Galt's Gulch
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Producer of the Week: ObjectiveAnalyst

Posted by sdesapio 10 years, 11 months ago to Featured Producers
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ObjectiveAnalyst, a master machinist and tool and die maker, entrepreneur, student of philosophy, and much more takes a break to share with us his favorite Ayn Rand quote as well as a passion project we should all be working on.

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QUICK FACTS

*Favorite Ayn Rand book:
Don’t make me choose! However, if I could only keep one, it would have to be “Atlas Shrugged”, because of the overall encompassing philosophy as well as the entertainment value.

*Favorite Ayn Rand character:
Hank Rearden - only because I can relate so well.

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Q & A

*When were you first introduced to Ayn Rand?
About three decades ago, there was a radio talk show host in the Detroit market named Mark Scott (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Scott_...)) and he introduced me to her work. After reading “Atlas Shrugged”, I read “Philosophy: Who Needs It”, and it started my journey into philosophy and a larger world.

*How has Ayn Rand influenced your life?
She introduced me to a philosophy that said what I was thinking and reinforced my convictions while providing me with arguments most difficult to contradict.

*What passion project are you working on right now?
I am still working on my mind. I do not expect to be the smartest guy in the room, but my goal is to be a wise man. I am passionate about philosophy. Actually I have many other passions, and creating music/playing guitar is a wonderful passion that puts my mind at ease when I need it the most.

*How did you hear about Galt’s Gulch Online?
I can’t remember exactly when I heard about the first movie actually going into production, but that is when I first searched for info and found the first promo site. I have moved along with each succeeding site since.

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K’s Q & A

*What are you wearing to the Atlas Shrugged III premiere?
Well, I am usually pretty casual. The ladies always say I clean up very nicely when I wear a suit and tie, but I will probably were a nice cotton shirt with a collar, a pair of slacks and black patent leather shoes.

*What is the one phrase Ayn Rand wrote that stopped you in your tracks?
A phrase…usually this is not a complete sentence containing both subject and verb. If it pleases, allow me to offer one of my favorite quotes:

“It only stands to reason that where there's sacrifice, there's someone collecting the sacrificial offerings. Where there's service, there is someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to be the master.” - Ayn Rand

*If you could be the tycoon of an industry, which industry would you pick?
At this point, I believe I would like to be the head of a major media outlet since there seems to be such a need to reign in the political class, and I like to spout off about my views.

*What do you pack in a sack lunch?
Pastrami on rye with a nice big kosher pickle.

*Favorite current song?
Current…contemporary…impossible to decide. I am mostly old school rock & roll and love ballads, but if I must choose it would be something from OneRepublic. How about this one: Good Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZhQOvvV4...). Darn! I hate to choose just one.

*Pretzels or chips?
Chips. Bet you can’t eat just one!

*Crab or shrimp?
Alaskan king crab with drawn butter…mmmm, good.

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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 11 months ago
    How exciting to finally see you! Intense, but humorous as well. excellent picture!
    That is a great quote. and a key...people never have keys when they need them. We should do a map legend and the map is Life. Simple key would keep lots of travelers from getting lost. It's interesting that AR is responsible, in part, for your delving into philosophy. hmm...that's a good discussion to have sometime. I SOOO appreciate everytime you bring us back to philosophy. I learn alot from you in here. sigh. so glad to know some parts of you. Congratulations, OA week!
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  • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 10 years, 11 months ago
    As always, it is fascinating to meet the person behind the handle. We have Detroit in common. My biggest projects were for Ford sheet metal and General Motors engines.I never listened to Mark Scott though many of my friends recommended him. A little quirky there with the sandwiches, but interesting all in all. Thanks for being here.
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    • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 11 months ago
      Hello MikeMarotta,
      Thank you. I find your contributions to be a veritable cornucopia of info. I predict one day soon we will see you here also. In the mean time, thank's for all you share too.
      Respectfully,
      O.A.
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  • Posted by LipstickDollarSign 10 years, 11 months ago
    Finally...(half a) face to picture when I think of OA! :) (Only a true nerd would try to zoom in to see the books in your library.) Either (a) you look young for your age, (b) you're wise beyond your years, or (c) I've made the mistake of inferring that you were older. I'm thinking it's (d) all of the above. ;) I couldn't agree more with chips and crab. And Hank Rearden is one of my favorite Rand characters. You do remind me of him. One Republic was a bit of a surprise, but I'm a big fan of Good Life, Apologize, and All the Right Moves (the first for running, the latter two for yoga). By the way, I suspect that you're often the smartest guy in the room. Take care, OA.

    All the best,
    Lipstick$
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    • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 11 months ago
      Hello LipstickDollarSign,
      Thank you for the kind words. It is good to hear from you. We used to talk so much more on the old boards. Well let's see: (a) I have been told that I look younger than I am. Just the other day I asked a guy who called me a young man, "just how old do you think I am?" His reply was seven years younger than my true age! Yippee! Living in Mi. I haven't suffered much sun damage apparently. (b) I have been told that, since I was a very young lad... (C) because of a & b it is understandable. (d) sounds likely. However I do know your age and I am easily old enough to be your father. Also, the picture seems to help out since the grays in my hair are not apparent and my even grayer facial hair is hidden. As for being the smartest guy in the room... Well, I suppose it depends upon the room. Around here, I would not say so.
      Always great to hear from you,
      O.A.
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  • Posted by $ Stormi 10 years, 11 months ago
    I love your attitude. You are doing practical work while embracing philosophy. Perfect! Keep up both pursuits.
    I worked for over nine years in finance for a Machine Tool Company corporate headquarters, with branches in and outside the US. It was then run in a handshake fashion, ideas shared on the shop floor. After I left, those still there told of MBAs coming in with the new president, and within short order their ideas tanked the company. They scampered off to Calif. to do it elsewhere. They had no idea what they were producing or what it took off paper.
    Today, our daughter is co-director of a place called the Columbus Idea Foundry. The founder, a metallurgist, saw a lack in practical skills being taught in schools and decided to do something about it. He used his own money to set up a place where they could come to take classes on all types of machines to learn those skills, or better them. Our daughter is the one who makes it a business, rather than a non-profit endeavor. They are all committed to being models of making a business run and helping their students transition into jobs or small businesses. it is working, as they will move in April to a much larger facility and be the biggest such operation in the country. There are many Rand fans in that bunch.
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    • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 11 months ago
      Hello Stormi,
      Fantastic story. I deal with foundries daily. I have seen several tool & die businesses fold because an academic thought they new how to run it better than the old school hands on people did. More often than not it was a once profitable business that was left to offspring or sold to a buyer without hands on training. I have hired people that had skills away from those businesses. They tell me the new boss had big impractical ideas and little actual metal working skills. Theory is a good place to start, but it doesn't always work as planned in practice. Trade schools used to be the path for many to achieve the American dream. They offered opportunities for those unafraid to get their hands dirty, but lacked the aptitude or resources for college.Some people are just better at practical nuts and bolts than they are at book work.
      Today my biggest problem is the designers of products. They have become too dependent on CAD and lack the skills necessary to design something practical to manufacture. In the old days when we only worked with Blue prints or Brown-lines the draftsman and engineer's signatures were on the design and you could call them to get answers or deviations. Nowadays it is a joke. You get CAD files and demands to produce to their design pronto and it is near impossible to speak with anyone who can allow a deviation or even if you do get to talk to someone to make them understand/see the problem. They have only CAD experience and little if any manufacturing experience. I am often struck by their ignorance of just what they design. It is as if they design for a process they have no clue about regarding the processes capabilities. It is no wonder manufacturing and the middle class are suffering.
      It is good to know that there are others out there that do understand what it takes and are taking steps to educate. Best of success to your daughter!
      Regards,
      O.A.

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      • Posted by $ Stormi 10 years, 11 months ago
        What you say sounds oh so familiar. I have heard before that the versatility of working with CAD-limited employees is just not there. Small adjustments are just not in their realm, but might make all the difference in the production. In the old days, everyone knew something about production. I spent a year in Cost Acct. where I had to read blueprints in order to make sure all processes were on the cost sheet, or sometimes journey into the shop to the methods dept. to speak with someone about something that impacted cost. Later, when my boss became the Comptroller, he and I converted the whole accounting dept to computer (I had worked in that field several years), and we moved to that section of the building. There we worked in close contact with the VP of Mfg. and the sales and service depts. Those guys were in that shop hours a day, and knew what was needed and what was possible. When a customer was sluggish paying a bill, and they related an issue to me, I knew which person to contact to get it right so the invoice would be paid. Communication was open and ongoing. Some of top management had started after high school in the shop, or worked there summers while in college, and rose knowing the operation.
        I am told the MBAs never left the comfort of their offices and the green bar reports. They never spoke to guys in the shop, and likely would not have known what they were telling them anyway. The former CEO had run the company for many years, knew his business, but reached an age and state of health where he could no longer do it.
        Have you read "The American Machine Tool Industry" by Albert B. Albrecht? I traded a few e-mails with him after he published, as he was familiar with the the company where I had worked (in a midlife crisis thing, I quit to return to college for degrees in English and Philosophy). It was sad to see the place die. Times were tough then, but I think the former CEO could have made ti work.
        Where our daughter works, they have worked to make small scale farm machinery special ordered by foreign countries to work with the smaller tighter fields there. They give lessons, but they also do custom orders as well. They have the ability to fabricate parts, 3D lasers printing, NC machining. There are people renting space there who work on all kinds of projects on there own, sometimes becoming part of a Foundry project, or teaching a class for them. The Mayor of Columbus, OH recently was present for the ribbon cutting for their larger facility which will be ready in April.
        I am sure that Common Core will not provide the type of employees you need, in spite of the hype that it is a goal. If you don't know math, and can't think on your feet, you will be of no use to industry. .
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        • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 10 years, 11 months ago
          Exactly right... And the policies that the government has made combined with the present day education system are limiting the manufacturing opportunities. I do not see how any economy can be strong if we are not producing tangible products...
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          • Posted by $ Stormi 10 years, 11 months ago
            You are so right, If we become only a country of consumers, we are lost. From the book I mentioned comes an included quote by Henry Ward Beecher:
            "A tool is but the extension of a man's hand and a machine is but a complex tool, and he that invents a machine augments the power of man and the well-being of mankind."
            Producing needs to be given more respect, and pseudo-producers, as in the case of self-proclaimed professionals, needs to be exposed for what it is. I am not talking doctors, dentists, CPAs (my husband), or lawyers (questionable). However, I do not see unionized teachers as professionals, nor journalists (which I was for several years), or other careers which proclaim that status as professionals. We need to bring back respect for those who produce a product which keep the wheels turning, and not on the taxpayer dollar either.
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  • Posted by $ kathywiso 10 years, 11 months ago
    Congratulations OA... You have surely earned this Producer's Badge. You have brought reason to the forefront on many occasions here in The Gulch. I, personally, have learned so much from you and want to Thank You for that !! I love your passion project of working on your mind and your picture with your bookshelf full of philosophy :-)
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 10 years, 5 months ago
    Wow, a reference to Mark Scott, the talk radio host on WXYT 1270 in Detroit. I listened to him from 1989 to 1994. He had the Mark Levin rant down a long time before Levin made it famous.
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