Wednesday 30 October 2019
Wednesday 21 August 2019
Tuesday 6 August 2019
Mass killings
Mass killings
Recent events in El Paso and Ohio are only the latest of such horrific events. These events appear ton occur with increasing frequency and everyone is blaming racism and guns but no one is looking at the real causes.
But it is not the tools used, i.e. guns, cars, pressure cookers or vans filled with explosives. It is the person using these tools.
Now, I am sure there are schooled experts, sociologists, psychiatrists and psychologists who will have a ready answer. Pointing to mental illness, violent video games and movies they make it all sound as if modern society and the exposure to these things are to blame.
Now I am not a specialist, nor an expert. All I rely on is my own opinion, common sense and analytical observations.
With that said, I am sure there are millions of other opinions and none may be more or less valid than what I am about to express.
Violence has always been a core element of human society. The circus games in ancient Rome were bloodier and more gruesome than any simulated video game. Public executions and in a much lesser but still violence based extend: Boxing, Wrestling and many other forms of contact sports pitting fighter against fighter.
Violence and death have always been part of human entertainment.
It does not matter what culture: Romans, Aztecs, Maya, Egyptians or any other society past or present. It does not matter what color of skin or global region. Man of all colors and all backgrounds have gravitated to exhibits of violence as a source of entertainment.
Now another argument is the availability of guns.
This is, in my opinion also a false argument, Guns are around for a long time. Even so-called automatic guns capable of dispensing many rounds in a very short time.
The venerable AK 47 can be found in the hands of millions all across the globe. Ever since Winchester and Henry introduced fast repeater rifles such weapons are in the hands of civilians.
Why hasn't a there been a school shooting with someone using a Winchester lets say fifty years ago?
Back then you could by a Tommy Gun and surplus hand grenades from the Sears catalog. Dynamite was available in any hardware store.
While these things had been used by criminals throughout the ages, like the gangsters in Chicago where the Valentine massacre comes to mind. The average, common citizen never decided to blow up Macy's or bring a bomb to a football game.
So maybe one needs to compare societies back then and now. Draw parallels and by doing so isolate the differences.
And suddenly some aspects become very apparent.
Back then parents were responsible for the rearing and upbringing of their children. They did not blame everyone else for the deeds of their children.
The family unit was intact. Fathers were the head of the household and the ultimate authority.
Back then kids went out to play with others, back then Friendship meant knowing and trusting another person.
The idea of virtue and service were hallmark concepts. The heroes on TV in Comic books and Cinema had one thing in common: They acted on the right side, had a positive message.
Superman did not kill or needed to be portrayed darkly. Lassie alerted the neighborhood and the community worked together to get Timmy out of the well.
All this was an expression of a different society. To us, Policemen were respected and did protect and serve. The very word COP means Citizen on Patrol.
It is the erosion of these values, replaced by progressive ideologies that are to blame.
Modern parents give their kids any electronic device they desire, but lack to educate them or limit their exposure.
I got a .22 when I was twelve and my father took his time to educate me about the dangers, the consequences, and the use.
Now, what parent today knows what games they play? Talk to them about respect, virtue, and responsibility?
Now, what, in my opinion, could be done?
Return to common sense, abandon Political Correctness. Teachers should teach facts not opinions. Let boys be boys and girls be girls.
Yes, there must be equality but not to the extent of trying to ignore the biological difference. Let parents do what they supposed to do, raise and if necessary punish their children. Children will test their boundaries and modern society rejects any control and calls it child abuse.
There is a line between child abuse and teaching boundaries and respect.
So in conclusion, why not look back and realize not everything traditional is bad, and not all progressive development is beneficial.
Recent events in El Paso and Ohio are only the latest of such horrific events. These events appear ton occur with increasing frequency and everyone is blaming racism and guns but no one is looking at the real causes.
But it is not the tools used, i.e. guns, cars, pressure cookers or vans filled with explosives. It is the person using these tools.
Now, I am sure there are schooled experts, sociologists, psychiatrists and psychologists who will have a ready answer. Pointing to mental illness, violent video games and movies they make it all sound as if modern society and the exposure to these things are to blame.
Now I am not a specialist, nor an expert. All I rely on is my own opinion, common sense and analytical observations.
With that said, I am sure there are millions of other opinions and none may be more or less valid than what I am about to express.
Violence has always been a core element of human society. The circus games in ancient Rome were bloodier and more gruesome than any simulated video game. Public executions and in a much lesser but still violence based extend: Boxing, Wrestling and many other forms of contact sports pitting fighter against fighter.
Violence and death have always been part of human entertainment.
It does not matter what culture: Romans, Aztecs, Maya, Egyptians or any other society past or present. It does not matter what color of skin or global region. Man of all colors and all backgrounds have gravitated to exhibits of violence as a source of entertainment.
Now another argument is the availability of guns.
This is, in my opinion also a false argument, Guns are around for a long time. Even so-called automatic guns capable of dispensing many rounds in a very short time.
The venerable AK 47 can be found in the hands of millions all across the globe. Ever since Winchester and Henry introduced fast repeater rifles such weapons are in the hands of civilians.
Why hasn't a there been a school shooting with someone using a Winchester lets say fifty years ago?
Back then you could by a Tommy Gun and surplus hand grenades from the Sears catalog. Dynamite was available in any hardware store.
While these things had been used by criminals throughout the ages, like the gangsters in Chicago where the Valentine massacre comes to mind. The average, common citizen never decided to blow up Macy's or bring a bomb to a football game.
So maybe one needs to compare societies back then and now. Draw parallels and by doing so isolate the differences.
And suddenly some aspects become very apparent.
Back then parents were responsible for the rearing and upbringing of their children. They did not blame everyone else for the deeds of their children.
The family unit was intact. Fathers were the head of the household and the ultimate authority.
Back then kids went out to play with others, back then Friendship meant knowing and trusting another person.
The idea of virtue and service were hallmark concepts. The heroes on TV in Comic books and Cinema had one thing in common: They acted on the right side, had a positive message.
Superman did not kill or needed to be portrayed darkly. Lassie alerted the neighborhood and the community worked together to get Timmy out of the well.
All this was an expression of a different society. To us, Policemen were respected and did protect and serve. The very word COP means Citizen on Patrol.
It is the erosion of these values, replaced by progressive ideologies that are to blame.
Modern parents give their kids any electronic device they desire, but lack to educate them or limit their exposure.
I got a .22 when I was twelve and my father took his time to educate me about the dangers, the consequences, and the use.
Now, what parent today knows what games they play? Talk to them about respect, virtue, and responsibility?
Now, what, in my opinion, could be done?
Return to common sense, abandon Political Correctness. Teachers should teach facts not opinions. Let boys be boys and girls be girls.
Yes, there must be equality but not to the extent of trying to ignore the biological difference. Let parents do what they supposed to do, raise and if necessary punish their children. Children will test their boundaries and modern society rejects any control and calls it child abuse.
There is a line between child abuse and teaching boundaries and respect.
So in conclusion, why not look back and realize not everything traditional is bad, and not all progressive development is beneficial.
Sunday 19 May 2019
My Wiki is now over 16,000 pages.
This Encyclopedia is a supplement to the Galactic Chronicles series of Sci-Fi stories I have published on SOL, Patreon, Inkitt, and Fictionpress
My series has a small but growing dedicated fan community and this GalNet Wiki is primarily for them, but of course also for all new readers.
It is the nature of a Science Fiction story to describe events, things and places of exotic and alien nature. While I am a writer first and foremost, meaning I paint and illustrate my worlds and the surroundings of my stories with words; I am also a Sci-Fi geek and have always loved the compendium and supplement books of such series like Star Trek, Star Wars and so forth.
My stories tell the events and adventures of individuals but all stories happen in the same Universe, with the same aliens and play against the same political background. Each book is an individual story, but all together tell the story of this, my Universe.
To give my readers and my friends a visual aid and a place where they can check out on concepts, aliens, and characters; I have started this Wiki.
It is an ongoing project and will be a slow process; as I also continue to write and still have to work for a living.
However, it is a labor of love and I hope to add to it whenever I can and hopefully make it one day as complete as I can.
Friday 17 May 2019
More Roy Masters ?
The majority of readers at Patreon wanted me to finish the Eric Olafson saga before I move on to complete the Roy Masters saga.
There 1 -1/2 novels in the Eric Olafson saga before I can take a break from the Neo Viking and tell the story of Roy Masters. (3 books)
After that, I am aiming to post the three books of the "Terra Cycle": Children of Terra, Agents of Terra and Killers of Terra.
That should happen around June (I am able to write a chapter in 2-3 days and a novel contains about 20-25 chapters)
The First book in chronical order is Galactic Chronicles Book 1: EARTH (and three subsequent novels)
I am writing and posting them in October.
(the old stories are incomplete and full of errors, but can be found on my wiki under Stories and Old stories)
I know this might not be the answer you wanted to hear, but it is the only one I can give.
I will do my best to put all the Galactic Chronicles online by the end of 2019 and write completely new stories by 2020.
Yes, I am posting and reposting all my stories on SOL and Patreon.
Patreon will always be first and chapter by chapter as the readers there support me with money. Once the story is complete it will migrate to Storiesonline.
Currently, I am working on the complete Eric Olafson saga (I am at Volume 9 atm) and there are a planned 10 volumes so far. Around the end of March, I plan to write and finish the Roy Masters saga.
The Meeze Phenomenon
I first introduced the scavenging species of the Wheeze [1] in Chapter 22 of Volume 8 of the Eric Olafson cycle (Voyages of the USS Tigershark ) more or less as a minor species helping the Tigershark crew to find the Crucible and TheOther .
These worm creatures, apparently genetically altered to act as biological recycling units for the Mora , also existed in the vast bowels of the Crucible.
It was there when TheOther almost stepped on one of these worms.
The worm referring to himself[2] as "Meeze" actually just meaning "Me", offered to help the other. The phrase "Meeze" became his name and the Galactic Chronicles have never been the same since.
He refers to his species as Wheeze (actually only meaning We), has no respect for anyone; calls Admirals and even the Dark One "Stoopiz".
Yet he is fiercely loyal and proud to be "Unionz". He loves the White Togress Jolaj, calls her Sweezie (mostly because she was the first ever being treating a wounded Wheeze without hesitation)
And whenever I want to write a chapter without him, he manages to worm himself in.
Not that I would dare, for unexplainable reasons, this little ugly thing with questionable bathroom habits (The Stinkiz ) has somehow captured the hearts of my readers.
[1] The actual species is called Children of the Genolax
[2]What is Meeze?
Your other stories, where do I find them?
This summary is not available. Please
click here to view the post.
I am on Patreon.com
The other reason is Inkitt.
The German-based company where I "won" a publishing contract. It didn't work out as they promised.
They published three of my novels (but not in sequence) and not edited.
I had no say in the Cover design either.
It was not entirely their fault, as I was unable to communicate after I had my stroke.
However, Inkitt told me, that they have no interest in publishing anything more, as their business model changed towards interactive novels where the readers chose the outcome, and they are only interested in romantic teenage stories.
My core audience is not teenagers, but old fashioned SF fans, and I don't think my stories are compatible with reader decided outcomes.
There were many other issues as well, long story short. A friend told me about Patreon.com.
A site where patrons support your work.
The Patreon format is not the best, for novels but it works!
Long Due update on my health
Hello Everyone,
After a long hiatus, I decided to re-engage with my Blog. Partially to use this format to promote my writing of course, and of course to connect with those who are not part of my Patreon.com fans.
First I like to apologize for this long break, and the main reason was my health.
I suffered a stroke, that affected my entire right body side.
I could not speak, or write.
It took long months of SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) to partially regain these abilities. I am still affected and the doctors say it will never go away completely.
If that wasn't enough, during an ultrasound examination of my legs, (I developed a Deep Vein Trombosis) , the examining specialist said:"J notice a little lump on your throat, can I scan it?"
After her examination and a Needle Biopsy (https://www.thyroid.org/fna-thyroid-nodules/) it was determined that I had Stage II Thyroid Cancer,
I underwent Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine) Therapy, Thyroid Hormone Therapy, External Beam Radiation, Chemotherapy for Thyroid Cancer and finally Thyroidectomy.
During all this, writing and blogging took a back seat. I apologize, but hopefully you understand.
After a long hiatus, I decided to re-engage with my Blog. Partially to use this format to promote my writing of course, and of course to connect with those who are not part of my Patreon.com fans.
First I like to apologize for this long break, and the main reason was my health.
I suffered a stroke, that affected my entire right body side.
It took long months of SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) to partially regain these abilities. I am still affected and the doctors say it will never go away completely.
If that wasn't enough, during an ultrasound examination of my legs, (I developed a Deep Vein Trombosis) , the examining specialist said:"J notice a little lump on your throat, can I scan it?"
After her examination and a Needle Biopsy (https://www.thyroid.org/fna-thyroid-nodules/) it was determined that I had Stage II Thyroid Cancer,
I underwent Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine) Therapy, Thyroid Hormone Therapy, External Beam Radiation, Chemotherapy for Thyroid Cancer and finally Thyroidectomy.
During all this, writing and blogging took a back seat. I apologize, but hopefully you understand.
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