Articles

C. A. Wolski reviews The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon.

Mr. Larsen discusses his work, how he became a painter, who and what inspires him, and why his subjects always look so purposeful. Includes ten high-resolution images of his paintings.

Simpson surveys the continuing threats to corporate freedom of speech, discusses the essential elements in the battle to defend it, and sheds much light on the fundamentals of an otherwise nightmarishly complex political mess.

A concise introduction to Ayn Rand's morality of egoism, the heart of her novel Atlas Shrugged.

Shows why, in a free society, people would voluntarily pay to support a rights-protecting government.

Examines key ideas that have driven Marxists and socialists—from Asian and European dictators to American college professors—to enact or advocate an ideology that is historically and philosophically pure evil.

Craig Biddle introduces the Summer 2012 issue.

Noteworthy news and views from the week ending May 19, 2012 Greece Cracks—Is the Eurozone falling apart? The New York Times reports increased tension “between Berlin and Athens in the unfolding crisis over Greece’s membership in the euro.” MSNBC reports that Greeks “withdrew at least 700 million euros” on Monday…

Although Sam Harris is wrong about various important issues (e.g., he denies free will and advocates utilitarianism), he occasionally writes cogently about important matters. For example, he skewers moral relativism and aptly identifies the dangers of Islamic ideology. It is disappointing, then, to see Harris engage in intellectual dishonesty such…

Kurzweil reports that “Mouse lifespan was extended up to 24 percent with a single gene treatment in research at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), using gene therapy, a strategy never before employed to combat aging.” Mice treated at the age of one lived longer by 24% on average,…

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announced last week that the bank had lost over $2 billion as a result of some bad investment decisions. Following the announcement, Dimon hit the airwaves apologizing for what he called “sloppy” and “stupid” behavior on the part of his company, and he told the company’s…

Thirty-four billion dollars. That’s the amount of taxpayer money proposed in a Senate-approved bailout of the US Postal Service. Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican, lauds this bailout as “saving an American institution.” Why do Collins and company presume that we should save a government-run business that can’t compete…

Claire Lomas, a woman paralyzed from the chest down because of a horse riding accident, recently finished a marathon thanks to a bionic suit “designed by Israeli firm Argo Medical Technologies,” reports Time NewsFeed. Claire finished the marathon while being cheered on by her family—her husband, 13-month old daughter, and…

Noteworthy news and views from the week ending May 12, 2012 France’s Real Problem Yesterday I wrote about the so-called “austerity” measures of France and other European nations, measures that have failed to significantly reduce government spending or curb government intervention in the economy. But much more can be said…

To various leftist American pundits, France’s recent election of socialist François Hollande to the presidency proves the ineffectiveness of Europe’s alleged “austerity” measures. For example, after considering Hollande’s election and the upheavals in Greece, Time's Bryan Walsh concludes: Both are reactions to the increasingly discredited—or at the very least disliked—austerity…