Floating cities are a bad idea!

NBC today show announces floating cities are back on course – NO! NO! This is a very bad idea... We must respect the vital role our oceans play in the health and survival of our planet. They regulate our climate and provide us with precious resources – food and water, just to name two. The oceans, though seemingly inexhaustible and forgiving, are actually fragile ecosystems under assault by human activity. The oceans are absorbing the bulk of the CO2 emissions we create, depleting the level of dissolved oxygen in the water, threatening all aquatic life. The oceans are slowly but surely being polluted by runoff wastes, plastics and other garbage carelessly discarded. Calcification is increasing, destroying entire species of shellfish and crustaceans. Food chains are being disrupted by over fishing. Ted Danson's great book Oceana, describes in detail the threats that our oceans are facing everyday – a very worthwhile read if you're at all concerned about our planet.

And now, we want to place densely populated cities on the water! I can't even imagine the pollution the cities would create and the eyesore these monstrous floating debacles would present floating on the horizons, but more importantly, they would accelerate the rising temperatures in the oceans. If the ocean's temperature increases, even slightly, global climate change will accelerate. The gigantic thermal currents that regulate the weather and the seasons throughout the world could come to a halt. Global disaster would be evident.

I addressed this issue in my book, Sealand 1001, two years ago. I had hoped that the silly idea had been dropped, but now greedy entrepreneurs are looking once again to toss aside sensible growth and development, for profit. DO NOT support these efforts! Just say no to overuse and development of the oceans.

A Good Day

I marvel today at how smoothly the sound of my words roll off my tongue, through my headset microphone into the laptop's operating system, where the audio waves are translated by my Dragon Naturally Speaking speech recognition software and are seamlessly transferred to this Microsoft Word document. Things don't always go this well, but when it does, like today, it really is a miracle.

This may not seem so fantastic to most of you—you live with the miracle of modern technology every day. It's a given that your computer, your smartphone, your iPad, your radio, your television, will work without interruption. And, if there is a problem, a quick reboot often resolves the issue, or perhaps you might enjoy a few hours separated from the ever present technology while your device is being repaired or upgraded. You may even use the time wisely, taking a walk in the park or a swim at the beach. You see, you have a functioning body that you can rely on, that you can turn to in times of frustration or crisis. No matter how dependent we become on technology, our natural body provides the ultimate operating system. However, for me, the computer is my connection to the world. My laptop and this software are literally my lifeline, keeping me from depression. Allowing me to be productive and feel alive.

How does this miracle happen? It's almost too much for me to fathom, too complicated.

First, and foremost, my creative brain has to have something to say. Then, my lungs, diaphragm, vocal cords and Trilogy Resperonics ventilator, all need to cooperate together, pushing air in and out at the appropriate volume and pressure, in order for intelligible sounds to be created. I have to be positioned comfortably, just so. My head must be tilted at the correct angle, the screen set at the perfect distance from my eyes. My arms, legs, neck and back adjusted so that they are pain free. Finally, I must have the energy to keep this breathing cycle going on long enough, so that I can get my ideas through the computer system onto the page.

The process is hard—it takes patience, stamina, concentration. It doesn't always work smoothly. Sometimes my thoughts spill out faster than my body and my machines can interface, leaving me with gobbledygook on the page, random commands opening a variety of useless programs, or even the dreaded computer crash. When that happens, I yell for my caregiver.

"arrrgh!"

My heart races, my breathing gets labored. I am afraid that I may have lost precious thoughts or files. Perhaps the computer is really gone this time. When was the last time I saved? When was the last time I did a backup? I desperately want to fix it myself, but I have to rely on her eyes and fingers. I can't let go, I continue to give commands.

"Close that window. Click save. Down, to the right. Click cancel. Now, try to restart..."

"Everything is okay. It's just words on the page," I tell myself.

But thankfully, when it works, like today... The words fall solidly on to the digital page. They accumulate, magically combining into seed-like phrases which dig deep and grow roots. If they are worthy, and watered, they may develop into complete sentences that reach for the sunlight and sprout feelings. These feelings can become coherent thoughts and begin to intermingle. Each sentence looking for the perfect match, until they form into paragraphs. They spread and multiply further, filling more of the void whitespace with ideas and images. The once blank page begins to take shape. Images transform into description and background setting. Ideas become characters and plot.

If all goes well, the stalk, leaves and stem will be thick and strong. A theme will arise in the form of a cluster of buds. With care, and just the right conditions flowers will blossom, each with a unique scent and vibrant colors. A story will break free from the computer screen.

It really is a miracle.

Feedback for The Gunslinger's Fall

I signed on just now to report on The Gunslinger's Fall. I was prepared to report that mail has been amazingly light this day.

I have read at an amazingly slow pace, which is normal for me. You might have wondered about me - whether I was ever going to finish with Volume 2 of The Gunslinger. You have succeeded in leaving me in suspense at the bus station. I imagine since you are from the States, like me, that there is going to be an interesting rescue to this situation. The pieces are already in play - the Marshal and the Gunslinger there together amidst all the blood.

I have to say that I'm not fond of all the bloodshed and am also a bit prudish about some of the language [probably thinking of my mother reading those words, but she'll be quite all right - I'm sure it will not be her first exposure to profanity in her long life of now 97 years!]. The thing is that you hold me well even though this is not my favorite kind of environment [guns, outlaws, shooting].

My hat's off to you!

 

The Gunslinger's Vision

The Gunslinger's Vision, (Volume 3 of the Gunslinger Series), is now available on Amazon.com in print and Kindle versions. Please check it out! Please help me spread the word... Volume 4 is coming along, and should probably be published next spring.

link to The Gunslinger's Vision on Amazon.com