tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post4490171568818545290..comments2023-12-20T04:18:41.617-06:00Comments on The Hunting of the Snark: Atlas Shrugged: The Mocking Part 8Susan of Texashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-20742475089245787252014-01-19T22:14:07.695-06:002014-01-19T22:14:07.695-06:00"Rand was a monster that I suspect had autism..."Rand was a monster that I suspect had autism or at least asperger's. At least that's why I tell myself to stay sane."<br /><br />Having an autism spectrum disorder doesn't make you a monster. But thanks for offending all of us who are on the spectrum. Rand was a sociopath. She lacked emotional empathy, not cognitive empathy. Get your facts straight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-44983799590894795772012-04-08T10:18:43.395-05:002012-04-08T10:18:43.395-05:00"What, then, does the fact that she married t..."What, then, does the fact that she married this passive, feckless doormat tell us about Rand?"<br /><br />Mr Wonderful, Rand arrived in America on a temporary visa. She was due to return to Russia, the place she hated with a purple passion. Very little could have prevented that - for example, marrying an American citizen would do it. Then she met Frank O'Connor - tall, handsome, single, and too shy to chase girls. Frank was overwhelmed by Ayn's sudden attentions. Why, she even let him have sex with her! What a doll! They married, and she never went back to Russia.Phil from Columbushttp://www.phil-carpenter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-45454304929650433852012-04-07T14:19:01.254-05:002012-04-07T14:19:01.254-05:00Batocchio, I did see Passion of Ayn Rand, Mirren w...Batocchio, I did see Passion of Ayn Rand, Mirren was terrific, she really brought Rand to life. Peter Fonda was great as her weak husband. I believe the scene is where Frank starts snuggling against her and she snaps, "Must you always ask permission?" Be forewarned: there's a shot of naked Mirren and her naked lover that we could have done without.<br /><br />We've all heard the cliche of the elderly businessman who eschews his aging wife and has an affair with the young secretary. Reverse the genders and you have Rand's story. She was wealthy, famous - why not have a sizzling affair with a young buck instead of her limp husband?<br /><br />But you can't make unbridled selfishness work even in Rand's private world. She wanted her lover, but her husband and his wife couldn't stand it. Then the lover wanted to indulge his selfishness and dump the 50-ish Rand for a young model.<br /><br />In Atlas Shrugged, Rand pined for the fantasy that everyone would get along fine if they just agreed to be "rational", sadly reality beat her up on it.Phil in Columbushttp://www.phil-carpenter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-69969843120952931992012-04-07T14:06:36.596-05:002012-04-07T14:06:36.596-05:00Hi, Susan! Just ran across your site and really l...Hi, Susan! Just ran across your site and really like it.Phil in Columbushttp://www.phil-carpenter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-37658049121588560392012-03-26T16:30:40.477-05:002012-03-26T16:30:40.477-05:00I noticed that Netflix had added AS to the streami...I noticed that Netflix had added AS to the streaming. I am afraid to watch it.<br /><br />For further mockery of Rand, check out the Sewer, Gas & Electric trilogy by Matt Ruff.zombie rotten mcdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10601960953323752278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-17963064878566767972012-03-25T17:43:35.885-05:002012-03-25T17:43:35.885-05:00Susan, on PV financials: From the second response ...Susan, on PV financials: From the second response to Seife — " Since our application was accepted in April 2011, our 990 will be due on May 15 of this year." So you have almost two months to wait (plus any processing time).Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03830774223073462725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-72420073448211710352012-03-25T08:51:18.723-05:002012-03-25T08:51:18.723-05:00I do want to see that movie. I'm going to fini...I do want to see that movie. I'm going to finish Ross Douthat's book next, then watch Atlas Shrugged and review that too.<br /><br />I have become distracted by Project Veritas--I can't find any evidence that they have reported any financial information.Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-52986647614781393022012-03-25T03:24:28.861-05:002012-03-25T03:24:28.861-05:00I think even the long speeches are more bearable t...I think even the long speeches are more bearable than the sex scenes. Holy FSM, Ayn Rand could teach a Catholic priest something about demented attitudes toward sex. <br /><br />Susan, have you seen the film version of <i>The Passion of Ayn Rand</i> yet? Having Helen Mirren play her is much better than Rand deserves, and makes Rand about as sympathetic, or rather, pitiable, as can be done. It's not a brilliant film, but it's worth a look. At one point Ayn upbraids Frank for <i>asking</i> to have sex rather than just ripping her clothes off and forcing himself on her or whatever. <br /><br /><i>they were expressing their contempt and disdain for each other by having sex.</i><br /><br />Brrr. Really, if you think about Objectivism, Wall Street, and Reaganomics in terms of Rand's sexual turn-ons (from hate sex to rape) it all make sense. Rand's personal psychopathologies (or whatever you want to call them) truly are disturbing stuff. <br /><br />Everything is black and white for this breed of conservative; everything is about domination and submission. There can be no equality, no fairness. They – are – monsters.<br /><br />At least when Alberich forsakes love for power, Wagner gets some great music out of it.Batocchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-55314424908723144472012-03-24T15:01:48.116-05:002012-03-24T15:01:48.116-05:00This novel has high points?This novel has high points?Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03830774223073462725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-39398970118477383662012-03-24T15:01:37.563-05:002012-03-24T15:01:37.563-05:00This novel has high points?This novel has high points?Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03830774223073462725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-50902333623265434712012-03-24T00:43:55.536-05:002012-03-24T00:43:55.536-05:00If you wanted just to hit the high points of this ...If you wanted just to hit the high points of this novel and move on, Susan, I wouldn't object.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-16773338248232924002012-03-23T21:52:36.203-05:002012-03-23T21:52:36.203-05:00And "How could you not bow before the awesome...And "How could you not bow before the awesome power of my intellect?!"Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-38228436153807295612012-03-23T20:26:22.730-05:002012-03-23T20:26:22.730-05:00I begin to understand part of Rand's appeal to...I begin to understand part of Rand's appeal to Megan. They use the same style of reasoning. "Because I said so, and no I won't support my claim with evidence! How dare you ask such a thing?"Lurking Canadiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-19932082654436823522012-03-23T12:15:24.021-05:002012-03-23T12:15:24.021-05:00@Mandos--
No, but I highly recommend Two Girls, F...@Mandos--<br /><br />No, but I highly recommend Two Girls, Fat and Thin by Mary Gaitskill. About two acolytes of what is obviously Rand. It's about their lives and their relationship, not about the writer or her "philosophy," but you understand their attraction to both. Excellent.Mr.Wonderfulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-44894758213506541582012-03-23T10:10:29.842-05:002012-03-23T10:10:29.842-05:00I too find the autism trope tiresome. Whatever ma...I too find the autism trope tiresome. Whatever made Rand Rand, it wasn't that.<br /><br />(Any C. J. Cherryh fans here? That have read <i>Cyteen</i>? I've occasionally wondered whether Ari Emory I was modelled after Ayn Rand (with a somewhat different philosophy, maybe, but same personality)...)Mandoshttp://politblogo.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-66263808330397677082012-03-23T00:15:49.820-05:002012-03-23T00:15:49.820-05:00Rand was a monster that I suspect had autism or at...<i>Rand was a monster that I suspect had autism or at least asperger's.</i><br /><br />I'm pretty fucking tired of people suspecting this of whatever monster they have handy. It's cheap and lazy and weak and uncomprehending of what these disorders involve. Stop it.Substance McGravitashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04118764163822188800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-76653590500835800602012-03-22T18:48:46.525-05:002012-03-22T18:48:46.525-05:00I haven't seen the movie yet; I'll comment...I haven't seen the movie yet; I'll comment when I do. I'm not too surprised that they left out Rand's philosophical theories about sex but it does seem like a cowardly thing to do. Objectivism isnt' just about money, you know, it's also denouncing everyone who does not live up to your emotionally stunted standards.<br /><br />I can't stop now! I still have 899 pages to go!Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-44718573255015672312012-03-22T18:28:13.497-05:002012-03-22T18:28:13.497-05:00This is the part of the book where you're allo...This is the part of the book where you're allowed to look out over the sea of dead souls & quit.<br /><br />Just crawl through the flue, Sue<br />We know you need to.Downpuppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10312490198813632190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-62080294294983081512012-03-22T18:08:35.957-05:002012-03-22T18:08:35.957-05:00Pretty telling that in the new Atlas Shrugged (&qu...Pretty telling that in the new Atlas Shrugged ("Part I") movie, Dagny and Reardon engage in tame Movie Sex, not in a Randian display of torture and mockery and submission to the greatness of a cruel hero.<br /><br />Too much for even the modern Randroids?RubyTeahttp://heathencritique.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-33567041541944495622012-03-22T17:27:11.269-05:002012-03-22T17:27:11.269-05:00That second picture Is William F. Buckley in drag,...That second picture Is William F. Buckley in drag, right?Dr.BDHnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-91387413480155663462012-03-22T13:56:46.405-05:002012-03-22T13:56:46.405-05:00And to think, Alan Greenspan (aka "Maestro&qu...And to think, Alan Greenspan (aka "Maestro") bought this b.s.<br /><br />It's a shame we can't rid ourselves of plutocratic moochers and their enablers.<br />~ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©https://www.blogger.com/profile/06252371815131259831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-10096466875145303912012-03-22T13:06:07.053-05:002012-03-22T13:06:07.053-05:001. A lot of this stuff sounds like bondage porn or...1. A lot of this stuff sounds like bondage porn or something.<br /><br />2. How about pointing out how a lot of Rand's B.S. want out the window when she found out that her fellow adulterer was fooling around with someone much younger and hotter than her?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-57118735897514559392012-03-22T12:37:15.264-05:002012-03-22T12:37:15.264-05:00If you've ever read the pornographic novels of...If you've ever read the pornographic novels of Marquis de Sade you will hear a better, more thoughtful, and literate version of the same inhumanity Rand displays crassly. Crime is extolled and pleasure is augmented through cruelty to others. In Sade the main characters are never painted as Noble or Heroic, despite the fact they view themselves as such. They are wealthy but consider discussing it beneath them. <br /><br />I read a few pages of Ayn Rand and giggled because it read like a shrill, amateur imitation of Sade. Sade also philosophizes better in his characters' lengthy speeches.<br /><br />Pauvre de Sade.Anatole Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09475202797984385346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-43150891939206505612012-03-22T11:58:12.279-05:002012-03-22T11:58:12.279-05:00So you can judge an entire person's character ...So you can judge an entire person's character and personality from his choice of sexual partners? Does that apply to women? What, then, does the fact that she married this passive, feckless doormat tell us about Rand? <br /><br />One of the most striking aspects of all this is how OBVIOUS it all is. How subtly insightful do you have to be, to look at the well-known facts of Rand's life and realize what a blatant, childish, and pathetic fantasy her entire "philosophy" is? And, therefore, how self-blinded, deluded, and doggedly stuck in denial her acolytes were and are?<br /><br />Atlas Shrugged is as accurate a depiction of reality as a Marvel comic. At least Marvel comics have a sense of humor.<br /><br />And, of course, no mention of AS is complete (from me) without reminding you all of this:<br /><br />http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54707Mr.Wonderfulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-64304979487908115442012-03-22T11:40:18.959-05:002012-03-22T11:40:18.959-05:00Paul Ryan is married with three children. I wonder...Paul Ryan is married with three children. I wonder what Janna Little Ryan thinks of this.Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03830774223073462725noreply@blogger.com