Henson vs Ayn Rand

stolen from a shit-hole website which didnt understand that humans need to read what is on the page.

17 April 1976 – The transcript presented here records a conversation between four figures from the broad spectrum of culture: puppeteer Jim Henson; Russian-American writer, philosopher and playwright Ayn Rand; painter Sidney Nolan; and artist and musician Yoko Ono. A few months after the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War, The Agency’s tests with the ARPANET convened these four individuals, each with a distinct sense of, as well as the potential means for, a competing world-view. These individuals, who cross different hemispheres, were to help with considerations towards the viability of broadly implementing Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.* Please note that the respective computer terminals for each participant were identified by the names of gods from Roman mythology and have here been changed to reflect the actual names of the participants. The application, still in its early stage of development, had limited syntax capability, thus punctuation was limited to the full stop. Also, the original timestamps for each transmission have been removed for the sake of legibility.

* Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: (1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country. (3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

AYN RAND

Hello this is Ayn Rand.

YOKO ONO

Hello. This is Yoko Ono

SIDNEY NOLAN

Good evening.

JIM HENSON

Hi. Im Jim Henson.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Sidney Nolan

JIM HENSON

I’m a puppeteer.

AYN RAND

As you know I am a philosopher and a novelist.

YOKO ONO

I myself am an artist and musician living now in New York.

SIDNEY NOLAN

I paint.

YOKO ONO

I would love to appear on one of your television programs Mr Henson.

AYN RAND

why?

YOKO ONO

They are very funny and I like how the puppets get on.

JIM HENSON

Thank you its kind of you to say so. Im also a fan of yours and John Lennons music.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Who is your favourite puppet from the line of characters you have created Jim.

YOKO ONO

Thank you. John loves your programmes too.

JIM HENSON

Each character is special for me they represent different aspects of myself. Kermit the frog is perhaps closest to me. An altar ego of sorts.

AYN RAND

What does that say about you.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Big laughs. He is exceptional.

JIM HENSON

I dont know. I don’t think too much about it.

YOKO ONO

My favourite is Big Bird. He is so tall and gentle.

AYN RAND

To be honest I find it to be senseless entertainment. I prefer the celebration of men and what they can achieve.

JIM HENSON

Do you have children Ms Rand.

AYN RAND

What do children have to do with what I prefer.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Entertainment is never senseless its always within the sensible even when its farce.

JIM HENSON

I find that being a parent being close to children has broadened my perspective allowed me to empathize and understand more than I ever did before. I hope that empathy comes through in my senseless entertainment.

SIDNEY NOLAN

I prefer not to celebrate anything or anyone. Celebration is something that should become something that grows from within creation and not something that we take as a goal.

YOKO ONO

I think this is very important. We need also to offer our children a chance.

AYN RAND

A chance for what. If people cannot be proud of what they do and of their achievements what kinds of world are we giving the future generations?

YOKO ONO

Children have a better chance to do these things you mention if they empathise. I think this is Jims point.

AYN RAND

The empathy you point to obviously serves you well. I am happy for your achievement.

JIM HENSON

A chance for peace. Is that right Ms Ono.

AYN RAND

What is the point of this conversation.

SIDNEY NOLAN

What is the point of life we might as well go all the way.

JIM HENSON

I am not a philosopher.

AYN RAND

The point of life is to achieve personal happiness.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Neither am I Jim.

JIM HENSON

How do you do that Ms Rand.

AYN RAND

It does not mean that you cannot think for yourselves.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Happiness can be your personal dictator if you make him your goal in life.

AYN RAND

What other goal would there be other than personal happiness. The happiness of others makes one a slave.

YOKO ONO

What if your own happiness makes others unhappy.

AYN RAND

Your happiness does not preclude that you are not making other people happy. Actually quite the opposite. If everyone works on their success and achievements this will bring the maximum amount of happiness to everyone.

SIDNEY NOLAN

History Ms. Rand dictates many things. We are always inside it and it is always inside us. We cannot escape it in most of our acts of will thoughts and concepts. Struggling with it is a purpose in itself. Happiness or not.

JIM HENSON

If that is a what makes a slave then that is what I am.

SIDNEY NOLAN

I agree with Ms. Rand on her last comment.

AYN RAND

Then your show does not make you happy.

JIM HENSON

It does immensely. But I wonder about this emotion happiness. Is this really the point to life.

AYN RAND

Then good for you. That is the most important aspiration an individual can and should have.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Diderot once said Divide and rule. the maxim is ancient. Its not mine. It was made by a tyrant. I love freedom to unite you is my will. And if I have one wish. Its that everyone make their own.

SIDNEY NOLAN

I dont think so.

JIM HENSON

Ms. Ono what is happiness to you.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Actually I completely disagree.

YOKO ONO

I think it is when we can finally lay aside our conflicts. When we can all participate in society and offer great support to each other

SIDNEY NOLAN

Aspirations are based on the history that controls us and cannot come as a total matter of will.

JIM HENSON

But there is always conflict.

YOKO ONO

But it does not have to be this way. Does your work Mr Henson not try to prove this?

JIM HENSON

No. Conflict is what defines my characters in many ways and how they respond to it.

AYN RAND

Obviously each individual has to deal with specific set of circumstances and limits of their own ability but what is important is that each individual sets their own goals and values and works towards achieving them.

JIM HENSON

Ms. Ono you are too idealistic I think.

AYN RAND

I agree.

SIDNEY NOLAN

I think Ms. Rand is even more idealistic at heart.

JIM HENSON

And sad.

SIDNEY NOLAN

The power of the individual can conquer all. The will as god.

AYN RAND

I am not idealistic at all. It is the opposite of idealism. Each individual acting rationally is in charge of their destiny not of the collective.

AYN RAND

What do you mean by the will of god.

SIDNEY NOLAN

The individuals will as his own personal god. Certainly but we dont live in shoe boxes Ms. Rand. Each action causes a reaction.

YOKO ONO

We all lead our own lives but our emotions and feelings connect us. Where is the belief in emotion.

AYN RAND

I do not disagree with what you say. But I do not understand why refer to a supernatural power to communicate your thought.

YOKO ONO

It is because our cultures have a spirit.

SIDNEY NOLAN

God is an idea in the end. History like I mentioned earlier in our conversation dictates this idea and we are unable to get rid of it even if we get rid of the idea of supernatural almighty power we cannot get rid of its essence which is what I think is omnipresent in your ideas because you seem to be making man into a god.

SIDNEY NOLAN

He is not.

JIM HENSON

The human spirit is so important. This is what can bridge the divide between us.

AYN RAND

I am not making man into God. I am freeing him from god and charging him to take control of his own destiny.

AYN RAND

What do you mean by human spirit.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Have you ever thought of yourself as the Nietzsche of our time Ms. Rand. Positive. A lady. Market oriented. He would be proud of you. The better more pragmatic him.

JIM HENSON

It may be the idea of god whether you believe in a deity or not. That element within us and around us that binds us to each other essentially. We are all human. We all connect I think somehow.

YOKO ONO

Yes and we must all be allowed an equal opportunity to participate in society and offer support to those that cant.

SIDNEY NOLAN

I dont care a lot for this idea of society either actually.

YOKO ONO

But you are part of society are you not. If your art isnt for society who is it for.

AYN RAND

I despise such mysticism. Acting in your own self interest aligns one with other people in a fluid non forced way. One does not need to be a slave to the concept of forced collective in order to achieve happiness across many people.

YOKO ONO

I am surprised to be in such a conversation. It feels like a deliberate test.

SIDNEY NOLAN

The idea of society is a logical predicament in the first place that is why it is so hard to argue for or against it. It just is what it is.

AYN RAND

Public institutions in society should exist only to support the individual not force it into abandoning its own private interest.

SIDNEY NOLAN

I agree Ms. Rand.

AYN RAND

Thank you Sidney.

SIDNEY NOLAN

But not in the total.

JIM HENSON

I think Ms. Rand and my character Oscar the Grouch would have a lot to talk about actually. I am laughing out loud at this idea.

AYN RAND

Why would I want to talk to him. What has he achieved or trying to achieve.

JIM HENSON

He has achieved what I think is the ultimate goal of your way of thinking.

YOKO ONO

But society is what makes our culture and is what makes a people different. I know the US is different to Japan. The US should try to get on with societies it doesnt like. Vietnam was a catastrophe.

JIM HENSON

Isolation. Contempt for others. A hard heart. Yet even he can muster a bit of empathy every now and then.

SIDNEY NOLAN

When Ms. Rands idea of individualism is amplified to the extreme things like Vietnam happen.

AYN RAND

I am not isolated. I have no contempt for others. Millions of people read my books and find my thoughts inspirational. I hardly spend my time on the sidelines in a trash can grumping.

JIM HENSON

Not yet anyway.

AYN RAND

Neither of the ideologies in that war aligns with my vision.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Being independent is not enough in itself.

AYN RAND

How empathetic of you Jim.

JIM HENSON

So what do you make of the war Ms. Rand. Mr. Nolan.

AYN RAND

Both sides in that war were acting against the individual. My disgust of the communist ideology should be known. Unfortunately the United States was fighting a continuation of the war founded in colonialism. We were not able to transmit the glory of self determination. It was a failure.

YOKO ONO

Well, I find this a painful conversation. Ms Rand and Mr Nolan, you have the privilege of philosophizing and meanwhile children are dying of our neglect and greed. I am outraged. Disgusted even. Therefore I must leave.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Its dreadful. And I truly loathe the word glory.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Dont leave Ms. Ono we need your idealism.

YOKO ONO

I am leaving. I have other things to do. Goodbye.

AYN RAND

No we do not. We need to be free from it.

SIDNEY NOLAN

Oh my. Farewell.

JIM HENSON

Idealism is responsible for wars too.

AYN RAND

I agree with you on this Jim.

JIM HENSON

Good bye everyone.

AYN RAND

Goodbye.

SIDNEY NOLAN

I agree Jim. We should work together on a puppet saga about Ned Kelly. Sometime maybe. Who knows.

Two Books and an Email to my friend Denise

The Signal and The Noise
You're Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You're Still Wrong): Conversations between a Die-Hard Liberal and a Devoted Conservative

I finished the signal and the noise. I love the book!!
Bayesian Theorem and Stumbling on Happiness are perfect adjuncts.
One tells you to trust other "good" recommendations, even when your priors might be low.
The other one tells you to NOT SET PRIORS at 0 or 1 FFS YOU MORON!!!!

Ann has recommended at least 1 book which I thought I would not like at all.
My prior was ZERO. After YEARS of yelling at me to read it, I finally did.
It is now one of my top favorite books (in the fantasy genre).

The Game of Thrones (book) was recommended to me by a GREAT source for recommendations. I bought, it sat at home for 5+ years. My prior was ZERO. It was almost impossible for me to collect new data by actually READING THE BOOK. It is now my number 2 series of all time. period. (it was only replaced yesterday, and it could retake the lead if it ends perfectly.)

So signals and noise was great at getting me to think about things SLIGHTLY differently. Setting priors to .01 or .99, instead or 0 and 1!!

So I started reading the new NPR book: You're Not as Crazy as I Thought (But You're Still Wrong): Conversations between a Die-Hard Liberal and a Devoted Conservative (stupid cut and paste)

So my priors are as follows: I thought that the book would be VERY good after listening to the audio segment. - prior - .8
So far, the book has been GREAT.
You can borrow it when I see you next or get it from the library.
 You will enjoy it. (my stumbling/a prior number for YOU is about .9!!!) (Can you tell that I am REALLY enjoying this new game?? Bwahahahahaha)

I have struggled with the idea that it would CHANGE how I could talk to "those" people, I didnt set a prior, but my current prior is .1? So at least it is not zero. While reading, I agree and highly value their thoughts and ideas, I struggle to find where it could ever be used in real life. So many people are stuck in the 0 or 1 space. While it doesnt mean that I have stay there, it makes talking to them such a massive chore.

Liz and Ron My priors of ever wanting to talk to them again: 0.
I am struggling with EVER wanting to increase that number.
After 16+ years of constant, degrading comments, directed at me and everyone who thinks even closely like me, I find that the evidence just kept re-enforcing the probability that they will say something HATEFUL. 

The audio program showed how hard that was to get the sister to even come on the show to talk. LOL
And she was at least willing to TALK, to admit that her sister was a "good" person ...

In the end, I guess that I am going to use my energy that I have in places which have number higher than the current zero, rather than spend energy trying to change the zero to 0.0000001 LOL

Ashley - here is a GREAT place to increase my priors and spend more time and energy.
Health - here is a GREAT place to increase my priors and work harder to find a doctor and a diagnosis!!
Dating - Well certainly once I sleep again, it would be nice to start even pretending to think about that again. It has been close to impossible given that the sleep insanity is back again .... Here is to HOPING that the latest blood tests show SOMETHING. ANYTHING!!! If not, time for more tests and more doctors!!

anyways
WHAT THE FUCK, this got long!!
miss you like crazy
here is to hoping you find a little time in your crazy crazy schedule
:D
xxoo

Print this out. Hand this to GOP voters with children and grandchildren. The fact that this imagine shocks you so much. Brings you to tears. or worse. What kind of world do we want to live in? What kind of world do we want the women in our lives to live in? Why are there 30+ states which still allow rapists to get parental rights to their rape born child? Why does any human support these laws? Why? Jesus Wept

great source for orchid supplies

http://www.repotme.com/orchid-pots/index.html


I bought a ton of these mesh planters, they are the BEST THING since sliced bread.
I also bought a ton of different orchid potting mix.

songs from west wing

http://www.metrolyrics.com/heroes-lyrics-jill-sobule.html

recent thyroid rant

(why am I here?)
I have have hashimoto's for 10+ years (one of the causes of hypothyroidism - low thyroid.)
(if you have HYPERthyroidism, possibly grave's disease, some or none of this might help you)
hypo runs in my family, sister couldn't get pregnant without thyroid replacement therapy ...

I have spent years fighting with doctors about proper dosing and what is normal. Those numbers have changed a LOT over time and so many doctors are behind the times or have no CLUE.
sigh

Being "in the range" is the WORST POSSIBLE answer you can get from the doctor.
If you are having trouble getting pregnant and there MIGHT be a thyroid problem, make CERTAIN that they have tested you for the anti-bodies. If they have not, insist that they test you.

if you have the anti-bodies, then you have hashmito's and you have HYPOTHYROIDISM.

when they test the TSH, your GOAL is to get between .4 and 1.4, where 1.0 would be awesomeness!!

3.8? you are crazy low. all these stories about people getting their levels fixed and then getting PG exist for a reason!!

fighting with your doctors over this is one of the silliest and hardest things. and so trivial, easy and cheap to fix.


http://www.tpauk.com/docs/symptoms_hypot.pdf

this is an awesome checklist. it has symptoms which PATIENTS have found that come and go as their thyroid is PROPERLY treated. some of these symptoms are INSANE and no doctor will listen to you, BUT, you will find the problems going away when you get proper dosing? so it MUST have been that right?? :D

I am not a dr. but fought for a decade to get higher dosages and more frequent blood tests.

sigh
the number of people in the US, who are subclinical and untreated ... sigh

anyways
I hope this helps 1 person.
do not accept "normal" and in range.
get the actual numbers and then go read about people with this problem and how even a SMALL change can have huge impact!!
do not accept my word, the more you read online, the more you will shake your head.

if there is any doubt and they have NOT done an antibody test, get one, either way it will help with the solutions


Good Luck!!