What's your stack?

Balrog does not sleep inside the coop.

He prefers the nectarine tree. 🐓🍑🌳

Does anyone else have a rooster that does this?

#homesteading

Well, I need the software we're building to do the things I actually want to do, so I have to just help build or it would never get done. This is the thing

I need more software developers, so that I can go back to writing about philosophy and economics.

Good cold, cold morning nostr🥶🥶. Its 20F and the wind is still blowing, although not as hard as yesterday. Thankfully we are past the worst of it, since it should get up to 40 today, i think. Our infrastructure here is not built for subfreezing temps, and we always have to worry about pipes freezing. Our two little home-hatched chicks are still doing well, eating alot and very active. Yesterday we took Lucy to Tractor Supply (we take her there so she can see other humans besides us), and i noticed they had some new chicks for sale, but for $6.99 each! To me, $7 for a tiny chick is kinda high. Last year they were $6. Anyway, just an observation and another reason we're starting to hatch at least a few of our own. Yall have a great thursday, enjoy your coffee, and do your work with a happy heart. #coffeechain #grownostr #homesteading

Happy Birthday, Ayn Rand!

Ayn Rand, born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum on February 2, 1905, in St. Petersburg, Russia, witnessed the upheaval of the Bolshevik Revolution as a teenager. Her family’s pharmacy was seized by the Soviet regime, plunging them into poverty and shaping her lifelong opposition to collectivism.

After studying history and philosophy at Petrograd State University, she emigrated to the United States in 1926, adopting the pen name “Ayn Rand” and settling in Hollywood. There, she worked as a screenwriter and met her husband, Frank O’Connor, while forging a career that blended storytelling with philosophical inquiry.

Rand’s fiction became a vehicle for her ideas. Her debut novel, We the Living (1936), drew from her experiences in Soviet Russia, portraying the clash between individualism and totalitarianism. Though initially overlooked, it later gained recognition as a critique of authoritarianism.

Her dystopian novella Anthem (1938) explored themes of self-discovery in a society that erases individuality, culminating in the protagonist’s reclaiming of the word “I.”

The Fountainhead (1943), her breakthrough novel, introduced Howard Roark, an architect who defies societal conventions to uphold his creative vision. The novel’s celebration of independence and integrity resonated widely, cementing Rand’s reputation.

Her magnum opus, Atlas Shrugged (1957), depicted a world where innovators and industrialists withdraw from a collapsing collectivist society, underscoring her belief in human potential and rational self-interest.

After the publication of her influential novel "Atlas Shrugged" in 1957, Ayn Rand turned her focus to nonfiction writing, using this medium to further elaborate on and promote her philosophy of Objectivism. Her nonfiction works span a wide range of topics, from ethics and epistemology to politics and aesthetics.

One of Rand's earliest and most significant nonfiction works is "For the New Intellectual" (1961), which serves as an introduction to her philosophical ideas. This book includes excerpts from her novels along with new essays that outline the core principles of Objectivism.

"The Virtue of Selfishness" (1964) is perhaps Rand's most controversial and well-known nonfiction book. In it, she presents her ethical theory of rational self-interest, challenging traditional notions of altruism and offering a new concept of egoism. The book includes essays that explore practical questions such as the nature of rights, the role of government, and the importance of reason in human life.

Rand's political and economic views are expounded in "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal" (1966). This collection of essays argues for laissez-faire capitalism as the only moral and practical economic system. It includes contributions from other writers, including future Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

In "Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology" (1967), Rand delves into the philosophical foundations of knowledge and concept formation. This work represents her most technical philosophical writing and has been influential in the field of epistemology.

"The Romantic Manifesto" (1969) presents Rand's theory of aesthetics and her views on the nature and purpose of art. In this work, she argues for a return to Romantic realism in literature and art.

Following her death, several collections of Rand's essays and lectures were published posthumously. "Philosophy: Who Needs It" (1982) is a collection of essays that emphasize the practical importance of philosophy in everyday life.

"The Voice of Reason" (1989) includes essays on a wide range of topics, from cultural commentary to in-depth philosophical discussions.

Rand's nonfiction also extended to periodicals. From 1962 to 1976, she published and wrote for three successive journals: The Objectivist Newsletter, The Objectivist, and The Ayn Rand Letter. These publications allowed her to comment on current events and cultural trends through the lens of her philosophy.

Throughout her nonfiction works, Rand consistently emphasized the importance of reason, individualism, and capitalism. She sought to provide a comprehensive philosophical framework that could guide individuals in all aspects of life, from ethics to politics to art. While her ideas have been controversial, they have also been influential, particularly in libertarian and conservative circles.

Rand's nonfiction writing style is characterized by its clarity, directness, and logical rigor. She often used concrete examples and analogies to illustrate abstract philosophical concepts, making her ideas accessible to a wide audience. Her works continue to be read and debated today, testament to the enduring impact of her ideas on modern thought.

Central to Rand’s work is Objectivism, a philosophy she described as “the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life.” Its core principles rest on four pillars: objective reality, reason, ethical egoism, and laissez-faire capitalism.

Rand argued that reality exists independently of perception, and reason—not faith or emotion—is humanity’s sole means of understanding it. She rejected altruism as a moral ideal, asserting that individuals should pursue their own happiness without sacrificing themselves to others or vice versa. Politically, she championed capitalism as the only system respecting individual rights, advocating for minimal government intervention beyond protecting against force or fraud.

Though Rand’s ideas sparked controversy, her novels have sold over 37 million copies, and Objectivism influenced libertarian and conservative thought. She founded a philosophical movement that continues to promote her works, emphasizing logic, individualism, and the primacy of reality. Her legacy endures in debates about freedom, creativity, and the role of government, reflecting her conviction that “man is an end in himself.”

These "on this day" posts are inspired by my love of the greatest minds of the Western canon. It is in this spirit that I post these tidbits for the Bitcoin community as a way to bring beauty and knowledge to the world.

#aynrand #objectivism #onthisday #philosophy #literature

Good morning! May the day be a stream of fortuitous noises for you.

hehe thanks. I like all your pictures

gm!

Bonjour ! #nostr

There’s always going to be a wild west somewhere 🤠

Bugger, messed up recording today's show but here's the track listing anyway....

Misty In Roots - New Day

Cannonball And Coltrane - The Sleeper

Shabaka - I’ll Do Whatever You Want

Al Green - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

Donna McKevitt - Go To The Limits Of Your Longing

Joy Division - The Eternal

John Lee Hooker - I’m Just A Drifter

War - Where Was You At

Man Machine - Robot to Okoku

Mark One - Hoovers and Spray Cans

Cheers and defo agree about takes. When recording vocals the first take is often the best from an emotional standpoint. Past take 3 and I don't think it gets better. Thanks for listening 😃