TheAtlasphere.com

The Dark Knight: Evil as It Should Be

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:16:10 PST

Heath Ledger's character in The Dark Knight is truly evil, tearing down the good for being the good. Despite its overall darkness, the movie is genuine Romanticism, in a sense Ayn Rand would recognize.

Environmentalists' Hold on Congress

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:58:22 PST

For decades, environmentalists have lobbied for laws restricting energy production. What's most scary, however, is not the misguided nature of these laws, but how much political clout the environmentalists possess.

Random Thoughts

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:26:41 PST

Are radical feminists overlooking something important about men? Does Barack Obama represent change we can finally believe in? And what does the word "glass" in "glass ceiling" really mean, anyway?

The Ultimate Resource

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:35:18 PST

Policy makers often claim poverty is caused by "overpopulation." In places like Congo, Zimbabwe, and Hong Kong, however, just the opposite is true. Is man really a burden on earth, or the ultimate resource?

The Two Faces of Pixar

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:50:50 PST

Many Americans hold a conflicted view of human nature, of whether we are fatally flawed or potentially heroic. Pixar seems to embody this same schizophrenic tendency, changing sides from one movie to the next.

Military Veterans at Greater Risk of Suicide?

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:38:58 PST

While suicide rates among military vets are up, they are still lower than those of civilians. This, however, has stopped neither Sen. Obama nor the media from portraying military service in an unfavorable light.

Is Owning a Gun Suicidal?

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:57:07 PST

Gun-control advocates claim your risk of suicide is higher if you own a gun. Thirteen different studies, however, have found no meaningful connection between gun ownership and suicide. Let's take a look at why.

My Apology to Journalism

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:38:40 PST

Why do some people admire Che Guevara so much? Whether they admire his strength or his "power to kill," the fact remains that Guevara and his goons were barbarians -- and should be treated as such.

Teaching Reason via Socratic Practice

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:34:14 PST

Students need reasoning skills today more than ever. They're not going to find it in public schools, however, and rarely will they find it even in formal logic courses. What they need is a Socratic learning environment.

Howard Roark in a Tricorn

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:28:32 PST

Long before Ayn Rand wrote The Fountainhead, another talented novelist celebrated the virtues of the productive loner. The young genius in Theodore Storm's The Dykemaster is reminiscent of Howard Roark.

Why Do We 'Keep and Bear Arms'?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:41:14 PST

In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision affirming an individual right to gun ownership, now seems an appropriate time to remember why, historically, the right to "keep and bear arms" is so vital to freedom.

WALL-E: Good but Not Great

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:05:42 PST

The new Disney/Pixar movie WALL-E is, in many respects, an amazing and enjoyable movie. It has one important flaw, however, that prevents it from being a truly great film.

The Middleman Does Justice

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:51:25 PST

ABC's new "The Middleman" show delivers light-hearted geekiness, with a nod to many comic book classics. It's definitely worth a look, especially if you enjoy satire that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Bless the Speculator

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:31:08 PST

Speculators play a crucial role in a free society, helping reduce market volatility. Yet critics like John McCain scapegoat them constantly. It's time these critics learned some basic economics.

The Howard Roark of Engineering

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:19:13 PST

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a 19th Century engineer, and his extravagance was of a whole different order -- and of just the right kind. To understand his greatness, one need only look at his work.

Obama vs. McCain: The Big Picture

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:38:06 PST

McCain and Obama are each miserable choices for President. Yet we also face perilous threats in the world, like the prospect of a nuclear Iran. Can we afford to stay home during this election?

Windfall-Profit Nonsense

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:50:34 PST

Is a "windfall-profits tax" on oil companies justified or even useful at all? History indicates otherwise. The only "national energy policy" that can work is the one we already have -- the free market.

Are Americans Truly Against Slavery?

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:33:35 PST

Americans fought the Civil War, at a cost of over 600,000 lives, to end the institution of slavery. Did we really end slavery, though, or is it still with us today -- in the disguised form of stupidly high taxes?

Tim Russert (1950-2008)

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:02:57 PST

Being a great, unbiased journalist isn't about being fair to "both parties" -- it's about being honest and putting your cards on the table. Tim Russert, who passed away last week, was one such rarity.

McCain Finds His Crisis in Global Warming

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:37:02 PST

Should the government start "capping" our carbon dioxide emissions? John McCain thinks so, even though it would damage the U.S. economy -- and any environmental benefits would be negligible.