Hard Headed People Wearing Hard Hats

The Fountainhead was on Turner Classic Movies this week. We dvr'd it so that we could look at it during cocktail hour. As with many novels of ideas, it didn't translate well to the talkies. Too much speechifying, but Patricia Neal's outfits were pretty cool.

This is the book which was based on Frank Lloyd Wright and his work. I know that at some point he distanced himself from the movie, I think he wanted credit for the drawings or something, don't hold me to that.

I like the book and may in fact re-read it while my granddaughter and I take a break from Harry Potter, she's on her first reading, and I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I've read about that kid.

Anyway, The Fountainhead is about sticking to your guns, in the face of adversity, or as the Polonius told Laertes,, "to thine own self be true." And don't forget, Polonius ends up dead shortly after saying that.

If you want to read another book about builders having problems with authority and the ruling mob, The Pillars of the Earth, and World Without End both by Ken Follett are very good too.

But be aware, Ms Rand's writings while dissed by some, are considered among the most influential in the world, based on surveys that rank her Atlas Shrugged up there with the Bible. Our own Alan Greenspan was a follower of hers and was at her deathbed.

Hotty Toddy AGAIN!

My dear friend came over last night to help us watch the Cotton Bowl (Ole Miss 21-OSU 7) and exchange Christmas presents.

As usual, the talk turned to books and she informed us she was reading The Fellowship - which has nothing to do with hobbits or Gandalf. It is about the Taliesan fellowship of architects formed by FLW.

http://www.amazon.com/Fellowship-Untold-Story-Wright-Taliesin/dp/0060988665/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262520484&sr=8-1

She mentioned Victor Hugo (Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables)

"Architecture has recorded the great ideas of the human race. Not only every religious symbol, but every human thought has its page in that vast book."

THANKS BRAINYQUOTE.COM

And, of course, the conversation wound up with The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. This is the bestselling novel based on Frank Lloyd Wright written in English by a Russian refugee from the Bolshevik revolution. (more about this later.)

I just wanted to get this down now, mainly to brag about Ole Miss and Dexter McCluster.

O,and before my brother notes it, the above picture is not from the Cotton Bowl where Mr. M. made a flying leap into the endzone, but from another game. I couldn't find the picture from yesterday's game on the web.