Jump to content
Objectivism Online Forum

JMartins

Regulars
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    172

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by JMartins

  2. "Atlas Shrugged" Movie

    in Movies, Shows, and Theatre

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    The Atlas Society posted a news update on the Atlas Shrugged movie.

    Who is Dagny Taggart?

    January 23, 2009

    Ayn Rand’s masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged, is still reaching for the big-screen!

    For those of you who keep up with movie news, the most recent discussion of the movie project took place at a film panel consisting of producers Michael Burns, Vice-Chairman of Lionsgate Films, and Howard and Karen Baldwin of Baldwin Entertainment; along with then-engaged director Vadim Perlman. The panel was held at TAS’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of Atlas Shrugged, October 6, 2007.

    The Lionsgate project came to a halt on September 30, 2008, when the company chose not to renew its option with Atlas Society trustee John Aglialoro, owner of the movie rights and current script. Now, after a waiting period through the end of 2008, Aglialoro is pursuing other options. In addition to the possibility of producing an adaptation himself, he is in discussions with private investors and film producers.

    Burns of Lionsgate remains interested in the project, however, as do the Baldwins. Aglialoro is exploring with them the possibility of a new film deal—this time without Angelina Jolie, who was previously attached to the role of Dagny Taggart. “Jolie failed to seize the opportunity, and we’re moving on,” said Aglialoro.

    Actresses who have expressed interest in the role and are reading the script include Cate Blanchett, Keira Knightly, Julia Roberts, and Charlize Theron. Randall Wallace, who wrote the current version of the script, is a strong possibility as director.

    “There are no guarantees in Hollywood,” cautions Aglialoro. “The movie may never be made.” Nevertheless, he adds, interest in Rand’s great novel continues to grow worldwide. With a huge fan base and the continuing high level of interest from the film industry, “everything looks hopeful and promising.”

    I'll be very pleased if Cate Blanchett plays the role of Dagny Taggart (though even more pleased if the project is delayed long enough for the intellectual property rights to return to ARI).

  3. Internal monologues and visual memory

    in Psychology and Self Improvement

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    While contemplating why the tv-series Dexter is so appealing to me, I figured it has to do with the personality of Dexter himself, as I strongly identify with parts of it. He's very private, organized, introverted (INTJ, no doubt), and almost consistently has an internal monologue with himself, making observations and reflecting on events or life in general.

    I'd be very interested in hearing your thoughts on internal monologues. When I asked a very extroverted friend about this, he told me that the internal monologue in Dexter is just for storytelling purposes (obviously one reason), and that he [my friend] doesn't think in that way.

    1) Do you often think in "internal monologue mode"? If so, do you use clearly defined phrases, so that your thoughts would make perfect grammatical sense to someone else if you had spoken them out loud?

    I'd also be interested in hearing some thoughs on "thinking in pictures". I don't believe I do this very much, and despite a high IQ I'm usually horrible at remembering the faces of people I've only met a few times. I've been using the brain training games at Lumosity and get top scores in all categories (90% +) except for visual memory, where I'm at a paltry 48%.

    2) Do you yourself think in both words and pictures interchangeably? This is this related to whether you're using the left or right part of the brain, I believe. Is thinking in words and pictures interchangeably something which can be trained/improved, and if you have done so, do you have any good techniques to recommend?

    Thanks, I'm looking forward to reading some insight on this.

  9. Make your bets: How long will the Obama administration last?

    in Domestic United States Politics

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    The Ron Paul faction will probably spoil the chances of the future Republican candidate. We all know how huge their movement was this election – well, by the next election they'll already be organized, fully staffed with precinct captains, better educated in their ideology/austrian economics, they'll have the added experience in activism and fundraising, they'll have their donor lists, and they'll draw in a large number of independents who are sick of the current system, as well as a large amount of the disillusioned young people who formerly voted for Obama, believing that he would bring about change. The Ron Paul candidate and the Republican candidate will most likely ruin each others chances, prolonging the status quo (and the odds of the Ron Paul candidate being the Republican candidate are very slim, considering his likely foreign policy and his somewhat crazed followers, who'll turn off half of the population).

  10. Galt's Gulch and the Producer Revolution

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    I can't load the site. It saying it doesn't exist or something. Do I need a proxy or is the site down?

    Their official website is located here.

    Their media website is located here.

    I have no trouble accessing either of them.

    Looks like they've done a Podcast on how you can be an Objectivist and a Mormon at the same time. That ought to be good. B)

    There's no denying that they hold some good values however.

  11. Galt's Gulch and the Producer Revolution

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    What exactly did Yaron Brook do to show his support for these guys again? Is there an actual endorsment on his official webpage or a page belonging to ARI? (or a video or audio of him endorsing them directly?)

    I didn't say he's endorsed them, but that he's added himself as a supporter of the FreeCapitalist cause on Facebook. It's listed on his profile, under "causes" (along with "Objectivism" and "Capitalism"). Like I said though, it's probably an honest mistake. Most likely someone invited him, and he accepted after briefly reading through the cause description, which seems to be pro-Objectivism (it says nothing about Mormonism).

  12. Galt's Gulch and the Producer Revolution

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    I have to hand it to these people – they're extremely industrious and great at activism. They have their own radio show/podcast, they run their own private university ("American Founders University"), they've made a deeply moving (though unfortunately also flawed) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O6eOFzSobM, they have a very professional portal/newssite, they have numerous study circles where they read Ayn Rand, they've recruited thousands of members on Facebook, they got both Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul to speak at their convention in Utah, they've got a multitude of successful entrepreneurial projects which funds their cause... they're clearly very dedicated at what they're doing. Of course, this all makes it all the more horrible that they're largely religious.

    I've noticed that Yaron Brook has become a supporter of their "FreeCapitalist Project" on Facebook (which is listed as a "cause"). He's also listed as a friend of Rick Koerber, the leader of the organization. I suppose Brook's support of the FreeCapitalist cause may be an honest mistake, since the cause says nothing about it being a religious one, but rather that it "rejects mysticism". Still though, it's weird that he would support a cause without doing a little bit of research on it first.

  15. Firefly

    in Movies, Shows, and Theatre

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    I've found that the most gratifying way of watching Firefly is to do so while substituting the word "reaver" with "socialist".

    Example from the episode "Bushwhacked":

    JAYNE

    Couldn't be Socialists . Wasn't Socialists . Socialists

    don't leave no survivors.

    MAL

    Strictly speaking -- wouldn't say they did.

    BOOK

    What are you suggesting?

    MAL

    Don't matter we took him off that boat, Shepherd.

    It's the place he's gonna live from now on.

    BOOK

    I don't accept that. Whatever horror he witnessed,

    whatever acts of barbarism, it was done by men.

    Nothing more.

    JAYNE

    Socialists ain't men.

    BOOK

    Of course they are. Too long removed from

    civilization, perhaps -- but men. And I believe

    there's a power greater than men. A power

    that heals.

    MAL

    Socialists might take issue with that philosophy.

    If they had a philosophy. And if they weren't

    too busy gnawing on your insides.

    Jayne's right. Socialists ain't men. Or they

    forgot how to be. Now they're just... nothing.

  16. "Atlas Shrugged" Movie

    in Movies, Shows, and Theatre

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    The rights to the movie had already been granted to the studio a long time ago, and expire in a few more years. Yaron said he hopes the movie gets bogged down until the rights expire, then ARI will have more control over any future projects. (Or something to that effect.) :unsure:

    Do anyone here know which year the property rights will return to the estate?

  17. "Atlas Shrugged" Movie

    in Movies, Shows, and Theatre

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    Casino Royale, 300, The Dark Knight, Iron Man and Gladiator were made by today's Hollywood, so I do have some hope for Atlas Shrugged. The outcome of the Atlas Shrugged movie will probably be similar to that of the Lord of the Rings triology in many ways – the product will be decent, and it'll be very inspiring to a large amount of people, but the true fans who "read the book" will find countless things to criticize. I'm sure that after Atlas Shrugged is released, as it inevitably will be one day, this forum will suffer a fate similar to that of numerous conservative forums during the "Ron Paul Revolution" – it'll be invaded not by "Paulbots", but by "Randroids" – intolerable youngsters who keep quoting Ayn Rand instead of thinking for themselves, not understanding any of the underlying philosophy. Most of them will probably be attracted to the Libertarian Party instead though.

    I'm convinced that Christian Bale, Russel Crowe, Gerard Butler, Daniel Day-Lewis and Robert Downey Junior would be able to fill the role of almost any Objectivist character in Atlas Shrugged – they all have the sort of appearance and demeanor that greatly appeals to many Objectivists' sense of life. Guy Pearce and Daniel Craig would also do great.

    I keep trying to envision what the Atlas Shrugged movie might be like if it was hyper-romanticized and hyper-exaggerated, such as 300 was.

  18. The Republic of Lakota

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted

    Post the Constitution of this Republic, if you have it, please.

    Well, it gave me a good laugh.

    Seven Sacred Instructions - Our Constitution

    January 3, 2009 by admin

    These seven Sacred Rites form the basis of the Constitution of the Republic of Lakotah:

    1. The Keeping of the Soul: Wa Nagi Gluhapi

    In order to grieve the death of a loved one, this grieving permits the resolution of things left undone, the healing of the Spirit and growth for the greater community. It allows the transition of grief to wholeness.

    2. The Rite of Purification (Steam Bath): Inipi

    In this honoring, the heat and steam from the fire in the steam bath, allow the participants to joke, laugh, sing and pray, bringing them closer to Wakan Tanka (the Great Mystery) and to honor the womens’ monthly purification.

    3. Crying for a Vision: Hanblecayapi

    The Crying for a Vision gives the participant responsibility for finding a meaningful pathway through life. During four days of fasting, the participant focuses on prayer and concentration on the meaning of his life and its direction.

    4. The Sun Dance: Wiwanyag Wacipi

    In this ceremony, Men, the takers of life, honor the Woman, the givers of life. This cerermony involves abstaining from food and water and dancing for four day. They also endure suffering - formerly shedding their own blood - so that others will not suffer. The suffering is to honor Women and Childbirth.

    5. The Making of Relatives: Unkapi

    Through song and prayer to Wakan Tanka (the Great Mystery), the exchange of sacramental food and smoking from the sacred pipe, an enduring bond of community is formed between people welcoming the new citizens to our Nation by giving them a family and clan.

    6. Preparing a Girl for Womanhood (Puberty Rite): Isna Ta Awica Lowan

    This puberty ceremony purifies a girl who has her first menstrual period, preparing her for womanhood and childbirth. In a tipi built by the girl’s family, a holy person conducts the ritual with the proper sacred objects.

    7. Throwing of the Ball: Tapa Wanka Yap

    This former rite, performed only by women, used a ball filled with buffalo hair covered with a red-and-blue painted buffalo, which represented the material and spiritual aspects of the universe. In order to receive a great blessing, participants must choose to reach for the ball, while acknowledging that not everyone will catch it. This is an affair which is designed to bring the village closer together.

    :lol:

  23. Names

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted · Edited by JMartins

    I sort of follow your thinking on Jan, but why not "John" which is even less "ethnic"?

    I did consider John for a while, but am leaning towards Ian. John is probably the most common name in western civilization, and there are several thousands of people named John Martin. Not only that, but John-Martin is a very common first name as well here in Europe, so it might lead to misunderstandings. Ian Martin is more unique, and as I said I love the look and sound of it.

    The name Ian may be of Scottish origin, but so are Scottish Terriers and Scrooge McDuck, and I've learned to love both. ;)

    *admires JASKN's signature*

  24. Names

    in Miscellaneous Topics

    Posted

    I intend to change my own name from Jan Martinsen to Ian Martin – not only because I like the look and sound of Ian Martin considerably better, but because I intend to move from Norway when I graduate, and want a more international name which will be easier to recognize and pronounce correctly by the people I'll associate with. When an American sees the name Jan, for example, he'll either interpret it as short for Janice, confuse it with Jane, or believe it to be German and pronounce it in a very annoying and awkward way.

×
×
  • Create New...