NYC Junto Newsletter – January 2012

Contents
* NEW  Junto meeting Feb 2
* Upcoming Junto speakers, through August 2012
* NEW  "Ayn Rand & Prophecy of Atlas" documentary
* NEW  Jan. Junto speaker honored with book
* NEW  Jan. Junto -- Victor Niederhoffer's book review, Barron’s
* NEW  Jan, Junto --Barron's review of "Alas Shrugged, Part 1"
* NEW  Jan, Junto -- book on "Investment Illusions"
* NEW  Naomi Brockwell sings at a recital, Feb. 5th
* NEW  Higgs has fun, but is serious...April Junto speaker
* NEW  Ayn Rand for students, from Ayn Rand Institute
* NEW  "Ayn Rand Nation: Hidden Struggle for America's Soul"
* NEW  Reisman tells of Rand on "competing governments"
* NEW  Fundraising for "Atlas Shrugged, Part 2" promotion
* NEW  Podcasts by free market experts from Heartland Institute
* NEW  Institute of Justice successes
* NEW  America to 10th place 2012 Economic Freedom Index
* NYC Ayn Rand Meetup, Sunday, Jan. 29
* Memorial for Junto regular Alan Ladne
* Ayn Rand walking tours by Fred Cookinham
* NYCjunto-discuss list
* About this newsletter
**************************************************
Junto is a group that shares information
and discusses current issues...
plus presents speakers to talk with us:

Ayn Rand's 107th birthday celebration
with songs and readings
and
Donald Luskin:
"What would Howard Roark do about Paul Krugman?"

Thursday, Feb. 2nd

Admission Free -- No reservation necessary
* We'll socialize from 7:00pm.
* The meeting begins at ABOUT 7:30pm
    with a discussion of current issues and events.
* The featured speaker is introduced at ABOUT 8:00pm.
* The meeting will continue to ABOUT 10:00pm.

General Society Library,
20 West 44 St., between 5th and 6th Aves., NYC
near the Grand Central Terminal

Subway: 4, 5, 6, S to Grand Central -- 42nd St.
or
B, D, F, 7 to 42nd Street -- Sixth Ave. at Bryant Park
or
A, C, E, N, Q, R, S, 1, 2, 3 to Times Square -- 42nd St.

Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M42, M98, M101, M102, M104, Q32

Train: MTA Metro-North Railroad to Grand Central 

Car: Some private parking facilities in the area. Parking on
side streets is metered, limited to specific days and times.

Please note:
* Junto is not the usual sort of meeting with a long speech
followed by Q & A. Junto's invited speakers give a short
presentation and are challenged to defend their assertions.
* Discussions are intense, but polite. Participation by all
attendees is highly encouraged.
* Junto meets on the first Thursday of every month, at the
General Society Library, 20 West 44 St., NYC, between
5th and 6th Aves., near Grand Central Terminal

Ayn Rand's 107th birthday celebration.
    Speaker Donald Luskin market commentator:
"What would Howard Roark do about Paul Krugman?"
* The evening will begin with Robert Flanzer singing "I've
Gotta Be Me" by Walter Marks. He says "The words, spirit
and philosophy of the song are quite fitting."
* The program will end with an operetta song sung by
Naomi Brockwell.
    Both singers often attend Junto.
* Fred Cookinham will do readings from Ayn Rand, after
Flanzer and before Brockwell. Junto has a tradition of Fred's
readings at Rand's celebrations. He also gives Rand tours of
the city.
****
Donald Luskin co-wrote
"I am John Galt:
Today's Heroic Innovators Building the World
and the Villainous Parasites Destroying It."
    This book introduces you to real-life titans who've lived
their lives like Rand's fictional heroes and the malefactors
who've lived like her fictional villains:
Learn from Rand's heroes -- fictional ones and real-life ones:
* The Individualist: Steve Jobs as Howard Roark,
the man who reinvented four industries just because it was
so cool
* The Mad Collectivist: Paul Krugman as Ellsworth Toohey,
the man who preaches socialism from the pages of America's
newspaper of record
* The Leader: John Allison as John Galt, the man who walked
away after building America’s strongest bank
* The Parasite: Angelo Mozilo as James Taggart,
the businessman who co-opted government and nearly wrecked
the U.S. economy
* The Persecuted Titan: Bill Gates as Henry Rearden,
the businessman who created revolutionary technologies and
was criminalized for his success
* The Central Planner: Barney Frank as Wesley Mouch,
the politician who meddled in the economy and almost
destroyed it
* The Capitalist Champion: T.J. Rodgers as Francisco d’Anconia,
the modern Renaissance man and agent provocateur for capitalism
* The Sellout: Alan Greenspan as Robert Stadler,
an economic czar -- the ultimate sellout or a double-agent for
libertarianism?
* The Economist of Liberty: Milton Friedman as Hugh Akston,
the academic who showed the world the connection between
capitalism and freedom
    This book examines how the inspiration that is Galt thrives
more than 50 years after the publication of Atlas Shrugged.
    The book for Ayn Rand fans, as well as those seeking a way
to succeed in today's turbulent and confusing times both in
their business lives and their personal lives.
    Donald L. Luskin, is the chief investment officer of
TrendMacro, investment strategy and economics research firm.
Formerly vice chair, Barclays Global Investors (now
BlackRock). Founder Investment Technology Group and
MetaMarkets.com.
    He's on CNBC's Kudlow Report weekly and often on the
Wall Street Journal op-ed page. He's author Index Options and
Futures: The Complete Guide and editor of Portfolio Insurance:
A Guide to Dynamic Hedging.
    Watch Donald's short video on Amazon:
tiny.cc/LuskinVideo
    Donald Luskin's blog is:
iAmJohnGalt.com

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Visit Junto's site for information on current and past speakers,
read previous newsletters, to sign up to get the Junto e-newsletter:
NYCjunto.com
    Visit Junto on Facebook:
on.fb.me/JuntoNYC
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Junto focuses on libertarianism, Objectivism and investing.
Our founder and host is Victor Niederhoffer.
    Visit his site at:
DailySpeculations.com
**************************************************
Please em­ail the above text to your freedom loving friends
who might be interested in Junto.
    Feel free to use the above text to promote Junto among
libertarians, Objectivists and investors.

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Come to Junto, meet these upcoming speakers:

* March 1, 2012, Alex Epstein, founder director of
CenterForIndustrialProgress.com
He contributed to "Why Businessmen Need Philosophy" and
coauthored "Why Conservatives Can't Stop the Growth of
the State"

* April 5, 2012, Robert Higgs, sr. fellow political economy,
author "Leviathan" and many other books. He's the editor of
the Independent Institute's quarterly magazine Independent
Review. Visit his site at:
tiny.cc/Higgs

* May 3, 2012, Ilana Mercer, author "Into the Cannibal's Pot:
Lessons for America from Post-Apartheid South Africa."
    This will also be the subject of her talk. Her classical liberal
columns are at:
bit.ly/MercerWorldNet
and
IlanaMercer.com

* June 7, 2012, Gene Epstein, economics editor Barrons
magazine. He writes cover and feature stories on economic
and social trends, and book reviews. Read his articles at:
tiny.cc/GeneEpstein

* July 5, 2012, Tyler Cowen, prof. economics George Mason
U. and the Center for the Study of Public Choice.
    Visit his very active blog:
MarginalRevolution.com
    There are many articles about and by him on his site:
tiny.cc/TylerC

* August 2, 2012, Gary Jason, businessman, philosophy teacher
and writer. Senior editor of online magazine Liberty, formerly
the paper magazine Liberty:
LibertyUnbound.com
    He's author of the forthcoming book "Dangerous Thoughts."
Read more by and about him at:
ProfGaryJason.com  

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ayn Rand & the Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged" documentary
    Visit the site to see the trailer, link to their Facebook, find
all the theaters, times and to buy tickets:
tinyurl.com/AtlasDoc
    It's playing Jan. 17 all over the U.S. and at over half dozen
theaters in and around New York.
    There's also a Manhattan showing on Jan 26, Thur., 7:30 pm
with a Q&A afterwards, at the Clearview 1st Ave. and 62nd.
The producer/director, Chris Mortensen and other people from
the film will be in that Q&A.

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. Junto speaker honored with book
    Tibor Machan received a copy of the book from Douglas B.
Rasmussen.
    The book is: "Douglas B. Rasmussen, Aeon J. Skoble,
Douglas J. Den Uyl's Reality, Reason, and Rights:
Essays in Honor of Tibor R. Machan."
    Read about it or order it at:
tinyurl.com/TiborHonor

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan. Junto -- Victor Niederhoffer's book review, Barron's
    Gene Epstein mentioned he'd had Victor review a book in
Barron's. The book is "The Greatest Trades of All Time"
    Victor begins: "...mainly describes the lifestyles and great
trades of 10 successful traders who were active during the
the book review here or print it out.
tinyurl.com/VictorReview

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan, Junto --Barron's review of "Alas Shrugged, Part 1"
    Also mentioned at Junto, Martin Fridson had reviewed the
film, "Alas Shrugged, Part 1" in Barron's. You can read it here:
tinyurl.com/AtlasOneBarrons

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jan, Junto -- book on "Investment Illusions"
    "Investment Illusions: A Savvy Wall Street Pro Explores
Popular Misconceptions About the Markets" by Martin Fridson
was mentioned at Junto.
    Read about it at:
tinyurl.com/illusionsFridson

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Naomi Brockwell sings at a recital, Feb. 5th
    Naomi has introduced herself at Junto. She's studying opera.
Her co-recital is on Sun., Feb. 5, 3:00pm at Christ & St
Stephen's Episcopal Church, 120 W. 69 St., NY, 212.787.2755
    She'll sing, alternating with pianist David Mamedov. Free,
no reservations necessary. Read more and see her photo:
tinyurl.com/NaomiRecital

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Higgs has fun, but is serious...upcoming April Junto speaker
    "Why Your Dog Doesn't Own Your Entire House, and the
Government Doesn't, Either"
    by Robert Higgs, Jan. 6, 2012
Here's a part of his opening:
    I wrote recently about some views expressed by Elizabeth
Warren and certain politicos of a previous era to the effect that
the government has every right to take at least a big chunk of
your earnings and, in some expressions, even your entire
earnings for purposes the rulers stipulate.
    Nearly ten years ago, the great political philosopher Anthony
de Jasay wrote a charming little essay related to this matter
called "Your Dog Owns Your House."
    There, he spells out some of the ways in which such
sweeping claims -- by your dog or the rulers -- are incoherent,
absurd, and indefensible, and he sketches how to think more
sensibly about the issue.
    One sees upon even a small amount of reflection that the
kind of reasoning advanced by Warren and her predecessors
proves too much. Yes, if your dog did not ward off burglars,
you might have lost all your household possessions; hence
your dog’s diligence in some sense accounts for everything
you have.
    Likewise, à la Warren and her ilk, if the fire department did
not keep your town from burning to the ground, you would
have earned nothing; hence your (government) fire department
in some sense accounts for everything you have.
   ....each such provider is essential to everything you produce,
each has a claim to everything you produce. So the reasoning
goes, at least....
    All of this article is at:
tinyurl.com/HiggsDog

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayn Rand for students, from Ayn Rand Institute
    The Ayn Rand Institute Campus is a multi-media educational
experience, offering a range of courses for those completely
new to Ayn Rand to those committed to a deep understanding
of Objectivism.
    Course video and audio is recorded in their professional
studio, and all courses are broken up into easily digestible
modules, have a high level of interactivity, and are supported
by a wealth of supplementary materials.
    It offers a rich community environment: students are able to
create a personal profile and connect with classmates in various
ways to discuss the courses they are taking and share information
with one another.
    ARI Campus launched with nine courses that vary in length
from one to six hours, including "Ayn Rand: The Radical
Thinker," "Moral Virtue," and "Ayn Rand: A Writer’s Life."
    It went live Jan. 10, with more courses in the pipeline. These
are some of what's available now:
* FreeObjectivistBooks.org seeks to connect students
interested in Ayn Rand and Objectivism with donors willing
to provide books to students.
*  Ayn Rand Institute Internship Program for summer 2012
* The Objective Standard Journal and Blog, discussing culture
and politics from an Objectivist perspective
* Philosophy in Action Webcast, weekly webcast on practical
 ethics from an Objectivist perspective
* The Randex, an aggregation of mentions of Ayn Rand and
Objectivism in media
* The Undercurrent, a campus newspaper written from an
Objectivist perspective
* Oclubs, a network for campus club leaders
    Find this and more at:
tinyurl.com/RandForStudents

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Ayn Rand Nation: The Hidden Struggle for America's Soul"
    This is a book by Gary Weiss who attended many Manhattan
Ayn Rand Meetups and at least one Junto.
    He interviewed me, the second chapter is all about me. What
he wrote about me and what he ascribed to me is pretty accurate.
    The book doesn’t show much understanding of Rand or her
philosophy of Objectivism. Considering that he disagrees with
almost all of Rand's thinking, he did fairly well.
    This book will be out Feb. 28th in hardcover and Kindle. His
site is:
gary-weiss.com

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
George Reisman tells of Rand on "competing governments"
    This item is from George's autobiography as an Objectivist
and free market economist. It's in a long but good article you
can read at:
tinyurl.com/ReismanBio
    In his bio I was surprised and impressed with his description
of Rand's description of what's wrong with competing
governments:
    "...making a presentation in Ayn Rand's living room of the
case for 'competing governments,' i.e., the purchase and sale
even of such government services as police, courts, and
military in a free market.
    "As the result of Ayn Rand's criticisms, I came to the
conclusion that the case was untenable, if for no other reason
than that it abandoned the distinction between private action
and government action and implicitly urged unregulated,
uncontrolled government action, i.e., the uncontrolled,
unregulated use of physical force.
    "This was the logical implication of treating government
as a free business enterprise.
    "I had to conclude that government in the form of a highly
regulated, tightly controlled legal monopoly on the use of
force, was necessary after all, in order to provide an essential
foundation for unregulated, uncontrolled private markets in all
goods and services, which would then function totally free of
the threat of physical force.
    "This indeed, represented nothing more than a return to my
starting point. It was what the government established by the
United States' Constitution had represented, and which I had
so much admired."
    I don't remember reading this explanation anywhere, by
anyone before.
****
George wrote the 1,100 page book, "Capitalism: A Treatise
on Economics." He spoke about it at Junto in 1996. It draws
together the ideas of Ludwig von Mises and Ayn Rand.
    You can read it or print it out, free, at:
mises.org/books/capitalism.pdf

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Fundraising for "Atlas Shrugged, Part 2" promotion
    The producers of the "Atlas Shrugged" movie trilogy are
gearing up for production of Part 2 in 2012. Donors interested
in helping enlarge the promotional budget for the movie can
make donations through The Atlas Society.
    The Atlas Society played a major role supporting Part 1,
and are working with the producers to play do more for Part 2
this year.
    There goal is to raise $1 million to promote both movies and
to promote Objectivism: the philosophy of reason, achievement,
individualism and freedom.
    Watch the slide show here:
tinyurl.com/AtlasPromoPt2

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Podcasts by free market experts from The Heartland Institute
    The Heartland Institute is a group of free market experts
who know how to speak to politicians.
    Their four newsletters are available on the "take one" table
at Junto.
    You can watch their podcasts on these subjects and more:
* Budget and Tax
* Environment
* Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
* Health Care
* Infotech
* School Reform.
    They’ve been successful in helping get local and state
legislation written and passed. See their podcasts on
iTunes and at:
heartland.org/podcasts

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
Institute of Justice successes
    "The Institute for Justice has become a major pillar of our
free society. In area after area -- economic liberty, school
choice, private property rights -- it has provided legal defense
against assaults on human freedom. In the process, it has
strengthened and deepened liberty."
    Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman
The Institute for Justice is the nation's premier libertarian public
interest law firm. They're in courts of law across the country
winning cases, preserving freedom of opportunity and
challenging government's control over our lives.
    The cases selected for their litigation focus on generating,
developing and filing lawsuits that not only follow the strategic
litigation blueprints laid down prior to our opening, but also
those that take advantage of unanticipated opportunities to
advance and defend freedom.
    In all such instances, they advance a tactically and
philosophically consistent, long-term strategy.
    The clients they represent are aggrieved by government,
and their plights give poignant life to complex legal and
philosophical issues that frequently fail on politics rather than
succeed on principle.
    Their case profiles are on their site, organized by category:
Economic Liberty, Private Property Rights, School Choice
and First Amendment:
ij.org/mediacenter

NEW---------------------------------------------------------------------
America falls to 10th place in 2012 Economic Freedom Index
    For over a decade, The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage
Foundation, one of D.C.'s preeminent think tank, have tracked
the march of economic freedom around the world.
    Since 1995 the Index has brought Adam Smith's theories
to life by creating benchmarks that gauge liberty, prosperity
and economic freedom. The economic success of countries
is ranked.
    See how 18th century theories on prosperity and economic
freedom are realities in the 21st century.
    The Index covers 10 freedoms -- from property rights to
entrepreneurship -- in 184 countries. See it all at:
heritage.org

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NYC Ayn Rand Meetup, Sunday, Jan. 29, 3:00pm
    As always, we'll talk about Ayn Rand, her works, Objectivist
life, challenges, options, associations and knowledge.
    Give and take, open to all, no charge, no reservations.
It's at The Midtown Restaurant, 155 East 55 St., between
3rd and Lexington Avenues, mid-block on the north side
of 55th St., in Manhattan, free.
    Benny Pollack, Ayn Rand Meetup organizer says:"Join our
group of regular Objectivists for a lively discussion on topics
related to Ayn Rand and Objectivist philosophy in general.
    "Please join us. If you are already versed in the topic, want
to learn or just want to spend an intellectually stimulating
afternoon, please come. I hope to see you all there."
    The Ayn Rand Meetup is on the last Sunday of each month.
Learn more about it at:
AynRand.meetup.com/8

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Ayn Rand walking tours by Fred Cookinham
    Fred conducts many Rand tours in Manhattan. His 2012
schedule should be on his site soon:
InDepthWalkingTours.com
    For a private tour by Fred, some Saturdays, Sundays and
evenings are open. Call the phone number at the bottom of
InDepthWalkingTours.com
    Fred's walking tours keep getting better, because he never
stops researching. He's often at Junto and Ayn Rand Meetups.
    $20 per person, $15 for people 65 and older. Schedule,
directions, his other NYC tours: InDepthWalkingTours.com
****
Highlights of previous years * Fred gave special "Ayn Rand
and Free Market Tour" for Mont Pelerin Society. * Hear Fred
give "Ayn Rand's Park Ave". on BBC's Radio 4 "The Right
Stuff" on their site. * His interview on "Hardfire" Ayn Rand
Revealed, at Amazon and other places. Answers questions on
Rand's life, loves, philosophy, works and influence.
    Differences between helping a person and sacrificing,
when's "volunteering" not voluntary? Fred's interviewer then
Chair Manhattan Libertarian Party, Joseph Dobrian.
    Watch part: bit.ly/ARfred 

—————————————————————————
Memorial for Junto regular Alan Ladne
    At every Junto I can remember, Alan asked the speaker a
question or challenged the speaker's ideas or defended reason
or defended Ayn Rand's ideas. Alan usually sat in the front row,
at the speaker's left.
    Since he died on October 3rd, I've exchanged some emails
with Alan's sister. She'd tried to get him to move to Washington
state, where she lives. Part of the reason he wouldn’t move
from is home in New Jersey was that he valued Junto highly.
    Molly Hayes Sechrest, came to many Junto's before she
moved to Texas in 2005. She and Alan were good friends.
She's created a memorial page for him:
    Molly writes: "...you may wish to pay tribute to him. Those
of you who enjoyed Alan's friendship or were simply acquainted
with his quiet but passionate intellectuality and love of the arts,
may wish to write of your memory of him. Perhaps you would
like to recount an anecdote, a personal impression, or an effect
he had on the way you view something.
    "I have created a web site as a memorial to Alan and as a
way for you to express your thoughts and feelings. Just click
on the Guest Book tab -- it provides a place for comments --
whether to express humor or sadness, whimsy or seriousness,
whether brief or lengthy":
tiny.cc/AlanLadne
    You may find it interesting to read what others have written
about Alan.

—————————————————————————
NYCjunto-discuss list

Junto members can discuss Junto speakers, articles from
other places and other topics of interest.
    You can read these posts at:
yhoo.it/JuntoP
    To post to this list you need to be a member of it.
Become a member at: yhoo.it/JuntoD or send an email to:
NYCjunto-discuss-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

—————————————————————————
About this NYC Junto newsletter

* Iris Bell moderates and writes this e-newsletter
* Oleg Atbashian created NYCjunto.com. He also sends out
    this e-newsletter and cares for its email list.
* Andy George helps with the sound system and supplies
    the music.
* We're looking for volunteers to help with Junto publicity.
* Our founder and host is Victor Niederhoffer. Visit his site at:
    DailySpeculations.com
* This e-newsletter comes out twice a month. You might get an
    occasional extra email about a timely event.
* To subscribe to this newsletter put "Junto list" in the
    subject line and email your name and preferred email
    address to:
info@nycjunto.org
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END