(Kiri explains how she stays sharp which leads into her explaining how she invented the salmon wand. That provides the opening to get a close-up look at Sirian economics where there is no money and the value of things is set by the buyer. Goods or services are traded in exchanges where karma plays a key role.) 

---

Kiri: okay, in all seriousness, what can I do for you?

Russ: well my dear, how come you're so smart?

Kiri: because I study.

Russ: hmm, for years and years and years huh?

Kiri: uh-huh. Because I told Mark something very important and it's something that I actually practice.

Russ: and that is?

Kiri: learn at least one new thing, at least one new thing every day.

Russ: it's a good point.

Kiri: now I made it little harder on myself. I've got to learn something really good, one new thing every day. It's no good let's say, learning how to use a match.

(holds up a strike anywhere match)

Kiri: that doesn't count. Learning how to wire a microphone, doesn't count. It's got a be something really useful.

Russ: what about trying to light the match without using the striker?

Kiri: that is different, that would be acceptable.

Russ: that would be pretty damn tricky.

Kiri: uh-huh, Tia can do it.

Russ: Tia can do it?

Kiri: PK.

Russ: PK could light matches?

Kiri: well she'd just rub it on something else.

Russ: oh yeah. I mean like create the heat around it enough to spark the match.

Kiri: yeah but yes, that is something that I try to learn, one new thing every day.

Russ: what if you don't learn it?

Kiri: I do.

Russ: but what if you don't? What if you can't learn how to light that match without a striker?

Kiri: I'll keep going until I do.

Russ: but what if the day gets over?

Kiri: my day's not over until I go to bed.

Russ: oh, so you're not worried about clocks?

Kiri: (chuckles) unfortunately I am but if I'm going to learn something new, then it's something that I know that I can figure out. There have been a few times where I haven't learned something new in a day.

Russ: you remember those?

Kiri: uh-huh. I remember them because I remember the failures.

Russ: amazing. Hmm, so you can't just look at a map and go, "oh, the capital of Omaha is..."

Kiri: no, no, it has to be something useful and hard. Not overly hard, something that you know that you can achieve.

Russ: hmm. So what was your new thing today?

Kiri: oh it was the wiring of a transductor.

Russ: oh, and it worked?

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: hmmm.

Kiri: it took me all day, took me eight hours but I did it.

Russ: what was the usefulness of that?

Kiri: usefulness of that? That's the connecting link between a computer, from one computer to another.

Russ: why don't you just have a cable that plugs into each other?

Kiri: it kind of is but it's the wiring of it that's important. There's a chip that's or a little unit that's about that big right?

Russ: uh-huh.

Kiri: and it's got probably about a 100 to 200 connections within it and that's what I was wiring and it's getting it in a sequential order to do so so that the transferral is (snaps her fingers). For example let's say if I was using your laptop with a transductor in there right?

Russ: uh-huh.

Kiri: and I was using it on Mark's computer.

Russ: right.

Kiri: which you can't do but the transductor means that it can.

Russ: right.

Kiri: right? And I wanted information from Mark's computer, I access it and it translates, hence the trans right? And it brings it across and instead of it going (Chook, Chook, Chook) and taking maybe a nanosecond, it is instantaneous.

Russ: hmm.

Kiri: and it translates. So what I could do is I could use it on my computer up here and link it to your computer down there if I had a long enough cable.......

Russ: that'd be a long cable.

Kiri: uh-huh. Or if I had your computer and it would speed it up to the speed of mine.

Russ: hmm.

Kiri: instead of slowing mine down, it brings it up to your speed. Actually it would probably fry your hard drive but I'd get the information off.

Russ: yeah it'd be like (birzz).

Kiri: hey wait a second, there's a switch in there that will make it go down to a point where it's neither bad......it's not bad for either computer.

Russ: hmmm.

Kiri: it's a pretty little smart unit actually.

Russ: and you did that all by yourself?

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: impressive. In eight hours?

Kiri: in eight hours.

Russ: hmm.

Kiri: apparently it's a three-hour job.

Russ: oh, it's already been done?

Kiri: oh yeah it's been done but it was new for me.

Russ: oh I see, I see.

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: I see, oh so these are widely distributed kind of things?

Kiri: yeah. I had a bit of free time, in fact I have tomorrow totally free.

Russ: oh cool.

Kiri: because I've got everything I should be doing done. I can either work on the channeling setup or I can take the day off, which I think I might take the day off and spend it with Mark.

Russ: hmm. So why don't you learn how to figure out some little thing that can go in and maintain the balance of the salmon in Dolphin Lake?

(the salmon population had gotten larger than it should be)

Kiri: that's not my field, I'm not a marine biologist. You'd have to talk to Alana.

Russ: hmmm, there is not an engineering solution to that problem you don't think?

Kiri: yes actually I've got a very good engineering solution to it.

Russ: which is?

Kiri: well it's actually a thermostat that you stick into the fish and it cooks it from the inside out and the skin just peels off.

Russ: nice.

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: all right......

Kiri: that's after you've cleaned it and everything.

Russ: of course.

Kiri: takes probably about a minute and a half. It's not anywhere as good as actually barbecuing it or really cooking it.

Russ: right, but if you're in a hurry.

Kiri: yeah.

Russ: yeah.

Kiri: and it's only a real little unit as well, I made myself.

Russ: hmm. So it's like an internal microwave?

Kiri: yeah and it doesn't give off any harmful rays, it doesn't destroy the flavor and it's pretty good. And when you peel the skin off, all the moisture and everything is kept in and all the waste and everything, the excess, is filtered into the skin. So basically what you can do, is let's say you're trapped in the middle of nowhere, you happen to have a fish or a rabbit or anything else that you wish to cook, you stick this little thing which is about the size of your screwdriver, pass the screwdriver over.

(a screwdriver in the room is passed over to Kiri)

Russ: really?

Kiri: uh-huh. You stick it in right?

Russ: uh-huh.

Kiri: and you press the button and it cooks it.

Russ: hmm.

Kiri: and then you take the skin off and you've got the cooked material inside. So you could actually, let's say this is stuck inside a salmon and it's in the salmon right? The salmon happens to be touching the floor right? It cooks it, you peel the skin off and you've got perfectly cleaned, cooked fish on the inside.

Russ:  hmm.

Kiri: you just don't eat the skin.

Russ: and you came up with this?

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: that's pretty amazing.

Kiri: yeah I came up with it when I was oh.....I guess like 25 at the time. I was going on a camping trip with a girlfriend.

Russ: hmm.

Kiri: yeah we were going up to the high meadow where the pink flowers are.

Russ: I still say you're a genius.

Kiri: no I'm not a genius.

Russ: I know, I know but I still say you are so there.

Kiri: Huna's a genius.

Russ: Huna hasn't invented a little thing that you stick into fish.

Kiri: no.

Russ: that's pretty damn tricky.

Kiri: but Huna is a genius and her intelligence is growing. If I was as smart as she was, I would be a genius.

Russ: hmmm.

Kiri: I mean an IQ of 107, 207 sorry, is normal, well it is just a tad above normal.

Russ: hmm still, I'm pretty impressed.

Kiri: why?

Russ: it's a handy little tool, survival tool.

Kiri: uh-huh. It's a good little camping tool.

Russ: oh yeah, is it widely distributed?

Kiri: yeah.

Russ: wow. Does it say Kiri on the side?

Kiri: no, it doesn't say anything like that.

Russ: it's just a button.

Kiri: just a button.

Russ: hmm. Good PR department would have a field day with that thing.

Kiri: why?

Russ: well, third dimensional wise.

Kiri: it is a survival tool.

Russ: I know.

Kiri: you can't put a price on a survival tool.

Russ: yeah it would be like putting a price on your life.

Kiri: exactly.

Russ: still, handy little bugger.

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: good job.

Kiri: yeah people use it for camping, people that spend a lot of time in the wilderness doing research and stuff carry them because they're very useful. Why should I want to put my name on something that is useful for everyone?

Russ: well I'm just......

Kiri: why would I want to even sell it and market it as you're implying?

Russ: well you wouldn't, not on sixth dimension.

Kiri: no, it's something I don't comprehend. It is not a luxury item, it is not a fashion item, it is useful tool. Useful tools cost nothing.

Russ: see I'm still trying to get used to your monetary values.

Kiri: no, that's a necessity.

Russ: that's a necessity.

Kiri: correct.

Russ: clothing is a luxury.

Kiri: no, swimsuits are luxuries.

Russ: swimsuits are luxuries.

Kiri: uh-huh. Lingerie is luxuries.

Russ: what else is luxuries?

Kiri: clothing that is to show off the body.

Russ: okay.

Kiri: ski equipment, anything that is not a necessity.

Russ: hmm, decorative plants?

Kiri: that's not a necessity.

Russ: luxury.

Kiri: correct.

Russ: just checking. Okay, stained glass, definitely a luxury.

Kiri: depends.

Russ: why?

Kiri: depends on where you are. If you are down in the southern parts near the deserts and everything.........

Russ: uh-huh.

Kiri: stained glass is used to decrease temperatures in the house.

Russ: oh really?

Kiri: air-conditioning in the mountains is a luxury. Down in the lowlands in the desert areas, it's not. Heaters down in the desert area are a luxury, up in the mountains they're not.

Russ: now nobody sets these prices right?

Kiri: correct. It's what the area and the environment dictates. For example, if you go down to where Huna and Leah grew up right?

Russ: uh-huh.

Kiri: swimsuits are a necessity depending on what type of swimsuit.

Russ: okay so your line of swimsuits would cost them wine.

(Kiri has a popular line of swimsuits she normally trades in wine)

Kiri: correct or whatever the person who is....

Russ: clams or whatever.

Kiri: correct.

Russ: but a basic swimsuit........

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: is a necessity.

Kiri: correct.

Russ: so it should be free.

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: now, how do they get ahold of your swimsuits and pay for it in their....?

Kiri: they go to the retailer.

Russ: which is where?

Kiri: all over the place.

Russ: in any major city?

Kiri: all over the place.

Russ: it's all over the place.

Kiri: well there are shops all over the place. My stuff is sold in very exclusive places.

Russ: oh, okay.

Kiri: which sells lots of other luxury items. For example, let us say you are an entertainer.

Russ: okay.

Kiri: right? And you have lingerie as part of your profession.

Russ: right.

Kiri: that's a necessity. You can't do your entertainment without that lingerie.

Russ: so do they go into your shop where you have your lingerie?

Kiri: no. My lingerie, there are a lot that look like it, right?

Russ: yeah.

Kiri: a lot that look like it. But what sets mine apart is the fact that they're custom-made for individuals.

Russ: oh, but what if an entertainer wants just yours?

Kiri: then she has to pay for it.

Russ: they do?

Kiri: correct. My swimsuits, my lingerie, my clothing line are all luxury items designed to show off the body.

Russ: okay.

Kiri: my little utensil, is not.

Russ: right.

Kiri: it is a necessity.

Russ: okay. So it's based on logic.

Kiri: correct.

Russ: not based on need.

Kiri: correct. For example, let us say you want to buy some really sexy clothing for the beach.

Russ: right.

Kiri: right? You pay for that.

Russ: right.

Kiri: right? Let us say you want to buy my line of warm clothing, you pay for that but, let us say you want to buy the warm clothing down in the desert, you really pay for it because it's not a necessity.

Russ: right.

Kiri: but up in the mountains, you just pay for it at a lesser rate then you would elsewhere.

Russ: okay, now let's say I want to get one of these.........

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: because I'm going off in the desert to do some survival stuff.

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: okay, what I do?

Kiri: you go into probably one of our local, it's close to a sporting goods store I would say and you would just walk in and you walk up to the register and say, "I'm going off into the wilderness, I would like to have one". They hand it over.

Russ: oh really?

Kiri: uh-huh. They would expect some service in return.....

Russ: like what?

Kiri: if you had one. Let us say that there was a spill on aisle five, you'd go over and clean it up.

Russ: okay.

Kiri: and if you didn't do a very good job so what? It's your karma and we're not going to have time to put Bunny on. Besides, Bunny's flirting.

Russ: okay. Interesting point though.

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: now, if I want to get a swimsuit, it's not your line but I do live at the beach.

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: I go in and say, "I need a swimsuit". They give you the swimsuit and then you owe them?

Kiri: yeah, I owe them a favor, you owe them a service. If you can't do the service on the spot.........

Russ: right.

Kiri: let's say there was a empty shelf.

Russ: yeah.

Kiri: right? Well you could go over and clean the shelf, straighten up some shelving, do whatever. Let's say they've got a delivery in, you go and give them a hand.

Russ: okay, or if they have a delivery to make, you make a delivery.

Kiri: that's right.

Russ: interesting. And they set the deed to the worth of the item.

Kiri: no, you do.

Russ: you do?

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: oh, and they base it on karma.

Kiri: correct.

Russ: and you have millions of people doing this every day?

Kiri: uh-huh, I'll tell you something funny. I was a little girl, God I must've been oh probably no more than six or seven and mother and myself were at the store and I wanted some candy.

Russ: right.

Kiri: right? And there was a box of candy lying on the floor that had just been put there to be put on the shelf, I put them on the shelf and I picked out one for myself.

Russ: right.

Kiri: and I went up and presented it and it was mine.

Russ: fair enough.

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: interesting, this is going to be a good part for the webpage actually.

Kiri: yeah.

Russ: I'm kind of looking forward to putting this on there. What about books?

Kiri: books?

Russ: or holograms or.....

Kiri: educational stuff is in a totally different category of its own.

Russ: it's all free.

Kiri: it's all free but you bring it back when you're finished with it.

Russ: ahhh, okay.

Kiri: bring it back when you're finished.

Russ: so what about......so your things that you study in college, those items that you studied are still accessible but on a computer?

Kiri: correct. They're all on disk.

Russ: they're all on disk.

Kiri: actually, I have copies of some of the really important stuff.

Russ: okay.

Kiri: educational stuff, there is no price for it.

Russ: what about food?

Kiri: food?

Russ: yeah, what if you're hungry and you want to go out to eat at a restaurant? You do the dishes afterwards?

Kiri: that is a luxury.

Russ: okay.

Kiri: that is a luxury. What service can you do or what can you trade?

Russ: similar to the corner bar?

(a drinking and eating establishment near Kiri, Tia and Mark's apartment)

Kiri: uh-huh.

Russ: when you go into the corner bar and drink, it helps if you take a bottle of wine with you.

(The tape gets to the end)