Propaganda: repetition and fear
A propaganda film about propaganda. Learn how the powers that be use argumentum ad metum (the appeal to fear) and constant repetition to subtly manipulate your emotions. Be sure to…
Farms cropping up in the Bronx
(WSJ) The slice of land in the Bronx at first appears no different than many of the borough’s derelict empty lots, where any glimpse of green often resolves into a…
Local currencies could reshape Brazilian economy
The Wall Street Journal recently featured a story on a currency called the capivari, a local currency emblazoned with the face of a giant rodent. The capivari is one of…
Desktop manufacturing gaining steam
In the fourth section of Juggernaut, I proposed something called a ‘Materializer’ or what is called a ‘Replicator’ in science fiction as a tool that can provide independent individuals with…
Are sovereign islands the new frontier?
(Details) [Peter] Thiel spends a lot of time thinking about frontiers. “Way more than is healthy,” he admits. Not just financial frontiers, though that’s his day job: He cofounded PayPal,…
The math behind economies of scale
(TED) Physicist Geoffrey West has found that simple, mathematical laws govern the properties of cities — that wealth, crime rate, walking speed and many other aspects of a city can…
It’s every person in the world, connected to every other person in the world, and no one fully understands how to make best use of this new reality because no one has seen anything like it before.
Designer and entrepreneur Ben Pieratt on the Internet.
Why stop at the 51st state?
An interesting, albeit daunting, prospect has recently received some momentum in Southern California–one that would make several of its counties its own state. (Christian Science Monitor) Thirteen mostly conservative California…
An ethical case for ‘Loser Pays’
In a recent article, Gozmodo reports of an independent artist that was charged with copyright infringement, and was forced to settle for tens of thousands of dollars, even though he…
The virtues of self-sufficiency
One of the central concepts of Juggernaut rests in the virtues of self-sufficiency. A summary can be found in the first part of the book: It can be assumed that…
New charter city in the works
(TED) Back in 2009, Paul Romer unveiled the idea for a “charter city” — a new kind of city with rules that favor democracy and trade. This year, at TED2011,…
Let’s diversify the states!
In a recent study, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University examined the laws and regulations that each of the 50 American states impose on their citizens and produced a…
Does regulation have to come from the state?
In recent years, the great debate has focused on the role of regulation, how much of it there should be, and whether it does what it should in the economic…
New rules, new system?
In Bill Maher’s New Rules segment, the comedian/political maven shuffles through several new rules he has come up with that he suggests would solve some of our problems. Examples range…
Is Distributism the answer?
In John C. Médaille’s book, Toward a Truly Free Market, the argument is made that the modern system is a self-perpetuating cycle that can only lead to more regulation and…
What will it take to save the American Dream?
(The Heritage Foundation) Saving the American Dream is The Heritage Foundation’s plan to fix the debt, cut spending and, above all, restore prosperity. It balances the nation’s budget within a…
Open-sourced blueprints for civilization
(TED) Using wikis and digital fabrication tools, TED Fellow Marcin Jakubowski is open-sourcing the blueprints for 50 farm machines, allowing anyone to build their own tractor or harvester from scratch….
Freedom: For Whom and From What?
These ideas need to be debated on a regular basis. Watch live streaming video from aynrandcenter at livestream.com
Do-it-yourself service–weren’t we just talking about this?
(Slate) A Palo Alto, Calif.-based startup called E La Carte is hoping to ensure that no family has to endure such a nightmare again. It has produced a kind of…