Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 110 Do you know Philip K. Dick? (Please give me a monthly ticket!)
"Professor Lin, do you hate Europe?" asked Jenny, who was sitting next to Lin Ran.

Lin Ran rolled his eyes and said, "The last time I went to Europe was in early November. It's only been half a month and I'm going to Europe again.

I don’t hate Europe, I hate having to travel so often.”

Lin Ran had already sensed that something was wrong with Jenny's identity.

At that time, all the reporters stationed in Geneva covering international news were bald, middle-aged white men. Among these people, Jenny was a beautiful sight.

In the early 60s, it was still difficult for women to get such job opportunities.

This is just confirmed again
The other party first transformed himself from an international news reporter based in Geneva to a reporter covering White House news.

Later, when he went to Oslo, Norway to accept this year's Nobel Peace Prize, the other party became a reporter who followed him throughout the journey.

Only then did Lin Ran realize that the other person's full name was Jenny Hurst.

Her grandfather was 19th-century newspaper king William Randolph Hearst, a Donkey Party member who was twice elected to the House of Representatives and ran for president in 1904, mayor of New York City in 1905 and 1909, and governor of New York in 1906.

As of 2020, the Hearst family remains one of the richest and most influential families in America, mainly through the Hearst Corporation it controls, which has annual revenue of more than $118 billion. Its major assets include ESPN, magazines such as Vogue and Elle, and Fitch Group.

Fitch Group may be relatively unfamiliar. One of its subsidiaries is HP International, one of the three most famous rating agencies.

William Hearst is a bit like Old T. He has always wanted to make his way to the White House, but he doesn't have the conditions that Old T has.

He should be considered the earliest self-media. It’s not that he is a self-media, but that his irresponsibility towards content is no different from that of self-media.

The most classic case was the explosion and sinking of the American warship "Maine" in Havana Harbor, Cuba in 1898, killing 266 soldiers.

This became one of the triggers of the war.

Hearst's New York Daily News quickly blamed the bombing on Spain, even though there was no conclusive evidence that Spain was responsible.

Newspaper headlines in giant font read "Remember the Maine, F**K Spain!", fanning public anger against Spain.

Not only that, Hearst also sent reporters and illustrators to Cuba to create unverified stories.

When war subsequently broke out between Spain and America, Hearst's New York Daily News proudly declared on its front page that it had instigated the war.

Hearst is a congressman, and Hearst's father is also a senator from the Democratic Party.

Jenny Hearst, as the fourth generation of the Hearst family, and with the current White House still run by the Donald Trump party, it was as easy as drinking water for her to be transferred to cover White House news.

"Okay, Professor Lin, you have proposed the concept of cultural China. When it comes to choosing a spouse, do you also follow this principle and hope to marry a Chinese woman?" Jenny asked.

Lin Ran was helpless. You are being too straightforward.

After knowing her identity, Lin Ran realized that the other party's identity and background could not be Yan Zi.

With the contact during this period, Jenny and Lin Ran began to become familiar with each other, and it was obvious that the other party wanted to play straight.

But Lin Ran didn't plan to have any further contact with the other party.

It's not about keeping oneself clean, nor is it because he looks down on the other person. It's simply because Lin Ran knows that he will leave America sooner or later, and he can't have any handle on her.

The Hearst family believes in the Presbyterian Church.

In this era, the Presbyterian Church was a very conservative organization. This kind of woman was not something you could just play around with and then call it a day.

"I'm sorry, I really want to marry a Chinese woman." Lin Ran had no choice but to answer.

Jenny's eyes dimmed, and the special plane suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere became a little solemn.

Lin Ran didn't care what the other person thought. He turned his head to look out the window, his thoughts drifting to New York half a month later.

I returned to the Redstone base to work some time ago, and took the time to teach two number theory classes to doctoral students at Columbia University.

Although it is said to be two sessions, it actually lasts for two and a half days.

In the meantime, he also discussed with Harvey Cohen who came to him to attend a number theory seminar, and said that he could attend their number theory seminar during the Christmas holidays.

Lin Ran suggested in passing that why not hold a party on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, and make it a tradition in the New York mathematics community?
In addition, Princeton, New Jersey is only an 80-kilometer drive from New York, so contemporary masters of the Institute for Advanced Study can come to New York to participate, and then have more than enough time to drive back to Princeton slowly the next morning.

Even for some people who want to go back to their hometown for Christmas, it is much more convenient to take a plane in New York than in Princeton.

With Lin Ran's presence and the connections Harvey Cohen had cultivated over the years in New York, this proposal was highly praised by Harvey Cohen, who promised to make every effort to prepare it. What Harvey Cohen didn't know was that Lin Ran simply wanted to create a noisy environment so that he could have a few words with Chen Jingrun.

If there is a tradition like the New York Mathematicians Christmas Party, he will have the opportunity to say a few words to the other party every year.

As in previous years, the 1961 Nobel Prize ceremony was held on the day of Nobel's death, December 12th.

But unlike other awards which are presented at a concert hall in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, the Peace Prize is held at the University of Oslo Auditorium in Oslo, Norway.

From deciding who wins to awarding the prize, the Peace Prize is different from the other four prizes.

Including the fact that the award is presented by the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, not King Gustaf VI of Sweden.

"Randolph, congratulations, and thank you for your outstanding contribution to European peace." King Olaf V of Norway came to Lin Ran to greet him before the meeting began.

Lin Ran actually has no feelings about this award at all. In the eyes of later generations of older Chinese, this award has long lost its credibility.

If Lin Ran came in 2025 and knew about America's outrageous actions in 2025, he would probably despise the value of this award even more.

It was 1961, and considering that no Chinese had ever won the Nobel Peace Prize, and Lin Ran felt that he needed to gain some reputation for himself and prepare for possible suppression in the future, he made a special trip to Norway to receive the award.

Otherwise, Lin Ran would never have made such a special trip.

Lin Ran said calmly, "I'm grateful to the Norwegian Nobel Committee for not sticking to the old ways. I hope to bring true peace to the world."

The ceremony opens with the Norwegian national anthem or a short musical performance, followed by a speech by Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee:

"1961 was a stark reminder of human fragility, as the world teetered on the brink of destruction. The Third Berlin Crisis cast the shadow of Cold War tensions across the globe, with America and Soviet Russia locked in a dangerous standoff and the specter of nuclear conflict looming. It was in this crucible of crisis that Randolph Linn emerged as a beacon of hope and resolve.

Today, we award him the 1961 Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary contributions to peace.

Randolph Lin conceived a bold and innovative solution to the escalating crisis: a direct communications channel, a "hotline," connecting the White House in Washington and the Kremlin in Moscow. This groundbreaking idea stemmed from his deep understanding of the potential for misunderstanding and distrust to unleash unimaginable disasters. With remarkable foresight, he recognized that a rapid, unimpeded dialogue between the two leaders could serve as a bulwark against catastrophe.

Through tireless effort, Randolph Lin overcame tremendous obstacles to turn his vision into reality.

He worked tirelessly to persuade both sides to accept this unprecedented tool despite the weight of skepticism, political resistance, and entrenched hostility.

His efforts were successful in the crucible of the Third Berlin Crisis, and the hotline became a lifeline, enabling the United States and the Soviet Union to exchange critical information, clarify intentions, and avoid misunderstandings that could escalate into open conflict.

By facilitating this dialogue, Randolph Lin played a critical role in de-escalating crises, maintaining peace, and protecting countless lives.

However, his contribution went far beyond resolving that momentary crisis. The establishment of the hotline set a powerful precedent for crisis management in international relations, demonstrating the effectiveness of preventive diplomacy. It proved that even in the darkest moments, communication and mutual understanding can illuminate the path to peace.

Randolph Linn's work left an indelible mark, providing a model for future generations to resolve disputes through dialogue rather than force.

We celebrate Randolph Lin not only for his specific achievements but also for the qualities he embodied: the courage to challenge the status quo, the wisdom to rise above the tensions of the moment, and an unwavering commitment to our shared future.

In awarding Randolph Lynn the 1961 Nobel Peace Prize, we both honor his contributions and issue a clear call to leaders around the world: Let us follow his example. Let us choose dialogue over confrontation, understanding over ultimatums, cooperation over conflict. In so doing, we can preserve the fragile but precious gift of global peace.

There was warm applause from the audience. For the Europeans, Lin Ran's proposal did give them a sense of security.

It’s not a lot, but it’s there.

However, the person who applauded most sincerely in the audience should be Jenny, Jenny Hurst.

The celebratory dinner was held in the main hall of the City of Oslo.

During the dinner, the guests were toasting each other. Lin Ran was not used to this kind of atmosphere, as Chinese people do not have this custom.

But it's not like he hasn't seen it before, after all, he attended the Elephant Party's fundraising dinner.

But this dinner shouldn't be as wild as the one with the party.

During the dinner, a small string quartet performed works by the Norwegian composer Grieg.

When the dance began, the tune changed to a more cheerful waltz.

Jenny Hurst was Lin Ran's dance partner, and it wasn't until the fifth song that it was her turn to dance with Lin Ran. "Professor, you're really popular."

Lin Ran didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Jenny, do you know Philip K. Dick?"

(End of this chapter)