The 60s plus 50 (Short Story) - 8/19/2015 12:43:50 AM
You brought us through the Sixties with all-encompassing rhetoric and common sense. I hope our fragile planet will survive the next 50 years, as there is no Planet B, unless "everyone goes to the moon"...
The 60s plus 50 (Short Story) - 2/16/2015 11:21:34 AM
You certainly covered all the bases in this short essay very well. I'm not much for astrology, so I don't know Aquarius from Scorpio except that most of those chasing Aquarius were from the then growing middle class edging toward upper-middle-class with credit cards from daddy to tide them over if their idealistic dreams fell through. Today's struggling students are focused on their low-paying hamburger flipping job, how they are ever going to pay off their loans, and don't have time for dissent.
In the 1960s campuses had security guards, today they have rapidly growing police forces with SWAT capability. Here in Texas they are trying to pass a bill allowing all University goers to conceal and carry. Instead of peaceniks against local police departments, we will see regular shootouts between professors and disgruntled students.
Ron
Final Sky, Chapter 5 (Short Story) - 2/10/2015 6:16:13 AM
Ah, temptation, it strikes us all. Another well-written piece. The attention to detail is quite remarkable. Some adjectives are quite unique and add to your literary style like, "smoke-sodden." A combination of words that make sense but one would never think of normally. Bravo!
Ron
Bui Doi (The dust of life) (Short Story) - 2/3/2015 8:24:34 AM
A sad story, written by someone with much experience. I will ask a friend of mine to read it. He tells me that he can't watch "We Were Soldiers" because he was there and doesn't want to relive it. Says that he has been married three times and still can't get over it. I met briefly with a high school friend who went on the "buddy" promise with another classmate, and then separated right after boot camp. He was pretty disillusioned when he got back.
War is hell…
Ron
Bui Doi (The dust of life) (Short Story) - 2/3/2015 3:55:43 AM
Fine story. Disturbing despite its satisfying end. Maybe that only means I have more work to do. Thanks.
The Messenger (Short Story) - 1/24/2015 11:25:45 AM
A new twist to an old thought. Usually the messenger comes from the future. I also sensed that the people in the 23rd century were extremely homogenized, bland and bored with the way that everything had been ironed out and known. At least that's the way I view what you wrote.
My observation is that our world opens up more and more, with more and more to do and explore as time goes on. I would think that the 23rd century would be wildly exciting for a visitor from our time. But then, you are presenting a concept like used to be shown on The Twilight Zone… Kudos… I hope you're wrong. ;-)
It is cool how you brought senses in with new functions.
Ron
Final Sky, sample chapters (Short Story) - 1/18/2015 9:15:56 AM
I'm ready to read more… Cal will probably become Amy's surrogate father, or… ;-)
Ron
The Predator (Short Story) - 1/12/2015 7:33:03 AM
A story to reflect our times. Lots of things going on in this story that reminded me of incidents in the past. And like the devil writer you are, you left us all wondering about the ending.
One day while driving around a very bad neighborhood as part of my land manager job, several guys on the street kept pointing at my car. Finally, I stopped. My front license plate was hanging by one bolt and about to fall off.
My ex-wife had a sales job that required her to travel a lot. One night on a busy thoroughfare, she told me that she was being shadowed by a white van and got very scared. She finally made a quick U-turn on the six lane highway and lost the van, scared out of her wits.
One time in a trip with a girlfriend, she had placed my address book on the roof of my car while loading the trunk and forgot it when getting in the car. As I started out on the highway, I heard it slide on the roof and saw the address book fall off the back of the car only to be quickly run over by a following 18 wheeler. I pulled off quickly to the shoulder and backed up. I still have that address book with its crushed three ring binder.
My partner just told me that she forgot to take her weightlifting belt off when getting in the car to go to her house a block away. She put the belt on top of the car, forgot it and drove over to the other house. Upon coming back, she saw something black in the street. It was her belt!
I find that most people on the road are friendly, helpful and courteous. Instantaneous news reports these days makes everyone jumpy about nothing. Very good details about DC driving conditions. Drove from West Virginia to capitol offices to deliver proposals by 4 pm deadlines several times. Even with 55 mph restrictions that Maryland enforced strictly in those days, I speeded and always meet the deadlines on time.
Ron
The Walls Come a'Tumblin' (Short Story) - 1/5/2015 5:45:50 AM
Forgive me… For I am not Catholic. My hometown was about three fourths Catholic, I had a couple of Catholic girlfriends, my younger brothers married Catholic women, and my new friend after my paralysis, Tom, three years younger, but dead now a year, had to stop at the church for confession on evenings when we would go out together. Strange rituals that I never quite could understand seemed to embody the Catholic Church and keep the parish in bondage… Especially when faced with thoughts of priesthood or nunnery.
You have written a psychological thriller that is reminiscent of Stephen King. I must say I originally thought that the priest, Alfredo, had introduced the young Samos to sex as a choir boy, so I waited for that to unfold. When it didn't, I waited for something else. What happened was quite a surprise to me. Unless I read it wrong, what happened was either a second coming, or a priest gone mad. I prefer the latter, but either will suffice.
If I may curse… Damn good work!
Ron
Baggage (Short Story) - 12/30/2014 6:46:13 AM
I haven't flown for years, largely because my baggage and entourage would far exceed that of the beleaguered single mother in your story and just the thought of having to be carried into those minuscule bathrooms for an emergency. Travel after arrival would require hiring expensive vans in order to get wherever I am going.
That said, from the days I did fly, much is quite familiar and I often found myself thinking some of the same things you so eloquently write about… Especially the humor… And the plight of some fellow passengers as they struggle to navigate all the checkpoints on their journey.
Your humor is superb. The avionics in my van are constantly reminded me in a Tessie-like voice, "Your engine is running and your vehicle does not detect any motion. if you have received this message in error, please reboot your system." or, as i struggle to command my voice system signal left turn by tilting the gas/brake drive into the lab, upon getting a "beep" and saying loudly "left!" i get the message in her sweet voice, "i did not understand, please try again… beep."
Ron
Fortune and Men's Eyes (Short Story) - 12/22/2014 8:24:32 AM
A very touching story about what is really important in life. You write so very well that it could be O' Henry that I am reading here.
Ron
Fortune and Men's Eyes (Short Story) - 12/22/2014 4:37:23 AM
Thanks for reading Fortune and Men's Eyes.
It Ain't Brain Surgery (Short Story) - 12/8/2014 6:51:57 AM
I just watched Ohio State demoralize my Masters degree school, the University of Wisconsin, 59 to 0. And I thought that Wisconsin had a very good team after the rout last weekend. Having a doctorate doesn't make you a better predictor or writer, for that matter.
I can see why you have won an award for your writing. It's refreshing to read something without errors and with a real story in it. The twist at the end is fantastic. Having been in higher education most of my career, phonies abound. And those that frequent freebie affairs and flout their accomplishments are the stuff of networking legend.
I haven't been to a grocery store shopping for over 20 years, so I'm not up on the latest avant-garde cuisine like you are. However, I did recognize most of the tasty treats you described so well. I do recall going to heady free Mercedes advertising shows at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco where they served caviar and flaming clams with free liquor while we hobnobbed with the elite. It helped to speak German. It is amazing to me that we are eating food that has a very long supply chain as though there were no tomorrow. Cheap oil has its advantages.
I have found that neurosurgeons… I have personally known several… Do not have very many answers when it comes to the brain and spinal cord. A cure for spinal cord injury, like mine, is not as easy as Christopher Reeve would have liked.
Ron
Off Ramp: Weekly Short for 12/01/2014 (Short Story) - 11/29/2014 11:17:40 AM
Charlie Stanton made a good bargain. You're right, a modern-day Christmas Carol. Very good write… Much enjoyed.
Ron
Dogs Will Bark: Weekly short 11/24/2014 (Short Story) - 11/24/2014 11:54:52 AM
Thanks, Ronald, I appreciate you taking the time. Ferlin is the guy's name, but I suspect there are ferlin-ers somewhere!
Dogs Will Bark: Weekly short 11/24/2014 (Short Story) - 11/24/2014 10:16:35 AM
Now that's a damn good story… With a moral to it. Learned a new word, "ferlin." Let me guess… Foreign?
Ron
Short of the week for 11/17/14—'Inscription.' (Short Story) - 11/17/2014 7:12:41 AM
Now that's a story that touches everyone as they age. Thank goodness there will be no inscription on my headstone, because I'm planning not to have one.
Dynamic, flawless writing. A joy to read and reflect on.
Ron
After the Rain (Short Story) - 3/10/2014 4:18:02 PM
well said
Lift Off (Short Story) - 2/10/2014 11:04:01 AM
A beautiful story beautifully written. Made all the better because it's true. I can see why you won an award for it. I'm surprised that you didn't rent a helicopter and take him up for the ride of his life. I did that for my two helpers on our last cruise the Cayman Islands. That day it was too windy for people to go to Stingray City where we had already been, but our helicopter ride took us over that place along with many others on Grand Cayman Island.
When my father was in the hospital for a long period with pneumonia from one of those superbugs he contracted after heart valve and bypass surgery, I was fortunate to be able to get there once, but didn't have much time with him because there were about 15 other people in the room. My mother had to sit with him for four months before he died. I don't think I could have stood that.
Ron
Lift Off (Short Story) - 2/9/2014 2:28:05 PM
a fine story, i liked it
budd
The 60s + 50: Winner of '$1,000 for 1,000 Words' contest January 2010. (Short Story) - 7/6/2013 9:20:07 AM
I can see why you won the contest. You certainly covered the territory without dwelling on any one thing too much. I don't consider the sixties music to be so draconian, although The Doors did get a little hellish and there were some secret messages in Beatles music (if you play them back toward?).
Overall, you set a very positive, forward thinking, tone. I'm of that bent myself, so I heartily agree. Tomorrow will be better than today, it's just that our selective memory won't let us believe it.
Ron
Excerpt from The Sky Behind Me, a Memoir of Flying and Life (Short Story) - 2/10/2013 1:18:38 PM
Great read Byron. I could actually visualize what you were writing.
I also admire the courage you showed in returning to school at 63 years of age.
It is never, never too late to pursue ones dream.
Congratulations, and continued success.
Barbara J. Henry
Life in a Blender (Short Story) - 12/27/2012 4:04:06 PM
i agree with the circumstance i have three adhd grandchildren living with me
budd
Silent Sky: From 9/11/202 (Article) - 9/16/2014 6:32:31 AM
A unique view of the 9/11 experience. I'm surprised you have no comments on that website.
It's something that I hadn't thought of because of my focus on the twin towers and the loss of people and financial activity that went on there, most of Manhattan paralyzed in reaction, and people stranded all over, like in Newfoundland when their planes were grounded.
But the loss of life from the loss of Medevac must've been considerable, and the loss of commerce due to planes not doing their daily business must of been immense.
A good article that deserves more comment.
Ron
Silent Sky: From 9/11/202 (Article) - 9/14/2014 8:38:49 AM
I'm glad as a nation we remember that horrible day
