smithsk
Journey of an Evolving Writer
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Physics (part 8) - Einstein's Story
Monday, February 19, 2024
Write Stuff (part 4) - Generation Gap
The Generation Gap
Adults have lamented about the sorry state of the youth throughout history:
The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.
This quote has been attributed to Socrates in the 4th century B.C.
But it has been suggested it really was "a summary of general complaints about the youth by the ancient Greeks, as written in a 1907 dissertation by a student, Kenneth John Freeman."
Reference: reddit/AskHistorians
In our times, the generations from the late 19th century to the roaring 20s in the 21st century can be succinctly summed up in the video below.
Every Birth Generation Explained in 9 Minutes:
https://youtu.be/ruKJpwlRe_M?si=51FFeErJ22WE0fub
Such distinctions can be valuable for writers when crafting their characters who grew up in the generation that defined them.
Solomon also wrote:
Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
IS40:8 (part 7) - New Year Praise
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call on Me
and come and pray to Me,
and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek Me
and find Me when you seek Me
with all your heart.”
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Thursday, December 7, 2023
STC (part 5) - Christmas Party at the S*T*C
S*T*C
Initials for the Satellite Tracking Center
And the title of my historical novel: Women breaking into aerospace in the 1980s meet men behaving badly.
It's 1984. The space shuttle Challenger is up in orbit. The Reagan administration is beefing up defense to fight the Evil Empire of Communism. And the Satellite Tracking Center, known as the S*T*C, is staffing up to meet those challenges.
Then the old boy network finds itself turned upside down when young professional women, such as Samantha Clark and Rosalind Hart, breach the male-dominated mission control teams inside the S*T*C. In the secrecy demanded in the classified world, how do Sam and Roz cope with men behaving badly? Will the women or the old boys break first?
Christmas 1984 rolls around.
Let's take a peek at the festivities inside the S*T*C.
In particular, the Mission Control Complex (MCC-F) where Sam works as a contractor for Celestia Space Corporation (known as CSC).
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Chapter SIXTY-THREE
The
week before Christmas and counting down to launch, CSC held their annual
Christmas party. Inside MCC-F, the customers, mostly the Air Force, were
invited to CSC’s Christmas lunch buffet in the SCIF.
So,
the feasting began.
Those
at the end of the line were the essential personnel, who had been running real-time
satellite passes at the start of brunch. And when their work was done, nothing
was left. The guests had eaten up the food which was calculated as ample enough
to feed the contractors.
“Great!”
Ned Gaubert on the two-side pouted after finishing a pass. “Our customer…the
Grinch…stole this Christmas!”
“Now,
Ned—” Paul Coleman started his mild scold. Then he saw the injustice of it all.
And PC agreed Ned had a point.
Ned
glared at the GC Randy Rowdy, who had a plate of food.
“Hey,”
Randy mumbled with a mouth full. “You got to look out for Number One, Ned.”
Ned
sneered. “Love your Christmas spirit.”
* * *
The
lunch buffet had cleared out of the SCIF. More fun ahead, it was time for the
crew to open presents from their secret Santas.
Rich
Kerry, tall and thin, wore a red Santa hat and fake white beard. He looked as
incongruous as Christmas in July.
Arye
smiled when he opened up his present from Sam. A customized Jewish Christmas
ornament, crafted from a wooden Star of David, with a fake sprig of holly in
the middle.
“Thanks
for the Messiah-mas ornament,” he said.
“And
I want to show you something.” Sam pulled out a thin book.
“Zlateh
the Goat, by Isaac Bashevis Singer.” Arye looked it over. “My favorite Hanukkah
story. My mother read me this when I was a kid.”
Sam
explained, “An old friend of mine—old as in senior citizen—gave me this when I
was thirteen.”
“For
your bas mitzvah?” Arye grinned.
“My
what?”
“It
would be a bar mitzvah if you were a guy. A bas
mitzvah is when you became a woman.”
“The
gentleman, who gave me this, helped me to grow up a lot. He’d be in his
eighties if he were alive.”
Sam
could see that the book touched Arye as he looked at the cover. “Thanks for
thinking of me this time of the year. It’s not easy being a Jew during
Christmas.”
“Hey,
Jesus was Jewish. He celebrated his bar mitzvah and Hanukah.”
Then
Rich called out the next present. “Rosa Martinez.”
“From
Doug?” Rosa looked apprehensive as she opened the package. “Chocolate colored
bikini underpants? And it says…oh, my—”
Doug
grabbed the card. “I want to eat these panties right off of you, my dear.”
“Of
all the nerve!” Rosa took her present and smacked him hard on the head with it.
Doug
leered back. “More S and M after the party, dear?”
Then
one by one, all the presents were given out.
Sam
asked Rich, “Is there anything…for me?”
Rich
shook his head.
Sam
stood still for the moment. Then she ran off to the women’s room to cry and
pull herself together.
* * *
Frank
Bustamonte was a quiet man. Yet he observed more than he let on. Charles
Sinclair had drawn Sam’s name. And Frank overheard Charles say that he was not
getting anything for that bitch.
Frank
wondered if Charles would have a change of heart. He didn’t.
So
Frank took action. He repackaged his present from Werner, then sent
“This
is for you, dear.” Frank presented Sam with her gift.
Rosa
came up with an explanation. “Your present fell behind the file cabinet where
the tree sat. So, Rich missed it.”
Sam
felt ashamed for crying, as she opened the gift of coffee. “This is nice. It’s
from you, Frank?”
Frank
smiled. “Yes, dear.”
“I’m
sorry I misunderstood.”
“Don’t
ever deny your feelings.” Then Frank threw in some cookies from a fan of his
son, the Elvis impersonator. And he said this Elvis had just gotten his
divinity degree so he could do weddings.
“I
thought you might appreciate these.” Gordon Howard presented Sam a few El Chichon Chicos, his pet lava rocks
with smiley faces.
“Thank
you.” Sam looked at her presents, feeling her depression fly away. “These rocks
are so nice. They’ll look so cheerful in our garden.”
“And I’ve got a garage full of them.” Gordon flashed his yellowed teeth. Then he belted out a great belly laugh that would outdo any Santa.
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To read more, please check out: S*T*C
Your readership is appreciated.
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah!
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For more in this series, search blog:
STC
Christmas
Hanukkah
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Photo: Gifts_Xmas/wikipedia.com
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Philosophy (part 1) - Stupidity
Thomas Paine, American Revolutionary War influencer, best known for his pamphlet Common Sense, once said:
who has renounced the use of reason
is like administering medicine
to the dead.
Otherwise - Stupidity.
A casual observer sees displays of stupidity in politics every day. But when the emotions in a crowd get out of control, we can have....
Mob Rule
The 20th century experienced much madness. One such gripped Nazi Germany during the 1930s.
Some resisted the devolution from a democracy with rule of law into a police state under a tyrant. But it was not enough to stop the escalation into World War II.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident was one of the resistors. He was arrested as part of a failed plot to assassinate Hitler, imprisoned, and hung in April 1945, weeks before Germany surrendered to the Allies.
But he wrote of the evils of stupidity in his letters from prison while waiting execution:
https://youtu.be/ww47bR86wSc?si=UcxFNLRmDBFuP9hB
To sum up stupidity:
The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 12:15
And our philosophers speak in the art of film:
https://youtu.be/tldGgGFe194?si=_w2y9BuU96CMR_oz
And that's all I have to say about that!
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Photo: Thomas Paine/wikipedia
Sunday, October 1, 2023
CC4 (part 3) - October Surprise on Halloween.
October surprise on Halloween?
This surprise in the theme of this chapter of Book 4, Rainmaker, in The Commander and the Chief series.
Halloween.
This
year, the Duke and Duchess of Yorkchestershire were throwing a costume party at
Barrett Manor. And Nova and Reggie arrived a few days early to help with the
decorating. A pleasant break in the English countryside from the hubbub of
London.
Nova
wore baggy sweatpants and a loose T-shirt as she helped alongside the servants.
All under her mother-in-law’s supervision.
But
Nova needed more rest than usual. She didn’t want to admit anything was wrong.
Though memories of her dad haunted her. Especially during his last year on
earth, before he had succumbed to cancer.
Dad
had needed a lot of breaks. Tired easily. And Nova tried to put Dad out of her
mind as she joined her mother-in-law for tea.
Regina
looked over Nova. “Is everything all right, dear?”
“I’m
fine,” Nova lied. Then changed the subject. “But, hey. It’s the end of October
already. And this time in America, we brace ourselves for the October
Surprise.”
Regina
set down her cup. “What surprise is that?”
“When
a scandal is leaked in the media,” Nova said. “Especially during an election
year. With little time for the political target to recover from the allegations.”
“Oh,
that.” Regina waved a hand. “Politics as usual. Like over here, they’re all
crooks.”
Nova
sighed. “I need to take something for my stomach.”
Regina
returned a skeptical look as Nova dismissed herself. The Duchess had her ideas as
to what was going on with her daughter-in-law. But kept her thoughts to
herself.
* * *
Anton
Orlovic had been at Barrett Manor for the last month, after he got back from
the States. He was the nephew most like Nova’s dad. He could fix most anything.
The Barrett Great House was in fine shape. But maintenance was ongoing. And
Anton had critical skills. He knew what he was doing and cared to do a good
job.
Before
long, the outside was encompassed by lit jack o’ lanterns. Trees strung with
cobwebs and bats and orange and white lights. Inside, the trappings of a
haunted mansion.
After
sunset, it was party time.
Alfie
Dawkins greeted the precession of guests. Dressed in a black mask like a
highwayman from the Regency Period.
Jane
Meyer saw to the refreshments. She wore an owl mask. Her favorite bird. And she
perfected her hoot so the guests knew she was coming. And gave a hoot.
Sir
Robert Barrett, the host, dressed as Henry VIII. Pumpkin pants. Royal robes.
Tudor flat cap. His hair and beard tinted red.
Dame
Regina, in red hair and wide dress, made a convincing Queen Elizabeth I. She
said, “Off with your heads!” like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland.
Reggie
morphed into a convincing Nikola Tesla. Dark hair with the part in the middle
and fake mustache. Dressed in a dark jacket, white shirt, waist coat. Holding a
model of a sparking Tesla coil. And he had perfected that wild mad scientist
look.
https://youtu.be/iEJNJ0rFSe8?si=0TeSZNiIHuwCME6Y
Nova
made her entrance downstairs as Wonder Woman. Her favorite female superhero. Twirling
her golden lasso of truth. But she had to alter her costume. And discreetly,
Jane had helped take out parts of the suit so it would fit.
https://youtu.be/imc_qG8Re2Q?si=KfYFJTewzDixBhWK
Anton
dressed as a cowboy and brought his rope. And Anton and Nova demonstrated their
lassoing skills. Nova caught Reggie a few times.
“You’ve
branded me already, darling.” He showed her his wedding ring. “Now, let me go,”
“But
I don’t want to let you go.” She drew him to her and they kissed.
Halloween
was also Reformation Day. It was Halloween night of 1517 that Martin
Luther had nailed his Ninety-five
Theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
https://youtu.be/ijjbtcAEOnY?si=5EjYCXNaJpG9sdvn
And
Lord Fredrick Wise reminded everyone that it was the German Prince, Frederick
the Wise, who had protected Martin Luther and made the whole Reformation thing
possible.
Wise
was tempted to come as Frederick the Wise. But it was like coming as himself. So
he came as Martin Luther. Dark cap and robe. Holding a copy of the Ninety-five Theses.
And
his wife Sharon dressed as Martin Luther’s wife and former nun, Katharina von
Bora. Ivory wimple, black dress, white apron.
Jasmyn
took little Elijah Rainmaker Barrett down from the nursery a few times. The
baby wore a beaded head band with a small eagle feather and colorful streaks of
war paint on his cheeks.
Elijah
was quite the scene stealer. The Duke’s second grandson. The last of the
Rainmaker line.
One
of the guests looked over Jasmyn’s torn jeans, tie dyed T-shirt, tattoos, spiked
hair streaked with purple, orange, and pink.
“I
love your costume, Nanny,” she said.
“What
costume, ma’am?” Jasmyn answered with wide eyes.
Eventually,
the guests settled for a big screen showing of the old cult classic, The
Rocky Horror Picture Show. Center stage was that sweet transvestite. Dr.
Frank-N-Furter. From Transsexual, Transylvania.
Many
at the party knew all the movie lines and sang along, like:
Let’s
do the time warp again.
https://youtu.be/umj0gu5nEGs?si=nUdeKQIdkq_P-cE-
The
scene came when Dr. Frank-N-Furter, off stage, hacked Dr. Scott’s nephew Eddie to
death with an ice pick. When Frank-N-Furter came out of the freezer with blood
on his gloves, Nova threw up.
https://youtu.be/pMRl55U0eDw?si=BPgG7Ou7Y0dqxzlN
That
stopped the show.
At
least paused it and sent the servants scrambling for cleanup. After which, the
show would go on, so they could party into All Saints Day.
* * *
Reggie
instructed Jane to make a special purchase at an all-night chemist. And Jane
did not seem surprised by this request.
Then
he escorted Nova upstairs and helped her undo her costume. Unzipping the back. Tugging
off the suit.
“I
see you’ve been putting on a little weight, darling.”
Nova
spun around with a look of murder in her eyes. Like if she had an ax, she’d
give Reggie forty whacks.
Reggie
snapped open his eyes. Backed away. Raising his arms in self-defense. Then Nova
sunk into the bed and broke out into heaving sobs.
“Oh,
God.” Reggie waited for Nova to calm down some.
He
shook out his handkerchief and dried her tears. Slipped a robe over her. Then
he took off his jacket and fake mustache and got comfortable for a long night.
Reggie
rubbed Nova’s back. “What’s troubling you, darling?”
“I
miss my dad.” She blew her nose.
“What
brought this on?’
“Halloween.
The pumpkins. My dad grew the biggest pumpkins. He used to take Nick and me
down to the river and suck up water into his sewer truck. Then irrigate his
gardens with it.”
Reggie
widened his eyes. “I can imagine what came out of that thing.”
Nova
wiped her tears. “We always got the biggest corn and the biggest pumpkins. And
Dad was the one that carved the jack o’ lanterns.”
Eventually,
there was a knock.
“Enter,”
Reggie said.
“Is
everything all right, Commander?” Jane asked.
“We
shall see.” Reggie received the goods. “Thank you, Jane. I’ll call if we need
anything else.”
Jane
responded with hoots.
Reggie
coaxed Nova into the loo to pee on a stick.
He
looked at the results on the indicator and arched a dark eyebrow. “No more
strong drinks for you, darling.”
“Now
it makes sense what Kaya told me.” Nova let out a breath. “Elijah’s not the
last of the Rainmakers, is he?”
Reggie
chuckled. “Surprise.”
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Happy Halloween
Happy Reformation Day
Be safe.
Your readership is appreciated.
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Photo: Halloween/Kobe/wikipedia
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
CCx (part 1) - The Commander and the Chief series