My Husband Said…..

…..that today President Obama laid a wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier for Memorial Day, before going golfing.

I said “I hope he left the cemetery first”.

Photo: CBS

-Lynnae

Atlas Shrugged Part 1

Opening night at Atlas Shrugged was great. We went to Lincoln Square in Bellevue Washington. We got there early and it’s a good thing because the house was packed. I wore my Atlas shrugged tee shirt and a chain bracelet, though it wasn’t like the modern bracelet designed in the movie.

My friend and I have read the book . I’ve read it three times now.  Our husbands hadn’t. So they had an interesting take. They could follow the story well and liked it a lot. I liked it, because I’m a fan, but missed a lot of things from the book. (For example, a said ‘It left out their entire childhood’ and my husband got thins look of horror in his eyes and said ‘Thank goodness!’) So their you go. The adaptation made this book accessible to a lot of people, and I’m sure many will go on to read the it.

The movie avoids the  atheist aspects of objectivism, and greatly downplays the sometimes violent sexuality that is hinted at, though not described in detail, in the book. Occasional conversations had to contain information that is set up over several chapters in the book, so occasionally the dialog seemed a bit unnatural.

Most the things I didn’t like were changes made for no reason as far as adapting the novel to film. Some of these are…..

Hank Rearden found the motor, instead of Dagny finding it when they were visiting the factory together.

The bracelet scene. Lillian's disgust for the bracelet was evident, but she wasn’t making fun of it too here friends at the party like we read in the novel. She said she would trade with anyone but there were no takers. The Dagny confronts her and trades the bracelet for her diamonds. That is one of my favorite scenes in the book, and in the movie it seemed to be just a hint that Dagny liked Rearden, not her appreciation for the intelligence, work, and prosperity Rearden Metal represented.

Fransisco just wasn’t cool enough. He looked sloppy. My husband thought he was perhaps some kind of anti-Che type character, which in a sense is right, but in Atlas shrugged he is tall and lean, and the chubby faced sloppy look is reserved for the looters and the moochers.

And over all I would have preferred a 1940’3 period piece.

What I loved…..

Dagny was great. I wish she would have been brunette like in the book, but she was still great. Rearden and Jim were also very well cast.

If you have to adapt it to present day, they did a great job explaining why the trains were still relevant.

The government, the regulations, and the crooked businessmen who are dealing with politicians rather than relying on the quality of their products are portrayed so well.  So is each blow to Rearden as he tries so hard to be successful and is crushed at every turn by each new government bill. It made my heart ache with frustration.

Rearden’s family and Dagny’s brother Jim were just great in their awfulness. What a slimy bunch!

That last scene. Oh-it was great. It really captured the sense of frustration and futility Dagny was feeling.

So there’s my review. Soon my daughters will be home from college and I’d like to take them to see it too. I’m so glad this movie was finally made. I loved the applause at the end of the show.

When does part two come out????

-Lynnae

Mercury Free Light Bulbs

I am desperate to keep incandescent light bulbs legal. I know there are many other more important things going on right now, but this is just one of those little things…….

Please help me in my quest. From now on lets refer to incandescent light bulbs as ‘Mercury Free’.

Just a simple catch phrase can help us turn the tide.

Read my older post on the topic.

-Lynnae

It’s Good to Love Reagan

A friend came up to me on Sunday at church and said they had recently visited the Jelly Belly jellybean factory. “And who do you suppose was one of their biggest fans?”

“Ronald Reagan” I said with a smile.

“I saw these and I thought of you.” She said, pulling out a little box of Ronald Reagan presidential Jelly Bellies.

Now if that isn’t sweet I don’t know what is. I know this friend is a devoted democrat, and she saw those and thought of me, which was pretty nice. So I had to share. Standing up for our beliefs we are often on the defensive, and I think its important that we still have a kind and respectful attitude in our day to day lives.

And for heavens sake, smile now and then.

-Lynnae

P.S. I just added the picture, and I'm laughing at my den. The flag’s not out due to constant rain, the pull-up bar is for my ‘Army Man’, though my 14 year old daughter has set a goal to do a couple every time she comes in to sit at the computer, and the Bowflex….well, I don’t know why there are Mardi Gras beads on it.

Choose Life!

 

This anti abortion billboard was removed due to pressure from liberal groups. Maybe because it forces them to face the truth about what they are defending.

I heard about it on Rush this morning and had to find the picture for myself. Look at the beautiful child. Think of how many just as precious to us and God are destroyed every day.

African American groups were planning to protest this billboard. This is so backward! Or as Rush said, It’s racist to defend African American children now.

-Lynnae

Atlas Shrugged Movie Trailer

The movie trailer for Atlas Shrugged Part One has been released. This is a much anticipated movie and I hope it can live up to the novel.

Watch now…..‘Atlas Shrugged Trailer’.

( My biggest disappointment in the movie is that it isn’t done in a late ‘40’s style. Ahhh, well.)

Even though I have a few core arguments against Objectivism in general, I think the philosophy regarding government controls of the market is spot on. I am sick of the moochers and looters.

I am a Christian and do believe in helping others, which you may say is contrary to the philosophy in Atlas Shrugged. However I would say that the detrimental effects (on both the giver and the receiver) come when you are forced or coerced to support someone else. Helping others because you wish to is barely touched on in the book, and not very thoroughly handled in my opinion. But the main themes are excellent. I love the appreciation for hard work, ideas, and the genius that makes the country great. It’s sad to see that drive squashed in Atlas Shrugged and realize it’s happening today in real life.

-Lynnae

Happy 100th Birthday, Ronald Reagan

Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of the birth of President Ronald Reagan. We celebrated coming home from church to a feast of Hot Wings, Chips and dip, and a football game that happened to be on. But I had to write and spread a little love for the Gipper.

And for all those young people who hear the comparisons of President Obama to Reagan, Let me tell you something. Obama is no Ronald Reagan.

Reagan was a great speaker. This has been conceded by members of the media now that Reagan has passed into the history books and been found great. But even that concession is an effort to downplay what really made him great….The CONSERVATIVE MESSAGE!

Government is not the solution to out problems, Government IS the problem!

-Lynnae