PatrickC

Livestream link here.. starting any moment ~ (EDIT - This is now the finished podcast)

Thanks Robert, I may take you up on that offer some time.

I'm seriously considering switching to Linux. I rarely use software these days that requires a Windows environment so it seems like a great alternative, particularly since the internet browser has become the tool of choice for some of the better software innovations of late. I also have a server and hear that the running a Linux server significantly improves the performance of your network. The only thing holding me back has been my Steam catalogue. I'm aware that there are some games that will run on Linux, but I assume it is limited to a selection and not all games. I'm aware of the WINE app, but this used to be fairly unstable and often hogged more hardware resources than playing the games in a Windows environment. Anyone know if this has significantly improved of late? I have some experience with Umbuntu and I hear a lot of good things said about MINT too. Albeit that MINT tends to more favourable amongst hardcore Linuix geeks and has a level of complexity attached to it, that requires a slight learning curve before you can comfortably use it. But can anyone recommend me an alternative distro, bearing in mind all that I've said above.

The problem with discussing 'privilege' is that privilege does indeed exist. Bill kind of talks about that when he talks about the privilege of a white guy from Garden City compared to his own background. Since liberals are keen to just put people into classes, based only on their race, gender or sexuality. They manage to forget entirely about the individual. The more I listen to this debate the more I realise that it's only liberals that are obsessed with these classes and no one else. In being so, they themselves stoke up the fires of resentment and prejudice.

One last bump for the film club this Saturday 18 Oct (tomorrow) at 9 pm (London UK time). I will try to post the link for the live broadcast here, shortly before the call begins. Any feedback from listeners would be most welcome after the broadcast. It will be an audio only event. and the podcast will be published the following day I'm hoping.

I don't know what to make of him these days. Certainly he is good at the stuff he's always been good at. Understanding US/European foreign policy, particularly in relation to the Middle East and Israel. Beyond that, not a lot else (at least within this forum). I'd put him up there with Christopher Hitchins, Sam Harris and Dawkins. Although they may all differ on their views about interventionism. These are the popular thinkers of our time that have all attempted to be game changers to varying degrees of success. I guess we should treat it as an honour (if philosophy allows for such a thing) that he has been on the show twice now. Given his eminence in this regard, it can only help enhance the reputation of FDR.

That Slate article at least attempts to get to the heart of the matter by going to the facts. But professional victim-hood has become such a popular past time for many College professors of recent decades, that I don't see them giving up that status for women so easily. Of course the most likely person to be assaulted in general are young men between the ages of 16 - 26, whom fit within the college campus age bracket. These outstrip assaults from any other demographic by the largest margin by far. I know that rape is considered far more egregious than say a broken nose or split lip, which is what many of these young men might suffer. It's also often suggested that these men were asking for it, which might be true, but not necessarily so in many cases. I don't know of any study on this, but I might hazard that there are also just a handful of men that engage in violence with other men. Normally fueled by alcohol or jealousy. Since these crimes are considered as relatively minor in comparison to rape (unless leading to a hospital bed or death). These men are generally allowed to carry on their anti social behaviour in relative impunity. Where is the empathy for the many young men who are victims of such crimes.

Oh my, reminds me of a history long ago. No one falls in love with crazy naturally of course. Since he recognises his lizard brain, perhaps he should question it more, rather than embrace it.

I'd like to lend some weight and encouragement behind such a group project. I've been involved in an FDR men's group for some years now and I can say it's been a very satisfying and productive interaction with those men. Of course the issues that men face compared to women are often quite different at times, but no less important for the philosophically minded lady.

Ms Coulter educating four leftist females regarding race baiting and history. In a very polite and civil manner I might add. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0Hb80gki_E

If you have an account on Facebook, there is a Europe group there, with around 200 members, with a sizable portion from the Benelux region. They also have regular meet ups as well, if you're interested. https://www.facebook.com/groups/FDR.Europe/

I think in this post Snowden age, we would probably have to expect that the state would at the very least keep tracking records, if not not more. That said, it wouldn't put me off, as the convenience would far outstrip the intrusion.

Yes, I'd like to see that in operation. Pretty awesome, if it can be done. Imagine if you could just convert the two seats into a bed and you wouldn't even have to think about the tiredness of driving long distances. That said, I hear the current battery life limits you to around 500 km in one go. I wonder, if the tech is available with electric cars, why not petrol driven ones? Is it to do with the mechanical response time perhaps? Or is it just something that hasn't particularly interested major car manufacturers or health & Safety issues etc. I write from a place of ignorance here of course, but one aspect I always considered as quite limiting for electric cars was the charging time. Unlike petrol of course, which brings an immediate power source, batteries need to charged, which can take a couple of hours at least and perhaps a lot longer with these car batteries. I guess in future they might develop a generic battery which can fit all cars and you just exchange your drained battery with a fully charged one perhaps. But I'm guessing this would be a long way off for now. Interesting, Elon discusses here the legal and practical implications of driving 'auto pilot. He also suggests that 'fully autonomous driving' will be available in 5 - 6 years with a couple of years for the regulatory stipulations to be put in place. On an aside, despite it's less than free market origins, Tesla could prove to be quite a game changer in this regard.

Just giving the film club a bit of a bump. Next Saturday for those that are interested. As has been mentioned Dead Poet's Society is the film up for review. You will need to join this Google+ community group (link below) to be added as a caller. https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/113113551544686168396 Try to be added to the group prior to the call, so as to avoid any disappointment at not being able to join the call this Saturday. Log into your Google+ account 10 minutes before the call and I will make a post in the community group asking for callers. I will then invite callers on a first come first served basis.

We have decided to give the Meet ups in London more consistent format of late. If you are from the region or a regular visitor and would like to meet some fellow philosophers then please join. We will be having regular meet ups every 2 weeks with an alternate activity meet up followed by the next meet up being a conversational sit down with coffee event. We are hoping this format will suit more of the needs of newcomers and existing members.

Relativists like leftists, do like to shame those for (apparently) shaming. Thaddeus is nothing new here. Knowing full well that he criticizes the left, but still. ​He has some interesting historical perspectives, which was Brett's interest in having him on I suppose. But his philosophical perspectives are left in a gloop of sticky molasses.

It's kind of funny after decades of the French calling Britain the sick man of Europe. Good luck with dismantling the massive bureaucracy they have built up over the years. I can see the country coming to a complete standstill as they attempt to impose austerity on the French. What with the truck blockades, strikes and rioting that will likely ensue. It will make the 3 day power strikes (at night) of the late 70's in Britain look like a walk in the park.

It eventually worked for me.. However, I had to click (and listen briefly) on a different podcast first and then return to 2817. After that it worked as normal.

I don't know enough about what the average Libertarian lobbies for in the US. But pot legalization does (or at least used to be) a top of many of their agenda. She's a pragmatist of course, which doesn't necessarily excuse her. However, as has already been said, she is also a great disseminator of the ills of the Left, which makes a lot of her thoughts in this regard particularly productive. As for the rest, well I can shrug it off as baseless assertions and her rather insatiable desire to annoy anyone who is not neocon. Watching this mind, I do think she has mellowed in older age. That could be me of course. I got tickled when the independent lady complained about her wanting to make divorce harder. If it's in reaction to 'no fault' divorce, then I'm with Ms Coulter.

I don't think you can conflate what Sam says (at the beginning) about Islamaphobia and criticizing the doctrine of Islam with that of the US govts war mongering amongst Islamic countries. They are two separate issues. Whilst Sam may well be supportive (in part) of some of the US's involvement in those wars, that wasn't what he was actually saying before Affleck went on his rant.

Glad to have you on board guys. I quite agree Michael, whilst the film is a little old now, it's quite rich in content philosophically. Regarding the time of the call, I see that it falls within the day for you guys in North America and evenings for Europeans. I may jiggle that time in future, depending on the feedback and attendance. As an appetizer for future callers, my next two films up for review will be The Giver (2014) and Gravity (2013). Although I may have to rearrange that depending on the availability of those films in Europe.

Ben's argument was a classic example of the 'argument from offence'. The left do this all the time. Which is why they feel perfectly entitled to shouting people down and using bull horns at peoples events they don't agree with. Many of them haven't even listened to the arguments (as Ben displayed). Often relying on just one or two sources that merely have to make a claim of infraction against their ideology, without much evidence. Did you notice the audience cheering Sam's statement at the beginning. Then after Ben makes his childish rant, receives a cheer from the audience himself. I'm guessing the audience is mostly liberal. But it's almost like they're certain statements you can make that are guaranteed a positive response. Even if those statements when shown together can contradict each other, when placed in their proper context. No wonder politicians can have a field day with this kind of audience. It's literally like taking candy from a baby.

This is for the audience, rather than the protagonists in this thread.. corbyco is cherry picking the questions he answers. He has been busy cherry picking from the low hanging fruit. This doesn't surprise me, as my (Christian) Father did very much the same. I would suggest rather than wasting your time, you either hand him his ass on a plate or ignore him. Sorry to be combative, but since corbyco never responded to any of my own reasonable responses or others in this thread, he clearly has no intention in understanding 'philosophy'.

Thanks for this PGP.. Really enjoy this chap.. Hopefully Stef can interview him sometime.

Yes, I think she was nervous, but it didn't muddle up much of what she had to say. Since she hasn't really cleared up any ambiguity I think we can safely say it was probably a cleverly designed speech to create ambiguity.