Bill Conrad's Blog, page 17
October 12, 2022
Used To Be Acceptable
Humans have evolved over millions of years, but along the way, there have been mistakes. One unfortunate “improvement” was disrespecting a segment of our society. For example, applying uncomplimentary names to different races, creeds, or sexual orientations. These slurs used to be acceptable in everyday conversation, literature, and media.
The good news is that most people in our society are now educated enough to recognize uncomplimentary terms, and we no longer tolerate them. However, there are a few problems left to iron out.
How do we deal with older books or movies with material we now consider offensive? Some people wish to keep these “classic” works available because they are “examples of how we used to be.” Others want these works to be edited to modern standards, and others wish these works to be destroyed. Offensive material presents problems for school districts, libraries, content holders, and bookstores who must decide what books to keep in circulation.
Let’s examine the three options. The novel Huckleberry Finn contains disrespectful content and is still in circulation without edits. However, some organizations use copies with a disclaimer/warning to prepare readers. Other organizations choose not to make this work available.
The Hardy Boys books used to contain racially insensitive scenes, characters, and dialog. The first book came out in 1927, and the entire series was re-released in the ‘50s with edits to remove disrespectful material. But by the ‘90s, it was time for another refresh, and more material got removed. However, many libraries continue to ban these popular books because of their disrespectful past.
In the ‘20s through ‘50s, several grossly insensitive films were released. I am sure there are a few examples in film vaults, but most were discarded. Today, it is impossible to find conversions of these insensitive works on DVD or other media. Even documentaries that examine this offensive subject have difficulties locating examples.
There is another problem. How do writers create characters, descriptions, or scenes set in the past? Do we use outdated methods for historical accuracy? Or take a lighter approach by tastefully (respectfully) acknowledging improper treatment? Another option is to close our eyes to the awful past and write to modern standards. It is a tough call, and writers must make a choice.
Some bold writers choose to create works with disrespectful material. They feel their material is more historically accurate, shocking, educating, and eye-opening. Some readers/viewers enjoy such works, and others feel writers are capitalizing on prior poor treatment of people.
I do not enjoy such works. Does this mean I am ignoring the past? (Turning a blind eye to suffering.) I know well that people were treated poorly. Yet, I agree some people need “a good smack of reality to get them on the better path.” And important stories must be told “in the raw” to make society not repeat prior mistakes. Still, this material makes me want to yell, “You (people in the past) should know better!”
There is another elephant in the room. Society enjoys bold works, and timid authors are relegated to poverty. Does this mean that fearless writers profit from the awful things that occurred in the past? Umm, sometimes they do. Bummer. Well, this is not a great way to end a blog. However, there is still some good news. Remember at the beginning of this blog? Society is getting better.
The good news is that most people in our society are now educated enough to recognize uncomplimentary terms, and we no longer tolerate them. However, there are a few problems left to iron out.
How do we deal with older books or movies with material we now consider offensive? Some people wish to keep these “classic” works available because they are “examples of how we used to be.” Others want these works to be edited to modern standards, and others wish these works to be destroyed. Offensive material presents problems for school districts, libraries, content holders, and bookstores who must decide what books to keep in circulation.
Let’s examine the three options. The novel Huckleberry Finn contains disrespectful content and is still in circulation without edits. However, some organizations use copies with a disclaimer/warning to prepare readers. Other organizations choose not to make this work available.
The Hardy Boys books used to contain racially insensitive scenes, characters, and dialog. The first book came out in 1927, and the entire series was re-released in the ‘50s with edits to remove disrespectful material. But by the ‘90s, it was time for another refresh, and more material got removed. However, many libraries continue to ban these popular books because of their disrespectful past.
In the ‘20s through ‘50s, several grossly insensitive films were released. I am sure there are a few examples in film vaults, but most were discarded. Today, it is impossible to find conversions of these insensitive works on DVD or other media. Even documentaries that examine this offensive subject have difficulties locating examples.
There is another problem. How do writers create characters, descriptions, or scenes set in the past? Do we use outdated methods for historical accuracy? Or take a lighter approach by tastefully (respectfully) acknowledging improper treatment? Another option is to close our eyes to the awful past and write to modern standards. It is a tough call, and writers must make a choice.
Some bold writers choose to create works with disrespectful material. They feel their material is more historically accurate, shocking, educating, and eye-opening. Some readers/viewers enjoy such works, and others feel writers are capitalizing on prior poor treatment of people.
I do not enjoy such works. Does this mean I am ignoring the past? (Turning a blind eye to suffering.) I know well that people were treated poorly. Yet, I agree some people need “a good smack of reality to get them on the better path.” And important stories must be told “in the raw” to make society not repeat prior mistakes. Still, this material makes me want to yell, “You (people in the past) should know better!”
There is another elephant in the room. Society enjoys bold works, and timid authors are relegated to poverty. Does this mean that fearless writers profit from the awful things that occurred in the past? Umm, sometimes they do. Bummer. Well, this is not a great way to end a blog. However, there is still some good news. Remember at the beginning of this blog? Society is getting better.
October 5, 2022
Too Smart for Ourselves
Ten years ago, I worked for a company with a documentation process that required a multi-colored paper form. The top sheet had to be "goldenrod" (orange), and that obscure color name is now burned into my mind. The person who came up with this system was very proud of their creation and here is how it worked.
1) Complete standard form on computer.
2) Fill the group (used by everybody in the office) printer with colored paper in order. (Piles of colored paper were conveniently near the group printer.)
3) Print the document and staple it together.
4) Submit document
5) The document gets reviewed and signed.
6) Separate pages, and BAM! All the goldenrod pages are neatly placed on top of one glorious pile.
7) Because they are different colors, this last step was super easy, which was the only advantage of this absurd process.
Of course, every other time I printed a document on the group printer, I ended up with at least one colored page. So, what happened when we ran out of one paper color? Yes, the entire documentation process ground to a dead stop.
As a result, I had to make a suggestion. "Let’s buy five inexpensive printers and load each one up with one paper color.” While sounding silly, it was a brilliant solution and would have saved time and money. You know what happened. My suggestion exposed the awful system, and they did not buy cheap printers.
What happened? Sometimes, we are too smart for ourselves. We can overthink a situation, fix something that is not broken, create an extra step or “go the extra mile” after the finish line.
Do authors do this? Sure. I can recall being too smart for myself in my third book. I wrote up a fantastic description of how an insurance company launders illegally obtained money. I even created two slick graphics to explain the complex process. The problem was that this excellent description had nothing to do with the plot, and its presence brought the action to a dead stop. Fortunately, I saw the problem and deleted four pages. Nice!
Writers create endless descriptions and use flowery language to sound important. Another mistake is intentionally leaving out details (to create suspense) or trick readers. However, the actual mark of being too smart for ourselves is writing a complicated plot. Some readers like to unravel complex mysteries, crimes, and dramas. However, ordinary books require a spoon-fed plot because we have endless entertainment options (YouTube has 800 million videos), and a challenging plot requires too much mental effort.
Creating something too complex is an easy trap to fall into. The writer thinks for hours (sometimes years) about the plot. They know every twist and what the characters are feeling. The plot gets more complex as the pages go by, and a writer is forced to wrap things up on the last page.
The writer is proud of their complex creation and scorns readers who cannot see the brilliance of their creation. The same was true of the person who created the multi-colored form. “It’s not that big of a deal to occasionally print colored pages. Just reprint it!” An author might say, “Of course, I did not explain why the main character fell in love. If you had taken the time to read chapter 45, the mother admits that her son did not like strawberries. See! It’s right there!” Apparently, readers are required to read minds.
How often does this occur? Five percent of the books I read had intentional problems. Some books are famous for unnecessary complexity, such as Shakespeare writing in prose. Confused the heck out of me when I read it in college. Fortunately, my blogs are straightforward. At least, I hope they are.
1) Complete standard form on computer.
2) Fill the group (used by everybody in the office) printer with colored paper in order. (Piles of colored paper were conveniently near the group printer.)
3) Print the document and staple it together.
4) Submit document
5) The document gets reviewed and signed.
6) Separate pages, and BAM! All the goldenrod pages are neatly placed on top of one glorious pile.
7) Because they are different colors, this last step was super easy, which was the only advantage of this absurd process.
Of course, every other time I printed a document on the group printer, I ended up with at least one colored page. So, what happened when we ran out of one paper color? Yes, the entire documentation process ground to a dead stop.
As a result, I had to make a suggestion. "Let’s buy five inexpensive printers and load each one up with one paper color.” While sounding silly, it was a brilliant solution and would have saved time and money. You know what happened. My suggestion exposed the awful system, and they did not buy cheap printers.
What happened? Sometimes, we are too smart for ourselves. We can overthink a situation, fix something that is not broken, create an extra step or “go the extra mile” after the finish line.
Do authors do this? Sure. I can recall being too smart for myself in my third book. I wrote up a fantastic description of how an insurance company launders illegally obtained money. I even created two slick graphics to explain the complex process. The problem was that this excellent description had nothing to do with the plot, and its presence brought the action to a dead stop. Fortunately, I saw the problem and deleted four pages. Nice!
Writers create endless descriptions and use flowery language to sound important. Another mistake is intentionally leaving out details (to create suspense) or trick readers. However, the actual mark of being too smart for ourselves is writing a complicated plot. Some readers like to unravel complex mysteries, crimes, and dramas. However, ordinary books require a spoon-fed plot because we have endless entertainment options (YouTube has 800 million videos), and a challenging plot requires too much mental effort.
Creating something too complex is an easy trap to fall into. The writer thinks for hours (sometimes years) about the plot. They know every twist and what the characters are feeling. The plot gets more complex as the pages go by, and a writer is forced to wrap things up on the last page.
The writer is proud of their complex creation and scorns readers who cannot see the brilliance of their creation. The same was true of the person who created the multi-colored form. “It’s not that big of a deal to occasionally print colored pages. Just reprint it!” An author might say, “Of course, I did not explain why the main character fell in love. If you had taken the time to read chapter 45, the mother admits that her son did not like strawberries. See! It’s right there!” Apparently, readers are required to read minds.
How often does this occur? Five percent of the books I read had intentional problems. Some books are famous for unnecessary complexity, such as Shakespeare writing in prose. Confused the heck out of me when I read it in college. Fortunately, my blogs are straightforward. At least, I hope they are.
September 28, 2022
Lofty Audio
Golf is the most over-accessorized creation in human history. A well-financed player can spend a hundred thousand on a single golf club. So what do players really need? Four clubs (wood, driver, putter, wedge), balls and golf tees. Absolutely nothing else!
Wait, wait, wait! Players REQUIRE special golf shoes, 25 clubs, custom golf bag, monogrammed golf shirt, signature golf tees, performance golf cart, distance scope, wind speed meter, personal trainers, putting simulator, trainer clubs, golf sunglasses, a monogrammed towel to wipe off clubs….
What is the second most over-accessorized creation? High-end audio equipment. For example, while researching this blog, I came across a company called Audioquest. They make cables that connect amplifiers to speakers. What is the cost of two 20-foot speaker cables? $49,900!!! Do they double as jumper cables for a NASA rocket?
https://www.suncoastaudio.com/product...
On a side note, I am an electrical engineer and can technically answer this question. What are the advantages of a $50,000 cable versus a $20 cable? There is a barely detectable difference that can be viewed with sophisticated equipment. Can an audiophile (fancy word for audio connoisseur) hear the difference? The technical (verified with blind studies) answer is defiantly no, but the “real answer” is "yes" and that will be the subject of this blog.
In order to evaluate two cables, engineers would use calibrated audio test equipment and terms like the voltage, amperage, loss, slew rate, frequency response, and impedance. These terms would assist a person in making choices on high-end audio equipment. So, one would expect to find such technical terms in a review. Right? Well, no. In fact, technical terms never appear.
The problem with these terms is that they would reveal the truth and are boring. Plus, the proper focus of high-end equipment is appearance. Audiophiles develop a new method (cult) of writing a "technical" review to get around this problem. The audiophile review! And wow, audiophiles are impressive/delusional writers. Let's look at three reviews.
The first is a review of Audioquest "Chicago" cables.
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/audi...
"In our system, the Chicago conveys the bluesy instrumental in Melody Gardot's Amalia with decent helpings of solidity and refinement. The cello strings and 'humming' have body and substance in what is a nicely focused and present soundstage, while the shakers and delicate strumming that come in beneath her well-focused vocal all manifest with decent clarity."
All manifest with decent clarity? Technically, this means… Nothing!
The audio company Pear is famous for outrageously expensive cables.
https://www.audioresurgence.com/2014/...
"On the Martin Best Ensemble disc, the Bosc had a very good lateral spread, with good body to voices and to drums. The performers also seemed more upfront in soundstage presentation. As before there was a hint of a confused, "glarey" quality in louder and more complex passages. Martin Best's voice would occasionally sound a hair thinner, flatter, and grainier than it did through the Nirvanas (which, I feel compelled to remind you, cost over six times as much). I might add that the Bosc gave the drums more of a "thwack sound." By comparison, the Nirvana cables gave the drums a slightly rounder, fuller sound. The Nirvanas were also better at disentangling the congestion in the louder, more complex sections. Also the SLs seemed a tad smoother in the upper mid-range and trebles. Mr. Best's voice sounded smoother also, with more roundness and body to it. Finally the microdynamics through the Nirvana cables seemed more refined, and the soundspace felt deeper."
Gave the drums more of a "thwack sound." Wow! It blows my mind to read these creative descriptions. The writer must have thought for hours about non-audio terms. Is this poetry? Is this marketing? Is this writing done on acid? I would consider it delusional thinking of the same type when a drug dealer gets high on their own supply.
“microdynamics” “soundspace” Wow, sounds super technical, but those “terms” are not real words.
https://www.dictionary.com/misspellin...
https://www.dictionary.com/misspellin...
Here is an amplifier review:
https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2021/0...
“Similar to other modern tube amplifier designs, the McIntosh Labs MC1502 didn't scream TUBE SOUND. Yet there was something more than an invisible exercise in total linearity. Before listening, I expected it to sound super-rich in that classic tube amp way. Not really. I assumed some kind of larger-than-life slam to the bass. Nah, although when the music got big and tonally rich the Mac was right there for every bit of it. When the music had gobs of subs, again, all was revealed. It was almost like the Mac is stealthily waiting for its prey to appear, then effortlessly springing into action without calling attention to itself.”
An amplifier is "stealthily waiting for its prey to appear?" Simply incredible. Do electronics actually wait for their prey to appear? Perhaps an electronic mousetrap. If you click on the review, the amplifier looks like a mousetrap. This might fit.
“larger-than-life slam” Perhaps this is the noise from dropping an expensive amplifier.
There is endless proof that "audiophile grade" equipment is not superior to standard equipment. A classic example occurred in 2011 when the audio company Denon came out with this $10,000 ethernet cable:
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-De...
Somebody purchased the cable, opened it, and found a $2 ethernet cable inside. First, they posted a scathing review, and then people posted hilarious reviews lambasting this “quality” product on Amazon. (You can find them in the above link). Here is one:
"I am writing this warning from within my study, sitting at my great oaken desk, surrounded by my library of esoteric volumes. A loaded revolver sits in my lap. I don't have much time and I can hear the dull pounding in the den growing louder with each keystroke. Where do I begin? Last week I was browsing the web, searching for a very old book on pagan rituals in the south seas, when I accidentally stumbled upon this cable .... this accursed two-headed serpent from the deepest hell! I thought, "Hmmm, I could use a really nice cable to connect my new Denon AVR-3805 mega-receiver with my new Denon DNC680 Professional Rack Mounted CD Player... sweet". So, without blinking an eye, without another moment's thought, I hit the "Buy now with 1-click" and then continued on my hunt for the elusive tome. Trust me, gentle reader, I had no idea at the time that some evil hand was contriving to change the course of my life and possibly the human race itself."
Which is better? Gave the drums more of a "thwack sound." Or "I did not know at the time that some evil hand was contriving to change the course of my life."
Audiophiles have a deep connection to their delusional beliefs, and this makes me chuckle as I put aside my engineering mind. I think these reviews should be for fine art or artisan food and not electrical equipment. What is the difference between one cake and another? One had a more frosted taste with a whiff of caramel essence. No details like calories or salt content would ever be in that review.
In closing this blog, I encourage my four readers to read a few audio reviews. They are as funny as they are tragic. "A fool and their money are soon separated."
Wait, wait, wait! Players REQUIRE special golf shoes, 25 clubs, custom golf bag, monogrammed golf shirt, signature golf tees, performance golf cart, distance scope, wind speed meter, personal trainers, putting simulator, trainer clubs, golf sunglasses, a monogrammed towel to wipe off clubs….
What is the second most over-accessorized creation? High-end audio equipment. For example, while researching this blog, I came across a company called Audioquest. They make cables that connect amplifiers to speakers. What is the cost of two 20-foot speaker cables? $49,900!!! Do they double as jumper cables for a NASA rocket?
https://www.suncoastaudio.com/product...
On a side note, I am an electrical engineer and can technically answer this question. What are the advantages of a $50,000 cable versus a $20 cable? There is a barely detectable difference that can be viewed with sophisticated equipment. Can an audiophile (fancy word for audio connoisseur) hear the difference? The technical (verified with blind studies) answer is defiantly no, but the “real answer” is "yes" and that will be the subject of this blog.
In order to evaluate two cables, engineers would use calibrated audio test equipment and terms like the voltage, amperage, loss, slew rate, frequency response, and impedance. These terms would assist a person in making choices on high-end audio equipment. So, one would expect to find such technical terms in a review. Right? Well, no. In fact, technical terms never appear.
The problem with these terms is that they would reveal the truth and are boring. Plus, the proper focus of high-end equipment is appearance. Audiophiles develop a new method (cult) of writing a "technical" review to get around this problem. The audiophile review! And wow, audiophiles are impressive/delusional writers. Let's look at three reviews.
The first is a review of Audioquest "Chicago" cables.
https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/audi...
"In our system, the Chicago conveys the bluesy instrumental in Melody Gardot's Amalia with decent helpings of solidity and refinement. The cello strings and 'humming' have body and substance in what is a nicely focused and present soundstage, while the shakers and delicate strumming that come in beneath her well-focused vocal all manifest with decent clarity."
All manifest with decent clarity? Technically, this means… Nothing!
The audio company Pear is famous for outrageously expensive cables.
https://www.audioresurgence.com/2014/...
"On the Martin Best Ensemble disc, the Bosc had a very good lateral spread, with good body to voices and to drums. The performers also seemed more upfront in soundstage presentation. As before there was a hint of a confused, "glarey" quality in louder and more complex passages. Martin Best's voice would occasionally sound a hair thinner, flatter, and grainier than it did through the Nirvanas (which, I feel compelled to remind you, cost over six times as much). I might add that the Bosc gave the drums more of a "thwack sound." By comparison, the Nirvana cables gave the drums a slightly rounder, fuller sound. The Nirvanas were also better at disentangling the congestion in the louder, more complex sections. Also the SLs seemed a tad smoother in the upper mid-range and trebles. Mr. Best's voice sounded smoother also, with more roundness and body to it. Finally the microdynamics through the Nirvana cables seemed more refined, and the soundspace felt deeper."
Gave the drums more of a "thwack sound." Wow! It blows my mind to read these creative descriptions. The writer must have thought for hours about non-audio terms. Is this poetry? Is this marketing? Is this writing done on acid? I would consider it delusional thinking of the same type when a drug dealer gets high on their own supply.
“microdynamics” “soundspace” Wow, sounds super technical, but those “terms” are not real words.
https://www.dictionary.com/misspellin...
https://www.dictionary.com/misspellin...
Here is an amplifier review:
https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2021/0...
“Similar to other modern tube amplifier designs, the McIntosh Labs MC1502 didn't scream TUBE SOUND. Yet there was something more than an invisible exercise in total linearity. Before listening, I expected it to sound super-rich in that classic tube amp way. Not really. I assumed some kind of larger-than-life slam to the bass. Nah, although when the music got big and tonally rich the Mac was right there for every bit of it. When the music had gobs of subs, again, all was revealed. It was almost like the Mac is stealthily waiting for its prey to appear, then effortlessly springing into action without calling attention to itself.”
An amplifier is "stealthily waiting for its prey to appear?" Simply incredible. Do electronics actually wait for their prey to appear? Perhaps an electronic mousetrap. If you click on the review, the amplifier looks like a mousetrap. This might fit.
“larger-than-life slam” Perhaps this is the noise from dropping an expensive amplifier.
There is endless proof that "audiophile grade" equipment is not superior to standard equipment. A classic example occurred in 2011 when the audio company Denon came out with this $10,000 ethernet cable:
https://www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-De...
Somebody purchased the cable, opened it, and found a $2 ethernet cable inside. First, they posted a scathing review, and then people posted hilarious reviews lambasting this “quality” product on Amazon. (You can find them in the above link). Here is one:
"I am writing this warning from within my study, sitting at my great oaken desk, surrounded by my library of esoteric volumes. A loaded revolver sits in my lap. I don't have much time and I can hear the dull pounding in the den growing louder with each keystroke. Where do I begin? Last week I was browsing the web, searching for a very old book on pagan rituals in the south seas, when I accidentally stumbled upon this cable .... this accursed two-headed serpent from the deepest hell! I thought, "Hmmm, I could use a really nice cable to connect my new Denon AVR-3805 mega-receiver with my new Denon DNC680 Professional Rack Mounted CD Player... sweet". So, without blinking an eye, without another moment's thought, I hit the "Buy now with 1-click" and then continued on my hunt for the elusive tome. Trust me, gentle reader, I had no idea at the time that some evil hand was contriving to change the course of my life and possibly the human race itself."
Which is better? Gave the drums more of a "thwack sound." Or "I did not know at the time that some evil hand was contriving to change the course of my life."
Audiophiles have a deep connection to their delusional beliefs, and this makes me chuckle as I put aside my engineering mind. I think these reviews should be for fine art or artisan food and not electrical equipment. What is the difference between one cake and another? One had a more frosted taste with a whiff of caramel essence. No details like calories or salt content would ever be in that review.
In closing this blog, I encourage my four readers to read a few audio reviews. They are as funny as they are tragic. "A fool and their money are soon separated."
September 21, 2022
Peanuts
As a young boy, I enjoyed reading Hardy Boys books. This ghost-written series followed two brothers on amateur detective adventures. The appeal to me was simple. Detective teenagers go on adventures? You bet I liked those books, and I imagined myself in the action.
Of course, a large publishing company (like the boy bands of the '90s) carefully designed this series to lure in young readers. What a brilliant concept. And yet, this was not the first time I had fallen victim to a literary work.
Peanuts is a comic strip written by Charles M. Schulz. It follows several youngsters during funny moments. But I did not enjoy the humor as much as the message. Charles hated everything about school! It's awful! Down with school! Go home and play! What a wonderful message for children.
As I loved everything Peanuts, my parents purchased at least 20 comic books and merchandise. I even recall having a Peanuts lunch box. They did not take the anti-school message seriously because I was learning to read, and they encouraged this positive behavior.
Around the age of fifteen, I disliked Peanuts. I had become more serious about education and no longer appreciated school bashing. By age seventeen, I also despised the Hardy Boys books. They were "for kids," and I was "an adult." Does this mean that I had outgrown both series? Yes, yes, it does.
Now, wait a minute. Many adults used to and still enjoy Peanuts. It is possible to take education bashing in jest and appreciate the light-hearted, funny scenes. It's a comic. You know. Fun. And the Hardy Boys books? Why those books were intended for youngsters. They prepared us for adult books. Nothing to see here. Move along.
Yeah, I am still not buying it because I feel like both series doped me. Peanuts took advantage of my early hatred of school right when I needed to see how important education was. And the Hardy Boys books? Perhaps they could have taken a more realistic approach. Life is hard, and people do bad things. Teenagers taking the law into their own hands? Not a message we want for our kids.
Yet… there is another aspect to consider. Part of growing up involves making mistakes and learning from them. Also, we can see our flaws and admit to ourselves (and others) that we have flaws. It is possible to change, improve and no longer enjoy something we used to. That is what growing up is all about.
What about feeling duped? A part of me is still angry. However, I need to remember that I learned from my mistake. Plus, I learned how to read. So perhaps discussing one's mistake adds additional value. Thanks, four blog readers, for helping me to learn about myself!
Of course, a large publishing company (like the boy bands of the '90s) carefully designed this series to lure in young readers. What a brilliant concept. And yet, this was not the first time I had fallen victim to a literary work.
Peanuts is a comic strip written by Charles M. Schulz. It follows several youngsters during funny moments. But I did not enjoy the humor as much as the message. Charles hated everything about school! It's awful! Down with school! Go home and play! What a wonderful message for children.
As I loved everything Peanuts, my parents purchased at least 20 comic books and merchandise. I even recall having a Peanuts lunch box. They did not take the anti-school message seriously because I was learning to read, and they encouraged this positive behavior.
Around the age of fifteen, I disliked Peanuts. I had become more serious about education and no longer appreciated school bashing. By age seventeen, I also despised the Hardy Boys books. They were "for kids," and I was "an adult." Does this mean that I had outgrown both series? Yes, yes, it does.
Now, wait a minute. Many adults used to and still enjoy Peanuts. It is possible to take education bashing in jest and appreciate the light-hearted, funny scenes. It's a comic. You know. Fun. And the Hardy Boys books? Why those books were intended for youngsters. They prepared us for adult books. Nothing to see here. Move along.
Yeah, I am still not buying it because I feel like both series doped me. Peanuts took advantage of my early hatred of school right when I needed to see how important education was. And the Hardy Boys books? Perhaps they could have taken a more realistic approach. Life is hard, and people do bad things. Teenagers taking the law into their own hands? Not a message we want for our kids.
Yet… there is another aspect to consider. Part of growing up involves making mistakes and learning from them. Also, we can see our flaws and admit to ourselves (and others) that we have flaws. It is possible to change, improve and no longer enjoy something we used to. That is what growing up is all about.
What about feeling duped? A part of me is still angry. However, I need to remember that I learned from my mistake. Plus, I learned how to read. So perhaps discussing one's mistake adds additional value. Thanks, four blog readers, for helping me to learn about myself!
September 14, 2022
Warm Fuzzy
A Warm Fuzzy is a feeling we get when something “looks” or “feels” correct. We could consider this mental ability a superstition, delusion, intuition, fantasy, confidence builder, falsehood, or misconception. Of course, we know warm fuzzies do not exist, but we still use this intuition to get us through the day. A warm fuzzy's biological purpose is to give a person confidence in the absence of logic or reason. “Take the left path.” “Sounds good.”
I recall watching an interview of a committee member deciding which fighter aircraft would become the new F35. Lockheed and Boeing both submitted designs, and Lockheed got the contract. The member commented, “If it looks right, it will fly right, and that Boeing design didn’t look right.” A multi-billion dollar decision based on a warm fuzzy? Yup.
Do characters get warm fuzzies? For example, a character might say, “The left path is giving me a warm fuzzy.” This means the character is confident about their decision based on undescribed or illogical reasons. Yet, an author would never describe the mental warm fuzzy process because readers (while they can relate) cannot follow irrational chaos.
What brought me to this blog topic? I have been working on removing dry rot from my deck, and I needed to decide which task to do next. So, I thought about it and started nailing in boards. As I was hammering away, I thought, “This decision is giving me a warm fuzzy.” More hammering. “Do characters get warm fuzzies?” More hammering. “Hmm. Something to think about.” It is a miracle that I did not smack my hand with the hammer while my mind drifted.
Humans are quirky, funny, and illogical. We actually have a biological “circuit” to provide confidence. And we are smart enough to know this feature exists. Plus, we gave it a cute name. Yet, this esoteric process is too wonky for a character. “Why did the character decide to take the left path?” Readers need information.
Let me explain my thought process for deciding how to end this blog… I cannot. I made the judgment call concluding that I had thoroughly covered this topic. Is there any logic to this process? My process was, “Umm, looks good.” Three edits. “Umm, looks good.” Final edit, grammar check, and one last inspection. “Umm, looks good.” And there you have it. This blog has warm fuzzies.
I recall watching an interview of a committee member deciding which fighter aircraft would become the new F35. Lockheed and Boeing both submitted designs, and Lockheed got the contract. The member commented, “If it looks right, it will fly right, and that Boeing design didn’t look right.” A multi-billion dollar decision based on a warm fuzzy? Yup.
Do characters get warm fuzzies? For example, a character might say, “The left path is giving me a warm fuzzy.” This means the character is confident about their decision based on undescribed or illogical reasons. Yet, an author would never describe the mental warm fuzzy process because readers (while they can relate) cannot follow irrational chaos.
What brought me to this blog topic? I have been working on removing dry rot from my deck, and I needed to decide which task to do next. So, I thought about it and started nailing in boards. As I was hammering away, I thought, “This decision is giving me a warm fuzzy.” More hammering. “Do characters get warm fuzzies?” More hammering. “Hmm. Something to think about.” It is a miracle that I did not smack my hand with the hammer while my mind drifted.
Humans are quirky, funny, and illogical. We actually have a biological “circuit” to provide confidence. And we are smart enough to know this feature exists. Plus, we gave it a cute name. Yet, this esoteric process is too wonky for a character. “Why did the character decide to take the left path?” Readers need information.
Let me explain my thought process for deciding how to end this blog… I cannot. I made the judgment call concluding that I had thoroughly covered this topic. Is there any logic to this process? My process was, “Umm, looks good.” Three edits. “Umm, looks good.” Final edit, grammar check, and one last inspection. “Umm, looks good.” And there you have it. This blog has warm fuzzies.
September 7, 2022
The Best Way to Write Is to Read
Last night, I re-watched one of my favorite movies, “The Manhattan Project,” co-written by Marshall Brickman. It is a fictitious story about a teenager who builds an atomic bomb. Despite being filmed in 1986, the story is still relevant and does not look too dated for a high-tech film.
After the movie, I watched the special features, and Marshall Brickman described writing the movie and provided some advice. It was amazing to learn that he had his own wacky outline process, similar to the flower method.
In the video, he stated, “The best way to write is to read.” I partially agreed with this statement and wanted to explore it as a blog topic. I advise other writers to read at least one hour per day. The primary benefit is improved writing mechanics (grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and flow). A secondary use is to inspire a writer to create, and a third is a source of ideas.
Reading also provides examples of what not to do. When a writer comes across a scene that does not work, has poor dialog, misses plot connections, contains logic errors, and other apparent mistakes, it will help them identify their own writing mistakes. Granted, I have become a jaded reader and now hate when I come across errors.
However, I caution my four blog readers, who might be potential writers, not to get their core ideas from existing books. For example, my third book is a spy novel, and I enjoy the spy novels by Tom Clancy. Why not write a book just like his? After all, my other favorite author, Alex Berenson, has made a career of writing Tom Clancy styled books. True, but Alex’s novels will always live in Tom’s shadows. This limits success and will lead to bad reviews comparing Alex to Tom Clancy. Getting your ideas also limits “dynamic range.” Alright, this might not be the correct term. The goal for any writer is to create something new, which cannot be accomplished by copying.
Primary inspiration should come from your heart and not somebody else’s work. So, does this blog count for my one-hour recommended time? Umm, yup.
After the movie, I watched the special features, and Marshall Brickman described writing the movie and provided some advice. It was amazing to learn that he had his own wacky outline process, similar to the flower method.
In the video, he stated, “The best way to write is to read.” I partially agreed with this statement and wanted to explore it as a blog topic. I advise other writers to read at least one hour per day. The primary benefit is improved writing mechanics (grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and flow). A secondary use is to inspire a writer to create, and a third is a source of ideas.
Reading also provides examples of what not to do. When a writer comes across a scene that does not work, has poor dialog, misses plot connections, contains logic errors, and other apparent mistakes, it will help them identify their own writing mistakes. Granted, I have become a jaded reader and now hate when I come across errors.
However, I caution my four blog readers, who might be potential writers, not to get their core ideas from existing books. For example, my third book is a spy novel, and I enjoy the spy novels by Tom Clancy. Why not write a book just like his? After all, my other favorite author, Alex Berenson, has made a career of writing Tom Clancy styled books. True, but Alex’s novels will always live in Tom’s shadows. This limits success and will lead to bad reviews comparing Alex to Tom Clancy. Getting your ideas also limits “dynamic range.” Alright, this might not be the correct term. The goal for any writer is to create something new, which cannot be accomplished by copying.
Primary inspiration should come from your heart and not somebody else’s work. So, does this blog count for my one-hour recommended time? Umm, yup.
August 31, 2022
Excellent Review
I wanted to share this review of my second book, Pushed to the Edge of Survival:
Wow. This book is a rollercoaster on so many levels. At first, I thought I had this narrative figured out, but midway through, I began to understand the technical genius that author Bill Conrad so artfully employs. We kick off the story following two families, centering on an effervescent fashionista in one, and a reclusive engineer in the other. I refuse to spoil any details, as anyone who reads this book to the end will be very pleasantly surprised. This book becomes morally challenging to read as an immense problem begins to develop between two of the main characters—however, by the middle of the book, I came to appreciate the intense plot device that Bill so cleverly crafted by this dilemma, underneath my very nose. This piece was written in the same way an expert magician works an audience…I was distracted by his sleight of hand, while key events silently unfurled in the background. …By the end of the book, I wanted to cry. Hats off to Bill, who apparently poured a great deal of technical genius into compiling such a memorable story. Count me in for the sequel!
Here is a link to my book:
https://www.amazon.com/Bill-Conrad/e/...
My writing adventure began hoping I could capture this story. To ensure I prepared myself, I wrote another book first to gain experience. That was probably a good call, and I did indeed learn a lot by the time I started my second book.
Reading that review made me feel fantastic about myself. All the hard work, sacrifices, and mistakes finally paid off.
Wow. This book is a rollercoaster on so many levels. At first, I thought I had this narrative figured out, but midway through, I began to understand the technical genius that author Bill Conrad so artfully employs. We kick off the story following two families, centering on an effervescent fashionista in one, and a reclusive engineer in the other. I refuse to spoil any details, as anyone who reads this book to the end will be very pleasantly surprised. This book becomes morally challenging to read as an immense problem begins to develop between two of the main characters—however, by the middle of the book, I came to appreciate the intense plot device that Bill so cleverly crafted by this dilemma, underneath my very nose. This piece was written in the same way an expert magician works an audience…I was distracted by his sleight of hand, while key events silently unfurled in the background. …By the end of the book, I wanted to cry. Hats off to Bill, who apparently poured a great deal of technical genius into compiling such a memorable story. Count me in for the sequel!
Here is a link to my book:
https://www.amazon.com/Bill-Conrad/e/...
My writing adventure began hoping I could capture this story. To ensure I prepared myself, I wrote another book first to gain experience. That was probably a good call, and I did indeed learn a lot by the time I started my second book.
Reading that review made me feel fantastic about myself. All the hard work, sacrifices, and mistakes finally paid off.
August 24, 2022
Dual Themes
Nearly all stories used to be single-themed. They might have been action or romance, but there was no such thing as an action-romance. Times have changed, and writers have stepped up to create multiple story themes. A classic example is the buddy police officer theme. This is where two friends (partners) solve a crime (with lots of action) and have fun along the way. This super popular theme bridges the gap between raw drama (police work) and humor, making the raw drama (crime and suffering) easier to handle. Are buddy police officer themes realistic? Who cares because people like them.
There are a few rules to follow when creating a multi-theme story. The first is to limit the number of themes to two. Readers and viewers only tolerate so much combination.
The second is to balance between the two competing sides. In the buddy police officer theme, for example, the action and friendship would not run too deep. On the other hand, the humor would suffer if the story focused on violent, gritty police drama. The audience or readers might ask, “Why are you laughing at a time like this?"
Writers must also take a high-level view to evaluate the two themes for compatibility. For example, in the buddy police officer theme, it would not be appropriate to have comedy surrounding dead children.
The themes must be complementary and appropriate. But, of course, this means not taking risks. Mystery-western? Mmm, it does not sound good. Comedy-tragedy? Keep going… Science fiction-western? Tried and failed. Dystopian romance? Wow, that is off-target.
Another rule to follow is to keep the themes balanced and consistent. So, they must be present from start to finish. For example, in the buddy police story, it would not work to have a funny first half and an action-paced second half without humor.
There is a crucial distinction between a dual theme and a story that takes turns. For example, a character can go from a dramatic scene to romance, to action, and so on. This would not be a multi-themed combined story but would instead be an unfolding story.
What is an excellent example of a failed dual theme? The dreadful 1984 film Exit to Eden, starring Rosie O'Donnell and Dan Aykroyd, pops up on my list. It was supposed to be a buddy police film where two strait-laced police officers investigate a murder on a sexy fantasy island with hilarious consequences. The primary problem was that they slapped together the themes. The main characters did not bond, the sex/romance was super awkward, and the crime-solving was unrealistic/implausible. If they separated the movie into two (a buddy police film and a sexy fantasy island), then it is likely the two movies would have been good. Yet, I still remember a great quote from the movie, “What is my biggest sexual fantasy? Paint my house.” Did you laugh? I guess you had to sit through a terrible film to appreciate this quote.
I have never tried a dual theme, yet my plots have many elements. My first book contains big thrills, confrontation, and drama. Its sequel is a drama, romance, and travel. My second book is even worse. It contains drama, romance, sci-fi, and survival.
I’m probably deluding myself into thinking that these are not competing themes. My (imagined) distinction is that I did not start off with a single theme. Instead, I had a story that evolved and took an organic approach. Yeah, I am deluded and have taken a deep dive into multiple themes. Fortunately, my blogs stick to one theme.
There are a few rules to follow when creating a multi-theme story. The first is to limit the number of themes to two. Readers and viewers only tolerate so much combination.
The second is to balance between the two competing sides. In the buddy police officer theme, for example, the action and friendship would not run too deep. On the other hand, the humor would suffer if the story focused on violent, gritty police drama. The audience or readers might ask, “Why are you laughing at a time like this?"
Writers must also take a high-level view to evaluate the two themes for compatibility. For example, in the buddy police officer theme, it would not be appropriate to have comedy surrounding dead children.
The themes must be complementary and appropriate. But, of course, this means not taking risks. Mystery-western? Mmm, it does not sound good. Comedy-tragedy? Keep going… Science fiction-western? Tried and failed. Dystopian romance? Wow, that is off-target.
Another rule to follow is to keep the themes balanced and consistent. So, they must be present from start to finish. For example, in the buddy police story, it would not work to have a funny first half and an action-paced second half without humor.
There is a crucial distinction between a dual theme and a story that takes turns. For example, a character can go from a dramatic scene to romance, to action, and so on. This would not be a multi-themed combined story but would instead be an unfolding story.
What is an excellent example of a failed dual theme? The dreadful 1984 film Exit to Eden, starring Rosie O'Donnell and Dan Aykroyd, pops up on my list. It was supposed to be a buddy police film where two strait-laced police officers investigate a murder on a sexy fantasy island with hilarious consequences. The primary problem was that they slapped together the themes. The main characters did not bond, the sex/romance was super awkward, and the crime-solving was unrealistic/implausible. If they separated the movie into two (a buddy police film and a sexy fantasy island), then it is likely the two movies would have been good. Yet, I still remember a great quote from the movie, “What is my biggest sexual fantasy? Paint my house.” Did you laugh? I guess you had to sit through a terrible film to appreciate this quote.
I have never tried a dual theme, yet my plots have many elements. My first book contains big thrills, confrontation, and drama. Its sequel is a drama, romance, and travel. My second book is even worse. It contains drama, romance, sci-fi, and survival.
I’m probably deluding myself into thinking that these are not competing themes. My (imagined) distinction is that I did not start off with a single theme. Instead, I had a story that evolved and took an organic approach. Yeah, I am deluded and have taken a deep dive into multiple themes. Fortunately, my blogs stick to one theme.
August 17, 2022
Pride Is Bad
What is the light side of pride? That's when we work hard on something or are proud of our accomplishments. However, I wanted to focus on the darker side of pride. What is this? Let's start by defining what pride is not. A person does not do something because they have pride. Instead, they do not do something. A good example is not apologizing because we would have to face a person and admit fault. Taking this a step further, one would never say, "I hit you because I have pride."
We fill our lives with pride-motivated decisions, and these are not our proudest moments, but a person cannot be perfect. Dark pride is illogical, immoral, and often insulting. It holds us back, gets us into trouble, and makes others think less about us. But we have pride and still make those decisions.
There is another problem with dark pride that I wanted to write about. It makes a terrible story motivation. This is true of fiction and nonfiction. Let's make an easy example. While driving home, Tom is sleepy and accidentally dents his neighbor's car. The dent is small and will not cost much to repair. Tom can easily afford to fix the damage, but he remains silent about the incident. Why? He would have to face his neighbor and admit fault.
We all understand what is going on, and want to yell, HEY TOM, MAN UP! Just walk over, take responsibility, pay for the small dent, and all will be forgiven. But does Tom have a defect? Is he secretly a gambler and has no money? There must be a reason for his actions.
And there is the problem. A character must have an explained reason for actions. It is wrong to hope that readers will make the leap to pride. "Everybody understands what's going on. Why I did the same thing last week." Readers might think, "Oh, I get it. In the next chapter, Tom is going to go crazy." And when Tom does not go crazy, the readers will get angry. And remember that Tom is not crazy, yet pride is illogical.
There is some good news. I have come up with a trick to explain this common occurrence. I use the word "pride" to explain a character's motivation. "Tom crashed his car into his neighbor's car. The next day, he had too much pride to admit his mistake." That small addition is all that is necessary.
Yet, I have read many books where I did not understand the motivation behind a character's actions. I recall one book set in a fictitious world where two factions went to war. Why? One day, the leader simply declared war. Completely confusing. And I know people do all kinds of crazy things. Like going to war and then not retreating when victory is hopeless…
I have pride in my blogs. It is fun to write something, see the result and get reactions. But I never want my four blog readers to be stuck guessing because that would miss the point.
We fill our lives with pride-motivated decisions, and these are not our proudest moments, but a person cannot be perfect. Dark pride is illogical, immoral, and often insulting. It holds us back, gets us into trouble, and makes others think less about us. But we have pride and still make those decisions.
There is another problem with dark pride that I wanted to write about. It makes a terrible story motivation. This is true of fiction and nonfiction. Let's make an easy example. While driving home, Tom is sleepy and accidentally dents his neighbor's car. The dent is small and will not cost much to repair. Tom can easily afford to fix the damage, but he remains silent about the incident. Why? He would have to face his neighbor and admit fault.
We all understand what is going on, and want to yell, HEY TOM, MAN UP! Just walk over, take responsibility, pay for the small dent, and all will be forgiven. But does Tom have a defect? Is he secretly a gambler and has no money? There must be a reason for his actions.
And there is the problem. A character must have an explained reason for actions. It is wrong to hope that readers will make the leap to pride. "Everybody understands what's going on. Why I did the same thing last week." Readers might think, "Oh, I get it. In the next chapter, Tom is going to go crazy." And when Tom does not go crazy, the readers will get angry. And remember that Tom is not crazy, yet pride is illogical.
There is some good news. I have come up with a trick to explain this common occurrence. I use the word "pride" to explain a character's motivation. "Tom crashed his car into his neighbor's car. The next day, he had too much pride to admit his mistake." That small addition is all that is necessary.
Yet, I have read many books where I did not understand the motivation behind a character's actions. I recall one book set in a fictitious world where two factions went to war. Why? One day, the leader simply declared war. Completely confusing. And I know people do all kinds of crazy things. Like going to war and then not retreating when victory is hopeless…
I have pride in my blogs. It is fun to write something, see the result and get reactions. But I never want my four blog readers to be stuck guessing because that would miss the point.
August 10, 2022
Plot Holes
I recently watched the Disney movie Lightyear, which is a prequel to the Toy Story movies. It got dreadful reviews from both fans and critics. Yet, I still (mostly) enjoyed the film. What was the source of negative waves? The story depended on complex space (physics) concepts, and the movie did not correctly tie into the previous films. Oh, and that minor issue. It did not use the original Buzz Lightyear voice, Tim Allen! What the heck! That was a big mistake.
When I watched the movie, these issues did not upset me (except the wrong voice!), but a glaring problem annoyed me. Since I began my writing adventure, I have become more observant (critical) of plots. In one pivotal Lightyear scene, the commander canceled the flight program (the main plot) with a poor explanation. “I like laser shields.” This giant, poorly framed decision forced Buzz Lightyear to take reckless actions and was supposed to be funny. Unfortunately, this left the viewers asking, “Why did you do that?” The answer is that the writer made a choice (in their mind, reasonable) to make an entertaining movie. Not a brilliant move.
Such glaring story faults are called “plot holes.” A classic glaring example occurred in the Lord of the Rings movie. This epic trilogy follows a long journey where the heroes encounter many adventures. However, viewers point out that at the story's beginning, the characters could have simply flown on top of the eagles to their final destination (saving 6 hours of movie watching). The reason is partially explained in the book, but there is still a plot hole.
Am I guilty of writing plot holes? So far, I have not discovered a large plot hole, but yes, I have intentionally made a few. My biggest occurred in my third book (which is moments away from going on sale!). The heroes spray “knockout gas” into a building air conditioner intake to disable the bad guys. This is the plot apex and a critical point in the action. I know there is no such thing as knockout gas like you see in the movies. While the book explains the existence of “knockout gas,” that is not the primary issue. Most readers know that building air conditioning systems do not have open air intakes. Oops.
When writing the book, I was aware of this flaw, but I continued with the full knowledge that readers may dislike this plot hole. Why did I make this reckless choice? At the time I started, I was unfamiliar with outlines. This tool would have allowed me to see the big picture. Thus, I would have been able to see the problem in advance, evaluate the impact, and then determine a more realistic solution.
However, let us remind ourselves that life is not always realistic. People often make silly, un-logical, stupid, intentionally wrong, vindictive, or random decisions.
For example, a company I used to work for closed down an entire division (costing the company money) because the division did not make enough profit. They were about to release a new technology that customers were ready to buy. So… the division was making money and was about to make a lot more money. Plus, they had to pay even more money to shut the division down. How about selling the division (profit) or spinning it off (long-term profit without effort)? Nah!
This was an actual event that cost several people their jobs as opposed to a fictional story. Now, a bunch of imaginary eagles not flying passengers does not seem noteworthy. Yet moviegoers still complained.
Sometimes, writers get stuck in a corner. I knew that using an imaginary air vent was risky, but still took it. Now, with more experience, I would have been able to see the issue in advance and correct it.
Do my blogs contain plot holes? Fortunately, blogs do not have a plot. Instead, they contain something even better! Mistakes, oversights, poor continuity, lack of content, missed references, inconsistencies, incomplete thoughts, unnecessary (or lack of) explanations, vague connections, logical faults, and abrupt endings.
When I watched the movie, these issues did not upset me (except the wrong voice!), but a glaring problem annoyed me. Since I began my writing adventure, I have become more observant (critical) of plots. In one pivotal Lightyear scene, the commander canceled the flight program (the main plot) with a poor explanation. “I like laser shields.” This giant, poorly framed decision forced Buzz Lightyear to take reckless actions and was supposed to be funny. Unfortunately, this left the viewers asking, “Why did you do that?” The answer is that the writer made a choice (in their mind, reasonable) to make an entertaining movie. Not a brilliant move.
Such glaring story faults are called “plot holes.” A classic glaring example occurred in the Lord of the Rings movie. This epic trilogy follows a long journey where the heroes encounter many adventures. However, viewers point out that at the story's beginning, the characters could have simply flown on top of the eagles to their final destination (saving 6 hours of movie watching). The reason is partially explained in the book, but there is still a plot hole.
Am I guilty of writing plot holes? So far, I have not discovered a large plot hole, but yes, I have intentionally made a few. My biggest occurred in my third book (which is moments away from going on sale!). The heroes spray “knockout gas” into a building air conditioner intake to disable the bad guys. This is the plot apex and a critical point in the action. I know there is no such thing as knockout gas like you see in the movies. While the book explains the existence of “knockout gas,” that is not the primary issue. Most readers know that building air conditioning systems do not have open air intakes. Oops.
When writing the book, I was aware of this flaw, but I continued with the full knowledge that readers may dislike this plot hole. Why did I make this reckless choice? At the time I started, I was unfamiliar with outlines. This tool would have allowed me to see the big picture. Thus, I would have been able to see the problem in advance, evaluate the impact, and then determine a more realistic solution.
However, let us remind ourselves that life is not always realistic. People often make silly, un-logical, stupid, intentionally wrong, vindictive, or random decisions.
For example, a company I used to work for closed down an entire division (costing the company money) because the division did not make enough profit. They were about to release a new technology that customers were ready to buy. So… the division was making money and was about to make a lot more money. Plus, they had to pay even more money to shut the division down. How about selling the division (profit) or spinning it off (long-term profit without effort)? Nah!
This was an actual event that cost several people their jobs as opposed to a fictional story. Now, a bunch of imaginary eagles not flying passengers does not seem noteworthy. Yet moviegoers still complained.
Sometimes, writers get stuck in a corner. I knew that using an imaginary air vent was risky, but still took it. Now, with more experience, I would have been able to see the issue in advance and correct it.
Do my blogs contain plot holes? Fortunately, blogs do not have a plot. Instead, they contain something even better! Mistakes, oversights, poor continuity, lack of content, missed references, inconsistencies, incomplete thoughts, unnecessary (or lack of) explanations, vague connections, logical faults, and abrupt endings.
