The SoapBoxers

Underwater Airplanes sounds like an oxymoron, but it is what Sir Richard is attempting to build and sell at Virgin Atlantic. The idea is to produce vessels that can carry people under water over great distances or to great depth for tourism (similar to his space tourism scheme). This is not a new idea, except the tourism part with lots of windows. The German, Italian and Japanese armies used transport submarines in both world wars to avoid blockades. One German vessel surfaced in New York harbor in 1940 and proceeded to purchase and load several tons of food. At that time the United States was still technically a neutral in World War II, but the authorities found a way to delay the launch until a British destroyer could block the entrance to the harbor.

The ability to move invisibly around the world and get past blockades (specifically British and American) lead to restrictions on commercial submarines in the treaty of Versailles, and the original UN charter. I am sure that Sir Richard will find a way around any legal restrictions, and his product should be fun. I would love to do a deep dive into the mid Atlantic rig or one of the Pacific trenches. For that matter, a gentle sail across the Gulf of Mexico about 500 feet down would be nice, too.

The non-military benefit to submarine travel is primarily protection from weather. You cannot see very far in most of the ocean (scuba is very intimate to your surroundings). Some areas of the ocean are murky due to lots of sediment in the water, some are just dark due to depth. Big spot lights are only going to help to a point. But being under water means you do not have to worry about a sudden storm or even a hurricane as long as you are deep enough and have the technology to peer into the deep.

For years I have wondered why no one has built a huge oil tanker submarine. It would make hijacking by pirates almost impossible, rerouting due to weather would be reduced, and there would be no deck to speak of to keep clean. I can see why cargo ships have not been replaced, with the obvious over stacking that you can see at any port. A submarine has a fixed shipping capability, where a cargo ship can be stacked as high as the captain and the water line will allow.

Smaller versions of submarines have always been objects of fascination through out the world. Cars that could be subs (all custom made of course) have graced the pages of Popular Mechanics and been featured at various worlds fairs, not to mention James Bond films. These personal vehicles have just not been practical for many reasons; maintenance, complexity of operation, difficulties in getting in and out, and over all cost to name a few. Sir Richard, making this a “cruise” of sorts will remove several of these obstacles, but I am sure that the price will be steep for quite a while.

I hope it works, but then again I am a hopeless romantic, dreaming of the space travel vacation. Now I can add a deep sea adventure to the dream list. I just have to save up a couple of million dollars.

Read the original article at Foxnews.com for more information.

Developing “real” characters can be one of the hardest tasks in writing. Even with no dialogue, character development must be tackled. Characters can be anyone or anything. Your character could be a house, a dog, a person. The character’s hopes, dreams, fears and oddities that make them complete. Many authors fall into the trap of making characters who are only one dimensional; all evil, all good, all fearful. Others have only a single character to work from, based mostly on an idealized view of themselves.

A good exercise in character development is to try a short story with only one character. Establish and environment and experiment with the character’s relationship to that environment. If you can separate yourself from your own experiences and consider actions and reactions based only on your imagination, you can expand that character. Keep writing until the fullness and depth are strong enough to stand on their own. There will be a lot of fluff that you will have to clean up, but in the end you will have learned about both your character and your writing.

This would be a development exercise. Almost all authors copy life in their initial efforts. We can do no better than document what we have witnessed. This is not a bad thing. Life is full of examples of complete characters. How many people have you ever met who do not have a story to tell? Your task as an author is to capture that story and make it enjoyable for others to read. From that, you can develop new and interesting characters. Some will be super natural, not is the super hero way, although that can work, but is a way that is not someone or something you have ever encountered. Some real life characters are super nature as they are remembered such as Attila the Hun and Hitler. Some of that is mythology, but some is real and what made them interesting in history.

Making non-human characters is even more fun. Animals are almost too easy since you can give them human characteristics. Many people truly believe that their car or television have personalities that can be converted into literary gold. Most will end up being human like, such as Kit on Knight Rider or the cast of The Brave Little Toaster. Disney Studios are brilliant with humanizing animals throughout the years.

I personally, have not attempted anything beyond human characters. In my first novel effort, I did provide some limited personality for various animals on a farm (two horses, a cow and a dog). These were not strong developments, they were interactions with the character I was developing. What I am suggesting is first – copy life, especially real life that you have personally experienced, then experiment with environmental cause and effect. All of this is to avoid filling your work with copies of you, or worse, someone you think you are.

–KEEP WRITING–

Writing is capturing ideas. Your mind can be amazing. As you search for topics to write on, do not reject any ideas. Some ideas may not be appropriate for you chosen style of writing, or for all audiences. Still, jot down everything. You never know what will be an important piece of a future work.

Ideas can come from any direction. Most of us have some story from our past that can at least be a seed for a new effort. Be careful not to put in too much personal detail, we don’t want an aunt writing us out of the will after all. Here is an example; my sister works at IKEA for a second job and recently was given the opportunity to move into loss prevention. This is the group of people who try to limit the shoplifting and other forms of theft that impact the business. In her interview, she asked if she could have a taser. The team leader refused based on his belief that she would use it. The idea of a loss prevention person having and using a taser in a large box store like IKEA could be a great comedy. Who knows, that could be my next effort.

Current events or even seasonal events can be good fodder as well. Politics, natural disasters, crimes and scandals are available everyday. You can start with real life events and insert your characters, or slightly change the event to see where the story leads compared to real life. Just in the last few weeks, we have a world famous athlete caught in multiple extra-marital affairs, an earthquake in a third world country, back room dealings on major legislation, an aggressive nation testing long range rockets and active combat in Afghanistan. Any of these headlines provides fodder for short stories, poems, even novels. Even if these events are not part of your story, they can provide colorful backdrops and depth.

Seasonal events, like Professional and collegiate sports, provide a never ending cycle to grab your creative efforts. Today, Professional football is in the post season, College football is in the post bowl glow, basketball and hockey are in full swing and the winter Olympics are just around the corner. Stories with the point of view of athletes, spectators, officials, or even organizers can be outstanding platforms for your message. I remember reading as a child a story about going to a baseball game. The story was a young boy’s vision of waiting for his father, traveling in the New York Subway, standing in line to get his ticket, even getting to his seat. The story ended just as they stood for the national anthem. It was an incredible expression of personal wonderment focusing on a baseball game that was never described.

As I have written before, almost as a theme for my ramblings, capture all of your ideas. If you do not need it for your current project, it could be useful later or even be a starting point for a new effort.

–KEEP WRITING–

Sitting as a wall flower in a meeting with high level managers allows the mind to wander. Facing a wall of windows on a winter day in the mid-west provides a playground of ideas and observations.

Morning and the flags are hanging so sadly draped against the poles. Sad but still providing the only color on this grey day. The heavy freezing fog grows hoar frost on the branches of the black bark oak trees. Black and white background, browns by the sides of the roads, parking lots and drives. Even the cars have a ghost white coating of road salt and ice. Everyone is moving slowly, carefully. People walking in from their cars shuffle step like elderly residents of a nursing home, frightened of falling, yet hurrying to get in from the cold. The warmth of the room and the drone of the speakers makes it hard to stay awake. If only I had some part, something to add to the discussion to keep myself focused.

The wind picks up slightly, the flags crack off their icy coatings to ripple fitfully, still hugging the poles. No one is walking outside. Cars drive slowly by. The hoar frost flakes and falls almost like snow. The trees move, shaking and creaking in the breeze. Just enough wind to move the fog. Relief from the monotony, but a harbinger of bad things to come. A change of weather can only bring danger. Temperatures just at freezing with lots of humidity will result in precipitation; we can only hope it is snow. The schools have already closed from the dire predictions of the weather men. Now I have something to watch, something to keep my attention. So many people in one room, so warm, darkened for the projector, and still the droning speakers.

It has started to rain, the ice is visibly building up on the cars. It is getting bad quickly. An ambulance drives by, lights flashing, yet creeping slowly along the street. Safety over speed, this is not the time to have an emergency. Others are looking out the window, even the current speaker. Time for a break, bathroom and weather watch. Someone calls up the local weather radar on a laptop computer. This is only the beginning. We can’t even identify some of the colors on the screen. Someone announces that he just talked to his wife, it is sleeting ten miles to the west, almost could be called hail. The weatherman calls it ice pellets. Suddenly, the scene turns white. Large wet flakes of snow. This is good, it will be messy, but there will be traction; for walking and driving. It isn’t even noon yet.

Visitors from out of town start checking the airport. Why did they ever come north in January? They are desperate to get back to their homes and warmth. They groan aloud as the scene outside changes again to sleet and rain. The speaker waits for all for all to pay attention again. We can get through everything if we just focus. The out of town people can get out, surly it will get better. Someone check the radar again, yes it should get better.

By noon, there are no cars on the road. The trees have gone from white frosted to glazed with ice. They are eerily beautiful. An animated discussion grabs everyone’s attention for a while, but then back to the droning. We have all read the slides before the event. We have all given our criticisms. No arguments allowed in front of the customer. Authority overrules intelligence, not often, but still annoying. The skies seem to be getting lighter. The rain is slowing. Just a few more hours then head home. There will be scraping of ice and a careful drive. What? I’m sorry, can you repeat the question. Oh yes, I can deal with that still today. Yes, I can get that to California tonight. They will wait. If we finish here by five o’clock, I can get it done by seven our time. No staying late isn’t a problem.

They are finally done. It is dark. Scraping the car will have to wait. Call the wife and let her know I will be late. No, don’t save any dinner, I had plenty of bad food all day. The group goes by discussing where to eat, others are rushing for the airport. At least I don’t have to travel tonight. I will get to sleep in my own bed. The kids may be asleep by the time I get home, but I will be at home.

Finally done, the data is sent. The ice isn’t so bad on the car. The drive home is slow. The roads are ice covered. Most people are already home, so the roads are mostly empty. The weatherman on the radio suggests that there will be more nasty weather overnight. If it is bad enough, I can work from home, home with my children and my wife. An ice storm is not such a bad thing after all.

KEEP WRITING

On January 14, 2010, Zarberg posted an article that used two examples to show how politicians “put other’s lives on the line so they can get more money.” I could have posted comments, but I would have needed too many. Instead I have opted for a rebuttal, not a refutation.

I also was profoundly affected by the events of 9/11. I was not in New York City at the time, although my sister in law was. She is a doctor and immediately attempted to render aid. She was sent to Columbia Medical Center, so she was never in any direct danger, though none of us knew that at the time. I was at work and watched the second aircraft impact live on TV. I watched what I thought was my employment opportunity exploding as I am an aerospace engineer working in the aircraft field.

Unlike many of the extremists on air and on line, I never wanted to make a glass parking lot anywhere. I quickly realized that the people who had perpetrated this crime were a tumor that had to be surgically removed to save the people around them. So my first contention with Zarberg is that we went into Afghanistan to perform that surgery (still on-going), the Iraq war was almost a year later.

Admittedly, the arguments for going to war with Iraq were suspect, mostly because no one would listen to anyone else. If we look at Colin Powell’s UN speech, there is no talk of Nuclear Weapons being on hand (the only weapon of mass destruction NOT found in Iraq), only the effort to obtain them. The idea that the BUSH administration was deceitful is interesting as most of the evidence came directly from Saddam Hussein through his speeches, declarations and USE. His best defense would have been “yeah I had them but I used them all on the Kurds and Marsh Arabs.” Instead he claimed to have them, was going to use them on any invader and dared the rest of the world to stop him. That is exactly what the US, UK, Poland and 15 other countries did after getting permission from the UN.

With all of that, I still think that the US was wrong in the argument to go to war. We were already at war. The Iraqis had violated every element of the cease fire they had begged for. They had fired upon allied units, killed civilians, blocked UN inspectors from doing their job, violated the no fly zones and been caught diverting money for food to arms.

I wish I could rebut the one trillion dollar price tag, but the costs are all lumped together. These costs include every penny spent in both Iraq and Afghanistan but are routinely associated only with Iraq. Part of that cost would have been incurred regardless as we have ships at sea and troops deployed even when we are not at war. A lot of money has been spent rebuilding both countries not just from war damage but from the ravages of 30 years of dictatorship. The New Jersey and Missouri National Guards have paved more miles of road and built more bridges than exist in New England. The US has built water and power plants (two commodities that Sadam used to control his people) and repaired the other civil structures that were left to languish so that one man could build himself numerous palaces. All of this is included in that price tag.

One of the things that Zarberg did not comment on, is that the US hired “Contractors” to arrest and detain people. Under what laws? These people are exactly what the Hague and Geneva Conventions dating back to 1866 were meant to stop. They are mercenaries, who are a law unto themselves, providing a buffer of responsibility for the hiring nation.

As far as the trend in US politics to be nasty just because the other guy proposed something, I agree with Zarberg completely on his observation but not his conclusion. I do not believe that politicians are out to hurt anyone, even for their own gain. All of the politicians I personally know (from both sides) truly believe that what they are proposing will be good for people. Each of them is, of course, blinded by their own convictions. The problem that most politicians run into is that they fail to recognize unintended consequences. The reason for this is that if they truly studied every possible affect before acting, nothing would ever get done. My biggest complaint about recent political action is that everything has to be a crisis, and every crisis has to be solved by spending a lot of money.

It seems that the most authoritative spokes persons are those people who have plenty of time to be on the 24 hour news stations. This is not news, nor is it authoritative, it is just opinion usually included in yelling matches where neither side listens or hears.

The discussion of Joe Lieberman being for and against expansion of medicare and the implied verdict of him being paid off is hard for me to discuss. I personally like Joe Lieberman. To be aghast that he received campaign donations from insurance companies is like being aghast that a senator from Nebraska received donations for the grain industry or that one from California received donations from internet companies. The biggest industry in Connecticut is insurance. His apparent change of support for the medicare expansion has to be viewed in light of the latest version of the health care reform bills. Most of these bills go way beyond what he supported (expansion down to age 50) to include every person in the US, citizen or not. Joe is a fiscal conservative (which is why I like him) so he does not like the huge price tag for this all encompassing effort. He is a social moderate (another reason I like him), which is why he is supportive of helping those people who are close to medicare age, and are in need of healthcare coverage.

Zarberg’s conclusion that all is bought and paid for by greedy corporations that don’t care about individuals is interesting. It is also self defeating if true. When a corporation truly doesn’t care, their product will have nothing to do with what people want. That product will not be purchased and the company will either have to change its product or go broke. The only benefit corporations get from paying politicians is the promise not to be punished by regulation or taxation. The only product anyone has ever proposed that each of us would have to buy on pain of fine or imprisonment whether you want it or not is up for a vote right now – health care.

How do I keep up the pace? This is a question that many authors face, sometimes in their own heads, sometimes honestly and out in the open. Some people would suggest setting aside specific time. This is a great idea if you have that kind scheduling skill/flexibility. Establishing specific times, you could set yourself up for additional pressure, so be careful. Always approach writing as what you want to be doing right now, not something you have to be doing.

There are always opportunities to have extra time to write. Evenings when on travel are much better used writing than drinking, unless you are in sales. Take a lap top computer with you when ever your kids have activities. Take that lap top when shopping with your wife, especially at specialty stores that provide chairs for husbands. Sorry, I don’t have advice for our female readers, men’s shopping locations don’t usually have seating areas.

As far as setting a writing pace, this can be a good thing. Set your pace for an appropriate time scale. Look at a weekly rate, not daily or hourly. It is just like tracking your weight, checking too often will just get you twisted up with the numbers. If you have a bad day, you will eventually have a good day. When you are on a role, try not to stop. Staying up late is not a bad thing as long as it is productive. If you get all of your ideas down, you will sleep better.

Another way to keep your writing pace, don’t get tied down by a single story. If you get bogged down, start something else or try to go back to something you have put on hold. If you have having that much trouble, the creative juices for that story line have dried up. Let it go and the well will refill. Sometimes even just writing gibberish can help, odd but true. Try just writing down what you are currently hearing, like the conversation at the next table at the coffee shop. If you don’t have conversations around you, write descriptions of what is in your field of view. All of these efforts are to distract you from your block while keeping you writing.

Remember that all ideas are good, some are just better than others. The best way to keep your writing pace up is to keep writing. The goal is, of course, to complete the stories that are floating around in your head. The first step to reaching that goal is to get as many of the ideas down on paper (or in the computer) as possible. Do the math. If you don’t write anything, your pace is zero. Anything you write will be beneficial, even if you cannot see that benefit right now. Try your best and remember to

–KEEP WRITING–

What do you really want to write? That is the first question that any author has to address. Are you into short stories, poems, novels, essays? All of the various forms of written expression have deferent demands. The poet seems to be the most unique of all authors. Poetry within itself can tell a story, paint a picture and fulfill a structure, but that is the same for all writing. The work you choose does not define you, you define the work. Anything you put to pen (or these days to keyboard) is your creation, your will causes it to exist.

I have always concentrated on novels. The longer story allows me the freedom to paint pictures of the world that my characters live in. For me, it is describing a dream, and in fact I have dreamt many of the images that I write. The topic you choose may drive the type of writing you attempt. Again for me, grand sweeping vistas drive me toward novels. I don’t have the concise and artistic imagery that is required for poetry. I do not have the energy to analyze like the essayist. Some would call these ramblings essays, but they are more opinion pieces that I spew forth in single sittings when the urge hits me. I have attempted short stories, but always return to add more detail, fill in holes, take the story to that next scene.

When someone claims that one form or topic is easier than others, this can only be true for them. Techniques can be shared and are almost always helpful, but seldom in the way intended or expected. For example, I like to write in a continuous narrative, going back over the ‘completed’ sections to verify continuity and right wrongs. I like to read in the same fashion, front to back referencing earlier parts to check up on the author. Others can skip about, writing sections that they later weave into the whole, or reading chapters as they see fit, to keep themselves entertained.

I have recently embarked on my second novel this year. My first was an entry into the National Novel Writing Month (ref NaNoWriMo.org). This new one is just to fulfill the joy that writing has given me. I have been traveling a lot recently, and writing on those lonely evenings in hotels has kept my spirits up and kept my home sickness at bay. My first effort was a romance. I don’t know why, but I got a story in my head about a young man who lost his memory and had to find out who he was. I guess I really wanted to explore how you could learn about someone who knew and loved you when you did not know what was going on. In addition to the romance part, I included a lot about simple farming, which I admit is a fantasy that I will never get to live out.

This second story is also something that has been haunting my dreams. It is a science fiction detective story with a lot of space exploration. Now I am a trained Aerospace Engineer and have worked directly for NASA and for private companies contracted to perform work for NASA. I have worked on both the Space Station and the Space Shuttle. I would even consider several current and former astronauts to be my friends. Every spring I perform a community service by talking to middle school students about the space race of the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

I will admit that at least a kernel of this story was started back when I was in middle school. I found some of my old musings while cleaning out some storage containers. My writing (I believe) is much better now than back then, but the creative ideas are similar.

My suggestion to everyone is, if you get an idea, write it down. It may come to nothing, it may have to be modified so often it looks nothing like the original. But then again, it could be the start you are looking for. You can only write if you start. That first sentence will lead to another. That first paragraph will eventually make sense. That first page will get filled. Don’t throw anything away, in this computer age, just save it away for later. There will be days that you are on fire; 500, 1000, 5000 words. There will be days of nothing. Don’t just sit stewing over it if nothing seems to be brewing. Get up, do something. Clear you mind of writing by concentrating on something else. In this world there is always something to do.

In my latest effort, I have violated the method that I described just a couple of paragraphs ago. I have written two scenes that I will have to weave in. Why did I do this? Because the scenes played out in my mind, I had to write them down. Will they work? I don’t know. I may have to cut them into some special file for use in another effort.

I wrote in an earlier column that the one of the most important things and author needs is a good editor. I stand by that claim. We, each of us, can be the most flattering supporter and cruelest critic of our own work. Most of us underestimate our own worth and the worth of our work. A good editor will polish our writing without claiming it as their own. If you are ever graced with the opportunity to edit for someone else, remember that it is their work, not yours.

This has turned into quite a pep talk. In the end there is only one really good piece of advice for perspective authors. –KEEP WRITING–

Writing a novel is quite an undertaking. Trying to put a deadline on yourself is nearly impossible. I recently participated in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org) which is a world wide competition to simply write a story of at least 50,000 words during the month of November. I succeeded. This success was documented while I was writing. So what is the next stage? Well first, I have to get people I trust and respect to help edit that work. I have heard that the best method is to let a work set for a while to mellow. I disagree, at least for me. I want to have some sort of finish.

I have found my initial editor in my wife. Although she does not write herself, she is an avid reader of every genre. Besides being well read and well educated, she also has no qualms about telling me when I am wrong. Being a writer also requires a thick skin. I do not understand the stories of writers who have all of these demands and how they must be treated with kid gloves. They are just people like anyone else and should behave as such. Of course if I become rich and famous author, this opinion may change.

My next task is to keep writing. The best way to do that is to just jump right back into it. I have not set a new deadline, and I don’t have NaNoWriMo to help me now. I have decided to change my genre completely. My first effort was a romance. It is hard for me to admit that, but the fact cannot be avoided. My new effort is definitely science fiction. I have many more characters with major roles. I am also trying to be much more diverse in the personalities of my characters. I will continue to try to avoid too close of association between my real life relationships and my characters. Some association cannot be avoided. We develop our ideas of self and others through our personal contacts or plagiarism from other sources such as literature, television, radio and plays. The best we can do is avoid direct copying, from life or from other sources.

During my first Endeavour, I had the benefit of being on travel for work with plenty of time in the evenings, plus hours on airplanes, to write. These opportunities are continuing but will not be indefinite. I am trying to force myself to a March deadline. This will correspond with a change of my travel responsibilities will be changing from long term to short term events. I want to use these opportunities to the best of my ability while they last. This column will document how well I stick to my deadline.

This column will be different from my NaNoWriMo day by day story development. Instead, I will concentrate on areas of writing that I am focusing on or struggling with during the week I am reporting on. I have never been a reporter, not even in high school. I have always written in the ‘create’ way, supporting a poetry publication and short story booklet in high school. Each column will be between 500 and 600 words. So for this first installment, I have concentrated on what I plan to do, both with my next work and with this column. Check again for updates in the near future. –KEEP WRITING–

I know that I was brought to this site to primarily discuss the pleasures and stresses of writing, but I am also a man. This article will focus on one of my favorite and most painful pastime, professional football, specifically the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was born in Pittsburgh and am old enough to remember the bad years before Chuck Noll, the Super ‘70s, the dreadful ‘80s, the resurgent ‘90s and the return to super over the last few years.

The collapse that the various talking heads are discussing can be attributed to several things.

Some are claiming that coach Tomlin won Super Bowl XLIII using coach Cowher’s team. In some ways this may be true, but we must remember that essentially the same team had a losing season the last year of coach Cowher’s reign. It will not truly be Tomlin’s team until year five, we are in year three.

Some are suggesting that coach Tomlin has been too easy on the team, especially the veterans. Again, this is partially true. The fans and pundits are going to have to come to the realization that some of the stars on this team are going to retire either at the end of this year or next year (they have all been playing 10 years or more). This exodus will affect the defense somewhat more than the offense as Hampton (NT), Hoke (NT), Smith (DE), Kirschke (DE), Townsend (CB), Carter (SS) and Farrior (ILB) are all approaching the end of their careers. The offense will definitely suffer when Ward (WR) decides he is done. If coach had run these guys though the toughest practices, they would not have made it this far without serious injury.

As we look at what has gone wrong, we can see holes in every facet of the game. There have been more kick returns for touchdowns and yards than any other team. Admittedly, they have faced the best returners in the league (e.g. Cribbs-CLE twice). Continuing with the special teams, the punting is back in line, just coverage has holes. Field goals are solid and kick offs also good, just coverage. My recommendation is to look for free agents that can be better on coverage. The guys we have are good, but not good enough.

Moving to defense, all looks good until the fourth quarter. This can be attributed to injury (e.g. Polamolu), but I believe that the aging core of the defense is a larger factor in the late game collapses. There is also the lack of breaks. This year has seen a drop in the number of tipped balls landing in the hands of the various linebackers, safeties and corners. There has also been a dramatic decline in forced fumbles and as a result fumble recoveries. The team has to really focus on defense on the off season. This will sound odd to most people who follow the game since the Steelers are still rated so high in defense. That rating is misleading, just look at the results after having leads in the fourth quarter.

In addition, it may be time for coach Dick LeBeau to retire. This is sacrilege to most Steelers fans and most pundits. This is not a condemnation of his talents. It is simply a recognition that he has far too many disciples in the ranks of the defensive coaches throughout the league. One of the biggest problems of continuous success is imitation and careful study.

On the offense, most of the blame will rightfully fall on the line. These guys have simply been outclassed for two years now. The staff did little to sure up the line in the off season, by draft or trade. When even the Cleveland Browns can get eight sacks, there is an issue. This is not the only problem. The lack of a running game has forced more passing, giving opponents many more opportunities to get at the quarterback. Mendenhall has recovered nicely from his injury, but does not have the outside speed to keep defenses honest, and Parker simply has not recovered his acceleration since his knee injury two years ago. Moore is not a premier back, although he does make things interesting. I am not suggesting that the backs need to be replaced, they just need to heal. For that matter, Roethlisberger needs to heal as well. The true actions are to find some key players for the line. It may be as simple as one or two players. This can be seen by the dramatic drop of talent with the departure of Alan Faneca after Super Bowl XL.

Now I am done ranting about the failings of the team. Many will accuse me of being a defeatist, but this season is done. No team with a 9 and 7 record will make the playoffs, and the Steelers have three tough games left. My final recommendations are as follows;

1. Sit Ben in favor of Dennis Dixon. I don’t believe that this will result in more wins, it will give Ben a chance to heal and Dennis a chance to get experience for the next time he is needed to step up due to injury or any other reason.
2. Only play Hines in the first half. This will keep him at the top of his game and give him rest. This will also give some of the other receivers more time on the field. Sweed needs to used or dropped. Logan needs more time beyond returns. Wallace has proven he is a starter. These are the guys practicing with Dixon anyway, so give them time, they are the future.
3. Don’t let Troy play until the Miami game. Make him sit and heal, this will be hard since he is such a passionate player. Roll in the back up linebackers from the special teams to get them into the fold. Again, Farrior is coming to the end of his career, the younger guys need the playing time.
4. Put some veterans in for return coverage. Their example can help the younger players maintain their lanes and assignments.

I confess that I have never played the game, nor have I ever coached. I do not expect coaches Tomlin, Arians, or LeBeau to take my recommendations. This is the United States of America. Everyone here has the right to their own opinion, that is the right of free speech. No one has the right to be listened to, so I have to accept what I can not change.

12/1 – I really did a lot of editing before continuing the story.  My wife read the first two chapters and helped out a lot, especially in the female character dialog.  Finished up chapter 39 and chapter 40.  I have the main character working hard at being a good farmer.  He is working with and learning from his father in law.  I took the story to the end of spring and the end of the school semester.  The friends of the main characters have their baby as the last line of the chapter.

12/2 – worked on chapters 41 and 42.  The main character is really pushing for a child of his own.  The wife is not exactly against the idea, but needs some convincing.  Both characters have a lot of things going on in their lives.  In Chapter 41, the priest has a heart attach and they go to visit him.  In Chapter 42, there is an end of summer party that reunites many of the characters.  I wanted to get them all in the same place to compare and contrast the choices that they have made and their successes and failures.

I am getting in a lot of writing because I have to wait up each night for my daughter to come home.  She is only 17 and works retail.  Her hours are late because it is the Christmas season.  I think I will be done with the bulk of the writing tomorrow, then starts the hardest task, editing.  Just from what I have done myself and the one day my wife looked at it, editors are worth their weight in gold.

12/3 – DONE!  I finished just before midnight.  Three chapters.  Apparently I had two chapter 32s and missed chapter 35 so some of my previous entries may have missed parts of the story, or duplicated, I don’t know which.  I found out when I created a table of contents.  That is a very useful tool in Microsoft Word.  The final word count is just over 68,000 words.  It is really weird to have all of these ideas written down.  I have copied it to several computers and on two memory sticks.  I don’t want to lose it now that I am done.

The story reaches may peaks in these last few chapters.  The main characters decide to go ahead and try to get pregnant.  The main character’s wife goes off to a state school for college, it is close enough to drive to.  The priest passes away, this is not necessarily a bad event, just sad because they have lost a friend and counselor.  The main characters find out that the accident was not his fault, the other driver fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the median.  She gets pregnant and gives birth.  The final chapter is only three sentences long.  I think it wraps up the story very nicely, but the community will have to wait for the editing to be completed.  I want to leave some of it in suspense!

Writing these articles has almost been as much fun as writing the story.  It was a romance in the end.  My next effort will start next week as I travel again.  I am thinking Science Fiction this time.  Less dialog, more action and no need for sex scenes unless there is alien sex like in Star Trek.  Kosmo has invited me to continue with a weekly input.  I have agreed.  It will mostly focus on the joys and stresses of writing, although I will sometimes wax poetic on other topics.  I hope all of you have enjoyed and will continue to read my musings.  Thank you.