Hi Scott, I’m so glad you’re holding together. You’re perfectly right to mention Ayn Rand's ideas. Who knows if anyone will walk to the light but if even one person does it’s worth it. In my experience, most people won’t even read a Charlie Brown book or Frog & Toad Together. I’ve encouraged people to read and discuss Ayn Rand, Aristotle, Victor Hugo, Dostoevsky, Rostand and so many more—to minimal effect one way or the other.
The LA fires…horrific. As an outsider, it’s been difficult to get clear information about the fires. I don’t watch the legacy propaganda “news.” I see that Pacific Palisades totally burned. I’m not sure about Malibu. And then another big area over by Pasadena burned. I suspect the damage is much larger than I realize. Even though I lived out there in Hollywood (and loved every minute of it!) I still don’t totally understand the lay of the land. I know of a number of music producers who lost their homes and recording studios in this thing. Thousands of homes gone.
America is disintegrating. A kind of non-thinking has possessed almost everyone. Lack of values. Lack of knowledge. Lack of wisdom. Lack of gratitude. I wish I had a remedy. I don’t. I’m enjoying my own life as best I can and will occasionally walk along with fellow travelers.
Thank you, Lance. I appreciate your commentary. I’ve lived here for most of my life and I still get lost in the canyons and freeways. I love it. It’s a sunny and wonderful place to live. If only the good could be left alone. I read what you wrote and it reminds me that it’s sooner than we think. Thanks again. We thrive in solidarity. Cheers.
This marks the first time I’ve commented on one of my own articles with regard to reader feedback. Your replies are my reward.
One of my paid subscribers reached out by telephone last night. We’ve been exchanging messages and greetings for years, though I’ve never heard the voice of the one whom I know works extremely hard and practices artistry and written communication with eloquence, warmth and wisdom. What this reader said last night moves me. It was like someone stepping out of the shadows I wrote about in the article, reaching out to take my hand.
Others connected in various ways, including in this forum. Friends, strangers, people with whom I’ve been acquainted for years – even decades – and each expression from every individual fuels me. This media celebrates a fourth anniversary on Friday. You, dear reader, make me want to pop the champagne a bit early. You are the best. I know I deserve it. So do you.
My heart goes out to you. I have many happy memories of vacations in Southern California, and much sorrow these past decades over what it's citizens have done to the paradise they live in. I hadn't even thought of the Atlas Shrugged train disaster, but it is the perfect comparison - so apt for a situation where it is the people's choices based on the philosophy they live by that ultimately bring on their necessary destruction. I'm out here trying to change that evil philosophy our fellow citizens take as a given just as I know you are and a few thousand of us around the world. But there are so few of us and so many of them. There is no turning back on this fight, though. I see too clearly the epic disaster that awaits us all if that evil philosophy isn't overthrown and replaced with one based on reality, reason, rational self interest and rights.
To paraphrase Ayn Rand, I know the world we seek is ours and can be won—I know it’s real and impossible—which is why I ended the article with those final words. Ideas are more powerful than numbers. Thank you for your commentary Russell. Remember the Alamo. Cheers.
Hi Scott, I’m so glad you’re holding together. You’re perfectly right to mention Ayn Rand's ideas. Who knows if anyone will walk to the light but if even one person does it’s worth it. In my experience, most people won’t even read a Charlie Brown book or Frog & Toad Together. I’ve encouraged people to read and discuss Ayn Rand, Aristotle, Victor Hugo, Dostoevsky, Rostand and so many more—to minimal effect one way or the other.
The LA fires…horrific. As an outsider, it’s been difficult to get clear information about the fires. I don’t watch the legacy propaganda “news.” I see that Pacific Palisades totally burned. I’m not sure about Malibu. And then another big area over by Pasadena burned. I suspect the damage is much larger than I realize. Even though I lived out there in Hollywood (and loved every minute of it!) I still don’t totally understand the lay of the land. I know of a number of music producers who lost their homes and recording studios in this thing. Thousands of homes gone.
America is disintegrating. A kind of non-thinking has possessed almost everyone. Lack of values. Lack of knowledge. Lack of wisdom. Lack of gratitude. I wish I had a remedy. I don’t. I’m enjoying my own life as best I can and will occasionally walk along with fellow travelers.
Thank you, Lance. I appreciate your commentary. I’ve lived here for most of my life and I still get lost in the canyons and freeways. I love it. It’s a sunny and wonderful place to live. If only the good could be left alone. I read what you wrote and it reminds me that it’s sooner than we think. Thanks again. We thrive in solidarity. Cheers.
This marks the first time I’ve commented on one of my own articles with regard to reader feedback. Your replies are my reward.
One of my paid subscribers reached out by telephone last night. We’ve been exchanging messages and greetings for years, though I’ve never heard the voice of the one whom I know works extremely hard and practices artistry and written communication with eloquence, warmth and wisdom. What this reader said last night moves me. It was like someone stepping out of the shadows I wrote about in the article, reaching out to take my hand.
Others connected in various ways, including in this forum. Friends, strangers, people with whom I’ve been acquainted for years – even decades – and each expression from every individual fuels me. This media celebrates a fourth anniversary on Friday. You, dear reader, make me want to pop the champagne a bit early. You are the best. I know I deserve it. So do you.
My heart goes out to you. I have many happy memories of vacations in Southern California, and much sorrow these past decades over what it's citizens have done to the paradise they live in. I hadn't even thought of the Atlas Shrugged train disaster, but it is the perfect comparison - so apt for a situation where it is the people's choices based on the philosophy they live by that ultimately bring on their necessary destruction. I'm out here trying to change that evil philosophy our fellow citizens take as a given just as I know you are and a few thousand of us around the world. But there are so few of us and so many of them. There is no turning back on this fight, though. I see too clearly the epic disaster that awaits us all if that evil philosophy isn't overthrown and replaced with one based on reality, reason, rational self interest and rights.
To paraphrase Ayn Rand, I know the world we seek is ours and can be won—I know it’s real and impossible—which is why I ended the article with those final words. Ideas are more powerful than numbers. Thank you for your commentary Russell. Remember the Alamo. Cheers.