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Absolution

Atlas Shrugged – Day 027 – pp. 264-273

Absolving himself. For his inabilities. . . For falling back on the excuse of doing things for the heart — the right reasons. The other reasons.

I wonder if Rand doesn’t think “other reasons” are valid motivations for anything. There are those who beg charity to help the less fortunate. And they are virtuous. Maybe it’s my Catholic upbringing. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve never been a zillionaire industrialist. I wonder if its expectation (of shared wealth) that she rails against.

One thing is for certain. The willingness to accept “it’s not your/my/their fault — you can’t be blamed” as an excuse is a major character flaw.

Anyway, Jim’s in the “confessional” with Cherryl — a new character – poor, awestruck shop-girl from Buffalo — talking, essentially about how everyone who’s great today, ain’t so great. . .

Continue reading “Absolution”

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The two non-followers

Atlas Shrugged – Day 018 – pp. 174-183

And what about the school teachers in New Mexico? It’s their opinion that children should not be permitted to ride on trains running on Rearden Metal.

It seems that public outrage has hit some kind of fever pitch.

I want to just pause here for a sec and think about a couple parallels I can see, as Rand describes the events.

Continue reading “The two non-followers”

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Everything’s made of Rearden Metal

Atlas Shrugged – Day 017 – pp. 164-173

Gittin’ ‘er done…

Let’s see, the new contractor Ben Nealy’s an oaf… (Jeez, even I’m not this cynical…)

“I couldn’t help it Miss Taggart,… You know how fast drill heads wear out. I had them on order, but Incorporated Tools ran into a little trouble, they couldn’t help it either, Associated Steel was delayed in delivering the steel to them, so there’s nothing we can do but wait. It’s no use getting upset, Miss Taggart. I’m doing my best.”
“I’ve hired you to do a job, not to do your best — whatever that is.”
“That’s a funny thing to say. That’s an unpopular attitude, Miss Taggart, mighty unpopular.”

Need drill heads?

“She had telephoned Rearden. He had found an abandoned tool plant, long since out of business. Within an hour, he had purchased it from the relatives of its last owner. Within a day, the plant had been reopened. Withing a week, drill heads of Rearden Metal had been delivered to the bridge in Colorado.”

Oh, come on!!!

Continue reading “Everything’s made of Rearden Metal”

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An explanation of the Mexican fiasco…

Atlas Shrugged – Day 014 – pp. 134-143

The exposition of modern thought continues for a couple pages. They seem to be able to apply their planned economic ideas to almost anything…

“There should be a law limiting the sale of any book to ten thousand copies. This woudl throw the literary market open to new talent, fresh ideas and non-comercial writing. If people were forgidden to buy a millioin copies of the same piece of trash, they would be forced to bu better books.”

There’s a brief introduction of Bertram Scudder, editor of a magazine called The Future. He had penned an article once on Hank Rearden titled “the Octopus.” Continue reading “An explanation of the Mexican fiasco…”

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Becoming a d’Anconia – pt 2

Atlas Shrugged – Day 010 – pp. 94-103

Francisco is a very directed young man. He deplores standing still. Worse yet, he despises moving aimlessly — without purpose.

Francisco was clearly the alpha dog of their little three pup pack (Dagny, Francisco and Eddie.)

He considers learning about life as or more important that spending time in libraries.

And apparently for most of his life, he has been preparing to run d’Anconia Copper.

He had an interesting take on life and wealth even as a young man…

Continue reading “Becoming a d’Anconia – pt 2”

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Disappearances

Atlas Shrugged – Day 007 – pp. 64-73

And Chapter IV — The Immovable Movers

Dagny returns from a trip to United Locomotive Works in Jersey.  She had gone to see the president about why they were unable to deliver the locomotives Taggart had ordered.

As is seemingly the norm, the president is bathing himself in self-absolution.

Upon returning she finds Eddie who tells her that McNamara (the contractor who was to finish the Rio Norte line) has quit.  Retired.  Quit. Left the business.  Walked out on a fortune worth of pending contracts.

Looks like time for a little conflict build-up.

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The Doers vs. The Blame Avoiders

Atlas Shrugged – Day 006 – pp. 54-63

Dagny has been against participating in this project from Day 1.  At the time, however she was still a low ranking employee so she was SOL as far as her opinion went.

She revisits a Board meeting in her mind where Jim speaks at length about giving the Mexican people “a chance” and the duty they as the privileged class bear to extend that opportunity.

The board sunk $30 mil into the line.

Dagny thinks of quitting but tells herself that Taggart Trans. will need her now more than ever.

So while Jim is sinking a boatload of money (roughly $275 million of 2010 dollars) Ellis Wyatt is shipping loads of oil out of Colorado making the Phoenix-Durango line rich.

When the VP of Operations resigned, Dagny forces herself into the position against Jim’s protests.

Back to the present.

Continue reading “The Doers vs. The Blame Avoiders”

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Hank Rearden – part 1

Atlas Shrugged – Day 003 – pp. 23-32

Anyway, Dagny closes the deal on Jim who accepts the decision with a running theme thus far…

“Well” she asked
“Are you taking responsibility for it?”
“I am”

The indisputable force and order she brings to the company is evidenced by how  Rand describes Eddie Willers feelings when she’s around…

Continue reading “Hank Rearden – part 1”