The people who explain The Center’s project are unpaid Interns. As usual with Interns, all
wear a uniform of a dark shirt and lights trousers or skirts. Their badges have
white strips. Some are young and others not so young. As each Intern explains
an innovation Manager Man watches closely and makes notes. The Interns all speak
well but at times Manager Man nods his head up and down quickly with
satisfaction and writes in his notebook, his face turning red on and off.
The first Intern, a young woman, speaks very well I
thought about the system Center
developed to make the Trains run on time and go safely around fast dangerous
curves and through towns. I record these talks the best I remember them. ‘The
Nation has strict laws governing the speed that trains can travel around curves
and through populated districts. We respect these laws. Trains can carry
dangerous cargos. So The Center developed
a series of computers that control the systems on the trains. The computers
send signals to the train that governs its speed at all times through towns and
around curves. Of course the genius of the system is a special feature that
allows the person in the train itself to turn off the system if it is felt to
be necessary to make the delivery to the next stop on time. We believe our
system to be a success because major train disasters have decreased to where
there was only ten in the Nation last year.’ As she finishes Manager Man writes
in his notebook. She sees that and leaves the stage sobbing.
The next Intern, a young man, also speaks well
about the system The Center developed
to efficiently and safely regulate the flow of oil and dangerous chemicals
through pipelines in populated areas and by the oceans. ‘The Nation has strict
laws governing the transport of oil and dangerous chemicals through pipelines
in populated areas and by the oceans. We respect these laws. Oil and chemicals
can cause major damage to people and the land. We care about nature
here at The Center.’ And you know the
rest. Computers that control the flow, system can be turned off for
productivity or to make a quota of delivery, and only six major oil or chemical
spills in the Nation last year and so on. Manager Man writes in his notebook;
Intern leaves the stage looking unhappy.
The students from Institute nod to one another at these descriptions. I think some of
them will come over to work at Center
when they finish school.
The final Intern who speaks is an older man for an
Intern. He tries to speak with humor as he tells how The Center developed the advances in communications technology that
make it possible for ‘the post living’ to serve in government legislatures. And
so ‘equipment that responds to words in questions asked them and answer with a
recorded message. Questioners from the TV and newspapers soon learn which words
cause a response. If the system does not recognize any of what news people ask
it gives an angry reply about bias and prejudices of the press. The texts of
the messages can be changed automatically as the purposes of leadership
changes. The same remote technology instructs the dead members how to vote on
matters before the Legislature. This system for legislation in government is
thought to be the future of democracy because the representatives are “fully
‘accountable.”’
Manager Man now rises to speak,
reading slowly from a piece of paper. ‘The
Center always has to think about the future,’ his
face turning a brighter red. ‘We all follow the news. For example, can The Center make a ‘contribution’ since
‘Independent Dueling’ has been authorized in Czonaloqkos as a ‘demonstration program.’ We could propose to make special ‘dueling
courts.’ These could include ‘shielded seating for the public. Electrical
components for media access, for TV rights.’ It is “not too early to think
about this.”
He concludes by adding that the Center ‘carefully
monitors all new developments in all parts of The Nation, no matter how remote.
As an example of this, how can The Center
‘contribute’ if or when “human sacrifice” comes back.’ There are some murmurs
from the students from Institute.
Just for a moment Manager Man looks afraid. ‘We
have just learned of this proposal by some of the most ‘traditional’ clergy in a
very far, remote part of the Nation. So it is “not too early to think about how
this can bring value.”’ He concludes, continuing to read carefully from his
prepared text, reminding us that “many things that happen begin as small ideas
people believe are impossible.”
The students from Institute applaud, and looking at one another type rapidly into
their portable computers. After lunchtime we are all to attend a ‘real life
session’ on how The Center uses the ‘collective
intelligence and creativity of all its employees to develop new innovations and
strategies.’
During the lunch hour I wander out the side entrance
of Center where a paved walkway leads
to a dirt pathway that turns up towards the hills. I walk up and it soon joins another
path alongside a small steam, the source of Wash. I follow the stream up into the hills and am in a
wooded area that feels far away after just a short distance. This is a peaceful
place and to think this stream continues and cuts a dry wash across The Basin that
gets deeper and wider joining other rivers to reach the ocean. After walking a while I am
ready for the afternoon. I see some benches but decide I better not sit on any
of them. I want to get back early so I am not the last one to come into the
room again.
The real-life session happens in the same room,
though now the chairs have been rearranged into a large circle. When I get
there all but one of the seats is taken. The students are all seated and in a
slighter larger more ornate chair is the Man who Smirked and Rolled his Eyes at
the Interview. He will conduct the program; a nameplate identifies him as Manager of Creativity and Innovation. I
take the final seat, completing the circle. The students still have their small
computers and I am ready with my notebook and several pencils. Though we are
equal in the circle I have a strange feeling that all are looking towards me. The
Innovator Man is just opposite across me in the circle. He looks over at me as
I take my seat, shakes his head and rolled his eyes.
Then Innovator Man opens a thick binder. And as I
remember the session went something like this. ‘Now we can get started. Today
we will consider how to solve a problem you will recognize from the news. The
continuing matter of concussions in Game.
Or thought to be a problem by some who are able to get attention from certain
media.’ A pause. I write ‘helmet’ in my notebook, and look up to notice
everyone still looking at me. ‘There have been a lot of restrictive rules made
to limit concussions.’ Another pause as he shakes his head in disgust. ‘Maybe
if we can solve the problem Game can
go back to being a game for real men. It hasn’t been the same. It started with
helmets….’ More disgust.
[Game is a team game called Game. It is very popular on television
throughout The Nation. Game season is
in the Fall and Winter and leads to a championship ‘Big Game.’ The contest is
between teams on a large playing field. Two teams run into each other one
another; one team tries to move an object down the field; the other tries to
stop them. Each team has their turn moving the object. The contest is stopped
after each play while players who made good plays celebrate, jump up and down,
and generally carry on. Celebrations often can last for most of an hour. In
fact there are TV shows just about the best ‘big play’ celebrations. At least
once during every contest a player, after making an especially good play will
point to the sky, or point and shake his finger. When this happens play stops
while all the people watching in the stadium stand up and point their fingers
upward. People watching on TV will do the same, often going out into the street
to do so with their neighbors. The contest is also stopped often by officials
while they argue about rules. Sometimes contests have been stopped for days while
the disputes go into the law courts. Arguments over ‘completing the sequence.’
Litigation over the meaning of the ‘gratuitous shot.’ Often play is stopped
while successfully completed plays are shown repeatedly on television. And it
is a routine that at regular times play stops while representatives of
companies appear and tell about their consumer products. The contests also
often have to stop while medical personnel carry injured players off the field.
Players will work for years to get good enough to play in Game, and then last only a few minutes before they are injured and
carried off the field; some injuries happen because the player will stumble
running out onto the field. A few of the players who last become famous and are
thought to be heroes. Because it has become more widely known that most of the
‘heroes’ cannot function any longer because of brain injuries the public has
called into question the usefulness of their protective equipment. And so there
are discussions like the one Willson is involved in here. Editors]
I look again at my notebook; I have a start of an
idea and write ‘skull protects brain’ and ‘layers’ and ‘mimic structure.’ Then
I write ‘outside.’ Innovator Man goes on about ‘if there has to be a so called
improvement, The Center will make it.’ There is a pause. Silence. Then something
like ‘how are we to proceed here gentlemen? The public expects us to solve this
problem.’ More silence. I look up from my notebook and see that everyone is
looking at me. Innovator Man then points at me saying ‘what we have over here
is our newest employee, Willson. Willson comes to us from that little school out
there at Fruitbaugh. He is going to
make things for us.’ I see smirks and exchanged looks among the Innovator Man
and students from Institute. “You got
anything for us yet Willson?” After a pause “of course not!’’ and slaps his
hand on the table. There is still silence and I write some more notes. Then
more like ‘the clock is ticking gentlemen’ and ‘we need to move this along.’
After more long silence “do you believe in what we are doing here Willson?” I
think I have something now. I start to speak. Some look away; some look down; others
look impatient. I speak anyway.
This is how I remember what I said. ‘We must
improve the helmet. In a collision the brain moves inside the head as the head
moves inside the helmet. There is padding inside the helmet that slows down and
protects the head to some extent but the head still hits the inside of the
helmet in a hard collision. And then the brain does the same inside the skull. First
we have to add another layer of protection between the helmet padding and the
inside of the helmet. This layer has to be harder than the padding yet softer
than the helmet itself. I suggest two layers of a strong thin material and in
between the layers another piece that has been folded back and forth so that it
will cushion yet give way, slowing down the head as it collides with the inside
of the helmet. This will reduce the force put upon the natural layers around
the brain that protect it from hitting the inside of the skull.’ I pause and
there is no reaction at all. All silence. I pause more. Still silence. And so I
continue. ‘Even more important, I also suggest a similar cushion layer on the
outside of the helmet. This will help the structure inside the helmet by
cushioning blows from the outside.’ I hear some slight remarks but do not look
right at anyone. I am determined to finish. ‘This layer can be a little thicker
but will not be noticeable on the helmet from any distance.’ And I have to add
that ‘this does not mean that the rules that protect brain injuries can be stopped.
We need those also.’
(continued
on Page 3)
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