tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334409172012-01-14T13:41:38.939-05:00My personal opinions, random rants, and perspectivesJack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.comBlogger4961100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-52844396634108033572012-01-14T13:41:00.001-05:002012-01-14T13:41:38.978-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Although there are some semi-legitimate concerns about the <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act">Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)</A>, my personal feeling is that SOPA is a good step in the right direction for protecting intellectual property in this age of the Internet and World Wide Web. A fair amount of the more virulent opposition to SOPA comes from the anti-globalism, anti-capitalism crowd, as epitomized by the Occupy movement (notably its Occupy Wall Street (OWS) subsidiary), and is based primarily on opposition to the very concept of intellectual property (IP). I simply don't support their efforts, on the whole, even if on occasion they do make a few good points. If they want to reform and refine the system, great, fine, have at it, but they seem obsessed with demonizing the system and committed to either subvert it if not completely overturn it.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The legitimate concern is that sometimes well-meaning people or businesses (or non-profits or even governmental institutions) will make mistakes and inadvertently infringe on somebody's alleged intellectual property rights and then have hell to pay for it. I'm sure that we will stumble onto occasional horror stories where best intentions go awry, but overall I really do think that most well-meaning people and firms will do the right things and things will work out. Just because the system may fail on occasion is not a reasonable argument against the system overall.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>It appears to me that most of the opposition to SOPA by Internet service vendors is simply that enforcement of SOPA will be an added cost and a pain for them. I accept that SOPA may in fact increase their expenses, but nobody has provided any evidence that such costs would likely be prohibitive or even anything other than merely incidental. Intellectual property is a fact of life and any Internet service vendor should by now have a budget for assuring that they and their users do not maliciously or inadvertently fail to respect intellectual property rights. It is not that they don't believe in IP, but that IP is an inconvenient distraction.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As far as the argument that SOPA will result in censorship, I find that argument completely empty and without merit. The concept of censorship is based on the actual content of the message, not the form of the message. I think the issue here is that some people want to illegally re-use or re-purpose the content of others and consider efforts to thwart that desire as censorship, which is a completely nonsensical argument. Parody and fair use are still legal, so the censorship claim is empty. The censorship claim simply amounts to yet another smokescreen which is an appeal to emotion to cover up for the underlying disbelief in the very concept of intellectual property.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>And if there are bugs in the legislation, I'm sure we will quickly find out and they can be fixed. But I simply do not buy the argument that since the legislation might have speculative negative side effects that it should not be enacted at all.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So, let people provide their input, Congress can then adjust the legislation as they, as representatives of the people, see fit, President Obama can sign it, and we can all move forward.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>But this idea of the critics that SOPA will kill or cripple the Internet is just complete nonsense that is simply a smokescreen to cover for their true, anti-intellectual capital, anti-business, anti-capitalism intentions.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5284439663410803357?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-59880962650792960182012-01-13T11:26:00.001-05:002012-01-13T11:26:46.017-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"><EM><STRONG>(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Café Philo New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, January 26, 2012 to discuss the topic "<STRONG>Can we assign meanings to one's life?</STRONG>".</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>If you do wish to attend, please sign up on the <A href="http://www.meetup.com/New-York-Cafe-Philo/">Meetup page</A>.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 6 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Can we assign meanings to one's life? (4) * <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1) <LI>Would dueling be amenable in a democratic society? (2) <LI>How has photography changed the world? (3) <LI>What is a system? (3) <LI>Should we have referendums in a democratic society? (2) <LI>Why is financial inequality so unpopular? (3) <LI>Is democracy an illusion? (3)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5988096265079296018?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-26775547827134922862012-01-05T18:18:00.001-05:002012-01-05T18:18:08.614-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"><EM><STRONG>(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Café Philo New York City will meet next week, on Thursday, January 12, 2012 to discuss the topic "<STRONG>Can we have meaning without words?</STRONG>" I suggested the topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 6 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Do we need religion? (4) <LI>Occupy Wall Street. (3) <LI>Is our government democratic enough? (2) <LI>Why are there holiday lights? (3) <LI>Why do words have meanings? (3) <LI>Can we have meaning without words? (5) * <LI>How can jargon damage intellectual pursuit? (4) <LI>What is important in life? (2)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2677554782713492286?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-28157711935915068722011-12-28T09:16:00.001-05:002011-12-28T09:16:53.770-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I certainly believe that there is a very bright future for solar power, but there is also no question that the sector was heavily over-hyped in the past decade. Now as a lot of the hype has gotten burned off over the past year, maybe we can get back to the real business of focusing on real demand and real economics. I enjoyed reading the summary of the plight of the solar power sector in <EM>The Wall Street Journal</EM> by Yuliya Chernova entitled "<A href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204552304577117140511996840.html">Dark Times Fall on Solar Sector</A>", but the article left the issue hanging.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>My personal view is that economics matter tremendously and we need to walk a fine line between government promotion via subsidy and simply standing back and letting markets work their magic. Maybe we are finally at the stage where government subsidies are hitting diminishing returns and we should focus more attention on focusing solar power on applications where raw cost is not the primary issue. For example, a lot of consumers really would prefer to pay a little more for "clean" energy that helps to fight Global Warming and Climate Change. There are also plenty of remote government facilities which would benefit from being less reliant on supplies of fossil fuels.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>A lot of the debt taken on by fledgling solar power companies was clearly misguided and we will certainly see a dramatic shakeout of the industry, but that is a very good thing and is quite typical of emergent industries.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>At some point the Chinese government subsidies for the solar power sector will peak and the sharp decline in component costs will become more moderate, at which point I am sure there will be plenty of U.S. private equity capital available to roll up the remaining viable domestic solar manufacturers at fire-sale prices into a more profitable structure and then move forward.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Exactly what the structure of the solar power sector will look like five or ten years from now is anybody's guess, but at least that longer-term future is very bright indeed, even if well beyond the limited and shortsighted vision of the WSJ.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>And meanwhile we should be profusely thanking the Chinese government for helping to push solar power to be a much more economic option for the production of electricity.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2815771193591506872?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-71023649670126575672011-12-23T17:19:00.001-05:002011-12-23T17:19:39.778-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"><EM><STRONG>(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Due to the holidays, the next Café Philo which was scheduled for December 29th is <STRONG><EM>cancelled</EM></STRONG>, so the next Café Philo New York City will meet in three weeks, on Thursday, January 12, 2012. And since we lacked a quorum last week, we decided to hold over the discussion topic to the next meeting. The topic is "<STRONG>Can we have meaning without words?</STRONG>" I suggested the topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 6 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Do we need religion? (4) <LI>Occupy Wall Street. (3) <LI>Is our government democratic enough? (2) <LI>Why are there holiday lights? (3) <LI>Why do words have meanings? (3) <LI>Can we have meaning without words? (5) * <LI>How can jargon damage intellectual pursuit? (4) <LI>What is important in life? (2)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7102364967012657567?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-38943987016339511762011-12-14T20:01:00.001-05:002011-12-14T20:01:30.197-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I live in an old New York City apartment building with a predictably cranky old elevator, so I carefully read any news item about elevators. The news this morning was scary indeed, with <A href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/three-hurt-in-midtown-elevator-plunge-one-critically/">a woman actually dying in a freak elevator accident</A> not that far from my apartment building. They had the address in the article and it sounded very near a building I had once visited years ago.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>During my daily walk around midtown Manhattan I detoured slightly (two blocks) to walk on Madison Avenue past 41st and 40th streets, where I could see lots of emergency and media vehicles. I watched and talked to a few people for a few minutes, and saw a stretcher being wheeled into the building, around roughly 2:30 PM, which was like four and a half hours after the incident. That suggests that it took quite some time for the fire department (or whoever) to actually remove her body from the elevator/shaft. Must have been gruesome.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>I read that the building was built in 1926 – same year as my apartment building. We have multiple "outages" of our elevator every year. I usually walk down the stairs from my top/10th floor apartment when leaving the building; I used to try to walk up the stairs a fair amount; maybe I'll do so more frequently now.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>When our elevator is out they let us ride in the old freight elevator which is the really old manual style of elevator where the "elevator operator" moves this lever back and forth to manually start and stop the elevator with this scissor-fold door that moves back and forth. Hey, at least then the operator has some options if something goes wrong and can stop the elevator immediately. That's the downside of these fully-automatic modern "contraptions."</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>I have no idea whether the elevator in that build was an older-older model or had been updated to some more state of the art configuration. I suspect the latter since there are a number of sophisticated tenants in that building. Assuming the latter... hmmm... I wonder... was the elevator "malfunction" a hardware failure or (God forbid) a software bug? Or, maybe a discrepancy between the "spec" that the software was written to and how the hardware actually behaves. Or, maybe, there are one or more possible "user errors" that should obviously be treated much more benignly but for whatever reasons was not "handled" properly. My current suspicion is that the "Is door closed?" sensor malfunctioned, indicating that the door was closed fully when clearly it was not, and the elevator was permitted to move even though the door was clearly not closed.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3894398701633951176?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-16555042459610972782011-12-02T13:04:00.001-05:002011-12-02T13:04:30.210-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV><EM><STRONG>(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, December 15, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>Can we have meaning without words?</STRONG>" I suggested the topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 6 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Do we need religion? (4) <LI>Occupy Wall Street. (3) <LI>Is our government democratic enough? (2) <LI>Why are there holiday lights? (3) <LI>Why do words have meanings? (3) <LI>Can we have meaning without words? (5) * <LI>How can jargon damage intellectual pursuit? (4) <LI>What is important in life? (2)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-1655504245961097278?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-85396503772859829482011-11-29T19:20:00.001-05:002011-11-29T19:20:45.216-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I just made my 23rd monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 51 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $15,051,673,595,197.90, as of November 28, 2011, an increase of about $111 billion over 39 days or $2.9 billion a day. This is an annualized run rate of $1.042 trillion, our effective annual deficit at this point.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>A final note: I may suspend my payment program next month since my current contract work ended six weeks ago. I do have the cash to continue my payment program, but technically, on principle, the loss of primary income is supposed to mean that a person should cut all inessential expenses until there has been a resumption of their primary income. In any case, my public debt payment program will continue in any month that I have enough primary income to pay my rent and basic living expenses. But, I don't expect that to be the case in December, and I expect to be living off savings for some number of months, so my U.S. public debt payment program is now effectively suspended until I line up new work.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8539650377285982948?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-11003076791034071312011-11-18T12:26:00.001-05:002011-11-18T12:26:22.348-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV><EM><STRONG>(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, December 1, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>How long can Cafe Philo go on?</STRONG>" It will be good to have a soul-searching discussion of what Café Philo is all about, what it hopes to achieve, and how it relates to the modern world, among other things. Bernard suggested the topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 7 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Is Zuccotti Park a good thing? (2) <LI>Does the fact that the sun will rise tomorrow assure that it will rise in the future? (3, 2) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (2) <LI>Why is it important to say what you mean? (3, 3) <LI>How long can Cafe Philo go on? (3, 4) * <LI>Would dueling be beneficial to society? (2) <LI>Implications of overuse of the word "like." (2) <LI>Can war be a good thing? (2)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- Jack Krupansky</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-1100307679103407131?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-48412007884950626252011-11-08T13:38:00.001-05:002011-11-08T13:38:26.287-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>There were actually a couple of short periods of time back in 2000 when I was technically a "millionaire", at least on paper (plus one time when a broker error made me a millionaire for a weekend!) But, as they say, "easy come, easy go." And back in 2005 I was doing so poorly financially that I actually filed for bankruptcy. Since November 30, 2005 (the day my bankruptcy was discharged) I have gradually been slowly climbing back up the lower rungs of the wealth ladder out of the pit of gloom, primarily through regular retirement contributions but also cutting spending and saving when possible, so that now I actually have a modest amount of "investments." I'm certainly not a millionaire or in the top 1% or even the top 10%, but I'm somewhere in the top 20% now. I won't disclose my exact "wealth", but it's very loosely north of $50,000 and south of $250,000, so lets pretend that it is $100,000 for the sake of argument and to have a nice round number. So, the question of the day is:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>How can I become a millionaire?</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>Seriously. It's a legitimate question. How likely I am to become a millionaire again is an open and essentially unanswerable question, but what options or paths to that end are available is a reasonable question.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here are the practical paths that I have identified in just a few minutes today:</DIV> <OL> <LI>Buy a winning lottery ticket. Hey, sometimes it actually does payoff, but I won't bet on it. <LI>Marry a wealthy woman. Ditto. <LI>Start a successful business. Ditto, except that it actually still is a (semi-remote) possibility. <LI>Join a hot startup. Ditto, but a little more possible. (Seriously, send me leads on this!) <LI>A short string of wildly-successful option trades. Hey, I actually did this in 1998 and 1999, but... a long story... and not likely to be repeated. <LI>Invest in a hot stock that rises 40% a year for 7 years. Technically possible, but the odds remain long. <LI>Investments that rise 20% a year for 13 years. More doable, but still quite difficult. <LI>Investments that rise 15% a year for 17 years. On the fringe of being practical, but too long to wait. <LI>Investments that rise 10% a year for 24 years. Starting to sound within reach technically, but not within reach time-wise. <LI>Investments that rise 8% a year for 30 years. Great, something I might actually have a shot at achieving, but only if my goal is to leave a million in my will rather than enjoy it during retirement. <LI>Investments that rise 5% a year for 48 years. Ditto. I could reasonably expect to do this, but again not for my personal use. <LI>Investments that rise 4% a year for 59 years. That rate of return is reasonable and achievable for an average investor, but won't achieve the end goal within my expected lifetime.</LI></OL> <DIV>And then there is inflation, taxes, bad years, etc. And presuming that you have a reasonable income stream while your wealth is growing.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>And then there is a bigger pair of questions. Once you have accumulated $1 million:</DIV> <OL> <LI>How do you keep it? <LI>How can you live off of it in a sustainable manner?</LI></OL> <DIV>It may seem obvious that you save $1 million for retirement and then spend it all in retirement, but that is a risky expectation due to uncertainty about the future. Better to define an allocation of money that you will be spending and money that remains dedicated to further investment. That's a topic for future discussion. Here we're just concerned with getting to $1 million (ASAP) in the first place.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Where do I do from here? The only things I can say with certainty are that I will continue making my retirement contributions and hopefully see some compound returns over the years. I guess I can also safely say that unless I manage to achieve 20% annual returns I won't hit $1 million when I retire in 13 years. That is at least a good starting point for thinking about where I am, what I could achieve, and what my options are.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4841200788495062625?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-49801173403003769702011-11-07T19:31:00.008-05:002011-11-07T19:52:39.730-05:00<div dir="ltr"><div style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"Change" is a mantra thrown about by all activists, but only in a qualified form, such as "Change <em>we can believe in</em>." Well, change doesn't really work that way. Change is an inherent and fundamental force in the natural and manmade world. Accept change or be disappointed. We can't cherry-pick change, adopting the "good" change and rejecting the "bad" change. It's all or... well, it's all, period. My own personal view is that all change is inherently good. In fact, it is the very change that we find least appealing that typically has the most value for us, provided that we manage to effectively exploit that change and not fight it tooth and nail.<br /><br />To state it simply:</div><blockquote style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr"><em>All change is inherently good, especially that change which is least desired.</em><br /></blockquote></div><div dir="ltr"><div style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">If it sometimes or even frequently seems that some particular change appears to have little positive value or an excessively negative value, it is most likely true that we have simply not tried hard enough to discover creative ways to exploit that change. Maybe we simply have blinders on or some outdated bias that interferes with our ability to see a path to a better future that exploits that change.<br /></div><br /><div style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- <a href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4980117340300376970?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-29220892728166005872011-11-06T13:06:00.001-05:002011-11-06T13:06:22.285-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>On a typical Saturday I walk all around lower Manhattan (starting my walk from my apartment on East 50th Street), sometimes walking up Wall Street. Since 9/11 Wall Street has had limited access, but usually the sidewalks are open to pedestrian traffic and even the street itself is usually open to pedestrian traffic. Since the Occupy Wall Street movement moved into the neighborhood there have been the usual steel barricades to assure that people stay on the sidewalks. But, this past Saturday (11/5) I walked up Wall Street from the East River and around Water Street or Pearl Street even the side walk was closed with barricades and there were two police cars blocking the street.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Except, the police cars were an odd color of blue and had some strange-looking emblem on the doors. I figured maybe they were for some private security company since some of the banks on Wall Street have intensive security forces. There were no cops near the cars, so I walked up to examine the emblems and they did say "Police Department", but for the "City of Gotham." Ah... that explains it. I had seen some movie production trucks a block earlier. So, this had to be filming of the new "Dark Knight" sequel That had been rumored.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I detoured towards the south of Wall Street and then parallel to Wall Street to get to Broad Street where the New York Stock Exchange is located. They also had Broad Street barricaded, but after a few minutes of looking around I noticed them open up the barricade on the east side of Broad Street and they were letting people through.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Walking north on Broad Street across from the stock exchange I noticed a lot of little piles of fluffy white stuff, which I presume was fake snow.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Crossing over Wall Street in front of the old Morgan bank building I saw a large stream of movie extras entering the building, many of whom were in full, heavy riot gear with body armor and assault rifles. Presumably they had just finished filming on the closed-off portion of Wall Street.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I noticed that all of the usual steel barricades at the intersection of Broad and Wall were gone. I guess they just didn't fit into the movie screenplay. Ironic, that a movie shot with heavy security and street violence would want less security measures visible than what are normally on the street on a typical, uneventful day. Interesting how reality can be stranger than fiction – the old adage that <A href="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2009/02/difference-between-truth-and-fiction-is.html">truth can be stranger than fiction since fiction has to make sense</A>.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Just up Nassau Street a half-block (Nassau is the continuation of Broad Street but the name changes at Wall Street!) I saw a movie flyer taped to a pole which detailed access restrictions that day due to filming for "Magnus Rex", mentioning the use of simulated gunfire and assault rifles (and noting that this required careful coordination with NYPD). So, yes, this definitely was probably filming for the new Dark Knight sequel. And, once again, quite ironic how with all of the tenseness and quasi-violence of the nearby Occupy Wall Street encampment (two blocks north and one block west), they would have all of this fictional violence at the same time.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Is fiction mocking reality or is reality mocking fiction?</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">And, as expected, when I walked along the outside of Zucotti park it was nothing but a kind of calm buzziness not unlike any NYC park – except for the uncontrolled frenzy of the drummers and the spectators egging them on as they approached their 6 PM drumming curfew.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">AFAICT, the size of the Zucotti Park "movement" was about the same as in recent weeks. It hasn't managed to spill into surrounding areas and other nearby parks yet and is too packed for much more internal growth. In fact, the Manahatta Park at the East River end of Wall Street is still completely empty except for a few kids on skateboards and those little trick bicycles and with no apparent security guards or policemen to give them any grief. Who knows, maybe Manahatta is simply too far from the limelight of Broadway and the World Trade Center site, even if it is actually on Wall Street. There is also a reasonably large brand new park area across the street on the East River and adjacent to the ferry pier, very underutilized and completely devoid of any occupiers, but unlikely to draw the attention of anybody other than a lot of tourists and odd people like me.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR>-- Jack Krupansky</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2922089272816600587?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-38749784443617079652011-11-05T14:02:00.001-04:002011-11-05T14:02:11.952-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV><EM><STRONG>(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, November 17, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>How do I know that I know?</STRONG>" What is the nature of our beliefs, our knowledge? Why do we believe things to be true? How certain are we of what we know? Why are we so certain? How wrong could we be?</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 6 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Is greed good? (5) <LI>How do I know that I know? (6, 5) <LI>Is their wisdom in crowds? (4) <LI>Where are we going as a Cafe Philo? (6, 3) * <LI>Is it more important to think or to act? (5)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3874978444361707965?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-1078173019119711972011-11-02T17:06:00.001-04:002011-11-02T17:06:42.740-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I've followed the whole Occupy Wall Street movement with great interest over the past month, but it is time for me to hit the "ignore" button on them for the rest of the year (at least.) They've gotten repetitive and predictable and don't appear to be likely to do anything truly of long-term interest. Who knows, maybe they'll surprise me and somehow get their act together, but they simply don't appear to be on an upwards trend at this point, in terms of garnering significant additional deeply passionate support from the rest of the so-called 99% that is not already active in the movement. Yeah, sometimes the various unions (a small fraction of Americans all together) join in, but only halfheartedly, like with the so-called "General Strike" in Oakland right now. Sure, things could change at any moment, but I'll make that judgment on January 1, 2012 and determine then whether I can keep them on "ignore."</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For now, I'll simply write off OWS as an offshoot of the anti-globalization movement. There's a little more to it than that, but that basically summarizes them quite well.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>FWIW, here's how I have been following the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement:</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The <A href="http://www.adbusters.org/">Adbusters web site</A>. These are the guys/brains/puppet-masters behind the global "Occupy" movement. The "<EM>Culture Jammers HQ</EM>."</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The <A href="http://occupywallst.org/">Occupy Wall Street web site</A>. The "official" web site for this "leaderless resistance movement."</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The <A href="http://www.facebook.com/OccupyWallSt">Occupy Wall Street Facebook page</A>.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The <A href="http://twitter.com/#!/OccupyWallStNYC">Occupy Wall Street Twitter feed</A>.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;tbm=nws&amp;btnmeta_news_search=1&amp;q=%E2%80%9COccupy+Wall+Street.%E2%80%9D&amp;oq=%E2%80%9COccupy+Wall+Street.%E2%80%9D&amp;aq=f&amp;aqi=d1d-o1&amp;aql=&amp;gs_sm=e&amp;gs_upl=3377l3377l0l4857l1l1l0l0l0l0l92l92l1l1l0#ds=n&amp;pq=%E2%80%9Coccupy+wall+street.%E2%80%9D&amp;hl=en&amp;sugexp=kjrmc&amp;cp=19&amp;gs_id=6&amp;xhr=t&amp;q=Occupy+Wall+Street&amp;pf=p&amp;sclient=psy-ab&amp;safe=off&amp;gl=us&amp;tbm=nws&amp;source=hp&amp;oq=%E2%80%9COccupy+Wall+Street&amp;fp=4b46acdb570b9d1e">Google News for "Occupy Wall Street."</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR>On a typical Saturday on my normal schedule I walk all around lower Manhattan, including Union Square, Washington Square, Battery Park, Battery City Park, the World Trade Center Site, and sometimes Wall Street and even past Zucotti Park, so I am sure I will "notice" if the OWS movement actually does take off. And I regularly walk to, around, and through Central Park on various days of the week as well, so I'll certainly notice if OWS makes good on their "threat" to "occupy Central Park" as they have said they would.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">So, if the OWS movement does actually take off, I'll notice it first hand without having to waste another moment of my time reading about it on the Web.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-107817301911971197?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-85042025586953447342011-10-25T18:50:00.001-04:002011-10-25T18:50:17.815-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV><EM><STRONG>(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet next week, on Thursday, November 3, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>Who should we bail out?</STRONG>" Obviously the recent financial crisis is the backdrop, but the discussion is intended to address the more abstract concept of individual and collective responsibilities with the financial crisis being a great example of principles in action.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 7 attendees):</DIV> <DIV>Can we live without Wall Street? (2)</DIV> <DIV>Would dueling in salutary in a democratic society? (2) </DIV> <DIV>Is America a democracy? (4, 2)</DIV> <DIV>How are we experiencing aging? (3)</DIV> <DIV>When and do we change our minds? (3)</DIV> <DIV>Do animals have rights? (2)</DIV> <DIV>Does determinism entail predestination? (2) </DIV> <DIV>Who should we bail out? (4, 4) *</DIV> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8504202558695344734?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-73747221081419232812011-10-24T14:21:00.001-04:002011-10-24T14:21:32.641-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I just made my 22nd monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 50 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,940,365,910,718.16, as of October 20, 2011, an increase of about $233 billion over 23 days or $10.1 billion a day. That was a huge leap over just a few weeks. I'm not sure what was going on there, other than some adjustment related to the end of the federal fiscal year. We'll have to see what next month looks like.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>A final note: I may suspend my payment program next month since my current contract work ended two weeks ago. I do have the cash to continue my payment program, but technically, on principle, the loss of primary income is supposed to mean that a person should cut all inessential expenses until there has been a resumption of their primary income. In any case, my public debt payment program will continue in any month that I have enough primary income to pay my rent and basic living expenses.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7374722108141923281?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-76665361343053571432011-10-13T16:56:00.001-04:002011-10-13T16:56:26.219-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV><EM><STRONG>(Please note the new time: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM!!)</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet next week, on Thursday, October 20, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>Do age and experience give you the privilege of knowing better?</STRONG>"</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 10 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (3) <LI>What's up with dog people? (3) <LI>Would dueling in socially salutary? (3) <LI>Do age and experience give you the privilege of knowing better? (7) <LI>What is the future of feminism? (6) <LI>What is terrorism? (5) <LI>Greed. (5) <LI>Is America a Democracy? (3) <LI>Are we going towards globalism? (4)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7666536134305357143?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-23154335265142113182011-09-28T16:39:00.001-04:002011-09-28T16:39:40.670-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I just made my 21st monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 49 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,707,406,820,591.87, as of September 27, 2011, an increase of about $87 billion over 40 days or $2.1 billion a day which is an annualized deficit of $796 billion. That's about $1.27 trillion over a year ago and $948 billion annualized over the past six months, our current "running" deficit. So, the bad news is that the deficit is still "sky high", but the good news is that it is trending downwards.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2315433526514211318?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-65519348725132014732011-09-05T00:50:00.000-04:002011-09-05T00:51:06.460-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week, on Thursday, September 8, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>Is the world going to the dogs?</STRONG>" This topic was originally scheduled for the prior meeting, but was postponed due to the lack of a quorum.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 5 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1) <LI>Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (1) <LI>What is the minimum schooling necessary for the proper functioning of democratic society? (1) <LI>Should we have a universal draft? (3) <LI>Is motherhood overrated or underrated? (3) <LI>Is the world going to the dogs? (4) * <LI>How do we decide how much money to decide to spend on social services? (3)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant, although he heads to France for the summer.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6551934872513201473?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-63760289228544313622011-08-20T11:50:00.000-04:002011-08-20T11:51:11.672-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I just made my 20th monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 49 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,620,196,583,424.20, as of August 18, 2011, an increase of about $277.3 billion over 18 days as Treasury put the debt that had been deferred using "extraordinary measures" due to the statutory debt limit over the past few months back on the books. That's about $1.3 trillion higher than a year ago and about $1.1 trillion over the past six months, our current "running" deficit.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- Jack Krupansky</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6376028922854431362?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-53450509246036561252011-08-14T18:03:00.000-04:002011-08-14T18:04:10.118-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, August 25, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>Is the world going to the dogs?</STRONG>"</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 5 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1) <LI>Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (1) <LI>What is the minimum schooling necessary for the proper functioning of democratic society? (1) <LI>Should we have a universal draft? (3) <LI>Is motherhood overrated or underrated? (3) <LI>Is the world going to the dogs? (4) * <LI>How do we decide how much money to decide to spend on social services? (3)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant, although he heads to France for the summer.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto://Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5345050924603656125?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-48353937521587892442011-07-30T10:05:00.001-04:002011-07-30T10:05:12.822-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, August 11, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>The nature of prayer.</STRONG>" That certainly includes religious connotations, but includes non-religious connotations as well.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 9 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (2) <LI>What at the arguments, if any, for minimal government? (5) <LI>Where do we go from here? (2) <LI>Should all online message have first and last names? (1) <LI>The nature of prayer. (6) * <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1) <LI>Why doesn't everybody love their job? (5)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant, although he heads to France for the summer.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4835393752158789244?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-43168911008011114022011-07-23T09:11:00.001-04:002011-07-23T09:11:49.275-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I just made my 19th monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 48 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,342,884,944,996.28, as of July 21, 2011, a decrease of about $1.7 billion over 30 days, but this number may be misleading since Treasury is artificially depressing debt needs due to the statutory debt limit.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>We have reached the statutory debt limit, but I fully expect a deal before this becomes a problem.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4316891100801111402?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-47807963278322323122011-07-16T11:34:00.001-04:002011-07-16T11:34:20.273-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, July 28, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>Rules, laws, disobedience, and crime.</STRONG>"</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 6 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Where do we go from here? (2) <LI>Rhetoric vs. reasoning. (3) <LI>What is the impact of 6 billion people? (3) <LI>What is worth dying for? (3) <LI>Is politics inherently corrupt? (3) <LI>What is power? (3) <LI>Rules, laws, disobedience, and crime. (4) *</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant, although he heads to France for the summer.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4780796327832232312?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-81543004889845784382011-07-03T12:46:00.001-04:002011-07-03T12:46:09.017-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Here are a few of the philosophy discussion topics that I happened to scribble down on a recent cross-country flight:</DIV> <OL> <LI>Politics, games, and pragmatism <LI>What is a better life? <LI>Rhetoric vs. facts <LI>Rhetoric vs. reasoning <LI>Is analogy a form of reasoning? <LI>Are there limits to responsibility? <LI>What is fair? <LI>What is the relationship between knowledge and power? <LI>How much of what we know is wrong? <LI>What is the meaning of a tree? <LI>Is it your money? <LI>Can reality be wrong? <LI>Could reasoning have stopped Hitler? <LI>How much is too much money? <LI>Who wants to be a trillionaire? <LI>Relationship between price and value. <LI>Is there a limit to helping those in need? <LI>What is honor? <LI>What are the limits of honor? <LI>What is dignity? <LI>What are the limits of dignity? <LI>What is wisdom? <LI>What are the causes of wisdom? <LI>What are the limits of wisdom? <LI>What is proof of anything? <LI>How strong a link implies causality? <LI>How does the universe work? <LI>Was there a time before time? <LI>Do we know too much? <LI>Can knowledge be dangerous? <LI>Can knowledge be immoral? <LI>Is suspicion worth the trouble? <LI>Value of speculation. <LI>Relationship between truth and power. <LI>What are the limits of power?</LI></OL> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8154300488984578438?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-22352433495274368322011-07-01T13:32:00.001-04:002011-07-01T13:32:56.304-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, July 14, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>Does the soul exist?</STRONG>"</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 13 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Do political borders rope people in? (4) <LI>Pornography - aesthetic, political, moral, personal. (7, 4) <LI>The cost of going along vs. holding your ground. (6) <LI>If you won the big lottery, what would you do with your life? (3) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (3) <LI>Why do we need music? (7, 5) <LI>Meritocracy. (3) <LI>Privacy vs. secrecy. (7, 2) <LI>Is dueling salutary in society? (3) <LI><STRONG>Does the soul exist? (7, 7) *</STRONG> <LI>Obligation vs. free will. (6)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant, although he heads to France for the summer.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2235243349527436832?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-53116387938185931992011-06-25T13:42:00.000-04:002011-06-25T13:43:05.656-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Everybody wants to change the world, right? Or maybe we're all supposed to want to change the world, to make it a better place, or something like that. Well, I'm not sure I really want to change the world. After all, we all have our own opinions, so if we are each trying to change the world to suit our own views of what the world should be like, that suggests a lot of conflict. Sure, maybe some of us are "right" and know how the world really should be, but which of us is that? How can we know? So, my conclusion is that although it is a noble goal to want to make the world a better place, we need to tread carefully as far as thinking that we can actually change the world to be something close to what we think it should be and to expect that the result really will be a better world for everyone. Herewith, I am formally and publically declaiming any intentions or desires to change the world. That is not to say that I won't change the world or that I will give up pursuit of living a better life, but simply that change should be a side effect of living a good life rather than a goal of its own.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>In short, I definitely do desire and intend to live a better life, but whether that results in the world becoming a better place is besides the point.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>One caveat: In principle, I actually do believe that all change is good, but that is not to say that all meaningful change needs somehow to be intentional and carefully planned and orchestrated in advance.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Doing a little Web searching I ran across a blog post on the PickTheBrain blog entitled "<A href="http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/want-to-change-the-world/">So You Want To Change The World?</A>" that makes these points:</DIV> <UL> <LI>Be Mindful of Your Intentions - Are you doing this for selfish or selfless reasons? <LI>Be Aware of Your Own Energy - Know yourself <LI>Know How Other's Energy Affects You <LI>Humble Yourself - keep your ego out if it <LI>Dream</LI></UL> <DIV>Intentions indeed. Part of my writing this post is that I am quite skeptical of people who have quite specific ideas for what change should look like. To me, that would kill a large portion of the vibrancy and health of the world and make the resulting world less sustainable.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5311638793818593199?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-43748579105386924072011-06-21T09:01:00.000-04:002011-06-21T09:02:46.181-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I just made my 18th monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 48 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,344,559,511,924.92, as of June 17, 2011, a decrease of about $881 million over 26 days, but this number may be misleading since Treasury is artificially depressing debt needs due to the statutory debt limit.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>We have reached the statutory debt limit, but I fully expect a deal before this becomes a problem.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4374857910538692407?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-14849470248408596182011-06-17T20:37:00.001-04:002011-06-17T20:37:36.528-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, June 30, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG>What is the purpose of life, pleasure or knowledge?</STRONG>"</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 7 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (2) <LI>Do political borders rope people in? (4) <LI>What's up with dog people? (3) <LI>Humanity is too big and hungry for this earth. (3) <LI>What is art? (3) <LI>What's intrinsic to myth and history? (3) <LI>Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (1) <LI>Rhetoric vs. reason. (6) <LI>What is the purpose of life, pleasure or knowledge? (7) *</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant – he hopes to be at this upcoming meeting before he heads to France for the summer.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-1484947024840859618?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-48292932455271031092011-06-04T10:26:00.001-04:002011-06-04T10:26:51.055-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, June 16, 2011 for a discussion of the topic "<STRONG><EM>What is the value of college?</EM></STRONG>" I suggested the topic based on recent discussions and media attention to the topic. For example,</DIV> <UL> <LI>The New Yorker: <A href="http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2011/06/06/110606crat_atlarge_menand">Live and Learn - Why we have college? / Debating the Value of College in America</A> <LI>The LA Times: <A href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/02/opinion/la-oe-arum-college-20110602">College, too easy for its own good / Was college worth it?</A></LI></UL> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 11 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>What is the value of college? (6, 7) * <LI>What's up with dog people? (2) <LI>Rhetoric vs. reason. (4) <LI>Is $1 trillion enough for one person? (3) <LI>Power vs. reason. (2) <LI>Polarization vs. compromise. (2) <LI>Should we impose penalties for people who walk using cellphones? (2) <LI>Why atheism is on the rise in this country. (2) <LI>Competitive world. (1) <LI>How can something come out of nothing? (3) <LI>Humanity is too big and hungry for this earth. (5) <LI>Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (3) <LI>Should modern democracies adopt the practice of denying lawbreakers the protection of law? (4) <LI>Dream, idea, reality - How can we compromise? (4) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1) <LI>Do political borders rope people in? (6, 6)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant – he should be at this upcoming meeting before he heads to France for the summer.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- Jack Krupansky</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4829293245527103109?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-32287941497597393582011-05-28T11:15:00.001-04:002011-05-28T11:15:56.401-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I just made my 17th monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 48 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,345,440,513,979.37, as of May 26, 2011, an increase of about $75 billion over 42 days, about $1.8 billion a day or $649 billion per year (annualized daily deficit.) As bad as that is, it is actually better than 9 of the past 12 months.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>We have reached the statutory debt limit, but I fully expect a deal before this becomes a problem.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3228794149759739358?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-82523116604722383222011-05-28T00:07:00.001-04:002011-05-28T00:07:24.593-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet next week, on Thursday, June 2, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG><EM>Was monotheism a source of human progress or did it lead to intolerance?</EM></STRONG>"</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 8 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Why do we want or need pets? (3) <LI>Was monotheism a source of human progress or did it lead to intolerance? (7) * <LI>Is growth compatible with sustainability? (5) <LI>Is there such a thing as emergence? (3) <LI>Process vs. Results. (4) <LI>Is war inevitable? (4) <LI>Can we make an argument for anything? (5)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately (although Bob Pan graciously filled in last time due to my being delayed due to travel.) Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8252311660472238322?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-83294663789551670042011-05-08T10:15:00.001-04:002011-05-08T10:15:54.414-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, May 19, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "Free market economy vs. socialism."</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 9 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Are there limits to rationalization? (2) <LI>Where do we go from here? (4) <LI>What makes a good generalization? (5, 4) <LI>Preconceived notion vs. experience. (3) <LI>Is consumption the new meaning of life? (5, 4) <LI>How can judgment account for ambiguity? (4) <LI>What is recognition? (2) <LI>Free market economy vs. socialism. (5, 6) * <LI>How much free market, how much socialism? (4) <LI>Can education avoid the influence of capitalism? (5, 4) <LI>The myth of the news media and us knowing local events. (2)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="http://mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8329466378955167004?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-61202948410060601642011-04-23T20:55:00.004-04:002011-04-23T21:09:24.316-04:00Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, May 5, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "<strong>What is the difference between preference and prejudice?</strong>" Ken Feldman, founder of the Café Philo in Washington, DC suggested the topic. It was indeed an honor for Ken to have attended our meeting this past Thursday.<br /><br />The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 9 attendees):<br /><br /><ol><br /><li>Visual/intuitive thought vs. rational thought. (3)</li><br /><li>Must man be a social animal? (3)</li><br /><li>How do we account for the cause of events? (3)</li><br /><li>Does determinism entail predestination? (2)</li><br /><li>Can we measure emotional intelligence? (5, 3)</li><br /><li>What is fashion and does it have any value? (3)</li><br /><li>Are value judgments inherent in every discussion? (3)</li><br /><li>Can we have pornography in a democratic society? (1)</li><br /><li>What is the difference between preference and prejudice? (5, 4) *</li><br /><li>Is dueling efficacious in a democratic society? (2) </li></ol><br /><div>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</div><br /><br /><div>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</a>.<br /></div><br /><div>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</div><br /><br /><div>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</div><br /><br /><div>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</div><br /><br /><div>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</div><br /><br /><div>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:</div><br /><div><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</a></div><br /><br /><div>There is also a new web site for <a href="http://www.nycafephilo.org/">NYC Cafe Philo</a> at <a href="http://www.nycafephilo.org/">http://www.nycafephilo.org/</a>.</div><br /><br /><div>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</div><br /><br /><div>-- <a href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6120294841006060164?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-35474936917871322872011-04-17T20:12:00.000-04:002011-04-17T20:14:28.771-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>I just made my 16th monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 48 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,270,792,119,184.89, as of April 14, 2011, an increase of about $37 billion over 23 days, about $1.6 billion a day or $591 billion per year (annualized daily deficit.) As bad as that is, it is actually better than 7 of the past 10 months.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>We will reach the statutory debt limit within a month or so, but I fully expect a deal before this becomes a problem.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through economic growth, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving sustainable economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- Jack Krupansky</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3547493691787132287?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-64948113690580424182011-04-15T19:25:00.000-04:002011-04-15T19:28:29.207-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet next week, on Thursday, April 21, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Positivism</STRONG>." I suggested the topic. As the <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positivism">Wikipedia article on Positivism</A> tells us:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <DIV><EM>Positivism refers to a set of epistemological perspectives and philosophies of science which hold that the scientific method is the best approach to uncovering the processes by which both physical and human events occur. Though the positivist approach has been a recurrent theme in the history of western thought from the Ancient Greeks to the present day, the concept was developed in the early 19th century by the philosopher and founding sociologist, Auguste Comte.</EM></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>Of course, Café Philo being what it is, each participant will bring their own perspective on the topic, regardless of what the "experts" may have concluded. One angle to explore is the limits of positivism, including the value of judgment and intuition, ethics, aesthetics, and how we deal with uncertainty. Another angle is the role of innate human drives, as well as chance.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 7 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>Role of rhetoric. (2) <LI>Positivism. (3, 3) * <LI>Talk radio. (2) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (2) <LI>Is man a social animal? (3, 2) <LI>Do we need dueling in a democratic society? (2) <LI>What can we say about the future? (2) <LI>Is the world overpopulated? (2) <LI>What is a good Café Philo topic? (1)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There is also a new web site for <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org/">NYC Cafe Philo</A> at&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org/">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6494811369058042418?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-48010556923377677662011-04-02T10:35:00.000-04:002011-04-02T10:36:07.202-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet next week, on Thursday, April 7, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>How does going online impact our lifestyles?</STRONG>"</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 12 attendees):</DIV> <OL> <LI>How should we train our dogs? (2) <LI>Is Charlie Sheen winning? (3) <LI>Is anybody worth $1 million a day? (4) <LI>Does everyone have to pay the price? (4) <LI>Is America a democracy? (6) <LI>Will a doctor be justified in killing one person to save five? (5) <LI>Is it okay that some dogs get more than some children? (5) <LI>How does going online impact our lifestyles? (7) * <LI>Should we issue moving violations for people who walk with cell phones? (2) <LI>What's the new generation about? (4) <LI>Has tolerance any limit? (5) <LI>Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (2) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1)</LI></OL> <DIV>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org/">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A> at&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org/">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4801055692337767766?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-82082736693905254562011-03-24T10:13:00.002-04:002011-03-24T10:45:14.781-04:00<div dir="ltr"><div style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I just made my 15th monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 47 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (and assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is our debt, not somebody else's.<br /><br />According to the <a href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</a>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,233,559,283,692.40, as of March 22, 2011, an increase of about $151 billion over 39 days, about $3.9 billion a day or $1.41 trillion per year (annualized daily deficit.) As bad as that is, it is actually better than 6 of the past 10 months.<br /><br />We are now only $66.5 billion below the $14.3 trillion statutory debt limit. In short, something dramatic will play out in the coming weeks. At $4 billion a day, nominally the limit would be reached in a little over two weeks.<br /><br />Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:<br /><blockquote style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr"><em>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually doing anything about it? Well, for starters, ME! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to reduce the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <strong>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</strong>, rather than be one of the whiners and complainers who refuse to acknowledge that it is their debt and their problem, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called wasteful spending of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their constituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make any difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose action rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</em><br /></blockquote>If you have any sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <a href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</a>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.<br /><br />So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.<br /><br />For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <em><strong>economic growth</strong></em>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving <em>sustainable</em> economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.<br /><br />Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.<br /><br />-- Jack Krupansky<br /><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8208273669390525456?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-15488149583890695782011-03-14T15:21:00.000-04:002011-03-14T15:22:03.869-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cafe Philo in New York City will meet next week, on Thursday, March 24, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Selfishness.</STRONG>"</P> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 8 attendees):</P> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <OL> <LI>What's up with dog people? (2) <LI>Should corporations have contact numbers in the U.S.? (2) <LI>Selfishness. (5, 5) * <LI>How much is enough? (2) <LI>What's a secret? (4) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1) <LI>True or false: The examined life is not worth living. (4) <LI>The difference between living creatures and machines. (3) <LI>Can machines help human beings evolve? (4) <LI>Should we have referendums in lieu of democracy? (4) <LI>Is democracy a good form of government? (3) <LI>How important is love? (4) <LI>Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (5, 2)</LI></OL></DIV> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant (but is expected to be out of town for this coming meeting.)</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-1548814958389069578?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-36892262773353246172011-03-02T11:59:00.001-05:002011-03-02T11:59:39.459-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cafe Philo in New York City will meet next week, on Thursday, March 10, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Is large income inequality a bad thing?</STRONG>" Although we will be examining the topic from a philosophical perspective, I am sure that the current economic and social situation will be a significant element of the discussion.</P> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 8 attendees):</P> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <OL> <LI>What's up with dog people? (4) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1) <LI>Are we what we eat? (2) <LI>Power of attraction. (4) <LI>Has philosophy kept up with the times? (5) <LI>Can the Middle East youth teach us something about dealing with fear? (3) <LI>How do living things and machines differ? (5) <LI>Optimism and pessimism. (4) <LI>Does each human being have only the moment? (5) <LI>Is large income inequality a bad thing? (6) * <LI>Is the Internet a good thing? (3) <LI>How important is love? (5) <LI>Can you buy love? (3) <LI>Selfishness. (4) <LI>Do we need more? (2) <LI>Do we need dueling in a democratic society? (2)</LI></OL></DIV> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant (but is expected to be out of town for this coming meeting.)</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3689226277335324617?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-7908350648237709772011-02-20T15:23:00.000-05:002011-02-20T15:25:44.865-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Who exactly is rich these days? In other words, what criteria should we use to judge that someone is rich? In recent tax cut debates there seems to be a presumption that $250,000 of income is kind of the dividing line, but I don't quite buy it.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">To me, the primary criterion for judging someone as being rich should be that they can live a relatively affluent lifestyle <EM>without working</EM>. In other words being rich is not about income per se, but a question of <EM>wealth</EM>. If you have sufficient wealth that you can live your affluent lifestyle <EM>solely on investment income</EM> from your wealth, <EM>then</EM> I would say that you are rich. And that is <EM>after taxes</EM> and <EM>after inflation</EM>. And that also requires a two-to-one <EM>safety margin</EM> so that you need not worry about what the stock market is doing or the state of the economy on either a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or even annual basis.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Put another way, being rich means you <EM>never</EM> have to <EM>worry</EM> about money.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">That is what separates the <EM>rich</EM> from the <EM>middle class</EM> -- the latter have <EM>some money</EM> (unlike the poor or lower class who don't have enough money for the essentials of daily life), but are constantly <EM>worrying</EM> about it, frequently because they have chosen to live a level of affluence beyond their means (averaged over booms and busts.)</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">So, given that base definition, how much money (wealth) do you need to be considered rich?</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Even back in early August 2007, just before the first big crumble of the financial crisis, in <A href="http://finaxyz.blogspot.com/2007/08/who-wants-to-be-millionaire.html">Who wants to be a millionaire?</A> I suggested that $50 million in liquid investments was the magic number. At the beginning of April 2008, as the financial crisis was starting to rumble on the backburner with increasing fury, in <A href="http://finaxyz.blogspot.com/2008/04/are-you-wealthy.html">Are you wealthy?</A> I reconsidered but reaffirmed that $50 million number. And today, after further reconsideration and calculation I also reaffirm that $50 million number.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">I think it is reasonable to say an income of $250,000 (from your investments) is the rock-bottom low-end of being rich. Simply avoiding work is not enough, you need to afford some significant degree of affluence, so that you at least <EM>look rich</EM> (although you may make a tactical decision to "dress down" so that you do not appear to be rich even if you are.)</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">For purposes of discussion I will assume a very conservative investment style consistent with no worrying about how your investments are doing. To me, that means long-term Treasury bonds. You can choose other investments based on your own risk tolerance, but for the purposes of defining <EM>worry-free rich</EM>, Treasury bonds fit the bill.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">If you bought 30-year Treasury bonds at the most recent auction you got a yield of 4.75%. If you bought that same bond on the open market on Friday, the yield was 4.68%. For purposes of discussion, I'll presume that you buy only at the quarterly auctions.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Ignoring taxes and inflation for the moment, if you bought those 4.75% Treasuries, you would need $5.3 million of them to give you that $250,000 annual income. Unfortunately, taxes are not zero and inflation is not zero. Assuming the most recent annual headline inflation of 1.6%, that 4.75% becomes 3.15% and now you need $8 million for that same income level. I am presuming that you want that $250,000 income to "keep pace with inflation." There is no state or local income tax on Treasuries and I calculate the federal effective tax rate to be 27.05% using the 2010 federal tax tables. You may have deductions too, but let's start by being conservative. 4.75% minus 1.6% for inflation and 27.05% taxes gives us an effective yield of 2.30%, meaning that you would need Treasures in the amount of $10.9 million to give you that magical $250,000 annual income.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">But wait... didn't I say earlier that you needed $50 million and this calculation shows that $11 million will do it? The answer is a classic "Yes, but..."</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">It's all about assumptions.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">First of all, if you really want to be conservative, you need what Warren Buffett's mentor Ben Graham called a "<EM>margin of safety</EM>." There are all sorts of crazy things that can happen in the real world, let alone the worlds of economics and finance. So, I am going to insist that a <EM>two-to-one</EM> margin of safety be used to judge someone as being rich. This is an important factor if you want to be able to <EM>sleep at night</EM> and not have to worry about money. So, that $10.9 million would really be $21.8 million. But even that is still far short of $50 million.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Inflation may currently be 1.6%, but that is historically quite low and we have seen times when it was 3% or even 4% or on occasion higher. So, to be conservative, I would say it would be better to assume a 3% inflation rate.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Treasury yields can also fluctuate significantly, so to be conservative I will knock that 4.75% yield down to 4.25%, which is what it was in the preceding auction.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">So, assuming you want $250,000 per year, Treasury bonds yield 4.25%, inflation at 3%, and taxes at 27.05%, my calculation comes up with an effective yield of 0.91%, which translates into needed wealth of $27.4 million. Add in that two-to-one safety margin and you get $54.8 million, modestly more than my $50 million suggestion, but, lets just call it $50 million since we have been quite conservative in its assumptions.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">Another assumption I made was that you need to live on <EM>income only</EM>, not liquidation of principal. Better to plan on leaving the $50 million as inheritance to family or charity rather that put the vagaries of fate in the financial markets into play and risk the potential for introducing worry into the lifestyle of the supposed "rich."</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">So where does that leave you if you don't have $50 million in liquid wealth (which includes me, by the way)? If you still need to work to earn your $250,000 a year or are only a <EM>mere millionaire</EM>, you are definitely <EM>well-off</EM> and <EM>upper-middle class</EM>, but I wouldn't call you rich or wealthy.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">AFAICT, "the rich" is mostly a term of partisan political disparagement and a tool for class warfare than an attempt at economic accuracy. Somehow, some liberal politicians have decreed that an income level of $250,000 defines "rich." It would be interesting to know who precisely started the "meme" of $250,000 of income meaning someone is "rich."</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">In any case, my number for "rich" is $50 million in liquid investments with an after-tax, after-inflation yield of 0.91%. Anything less than that and you are just <EM>pretending</EM> to be rich.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman">-- Jack Krupansky</FONT></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-790835064823770977?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-3015945392367585512011-02-14T19:42:00.001-05:002011-02-14T19:42:57.835-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P>I just made my 14th monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 47 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (<EM>and</EM> assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is <EM>our</EM> debt, not somebody else's.</P> <P>According to the <A title="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,082,712,722,334.93, as of February 11, 2011, an increase of about $29 billion over 23 days, about $1.3 billion a day or $464 billion per year (annualized daily deficit.) As bad as that is, it is actually better than the $1.88 trillion deficit I reported last month. My hunch is that estimated tax payments were up sharply on January 15th due in part to big end-of-year bonuses.</P> <P>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A title="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving <EM>sustainable</EM> economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</P> <P>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-301594539236758551?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-21911367525503237492011-02-11T10:53:00.000-05:002011-02-11T10:54:03.422-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, February 24, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Do we need leaders?</STRONG>"</P> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 9 attendees):</P> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <OL> <LI>Charisma. (4) <LI>Can we improve our democracy? (2) <LI>How important is love? (5, 3) <LI>Do we need leaders? (5, 6) * <LI>Can the world with multiple religions last? (1)</LI></OL></DIV> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2191136752550323749?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-62460543873480510162011-01-30T08:45:00.001-05:002011-01-30T08:45:32.374-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, February 10, 2011 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Is Truth Dead?</STRONG>" I suggested the topic. It has concerned me that a lot of people seem more interested in hearing a good story (so-called narrative) or passionate and inflammatory rhetoric than consider cold, boring facts and reason. Maybe truth isn't dead but it commonly needs to be extensively dressed up (or as the Brits say, "sexed up") or sugarcoated to get people to pay attention to it. Maybe an alternate phrasing of the topic could have been "Why is truth so unappealing (to most people?".</P> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 8 attendees -- great considering the inclement weather):</P> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <OL> <LI>Revolution! (3) <LI>Is truth dead? (5) * <LI>What's up with dog people? (3) <LI>Do we need the Internet? (4) <LI>Reincarnation. (1) <LI>Cannibalism. (2) <LI>Are we what we eat? (4) <LI>What's so funny? (3) <LI>All we need is love or all we need is art? (3) <LI>Power of attraction. (3) <LI>Philosophical underpinnings of Harry Potter. (2)</LI></OL></DIV> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6246054387348051016?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-31174214485102002562011-01-21T11:23:00.001-05:002011-01-21T11:23:12.430-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P>I just made my thirteenth monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. In other words, I just finished my first year of this. It wasn't a large payment, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 47 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (<EM>and</EM> assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is <EM>our</EM> debt, not somebody else's.</P> <P>According to the <A title="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $14,053,512,150,448.45, as of January 19, 2011, an increase of about $175 billion over 34 days, about $5.1 billion a day or $1.88 trillion per year (annualized daily deficit.)</P> <P>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A title="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving <EM>sustainable</EM> economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</P> <P>Another note: A significant part of the deficit is businesses writing off losses from the financial crisis and recession as tax deductions. That may continue for awhile longer, but will gradually wind down and tax receipts from businesses will begin to pick up in the coming years.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3117421448510200256?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-68752068717580273472011-01-07T10:33:00.001-05:002011-01-07T10:33:24.602-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Since there was a poor turnout at the Cafe Philo in New York City last week on Thursday, December 30, 2010 due to the holidays and bad weather, we decided to postpone the discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Medicine: Art or Science?</STRONG>" until the next meeting, which will be on Thursday, January, 13, 2011. The topic was suggested by Francoise Cornu (of <A href="http://www.celestialvoyagers.com/">Celestial Voyagers</A>.) Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend since I will be on a business trip in California.</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV dir=ltr> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6875206871758027347?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-77013951057628842042010-12-19T08:12:00.000-05:002010-12-19T08:13:54.176-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P>I just made my twelfth monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 46 billion years (and 263 million years beyond that) to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (<EM>and</EM> assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is <EM>our</EM> debt, not somebody else's.</P> <P>According to the <A title="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $13,878,837,351,150.62, as of December 16, 2010, an increase of about $159 billion over 36 days, about $4.4 billion a day or $1.62 trillion per year (annualized daily deficit.)</P> <P>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A title="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving <EM>sustainable</EM> economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there. We'll stumble our way in that general direction. That's the way we do things in America.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7701395105762884204?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-17108822133642713612010-12-19T07:34:00.000-05:002010-12-19T07:35:04.571-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, December 30, 2010 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Medicine: Art or Science?</STRONG>" The topic was suggested by Francoise Cornu (of <A href="http://www.celestialvoyagers.com/">Celestial Voyagers</A>.)</P> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 10 attendees):</P> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <OL> <LI>Reincarnation. (2) <LI>What is animate? (5) <LI>Medicine: Art or Science? (8, 7) * <LI>To what extent can we keep our privacy? (7) <LI>Is truth dead? (3) <LI>What is science? (8, 5) <LI>Cannibalism. (4) <LI>Is death true? (3) <LI>Zombies. (3) <LI>Arts and science. (3) <LI>The more you risk, the more you gain... is that ethical? (7)</LI></OL></DIV> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-1710882213364271361?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-42549523707196962092010-12-11T20:50:00.001-05:002010-12-11T20:50:19.550-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this coming week, on Thursday, December 16, 2010 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Would the scientific method validate psychology?</STRONG>" The topic was suggested by Bernard Roy.</P> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 11 attendees):</P> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <OL> <LI>Reincarnation. (2) <LI>Should we have dueling in a democratic society? (3) <LI>How important is love? (5) <LI>Is truth dead? (4) <LI>Is war inevitable? (3) <LI>Is property inevitable? (7, 7, 5) <LI>How can we overcome causality?&nbsp; (3) <LI>Charisma. (5) <LI>Optimism vs. pessimism. (7, 4) <LI>Would the scientific method validate psychology? (7, 7, 8) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (2) <LI>Where do our thoughts go when we die? (5)</LI></OL></DIV> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4254952370719696209?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-73265015746257435762010-12-01T15:16:00.000-05:002010-12-01T15:17:30.585-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cafe Philo in New York City will this week, tomorrow, on Thursday, December 2, 2010 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>In what sense, if any, are people equal?</STRONG>" The topic was suggested by Nelson (who may not be there.)</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7326501574625743576?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-81131292143623339472010-11-21T18:07:00.001-05:002010-11-21T18:07:50.532-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, on Thursday, December 2, 2010 for a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>In what sense, if any, are people equal?</STRONG>" The topic was suggested by Nelson.</P> <P style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 10 attendees):</P> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <OL> <LI>Cannibalism. (3) <LI>Is it a time when we need a hero? (5) <LI>Is truth dead? (4) <LI>Where do we go from here? (7) <LI>What are the possible causes of the current recession? (3) <LI>How can we overcome causality? (3) <LI>Can theory match with reality? (6) <LI>In what sense, if any, are people equal? (8) * <LI>Is anything unstoppable? (5)</LI></OL></DIV> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8113129214362333947?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-36235938217912605972010-11-14T19:53:00.001-05:002010-11-14T19:53:49.009-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P>I just made my eleventh monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just another $25, but it is a matter of principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 46 billion years to pay it all down all by myself at this rate (<EM>and</EM> assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is <EM>our</EM> debt, not somebody else's.</P> <P>According to the <A title="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $13,719,547,683,746.40, as of November 10, 2010. It was $13,615,674,949,267.90, as of October 7, 2010, for an increase of about $104 billion over 34 days, about $3.1 billion a day or $1.12 trillion per year (annualized daily deficit.)</P> <P>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.) Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and lack of responsibility of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A title="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters") how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well and make difficult choices about the size of government and tax rates, but the big focus has to be on achieving <EM>sustainable</EM> economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3623593821791260597?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-2823366899382522302010-11-13T09:07:00.001-05:002010-11-13T09:07:48.593-05:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this coming week, on Thursday, November 18, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of " <STRONG>Do we depend a little too much on causality?</STRONG>" The topic was suggested by Bernard Roy. Do we try too hard to predict what will happen in the future? Do we really think we can explain what happened in the past? Do we honestly believe we understand why things are happening as they are? Are we being too demanding when we ask for explanations? Do we really need to know why things are happening? What if we didn't know why? Is a comprehension of causality a necessity? Maybe, or maybe not.</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 11 attendees):</P> <OL> <LI>Is thought eternal? (4) <LI>Do we depend a little too much on causality? (6, 7) * <LI>What is the relationship between freedom and necessity? (4) <LI>Charisma. (5) <LI>Optimism vs. Pessimism. (5) <LI>Is truth dead? (3) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (2) <LI>Would dueling be salutary in a democratic society? (6, 3) <LI>In what sense if any are people equal? (5) <LI>What is it with dog people? (6, 4)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-282336689938252230?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-83210518880611753422010-11-04T08:50:00.001-04:002010-11-04T08:50:21.529-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week, tonight, Thursday, November 4, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Did William James kill Buridan's ass?</STRONG>", or alternatively as "<STRONG>Did William James free Buridan's ass?</STRONG>" The topic was suggested originally by Bernard Roy. It represents a philosophical conundrum about rational choice and whether William James resolved the conundrum. See the <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buridan's_ass">Wikipedia article on Buridan's ass</A> for a summary of the conundrum, but not William James' solution.</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8321051888061175342?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-56968914991798963902010-10-24T23:25:00.000-04:002010-10-24T23:26:44.247-04:00<DIV dir=ltr> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <DIV style="FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: small; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> <P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, November 4, 2010 with a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Did William James kill Buridan's ass?</STRONG>" The topic was suggested originally by Bernard Roy. It represents a philosophical conundrum about rational choice and whether William James resolved the conundrum. See the <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buridan's_ass">Wikipedia article on Buridan's ass</A> for a summary of the conundrum, but not William James' solution.</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes (out of 7 attendees):</P> <OL> <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (2) <LI>Why is rhetoric more appealing than reason? (3) <LI>Did William James kill Buridan's ass? (5) * <LI>What will be the most important elements shaping our future? (3) <LI>What is it that draws us to philosophy? (2) <LI>Would dueling have a salutary effect on society? (2) <LI>What is the relationship between philosophy and art? (4) </LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P></DIV></DIV></DIV><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5696891499179896390?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-58992479473719952822010-10-10T07:29:00.000-04:002010-10-10T10:34:27.898-04:00<P>I just made my tenth monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just another $25, but it is&nbsp;a matter of&nbsp;principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another&nbsp;46 billion years to pay it all down all by myself&nbsp;at this rate (<EM>and</EM> assuming the deficit went to zero immediately), but, as I said, it is a&nbsp;matter of principle and a sense of personal responsibility. It is <EM>our</EM> debt, not somebody else's.</P> <P>According to the <A title="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $13,615,674,949,267.90, as of October 7, 2010. It was $13,441,762,397,157.23, as of September 10, 2010, for an increase of about $174 billion over&nbsp;27 days, about $6.4 billion a day or $2.35 trillion per year (annualized daily deficit.)</P> <P>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.)&nbsp;Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those&nbsp;whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and&nbsp;lack of responsibility&nbsp;of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A title="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters")&nbsp;how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals&nbsp;before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well, but the big focus has to be on achieving <EM>sustainable</EM>&nbsp;economic growth. In truth, nobody, including all of the Nobel laureate economists, knows what that sustainable rate really is or how to get there.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5899247947371995282?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-65717737785081137752010-09-26T13:38:00.001-04:002010-09-26T13:38:31.597-04:00<P>I was really looking forward to see the new Wall Street 2 movie ("Money Never Sleeps") and although it had quite a few good moments, overall it just wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped. Despite the severity of the recent financial crisis, the movie just didn't have the visceral punch that I though Oliver Stone would bring to this encore.</P> <P>Michael Douglas was great, but he was great in the original, so no new ground was broken there. "Jake" as his nominal protégé was okay, but not great. His girlfriend, Gordon's daughter was... well... <EM>pathetic</EM> (or more charitably I could say that this was great acting&nbsp;to portray&nbsp;a pathetic character)&nbsp;but maybe that was intentional to forcefully illustrate how "toxic" the cretins of Wall Street really are.</P> <P>The ending was quite lame, but maybe given the current cultural context Mr. Stone felt obligated not to leave people in a state of complete despair. That would be bad for ticket sales.</P> <P>On the positive side, the acting of Frank Langella and Eli Wallach as aging investment bankers was absolutely fantastic.</P> <P>As I noted, there were plenty of great individual scenes and lines&nbsp;such as you saw in the two trailers.</P> <P>Maybe the bottom line is that Mr. Stone did in fact portray the culture of Wall Street and its denizens as being irredeemably "toxic", although his lame ending inscrutably seemed to let them off the hook and even excuse illegal activity.</P> <P>There were a few scenes that reminded me of Wall Street activity that I <EM>hope</EM> the so-called Volcker Rule will eliminate or at least dramatically reduce, but only time will tell.</P> <P>Maybe that is ultimately the fatal flaw with this movie: there is too much in it that is borderline documentary and cuts painfully too close to the bone. At the end of the credits it reminds us that it is a work of fiction and that similarities to real people and places is... "unintentional." Yeah, right. Sure, they changed the names of the investment banks, but we all know who they were talking about.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6571773778508113775?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-83256926942168086562010-09-26T11:58:00.001-04:002010-09-26T11:58:10.767-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, October 7, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG><EM>Can higher education solve the problem of prejudice?</EM></STRONG>" The topic was suggested by Kasuyo.&nbsp;Note: I will not be there since I will be at a technical conference in Boston. Frank de Canio may be acting guest moderator.</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Do we need dueling in a democratic society? (3) <LI>Why communism failed in Russia. (4) <LI>Can higher education solve the problem of prejudice? (9) * <LI>True or false: The examined life is not worth living. (7) <LI>Did William James kill Buridan's ass? (4) <LI>What do we respect in others? (6) <LI>Can a true philosopher be a capitalist? (6) <LI>The difference between quantitative and experiential knowledge. (6) <LI>Charisma. (6) <LI>Leader and leadership. (4)</LI></OL> <P>Topics proposed from the previous session:</P> <OL> <LI>Why is there something rather than nothing? (4, 4) <LI>What determines achievement? (3) <LI>Could we live well with borders? (4, 5) * <LI>Can a dictatorship do more for the good of a society than democracy? (2) <LI>Did William James kill Buridan's ass? (3) <LI>Would dueling have a salutary effect on society? (4, 2) <LI>Is today's democracy more of a plutocracy? (3) <LI>Are we learning violence from the media or are we violent by nature? (3) <LI>Is representative democracy viable? (2) <LI>If change is good. (3)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There&nbsp;are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's&nbsp;Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8325692694216808656?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-90528344381052540772010-09-26T11:14:00.001-04:002010-09-26T11:14:55.952-04:00<P><EM>The New York Times</EM> article from Friday by Sewell Chan entitled "<A title="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/24debt.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/24debt.html">Small Gifts Sent to Ease U.S. Debt</A>" that quotes me about making contributions to pay down the public debt&nbsp;and has my picture has been translated into Portuguese on this Brazilian web&nbsp;called <A href="http://economia.ig.com.br/">Economia</A> with the translation entitled "<A title="http://economia.ig.com.br/para+pagar+divida+de+r+23+trilhoes+uma+doacao+de+r+554/n1237784215815.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://economia.ig.com.br/para+pagar+divida+de+r+23+trilhoes+uma+doacao+de+r+554/n1237784215815.html">Para pagar dívida de R$ 23 trilhões, uma doação de R$ 554 - Crescem nos EUA as contribuições voluntárias para diminuir o rombo nas contas do governo, mas impacto sobre os débitos é mínimo</A>". My original quote in <EM>The New York Times</EM>:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM>"I get mixed reactions," said John W. Krupansky, 56, a software developer in Midtown Manhattan who started reading about economics during the dot-com crash a decade ago, and has blogged about his tax deductible gifts, nine so far, of $25 each. "Some people are annoyed; they think the right thing to do is complain about the debt, not actually do something about it. Other people are amused that anyone would waste their time to do such a thing."</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Translated into Portuguese:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM>"Ouço reações diversas", diz John W. Krupansky, de 56 anos, desenvolvedor de software no centro de Manhattan que começou a ler sobre a economia durante a crise das empresas pontocom, há uma década, e tem escrito em seu blog sobre suas doações - nove até agora, cada uma de US$ 25. "Algumas pessoas ficam irritadas. Elas pensam que a coisa certa a fazer é reclamar da dívida, e não fazer algo concreto sobre isso. Outras pessoas se divertem com a ideia de alguém perder seu tempo para fazer uma coisa dessas."</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>-- <A title="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-9052834438105254077?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-18454062685166712062010-09-24T01:52:00.000-04:002010-09-24T01:53:01.585-04:00<P>Huh, <A title="http://finaxyz.blogspot.com/2010/09/made-my-ninth-payment-to-pay-down.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://finaxyz.blogspot.com/2010/09/made-my-ninth-payment-to-pay-down.html">my meager efforts to take responsibility for paying down the public debt</A> have gotten me a little attention... in <EM>The New York Times</EM> of all places! Today they are running an article by Sewell Chan entitled "<A href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/24debt.html">Small Gifts Sent to Ease U.S. Debt</A>" that actually quotes me:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM>"I get mixed reactions," said John W. Krupansky, 56, a software developer in Midtown Manhattan who started reading about economics during the dot-com crash a decade ago, and has blogged about his tax deductible gifts, nine so far, of $25 each. "Some people are annoyed; they think the right thing to do is complain about the debt, not actually do something about it. Other people are amused that anyone would waste their time to do such a thing."</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>And they even ran my picture.</P> <P>-- <A title="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-1845406268516671206?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-87278906472132026272010-09-20T18:48:00.000-04:002010-09-20T18:49:57.439-04:00<P>With everything as crazy as it is these days, my current motto is: <EM><STRONG>Whenever, Whatever.</STRONG></EM> (Or should that be Whatever, Whenever?) In other words, flexibility is the key to managing expectations and balancing them against reality.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8727890647213202627?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-83108340895427472002010-09-20T17:57:00.000-04:002010-09-20T18:02:03.214-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet&nbsp;this week on Thursday, September 23, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG><A title="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2010/09/cafe-philo-in-new-york-city-in-two.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2010/09/cafe-philo-in-new-york-city-in-two.html">Could we live well without borders?</A></STRONG>" This continues my preparation for that discussion with some thoughts on government without borders.</P> <P>The first thought is whether the agenda for some people is so-called <EM>world government</EM>, whatever that really means. It could be something as simple and loose as the European Union or something more grandiose such as the United Nations on steroids. I would simply note that if even the Europeans have been unable to form a single, unified government, it seems extremely unlikely that the rest of the world would go even further along the route to world government.</P> <P>Another approach is closer to the EU model, where the national governments remain intact, but the borders are essentially fully open to citizens of the union. But other than elimination of a relatively minor hassle with physically crossing borders, this doesn't really change much at all. One thing that is changed, at least in the case of the EU, is that people can freely cross borders to find work. That is a significant difference, but in practice, relatively few people even want to move anywhere away from their home, let alone into another country even for something as important as work. So, that is a <EM>marginal</EM> benefit.</P> <P>And we still have the problem of countries that may not be formally recognized or who are being formally sanctioned. Movement of their nationals needs to be restricted.</P> <P>Hmmm... if we instantly switch to government without borders, I wonder what would happen with Kashmir, caught between India and Pakistan. Or Israel and Palestine.</P> <P>Tax collection and law enforcement&nbsp;would be even more problematic with government without borders.</P> <P>Government without border is a great concept for "sunny days", but borders provide "fire walls" that protect countries and their citizens on "rainy days" or&nbsp;at times of great stress.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8310834089542747200?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-21144927512562826962010-09-19T20:29:00.001-04:002010-09-19T20:29:27.661-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet&nbsp;this week on Thursday, September 23, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG><A title="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2010/09/cafe-philo-in-new-york-city-in-two.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2010/09/cafe-philo-in-new-york-city-in-two.html">Could we live well without borders?</A></STRONG>" This continues my preparation for that discussion with some thoughts on cultural boundaries.</P> <P>The chief impetus for national political borders is to provide recognition of where the direct political influence of a country ends. That is using the term "political" in the sense of the constituted government of the country as opposed to simply the activities of politicians and political parties.</P> <P>Meanwhile, the people of a country may or may not constitute to some degree&nbsp;a homogenous culture that is completely harmonious with the government and national borders of the country. A great example is the Kurdish people who are divided between Turkey, Iraq, and Iran. Immigrants and resident workers are other examples of peoples who are not completely in harmony with national borders and whos interests can span borders.</P> <P>Religion is one aspect of&nbsp;culture that can "join" people across borders, despite national differences.</P> <P>Interests such as environmental concerns can also bring people together across borders. Greenpeace is an example.</P> <P>Another great example of trans-border cultural cooperation is Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which which bills itself as "an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe."</P> <P>Entertainment, such as movies and music, is notorious for disrespecting national borders.</P> <P>Athletics on the other hand seems to strictly respect national borders, whether it be the Olympics, soccer, or rugby. Interest in organized athletics certainly "spans the globe" and athletic events certainly hop borders, but each team has a clearly defined "country."</P> <P>Even on the political front there is a variety of trans-border cooperation, with bilateral and multi-lateral agreements and treaties.</P> <P>Scientific cooperation and collaboration can span borders.</P> <P>In the technology sector we have international collaboration for standards (e.g., ISO or International Organization for Standardization) and open source software projects (e.g., the Apache Software Foundation.) Such efforts thrive and are based on the efforts of businesses, academia, and individuals, and not strictly driven by national governments or national interests.</P> <P>Still, even with all of this transnational cooperation and collaboration, such efforts pale in comparison to efforts that stay within national borders. Geography is not a fatal impediment, but clearly it is more than just a speed bump.</P> <P>In short, we see a variety of cultural boundaries, some coincident with or within national boundaries and others than spat borders.</P> <P>Whether life would be "better" without borders remains quite unclear. On the one hand, borders and national identities can clearly interfere with global interests, but on the other hand national identities can sometimes emphasize and even enhance differences that can make life more interesting (e.g., sports, movies, and music)&nbsp;and provide opportunities that might not exist in a "one size fits all" world.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2114492751256282696?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-22804565994072092702010-09-17T19:21:00.001-04:002010-09-17T19:21:38.283-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet&nbsp;next week on Thursday, September 23, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG><A title="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2010/09/cafe-philo-in-new-york-city-in-two.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2010/09/cafe-philo-in-new-york-city-in-two.html">Could we live well without borders?</A></STRONG>" This continues my preparation for that discussion with some thoughts on whether borders really interfere much at all with many activities.</P> <P>Here are some significant entities and&nbsp;activities&nbsp;that occur on a regular basis, apparently unimpeded by the existence of national political borders:</P> <OL> <LI>Multinational corporations <LI>International investment on both a large scale and individual basis <LI>Multinational and international banking <LI>Tourism <LI>Education <LI>Terrorism <LI>Smuggling <LI>Drug trade <LI>Human trafficking <LI>Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and activism <LI>Environmental activism <LI>Limited immigration</LI></OL> <P>So, if all of these entities and activities are essentially unimpeded by the existence of borders, why bother considering the elimination of national borders?</P> <P>Technically, immigration is on the list, but only in a <EM>limited</EM> sense. Immigration into the U.S. is a great example of how borders can be a <EM>dramatic impediment</EM> to human activity, at least in some cases.</P> <P>Variations in laws can hamper or confuse human activities as well.</P> <P>Commerce and investment may sometimes occur freely, but sometimes individuals countries may place onerous or confusing limitations on financial transactions or transfers.</P> <P>People cannot just pick up and go live just anywhere for arbitrary amounts of time due to visa limits.</P> <P>Some countries, such as North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Somalia, etc. are effectively off limits to the citizens of some countries.</P> <P>Some or actually many countries actively seek to protect their national identity and actively discourage to varying degrees any attempts to water down their national cultures. France is a notable example, protecting the language, deporting gypsies, seeking to ban various religious attire, etc.</P> <P>Although many forms of communications occur freely across national borders, national languages offer a hurdle to free and open direct verbal communication between people, although this is not an insurmountable hurdle.</P> <P>Human relationships can occur freely, to some extent, across borders, and even marriages, although sometimes with varying degrees of difficulty related to immigration.</P> <P>To be continued, maybe.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2280456599407209270?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-85568452925967956452010-09-16T19:28:00.000-04:002010-09-16T19:29:01.326-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet&nbsp;next week on Thursday, September 23, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG><A title="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2010/09/cafe-philo-in-new-york-city-in-two.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://isayjackkrup.blogspot.com/2010/09/cafe-philo-in-new-york-city-in-two.html">Could we live well without borders?</A></STRONG>" It is time to explore the nuances of that question.</P> <P>We have to start by exploring what we even mean by the concept of <EM>borders</EM>.</P> <P>First off, there are a lot of kinds of "borders", but I will assume that we are primarily interested in <EM>political</EM> borders.</P> <P>There are lots of types of <EM>political entities</EM>, including towns, boroughs, cities, counties, states, and countries, which all have a lot of common qualities, but I will assume that we are primarily interested in <EM>national political entities</EM> or <EM>countries</EM>.</P> <P>So, when we casually refer to "borders" we are typically referring to the <EM>borders between countries</EM>.</P> <P>One nuance is that there is distinction that could be drawn between borders and <EM>boundaries</EM>. A boundary is more of an imaginary or virtual "line" between adjacent countries, as in the lines drawn on a map, whereas an actual border is the physical manifestation of that imagined boundary in the real world, such as signs, fences, walls, other markers, checkpoints, etc. In some cases there may be no actual border per se, such as a country bounded by an ocean, or where a lake or river separates two countries and the division is only that imagined boundary line.</P> <P>The border between Iraq and Iran is a great example. In some places there is a very visible border with border crossings under strict control. Then you have the southern portion of the Tigris river to the Persian Gulf (actually referred to as the Shatt al-Arab waterway)&nbsp;where there is no real border per se other than the imagined boundary in the middle of the Tigris waterway. That lack of a clearly discernable border led to the capture of British sailors by Iran who claimed they were in Iranian territory. One report indicates that Iraq and Iran have no <EM>formal agreement</EM> as to where the boundary line is, so the simple notion of an imaginary line down the middle of the waterway (relative to some agreed tidal conditions) is up in the air in that situation. Recently we have seen the case of the alleged "hikers" in northern Iraq who supposedly "strayed" across the border into Iran without even realizing that they had in fact crossed any "border". In other words, there is no visible border unless you are aware of local custom, even if legally there might be a more formal virtual boundary that may be clearly discernable on maps.</P> <P>Another nuance is air travel where you hop on a plane "in" one country and then "land" in another country without physically encountering&nbsp;any actual border, just a traversal across that imagined boundary line or maybe even an ocean. In fact, you may "fly over" any number of countries during that flight, but are you ever really "in" any of them? Have you ever really "entered" a country except by passing across a physical border or a surrogate&nbsp;for the border in the form of&nbsp;an immigration station at the airport?</P> <P>Personally, I would say that I have never been "in" Vietnam, but back in 1987 or so I was on a flight from Singapore to Hong Kong and the pilot announced that we were "over" Da Nang (I think, or one of the other notable cities in Vietnam.) I would not say that I have been "to" Vietnam, but maybe I can semi-legitimately claim that I was "in" Vietnam in the sense of being within its boundaries, at least as a crow flies.</P> <P>Some borders are heavily fortified or require advance permission (a visa) to cross, or at least some sort of <EM>documentation</EM> such as a passport or drivers license to cross. Then there are the borders <EM>within</EM> the European Union which are effectively open, regardless of which member country you are a citizen of.</P> <P>To me, this discussion topic is less about the physical manifestation of a border than the abstract concept of the imagined boundary. Even further, it is not the actual boundary that matters, but an abstract boundary that for all intents and purposes is just a circle or rectangle that lets us refer simply to "here" and "there" or "us" and "them." So, I think the core subject of the discussion topic is not borders per se, but what I would call <EM>abstract national borders</EM>.</P> <P>But even that is still not be specific about the desired concept. My hunch is that ultimately the discussion topic is really about whether dividing the world and people into countries is <EM>necessary</EM> or necessarily advantageous. In other words, maybe the discussion is about whether <EM>world government</EM> is viable, or is it beneficial to divide people and places into separate and distinct <EM>nations</EM> with clear delineations between them. Or maybe we could say that we are interested in discussing the notion of <EM>national identity</EM> and whether it is needed or not or beneficial or maybe even harmful.</P> <P>In any case, the four big things that people seem to care the most about relative to borders are <EM>laws</EM>, <EM>culture </EM>(including language and customs), <EM>communications</EM>, and <EM>trade</EM>. Political borders allow a clear distinction in how law is decided and structured. Culture does not require borders per se and can differ dramatically by <EM>regions</EM> within&nbsp; country that are not necessarily political in nature, but is still a major differentiation between countries. Trade certainly occurs regardless of whether there is a political boundary involved, but the <EM>terms</EM> of the trade, including laws that relate to trade can be affected greatly by political differences between countries. Communications seems to stand out as something that is likely to occur regardless of borders, although <EM>regulation</EM> of the communications <EM>infrastructure</EM> within and between separate countries can be impacted by political considerations within and between&nbsp;separate countries.</P> <P>I'll stop there for now to give myself and others a chance to review and ponder all of that before continuing.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8556845292596795645?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-40083692787167902832010-09-13T17:07:00.001-04:002010-09-13T17:07:37.057-04:00<P>I just made my ninth monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just another $25, but it is&nbsp;a matter of&nbsp;principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another&nbsp;45 billion years to pay it all down all by myself&nbsp;at this rate, but, as I said, it is a&nbsp;matter of principle.</P> <P>According to the <A title="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $13,441,762,397,157.23, as of September 10, 2010. It was $13,317,048,837,517.10, as of August 12, 2010, for an increase of about $125 billion over&nbsp;29 days, about $4.3 billion a day or $1.57 trillion per year (annualized daily deficit.)</P> <P>Here is what I wrote back in January 2010 when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.)&nbsp;Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those&nbsp;whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and&nbsp;lack of responsibility&nbsp;of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A title="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters")&nbsp;how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals&nbsp;before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration in addition to unemployed workers going back to work and young people entering the work force. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well, but the big focus has to be on achieving <EM>sustainable</EM>&nbsp;economic growth.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4008369278716790283?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-60143314476865734142010-09-10T11:59:00.001-04:002010-09-10T11:59:33.007-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, September 23, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>Could we live well without borders?</STRONG>"</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Why is there something rather than nothing? (4, 4) <LI>What determines achievement? (3) <LI>Could we live well with borders? (4, 5) * <LI>Can a dictatorship do more for the good of a society than democracy? (2) <LI>Did William James kill Buridan's ass? (3) <LI>Would dueling have a salutary effect on society? (4, 2) <LI>Is today's democracy more of a plutocracy? (3) <LI>Are we learning violence from the media or are we violent by nature? (3) <LI>Is representative democracy viable? (2) <LI>If change is good. (3)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending as a participant.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There&nbsp;are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's&nbsp;Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A title="http://www.nycafephilo.org/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6014331447686573414?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-58977417256550686222010-09-07T18:47:00.001-04:002010-09-07T18:47:23.374-04:00<P>This is just a reminder that Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week on Thursday, September 9, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>The value of being wrong</STRONG>." Ron Gross suggested the topic and provided this description:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM>To err is human. Yet most of us go through life tacitly assuming (and sometimes noisily insisting) that we are right about nearly everything, from the origins of the universe to how to load the dishwasher. If being wrong is so natural, why are we all so bad at imagining that our beliefs could be mistaken&nbsp;-- and why do we typically react to our errors with surprise, denial, defensiveness and shame?</EM></P> <P><EM>Why do&nbsp; we find it so gratifying to be right and so maddening to be mistaken, and how does this attitude toward error effect&nbsp; our relationships -- whether between family members, colleagues, neighbors, or nations?</EM></P> <P><EM>In her recently-published and widely acclaimed book BEING WRONG, Kathryn Schulz&nbsp; takes us on a fascinating tour of human fallibility (the gist of her book is available on her entertaining website, </EM><A href="http://www.beingwrongbook.com"><EM title="http://www.beingwrongbook.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link">www.beingwrongbook.com</EM></A><EM>, which also features&nbsp; confessions about being wrong from renowned folks from every field, from Google's Peter Norvig to maverick food critic Anthony Bourdain).&nbsp; Of course you can obtain other "takes" on her book by Googling "Being Wrong".</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There&nbsp;are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's&nbsp;Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5897741725655068622?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-83399991007170580792010-08-29T19:09:00.000-04:002010-08-29T19:10:06.634-04:00<P>I tried to come up with the narrowest possible subject line for this post about mistakes, but it does cover quite a range.</P> <P>Although we do casually use "wrong" in a pragmatic sense such as "making a wrong turn" on a trip, or "giving the wrong answer" on a test, and technically this is a proper usage, my own understanding has been that "wrong" as in "right and wrong" is primarily an issue of morality. We can speak of a "wrong turn in life", as an error in judgment which has led to moral issues. I think of mistakes and errors in a hierarchy of philosophical levels:</P> <OL> <LI><STRONG>Wrong </STRONG>- morality, at a moral level, all about principle <LI><STRONG>Improper</STRONG> - ethics, an ethical lapse, or issue of legality (illegal, irregardless of whether it is morally right or wrong) <LI><STRONG>Incorrect</STRONG> - pragmatics, a "technical" mistake (including an invalid scientific theory) which has practical implications, but not in a moral or ethical sense <LI><STRONG>Undesirable </STRONG>- aesthetics, not really a practical problem per se, but a cause for unpleasantness or embarrassment or social stigma (even if it might be technically correct or legal or "right") <LI><STRONG>Dangerous </STRONG>- existentialism, leads to a threat to survival or risk of significant imminent physical harm</LI></OL> <P>My point is that we can interpret mistakes or "wrong" at any or all of these levels and should be clear when we speak as to which we are talking about.</P> <P>This is a casual model on my part. There could be other categories or the categories could be divided differently. In other words, I could be wrong, in a category 3 or 4 sense. I reserve the right to "revise and extend" my model later in the discussion.</P> <P>Drinking, especially by underage adults and teens can quickly lead to category 5 "mistakes", such as the young woman who died in a fall from a high-rise apartment after an evening of "clubbing." Drunk driving, mistakes by aircraft pilots and vehicle&nbsp; drivers, and medical errors can also result in category 5 mistakes.</P> <P>BTW, my hunch is that the "shame" referenced by Kathryn Schulz in her book Being Wrong would be for my category 3 and 4 mistakes which is pragmatic or aesthetic, not an ethical, moral, or existential problem, but quite unpleasant and embarrassing.</P> <P>See:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM><STRONG>Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error</STRONG> by Kathryn Schulz<BR>Stuart Jeffries is cheered by a writer who sees a social value in our habit of mucking things up<BR></EM><A title="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/28/being-wrong-kathryn-schulz-review&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/28/being-wrong-kathryn-schulz-review">http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/28/being-wrong-kathryn-schulz-review</A></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P dir=ltr>and</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><A title="http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/thewrongstuff/archive/2010/06/07/on-air-and-on-error-this-american-life-s-ira-glass-on-being-wrong.aspx&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/thewrongstuff/archive/2010/06/07/on-air-and-on-error-this-american-life-s-ira-glass-on-being-wrong.aspx">http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/thewrongstuff/archive/2010/06/07/on-air-and-on-error-this-american-life-s-ira-glass-on-being-wrong.aspx</A></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P dir=ltr>and</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM>Slate posts by Kathryn Schulz<BR></EM><A href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/search/searchresults.aspx?u=2434">http://www.slate.com/blogs/search/searchresults.aspx?u=2434</A></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>-- <A title="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8339999100717058079?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-43773122292839164002010-08-27T10:13:00.001-04:002010-08-27T10:13:43.222-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, September 9, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG>The value of being wrong?</STRONG>" Ron Gross suggested the topic and provided this description:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM>To err is human. Yet most of us go through life tacitly assuming (and sometimes noisily insisting) that we are right about nearly everything, from the origins of the universe to how to load the dishwasher. If being wrong is so natural, why are we all so bad at imagining that our beliefs could be mistaken&nbsp;-- and why do we typically react to our errors with surprise, denial, defensiveness and shame?</EM></P> <P><EM>Why do&nbsp; we find it so gratifying to be right and so maddening to be mistaken, and how does this attitude toward error effect&nbsp; our relationships -- whether between family members, colleagues, neighbors, or nations?</EM></P> <P><EM>In her recently-published and widely acclaimed book BEING WRONG, Kathryn Schulz&nbsp; takes us on a fascinating tour of human fallibility (the gist of her book is available on her entertaining website, </EM><A href="http://www.beingwrongbook.com"><EM title="http://www.beingwrongbook.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link">www.beingwrongbook.com</EM></A><EM>, which also features&nbsp; confessions about being wrong from renowned folks from every field, from Google's Peter Norvig to maverick food critic Anthony Bourdain).&nbsp; Of course you can obtain other "takes" on her book by Googling "Being Wrong".</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Is truth dead? (2) (My suggestion) <LI>Why is business so evil? (2) (My suggestion) <LI>The value of being wrong (5) * <LI>Do we really need borders?&nbsp;(4) <LI>How the Internet can change our ways of thinking and living (4) <LI>Can selfishness be moral? (3) <LI>Can dictatorship do more good for the community can democracy? (4)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There&nbsp;are also usually some attendees who go across the street to McCormack's&nbsp;Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4377312229283916400?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-66596756465773474482010-08-24T10:54:00.001-04:002010-08-24T10:54:11.139-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week on Thursday, August 26, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Can a politician have integrity?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6659675646577347448?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-90430577163141959752010-08-22T20:30:00.001-04:002010-08-22T20:30:35.706-04:00<P>I may be mistaken, but my reading of the latest imagery from the <A href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/">Arctic Sea Ice News &amp; Analysis from the National Snow and Ice Data Center</A> indicates that the <EM><A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Passage">Northwest Passage</A></EM> is finally open and clear of sea ice, just a few weeks before these Arctic waters will begin freezing up again. The passage opened on August 21, 2007, which was the record low year for Arctic sea ice extent, and again on August 25, 2008, but was not open in 2009 (to the best of my knowledge.)</P> <P>-- <A title="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-9043057716314195975?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-50463535352718085142010-08-13T10:30:00.001-04:002010-08-13T10:30:50.234-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, August 26, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Can a politician have integrity?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Why did communism fail in Russia? (1) <LI>Why is business so evil? (5) (My suggestion) <LI>Libertarianism vs. community (5) <LI>Can a politician have integrity? (6) <LI>Why is American football (as opposed to soccer) our national sport? (2) <LI>Is truth dead? (5) (My suggestion) <LI>Limitation of science (4) <LI>Do we need borders? (4) <LI>What's up with dog people? (2)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5046353535271808514?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-77240606787274492122010-08-12T08:34:00.001-04:002010-08-12T08:34:22.043-04:00<P>Finally a news story that is not depressing:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><STRONG><A title="http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/08/12/2010-08-12_blind_cat_reported_missing_from_san_francisco_shelter_found_alive_and_well_in_ha.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/08/12/2010-08-12_blind_cat_reported_missing_from_san_francisco_shelter_found_alive_and_well_in_ha.html">Blind cat, reported missing from San Francisco shelter, found alive and well in Harlem</A></STRONG></P> <P>A nearly blind black cat who hails from San Francisco may not have nine lives, but he does have several guardian angels looking after him.</P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P dir=ltr>The cat's name is Jack.</P> <P>-- <A title="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7724060678727449212?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-86723647173853553802010-08-10T16:43:00.001-04:002010-08-10T16:43:55.725-04:00<P>I think James Surowiecki has the right idea in his <EM>New Yorker</EM> piece entitled "<A href="http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2010/08/16/100816ta_talk_surowiecki">Soak the Very, Very Rich</A>." We should focus tax hikes a little more carefully so that it is the "very, very rich" who get "soaked". Leave the "small business owners" alone. To make the point more clearly, LeBron James and LeBron James's dentist shouldn't be paying the same tax rate.</P> <P>-- <A title="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8672364717385355380?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-16023496707807400822010-08-10T16:39:00.001-04:002010-08-10T16:39:41.567-04:00<P>I just saw this CNN headline from a few weeks ago:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><A href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/22/pastor-rick-warren-hospitalized-after-eyes-burned/?iref=obnetwork"><STRONG><EM title="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/22/pastor-rick-warren-hospitalized-after-eyes-burned/?iref=obnetwork&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link">Pastor Rick Warren hospitalized after eyes burned</EM></STRONG></A></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P dir=ltr>The story says:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P dir=ltr><EM>Megachurch pastor Rick Warren is home recovering after his eyes were burned as he pruned a firestick plant in his yard, his spokesman told CNN Thursday.</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P dir=ltr>Hmmm... might this have been "God's will"?</P> <P dir=ltr>These days you never know</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-1602349670780740082?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-42348212424946585422010-08-09T23:44:00.000-04:002010-08-09T23:45:02.407-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week, Thursday, August 12, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Is life a mistake?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4234821242494658542?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-50181394900004295262010-07-30T16:02:00.001-04:002010-07-30T16:02:23.773-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, August 12, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Is life a mistake?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Limitations of science (4, 2) <LI>Is love a passion or an emotion? (1) <LI>Is truth dead? (4, 3) <LI>What's up with dog people? (3) <LI>Optimism vs. pessimism (4, 3) <LI>Is life a mistake? (4, 5) <LI>Can education or experience change the way we think? (3) <LI>What motivates a desire for education? (2) <LI>Can we be young forever? (2)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant, but is spending the summer in France, as usual.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5018139490000429526?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-29573813708910271462010-07-28T17:15:00.001-04:002010-07-28T17:15:35.365-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week, Thursday, July 29, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Is beauty only subjective?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant, but is now in France for the summer.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's&nbsp;Pub for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2957381370891027146?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-44097951757483470082010-07-22T19:15:00.001-04:002010-07-22T19:15:27.474-04:00<P>Schemes for <A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading">emissions trading</A> such as <A href="http://www.epa.gov/capandtrade/">cap and trade</A> have been around for awhile and thought out rather rigorously, but the bottom line for me is that the entire concept still seems too hokey and too much of a gimmick to be truly viable&nbsp;for dramatically lowering emissions. The bottom line is that if it is really as simple and easy as its proponents suggest, then it really does fall in the category of "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't true."&nbsp;I personally am all in favor of improving energy technology, enhancing air quality to reduce negative health impacts, improving energy efficiency, reducing energy costs, and generally reducing our environmental footprint, but cap and trade just doesn't seem to "click" for me. I am not sure exactly why, but that's the way it is. The bottom line is that if the proponents of cap and trade want my support, they are going to be a lot more forthright and transparent about the "fine print" of cap and trade and what its potential downsides really are.</P> <P>Just the "cute" title of "cap and trade" causes a red flag in my mind. It smacks of "bait and switch." Sign up for "cap and trade" and who knows what you will really get five or ten or twenty years down the road.</P> <P>It even reminds me of the old street scam here in New York City, "<A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-card_Monte">Three-card Monte</A>", which was once played with cards and then switched to plastic bottle caps and a bean. Around and around the carbon credits flow, where they stop and who ends up holding the bag is unclear.</P> <P>Maybe that is the real point: Cap and trade sounds as if it is all cheap and easy and nobody is really paying much at all for any or all of&nbsp;it, when reality tells us that ultimately somebody or a big collection of somebody's will have to pay an arm and a leg to wean ourselves off traditional fossil fuels. To me, cap and trade is basically a fraud, a scam.</P> <P>My preference, over cap and trade, is to just ride the technology curve and focus on assuring that there is a large enough pool of capital&nbsp;for both private and public technology development and a sufficiently light rein on government over-regulation so that a partnership of the public and private sectors can push hard and fast enough on that technology curve to actually deliver on the instant gratification that cap and trade purports to promise us. Another tool is to specifically target a quota of government energy and transportation usage every year for new technology, even if it happens that it is less economical in the short run,&nbsp;since such a subsidy can have a long run advantage by seeding nascent markets for new technology.</P> <P>There are plenty of potential strategies for achieving greener energy technologies, but cap and trade is not one of them. Just say "No" to such gimmicks, and that includes carbon credits and carbon taxes.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4409795175748347008?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-67351372767654588882010-07-16T18:41:00.001-04:002010-07-16T18:41:45.467-04:00<P>A very interesting and exhausting (if not exhaustive) treatment of arguments in favor of the existence of God can be found in an appendix to <A title="http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/goldstein09/goldstein09_index.html&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/goldstein09/goldstein09_index.html">36 Arguments for the Existence of God</A> by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein. This is from a work of fiction, but the appendix itself is nonfiction. It gives each of the 36 arguments and then provides detailed refutations.</P> <P>Just as one example:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><STRONG><EM>21. The Argument from the Consensus of Humanity</EM></STRONG></P><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><FONT face=Calibri></FONT> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><FONT face=Calibri></FONT><EM>1. Every culture in every epoch has had theistic beliefs.</EM></P> <P><EM>2. When peoples, widely separated by both space and time, hold similar beliefs, the best explanation is that those beliefs are true.</EM></P> <P><EM>3. The best explanation for why every culture has had theistic beliefs is that those beliefs are true.</EM></P> <P><EM>4. God exists.</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P><EM>FLAW: 2 is false. Widely separated people could very well come up with the same false beliefs.&nbsp; Human nature is universal, and thus prone to universal illusions and shortcomings of perception, memory, reasoning, and objectivity. Also , many of the needs and terrors and dependencies of the human condition (such as the knowledge of our own mortality, and the attendant desire not to die) are universal.&nbsp;&nbsp; Our beliefs don't arise only from well-evaluated reasoning, but from wishful thinking, self-deception, self-aggrandizement, gullibility, false memories, visual illusions, and other mental glitches. Well-grounded beliefs may be the exception rather than the rule when it comes to psychologically fraught beliefs, which tend to bypass rational grounding and spring instead from unexamined emotions.&nbsp; The fallacy of arguing that if an idea is universally held then it must be true was labeled by the ancient logicians consensus gentium.</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Other arguments include:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM><STRONG>1. The Cosmological Argument (Everything that exists must have a cause)<BR>4. The Argument from The Big Bang (Something outside the universe, including outside its physical laws, must have brought the universe into existence)<BR>5. The Arguments from the Fine-Tuning of Physical Constants<BR>36. The Argument from The Abundance of Arguments</STRONG></EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-6735137276765458888?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-34481125765504513302010-07-16T15:02:00.001-04:002010-07-16T15:02:19.002-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, July 29, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Is beauty only subjective?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Is religion a viable position? (3) <LI>Can we be ethical without God? (4) <LI>Optimism vs. Pessimism (3) <LI>Is truth dead? (2) <LI>Is beauty only subjective? (6) <LI>Is dueling essential in a democratic society? (2) <LI>Is it possible to think and analyze events independent of passion? (4) <LI>Can art be truthful to&nbsp;a cause? (3) <LI>Can we really separate private from public behavior? (3)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant.</P> <P>We will probably continue to meet during the summer, although Bernard will be off, as usual, in the south of France.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A title="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3448112576550451330?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-4891373007735083672010-07-14T16:00:00.001-04:002010-07-14T16:00:57.694-04:00<P>I just made my seventh monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just another $25, but it is&nbsp;a matter of&nbsp;principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another&nbsp;44 billion years to pay it all down all by myself&nbsp;at this rate, but, as I said, it is matter of principle.</P> <P>According to the <A title="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $13,199,290,856,204.30, as of July 13, 2010. It was $13,038,877,263,966.78, as of June 17, 2010, for an increase of about $160 billion over a four-week period, about $6.2 billion a day.</P> <P>What I wrote back in January when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.)&nbsp;Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those&nbsp;whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and&nbsp;lack of responsibility&nbsp;of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters")&nbsp;how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals&nbsp;before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well, but the big focus has to be on achieving <EM>sustainable</EM>&nbsp;economic growth.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-489137300773508367?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-7461629226958738432010-07-12T15:32:00.000-04:002010-07-12T15:33:23.187-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week, Thursday, July 15, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Is atheism a viable position?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant.</P> <P>We will probably continue to meet during the summer, although Bernard will be off, as usual, in the south of France.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Afghan Restaurant at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-746162922695873843?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-50931321289280835012010-07-02T11:00:00.001-04:002010-07-02T11:00:31.798-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, July 15, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Is atheism a viable position?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Optimism vs. pessimism (4, 3) <LI>Is there a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict? (3) <LI>Why are we so poor at seeing the obvious? (4, 2) <LI>What's wrong with our government? (2) <LI>Is stupidity hardwired? (3) <LI>Immigration (4, 1) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (1) <LI>Is atheism a viable position? (4, 4) <LI>Is life a mistake? (2)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant.</P> <P>We will probably continue to meet during the summer, although Bernard will be off, as usual, in the south of France.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5093132128928083501?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-30296168432777932932010-07-01T12:01:00.000-04:002010-07-01T12:02:14.725-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet tonight, Thursday, July 1, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>How will technology change the human species?</STRONG></EM>" The topic was suggested by Frank Biebert.</P> <P>An article about <A href="http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2010/01/stephen-hawking-the-human-species-has-entered-a-new-stage-of-evolution-the-daily-galaxy-top-story-of.html">Stephen Hawking's view on current and future human evolution</A>:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><STRONG><EM>Stephen Hawking: "The Human Species Has Entered a New Stage of Evolution"</EM></STRONG></P> <P><EM>In the last ten thousand years the human species has&nbsp; been in what Hawking calls, "an external transmission phase," where the internal record of information, handed down to succeeding generations in DNA, has not changed significantly. "But the external record, in books, and other long lasting forms of storage," Hawking says, "has grown enormously. Some people would use the term, evolution, only for the internally transmitted genetic material, and would object to it being applied to information handed down externally. But I think that is too narrow a view. We are more than just our genes."</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Interesting lecture entitled <A title="http://www.cbhd.org/content/future-human-species&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.cbhd.org/content/future-human-species">"The Future of the Human Species" by Dr. Brent Waters</A>:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM>If a number of pundits are correct, we have already taken some initial steps toward <STRONG>creating a posthuman future</STRONG>. The goal of this project is nothing less than the <STRONG>perfection of the human species</STRONG>. Specifically, human performance will be enhanced and longevity extended through anticipated advances in pharmacology, biotechnology, and bionics. Drugs, for example, can lessen the need for sleep; genetic engineering will slow the aging process; artificial limbs will enhance strength and agility; and brain implants will enhance the speed of interacting with computers. The cyborg becomes the next stage of human evolution. Some visionaries foresee a day when, with the aid of artificial intelligence and robotics, endless lives might be achieved. The underlying binary information constituting one's personality would be uploaded into a computer and then downloaded into robotic bodies or virtual reality programs. With sufficient and reliable memory storage, the process could, in principle, be repeated indefinitely, thereby achieving virtual immortality. In the posthuman future, humans become self-perfected artifacts by blurring, if not eliminating, the line separating the natural from the artificial.</EM></P> <P><EM>The promise of the posthuman project is the creation of beings that live healthy, productive, and happy lives, and most importantly beings that live for very long time—perhaps forever. The ultimate promise is immortality. The accompanying peril, however, is that the cost is exorbitant. <STRONG>The price of perfecting humankind is its destruction, for in becoming posthuman humans cease being human</STRONG>. The peril of the posthuman project, in short, is that its optimism disguises an underlying death-wish for the human species.</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Also consider Ray Kurzweil's <EM>singularity</EM> concept and book <A href="http://www.singularity.com/">The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology</A>, which posits that:</P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir=ltr> <P><EM>The Singularity is an era in which our intelligence will become increasingly nonbiological and trillions of times more powerful than it is today -- the dawning of a new civilization that will enable us to transcend our biological limitations and amplify our creativity.</EM></P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant.</P> <P>We will probably continue to meet during the summer, although Bernard will be off, as usual, in the south of France.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3029616843277793293?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-51058359207789460152010-06-19T08:26:00.001-04:002010-06-19T08:26:35.985-04:00<P>I just made my sixth monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just another $25, but it is&nbsp;a matter of&nbsp;principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another&nbsp;43 billion years to pay it all down all by myself&nbsp;at this rate, but, as I said, it is matter of principle.</P> <P>According to the <A title="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $13,038,877,263,966.78, as of June 17, 2010. It was $12,853,100,126,888.44, as of April 29, 2010, for an increase of about $186 billion over a seven-week period, about $3.8 billion a day.</P> <P>What I wrote back in January when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.)&nbsp;Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those&nbsp;whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and&nbsp;lack of responsibility&nbsp;of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters")&nbsp;how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals&nbsp;before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well, but the big focus has to be on achieving <EM>sustainable</EM>&nbsp;economic growth.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5105835920778946015?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-55069941852796247492010-06-18T10:59:00.001-04:002010-06-18T10:59:58.246-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, July 1, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>How will technology change the human species?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>The suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Is truth dead? (4) <LI>True or false: The examined life is not worth living. (4) <LI>What is drama? (6) <LI>What makes a nation? (7) <LI>Why communism fell in Russia. (3) <LI>Why are we here? (3) <LI>How will technology change the human species? (8) <LI>Lady Gaga (1) <LI>The truth about dog people. (3) <LI>Will India and China be the next world powers? (3) <LI>&nbsp;Do we need an afterlife to justify this one? (4)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant.</P> <P>We will probably continue to meet during the summer, although Bernard will be off, as usual, in the south of France.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5506994185279624749?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-20880202588075533552010-06-15T18:54:00.001-04:002010-06-15T18:54:52.990-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week on Thursday, June 17, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>The news makes the news.</STRONG></EM>" Bernard Roy suggested the topic, but unfortunately he won't be at that meeting.</P> <P>I have a blog post on the related topic of <A href="http://semanticabyss.blogspot.com/2010/06/simulacrum.html">Simulacrum</A>.</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant.</P> <P>We will probably continue to meet during the summer, although Bernard will be off, as usual, in the south of France.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-2088020258807553355?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-38824113154528988122010-06-04T16:36:00.000-04:002010-06-04T16:37:06.129-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet in two weeks, Thursday, June 17, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>The news makes the news.</STRONG></EM>" Bernard Roy suggested the topic, but unfortunately he won't be at that meeting.</P> <P>Other suggested topics for the upcoming meeting and their votes:</P> <OL> <LI>Is truth dead? (5) <LI>The truth about dog people. (3) <LI>Does determinism entail predestination? (2) <LI>Should we have dueling in a lawful society? (2) <LI>When should history figure in decision-making? (5) <LI>Does dualism pose any problems to reaching solutions? (5) <LI>The news makes the news. (10) <LI>Did William James save Buridan's ass? (2) <LI>Does one become a leader or born to be? (8) <LI>How much free education should there be in a society? (5) <LI>Does Congress take responsibility for anything? (4)</LI></OL> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending this year as a participant.</P> <P>We will probably continue to meet during the summer, although Bernard will be off, as usual, in the south of France.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3882411315452898812?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-15098569520151543642010-06-03T14:33:00.000-04:002010-06-03T14:37:41.080-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet tonight, Thursday, June 3, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>Are we determined?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending recently as a participant.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-1509856952015154364?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-89943193789613885532010-05-26T13:30:00.001-04:002010-05-26T13:30:32.605-04:00<P></P> <P>I was watching "24" online and in one of the final scenes they are showing a video feed from a drone and there was some text scrolling on both sides of the video screen. I replayed the scene and looking carefully and recognized the text... it was COBOL source code! Really! "DATA DIVISION", "FILE SECTION", "WORKING-STORAGE", "PIC", "UNIT-QTY", etc. What a hoot.</P> <P>I have been enjoying this season of "24" since it is supposedly set in NYC, but other than a very few aerial and stock street shots, the actual action scenes are not NYC at all. Even the UN shots are faked. Oh yeah... I forgot... "24" is put out by FOX. But COBOL? Who would have thought of that for an aerial drone aircraft?</P> <P>-- <A title="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com&#10;CTRL + Click to follow link" href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8994319378961388553?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-53790681457871558962010-05-12T15:44:00.000-04:002010-05-12T16:18:59.573-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet next week, Thursday, May 20, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<EM><STRONG>How important is love?</STRONG></EM>"</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending recently as a participant.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-5379068145787155896?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-89170910613714472622010-05-11T08:06:00.001-04:002010-05-11T08:06:26.736-04:00<P>Hurricanes get names, so why shouldn't oil spills get names? Instead of referring to the current Gulf oil spill as an "it", why can't we name it, like "Alvin" or "Betty"? Part of the motivation for naming it would be to acknowledge that it is a serious phenomenon to be reckoned with. Even calling it a "spill" seems to minimize its impact. Monsters should have names, and this "spill" is certainly a decent-sized monster.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-8917091061371447262?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-43048298191098540382010-05-06T07:25:00.001-04:002010-05-06T07:25:46.248-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week, tonight, Thursday, May 6, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG><EM>Second Chance</EM></STRONG>."</P> <P>Do we all deserve a second chance? How does one "get" a second chance? Who can "give" someone a second chance? Is there a limit to the number of second chances that one can get or be given? Why do we need second chances? Or is "life" really a one-act play with no second chances granted or even necessarily needed? Or&nbsp;is life always ready to give people "another" chance?&nbsp;Etc.</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending recently as a participant.</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-4304829819109854038?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-70846592282174167072010-05-02T07:03:00.001-04:002010-05-02T07:03:40.448-04:00<P>I just made my fifth monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just another $25, but it is&nbsp;a matter of&nbsp;principle, albeit mostly symbolic. It may take me another 502 billion years to pay it all down all by myself&nbsp;at this rate, but, as I said, it is matter of principle.</P> <P>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $12,853,100,126,888.44, as of April 29, 2010. It was $12,826,031,306,447.93 a month ago, for an increase of about $27 billion (over a three-week period.)</P> <P>What I wrote back in January when I made my first donation/gift/contribution/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.)&nbsp;Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those&nbsp;whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction and&nbsp;lack of responsibility&nbsp;of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters")&nbsp;how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals&nbsp;before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>, which includes a healthy amount of immigration. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well, but the big focus has to be on achieving economic growth.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7084659228217416707?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-7098769350537775582010-04-21T16:44:00.001-04:002010-04-21T16:44:43.827-04:00<P>Cafe Philo in New York City will meet this week on Thursday, April 22, 2010 with&nbsp;a discussion on the topic of "<STRONG><EM>Is Happiness a Final State?</EM></STRONG>"</P> <P>I have been acting as guest moderator lately. Bernard Roy&nbsp;has been attending recently as a participant.</P> <P>I did have a couple of quick thoughts on the topic:</P> <P>1) What exactly comprises "happiness"? Is it comfort, satisfaction, calm, peace, bliss, harmony, or what? Is happiness like cholesterol and there is "good" happiness and "bad" happiness? So what exactly comprises the "good" happiness?<BR>2) Aristotle apparently considered happiness as an "end", but I'm not sure exactly what he meant.<BR>3) Buddhists and the attainment of Nirvna - how does that relate to so-called happiness.<BR>4) Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Self-actualization seems to be the end state. How does this relate to happiness?<BR>5) By "final" state, do we mean "permanent" or "peak"? If one does achieve "true" happiness, is it a "happily everafter" state, or just transitory and are we just as likely to revert into unhappiness?<BR>6) How does happiness relate to the concepts of "paradise", "Eden" (as in the Garden of Eden), and "heaven"?</P> <P>Catch&nbsp;up with preparatory online discussions in the <A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">Yahoo! group for Cafe Philo NYC</A>.</P> <P>As usual, the meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the back room at Bamiyan Restaurant (Afghan food) at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and 26th Street in New York City. In exchange for free meeting space, it is expected that each attendee will purchase a minimum of $5 of food or drink. A glass of red wine can be had for $6 (plus tax and tip.)</P> <P>After winding down our discussion, we entertain and vote on proposals for the topic question for the next meeting.</P> <P>There is also usually some number of attendees who go across the street to McCormack's Bar for drinks and food and extended discussion after Cafe Philo, but not limited to the scheduled discussion topic.</P> <P>There are a number of small groups in the U.S. and Europe who meet regularly to discuss topics related to philosophy. Some of these groups go by the name "Cafe Philo." There is one here in New York City that meets every two weeks, every other Thursday. It is&nbsp;organized and moderated by Bernard Roy, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Each meeting focuses on a specific topic which was suggested and voted on by the participants at the last meeting.</P> <P>Also, there is an online discussion forum for the NYC Cafe Philo at:<BR><A href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nycafephilo/</A></P> <P>There is also a new <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">web site for NYC Cafe Philo</A>:&nbsp; <A href="http://www.nycafephilo.org">www.nycafephilo.org</A>.</P> <P>I have been attending the NYC Cafe Philo off and on since 2004. Previously I had attended the Cafe Philo in Washington, D.C. starting in 2001.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Opixia.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-709876935053777558?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-79793022580055438782010-04-15T11:47:00.000-04:002010-04-15T11:48:18.857-04:00<P>Two days ago I decided to take an indefinite&nbsp;<A href="http://jackkonblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/im-taking-hiatus-from-twitter.html">hiatus from Twitter</A>. 48 hours later, it still feels like the right thing to do. No regrets, so far.</P> <P>Sure, on occasion a thought pops into my head and I feel an urge to reach for Twitter, but it's only a momentary urge and quickly dissipates. Sure, Twittering <EM>can</EM> be fun, but it is also quite mindless, definitely unproductive, and usually a complete waste of my time and adds <EM>no value</EM> to my life.</P> <P>Rather than twittering because I can, I find myself being more deliberate in thinking about how I spend my time.</P> <P>I will&nbsp;post again in a week or so about how the de-twittering of my life has progressed.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7979302258005543878?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-35628575444997860332010-04-13T10:24:00.000-04:002010-04-13T10:25:16.110-04:00<P>Twitter is certainly an interesting phenomenon, but it also has its annoyances. This morning I saw a brief mention of Twitter considering ads. No real surprise there, but it got me thinking. By writing tweets, I am providing Twitter with <EM>content <STRONG>for free</STRONG></EM>. I am basically working for Twitter with zero compensation. So what do I really get out of the deal? Twitter does help to promote blog posts (but does not give any actual Google juice) and does provide an "outlet" for excess energy, but that is about it. Maybe once in a blue moon somebody actually connects with somebody in a valuable way, but that is the exception rather than the rule. In short, the answer to the question "What value do I get from Twitter?" is <STRONG><EM>not much at all and certainly nothing comparable to the effort invested</EM></STRONG>.</P> <P>Twitter is still a young phenomenon and evolving over time, so maybe a few months or a few years from now Twitter will actually, finally have some features that deliver significant value to me. But for new, Twitter is, well, I hate to say this, but, <STRONG><EM>a complete waste of my time</EM></STRONG>. I would not say that all of my time in Twitter has been wasted since it has been an interesting experiment with a new technology, but I have definitely reached well beyond the point of <EM>diminishing returns</EM>.</P> <P>So, to be clear, I do not consider my time spent with Twitter a <EM>complete</EM> waste of time, but simply that the <EM>marginal value</EM> has been too small, for me, personally.</P> <P>Twitter may have <EM>great value</EM> for some people, but I am not one of them.</P> <P>Besides, I now have some real, billable&nbsp;work to do, so Twitter really is <STRONG><EM>an unnecessary and unproductive&nbsp;distraction</EM></STRONG>, for me.</P> <P>And, there have been any number of times where I could have posted a more valuable blog post, but took the lazy route of a simple tweet instead. My loss.</P> <P>BTW, I have over 3,000 tweets, so it is not as if I haven't given Twitter a chance to prove itself.</P> <P>I am not sure how long my hiatus will last. Could be a few months, or maybe a year or more, or maybe just a few weeks. Three to six months would be my preliminary estimate. I may check in on occasion just to see if I have been missing anything. The bottom line is that I'll stay away from Twitter as long as it continues to show <EM>very little promise</EM> of adding any <EM>significant value</EM> to my life. So, my hiatus could in fact be extended to infinity.</P> <P>My hiatus will also give me some extra time to contemplate my experiences with Tweeter and maybe even distill them down to realize what value, if any, they have for me.</P> <P>If anybody really does see a true <EM>breakthrough</EM> in Twitter that really would add <EM>dramatic value</EM> to my life, please send me an email message about it.</P> <P>Now, it is time for my to go tweet my final tweet and then get back to <EM>real</EM> work.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-3562857544499786033?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33440917.post-71400106010479040802010-04-11T08:16:00.000-04:002010-04-11T08:17:21.263-04:00<P>I just made my fourth monthly payment to pay down the public debt of the U.S. government. Not much, just another $25, but it is&nbsp;a matter of&nbsp;principle. It may take me another 502 billion years to pay it all down all by myself&nbsp;at this rate, but, as I said, it is matter of principle.</P> <P>According to the <A href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np">U.S. Treasury web site</A>, the total public debt outstanding was $12,826,031,306,447.93, as of April 8, 2010. It was $12,544,703,929,352.50 a month ago, for an increase of about $262 billion.</P> <P>What I wrote back in January when I made my first donation/gift/payment:</P> <P>Everybody is whining and complaining about the ballooning debt of the U.S. government, but who is actually <EM>doing anything</EM> about it? Well, for starters, <EM><STRONG>ME</STRONG></EM>! Yes, that's right, I, Jack Krupansky, just did something to <EM>reduce</EM> the U.S. government debt. Really. No kidding. I actually paid down a small slice of this debt. Granted, it was a rather small slice, but a slice nonetheless. Okay, sure, it was only $20, but the point is that <STRONG><EM>at least I am one of the very few people willing to stand up and DO something about the problem</EM></STRONG>, rather than be one of the <EM>whiners and complainers</EM> who refuse to acknowledge that it is <EM>their</EM> debt and <EM>their problem</EM>, not just the fault of mindless politicians in Washington, D.C. After all, every politician ultimately answers to voters and most of the so-called <EM>wasteful spending</EM> of the U.S. government is simply politicians responding to the demands of their consistituents (voters.)&nbsp;Maybe my one small contribution to paying down the debt won't really make <EM>any</EM> difference to any of those&nbsp;whiners and complainers, but for me it is a matter of principle. I consciously choose <EM>action</EM> rather than the inaction of the whiners and complainers.</P> <P>If you have <EM>any</EM> sense of principle, you too can pay down a slice of the U.S. government debt yourself at <A href="https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454">Pay.gov</A>. You can pay via credit card or debit transfer from a bank account.</P> <P>So do the right thing and show all those whiners and complainers (including so-called "tax protesters")&nbsp;how mindless and spineless they really are. PAY DOWN THE DEBT! And that has to start at the grass roots with us individuals&nbsp;before politicians will ever pick up the lead.</P> <P>For the record, the only real way out of the deficit is not to merely cut expenditures or raise taxes or some combination of the two, but through <EM><STRONG>economic growth</STRONG></EM>. Sure, we need to manage the federal budget more carefully as well, but the big focus has to be on achieving economic growth.</P> <P>-- <A href="mailto:Jack@Finaxyz.com">Jack Krupansky</A></P><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/33440917-7140010601047904080?l=isayjackkrup.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Jack Krupanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17254264642831755180noreply@blogger.com0