WHEN:
SATURDAY, June 27, 2009 7:00 PM

TOPIC:
The Financial Crises: Causes and Possible Cures
Video of John Allison Recorded January 29, 2009

DESCRIPTION:
The media, politicians, and even many businessmen have blamed today’s
financial meltdown on capitalism.  But is this talk, John Allison–the
longest tenured CEO of a top-25 financial services company argues that this
crisis is a legacy of the government’s anti-capitalist policies.

Mr. Allison presents his unique perspective of the financial services industry
to support his argument that massive government intervention into the U.S.
economy–from the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913 to a reckless
crusade to encourage home-ownership–laid the groundwork for an unsustainable
real estate boom.  He offers his views on what contributed to the current
financial crisis and how the government’s response to the inevitable bust–a
frenzied series of bailouts, nationalizations, and “stimulus” efforts–is
only making things worse.

Finally, Mr. Allison discusses some of this proposed immediate and long-term
solutions for moving us towards a stronger economy.  He concludes that
capitalism, far from being the cause of today’s crisis, is its only cure.

BIO:
John Allison is chairman of the board of BB&T Corporation.  He began his
service with BB&T in 1971, became president in 1987 and was elected chairman
and CEO in 1989 (serving as CEO until the end of 2008).  During Mr. Allison’s
tenure, BB&T has grown from $4.5 billion to $137 billion in assets.

WHERE:
Jackie & Lyman Hazelton’s Home
2153 E. Alameda Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
480-921-1156
Use http://www.mapquest.com/ to get directions from your location.

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-8707 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation.

WHEN:
TUESDAY, June 2, 2009 6:30 PM

TOPIC:
Ten Philosophical Mistakes
by Mortimer J. Adler
Chapter 6 Happiness and Contentment

LEADER:
Jackie Hazelton

DESCRIPTION:
Ten Philosophical Mistakes is about basic errors in modern thought-how they
came about, their consequences, and how to avoid them.  Each month, we will
discuss one of the ten mistakes, what it is and how it relates to
Objectivism.  Does Objectivism make the mistake or solve the mistake?
The leader summarizes the chapter and leads the discussion.

WHERE:
Jackie & Lyman Hazelton’s Home
2153 E. Alameda Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
480-921-1156
Use http://www.mapquest.com/ to get directions from your location.

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-8707 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation

WHEN:
SATURDAY, May 16, 2009 7:00 PM

TOPIC:
Letting Go of God
Video Starring Julia Sweeney

DESCRIPTION:
Rob Kendt of the Los Angeles Times writes:
Religion is just too easy a target for mockery.  Seen from the outside, any
supernatural belief system can seem absurd.  You drink your God’s blood?  You
could be a gnat in your next life?  You can’t eat what?

Which is why Julia Sweeney’s brave, hilarious, ultimately moving new solo show
“Letting Go of God” is a gale-force breath of fresh air into the mostly
politic dialogue about religion in our time–which liberals of every faith
have largely ceded to fired-up fundamentalists.  The humbly sage Sweeney has
needling questions that can’t be swatted away with the laughing, lukewarm
tolerance we typically afford faith-based humor, as if to say: Gosh people
believe funny things, but don’t we all?

We shouldn’t laugh so dismissively, Sweeney insists, at others’ beliefs or our
own assunptions.  While she scores some easy, flawlessly deadpan laughs at
the expense of Mormonism, Deepak Chopra, astrology and Catholicism (the
tradition she says she was happily raised in) she is after much bigger game
than cheap disdain.  As she says to an imaginary God she’s at last parting
with near the show’s end: “It’s because I take you so seriously that I can’t
bring myself to believe in you.”

Looking very at home with herself, on a set dressed like a study rife with
religious books and artifacts, Sweeney delivers her monologue with her
trademark blend of ironic confidentiality and best-friend candor.

Believers of all stripes and intensities, as well as nonbelievers who may
scoff a little too facilely, will be challenged and disarmed with
stick-in-your-throat laughter by Sweeney’s utterly uncynical, blisteringly
honest testimony.

WHERE:
Jackie & Lyman Hazelton’s Home
2153 E. Alameda Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
480-921-1156
Use http://www.mapquest.com/ to get directions from your location.

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-8707 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation.

WHEN:
TUESDAY, May 5, 2009 6:30 PM

TOPIC:
Ten Philosophical Mistakes
by Mortimer J. Adler
Chapter 5 Moral Values

LEADER:
Warren Egmond
Bill Perry to provide Objectivist commentary

DESCRIPTION:
Ten Philosophical Mistakes is about basic errors in modern thought-how they
came about, their consequences, and how to avoid them.  Each month, we will
discuss one of the ten mistakes, what it is and how it relates to
Objectivism.  Does Objectivism make the mistake or solve the mistake?
The leader summarizes the chapter and leads the discussion.

WHERE:
Jackie & Lyman Hazelton’s Home
2153 E. Alameda Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
480-921-1156
Use http://www.mapquest.com/ to get directions from your location.

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-8707 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation.

WHEN:
SATURDAY, March 21, 2009 7:00 PM

TOPIC:
The Menace of Pragmatism: How Aversion to Principle Is
Destroying America
By Tara Smith
Video Recorded December 8, 2008

DESCRIPTION:
Shouldn’t we be pragmatic?

While Americans disagree vehemently about all manner of moral and political
issues, beneath that disagreement rests the shared presumption that the way
forward is always through moderation and compromise. In intellectual
method–i.e., in our way of addressing problems and disagreements–Americans
are united as pragmatists. Contrary to pragmatism’s image of reason and
practical good sense, however, pragmatic methodology is actually
self-destructive.

Dr. Tara Smith explains what pragmatism is and the countless ways it is
manifested across the cultural spectrum. She analyzes the major elements of
pragmatism’s appeal as well as its fundamental errors. Dr. Smith also surveys
the vast damage that pragmatic methods inflict, damage that is spiritual as
well as material. Finally, the lecture considers the most effective means of
dethroning this pervasive–and destructive–mindset.

© 2008 Ayn Rand Institute. All rights reserved.

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-4175 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation

WHEN:
TUESDAY, March 3, 2009 6:30 PM

TOPIC:
Ten Philosophical Mistakes
by Mortimer J. Adler
Chapter 3 Words and Meanings

LEADER:
Jackie Hazelton

DESCRIPTION:
Ten Philosophical Mistakes is about basic errors in modern thought-how they
came about, their consequences, and how to avoid them. Each month, we will
discuss one of the ten mistakes, what it is and how it relates to
Objectivism. Does Objectivism make the mistake or solve the mistake?
The leader will summarize the chapter and lead the discussion.

WHERE:
Jackie & Lyman Hazelton’s Home
2153 E. Alameda Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
480-921-1156
Use http://www.mapquest.com/ to get directions from your location.

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-4175 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation.

WHEN:
WEDNESDAY, February 25, 2009 6:30 PM

TOPIC:
Professor Michael Huemer speaks on
An Intuitionist Debates the Objectivist Ethics

DESCRIPTION:
Michael Huemer has an upcoming debate with Onkar Ghate about the Objectivist
conception of ethics, scheduled for March 2nd in Boulder. He will preview
what he plans to say and take questions and comments.

BIO:
Michael Huemer received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1998 and is
presently a professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
He is author of Skepticism and the Veil of Perception as well as several
academic articles. His research focuses on espistemolgy and meta-ethics with
special research interests in perception, akepticism, free will, moral
realism and ethical intuitionism.

WHERE:
Jackie & Lyman Hazelton’s Home
QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-4175 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation

WHEN:
SATURDAY, January 17, 2009 7:00 PM

TITLE:
Playing Ball with Objectivism: The Ethics of Sports
Talk by Shawn Klein at the 2008 Summer Seminar
We will listen to the talk and view the slides.

ABSTRACT:
Sports have long been a part of human civilization, and they play a signifcant
role in the lives of most people. They also raise a wide range of important
ethical issues, and on many of these, Objectivism offers a unique and novel
perspective. In this session, Professor Klein discusses many of these
provocative issues, including good sportsmanship, fair play, and
performance-enhancing technologies. He also asks whether being a loyal fan of
one’s local sports club makes one a tribalist and whether the commercialism
of sports is a positive development.

OUTLINE:
I. INTRODUCTION
-Ethical issues in sport
- Sport as exemplifying Objectivist virtues and values
II. SPORTSMANSHIP AND FAIR PLAY
- Does sportsmanship and fair play require altruism?
III. PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES AND DRUGS
- Are bans of performance-enhancers objectivs?
- Are such bans part of an anti-technology bias?
IV. ETHICS OF FANDOM
- Are fans of teams engaging in tribalism?
- Does fandom lead to evny and hate?
V. COMMERCIALIZATION OF SPORT
- Does money corrupt sport?
VI. CONCLUSIONS

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-4175 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation

WHEN:
TUESDAY, January 6, 2009 6:30 PM

TOPIC:
Ten Philosophical Mistakes
by Mortimer J. Adler
Chapter 1 Consciousness and Its Objects

LEADER:
Jackie Hazelton

DESCRIPTION:
Ten Philosophical Mistakes is about basic errors in modern thought-how they
came about, their consequences, and how to avoid them. Each month, we will
discuss one of the ten mistakes, what it is and how it relates to
Objectivism. Does Objectivism make the mistake or solve the mistake?
The leader will summarize the chapter and lead the discussion.

WHERE:
Jackie & Lyman Hazelton’s Home
2153 E. Alameda Dr., Tempe, AZ 85282
480-921-1156
Use http://www.mapquest.com/ to get directions from your location.

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-4175 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
Snacks or beverage to share or a monetary donation

TOPIC:
Solstice Party & Gift Exchange

WHEN:
SATURDAY, December 20, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

Jackie & Lyman Hazelton are hosting the 10th annual
Arizona Objectivists’ Solstice Party at their home on
Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 6 PM. Note earlier
start time.

DINNER:
The traditional Pizza ordered out.
There will also be holiday sweets for dessert and
non-alcoholic beverages. If you have special dietary needs or
would prefer an alcoholic beverage, please feel free to bring
what you require or desire, for yourself or to share.

GIFT EXCHANGE:
We will play a present guessing game to sharpen our logical
reasoning skills and get to know each other better. Please
bring a wrapped gift worth around $15 which represents
something about yourself (but of course should be an object
that someone else might like). Before entering, place the gift
in a brown paper bag (at the door) and then deposit it in the
guest room. After dinner, we will draw numbers and begin the
present selection and analysis. Each gift will be opened, written
down on your list and analyzed. Gift swapping will commence
once the last gift is opened. Then you must finalize your guess
at who gave each gift. We’ll exchange papers. Starting with the
first gift, the real giver reveals himself/herself and explains the
gift selection. Why, for example, he gave the CD and a
potato perched on a styrofoam couch. The person who gets the
most correct gets an additional gift. Ayn Rand’s Collective
played this type of game at Christmas time. If you prefer not to bring
a gift, you can forego participation in the exchange but may
still assist in the guessing.

QUESTIONS:
Jackie Hazelton
(w) 480-693-4175 (h) 480-921-1156
(e) AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net
Jim Kirk
(e) JAMTKIRK_at_aol_dot_com

RSVP:
Reply to this message to AZObjectivists_at_cox_dot_net or
Call Jackie Hazelton at 480-921-1156

BRING:
A $5 contribution for pizza and a wrapped gift worth around $15.
In previous years gifts included books, CD’s, alcohol, DVD’s,
tools, candy, a hand knit afghan.