WendyMcElroy.com
Donations
|
Monday 22 September 2014
Ludd vs. SchumpeterMy article "Ludd vs. Schumpeter: Fear of robot labor is fear of the free market" is available at the Foundation for Economic Education. If I manage to access the commentary -- a possibility that is in question right now -- then I will respond to posts.
Excerpt: The tech site Motherboard aptly commented, “The coming age of robot workers chiefly reflects a tension that’s been around since the first common lands were enclosed by landowners who declared them private property: that between labour and the owners of capital. The future of labour in the robot age has everything to do with capitalism.” Click here to access the entire article.
Excerpt: The tech site Motherboard aptly commented, “The coming age of robot workers chiefly reflects a tension that’s been around since the first common lands were enclosed by landowners who declared them private property: that between labour and the owners of capital. The future of labour in the robot age has everything to do with capitalism.” Click here to access the entire article.
News and commentary round upFrom Alternet: Federal Appeals Court Ridicules Florida Cops For Using SWAT Team To Check On Barbershop Licenses. The cops tried to claim immunity from prosecution for doing their jobs.
From the Financial Times: Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged' becomes a cinematic charity case
From Reason: Texas Wants to Execute Man Who Killed Home Intruder Who Turned Out to Be SWAT Member
From Breitbart: Obamacare Creator: Die at 75!
From Voices of Liberty: Ron Paul and VOL Voice Tom Woods discuss the barrage of attacks on libertarians made by “big media. Video
From Cracked: 5 Advanced Ancient Technologies That Shouldn't Be Possible
From KHOU: Police Scandal Leads to 6K Nixed Speeding Tickets
From the Atlantic: How Gangs Took Over Prisons
From SF Chronicle: Judge blocks Alabama newspaper from printing story
From the Washington Post: Why conservatives and libertarians are at odds
From Syracuse.com: FBI facial recognition system now fully operational in 18,000 bureaus across the country
From the National Post: Ottawa revokes passports of citizens who leave for jihad
From the Daily Anarchist: Free State Project Reaches 80% of Its Goal
From the Daily Currant: Sarah Palin Sends Condolences to Scottish ‘Leader’ Mel Gibson
From the Financial Times: Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged' becomes a cinematic charity case
From Reason: Texas Wants to Execute Man Who Killed Home Intruder Who Turned Out to Be SWAT Member
From Breitbart: Obamacare Creator: Die at 75!
From Voices of Liberty: Ron Paul and VOL Voice Tom Woods discuss the barrage of attacks on libertarians made by “big media. Video
From Cracked: 5 Advanced Ancient Technologies That Shouldn't Be Possible
From KHOU: Police Scandal Leads to 6K Nixed Speeding Tickets
From the Atlantic: How Gangs Took Over Prisons
From SF Chronicle: Judge blocks Alabama newspaper from printing story
From the Washington Post: Why conservatives and libertarians are at odds
From Syracuse.com: FBI facial recognition system now fully operational in 18,000 bureaus across the country
From the National Post: Ottawa revokes passports of citizens who leave for jihad
From the Daily Anarchist: Free State Project Reaches 80% of Its Goal
From the Daily Currant: Sarah Palin Sends Condolences to Scottish ‘Leader’ Mel Gibson
Saturday 20 September 2014
Libertarianism and RacismMy regular Thursday column appeared as scheduled on the Daily Bell: Libertarianism and Racism. Unfortunately, I was out of town and I'm running behind on everything, including announcements. There is an active commentary thread at the end of the article and I respond to posts. Enjoy!
News and commentary round upFrom Newser: 5 Most Incredible Discoveries of the Week
From Addicting Info: America Shrugged: Third Libertarian Film In A Row Goes Down In Screaming Flames
From Reuters: Swiss say would shield Snowden from ‘political’ extradition to U.S.
From the Conservative Ledger: NBC News: “All Americans Will Be Microchipped In Less Than 3 Years”
From the New York Post: Ebola aid workers, journalists slaughtered by villagers
From Xinhuanet: Alibaba's IPO to end US dominance in technology sector: expert
From Priceonomics: The McDonald's Cocaine Spoon Fiasco
From the Libertarian Republic: 1 in 4 Americans Want To Secede From the United States
From Newser: 5 Craziest Crimes of the Week
From the Tenth Amendment Center: What began with the passage of the USA Patriot Act in October 2001 has snowballed into the eradication of every vital safeguard against government overreach, corruption and abuse.
From Golem XIV: The Next Crisis – Part one
From Reason: Federal Appeals Court Rebukes Florida Cops for Using SWAT-Style Raids to Check Barbers’ Licenses
From the Los Angeles Times: L.A. schools police will return grenade launchers but keep rifles, armored vehicle
From Addicting Info: America Shrugged: Third Libertarian Film In A Row Goes Down In Screaming Flames
From Reuters: Swiss say would shield Snowden from ‘political’ extradition to U.S.
From the Conservative Ledger: NBC News: “All Americans Will Be Microchipped In Less Than 3 Years”
From the New York Post: Ebola aid workers, journalists slaughtered by villagers
From Xinhuanet: Alibaba's IPO to end US dominance in technology sector: expert
From Priceonomics: The McDonald's Cocaine Spoon Fiasco
From the Libertarian Republic: 1 in 4 Americans Want To Secede From the United States
From Newser: 5 Craziest Crimes of the Week
From the Tenth Amendment Center: What began with the passage of the USA Patriot Act in October 2001 has snowballed into the eradication of every vital safeguard against government overreach, corruption and abuse.
From Golem XIV: The Next Crisis – Part one
From Reason: Federal Appeals Court Rebukes Florida Cops for Using SWAT-Style Raids to Check Barbers’ Licenses
From the Los Angeles Times: L.A. schools police will return grenade launchers but keep rifles, armored vehicle
Thursday 18 September 2014
It's Not Just a Job, It's an ObsessionI've been thinking more about the kind of people who are drawn to work with computers, and how some are "advantaged" compared to others. I've decided that there are basically three groups.
It's a passion. These are the people who are fascinated with computers. They read about them and tinker with them in their personal hours. Because computing skills are in demand, many of them work with computers; but they'd continue to play with computers even if they weren't being paid for it. Programming may be challenging, but even then is fun. Such people buy computer magazines, frequent computer forums, and start open-source hardware and software projects. (And yes, I am describing myself here.)
[ Read the rest ... ]
It's a passion. These are the people who are fascinated with computers. They read about them and tinker with them in their personal hours. Because computing skills are in demand, many of them work with computers; but they'd continue to play with computers even if they weren't being paid for it. Programming may be challenging, but even then is fun. Such people buy computer magazines, frequent computer forums, and start open-source hardware and software projects. (And yes, I am describing myself here.)
[ Read the rest ... ]
Wednesday 17 September 2014
An amendment takes Congress back in timeMy latest article for The Hill has appeared: An amendment takes Congress back in time. New life for the Equal Rights Amendment. Any circulation of the link is appreciated.
Excerpt: Irony is at work here. Historically, the Republican Party's 1940 platform supported the ERA, upon which the party was basically united. The Democratic platform did not include the ERA until 1944, and the party was deeply divided for decades. Historian David Frum explained a key reason in his 2000 book How We Got Here: The '70s. Many Democrats and labor unions believed the amendment would obsolete protective labor legislation for women.
Excerpt: Irony is at work here. Historically, the Republican Party's 1940 platform supported the ERA, upon which the party was basically united. The Democratic platform did not include the ERA until 1944, and the party was deeply divided for decades. Historian David Frum explained a key reason in his 2000 book How We Got Here: The '70s. Many Democrats and labor unions believed the amendment would obsolete protective labor legislation for women.
Monday 15 September 2014
News and commentary round-upFrom Newser: White House: We Did Not Threaten Foleys or Sotloffs. 'We made clear what the law is,' when families weighed paying ransom
From Ted Rall: The Cashless Society is Here. Cartoon
From the NY Times: Librarians Use Shredder to Show Opposition to New F.B.I. Powers
From the Daily Sheeple: 5 Reasons to Expect Police Brutality to Get Worse Before it Gets Better
From Naked Capitalism: California Home Sales Dive, Prices Hit Wall, Millennials Blamed
From Grits for Breakfast: Deaths in custody near-daily events in Texas
From the Onion: Community Loses Interest 3 Days After Rallying To Save Local Theater
From the Washington Post: Rand Paul distances from libertarian principles
From ABC Net: Antarctic sea ice hits all-time record high
From the Ron Paul Institute: Will The Swiss Vote to Get Their Gold Back?
From Salon: New surveillance states have placed us in an invisible prison
From Spiked: Independent Scotland will be a skint Scotland
From the Boston Globe: Police seizures of cash rise, fueled by private training firms
From KWTX: Prosecutors seek execution for man who shot, killed armed home invader breaking in through his window before dawn
From the NY Times: Buy Condo, Then Add Parking Spot for $1 Million
From Ted Rall: The Cashless Society is Here. Cartoon
From the NY Times: Librarians Use Shredder to Show Opposition to New F.B.I. Powers
From the Daily Sheeple: 5 Reasons to Expect Police Brutality to Get Worse Before it Gets Better
From Naked Capitalism: California Home Sales Dive, Prices Hit Wall, Millennials Blamed
From Grits for Breakfast: Deaths in custody near-daily events in Texas
From the Onion: Community Loses Interest 3 Days After Rallying To Save Local Theater
From the Washington Post: Rand Paul distances from libertarian principles
From ABC Net: Antarctic sea ice hits all-time record high
From the Ron Paul Institute: Will The Swiss Vote to Get Their Gold Back?
From Salon: New surveillance states have placed us in an invisible prison
From Spiked: Independent Scotland will be a skint Scotland
From the Boston Globe: Police seizures of cash rise, fueled by private training firms
From KWTX: Prosecutors seek execution for man who shot, killed armed home invader breaking in through his window before dawn
From the NY Times: Buy Condo, Then Add Parking Spot for $1 Million
Sunday 14 September 2014
News and commentary round upFrom the Daily Mail: Foley's Mother Threatened With Prosecution If She Paid Ransom
From ABC News: North Bay teen's creative fix for California drought
From Mother Jones: How Hillary Clinton’s State Department Sold Fracking to the World
From 3News: NZ PM Key hits back at Greenwald's claims of mass surveillance
From anti-war: Obama’s ISIL Speech: Five Truths, Four Lies, and a Potential War Crime
From the Washington Times: Obama inevitably will need to use U.S. ground troops to defeat Islamic State, experts warn
From the Onion: Absentminded Nation Catches Itself Turning To Its Leaders Again
From FindLaw: City Wants to Fix Real Estate Market With $1,000 Fine For Not Mowing Your Lawn
From the CBC: Warning to Canadians. American shakedown: Police won't charge you, but they'll grab your money
From Reason: New York Times Acknowledges "Assault Weapon" Bans Are Bogus Nonsense
From ABC News: North Bay teen's creative fix for California drought
From Mother Jones: How Hillary Clinton’s State Department Sold Fracking to the World
From 3News: NZ PM Key hits back at Greenwald's claims of mass surveillance
From anti-war: Obama’s ISIL Speech: Five Truths, Four Lies, and a Potential War Crime
From the Washington Times: Obama inevitably will need to use U.S. ground troops to defeat Islamic State, experts warn
From the Onion: Absentminded Nation Catches Itself Turning To Its Leaders Again
From FindLaw: City Wants to Fix Real Estate Market With $1,000 Fine For Not Mowing Your Lawn
From the CBC: Warning to Canadians. American shakedown: Police won't charge you, but they'll grab your money
From Reason: New York Times Acknowledges "Assault Weapon" Bans Are Bogus Nonsense
New (to me) Book: IBM 360Last month's reminiscence about my early days in computing prompted a nostalgic desire to revisit those days, and in particular to reacquaint myself with the history of the IBM System/360. A quick trip to Abebooks produced a slightly used copy of the definitive history of the project, IBM's 360 and Early 370 Systems by Pugh, Johnson, and Palmer.
(Feel free to skip this post if you're not interested in computers.)
[ Read the rest ... ]
(Feel free to skip this post if you're not interested in computers.)
[ Read the rest ... ]
Saturday 13 September 2014
News and commentary round upFrom Newser: 5 Craziest Crimes of the Week
From Associated Press: Panel endorses firing squad for capital cases. Wyoming seeks solution to shortage of lethal-injection drugs
From Bitcoin Galaxy: Legality of Bitcoin in 10 Different Countries
From Cracked: The 21 Wittiest Comebacks Ever to End an Argument
From WDRB: Police illegally raid a bar, detain every patron & not allow them to leave until they've been frisked. Say it was in regards to a 'liquor license dispute'
From Breitbart: 'Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?' Hits Theatres This Weekend
From High Times: 15 Ways Pot Prohibition Wrecks Your Bill of Rights
From Lew Rockwell: 15 Tips for Getting Upgraded to First Class
From Economic Policy Journal: Excuse #52 for ‘The Pause’ in Global Warming Link to the other 51 is included
From Mass Live: Don't take a picture of your ballot: State law forbids showing photos, punishments include jail time
From Associated Press: Panel endorses firing squad for capital cases. Wyoming seeks solution to shortage of lethal-injection drugs
From Bitcoin Galaxy: Legality of Bitcoin in 10 Different Countries
From Cracked: The 21 Wittiest Comebacks Ever to End an Argument
From WDRB: Police illegally raid a bar, detain every patron & not allow them to leave until they've been frisked. Say it was in regards to a 'liquor license dispute'
From Breitbart: 'Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?' Hits Theatres This Weekend
From High Times: 15 Ways Pot Prohibition Wrecks Your Bill of Rights
From Lew Rockwell: 15 Tips for Getting Upgraded to First Class
From Economic Policy Journal: Excuse #52 for ‘The Pause’ in Global Warming Link to the other 51 is included
From Mass Live: Don't take a picture of your ballot: State law forbids showing photos, punishments include jail time
Friday 12 September 2014
News and commentary round upFrom Liberty Viral: Rand Paul Blasts FEMA! “What purpose are bayonets being given out for?”
From Yahoo News: 40 Percent of “Used” Military Equipment Given to Police Is Brand New
From the Daily Mash: Most British wildlife now living in abandoned DVD libraries
From the Washington Times: DHS will ask stores to watch customers' buying habits for terrorist clues
From Cracked: 25 things you will never see the same way again
From the Examiner: Reid's anti-Koch webpage violates Senate policy
From InfoWars: TSA Demands to Conduct Full Body Pat Down on Man After His Plane Already Landed
From inewssource: Why did San Diego Unified acquire an armored vehicle? (not a joke)
From liberty.me: Move to Somalia!? | Dismantling the idea that Somalia has anything to do with libertarian anarchy
From the Onion: Obama Vows To Split ISIS Into Dozens Of Extremist Splinter Groups
From the Toronto Sun: Cops Hit Cyclist, Arrest Him as He's Dying: Witnesses
From Yahoo News: 40 Percent of “Used” Military Equipment Given to Police Is Brand New
From the Daily Mash: Most British wildlife now living in abandoned DVD libraries
From the Washington Times: DHS will ask stores to watch customers' buying habits for terrorist clues
From Cracked: 25 things you will never see the same way again
From the Examiner: Reid's anti-Koch webpage violates Senate policy
From InfoWars: TSA Demands to Conduct Full Body Pat Down on Man After His Plane Already Landed
From inewssource: Why did San Diego Unified acquire an armored vehicle? (not a joke)
From liberty.me: Move to Somalia!? | Dismantling the idea that Somalia has anything to do with libertarian anarchy
From the Onion: Obama Vows To Split ISIS Into Dozens Of Extremist Splinter Groups
From the Toronto Sun: Cops Hit Cyclist, Arrest Him as He's Dying: Witnesses
Friday 05 September 2014
3rd Atlas Shrugged movieJust a reminder: the 3rd Atlas Shrugged movie is due for release on September 12. Read more by clicking here: Who Is John Galt: Exlusive Q&A with the Producer of Atlas Shrugged Films.
News and commentary round upFrom the New York Post: New York’s ‘shut up’ rule. New emergency prohibitions on political speech may be extended.
From Films for Action: How to Spot - and Defeat - Disruption on the Internet A MUST READ. Hat tip to Brian C.
From the BBC: UK Cops to Public: Solve Your Own Crimes
From Foreign Affairs: Why the Ukraine Crisis is the West's Fault
From Imgur: Heinlein on the foundation of civil freedom
From Boing Boing: The mystery Vegas casino you can only visit once every two years: It's all to do with licensing, naturally.
From Reason: How You Get Two Years for Firing a Shotgun at a Shooting Range
From KHOU: High School Student tackled by police, arrested for being on a cell phone.
From the Review Journal: Operation Choke Point could soon grip casinos
From Zero Hedge: 30 Million Americans On Antidepressants And 21 Other Facts About America's Endless Pharmaceutical Nightmare
From Think Progress: Judge Declines To Intervene As Detroit Resumes Water Shutoffs
From the Daily Currant: Georgia Legalizes Handgun Vending Machines
From the Times Herald: Cops can now search your car without a warrant in Pennsylvania
From Films for Action: How to Spot - and Defeat - Disruption on the Internet A MUST READ. Hat tip to Brian C.
From the BBC: UK Cops to Public: Solve Your Own Crimes
From Foreign Affairs: Why the Ukraine Crisis is the West's Fault
From Imgur: Heinlein on the foundation of civil freedom
From Boing Boing: The mystery Vegas casino you can only visit once every two years: It's all to do with licensing, naturally.
From Reason: How You Get Two Years for Firing a Shotgun at a Shooting Range
From KHOU: High School Student tackled by police, arrested for being on a cell phone.
From the Review Journal: Operation Choke Point could soon grip casinos
From Zero Hedge: 30 Million Americans On Antidepressants And 21 Other Facts About America's Endless Pharmaceutical Nightmare
From Think Progress: Judge Declines To Intervene As Detroit Resumes Water Shutoffs
From the Daily Currant: Georgia Legalizes Handgun Vending Machines
From the Times Herald: Cops can now search your car without a warrant in Pennsylvania
Thursday 04 September 2014
Learning From Ayn Rand's MistakesMy regular Thursday column has been posted at the Daily Bell: Learning From Ayn Rand's Mistakes. There is an active commentary thread at the end of the article, and I respond to posts.
Excerpt: My first deep disagreement with Rand was on her view of sexuality, and especially homosexuality....Objectivism is an integrated philosophy with the first three building blocks being metaphysics, epistemology and ethics. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that explains the fundamental nature of being, of what exists. Epistemology studies the nature of human knowledge and the grounds upon which it can be considered valid or limited. Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with morality. Nathaniel Branden once explained the interconnection of the three as, "What exists? How do I know it? So what?" Sexuality belongs in the category of "So what?" It falls into the category of how a person should live his own life and should deal with others. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Excerpt: My first deep disagreement with Rand was on her view of sexuality, and especially homosexuality....Objectivism is an integrated philosophy with the first three building blocks being metaphysics, epistemology and ethics. Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that explains the fundamental nature of being, of what exists. Epistemology studies the nature of human knowledge and the grounds upon which it can be considered valid or limited. Ethics is the branch of philosophy that deals with morality. Nathaniel Branden once explained the interconnection of the three as, "What exists? How do I know it? So what?" Sexuality belongs in the category of "So what?" It falls into the category of how a person should live his own life and should deal with others. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
News and commentary round upFrom Global Economic Research: Paranoid Statists Publish Police State Plans Against The People
From Truth Revolt: LA Restaurants Enact 3% Surcharge For Healthcare Costs
From the Onion: Death Row Guard Has Always Had Soft Spot For The Innocent Ones
From the Dollar Vigilante: The Repainting Of Our Political World.
From Cop Block: Daughter of cop has a revelation
From CNS: Judge Sets Hearings for Illegal Alien Minors--4 Years From Now
From News.com.au: Paper: No global warming for 19 years
From Worldnetdaily: The funniest dashcam video you'll ever see
From Spiked: Human rights: a straitjacket on liberty
From Truth Revolt: LA Restaurants Enact 3% Surcharge For Healthcare Costs
From the Onion: Death Row Guard Has Always Had Soft Spot For The Innocent Ones
From the Dollar Vigilante: The Repainting Of Our Political World.
From Cop Block: Daughter of cop has a revelation
From CNS: Judge Sets Hearings for Illegal Alien Minors--4 Years From Now
From News.com.au: Paper: No global warming for 19 years
From Worldnetdaily: The funniest dashcam video you'll ever see
From Spiked: Human rights: a straitjacket on liberty
| Donate with Paypal |
 | Donate Bitcoins! |
New Bitcoin address - 30 Nov 2020
1Ee7g7zAUReViPRWtLPBEgnPDRP62qxq3J
1Ee7g7zAUReViPRWtLPBEgnPDRP62qxq3J
Our news can be syndicated by using these rss feeds.
