I didn't know the words); within ten minutes I wanted to get up and dance. This is not a movie with an intricate plot. But it is a movie that is unadulterated joy. The best way to summarize the movie is from "Dancing Queen":
You can dance, You can jive, Having the time of your life.
I had the time of my life watching Mamma Mia, twice.
Aaron Neville
If I could choose a singing voice, I would choose Aaron Neville's. He is scary to look at, but his voice defies his physical appearance. I attended his Christmas show in Houston, and for nearly two hours I was delighted to experience the pure joy of a beautiful voice.
Mario Williams
I am not a particularly avid football fan. I enjoy watching an occasional game and follow certain teams in the paper, but I do not live and breath for Sunday afternoon.
Several years ago the Houston Texans drafted Mario Williams with the first pick in the NFL draft. This selection was widely criticized in the local press and by fans, who thought local football hero Vince Young should have been picked. Texans Coach Gary Kubiak and Williams were mocked and derided before Williams played his first game.
Now in his third season, Williams has been named an All-Pro. Despite the merciless criticism he received, Williams has remained a class act. He has never lashed out or spoken ill of his detractors. Williams remained confident of his ability, and chose to allow his play on the field to speak for itself. Here are a few comments Williams made after being named All-Pro:
That’s life, he [Williams] said. But you can’t satisfy everybody. If you’re going to go through the world saying, you know, ‘I hope they don’t boo me,’ or worry about what people are going to say, you’re not going to make it too far.Yes you did Mario. Congratulations for a well-deserved honor.
I hold grudges, but I don’t hold too many grudges, Williams said, laughing. It’s a great honor (being the No. 1 pick), but then it’s a lot of responsibility just for the fact that you were the first pick.
I told you so.
There are many others who have brought me joy and improved my life during 2008. My failure to mention them in no way diminishes my appreciation of their efforts.
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