The Agony of Ted Koppel, Again

Will American wake up before we have an electronic Pear Harbor?

I posted this on my 2author blog; http://2author.blogspot.com/.

Maybe, now, after all these years, I can get some traction when I send out query emails to agents about my cyberwar books.

In 1991 I wrote my first screenplay about drones. In those pre-internet days you had to snail mail agents, then pray for an answer.

In 1992, an agent in Hollywood was interested in seeing my work. I drove over to see him, from Ohio.

25 years ago hardly anyone knew what a drone was. Now everyone who wants to can fly one around their living room.

"Glitch" is much more than a story about cyberwar. It's an examination of our lack of perception and the deception of our society.

The future is here.

Are you ready?

Time to publish

The book, working title "Glitch" is done. Polished, edited, ready to go.

Now I'm going to look into self-publishing it.

There will be more info on my progress in the coming weeks.

Polishing the Work

It can take time, writing anything worth reading. It takes more time trying to get it published.

I've gone to conferences, talked to other authors, pitched to agents from New York to Los Angeles.

All trying to find the key to getting my work out into the public.

Which was easier when I was building cars. I would slog through the rough, nasty work of cutting, patching, repairing bodies and engines. It's rewarding, turning junkers into jewels. Jumping into the driver's seat, firing it up for the first time and driving down the road.

Even if you customize it, it's still not completely your car.

I've built cars that were socially unacceptable as an expression of my vision. Visually jarring, they made more of an impact on people than the car-show-smooth road kings. Still it was the reworking of someone else's work.

So I've gone back to writing, taking photographs and making videos.

When writing a story I've found that I can get closer to the true act of creation.

Nothing we do is pure, as there is always the element of structure, previous work or movement that carries on the history of the format.

When it's done, going back over it, tuning it up, polishing out the last little rough spots.

That's when you know if it's labor or love.

I'm polishing "Glitch".

It will be out this year, if I have to publish it myself.

With Love to China and All Hackers

I've always enjoyed studying the history and culture of China. It's a fascinating country.

Unfortunately, I don't agree with some of their politics or the communist agenda. This has kept me from visiting what I'm sure is one of the most interesting countries in the world.

One day, I hope to see China. I know that it'll take a long time, even if I only visit a few places, with the country being as vast as it is.

What transpired this week, with the US government filing charges against Chinese military officers is scary. Those of us who have a basic grasp of the Oriental philosophy realize this is a much more serious affront than it appears to be in the news headlines.

Only a person of ignorance would think that cyber-spying is not going on in this new age. Everyone is doing it. Many companies are doing it, both to employees and clients. Governments are doing it to other governments, companies and their own citizens. Hackers are doing it for whatever reasons they have, good or bad.

It didn't start last week, last year or in the last decade. It's been going on every since the first computer network was set up. Someone, somewhere wants to know what you're doing.

I quit worrying about it.

Watch all you want.

Your malfunction may not be the same

As the malfunction that started your glitch. Please refer to that which is not known to know what should be known, if only you knew it.

I would like to thank Donald Rumsfeld for the inspiration for the above rumination.

Anybody out there writing a book called, "Ruminations on Rummy"?

It's Not Too Late...

To get prepared, but let's say that you don't have all the time in the world.

I've rewritten my cyberwar book, updating it and cleaning it up. When you write, it's not about writing, it's about rewriting that makes the article, book, etc worth reading.

Recent events have led me to believe that we are now fast approaching a point of no return in political alignments.

I won't delve deeply into the cosmic scenario. Let's just say that the Near Earth Asteroid count is up, the sun is about to 'flip' it's magnetic poles and I'm sure that you're enjoying this lovely weather.

What's the convergence point for all of these things? Almost impossible to say, much less predict with any degree of accuracy.

Like any life cycle, there's a beginning, a middle and an end. Then the spiral begins again. That's right, spiral. Think of the double-helix of the RNA/DNA molecule and you'll get the idea.

Or as an old saying goes, "The worm turns."

Cyberwar Draws Closer

Enjoying your present lifestyle?

Good, remember this, when the lights go off.

You've been trying to compete with the local status quo, acquiring all the goodies of life.

If it's electrical, it might just be junkyard treasure in the future.

I won't say 'near future'.

That's too vague.

You don't want to watch this space for a warning.

By then, it'll be too late.

Keep those matches and candles handy.