Google Earth missive inscribed using GPS and 12,328 miles of dedication
By Vlad Savov 
posted August 16th 2010 8:05AM
posted August 16th 2010 8:05AM
posted August 16th 2010 8:05AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
so, How much did the Petrol cost???
@2her0ck
More than the profits this author will receive from this feat....I admire the dedication that was put into this however!
@2her0ck
Much much less than the cost for doing that in Finland...
@2her0ck its a good book, and very influential. Its inspired many productions, including bioshock and minority report, so this Guy is right. Read Ayn Rand.
@centizen
So I should read it because it inspired a video game and a movie...?
@element4life3 You do know Ayn Rand has been dead since 1982 right? I doubt her estate would really care much about the money anyway.
@tikigawd You should read it because it is a great story and very influential to many different people. It just so happens that some of those people made a video game with similar themes.
@centizen Minority Report was based on a short story written before Atlas Shrugged was. They might have similar themes (haven't read), but if anything, Minority Report influenced Atlas Shrugged. The movie Minority Report may have taken themes from Atlas Shrugged though. Again, haven't watched it so not sure.
On Topic: Guy is dedicated for doing this. Crazy idea thought. At least he got a nice road trip out of it.
@GumbyX
Minority report was by phillip k Dick I do believe.
@GumbyX
Atlas was not her first book. She was making Movies in the 1930's.
This was covered on No Agenda this week.
Why would anyone do that?
Read Ayn Rand, I mean.
@R2 D2 Yeah, why read historically important novels, when you could sit at home and read the fine works at Huffington Post
@CodyTech
Why read the Huffington Post when you can watch Fox News?
@Trial
Why read when you can let your computer read out?
@CodyTech
Why as why when you can just not.
@CodyTech
Why ask why, when you can just not?
@CodyTech
George Orwell is a historically important author who warned of and personally fought against authoritarian governments. Ayn Read is a condescending women who overuses words to try to sound profound.
@R2 D2 Why is everyone asking questions?
@R2 D2
In all fairness, we're talking about two different levels of reading here. I mean....1984 was required reading in what, 6th grade? Orwell is nice though....he would love Google. Or Apple. Or Garmin.
@Trial
Why watch Fox News when you can go take a dump yourself?
@KarlW Why take a dump when you can read Engadget?
@Trial Why watch Fox News when you can just read Twitter
In a follow up interview the gentleman, he was asked what his next message would be. He plans it to say "WASTE OF GAS." /sarcasm
I get Aynd Rands message, but she has a tendency to drone on and on...
@Argonaut
...much like this guy's 30 state road trip.
@Argonaut
I completely agree.
there never was a better time to read ayn Rand than now... America is intellectually bankrupt!
Canada, we need your help. Please scrawl the words "Shoot anybody who" across your glorious nation.
We also need somebody to add an 's' at the end of 'read'
Any takers?
@tuatha WIN!
Looks like this job will fall to Minnesota and Wisconsin.
@tuatha
Perhaps you would be satisfied if the Government simply burned all of Rand's books?
@tuatha
I'm on it
@Sir Mycroft Of course not. How would we know who to shoot?
@tuatha
Don’t like the message, KILL THEM! W00T KILL! WHOOO KILL! BURN SOME BOOKS! W00T! W00T! KILL!
What is it about this philosophy that upsets you enough to promote the death of anyone who even reads about it? Was it Rand’s distaste of religion that upset you? Maybe it was her criticism of racism for being the lowest form of collectivism. Is it that she promoted the rights of women to be the same as a man’s? Perhaps it was the denouncement of fascism and communism that set you off. After all you simply cannot have anyone disliking utilitarian politics, right? Sacrifice the few for the perceived good of the many?
Or as usual, are you just one of the many that was told something bad about it and decide you better remain ignorant and hateful?
@tuatha For real! Screw freedom to not only to keep what you earn, but to read what you want! Anybody who does that totally deserves to be shot, eh?
@jimothyGator
Drat. Once again my distaste for Ayn Rand's pop philosophy and amateurish prose betrays my love of religion, racism and misogyny. And of course my hatred for freedom (I'm just like the terrorists!).
I think you guys have proven the point made below about the naivete and black and white world view of Rand supporters.
I would suggest that you gentlemen go read one of the many, many critiques (or 'dismantlings') of objectivism. Talking about ayn rand in the context of serious philosophy is like talking about coldplay in the context of good music.
Ps if you read my 'shoot them' comment as though it was serious, I'd suggest you take a little break from the internet for a while.
@Xtort:
The freedom of speech includes the freedom to disagree. Atlas Shrugged is a bad book and you should feel bad.
@michaspi
I should feel bad for what? That you do not have the mental capacity to understand the meaning of the words you typed? Where did I suggest censorship? I am not the one suggesting a message advocating the murder of millions of people across the globe.
@tuatha
So you're taking a "the Internet is serious business" approach to your comment? So,haha quite the joke. You big on holocaust and rape jokes as well?
You must have a truly superior understanding of philosophy. Do you suggest Nietzsche?
If you haven't already noticed, I too heavily use sarcasm.
@Xtort
Are you on PMS? Talk about mood swings, because you were not sarcastic but cynical, there is a line and you ma'am just past right through it.
@Xtort:
>I should feel bad for what?
For yourself. You have my pity.
>That you do not have the mental capacity to understand the meaning of the words you typed?
Oh, I get it; clearly, I don't understand myself. If I didn't have a sufficient grasp of the English language, I wouldn't have responded to you.
>Where did I suggest censorship? I am not the one suggesting a message advocating the murder of millions of people across the globe.
Whoa, where did that come from? Thou art enraged.
The first "D" is disappointing.
That's what she said!
@Robhimself
Dude, that doesn't make any sense.
Damn! I did a guidebook on the USA 20 years ago, before all this shit was invented!
Looks like I had better go back and spend another 2 years and 85,000 miles and do it again!
'a novel that is great in both quality and quantity'
Quantity yes, quality..? Frankly it's a pile of poo
I think that if he'd asked for her blessing, she'd have probably told him to get a job.
ironically enough it's ayn rand's ideas that caused the collapse of the entire world economy, via alan greenspan
So I finally broke down and start reading Atlas Shrugged a couple months ago. I'm still only 60% of the way through. I approve of the message, but the writing is dreadful and so painfully repetitive. But, everyone talks way too much about this book. Must, finish, before, starting, next. Ugh.
@nightalon
I'm 50 pages from the end.
Confess that I skipped over Galt's speech.
The book would have benefited from a decent copy editor.
Overall, I think that Fountainhead is far superiour.
@nightalon
That always seems to be the case with books that a vast majority of the populace recommends as a "must read."
@No Comment
Galts speech is painfully boring and just retreads over ground that the rest of the book has been over a hundred times. That speech very seriously killed the book for me. Up until then it was an interesting enough plot and philosophy but I could not handle the 50+ page rant she went on.