Atlas Shrugged – Day 016 – pp. 154-163
Dagny questions the story… Can’t imagine why. However Francisco walks up and says he believes the story. The storyteller walks away in a huff — Nobody likes Francisco anymore…
He chuckled at her bursque departure. Dagny asked coldly, “What’s the joke?” (more…)
Atlas Shrugged – Day 015 – pp. 144-153
Of course all that is lost on Jim who is a capitalist when it suits him and a “progressive” the rest.
Now Rand shifts gears once again to Dagny who is in some bit of awe of Henry Rearden. Perhaps since the d’Anconia thing didn’t work out…
But who’s this approaching Hank now? (more…)
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.” (more…)
Atlas Shrugged – Day 013 – pp. 124-133
“Whether I did it on purpose,” he said, ‘or though neglect, or through stupidity, don’t you understand that that doesn’t make any difference? The same element was missing.”
Same element? Hmmmmm.
Atlas Shrugged – Day 012 – pp. 114-123
“It was long past midnight when she awakened in bed by his side.”
What the hell?..
Atlas Shrugged – Day 011 – pp. 104-113
On the ride home, Dagny asked her mother,
“Mother, do they think it’s exactly in reverse?”
“What” Mrs Taggart asked bewildered
“The things you were talking about. The lights and the flowers. Do they expect those things to make them romantic, not the other way around?”
“Darling, what do you mean?”
“There wasn’t a person there who enjoyed it.” she said, her voice lifeless, “or who thought or felt anything at all. They moved about, and they said the same dull things they seay anywhere. I suppose they thought the lights would make it brilliant.”
“Darling, you take everything too seriously. One is not supposed to be intellectual at a ball. One is siplysupposed to be gay.”
“How? By being stupid?”
“I mean, for instance, didn’t you enjoy meeting the young men?”
“What men? There wasn’t a man there I couldn’t squash ten of.”
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…
Atlas Shrugged – Day 009 – pp. 84-93
It’s become do or die for the Taggarts. “I was counting on Colorado to save the Taggart system, Now it’s up to me to save Colorado.”
But Hank thinks Colorado is booming…
Atlas Shrugged – Day 008 – pp. 74-83
“The proposal which they passed was known as the “Anti-dog-eat-dog” Rule”
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.
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.
Atlas Shrugged – Day 005 – pp. 44-53
Quite a cast we’ve assembled so far. Two sets of balls in the bunch and one of them belongs to a woman.
Chapter III – The Top and the Bottom … (interesting title)
Atlas Shrugged – Day 004 – pp. 33-43
We’ve got company.
His wife Lillian, his mother, his brother Phillip and an acquaintance Paul Larkin.
Henry’s late for (missed actually) dinner which apparently he promised he’d be home for. Time to dive into his head as we contrast him with the other (undoubted) losers in the room.
He has a great desire to tell the story behind his being late; that they’ve just poured the first heat of Rearden Metal but finds himself unable to do it, feeling as if he’d be making an excuse. Instead he acquiesces and apologizes.
Requisite ball busting ensues.
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…
Atlas Shrugged – Day 002 – pp. 13-22
Well we haven’t met one of the most famous opening lines in literature yet.
I mean with Ishmael you knew who you were talking to right off the bat… But let’s press on.
A-HA!
Atlas Shrugged – Day 001 – pp. 2-12
Ayn Rand is a libertarian prophetess along the lines of George Orwell. You know what gives a prophet the ability to see into the future? It’s nothing divine, nothing mystical.
(more…)
Today, I am setting out upon a mighty quest.
One that few have dared set out upon. One that fewer still have completed.
Attempted by both great and lesser men, it has raised lesser men to greatness simply by it’s completion. (And by that I mean anyone who’s done it’s a better man than me sister….)
I have attempted it before myself. And each time I have failed.
But this time I am determined.
This time I will begin at the beginning and not stop until my trek is complete, until my journey is at its finish.
(more…)