Stephen's Secure Blog #401
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's after
2018, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 20 in this story, in Fall of year 10 of his special school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #401 "Politician Approval"
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The public's response to my roasting the family values rep was
overwhelmingly supportive, probably because the conservatives were
uncharacteristically, mostly silent about it, which was noticed, and
played up in the media. Even Fox couldn't find much fault in what I had
said, except for the nudist part. For that they invited representatives
of nudist communities to explain their lifestyle, without too much
controversy. The recordings I gave to CNN about Dan's rescue and in the
hospital, included something I didn't think they would air. It was what
happened to Dan before the rescue. From part of my first friendly
meeting on the hill in summer camp with him, to what happened when he
went home, including his beating and whipping. Dan actually wanted to
look at it, and he wasn't much affected by that, because it was like it
happened to a different life. They did air most of it. They took some
criticism for showing such real brutality, but they earned praise from
abuse experts and gay rights people. They also sent reporters to the
village. It was empty and run down. Abandoned. They did find the graves
in the woods. Four of them. Two more than were there when we left.
A candidate for Senate asked for my approval. I chose a meeting room
in our Window Rock convention center. He arrived on his own, and I met
him at the entrance to the building. I gave him a tour. In the meeting
room, after we sat, I said, "I made all this for my wedding, but I had
planed to remove it to keep the government from er, bothering us about
it. The Tribal Council was strongly opposed to my removing it. I would
still have, but for one and a half things. They consider my works as
being at least a little holy, depending on what they are, and sacred to
them, and I thought it was a useful test of the government and other
outside interests to keep it here." He said "Would they fight to keep
it undisturbed?" I said "If I let it go that far, absolutely. But I
won't, and told them that." He nodded. I said "They had a little
trouble accepting that, which I reduced by causing lightenings to shoot
from my fingertips." He grinned.
We discussed his qualifications, and how he would reconcile his
religious views with representing people who had different ones. Then I
said, "How confident are you of receiving my acceptance?" He said "I
haven't thought about it that way. I'm a middle Conservative
Republican, and you appear to be a middle Liberal Democrat. But you are
fair and value honesty. I had absolutely no idea what would happen here
with you, but I thought it would be interesting, and I didn't think
beyond that." I said "A presidential candidate should have, but that's
not necessary for a legislator. Do you think you have a chance of being
nominated?" He said "A chance, yes, as it is at this time. The loudest
of my party are leaning more toward the extreme Right. I'm not, er, I
guess I would classify myself as more rational." I said "I see. If I
approve you, how do you think that will affect your chances?" He said
"For the nomination, worse. For the election, better." I said "Yet you
didn't wait until after the nomination to do this." He said "True. It
just seemed like the right thing to do. I didn't tell my advisors." I
said "The party line. Republicans are like bonded pack animals. If you
look like you are open to compromise with the other side, they are
likely to turn on you. How do you feel about that?" He said "I have to
do what I think is right, but I'll try to do it in a way that ruffles
the er, fur of my pack mates as little as possible." I said "Masochists
aren't all that respected." He laughed. I said "You know you can't be
completely honest in campaigning and in job performance. How will you
deal with that?" He said "I know what you mean. I have to sell myself
to the public in a way they can respond well to, who'll never really
get to know me personally. And I have to do that differently to the
party machine at the same time. In office, there's the back room
dealing. I'm aware of all that in theory, and a little in practice in
State office, but that does have me concerned. Worried, actually. I
don't know how I'll handle it at that level. I'll just have to do my
best."
I said "You are the first to ask me for approval. What do you think
about that?" He smiled, and said, "That either I'm foolish, or they are
cowards, or both. I don't know why they should be afraid of you. I'm
not. Nervous, though, which you are obviously trying to reduce." I said
"How would you like me to announce the results of this interview?" He
said "I understand. You aren't telling me before I answer that. I have
to admire your cleverness." I said "And surround that with irritation
and frustration." He laughed. He said "I assume you would do that with
a press release, or on your regular show. For myself, I think the
release would be best, because you might be questioned about me on your
show, and you have been known to do unusual things then." I said "You
really are a politician! Unusual things. Ha!" He laughed. I said
"Either way, I could still be asked about it." He said "Do you think
they will bring up the religion issue?" I said "They won't like it if
they do. I will NOT discuss your possible choice in underclothes." He
laughed really well. I said "Well, considering what I wear. I see your
burning curiosity." He laughed. I said "Silk Thai kickboxing shorts,
with peace and love written all over them." He said "Wow!" I said
"Nobody has EVER said that about my underwear." He laughed some more. I
said "I'll do it in a release. Do you want to announce your visit
first?" He said "What would you advise?" I just smiled a little. He
laughed. He said "Any kind of publicity that isn't about sex or crimes,
is good. I'll announce it first." I said "I advise you to tell your
family first, if you haven't already." He said "I have, with some mixed
results." I said "That sounds interesting. Like in my shows?" He said
"Similar. I should assume now that I'm going to find out the results
when everybody else does?" I said "Good assuming." I stood, and offered
to hug, which he accepted. I escorted him to the main exit, and he
walked out.
He held a press conference as soon as he could, and had to repeat a
lot that he didn't know, and didn't have any idea what I would say. He
said "We didn't discuss the issues or how I would vote. It was mostly
about the job, my qualifications for it, and how I would handle some of
the problems the job causes. I found him to be a very intelligent and
warm person, and not judgmental at all." In the press release, I said
"I approve of him as a self honest and capable person, who is able to
think clearly and well, who is aware of the problems he will face on
the job, and is committed to public service. This is not an endorsement
of him as a candidate, because we didn't discuss his positions on
issues, and what his goals might be. In my opinion, he is well
qualified in personal attributes for the position he is aspiring to."
It turned out, that I received more immediate praise for the situation
than the candidate did. Strange. Rose said she liked him, though.
The Abbot of Tradruk contacted me about exhuming the buried treasures
there. I contacted one of the universities' archeology department, and
they agreed to send a team there. I ported there to meet them. I showed
them images of what was under the floor. There were a lot of wows. The
Abbot had questions, and they answered them. He said "Please remember
these objects are sacred and extremely precious to Tibet, and
specifically to this Temple. We very strongly wish that they never
leave our sight, but we understand that proper preservation and
academic study require that some items be temporarily elsewhere. Please
consider our feelings about this in your work." I said "And I can help.
Whatever facilities and equipment you need, I can make available here,
and one of my people can provide instant transportation when needed. It
would please me if the Abbot's desires were very well respected." They
acknowledged that, and all bowed to me, the Abbot with tears of
gratitude. Then the leader of the team told me what he needed in
facilities. I asked the Abbot where to construct them, and he told me.
As soon as he finished, I said, "Done, and with a few enhancements.
They all went outside and looked. There were a lot of wows. I said
"Well, I wanted it to fit in with the rest of the architecture around
here. Oh, one more thing. I'll remove the stone floor in that area.
Where should I put it?" He told me where. We went back inside. I said
"I can remove the floor where you need to have access, without
endangering the artifacts and their arrangement. Here are documents
describing what's there. Here is a crystal tour of it. You know how to
use it. When you would like me to expose the site, let me know."
The leader of the team said, "Now, please. We're ready, and we have
what we need to begin in the truck. My students are bringing it in now.
One will record what you do." I said "So do I, always. Well, I have
total recall, and can copy memories to crystal and magnetic media. I'll
move all the stones at once, to prevent any from becoming loose and
falling on something. Here goes." I lifted all the stone blocks I
needed to, and then ported them to the other location. They all looked
into the exposed pit. There were a lot of wows. The Abbot mentally
connected to me and said, +This is a very convenient way to have a
private conversation. There is more there than what you showed me in
your first visit.+ I said +Good observation! Correct. The government
needs money. This way I can provide it without causing problems with
the economy of the world.+ He looked at me in surprise and awe, and
said, +A very good idea! Thank you Master Teacher for all you do for
Tibet! I'll see they get the gold.+ I said +You're welcome. It truly is
my pleasure. Disconnecting now.+ I pushed him out, and he rubbed his
head, and smiled ruefully. I tried not to grin, which he noticed. He
knew the protocol of not contacting me mentally unless it was an
emergency.
I said "The stones at the edge of the hole are unstable. Those straps
which just appeared, will hold the stones in place, and are much
stronger then they look. Those stones will NOT move. I'll remove the
straps when I repair the floor, and make the new statues we had
planned. Everybody, please move outside." They did. I put a thick
plastic platform on the floor, covering the remaining stone blocks. I
put transparent plastic shields around the statues and other damageable
things and areas. I let them back in, and described what I had done.
The team leader was impressed, and said, "You would be very useful at
all our sites!" I said "That's me, useful Stephen." The Abbot and Monks
tried not to laugh. I left them to their work, and ported to the PM's
office. I told him what I had done, and he grinned.
The PM said "We are preparing to hold elections." I said "I saw you
had a difficult time in apportioning districts. Unfortunately, that's
normal for democracies." The Abbot from Labrang, who was there, said,
"We knew that, but still it was a time of trial." I said "Some of the
Han who were in government have been here long enough to vote. Are any
running for office?" The PM said "Three are. I think two will win their
districts. There might be problems with that, but we will survive it."
I said "Yes, and be all the better for it. Do YOU expect to be elected,
and again hold this office?" He said "I am running, but I truly don't
know what will happen. If I'm not chosen, I will offer all the help I
can give to my successor, even if that is only telling him not to
oppose you." I said "I could take that with some disappointment." They
laughed.
Back at home, Rose said, "I wonder if your approval will help that
poor man." I said "I know what you mean. I could be the kiss of death
for his run at the Senate. If he makes it, he might never be trusted by
his own party, and the other party will be after his votes." She said
"A misfit. He's rational and can think well, and that's not the
Republican way. He's courageous and a team player, and that's not the
Democrats' way." I said "May be the start of a new breed of
politician." She said "Or the end of him." Hawk said, "Whatever, it's
bound to be interesting." We all agreed.
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Grant
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