Dana's goals and achievements in life were driven by an obsession to make the world a better place in which we all live. The communications revolution that she ushered in made a positive difference to hundreds of millions of people worldwide, especially children. Her wireless product allowed quality information and education to reach the most remote parts of our globe. She had done a great thing for humanity. Yet the very thing that helped so much, and made her so personally wealthy and powerful, even counted among the world's elite; was taxing our world's power supply and was a major contributor to Global Warming. The dichotomy was a source of deep emotional anguish for Dana. With just a few days till her meeting with Steve, Dana decided it would be best is she retreated to her picturesque cabin in Montana, nestled away on 200 acres in the Rocky Mountains. During her time of seclusion, Dana chose a path that lined up with her heart and head. It would mean drastic changes at Freewire and in her personal life, but it was the only choice that would be acceptable for her.
Dana called Steve and let her know her decision. She suggested that they meet and put together a loose outline fist thing Friday morning and then plan the press conference for 10AM. Steve agreed, although he knew what this meant, there was no sense in protesting. He new Dana well enough to know that there was no room for negotiation, especially on this one in particular. So it was set.
Friday July 18th, 2008 – 10AM
“ I have called this press conference to announce the decisions that we have made at Freewire to address the looming issue of power grid failures and our intentions and plans to rectify this very serious situation that we face as a company. It has occurred to us that this is not an isolated issue that we can address with some sort of reduced usage plan. This is an issue that the global community must face. We are all acutely aware of the environmental strains that energy production and demand has put on our world. The time to address this in now. So I have decided to do my part to find a solution that benefits us all, not just Freewire and it's customers.
Therefore I have resigned as CEO of Freewire this morning. Steve Cross will take over all my duties and will carry his duties as President of Freewire. Freewire will form a partnership with a non-profit company that I will form and head up. I have donated all my personal financial wealth to start this company. That figure is somewhere in the $60 billion range, depending on the markets reaction to this move. The new company will pool all the resource that we can pull together for academia, scientists, business leaders, corporations, governments, environmentalists, and any other help we can find. I decided that if I, “put my money where my mouth is”, so to say; then maybe other will follow, and we can find a real an workable solution to our energy problems. We need a NOW solution, and I have found that money gets people to be very creative, for better or worse. I hope that this will motivate for the better.
At this time we do not have any details of our plan, only a loose outline. Steve and I will be hamming out the details with a team that we have put together this week, that will grow exponentially over time. We won't be answering any questions today. We will schedule a follow-up press conference as soon as we have a detailed plan. Thank you.” Dana and Steve turned to leave quickly. The press was in an uproar. They were furious that they would make an announcement like that and not take questions. Although the smart ones were setting up live feeds and reporting “on the fly”.
Dana was tired of the way we fought wars. This was her personal war of the terrorists. If fossil fuels fueled their economies and finance attacks on us, then we could stop the fight by stopping the financing. True to form her leadership abilities brought together the foremost experts in environmental science, fossil fuels, alternative energy, power production, logistics, distribution, nuclear science, weather and climate sciences, finance, governments, and volunteers from the general poulation around the world. Her decision to put her “money where her mouth is”, created a ripple effect at a time when the world need something to believe in. The economies around the world, especially in the United States, were on shaky ground. When she put all that money into circulation for research and development of an energy solution, it shifted something in the psyche of people. People began to believe that, if business leaders and governments believed there was a solution and were willing to put money and time towards it, then maybe there really was an answer to $4 plus gasoline prices at the pump. Maybe there was a solution to corn and grain prices going so high that a whole new group of people where now facing the possibility of starvation.
Dana also decided privately early on that she would be the only person that would hold all the keys to all the parts of any discoveries, at least until it could be brought to market. because if a technology could be found that would destroy the world's reliance on fossil fuels, it would be very dangerous for everyone “in the know”. Entire country's economies are based on fossil fuel production and sales for their livelihood. Not to mention, the very powerful corporations and politicians in America, who would do anything, including wage war, which is going on at present and would be a further possibility in the future. It was because of the threat death and corruption that Dana decided to deal with the burden of secrecy herself. There would be small groups that would work independently and occasionally work together on joint issues. This would be a logistical nightmare, but it was the only way to protect everyone. This was not a totally foreign process to her because the technology industry operates on the same principle for protection from competition during development of new products.
April 10th, 2009 – Albuquerque, New Mexico
The research team stumbled upon something as they were working on some variations of the currently available alternative energy solutions such as; wind power, solar power, and hydrogen power production. They were studying weather patterns and their effect on different variations of power generation sources. They were sending a lot of stuff into the atmosphere like balloons and inert gases, which are already occur naturally in our atmosphere in order to see how to create a steady flow of the the power source, whether that be wind, sun , gas (like hydrogen), or whatever the medium. Then it started to happen, the anomalies in the weather, freak snow storms south of where they were, scorching heat in the snow capped mountains west of them causing snow melt followed by floods, and even tornadoes in the desert. So they halted testing immediately.
One of the requirements of this project was that once the initial investment was made to install the technology, that it could be continued to be produced with only man hours, no additional cost of drilling mining coal fired plants, etc... It must produce energy that is renewable. it had to be able to be deployed to even the poorest and most remote parts of the world with a minimal environmental impact. Initially these test held promise and they were testing their theory in various sites throughout the world. Another requirement was that it could be deployed in any environment, climate, and topography.
They eliminated the hydrogen from their experiments and tried another approach. Immediately they saw tremendous results. It was working in almost every situation where they tested around the world everyone was very hopeful. Then it began happening. It was now February of 2010, testing had been working for the last nine months. But now unusual atmospheric conditions began to concern Dr. Christopher David. He noticed that the weather anomalies were occurring again, although not nearly as severe as the original problems in New Mexico. The concern for Dr. David was the large fields of electricity being produced, but not harnessed, seemed to be the very thing that was creating these weather problems. His observations made him very unpopular among his colleagues. They viewed him a the guy who was trying to find something wrong with something that was creating great hope. So the decision that he made to report these issues to Ms. Scales was going to make him very unpopular.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Unlimited Power... Corrupts Ch.1
Dana's communications company realized that the massive amounts of users of her product; at certain times of the day, was severely effecting the power grids in heavily populated ares throughout the world. With her concern for Global Warming always at the forefront of her mind, she sought a way through alternative energy research to reduce power consumption, especially that which was created by her company and it's users. The goal was to find alternative to the traditional fossil fuel approach, a workable, now type solution, an alternative to fuels like coal and oil.
Freewire's users increased worldwide in record numbers for broadband wireless technology adoption among the mass population. The problem of power grid failure became highly disconcerting, even ominous to Dana Scales. This was the reasoning behind her decision to begin heavily investing and using every available resource at her disposal; personal, financial, and academic, to solicit help in solving the power issue. The ramifications of this problem, if it were to continue at any length, would reach epic proportion. It made Dana shudder at the thought, Greenhouse gas emissions, food shortages, economic meltdowns around the world, and even wars. "all my life I have worked to do something good, to leave a legacy of hope... now this..." Dana thought to herself. "I've got to call Steve Case, he can think through this with me. He will be more analytical, I am too emotional about this issue. I need a plan of attack right now. Steve will get me in the right place in mind to deal with this. I am so glad that we merged with his company, it has been the best decision I made in recent years. I still can't believe someone as good as Steve reports to me. I guess I was just lucky that Freewire's stock price was so highly valued in the marketplace. The public is so fickle, technology stock prices never make sense to me. Steve's company was much better run with more technology advantages then us, but there value wasn't reflected on the Street.", she thought out loud. "Hello, Steve." "Dana, how are you? Or should I even ask?" I am O.K. Steve. I need your help with a project outside the scope of our expertise as a company. We need a solution to the power grid failure issue, that was in large part, created by our product." I know Dana, it has been bothering me as well. I have thought about ways to approach this, but short of creating a new division or company..." That is exactly what I was thinking Steve. We need to create a non-profit company that can solicit help from everyone interested in alternative energy for whatever turns them on. You know, whether they are companies wanting to develop new technology, academics wanting to research, environmentalists trying to save our way of life, anything. We could create a coalition that would work towards the end that we all need, a solution, not another political argument." "Who would head that up Dana? We hardly have time to handle the explosion of growth in our company. The stock holders would be pissed if we started spending capital on this "non-profit" venture, no matter how right it is for us to do it. The almighty buck is what concerns stockholders." Your right Steve, that is why I called you. We need a how, and we need it NOW! Can you help me find a way?" Of course I will Dana, you know how I feel about the environment. I have kids, and hopefully someday grandkids that I would like to leave more than money to. You know, a world where they can breathe, play, love, and ll that good stuff." Steve, have I told you how glad I am that our companies merged, and how happy i am to be on the same team as you? Yes you have boss, about a thousand times. Thank you again." How soon can you meet with me Steve?" Whenever you want." Why don't we do it at the end of this week. That gives us about three days. I will work on my contacts list and work the phones trying to generate interest in our project. You put together and outline for the proposed structure. Oh Steve, one more thing, this could be very dangerous, we will be hurting a lot of powerful organizations and people if we discover a breakthrough technology. So I want us to think about how we can best protect everyone involved. Anonymity will be very important." Got it Dana, I am with you. I already have some ideas. I will see you on Friday.
Freewire's users increased worldwide in record numbers for broadband wireless technology adoption among the mass population. The problem of power grid failure became highly disconcerting, even ominous to Dana Scales. This was the reasoning behind her decision to begin heavily investing and using every available resource at her disposal; personal, financial, and academic, to solicit help in solving the power issue. The ramifications of this problem, if it were to continue at any length, would reach epic proportion. It made Dana shudder at the thought, Greenhouse gas emissions, food shortages, economic meltdowns around the world, and even wars. "all my life I have worked to do something good, to leave a legacy of hope... now this..." Dana thought to herself. "I've got to call Steve Case, he can think through this with me. He will be more analytical, I am too emotional about this issue. I need a plan of attack right now. Steve will get me in the right place in mind to deal with this. I am so glad that we merged with his company, it has been the best decision I made in recent years. I still can't believe someone as good as Steve reports to me. I guess I was just lucky that Freewire's stock price was so highly valued in the marketplace. The public is so fickle, technology stock prices never make sense to me. Steve's company was much better run with more technology advantages then us, but there value wasn't reflected on the Street.", she thought out loud. "Hello, Steve." "Dana, how are you? Or should I even ask?" I am O.K. Steve. I need your help with a project outside the scope of our expertise as a company. We need a solution to the power grid failure issue, that was in large part, created by our product." I know Dana, it has been bothering me as well. I have thought about ways to approach this, but short of creating a new division or company..." That is exactly what I was thinking Steve. We need to create a non-profit company that can solicit help from everyone interested in alternative energy for whatever turns them on. You know, whether they are companies wanting to develop new technology, academics wanting to research, environmentalists trying to save our way of life, anything. We could create a coalition that would work towards the end that we all need, a solution, not another political argument." "Who would head that up Dana? We hardly have time to handle the explosion of growth in our company. The stock holders would be pissed if we started spending capital on this "non-profit" venture, no matter how right it is for us to do it. The almighty buck is what concerns stockholders." Your right Steve, that is why I called you. We need a how, and we need it NOW! Can you help me find a way?" Of course I will Dana, you know how I feel about the environment. I have kids, and hopefully someday grandkids that I would like to leave more than money to. You know, a world where they can breathe, play, love, and ll that good stuff." Steve, have I told you how glad I am that our companies merged, and how happy i am to be on the same team as you? Yes you have boss, about a thousand times. Thank you again." How soon can you meet with me Steve?" Whenever you want." Why don't we do it at the end of this week. That gives us about three days. I will work on my contacts list and work the phones trying to generate interest in our project. You put together and outline for the proposed structure. Oh Steve, one more thing, this could be very dangerous, we will be hurting a lot of powerful organizations and people if we discover a breakthrough technology. So I want us to think about how we can best protect everyone involved. Anonymity will be very important." Got it Dana, I am with you. I already have some ideas. I will see you on Friday.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Unlimited Power... Corrupts *Prologue*
She did it. Achieving the hard earned success of her worldwide advanced communications network just wasn't enough. But now, this moment made it all worth it. She knew that for her to be truly successful by her own standards, she would need to contribute something that would benefit our world in a real and meaningful way. As a smile ran across her face, she new in her heart this was that elusive "thing" that she had worked her whole life towards.
Along the way to this place Dana had diverse challenges. The adversaries that she amassed in the last few years developing this technology were far more that she ever imagined. The list of foes included world leaders, powerful multinational corporations, members of the World Bank, powerful private investors, and even entire countries. "Who would have thought that doing something so good for our world community and our environment would have angered, no enraged so many people? Even those who claim, at the same time, to have;'The best interest of the people at heart'." she thought to herself.
Fortunately for Dana, the groundswell of support from the individual end user, and a large part of the general population had turned her into a pop culture hero of sorts. Of course this wasn't her own making. But it did help to protect her from an outward personal attack, although there were death threats, taking action would have caused too much exposure to those who really did want her out of the picture. The fear of economic and political repercussions not only stopped them, they even made sure that no one else did anything to hurt her. At least for the time being.
She open a bottle of Cos de Esternol, 1982, one of her favorite wines in the world. While it was not the most expensive, it was over $1000.00 a bottle, and it was a truly exquisite wine and a fantastic year for French wines. She bought this bottle just about ten years ago. It was a bottle of the very same wine that she celebrated her first business achievement that served the public with long term impact on the community it served. Although small in comparison to this event, it marked the moment she realized that she could mix business and community betterment together. "I think I will draw a bath while I wait for this wine to open up. Where is that decanter?" she found the decanter, poured the wine so it could breathe and gather the oxygen it needed for full flavor. Then she slipped into the bath. The candles were lit around the very large tub, making it feel very soft in the room. Debussy was playing on the CD. "'Claire de Lune', I love this piece", she thought to herself, as she melted into the hot bath water that was washing over her as her body sank into the the tub like apiece of iron sinking in the ocean. As her body settled to the bottom she thought, " I could just stay here like this forever". Dana drifted in thought, "It sure would be nice to share this evening with someone special. Well I guess that is the price you have to pay for choosing 'the road less traveled'. Isn't it? Oh well, maybe I should just focus on how great it is to be a part of something so great as this project." This was how she made it through without a relationship all these years. Rationalization. Costs. Everything on balance. These were the word and phrases that got her through. Obviously, while there would be much celebration, after the press conference tomorrow, tonight would be a time of introspection.
Dana stood up, the oily water from the bath glistened on her skin in the light of the candles. She was a beautiful women, striking in fact. Her body was tone and shapely. She knew she could have any number of men. That made it even more difficult for her to understand her choices, especially at times like this. Dana experienced deep conflict, knowing that she was accomplishing great things for countless others, but feeling so lonely in the process. "Does it have to be this way? Couldn't I have it all? It seems that I always go through this thought process at times like these." she said to herself out loud. She slipped into her white, thigh high, silk Versace robe, and heads over to the CD player to start Vivaldi's "Four Seasons".
Allowing the enjoyment of a few indulgences over the years such as; fine clothing, Italian shoes, fine wines, art, and her passion for the symphony and opera. Dana pours herself a glass of the Cos de Esternol from the crystal decanter, holds up the glass to study the beauty of it's opacity, places her nose into the crystal Riedel stemware and notices a hint of lavender and other wonderful fragrances almost indescribable, takes a sip, swirls the bouquet in her mouth, and swallows. "What an utterly wonderful finish. It is better then I remember.This is such a finely crafted and perfectly aged wine." Dana said out loud, again to herself. She opens the balcony doors, steps outside and looks out at the sun setting across the Singapore skyline. She takes a deep breath and smiles with a deep sense of accomplishment and anticipation.
The next day Headline News reported - "Dana Scales - Technology Tycoon - missing..."
Along the way to this place Dana had diverse challenges. The adversaries that she amassed in the last few years developing this technology were far more that she ever imagined. The list of foes included world leaders, powerful multinational corporations, members of the World Bank, powerful private investors, and even entire countries. "Who would have thought that doing something so good for our world community and our environment would have angered, no enraged so many people? Even those who claim, at the same time, to have;'The best interest of the people at heart'." she thought to herself.
Fortunately for Dana, the groundswell of support from the individual end user, and a large part of the general population had turned her into a pop culture hero of sorts. Of course this wasn't her own making. But it did help to protect her from an outward personal attack, although there were death threats, taking action would have caused too much exposure to those who really did want her out of the picture. The fear of economic and political repercussions not only stopped them, they even made sure that no one else did anything to hurt her. At least for the time being.
She open a bottle of Cos de Esternol, 1982, one of her favorite wines in the world. While it was not the most expensive, it was over $1000.00 a bottle, and it was a truly exquisite wine and a fantastic year for French wines. She bought this bottle just about ten years ago. It was a bottle of the very same wine that she celebrated her first business achievement that served the public with long term impact on the community it served. Although small in comparison to this event, it marked the moment she realized that she could mix business and community betterment together. "I think I will draw a bath while I wait for this wine to open up. Where is that decanter?" she found the decanter, poured the wine so it could breathe and gather the oxygen it needed for full flavor. Then she slipped into the bath. The candles were lit around the very large tub, making it feel very soft in the room. Debussy was playing on the CD. "'Claire de Lune', I love this piece", she thought to herself, as she melted into the hot bath water that was washing over her as her body sank into the the tub like apiece of iron sinking in the ocean. As her body settled to the bottom she thought, " I could just stay here like this forever". Dana drifted in thought, "It sure would be nice to share this evening with someone special. Well I guess that is the price you have to pay for choosing 'the road less traveled'. Isn't it? Oh well, maybe I should just focus on how great it is to be a part of something so great as this project." This was how she made it through without a relationship all these years. Rationalization. Costs. Everything on balance. These were the word and phrases that got her through. Obviously, while there would be much celebration, after the press conference tomorrow, tonight would be a time of introspection.
Dana stood up, the oily water from the bath glistened on her skin in the light of the candles. She was a beautiful women, striking in fact. Her body was tone and shapely. She knew she could have any number of men. That made it even more difficult for her to understand her choices, especially at times like this. Dana experienced deep conflict, knowing that she was accomplishing great things for countless others, but feeling so lonely in the process. "Does it have to be this way? Couldn't I have it all? It seems that I always go through this thought process at times like these." she said to herself out loud. She slipped into her white, thigh high, silk Versace robe, and heads over to the CD player to start Vivaldi's "Four Seasons".
Allowing the enjoyment of a few indulgences over the years such as; fine clothing, Italian shoes, fine wines, art, and her passion for the symphony and opera. Dana pours herself a glass of the Cos de Esternol from the crystal decanter, holds up the glass to study the beauty of it's opacity, places her nose into the crystal Riedel stemware and notices a hint of lavender and other wonderful fragrances almost indescribable, takes a sip, swirls the bouquet in her mouth, and swallows. "What an utterly wonderful finish. It is better then I remember.This is such a finely crafted and perfectly aged wine." Dana said out loud, again to herself. She opens the balcony doors, steps outside and looks out at the sun setting across the Singapore skyline. She takes a deep breath and smiles with a deep sense of accomplishment and anticipation.
The next day Headline News reported - "Dana Scales - Technology Tycoon - missing..."
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