This thing called HoloBlogs captured Bert’s intrigue. A subscriber created a hologram blog that could be replayed on demand, viewable by either the public or specific subscribers. HoloBlogs were offered as a free or paid service. If a subscriber chose the free service, advertisements, called HoloAds, would appear intermittently throughout the HoloBlog broadcast. If a subscriber chose the paid HoloBlog service, then it would be broadcast ad-free. Bert was interested enough in HoloBlogs that he decided to try it out using one of his history lectures as a test. He thought he’d test the free service to see how the ads worked and if they would take away from the HoloBlog’s quality. He recorded a ten-minute HoloBlog, then played it back. Three minutes into the HoloBlog, a ten-second hologram of a man washing clothes advertising laundry soap appeared. “OK, not too bad,” Bert thought. After another three minutes, a ten-second hologram of a woman smiling and drinking an energy drink appeared. “I don’t like the drink, but still OK,” Bert said to himself. Another three minutes went by and the third and final ad showed, nude woman advertising what she could and would do for anyone willing to visit HoloRoom SCT-450. “DarkRooms, I hate DarkRooms,” he said as he took off the HoloSpecs, disgusted that something so vile would show up in his HoloBlog.
During their courtship, Bert and Laura made a pledge to each other that they would not partake in what had become a rampant pornography industry across the ethnarchies. It was everywhere, and HoloMate made its accessibility even more convenient. He did some research on controlling the ads in HoloBlogs. While a HoloBlog creator could specify a range of ad topics that could be displayed during the HoloBlog broadcast, there was no assurance that ads outside of those specified topics, including DarkRoom ads, would not be shown. If Bert were to use HoloBlogs and ensure no DarkRoom ads he’d have to pay for it.
Bert made it a point to keep in contact with his only true friend, Paul. Their weekly conversations while they were both in college had given way to monthly Sunday afternoon HoloRoom meet-ups at 2 p.m. Bert was particularly interested in talking with Paul this week about his HoloBlog experience. Bert went into his alone room, customary bottle of water in hand, sat down in the now-tattered beanbag chair that he had used since college, put on his HoloSpecs and went to room PGP-902. Paul’s hologram was already in there, waiting for Bert.
“Hey Bert!” Paul said.
“Hey.” Bert took a swig of water.
“How’s JT?”
“Doing great. You should see him do puzzles.”
“And Laura?”
“She’s good. I want to talk to you about something.” Bert wasted no time getting to what was on his mind.
“Shoot.” Paul said.
“I’ve been trying out HoloBlogs, thinking I could use them in teaching.”
“Pretty cool technology.” Paul said as he took a bite of an apple. The sudden crunch of Paul’s apple bite startled Bert. He turned down the volume on his HoloSpecs.
“Sorry about that.” Paul saw Bert’s reaction to the apple sound. “I’ll chew quietly. So, you have been playing with HoloBlogs.”
“Yes HoloBlogs.” Bert continued. “I like the idea of recording my hologram for on-demand playback and think I could use it for lectures. There are free and paid options. The free option has ads that play every three minutes. One of the ads that played on my test was a DarkRoom ad.”
Paul knew Bert’s feelings on DarkRooms, having discussed it before. “Ugh.” Paul said.
“I really like HoloBlogs and would like to use it, but I don’t know that I want to pay for it, and I’m not sure how many people would be interested in on-demand history lectures if I did do it. And I definitely don’t want to risk a DarkRoom ad popping up.”
Paul took a muffled small bite of his apple and gently chewed to keep the noise down. “After we talked last month, I started thinking, you and Laura are passionate about helping others understand autism and helping JT be more accepted. Could you and Laura use HoloBlogs to help with autism awareness?”
“I haven’t thought of that. What would we do?” Bert’s curiosity was piqued.
“Just thinking off the top of my head but you and Laura could do HoloBlogs together to talk about issues people with autism face and give some tips on how neurotypicals can be more inclusive.”
“I never thought about that. Me and Laura doing a HoloBlog together. But I don’t want to risk DarkRoom ads popping up, I’d have to use the paid service.”
“There might be some things you can do to offset the cost.” Paul looked down at his apple that had started turning brown. He hated brown apples. Into the trash, making a thud as it hit the garbage can. “Perhaps you can do some paid coaching for parents and others who want to talk with you about specific problems. That might be a way to help recoup the cost of the paid service.”
Bert got quiet, focused on absorbing Paul’s advice. Paul could see Bert’s hologram sitting in his beanbag chair, staring downward intently. “How about I type out some ideas and send them to you?” Paul asked, knowing Bert would better comprehend written thoughts.
“That’d be great.” Bert said.
“OK, I’ll send them to you tonight.”
“Thanks, Paul.”
They chattered on for another ten minutes about nothing in particular. Bert looked at the clock on the HoloRoom wall and saw 2:15. They always ended their meet-ups after 15 minutes.
“OK, talk to you next month.” Bert said. “I’ll look for your HoloBlog thoughts tonight.”
“Yup, I’ll do it tonight. Take care and give Laura and JT my love.”
Bert’s hologram disappeared from the room. Paul removed his HoloSpecs, happy for his friend but deep down jealous of what he had. Bert had Laura and JT. Paul had his brother and sister but just couldn’t seem to connect with anyone romantically. He even visited an upscale gay bar and almost got to making out with a handsome young doctor but it repulsed him just as much as kissing a woman.
Paul sent Bert some written notes just as he said he would. Bert read it while sitting in his alone room, then went into the living room where Laura was reading a book. JT was playing with blocks on the floor next to her.
“Paul and I were talking about HoloBlogs this afternoon. He sent me some ideas that I want you to look at.” Bert handed Laura his phone with the message on screen. She started reading.
“Bert and Laura, as promised, here are a few notes on HoloBlogs and how you might be able to help others affected by autism. With the birth rate climbing from one in 68 in 2017 to one in 20 in 2050, it’s clear that autism is here to stay and something we need to address across the ethnarchies. People with autism need and deserve to be included and not bullied, mocked, or discriminated against. You both, along with JT, are in a unique position to make a difference. I believe starting a HoloBlog which demonstrates the real-world challenges and strengths someone with autism possesses and how the challenges can be managed, and the strengths leveraged, could be powerful. Call the blog something like Growing Up Autistic with the Winns and provide simple, ten-minute HoloBlog posts where you both discuss a specific aspect of growing up with autism. I know Bert is concerned about having to pay for the HoloBlog posts versus risking obscene ads in the free version. I would say pay for HoloBlog but also offer ‘for-fee’ coaching for HoloFriends wanting autism advice. I’m confident there will be enough interest in your services to pay the HoloBlog fee. None of us want JT to experience the same struggles you both did throughout your life. This is an opportunity to help change perceptions and hopefully make things easier on JT. I am happy to help you as much as you like in this endeavor, just let me know. Your friend, Paul.”
“So, what do you think?” Bert asked Laura.
Laura handed the phone back to Bert. “I need to digest more, it’s a lot coming at me at once. Can you send that to me?”
“Sure.” Bert forwarded the message to Laura.
Laura and Bert both thought about it and discussed it over the next week. They created a chart with pros and cons, the b
iggest con being the cost of HoloBlog. Even if they didn’t do consulting, they decided they could still afford the paid version of HoloBlog versus risking smutty HoloAds in the free version. On May 22, 2050 Bert and Laura launched Growing Up Autistic with the Winns and released their first ten-minute HoloBlog post on creating “alone spaces” in your home. They committed to creating at least one HoloBlog post every week for a year. If it did well they’d continue, if not, they’d stop.
It did well, in fact, far better than they expected. By its five-year anniversary, Growing Up Autistic with the Winns had 100 million HoloFriends. Bert and Laura talked about a wide range of topics, including autistic parents raising autistic children, going through puberty, achieving intimacy when touch-sensitive, setting expectations on schedules, and varying eating habits. The topics were an honest and unvarnished lens into people on the spectrum. Their HoloBlog led to multiple coaching opportunities with people affected by autism or those who just wanted to learn more. They easily made enough HoloFriends coaching revenue to pay the HoloBlog fee, save for college and retirement, and donate to programs that promoted autism awareness and inclusion. For HoloMate corporate, the HoloBlog fee was peanuts compared to the 50 percent HoloFriend coaching revenue. Bert and Laura’s blog was their top HoloBlog site and inspired thousands of new paid HoloBlog sites.
While the HoloBlog and HoloFriend consulting was going great, Bert and Laura were increasingly conflicted by the pervasiveness of DarkRooms. They decided they would need to do something about it, and it was going to tick Caleb off.
Keep it Quick
2066
T he HoloMate reporter continued reports of the Jerusalem shooting through the day and into the evening, interviewing witnesses, firearms experts, law enforcement, and anyone who could help piece together what happened. The sideways rain had let up, with only occasional sprinkles. The reporter saw the head of embassy security, Ira Greenbaum, walking out of the embassy entrance and approached him to ask about the shooting.
“Sir, I’m Aaron Moskowitz with HoloMate. May I ask you some questions about the shooting?”
“Keep it quick.”
“OK, go to LFTP-939,” Moskowitz said. Greenbaum flipped his glasses to HoloMode and tuned in. The two stood there with frosted specs, Greenbaum already getting impatient with Moskowitz. “I’m ready,” Moskowitz told his producer. He quickly pulled a mirror from his pocket, checked his hair and teeth, and waited for his producer’s voice in his earpiece.
“Three, two, one.”
“This is Aaron Moskowitz from HoloMate News on location at the Europe Ethnarchy Embassy in Jerusalem. I’m with embassy security chief Ira Greenbaum. Thank you for making the time, Sir.”
Greenbaum didn’t respond. He just wanted to answer the questions and get back to work.
“Mr. Greenbaum do you have any information about the shooter?”
“No.”
“Do you know where the shots came from?”
“Shots came from an elevated position to the east.”
Moskowitz saw he wasn’t going to get much from Greenbaum. “Any information on the firearm?”
“Based on recovered bullets looked like a long-range firearm capable of hitting a target up to three kilometers away.”
“Any information on the victims?”
“You’ll have to ask Jerusalem Health. I need to go.” Greenbaum turned off HoloMode, the frosted lenses turning clear, his hologram disappearing from the HoloRoom. Moskowitz heard Greenbaum’s footsteps as he walked to a waiting car.
“Thank you, Mr. Greenbaum. This is Aaron Moskowitz with HoloMate News. Stay in room LFTP-939 for continued updates.”
“We’re out,” the producer said in Moskowitz’s earpiece.
“Anything from Jerusalem Health?” Moskowitz asked his producer.
A strange voice came through Moskowitz’ earpiece, “I’ve got something, Aaron.”
“Who is this?”
“Aliza Breiner.” Breiner was a Jerusalem-based HoloMate reporter who went to Jerusalem Health right after the shooting. “I just talked with Caleb Todd. He’ll be in LFTP-939 in ten after he’s stitched up.”
Four Billion Subscribers
2060
I n the 14 years following HoloSpecs III’s debut, HoloMate had grown to over four billion subscribers. There were hundreds of different HoloSpec styles, with many owning three or four pairs for different looks. Special-purpose HoloSpecs worn by athletes and musicians enabled subscribers to view venues like concerts and sporting events in large HoloRooms. There were hundreds of thousands of HoloRooms in use at any one time. The hologram technology continued to improve, with increased image fidelity and realism, allowing wearers to see things like individual eyelash hairs with perfect clarity. Celebrities, politicians, sports figures, musicians and authors were special guests at HoloParties where they agreed to attend for a fixed fee for a negotiated time limit. Once the time was up, the special guest sometimes would say goodbye to other guests before leaving, sometimes abruptly causing their hologram to suddenly disappear from the HoloRoom. HoloMate usage became an addiction for many, some psychologists dubbing it HoloDiction. Insurance companies created specific policy exclusions for any type of accident caused by a distracted HoloMate subscriber. HoloMate was how people interacted, received news, and were entertained.
HoloMate was insanely profitable, thanks in large part to DarkRooms. At any point in time, 50 percent of HoloRooms were being used for pornography, pedophilia, or prostitution. With HoloMate collecting 50 percent of the seller’s rate, DarkRoom revenue was one that Caleb wanted to foster, regardless of what went on inside the rooms. HoloMate made the obligatory “we keep your information private” statement but never guaranteed privacy. If the general public knew who visited DarkRooms and what was done in them, reputations could be destroyed, marriages shattered, relationships forever lost. The extreme popularity of DarkRooms spoke for itself; subscribers put fleshly pleasures above the anonymity risk. Subscriber identity was stored in HoloMate’s subscriber activity database, with HoloMate storing a recording of every activity committed in each HoloRoom. HoloMate’s privacy policy stated that activity would be recorded only with a subscriber’s express consent. No consent, no recording.
So the policy said.
In reality everything was recorded regardless of subscriber consent. Caleb had the goods on some of the most famous people on earth, although he had yet to use the recordings against anyone. A few of Caleb’s employees knew, but they were paid to keep silent. If subscribers found out about his secret recordings, the very existence of HoloMate would be at risk. He was content to use the recordings for his own viewing pleasure, knowing he could exert extreme pressure by outing any DarkRoom subscriber he chose.
Anything Else?
2058
B y age 42, Paul had become one of the most powerful people in the Catholic church. His success at cleaning up the abusers in the church gained him worldwide notoriety. Nine ethnarchies gave him full power to question abusers and, if found guilty, extradite the guilty to the Vatican-run prison. Russia did not allow Paul entry; they chose to take care of abuse cases in-house, meaning abusers were either able to bribe their way out of prosecution or they were interred at Petak Island Prison at Ognenny Ostrov. Paul appealed with Pius XIV’s help to the Russia Ethnarchy, his appeal going all the way to Chairperson Popov, only to be denied. Popov’s rejection was distressing to Paul as there was no reason provided other than “thank you but no thank you.” Both he and the pontiff were angry with Popov but were powerless to do anything about it.
During one of Paul’s weekly one-on-ones with the pontiff, Paul provided his typical status, with the pope not saying much. Paul ended every update the same way.
“Anything else, Your Holiness?” Paul asked.
“Yes.” This was only the second time Pius XIV said yes to his question, the first time being when he tried to comfort Paul about losing both his parents.
“What can I do, Your Holiness?
”
“I have to remove Senator Marino from the senate.”
Vatican City was given one senate seat, even though its population was only 300 people. The pope controlled the executive, legislative and judicial branches of Vatican City government, so he had sole authority over all laws, including assignment and removal of senators. There was no vote by the citizens, it was all done through executive order.
Pius XIV continued, “I won’t go into the reasons. I need to appoint someone new and I would like you to become my senator. You will represent Vatican City on all ethnarchy issues and do as I direct.”
Paul was flattered but didn’t like the “do as I direct” qualification. Being chosen as Vatican City senator was a deep honor demonstrating the high degree of trust the pope had in him. On the other hand, he would now be the pope’s puppet, having to do whatever the pontiff ordered in this new position.
“Thank you, Your Holiness. I’m honored you consider me worthy. What would you expect of me?” Paul asked.
“I want you to meet with me before every senate session, tell me what you are planning to say, then meet again after every session to tell me what happened.” Paul’s micromanagement suspicion was confirmed. He would be the papal mouthpiece, directed to say and act only what and when the pope authorized. He’d be Paul the puppet-senator, and the rest of the senate would know it. Pius XIV didn’t have to go into the reasons why he was removing Senator Marino, everyone knew it was because Marino couldn’t be trusted to vote the pope’s bidding. The pope demanded unconditional loyalty, and Marino wouldn’t do it. Paul was among the pope’s most inner circle, someone who Pius XIV believed would follow directions without question. Paul hated the thought of being a yes-man, but he also saw being senator as a stepping stone to becoming chairperson. If he could just bide his until the next election it would be worth it.
The Lawless One and the End of Time Page 14