Dagny

One of my favorite all time scenes is Drummond's closing speech in the movie "Inherit the Wind" as acted by Spencer Tracy (who by the way gives a great performance). Here's a snippet... go to this link to see all of it... or better yet go see the movie it's one of my favorites. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeec...ritthewind.html Brady: On what grounds?! Is is possible that something is holy to the celebrated agnostic? Drummond: Yes. The individual human mind. In a child's power to master the multiplication table, there is more sanctity than in all your shouted "amens" and "holy holies" and "hosannas." An idea is a greater monument than a cathedral. And the advance of man's knowledge is a greater miracle than all the sticks turned to snakes or the parting of the waters. But, now, are we to forgo all this progress because Mr. Brady now frightens us with a fable?! Gentlemen, progress has never been a bargain. You have to pay for it. Sometimes I think there's a man who sits behind a counter and says, "Alright, you can have a telephone, but you lose privacy and the charm of distance." "Madam, you may vote, but at a price. You lose the right to retreat behind the powder-puff or your petticoat." "Mr., you may conquer the air, but the birds will lose their wonder and the clouds will smell of gasoline." Darwin took us forward to a hilltop from where we could look back and see the way from which we came, but for this insight, and for this knowledge, we must abandon our faith in the pleasant poetry of Genesis. Brady: We must not abandon faith! Faith is the most important thing! Drummond: Then why did God plaint us with the power to think?! Mr. Brady, why do you deny the one faculty of man [that] raises him above the other creatures of the earth: the power of his brain to reason? What other merit have we? The elephant is larger; the horse is swifter and stronger; the butterfly is far more beautiful; the mosquito is more prolific. Even the simple sponge is more durable. Or does a sponge think? Brady: I don't know. I am a man, not a sponge. Drummond: Well, do ya think a sponge thinks? Brady: If the Lord wishes a sponge to think, it thinks! Drummond: Do you think a man should have the same privilege as a sponge? Brady: Of course! Drummond: This man wishes to be accorded the same privilege as a sponge! He wishes to think!!

I don't know why I didn't think of him sooner. At first I was just thinking of actors and celebrities .... but as Felipe and others have said its about character too. Howard Hughes ....pre-mustache....was sooo hot. I mean what's not to like ladies! He's a test pilot...capitalist millionaire....creative (made movies) and....definitely HOT!!! Check out the pictures below.

I grew up with a Catholic background but no one in my family was ever religious and never went to church. I was interested in religions and wondered why people believed what they did. I did read the bible but was not really satisfied with what the church offered. Also having learned in school about scientists getting killed by church for their discoveries pretty much put me off religion in general. During my teens and early twenties i studied about other religions and political views. I was trying to find myself....find out what I believed in. I had always loved to read and had been taught the value of hard work by my parents but I didn't have any philosophy to guide me. I basically didn't know what to do with my life so I dropped out of UCLA where I had been planning to major in microbiology only because my parents wanted a doctor in the family. I got myself a full time job working for a real estate appraisal company. During those years my boss, who is a Republican, listened to Larry Elder every day which meant everyone else in the office did too. I also learned alot about the economy and real estate. Having grown up in Los Angeles public schools I'd been brainwashed by liberal union teachers into thinking bussinessmen were all evil, etc. but I realized while working that it was not case at all. I met a lot of hard working people earning over $100k a year but also working 60-70 hours a week. I went back to college and decided to major in economics. I got a fastweb email about the Ayn Rand Institute college scholarship. I read the Fountainhead & Atlas Shrugged. The Fountainhead made me realize why I was so lost....I had been instilled with Keating-like values from my teachers/friends all my life. Atlas Shrugged made me want to learn more about Objectivism.

welcome to the forum! completely agree with you on the comment you made about Kubrick. someone once recommended Clockwork Orange to me and I completely hated it. i posted my comments in the worst movies thread. anyhoo...welcome again and enjoy.

Ok, first let me say I was never a Pitt fan until I saw Fight Club. In it he was totally funny and witty and a smartass. Before the Passion came out... I used to think Jim Caviezel was handsome. In Count of Monte Cristo he was so young and debonaire looking. I think its more personal preference but I like tall, manly guys who are smart and funny. Manly doesn't mean bulging muscles...just not the pretty-boy type. Cary Grant is quite handsome in Notorious...I heard they modeled James Bond after his spy movies.

It's been awhile but I remember from geometry something about Euclid proving Pythagoras' theorem. He wrote Elements ...and nowadays everyone refers to it as Euclidian geometry. Then again, its been awhile.

My favorite episode so far has been that one where he has flashbacks of his past and they explain how he got the limp. I love it because he is teaching a med school class (a different setting than the usual) and explaining three different cases. I don't have a problem with his sarcasm...i think its quite funny and witty. I love that he's honest and how easy he can tell when people are lying to him. "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence" -unknown P.S. does anyone know where that quote came from? i've tried looking it up but have not found anything.

i'm a bit late on this post...just wanted to say about all the children's pics... AAAAWWWWWW...... all i have right now are two cute hamsters ...Nina and Hammie....while i consider them my little darlings ...i look forward to having a human baby someday...not for a few years though.

I just remembered the My teacher is an Alien series by Bruce Coville. My favorite of the series is "My teacher glows in the dark".

My brother's favorite books were Lord of the Flies and the Outsiders...I read them and thought they were pretty good too. I could see how both would appeal to young boys.

that's exactly what i mean. remember that a few books back... GOF i think... the Sorting Hat kept talking about House unity.

How about Hugh Laurie (from the TV show House) for Hank Rearden? He's about the same age and he's great at sarcastic yet witty remarks.

Interesting theory but how do you explain that new portrait of Dumbledore in his office? Every headmaster has a portrait that appears there when they're dead. It's on page 626 of the US version. I think Dumbledore is going to help Harry as well in the 7th book but I figured he'd do it through the talking painting. Also I've heard on other forums theories brought up that Lily Potter will turn out to be related to the Weasleys somehow...hence her red hair.

House (love it!) King of the Hill Malcolm in the Middle Simpsons I love Lucy The OC (only started watching the reruns this summer and got hooked) Hell's Kitchen GlobeTrekker PBS documentaries As you can tell I watch a lot of FOX (don't have cable).

A tattoo just seems like so much of a committment to me. I know you can get them erased with lasers and all...but it still seems like a huge step. If I were to get one ..it would be tiny and somewhere not visible. I can't even commit to wearing the same jewelry for more than a month (i.e. i don't wear any). Also I fear I couldn't stand the pain. However, I have recently begun giving blood as well so it probably won't ever happen. (Type O positive ) Still, if people like them and don't mind the sting...it's all cool. Props to the guy with Ayn Rand on his arm.

I was reluctant to see this movie as the book had been a favorite of mine as a child and was a fan of the movie made in 71'. I really couldn't think of any way they could possibly make it better. However, this movie exceeded my expectations and more. The special effects, sets, costumes and scenery were exquisite. They kept all the cute parts from the 71' movie but added a lot more. There are many new scenes added that enhance the story and let you get to know Willy Wonka a lot better. You see how he built his candy empire using his genius. There is also an underlying theme that hard work will get you through tough times. While this was definitely not Depp's best performance everything else more than makes up for it. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to any Dahl fan. Has anyone else seen it? What were your thoughts?

That was who I thought of as well. I'm wondering if the other two horcruxes might not be the other House items. Luna could end up being the Ravenclaw heir and Ernie McMillan the Hufflepuff heir. I don't have any solid evidence for this but it would give a reason as to why their characters have been around lately.

Off the top of my head....I'd have to say A Clockwork Orange is one of those movies I couldn't stand. This movie had been recommended to me by a few people and the premise of mind-alteration looked interesting. However, I thought the entire movie was done terribly. In the end they have to restore him to his "normal" depraved self so that he may survive in society. I was really disappointed and disgusted.

According to the posts it is not the brother's fault he's gotten as ill as he is either. The fact that he used to be quite a successful broker should count for something. This is not some bum she is picking off the streets. It is someone she's known all her life. It is someone's who became ill and is now probably suffering from depression from the misfortunes in his life. It is not about a charity case, like he said. In the end it is the brother's choice whether he accepts the sister's conditions. But the thread asked us whether we thought her conditions were wrong I still think they are....the one about the religion anyhow. This country's founders believed in the principle that no one can impose their religion on anyone else ...I find it hard to believe that many here don't agree.

I don't think it's right to impose your beliefs on anyone else. If they ask about them its one thing but to purposely take advantage of someone else's misfortunes to manipulate them into learning about them is plain wrong. Everyone goes through hard times and family should be there to help one another out... occassionally. I agree with your sister that he should take whatever job he can get (if only temporary) to help pay for his keep. But otherwise I think she's wrong. just out of curiousity....why hasn't your brother asked you for help? how would you go about helping him (assuming you are able to)?

sounds fun...count me in!

I'm afraid I don't have sufficient knowledge on this subject to make a contribution to the discussion. I am planning on reading a lot this summer to make up for it. However, I'd like to say that as an econ major I've thoroughly enjoyed this thread and would like to thank Nimble for starting it and AWest, pi-r8 and everyone else for providing great information. This is why I come to this forum! =-)

This past semester I met (in one of my college classes) this guy who had spent 2 years in China and was going back this summer to live there permanently. He is actually American but was talking about how much he loved China. He spent every class saying things like "China is going to be the next superpower. The US is going down!". I kept my distance from him because I thought he was full of bs but now all these recent reports on China has left me wondering.

welcome to the forum! nice to see a fellow econ major. I was just in London this past February. Great city... can't wait to go again. I'm in Los Angeles and going to UCLA.

As many are opposed to Jolie...Garner would be a great choice. I also thought of Michael Vartan for Rearden...yes I know he's young...but you can always dye some hair. As for Dominique I was thinking Diane Kruger and Rose Byrne for Katie. Also, Brad Pitt is the only one that comes to mind for John Galt. He's already expresse interest in playing Howard Roarke. p.s. I loved Pitt in Fight Club.