The Floating Head of Ayn Rand: A Timeline

1966: Released into the wild by MIT engineering students, Ayn Rand tastes freedom as a floating, disembodies head for the first time, and finds it intoxicating. She decides not to follow through with her agreement with A=A to launch herself into orbit. Dropping out of sight and hiding her identity, she moves from town to town, helping people and solving crimes. Word spreads of the mysterious floating head. Eventually, television executives hear the stories and rip them off to make "helper" TV shows such as Highway to Heaven.

In the absence of any word from Rand, The Leader becomes frantic. He responds badly to teasing from subordinates that he has a crush on Rand, and lashes out by declaring her insane. He takes a cue from the "cult" scare of the time and consults "de-programmers" for advice. An Ayn-Capture Battalion is set up to capture and persuade her of the worth of her original plans.

The Chemical Purchases Unit returns the liquid nitrogen hastily purchased during Rand's surgery. Home Depot (Ind. Chem. Div.) gives a refund, but charges a 10% restocking fee. The Leader swears revenge.

Next: The Secret Affair of Pat Buchanan and Ayn Rand