The
Rational Argumentator
Issue CXLVIII
March 17, 2008
Abstract Chamber:
G. Stolyarov II
March 17, 2008
Mr. Stolyarov's "Abstract Chamber" is the first work in a new artistic movement, Abstract Orderism, designed to rehabilitate abstract art and employ it in the service of beauty and rationality. Abstract Orderism disputes the commonly held notion that abstract art needs necessarily be wild, chaotic, uncontrolled, and in service to the less well-formed facets of human imagination. Rather, Abstract Orderism prizes structure, regularity, pattern, and mathematical interest.
Polygon Emerald:
G. Stolyarov II
March 17, 2008
Mr. Stolyarov's Polygon Emerald depicts an arrangement of layered regular polygons (polygons with all sides of equal length. From the center outward are depicted a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, hendecagon, dodecagon, tridecagon, tetradecagon, pentadecagon, hexadecagon, heptadecagon, octadecagon, nonadecagon, and icosagon (polygon with 20 sides). As the polygons become larger, increasingly darker green colors are used, thus giving the painting a three-dimensional appearance -- as if one were viewing an emerald from one of its poles.
Tessellated Pyramid:
G. Stolyarov II
March 17, 2008
This third work of Abstract Orderism depicts a pyramid -- one of history's oldest types of structures -- ornamented by Mr. Stolyarov in a novel way. Instead of being monochromatic, this pyramid's faces are tessellated with yellow, orange, and red triangles. This is an aerial view of the pyramid, conceivable if one were approaching it from a helicopter that is slightly tilted with respect to the ground.
Portrait of Catelyn Stark:
Wendy D. Bateman
March 17, 2008
This portrait by Wendy D. Bateman of the character Catelyn Stark was inspired by George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Music
Piano Composition #5, Op. 8:
G. Stolyarov II
March 17, 2008
Mr. Stolyarov's Piano Composition #5, written in late 2001, is now available to the public for the first. Be alert for a dramatic change in the composition's mood and tempo at the beginning of the second minute. Length: 2:11. Right-click to save to disk.
Piano Composition #6, Op. 10:
G. Stolyarov II
March 17, 2008
Mr. Stolyarov wrote Piano Composition #6 in mid-2002. This work resembles a light, brisk march and conveys a sense of purpose and aspiration. Length: 3:00. Right-click to save to disk.
Piano Composition #7, Op. 12:
G. Stolyarov II
March 17, 2008
Mr. Stolyarov's Piano Composition #7, written in mid-2002, originally grew out of an attempted variation on Piano Composition #6 but eventually assumed a life of its own and became a musical work in its own right. Length: 2:43. Right-click to save to disk.
Politics
Global Warming: Man-Made or Natural?:
S. Fred Singer
March 17, 2008
In the past few years there has been increasing concern about global climate change on the part of the media, politicians, and the public. It has been stimulated by the idea that human activities may influence global climate adversely and that therefore corrective action is required on the part of governments. Dr. S. Fred Singer writes that recent evidence suggests that this concern is misplaced. Human activities are not influencing the global climate in a perceptible way.
The Future Belongs to Islam:
Mark Steyn
March 17, 2008
The Canadian Islamic Congress is launching a pernicious attack on free speech everywhere. The CIC has brought a "human rights" lawsuit against Mark Steyn for having written and published the article which appears here. All reasonable and freedom-loving individuals need to stand with Mr. Steyn against this intolerable trampling on our most sacred liberties. The Rational Argumentator makes such a stand, just as it did in defense of the heroic Danish cartoonists of Jyllands-Posten Denmark when mobs of Islamic fundamentalist fanatics threatened to murder them. This article was originally published by Macleans and is reprinted with Mr. Steyn's permission.
Making a Recession Great:
Ron Paul
March 17, 2008
House Democrats recently adopted a budget with massive tax hikes, many of which are directed at those Americans who can least afford them. By allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire in 2010, this budget will raise income taxes not only on those in the highest income brackets, but raises the lowest bracket from 10% to 15% as well. Estates would again be taxed at 55%. The child tax credit would drop from $1000 to $500. Senior citizens relying on investment income would be hurt by increases in dividend and capital gains taxes. It's not just that the Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich. They want to raise taxes on everybody. Rep. Ron Paul writes that such blunders will only exacerbate the coming recession.
"Climate has been changing cyclically for at least a million years and has shown huge variations over geological time. Human beings have adapted well, and will continue to do so."
~ S. Fred Singer
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