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Count me in... thanks Rusty. This is good stuff. VJ - pick me up a copy too? LOL. I'll try the paperback store but my guess is they're sold out. hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Let's get going.

purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Okay, peeps. I'm four chapters in. I didn't realize my copy is printed in a 8 point font and I have to use the husband's reading glasses to read it. Needless to say, it's a little slow going.

Maybe we should do a discussion on a group of chapters per week instead of chapter by chapter. At 1000+ pages, we'll have 800 subjects!

Thoughts?

Okay, so I'm sure I'm in the minority of women on this one, but....I really, really like the back story of Dagny and Francisco. (Yeah I'm looking at the girly stuff first. Shut it.) It's like a blossoming BDSM relationship. The only thing that's frustrating is not knowing his thought process.

Oh, and I loved Dagny telling Conway she'd help him fight for the survival of the Phoenix-Durango.

Vicki Jean wrote: "be prepared to be disappointed in that back story Jini. Miss Dagny is no less flawed than her snake of a brother"

Ugh. Of course she is.

Rearden's party was interesting, too. I get how out of touch he is with his family, but all those statists Lillian invited! Yikes! And Francisco throwing James' ideals back in his face...wow.

VJ - thanks a googleplex! Just got the book today and am starting in. I've got a big task in catching up but can't wait. I'll echo Jini... the #font is daunting but I'll make do, and catch up.

VJ, you can read this book 5 times and still pick up on new insights. I don't know how many times I have read it, but it must be around 7-10 times (over 10 years). It is daunting for the first read, and it does take a bit to sink in, but have faith, when the moment comes you will be pleased.

I hate to say I haven't picked it back up in several days and I need to. I want to! I think I'm only through chapter six right now, but this week and next are crazy. Who can invent a 26 hour day for me?

I don't know about a 26 hour day, but I am working on inventing a desk pillow... I believe there is a market for it.

Just picking up to Chapt 6. Something that's struck me this time around so far is an interesting lack of context for younger readers picking this up for the first time. Trains... steel mills. We don't have those anymore. I can remember as a kid, going to bed in summer, sunlight still fading and hearing the trains in the distance. I also had the chance to tour the Ford factory and steel mill while attending a family reunion in Michigan. Massive quantities of molten steel is quite a sight.

plenty of places to live if you don't mind sucking on the government tit to pay the rent.

VJ - the Little League team I played on was named the Raineers. I never understood that. I'd like to think that is my answer. Cool!

SSH - that's Obama's plan, and to date he's been very successful. Everything he's done has been geared toward destroying our economy. He needs the volkes to dependant on the state - even if they hate what he's doing. Right now, he's winning - but stands to lose big in November if we keep active.

Vicki Jean wrote: "who is done with part one?"

I'm about 100 pages away from it. With any luck I'll be there by the weekend.

I'm right behind Jini.

Nope. Not going to finish it by the end of the weekend, I don't think. I just stopped at the last chapter of part one and I'm doubting I'll be able to pick it up again before Tuesday. Maybe tomorrow if I don't feel guilty about not doing laundry when my kid's down for a nap, but who knows.

Okay, now that that's out of the way. Who else wants to bitch-slap Mowen and James? Not to mention Cheryl for being such a starry-eyed dumbass.

atomic elbow on the way.

Vicki Jean wrote: "poor Cheryl, poor poor Cheryl. I assure you she has the best of intentions......
Nick stay off Cheryl, Mowen and James are fair game though ;D"

Were we that stupid at 19? Yeah, I guess we were. Damn.

Part one finished. Glad Wyatt torched the place in a grand "fuck you" to the government.

And I'm continually amazed how people today think that socialism is a good thing. I just want to slap people upside the head. Can I do that?

Vicki Jean wrote: "Do any of you identify with any one of the characters specifically yet? Do you recognize traits that se tyou apart from co-workers, firends, family..."

Sounds so typical, but right now I'm identifying with Dagny, probably because she's really the only woman of substance to come out so far. I can't say that I have her drive - that knowing who you were and what you were going to do with your life from that young age - but I like to think I have her straightforwardness.

I'd say I don't differ from my coworkers - I'm luck to work for a very Republican office where everyone speaks the Code.

I differ from about 98% of my friends, though. I'm a theatre wonk, and theatre people tend to be very liberal. I just shake my head and put my little zingers in when I can. We rarely talk politics; we kind of agree to disagree most of the time, shaking our heads at the foolishness of the other.

I'd love for there to be a Republican Meet-Up or something around here.

I'm up against the same thing as before in that I don't personally identify with any of the characters. That fact has kept the story at arms length, but I see that as a good thing.

So Jini - why not host your own Repub meetup?

Not Bill wrote: "So Jini - why not host your own Repub meetup? "

I don't have the time to do it. I've got a toddler, work full-time, and am the owner of a start-up theatre company (Facebook: Final Word Performing Arts Company). If someone says "Hey, we're meeting here, come on over!" I'm interested, but there's no way I can put one more thing on my plate.

And Nick, where's that clock with the extra hour?

Jini wrote: " And Nick, where's that clock with the extra hour? "


I didn't say I would invent a 26 hour clock, that was VJ.



Also I think Ayn Rand does elude to how things went so bad... Are the first time readers to the Motor company yet?

I'm already into pt 2. And I'm considering myself a first time reader. The first time I read it, it was basically science fiction to me (which I love) but it didn't seem plausible. Egg, meet face. Has Rand alluded as to how things went so wrong by end of pt 1? I'll say not just alluded but pretty much spelled it out, and we're seeing it played out for real right now. Even Time Mag recently had an article on the drastic increase in American ex pats going Galt. Over the last 2 years, the rate of Americans overseas turning in their passports has more than doubled and that is not including those requests that are still tied up in beaurocracy.

I've been a huge fan of Sowell's for years. He's been a steady voice for conservatism for a long time, and because he's black, he's been villified by the left and the media and has acquitted himself with untold dignity.

For me, right now what I see reflected in the book and in our current situation is the denigration and distruction of ingentuity on the part of the individual. Without this ethos, where would we be? In short, Einstein prolly would have remained in the employ of Nazi Germany. Not good.

Had my mom over for lunch today... Mother's Day and all. Killer lunch, and yes you are all jealous as HELL that you weren't here. Trust me. Anyway, she say Atlas Shrugged on the bookshelf. That started a great conversation. My mom grew up in the Detroit suburbs during the heyday of the auto industry. She knows of what Rand writes about. A great day.

Rusty wrote: "Somehow they'll twist it so it's all about global warming.

I have a question, though. Within Rand's philosophy, what is the role of the individual who is not an inventor, or innovator, or a g..."


I meant to respond to you about this before, Rusty. Ayn Rand (IMO) wrote to the industrialist because they are the people with the ability/resources to foster change. They were the folks she was trying to capture and draw attention to what was coming down the pipe.

As to what she wanted from the individual, genius or otherwise was to work toward your dreams. To achieve your own way, by your own means. I don't think it can be boiled down any further then that. Oh and kill anyone that says money is the root of all evil.

Sorry all...I haven't picked up AS in almost a month. Yes, I'm going to get back to it when I stop running around doing theatre and a quick movie next week. Plus - confession time - someone loaned me a copy of the new Stephanie Plum novel and I'm reading that.

The LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Anyone who distorts the truth for their own financial gain (clinton, gore, obama-rama) needs to be taken to task. And taken from the political world. Also, we all have the greatest political weapons in our own wallets. Don't buy anything from any company that supports the liberal agenda; Home depot, target, amazon, ge, etc. Personally, I felt that Ayn Rand was telling me that I had the power to change our system with every personal decision.
Oh, and is now supporting the new "non-acorn" voter intimidation and fraud program. Find the contributors, dog them and stop this train wreck

I'm hoping to get back soon as well. This vertigo thing has me messed up.