On The Fly

In this episode,  Beyond the Post-it Notes: Finding the Anam Cara . . .  Last week, when I arrived at Dr. Don’s home to help him with computer issues and our biweekly lunch, I found myself reflecting on the wide range of topics we always discuss. We connect as if we’ve been friends for years, even though he’s 92 and I’m 68. It’s funny—during our conversations, age seems to disappear. As we reviewed his list of computer questions on his Post-it notes, he surprised me by handing me a book. "Here, I want you to have this book," he said, his expression resembling that of someone offering something precious or secret. Later that day, I found myself engrossed in its pages. The book is "Anam Cara" by John O'Donohue. For weeks, I had noticed it on his desk and felt curious, yet I had no idea what I would discover inside. Right from the very first chapter, "The Mystery of Friendship," this book beautifully captures a feeling I experienced in that moment with Dr...

In this episode, Chapter Five–Meet Norman . . .  Concerned about Gramps and deep in thought after his return from the Sierras, Marvin headed down to his basement lab. It was here, amidst the hum of various projects and the scent of solder and creativity, that he kept Norman – the somewhat clunky, or so Dr. Jon called him, but fiercely reliable robot assistant who was truly Marvin’s pride and joy. Marvin had spent countless hours poring over circuits and code, diligently working to build Norman into something far beyond typical automatons. Norman was more than just wires and metal; he embodied the advanced AIs Marvin studied. He exhibited nuanced discussion skills and moved with unexpected agility, his faceplate conveying a friendly intelligence. Sleek and silver, he had smooth edges and a display that changed colors based on his mood: soft green when at ease, deep blue when thinking, and subtle amber when tackling complex information. His synthesized baritone voice was warm and ex...

If you remember, we left Dr. Jon’s computer screen flickering with the code flashing faster. He stared, perplexed. Suddenly, the screen went black, then lit up with a message that made his heart race: "We’re connected now. Stay with us, Jon." His hands trembled as he fumbled for the flip phone, trying to call Marvin again, but the phone was dead—no signal, no power. The GridBot was creeping into areas it should never have reached. Marvin’s return couldn’t come soon enough . . .  (Click the link for previous episode). Chapter Four– Beyond The Grid . . .   As Marvin drove back into Greenwood, the scene was unnervingly calm. People wandered the streets, tended their gardens, and sat on park benches, but every single one had their gaze fixed downward, thumbs gliding over the screens of their smartphones. It wasn't the chaotic panic he'd imagined but a quiet, almost serene absorption. He pulled up to his grandfather’s house, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. Find...

In this special episode,  Oh, the Things You Can Ask and the Dreams You Can Grasp! In a world full of wonders, all wiggly and grand, There's so much to see, all across the whole land! Don't just sit in your spot like a glum-looking Gnu, There's exploring to do, just waiting for YOU! So open your eyes and look all around, At the sights and the sounds that happily abound! And when something seems strange, or a bit out of whack, Don't just shrug and say, "Well, I guess that's that!" No, no, little friend, that's not the right way! You must ask a question, today, yes, today! Like "Why does the sky turn all colors at night?" Or "Why do the stars twinkle so shiny and bright?" Be curious, friend, like a fox in the woods, Investigate things, like a good question should! Poke and you'll peek, and you'll try, and you'll see, The marvelous mysteries waiting for thee! Now, while you are looking and asking with glee, Don't forge...

In this episode,  Unleash Your Inner Artist with AI Power. Welcome back to On the Fly! Last week, we explored the creative power of human collaboration. I'm excited to remind you of something that feels like a leap into the future this week! It's all about having a super-powered buddy to support your creative passions: artificial intelligence, or AI. Now, I understand what some of you might be thinking: robots are taking over the world. We’ve all seen those movies! However, the AI tools I’m mentioning – such as Gemini , ChatGPT , and others being refined – are not designed to replace us. They aim to assist us, particularly in our creative pursuits. Think back to when we were growing up. If you needed to research something, where did you go? For many of us, it was the family bookshelf and that trusty set of World Book Encyclopedias. Remember flipping through those volumes, searching for that one piece of information and getting drawn into a subject you hadn’t considered? Well, A...

In this episode, The Courage to Create . . . Welcome back to On the Fly.  This blog post explores the inspiring collaboration between Elton John and Brandi Carlile on their new album, Who Believes in Angels, using their creative journey to motivate you to embrace courage, collaboration, and the pursuit of extraordinary creations. There are moments when life whispers invitations to us: "Go on. Create something beautiful." This morning, that invitation arrived through a remarkable new album, "Who Believes in Angels," by Elton John (now 78) and the talented Brandi Carlile. This work has sparked a fire within me.  This partnership, characterized by raw and genuine creativity, is both inspiring and extraordinary. As a lifelong fan of Elton John, I have documented my appreciation for his influence in " Captain Fantastic and The Captain and the Kid. " These blog posts explore his extraordinary career and my growth as an artist inspired by his music and impact. ...

In this episode: Special April Fools' Edition: Did You Fall For It? (And a Little Baseball Nonsense) Welcome, fellow baseball aficionados and purveyors of the peculiar, to a very special, dare we say unpredictable, issue of On the Fly! Today, the air is thick with . . . well, probably just regular air, but a specific mischievous something is buzzing around. Can you feel it? Does that tingling sensation make you double-check your shoelaces and suspiciously eye any unusual packages? Yes, dear readers, it’s April 1st! A day steeped in mystery, shrouded in playful deception, and frankly, a day where you shouldn't believe anything you read (except maybe this . . .maybe). But before we descend into a whirlwind of whimsical falsehoods (don’t worry, we’ll mostly keep it light!), let’s take a quick, slightly wobbly, historical flight through the origins of this most unreliable of holidays. Whispers from the annals suggest a few intriguing possibilities for why we dedicate this particula...