Atlas Shrugged #2 to Bible...

... on the Most Influential Books of All Time List (Library of Congress/Book-of-the-Month Club survey).

Read an article this am on CNN regarding increased Ayn Rand book sales, namely Atlas Shrugged, since January of '09. Current economic climate has created a resurgence of her popularity, it seems. I've always been a fan; even from the left. The article refers to Rush as another of her fans; scary! But as pointed out in the article by a spokesperson of the institution she founded:

...selfishness did not mean disengagement from the world or sociopathy. "Rational self-interest, egoism, in Ayn Rand's perception is not being Bernie Madoff, not thinking short-term and satisfying just whims, and cheating and lying and stealing," he said. "It is about pursuing what's truly in your rational, long-term self-interest, figuring out what's good for you, without exploiting, taking advantage, without stealing from other people, without sacrificing from other people to yourself.
"But also," he added, "without sacrificing yourself to other people."

That's exactly how I've always taken Objectivism - it's not about abusing others; climbing over others. It's about being self-sufficient and competent and respectable. You can help others however there is no true self-less acts. It all resorts back to self-worth. It's not rocket science - but it is interesting.

Oh, and apparently the movie is shelved ... again ... for now...

So glad that man is gone...

Bye Bye Baby Bush!

(As read on CNN here in its entirety)

Many health care organizations, including the American Medical Association, believe that health care providers have an obligation to their patients to advise them of the options despite their own beliefs. And critics of the current rule argue that there are laws on the books protecting health-care professionals when it comes to refusing care for personal reasons.

"We don't make God-like decisions. ... That's not what it's about for us. It's about helping the patient make their own decision. ... No one appointed us to be the ultimate person to pass judgment," said Mary Jean Schumann, a member of the American Nurses Association.
Dr. Suzanne T. Poppema, board chairwoman of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, praised Obama "for placing good health care above ideological demands."

"Physicians across the country were outraged when the Bush administration, in its final days, limited women's access to reproductive health care," she said. "Hundreds of doctors protested these midnight regulations and urged President Obama to repeal them quickly. We are thrilled that President Obama [is taking steps] to ensure that our patients' health is once again protected."

creature of habit

So I have my morning routine, like most. Once I am ready to leave for the day I head over to my "local" convenience store for my 32 oz. wake up juice and in to work I go. Before the move of '07 I would pass through the QT (Quik Trip) on the corner - along the way - get my Diet DP and enjoy the day. After the move of '07 I only had Circle K at my disposal. This wasn't too great a hardship, at first, as they did have Dr. DP on the fountain - we're in business.



I am NOT a morning person despite when I begin work. I need more care and attention when I am being waited upon nowadays. The Circle K on Deer Valley and 35th are just not my cup of tea. I went 3-4 days a week every morning and I don't think I could count on one hand how many times I was checked out without an attitude.

Now, because my enroute K was disliked for their performance I opted to go out of my way to my old QT when I left with ample time to do so. On the days I'm running late I just head to the Circle K at Union Hills and 35th. Although the place smells like a cat box the women their are great. They say good morning, they are open to chatting, are quite pleasant, and seem to at least pretend to like what they are doing.

Now anyone who's experienced a QT knows there is no substitute. Their fountain runs long and holds a vast variety of beverages, including flavorings, with a clean, brushed nickel finish. It's a marvelous sight for the conissour of fountain beverages. Their cups are of a supple plastic. They have flexible lids and two sizes of beverage straws kept sterile in their individual paper sheath. Some locations, for reasons unknown, have reduced their supply to only ONE size straw which I was not pleased with as my preference was that phased out.


Anyway, Circle K has decent cups but their lids are a brittle plastic material and kept in this tunnel that you fight with the tunnel cap to get the lid out. You know people are touching other lids trying to pull their lid free. Their straws are kept sterile however they are in a clear plastic wrapper. This covering is so mighty I feel like I'm performing a hand job just to get the straw out of its wrapper! I'm a lesbian - this causes me some discomfort and I check periforally around me to see if anyone else is watching my actions.


My preference? Hands down, QT! But if I have to take my money to Circle K I will happily enter the cat box for some morning joy rather than the grumpy biker guy at the shop along the way. So I guess service with a smile really is affective.

What's in a name?

Shakespeare was questioned recently by a study regarding vocabulary and how it alters our sensory perception. The full article from NPR is here.

From the title, I was skeptical. I didn't think the argument held water whatsoever but by the time I read the last example (also illustrated by the "cartoon") I was a believer.

The bridge question, on the other hand, when I provided my own adjectives, they inluded expansive, sturdy, and magnificent. So...there are some masculine and feminine properties there - perhaps that's the American take on things?

Read on and see what you find - it was an eye opener.