OUGHTOBE

 

From the introduction:

That any novel should set off such a chain reaction is unusual; that “Atlas Shrugged” has done so is astonishing. For the book, a panoramic novel about what happens when the “men of the mind” go on strike, is 1168 pages long. It is filled with lengthy, sometimes complex philosophical passages; and it is brimming with as many explosively unpopular ideas as Ayn Rand herself. Despite this success, the literary establishment considers her an outsider. Almost to a man, critics have either ignored or denounced the book. She is an exile among philosophers, too, although “Atlas” is as much a work of philosophy as it is a novel. Liberals glower at the very mention of her name; but conservatives, too, swallow hard when she begins to speak. For Ayn Rand, whether anyone likes it or not, is sui generis indubitably, irrevocably, intransigently individual.

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Summary: Only in Congress do people adjust to economic adversity and growing deficits by spending more money.

Random thoughts on the passing scene:

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Although they only took their final bow about 2 months ago, I miss these guy’s cartoons a lot…  Even though that last entry was from about a year ago, it is still very relevant, I wish these guys would find the time to still do cartoons, check out their 4 books at http://www.coxandforkum.com

From CNN: Clinton, Obama in war of words over ‘rogue leaders’.

The bid for the White House between leading Democratic hopefuls Sens. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and Hillary Clinton, D-New York, is turning ugly, with Clinton criticizing Obama as inexperienced on national security and Obama firing back at what he called a “fabricated controversy.” Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are continuing an argument started at Monday’s CNN YouTube debate.

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This Identigene DNA Paternity Test Kit costs $29 and comes with a $119 laboratory processing fee. Rite Aid, (which also owns Eckerd stores) rolled out national sales of the over-the-counter paternity tests at more than 4,300 stores in 30 states, including more than 10 stores in the Atlanta metro area.
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The kits are currently not available in the New York area.

Users swab the inside of the mouth to collect a DNA sample which is then sent to Identigene with consent forms and fees in a postage-paid return envelope. Confidential results, available in three to five business days of receipt, can be obtained via mail, e-mail, or through a secured web site.

‘It raises some benefits and some detriments,’ said Julianne O’Daniel, a research and genetic counseling associate in at Duke University’s Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy.
‘Individuals that may not be able to afford testing otherwise may be able to if they have this kind of question.’ On the other hand , she said, ‘Having it in a store kind of raises the prevalence of this testing in people’s minds.’

In order for the Identigene paternity test to stand up in court, users can pay an additional fee for the company to refer them to a DNA collection site that will verify identities and oversee the sample taking.