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Comment on Progress report, and thank-you by Billy Meyers

Billy Meyers — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:29:43 +0000

Amazon has a listing for Tiassa:
http://www.amazon.com/Tiassa-Vlad-Steven-Brust/dp/0765312093/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280381152&sr=8-2

No cover or information, the only thing of note is the release date: March 29, 2011. I wonder if it’s accurate?

Comment on Capital Volume 1 Part 1 Chapter 1 Section 3A2b by skzb

skzb — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:59:04 +0000

Tim, the labor of shattering a glass is not socially necessary, hence does not add value. This has been explained to you before, as well as the precise definition of value being used in the text. When you try to criticize something that you clearly have not read, you just embarrass yourself.

Comment on Capital Volume 1 Part 1 Chapter 1 Section 3A2b by Tim of Angle

Tim of Angle — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:44:58 +0000

Marx was an idiot, even if he (correctly) used the serial comma.

If I take a blown glass goblet, and add a little labor to it by shattering it on the pavement, that addition of labor has not increased the value, but destroyed it utterly.

Labor has nothing to do with value, except in the fevered imaginations of those determined to find some connection. Labor determines the *cost* of a thing; value is entirely subjective on an individual basis, and only determinable in a relative way. It is the egocentric values that vary from individual to individual that makes a market possible.

Comment on Firefly novel by Steven Brust’s Firefly Fanfic

Steven Brust’s Firefly Fanfic — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:33:21 +0000

[...] Steven Brust’s My Own Kind of Freedom, a Firefly novel Filed Under: Books – Comments: Be the First to Comment [...]

Comment on Progress report, and thank-you by Dan

Dan — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:24:15 +0000

Cawti has fallen for the idealistic political attitudes expressed in the writings upon which the “movement” is based. Because of this, she is confused about her own role in the world, and therefore about how to deal with her feelings about Vlad. Apparently she still has enough respect and – shall I say it? – love for him that she does teach Vlad Norathar to like and respect his father.

Aliera is not confused at all about her political beliefs, whatever they may be. She loves only one person, and that is Aliera. (What about Mario? I dunno – maybe just a “crush” or fascination because of his savoir faire and his profession.) She is arrogant, overbearing, and self-centered. She respects Morrolan and Sethra, among others, including perhaps even Vlad to some degree. Still, though, there is no question or doubt in her mind about who is right on any question that may arise: she is, of course!

No, I don’t like the way Cawti’s treating Vlad, and I wish she’d get her mind straight. I really think she wants to, but she’s so tangled up in her mind that she keeps getting her emotional relationships mixed up with her political beliefs.

Damn – I wonder – is she blond?

Comment on Another Tiassa Update by Dan

Dan — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:47:45 +0000

“Long-time fan, first-time poster.” Sorry ’bout that…

The only Vlad “adventure” I can’t get very good with is Teckla, for way too many reasons to go into here. Suffice to say, I simply don’t see the reason for it.

Anyway, I’ve been pissed off at Vlad/Cawti/Morrolan/Sethra et al so damn many times I’ve lost count. Actually, that’s part of the fun of the books, right?

My only real gripe: while I know quality takes time, I wish Steve could write faster!

Comment on A fundamental human right by Serendipity, Medicine, Pain | Serendipity, Medicine, Pain doctor oz | Serendipity, Medicine, Pain episodes dr oz | Doctor Oz Episodes > Doctor Oz Show > Dr Oz Episodes

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:07:12 +0000

[...] Brust & his housemates have a new blog at dreamcafe.com, and kit just posted on fibromyalgia, based on a NYT article on a new drug to fight the disease, even though not all doctors believe [...]

Comment on Capital Volume 1 Part 1 Chapter 1 Section 3A2. by skzb

skzb — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:52:28 +0000

Donnie: Value bears the same relationship to price that a cow does to a cut of beef. The point is not to measure it, the point is to understand it, so we can then further our understand of the workings of capitalism.

The point may appear trivial (and, in many ways, it is), and it might seem silly to do this much work to establish that beef comes from cows; but it becomes important when you are surrounded by people who are convinced that steak grows in grocery stores.

Comment on Capital Volume 1 Part 1 Chapter 1 Section 3A2. by donnie

donnie — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:30:05 +0000

I’m sure I’m missing something here as it is very late and I stumbled on this article by mistake, but I can’t figure out what measuring somethings value would actually do for you. It obviously only has a small bearing on price, which I see will be covered later. Is it useful in a strictly barter or trade society? Even that seems like an impossible thing to actually measure and is still basically pricing it and not valuing it. I guess my question is what’s the point in measuring somethings value?

Comment on Capital Volume 1 Part 1 Chapter 1 Section 3A2. by skzb

skzb — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:48:02 +0000

You use the word “worth.” I’m not sure what you mean by it. Are you trying to be cagey in not saying “price?” If so, no, the difference in price is explained by a number of things, which we’ll be getting to later. At this point, we are only concerning ourselves with value. We haven’t even gotten to money yet.

“Then, a subtle trick happens. It somehow goes from being empirical to being definitional.”

What saw was a series of conclusions based on facts, all of which match up with observed phenomenon. If these conclusions are then used as the basis for further conclusions, I can see how that might look definitional, but I respectfully disagree.