NOTABLOG MONTHLY ARCHIVES: 2002 - 2020

JULY 28, 2011

The Journal of Ayn Rand Studies begins its second decade with the publication of a brand new issue. As explained in my Preface to the Eleventh Year, the journal has dispensed with its Northern-hemisphere-centric "Fall" and "Spring" publication schedule, opting for real-time dates and the addition of an overall "Issue Number."

The new issue, dedicated to the memory of one of our founding Advisory Board members, philosopher John Hospers, features exciting essays in Rand studies, including:

Prometheus: Ayn Rand's Ethic of Creation, by philosophy professor James Montmarquet

Ayn Rand's Economic Thought, by economics professor Samuel Bostaph

A Political Standard for Absolute Political Freedom, by Dr. Robert Hartford

Ayn Rand, Religion, and Libertarianism, by economics professor Walter Block

The Rewriting of Ayn Rand's Spoken Answers, by psychology professor Robert L. Campbell

Essays on Atlas Shrugged, by philosophy professor Fred Seddon

The JARS website features both abstracts and contributor biographies for the current issue.

Those who have been following JARS developments know that it is now our policy to publish back issues on our site, fully accessible and free of charge to all those who visit us online. However, publication on the site lags by a full volume, which means that online publication of the current issue won't occur for at least a year, depending on the timeliness of our publication schedule.

But the good news is that just as Volume 11, Number 1 (Issue 21) appears, those who wish to read Volume 10, Number 1 (the first of two Tenth Anniversary Issues) can now access its essays here! And what an issue that was, with key essays by Roger E. Bissell, Robert L. Campbell, Kathleen Touchstone, J. H. Huebert, Fred Seddon and Roderick Long, Douglas Den Uyl and Douglas B. Rasmussen, and Peter E. Vedder. So, in a way, every announcement of a new issue of JARS brings with it an announcement that the journal will be simultaneously publishing a back issue on its website.

It also means, however, that if you want to get in on the excitement now, don't wait a year! The new issue should start making its appearance in subscriber mailboxes by mid-to-late August. So if you have let your subscription lapse, renew today, by filling out this form and mailing it in with your check or money order. Better still: Take advantage of our online Paypal Express Service (see the drop-down menu here). Our basic individual domestic rate has been the same since our very first issue, unchanged in over ten years! So act now! (Lapsed subscribers and those in need of renewal after receipt of the new issue will be hearing from us in the mail.)

Finally, it delights me to announce that with this newest issue, The Journal of Ayn Rand Studies begins a fruitful relationship with Scopus, "the world's largest abstract and citation database" of peer-reviewed research literature and quality web sources. Scopus covers nearly 18,000 titles from more than 5,000 publishers, providing "smart tools to track analyze and visualize research." Scopus will actually be abstracting and indexing JARS issues going back to 2009, providing researchers with "tools to sort, refine and quickly identify results ..."

With the addition of Scopus, and our ongoing relationship with EBSCO, JARS is now covered, in whole or in part, by 21 abstracting and indexing services in the humanities and social sciences.

I remember that in the early days of our existence, we worked diligently, clamoring at the doors of major abstracting and indexing services with the hope that they would add JARS to their databases. Such coverage is essential: It not only expands the visibility of the journal; it provides greater incentive to a diverse array of scholars to submit their papers to our peer-review process. Today, as our global reach continues to expand, it is all the more gratifying that abstracting and indexing services routinely approach JARS with invitations to add the journal to their databases.

This is an achievement that has been made possible by a team of editors, advisors, peer readers, authors, and very loyal subscribers. I extend my deepest, heartfelt appreciation to all those who have contributed to our growing success.

On to the second decade ... and beyond!

JULY 27, 2011

I have a very big announcement tomorrow about a brand new issue of a very special journal, but before getting to that, I just wanted to take note of a few encyclopedia entries, written by yours truly, which were recently published, and are now available on my site in .pdf versions:

"Libertarianism," Encyclopedia of Political Science, edited by George Thomas Kurian (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2011), Volume 3: H-M: 965-66

"Ayn Rand," Encyclopedia of Political Science, edited by George Thomas Kurian (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2011), Volume 5: R-Z: 1422-23.

"Murray Rothbard," Encyclopedia of Political Science, edited by George Thomas Kurian (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2011), Volume 5: R-Z: 1489.

Oh, and this entry...

"Ayn Rand," American Countercultures: An Encyclopedia of Nonconformists, Alternative Lifestyles, and Radical Ideas in U.S. History, edited by Gina Misiroglu (Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc.; Sharpe Reference, 2009).

... is included in an encyclopedia (noted above) that won the RUSA Award for Best Reference Work, given by the American Library Association.

Comments

Congrats Chris, that's great!

Posted by: Andrew Schwartz | July 28, 2011 12:16 AM

JULY 09, 2011

Readers of Notablog surely know that I've had a long-time bromance with the great Yankee Captain, shortstop Derek Jeter.

A few minutes ago, DJ got his 3000th hit, the first New York Yankee player... in fact, the first player in the history of New York baseball, and the 4th youngest player in MLB history, to achieve this remarkable career feat. Only 27 other players in baseball history have achieved this feat, and only 10 of these have achieved it with a single team.

DJ did it with style... a Home Run, to tie the score, 1-1, against the Tampa Bay Rays. I am so elated, so proud, so happy for this man. He is pure, unadulterated class.

Three (thousand) cheers for Derek Sanderson Jeter

Ok... there's still a ballgame to play... Yankees just went ahead, 2-1. But oh how sweet it is to see history this afternoon.

PS - DJ, who wears Number 2, hit his 2nd hit of the day at 2pm, only the 2nd player in MLB history to hit a Home Run for his 3000th hit. Oh, and this 3000th hit was his 3rd Home Run of the season.

PPS - DJ goes 5 for 5 on the day, and drives in what becomes the winning run, in a 5-4 Yankee victory!

Comments

Derek Jeter is really a pretty damn good bball player. Valued at the millions he is getting paid, don't think so.

Posted by: Gulf Shores Beach Houses | July 10, 2011 03:02 PM

I've always considered Jeter to be one of the best players of his generation. I'm looking forward to seeing your Yankees against my Texas Rangers

Posted by: David Ewing | July 14, 2011 04:24 PM

JULY 06, 2011

Song of the Day: WNEW (Theme Song), composed by Larry Green, is one of the most famous station-identification themes in radio history. I note it today in tribute to the late William B. Williams, on whose show one heard this theme music frequently. In 1958, Williams took over hosting duties for the "Make Believe Ballroom," a radio show created in 1935 by Martin Block for WNEW-AM, 1130 in New York. For his incredible work in radio, Williams was recently inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. He was the man who nicknamed Francis Albert Sinatra, "The Chairman of The Board" (links to a two-part Williams interview of Sinatra). Growing up, I regularly heard Williams' wonderful, soothing voice introducing the Great American songbook to his listeners, day after day. And this theme song, which was even recorded in 1964 by Stan Getz and Bill Evans) was omnipresent. Go to YouTube to listen to the original radio version and its countless variations, including this one and that one, and those inspired by holidays and seasons (Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer), and those done in the styles of Ray Anthony, Charlie Barnet, Count Basie, Les Baxter, Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond, Ray Conniff, Martin Denny, Les and Larry Elgart, Erroll Garner, Benny Goodman, Neil Hefti, Al Hirt, Jazz Piano, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Spike Jones, Stan Kenton, Guy Lombardo, Henry Mancini, Billy May, Glenn Miller, Gerry Mulligan, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Nat Pierce, Perez Prado, Andre Previn, Nelson Riddle, Pete Rugolo, Lalo Schifrin, George Shearing, Felix Slatkin, Bob Thompson, and Kai Winding, and then check out our host with Nat King Cole and this specially-worded tribute to William B. Williams.

Comments

Man, the WNEW Theme Song really does bring back an era, doesn't it! This is the stuff that my parents generation particularly loves and we are just now appreciating.

Posted by: Matthew the how to play harmonica guy | July 10, 2011 11:56 AM

beauty, if accompanied by music, is even more beautiful .... these pieces have touched me. Thank you very much for sharing!!

Posted by: prestiti INPDAP | July 12, 2011 03:23 AM

JULY 05, 2011

Song of the Day: The Weight of Love, music and lyrics by Peter Murphy and Paul Statham, is a highlight from the 2004 solo album, "Unshattered." Peter's velvet vocals cascade over an irresistible "sleaze-beat" bass line, infused with funk and soul. "Music fills the cracks," indeed, letting "love's spirit in." He's got a great new album, but this remains a golden oldie. Listen to the full-length version on YouTube. And happy anniversary! ;)

JULY 04, 2011

Song of the Day: The Yankee Doodle Boy (also known as Yankee Doodle Dandy), composed by George M. Cohan, made its first splash in the 1904 Broadway musical, Little Johnny Jones. For me, nobody performs it like the magnificent James Cagney (who won a Best Actor Oscar for playing Cohan) from the great 1942 Hollywood musical, "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Take a look at YouTube, and Have a Great Independence Day!