Producer of the Week: LetsShrug
A top Gulch contributor week in and week out, the never bashful LetsShrug shares with us how she discovered Ayn Rand and how she hopes to use Objectivist values to shape the lives of the next generation.
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QUICK FACTS
*Favorite Ayn Rand book:
My favorite Ayn Rand book? I don't think I can answer that quickly. Ayn Rands’ books are so jam packed with mental vittles that I often reread sentences just to let them sink in. She mastered the ability to get her point across from every possible angle and it just blows me away.
“The Virtue of Selfishness” and “For the New Intellectual” really peel back the layers of conditioned thinking that we live with every day in this world, and reveal the roots of reasoning, and exposes the truth behind the motivations of others who don't live life for themselves.
Ayn Rand, to me, is synonymous with the word "clarity".
*Favorite Ayn Rand character:
Howard Roark. Unwavering in his convictions about life, work, and others, he is so completely uncomplicated. Having principles and being committed to living by them first means you have to know what your principles are. Most people, it seems, haven't given the idea of principles (let alone living by them) much thought, and that is why so many get lost in the middle and stay there. And we all know compromising and being in the middle is evil... even if you aren't doing it knowingly.
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Q & A
*When were you first introduced to Ayn Rand?
I'm not quite sure how I first heard the name Ayn Rand. At one point, I know I looked her up on the internet and found some bad footage and words I didn't really understand and I thought she must be some left wing loon so I dismissed it for a while. Then I heard Rand Paul mention her in an interview so I looked her up again and somehow stumbled onto “Atlas Shrugged”… I then watched “The Prophecy of Ayn Rand on Netflix” which eventually lead me to “Atlas Shrugged” the movie, and THAT, my friends, was that.
I ordered the book, read it 2 summers ago while I was in Michigan sitting on my parent's back porch and uttering things like, "Finally somebody said it!", and "I'm not the only one who thinks like this??" or, "I JUST heard someone in Washington say that very thing the other day on the news." "This shit is happening right NOW...how did she know?"
Then I read everything I could about her and her life, and then it branched off into reading about history… In a nutshell, stumbling onto “Atlas Shrugged” the movie played a huge part in my journey.
*How has Ayn Rand influenced your life?
She has explained things in a way that I couldn't quite put together on my own. She tied up some loose ends in my thinking and made everything I was confused about make total sense. I wouldn't trade it for the world... and I can't get enough.
*What passion projects are you working on right now?
I have many irons in the fire, but not much time to work on them at the moment:
1.) I plan to expand my eBay business once I retire from working at the elementary school that I've worked at for the last 10 years.
2.) I’m tossing around ideas for children's books with an Objectivist slant. I have had some interesting conversations with my kindergartners who have convinced me that there is a need for revamping Fairy Tales in particular.
3.) I am a new Grandmother who plans on homeschooling her grandson, so I'm compiling all sorts of books and games, and learning tools for that as well. I am excited to teach him something the rest of the world won’t: How to think for himself.
4.) I also host a Facebook page under the name Slug Taggart (https://www.facebook.com/slug.taggart).
5.) And being in the Gulch too, of course.
*How did you hear about Galt’s Gulch Online?
I went looking on the net to find out if/when part II of “Atlas Shrugged” would be coming out and somewhere along the way it asked for my email address so I put in some old email I hardly ever used...and a few weeks later I got an invite into the new Galt’s Gulch. Things haven't been quite the same since.
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ON THE WEB
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/slug.taggart
- - - - -
QUICK FACTS
*Favorite Ayn Rand book:
My favorite Ayn Rand book? I don't think I can answer that quickly. Ayn Rands’ books are so jam packed with mental vittles that I often reread sentences just to let them sink in. She mastered the ability to get her point across from every possible angle and it just blows me away.
“The Virtue of Selfishness” and “For the New Intellectual” really peel back the layers of conditioned thinking that we live with every day in this world, and reveal the roots of reasoning, and exposes the truth behind the motivations of others who don't live life for themselves.
Ayn Rand, to me, is synonymous with the word "clarity".
*Favorite Ayn Rand character:
Howard Roark. Unwavering in his convictions about life, work, and others, he is so completely uncomplicated. Having principles and being committed to living by them first means you have to know what your principles are. Most people, it seems, haven't given the idea of principles (let alone living by them) much thought, and that is why so many get lost in the middle and stay there. And we all know compromising and being in the middle is evil... even if you aren't doing it knowingly.
- - - - -
Q & A
*When were you first introduced to Ayn Rand?
I'm not quite sure how I first heard the name Ayn Rand. At one point, I know I looked her up on the internet and found some bad footage and words I didn't really understand and I thought she must be some left wing loon so I dismissed it for a while. Then I heard Rand Paul mention her in an interview so I looked her up again and somehow stumbled onto “Atlas Shrugged”… I then watched “The Prophecy of Ayn Rand on Netflix” which eventually lead me to “Atlas Shrugged” the movie, and THAT, my friends, was that.
I ordered the book, read it 2 summers ago while I was in Michigan sitting on my parent's back porch and uttering things like, "Finally somebody said it!", and "I'm not the only one who thinks like this??" or, "I JUST heard someone in Washington say that very thing the other day on the news." "This shit is happening right NOW...how did she know?"
Then I read everything I could about her and her life, and then it branched off into reading about history… In a nutshell, stumbling onto “Atlas Shrugged” the movie played a huge part in my journey.
*How has Ayn Rand influenced your life?
She has explained things in a way that I couldn't quite put together on my own. She tied up some loose ends in my thinking and made everything I was confused about make total sense. I wouldn't trade it for the world... and I can't get enough.
*What passion projects are you working on right now?
I have many irons in the fire, but not much time to work on them at the moment:
1.) I plan to expand my eBay business once I retire from working at the elementary school that I've worked at for the last 10 years.
2.) I’m tossing around ideas for children's books with an Objectivist slant. I have had some interesting conversations with my kindergartners who have convinced me that there is a need for revamping Fairy Tales in particular.
3.) I am a new Grandmother who plans on homeschooling her grandson, so I'm compiling all sorts of books and games, and learning tools for that as well. I am excited to teach him something the rest of the world won’t: How to think for himself.
4.) I also host a Facebook page under the name Slug Taggart (https://www.facebook.com/slug.taggart).
5.) And being in the Gulch too, of course.
*How did you hear about Galt’s Gulch Online?
I went looking on the net to find out if/when part II of “Atlas Shrugged” would be coming out and somewhere along the way it asked for my email address so I put in some old email I hardly ever used...and a few weeks later I got an invite into the new Galt’s Gulch. Things haven't been quite the same since.
- - - - -
ON THE WEB
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/slug.taggart
I am grateful to have met you through this site, and admire your voracious reading journey which includes Objectivism. I fear for the Common Core supporters in your fair city. The humor and straight talking you bring to this site is much appreciated. no one needs to remind you to keep it real.
Well, what can I say? It is well deserved. I have been recently absent again due to circumstances beyond my control... must be that global warming again... :) What a pleasant surprise to get back on board today and find you here. You are a no nonsense lady and I love that.
Keep up the good fight and know that I will always be with you in spirit if not person.
You have an honest face and a delightful smile, but what else could I expect? :)
With great regard and best wishes,
O.A.
Terrific hearing from you again. I hope you find time to visit more often.
Best wishes,
O.A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qg7qOrcR...
The Prophecy of Ayn Rand is an amazing show and was also one of my first exposures to Ayn Rand and objectivism. I remember thinking at the time, that this makes complete sense!
Concerning your interest in creating children's objectivist books, I thought you might find this video interesting - "Valerie Learns About Modern Slavery":
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LA8gIfjZhJ8...
The voice acting leaves something to be desired and is pretty comical but I found it interesting as this was the first objectivist type cartoon I have seen. Good stuff :)
I've seen a similar video, same voices, a while back about a person explaining to an alien what a politician is and how they get voted into office by people who are not informed. I need to find that again.
And yes, if I only had a dime for every time I thought "this makes COMPLETE sense" while reading Ayn Rand..I'd be pretty well off. Wait! I AM well off just from reading it all. Better than dimes! :)
If you happen to find the alien video I'd be interested in seeing it - it might better educate me on the process :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUS1m5MSt...
That's too funny! Although it seems to me he was mistaken when he said that politicians are in office for only a short while. It seems that for many it's a lifelong career.
Thanks for digging this up and posting!
NO! You're awesome! With this NASA package and your darling daughter...we will talk about all that soon. Impressive!
Congratulations! You bring a lot to the site with your wit and insight.
NMA
Good to have you in The Gulch.
P.S: Sent you a friend request a few hours ago as Bryan Ogilvie. Let's connect.
Congratulations!
Also, thanks. :)
Barbara
Barbara
BTW...what's up with the last update?
btw, the latest story is almost completed. All I have to do is adjust a name. :)
lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKv6HLnkh...
1. what are you wearing to the ASIII premiere?
2.what is the one phrase AR wrote that stopped you in your tracks?
3.If you could be the tycoon of an industry-which industry would you pick?
4.what do you pack in a sack lunch?
5. fav current song
6.pretzels or chips?
7. crab or shrimp?
http://www.reverbnation.com/meanderlane/...
1-Denim Capris and flip flops.
2-"I don't think of you."
3-Unless it's possible to be a tycoon of flannel pajama pants and cups of coffee while working on my computer, I have NO idea.
4-An apple, a salad, and a jalapeno cheese stick.
5-I don't have a favorite current song..I've been humming Edelweiss to my grandson a lot lately though. :) (Also, Jiminy Crickets, "If you wish upon a star", and "Beautiful Dreamer.") So right now those are my favorite songs.
6-Chips
7-Crab or shrimp?...that's not even a fair question and I refuse to answer it.
If the movies did not make money on there own they are paying off in the form of book sales and more importantly helping people understand the power and importance of there mind. I have introduced multiple people to Atlas Shrugged through the movies and nearly all (21 of 22 people) have ended up reading the book and making adjustments to the way they view the world as a result.
It has been a pleasure reading your comments and communicating with you on this site.
Fairy Tales.." and everything else you stated.
Wish you much success in all your endeavors!
Enjoyed reading that, similar story to mine except the book came before the film. I cried while reading AS (& The Fountainhead). It was like getting the biggest telling off from the most loving Mother in the world: home truths & very comforting. I wish so much that I'd discovered AR 20 years ago. Oh well, C'est la vie.
Take care you. x x
For a speech by an Objectivist (First Class) listen to the following via Google:
"Yaron Brook 2013 Steamboat Institute Freedom Confererance"
Yaron also discovered Ayn Rand by reading Atlas Shrugged. This speach addresses todays problems and is, I think, a marvelous talk about what our Government is and what it should be.
Good listening.
Jim Wright
I will look that up, thank you very much :)
you're here, there and everywhere with a just plain healthy mix of twisted humor and solid knowledge.
congrats
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