Ayn Rand for the New Generation

I was surprised to see Garrett's AIM greeting when I signed on today:

I am a simple man with a simple dream. To create a PERFECT UNDERSEA CITY in which SUPERHUMANS could practice OBJECTIVISM!

Garrett can always surprise me and teach me something. Turns out this particular quote comes from a NSFG (Not Safe for Grandma) online comic. But, looking into it further, it may be more of a reference to a game called Bioshock than it is to Ayn Rand.

BioShock, published by 2K Games, runs on Windows-based desktop computers or the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming console. It's yet another shoot-'em-up set in a crumbling post-apocalyptic world, but what a world. The place is called Rapture, a marvel of skyscrapers and supper clubs set on the ocean floor. No, it doesn't make architectural sense to rebuild Times Square under a thousand feet of seawater, but it sure looks cool. And that's one reason why billionaire Andrew Ryan built it there. Besides, creating Rapture in international waters put his personal utopia beyond the reach of the institutions Ryan hates above all others -- governments and religions. Rapture is the complete Randian utopia, with no taxmen to confiscate wealth, no popes and pastors to urge charity to the poor. Just total freedom to invent, to create, to enjoy.

Sounds like fun. So what's with all the mangled corpses and kill-crazy mutants? It seems some of Ryan's genetic experiments got a little out of hand. He's discovered ways to give humans extraordinary new powers, but at a terrible price. You'll need to use some of those powers to get out of Rapture alive. You can get all you want by killing giant armored beasts called Big Daddies, guardians of the bio-engineered chemical called Adam. Just one problem -- the Adam is contained in the bodies of Little Sisters, glowing-eyed, lovely little girls. To get a little Adam, be nice to the Little Sisters. To get a lot of it, kill them. You choose.

Maybe Alan Greenspan is a Bioshock fan.