Category: Celebrity Rand Fans

Putin Advisor Illarionov Profiled in WSJ

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

Forwarded to us by Don Hauptman:

Today’s (Friday, Dec 23, 2005) Wall Street Journal, page A13, has a long profile of top Putin economic adviser Andrei Illarionov. First para notes that he “has been preaching no-hold-barred, laissez-faire capitalism in Russia for more than a decade.” Of course, Rand’s enormous influence on his ideas is cited, albeit briefly.
If Russia’s horrible recent regression to communism and fascism is to be averted, he’s one one who will do it. But the article reports, sadly, that his influence is waning. Still, Putin hasn’t yet canned him, so perhaps there’s still hope.

We’ve written before about Illarionov, his connection with Rand, and his tenure in Putin’s cabinet.

Broadway's Jerad Bortz Inspired by Anthem

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

An article in Sunday’s edition of the Pittsburg Tribine-Review includes an interesting article titled “Triple threat,” about Broadway performer Jerad Bortz. It begins:

He’s always been a performer. As a 6- and 7-year-old at home, in Latrobe, he would dance and sing his way out of the shower. Today, Jerad Bortz is doing what he did way back then, only on Broadway.
A principal understudy in the smash hit “Wicked,” Bortz arrived at the Gershwin Theater on West 51st Street from “Mamma Mia,” another of the Great White Way’s bright lights.
Appearing on a recent cover of Dance Spirit magazine, the Greater Latrobe High School graduate was hailed as one of six young “triple threat” performers who are living their dream of making it in New York.
Triple threat?
Singing. Dancing. Acting.
Bortz, 26, was a natural from the time he walked on stage, said John Noble, a Greensburg attorney whose passion is the theater. In addition to starring in amateur productions, Noble founded “Night of the Stars” to showcase high school talent.
The first “Night of the Stars” nine years ago featured Bortz in the role of Broadway legend George M. Cohan in the musical “George M.”
“It gives me chills just to think about it,” Noble said.
“There are a lot of talented kids,” Noble continued. “The difference with Jerad is that his talent continued to grow and expand.”

And later in the article comes this story:

One day, in school, Bortz asked Cavanaugh to drop by the band room.
Cavanaugh’s English class had been studying the Ayn Rand novel “Anthem,” a story of rediscovered individuality in a world of mass conformity. The saga fired Bortz’s imagination, so much so that he wrote a song based on the novel, complete with orchestration.
Waiting for Cavanaugh in the band room was the high school band, Bortz and two other singers. Together, they performed Bortz’s composition for their teacher.

See the full article to learn more about Bortz.

Rep. Chris Cox Replaced by Fellow Rand Admirer

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

New from townhall.com:

Today it is official, former State Senator John Campbell will take the Congressional seat vacated by SEC Chairman Chris Cox.
Campbell is a solid conservative.
In September, I had a chance to interview him during his race. I have republished that interview in full in the extended section. Read the whole thing, and you will see that Campbell will be a welcome addition for conservatives.
Interview with CA State Senator John Campbell
Thursday, September 29, 2005
TC: Weâ??ll start with some questions about conservatism in general. Can you explain to me, and to our readers, what you see as the core foundational principles of conservatism?
JC: Core foundational principles to me are individual rights and individual responsibility. From a domestic policy basis, I think everything kind of flows from that, even the concept of smaller government, or if you want to go into lower taxes or less regulation. All of that flows from the concept that most rights and privileges should be incumbent in the individual and also the responsibility for one’s actions, the consequences for oneâ??s actions come from the individual. I think from a domestic policy standpoint itâ??s that.
From a foreign policy standpoint, it comes simply from the view of Americaâ??s place in the world in that of strength, but also of being the world leader and worldâ??s example for democracy and for the rights and responsibilities of the individual as expressed through democracy.
TC: What conservative thinkers and philosophers have influenced your own political journey?
JC: Well, if you go back early in life, Milton Friedmanâ??from an economic standpoint. I was an economics major in college, and a lot of Milton Friedmanâ??s writings influenced me. And also, and I know sometimes this person has been riddled with controversies of late, and I understand that. I have read almost all of Ayn Randâ??s books. Whereas I know sheâ??s come under attack of late for some things, again the core philosophy of individual responsibility comes through so clearly, and is so eloquently put in books like Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead. So if you want to go back kind of early in life, in terms of philosophers, those are a couple I would say.

Keep reading…

Dallas Mavericks Owner Inspired by Fountainhead

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

In a recent article about the favorite college books of various famous people, billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, cited The Fountainhead as his:

It was incredibly motivating to me. It encouraged me to think as an individual, take risks to reach my goals, and responsibility for my successes and failures. I loved it. I don’t know how many times I have read it, but it got to the point where I had to stop because I would get too fired up.

According to the Mark Cuban Wikipedia entry, it turns out that Cuban had a great deal in common with Howard Roark:

Even in college, Cuban was seen as controversial by some: his advisor admonished him for taking advanced courses during his freshman year and he was dissuaded from getting his MBA after getting a bachelor’s degree.

Be sure to check out Mark Cuban’s Blog.

007's Tony Oats Parts with Dog-Eared Copy of CUI

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

Is Bond Corporation (as in, “James Bond 007”) Director Tony Oates an Ayn Rand fan? Sounds like it:

CURIOUS buyers from the ranks of Perth’s elite to suburban family battlers yesterday converged on a $5 million Swan Valley horse stud to pore over the goods and chattels at the former home of Bond Corporation director Tony Oates.
From the gleaming Rolls Royce to the rusty Japanese pick-up, the vehicle line-up outside the sprawling estate was testament to the broad appeal of the upmarket garage sale.
The high-profile status of the disgraced businessman helped pull in more than 500 punters, all eager to get a glimpse of the lifestyle once enjoyed by Oates, a man whose name is synonymous with 1980s corporate greed and the era known as WA Inc.
Bargain hunters Steve Good and Wendy Quinn, hobby farmers from Mandurah, thought the stud farm would have been a “grand place” to live.
But apart from a few knick-knacks, a tatty old horse rug emblazoned with the moniker, “The Bond Australia Show Jumping Championship South Australia – 1986” and a dog- eared copy of Ayn Rand’s Capitalism – The Unknown Ideal lying on top of a cardboard box of household junk, there were few hints to Oates’s private world.

Keep reading for more.

Fountainhead Fan Profiled in New York Times

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

She’s not quite a “celebrity” Ayn Rand fan — at least, not yet — but the beautiful and talented Indian-born IT executive Himanshu Bhatia begins the interesting story of her professional life by acknowledging the influence of The Fountainhead:

WHEN I was a teenager living in New Delhi, I read “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand and decided I wanted to be an architect. My parents wanted me to be a doctor, but I stood my ground and took the entrance exam to study architecture.
Admission to college is very competitive in India, especially for a professional degree. At the time, there were about 2,000 students competing for about 28 openings in the School of Planning and Architecture. I was one of six women admitted.
I have a history of doing unconventional things. After I graduated from college, I saw an ad for a beauty contest and entered it for fun. I had no expectations. I grew up in a family where girls were encouraged not to attract attention to themselves, so this was more a rebellious act than any desire to win. To my surprise, I came in second. I was offered a modeling contract, but I had bigger plans. I left for the United States two months later.

See her full story in the New York Times for more.

Neal Aronson and Atlanta's Roark Capital Group

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

An article in the Atlanta Daily News, “Roark Capital Group Builds Trust, Helps Franchise Companies Grow,” provides some interesting background about a relatively new private equity firm in Atlanta.
The article begins:

ATLANTA – In only a few years, Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, has made significant headway in debunking many of the stereotypes associated with the private equity industry. To become the strategic partner of choice, Roark is working with the people behind the franchise brands to create long-term solutions by committing capital to expand systems while also providing liquidity and estate planning for owners.
As an increasing number of high-quality franchise companies seek ways to strengthen their brands and increase the number of successful franchise locations, many are gun-shy about entering the often misunderstood world of private equity for their needs. Roark is establishing a strong track record of supporting companies and building upon existing infrastructures and core brand integrity.

What’s in a name:

Roark was named after architect Howard Roark, the protagonist in Ayn Randâ??s classic â??The Fountainhead.â? Howard Roark refused to succumb to conventional wisdom while many of his peers altered their architectural designs to follow the latest trend and gain fleeting notoriety. The book concludes with the former architectural elite exposed as frauds, and Roark revealed as a true visionary with unwavering commitment to integrity.
Rather than investing in the latest fad and looking for a quick exit, Roark seeks opportunities to support the long-term growth of businesses through strategic oversight and additional capital investment. Having actually operated franchise businesses, the partnerâ??s at Roark appreciate the challenges of managing a growing franchise system and actively support their portfolio companies and its management partners in good times and bad.

The man behind the company:

â??Our goal is to be the preferred strategic partner and capital source for franchise companies by earning the trust of those with whom we do business,â? said Neal Aronson, founder and managing partner of Roark Capital Group. â??We abide by the highest ethical and moral standards while treating our management partners, franchisees, investors, lenders, and advisors, with dignity and respect, creating a long-term win-win proposition.â? […]
Prior to forming Roark, Aronson was a co-founder and CFO of U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS), which began with 12 people, one brand and 22 open franchised hotels in nine states. Within five years, USFS became the 10th largest hotel franchise company in the U.S. with 200 people, three brands and 500 open franchised hotels in 49 states and five countries. After 14 years in the finance arena, Aronson started Roark.

See the full article for more information.

Bennett Cerf on Game Show Network

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

From Atlasphere member Marsha Enright:
Recently, the Game Show Network has been airing a wonderful old TV show, “What’s My Line?” in which a panel of regulars uses yes and no questions to try and guess the profession of the guest.
The regulars were actress Arleen Francis, newswoman Dorothy Kilgallen and publisher Bennett Cerf. On one of the 1957 shows, Dorothy Killgalen introduces Cerf with these remarks:
“Now I’d like to introduce our regular panelist who is the publisher of one of the most exciting novels I’ve ever read which is a new book by Ayn Rand due soon, and is called Atlas Shrugged. Don’t miss it. Here’s Bennett Cerf.”
Aside from this bit about Rand, the show is well worth watching for its erudition, civility, remarkably articulate panelists and interesting guests. The women wore evening dresses and John C. Daley, who was head of the News Division of his network, was the moderator. I can’t imagine a show like this today!

Fritz Attaway and Atlas Shrugged on NPR

Posted on by s1e2t3u4p5

From a story on National Public Radio:

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that movie studios and record labels can sue software companies that allow customers to pirate music and movies online. Fritz Attaway testified on behalf of Hollywood and the music industry. He’s executive vice president for government relations and Washington general counsel for the Motion Picture Association of America.
He’s splitting this summer between the nation’s capital and Jamestown, R.I., with different books for each locale.

And among his preferred books are…

Atlas Shrugged and Anthem, both by Ayn Rand. “The symbolism is about individualism, which is Rand’s theme in all of her books.”

Thanks to Atlasphere member Brian Schwartz for this tip.

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