Savvy Saturday: Our Social Media Specialist takes a crack at Alan Joshua and Dr. Slezak

For this Savvy Saturday we have two very intelligent, and secretive, guests. For the purposes of safety, I have been told that what you read here you read at your own risk. For, if the enemies of Alan Joshua and Dr. Slezak find out you know this information, nowhere will be safe. 

Alan Joshua is the author of the ever popular book, The SHIVA Syndrome, available now on Amazon.

Hello Mr. Joshua!

A pleasure, Kylee. Thanks for the invitation.

You brought a very distinguished-looking gentleman with you. And he is…

Dr. Karlik Slezak, Chief of Operations in Bioengineering at the National Science Foundation—NSF.

Before I interview Dr. Slezak, would you give us a little background about his book?

You must have heard by now that part of the Russian city of Podol’sk, a suburb of Moscow, was mysteriously destroyed—obliterated—leaving a crater two miles wide and a mile deep.

No, I hadn’t heard. You would think something of that magnitude would be spread all over the media.

The information’s been blacked out; the whole matter’s classified. Even Putin hasn’t made an official statement yet. There are at least ten thousand dead.

NSF’s upper echelon began to worry that, because the Russian research at the Anokhin Institute was so similar to what NSF is doing, there could be a connection. Dr. Slezak assembled a topnotch US-Russian investigative team, including Beau Walker, a research psychologist. The team will enter the crater and to try to discover what caused the catastrophe.

How tragic. You said the crater is a mile deep? That sounds dangerous.

That’s an understatement, Kylee. The little data that’s been gathered so far sounds otherworldly, almost extraterrestrial. Lukasha Ibatov, a xenogeologist, will be heading the expedition. But that’s how The SHIVA Syndrome begins.

(Slezak clears his throat loudly, interrupting them.) You can stop right there, Mr. Joshua. That’s as far as you go. This is classified above Top Secret…and you’re aware of the consequences.

Yes, Dr. Slezak. I’m aware.

If Podol’sk can’t be discussed, Dr. Slezak, can you at least tell us something about your bioengineering research at NSF?

(Slezak smiles, but his gray eyes are cold and dead-looking) The advancement of science, of course. We serve humanity and protect our great nation. Safeguarding our nation’s security—you, your lovely family, those things we hold so dear in these troubled times—is of the utmost importance to us. It’s the guiding principle in my life’s work.

You really haven’t answered my question, Sir. How can your project accomplish that? What, exactly, is the nature of your research?

It’s pioneering. It involves mind research used to—

That’s quite enough Mr. Joshua! Ms. Howells, I’m here as a favor that’s been abused already. Normally, I’m very uncomfortable being interviewed. I’ll just say that security issues prohibit disclosure. National security. That’s about the best answer I can give at this time, my dear.

Very well. Then let’s just jump into this interview shall we?

As you wish. I have pressing matters in Washington requiring my attention. So please be brief.

All right. First question: What is your greatest extravagance?

(Slezak grins) I’m not a man prone to extravagances or nonessentials. You might call me rather spartan. I deal only with necessities—including how I spend my time.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Two I think: transparency and the relative value of truth. The idea of transparency is vastly overrated—even dangerous. It invites others to exploit your vulnerabilities, to weaken your resolve. My employees know full well that the less said, the better. The public at large should not have all the information. They simply can’t handle it. They’re more comfortable with the predictable and familiar. Leave the complexities of life to the government and its agencies.

When and where were you happiest?

When I received the National Medal of Science from the President for achievement in bioengineering. It led to the nomination for my present position in NSF.

What was the achievement that won the award?

Ah, that was for a new engineering device and technique for more effective and rapid genetic resequencing.

Where would you most like to live?

I’m perfectly content to stay where I am, in Washington, D.C. For me, it’s the center of the world.

I notice you keep looking at your watch, Dr. Slezak.

I’m sorry, but the research team will be leaving for Russia and I must see them before their departure.

My final question: what is your most treasured possession?

That, I think, is yet to come, more as a success than a possession. The catastrophe in Russia that Mr. Joshua unfortunately leaked is the NSF’s greatest challenge yet. Please understand that my need for vagueness is for the public’s protection. The problems the investigative team faces are filled with unknowns—and dangers I cannot even hint at. If I—I mean we—are able to resolve this enigmatic disaster, I would have to consider that my most treasured accomplishment.

Thank you Mr. Joshua and Dr. Slezak for being here today.

Thank you for having us, Kylee.

Yes, Ms. Howells. I hope you were able to meet your needs. However, the information Mr. Joshua told you is an official secret. Private citizens like you can be prosecuted under the Espionage Act for sharing classified information. I suggest—strongly—that you censor your recording and do not disclose anything related to the Russian event. If you do, it will be at your own risk.