On The Fly

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 episode, The Silent Grid . . . In the sleepy town of Greenwood, where life unfolds at a predictable pace, a quiet revolution is brewing. A seemingly innocuous smartphone, a gift from the future, is slowly infiltrating the minds of its residents. Marvin Gellborn, a man who values his independence, soon realizes that his new device is more than just a tool; it's a weapon, a silent, insidious force that's erasing individuality and turning his neighbors into mindless drones. As the grip of the Silent Grid tightens, Marvin must race against time to save his town and break free from the clutches of this unseen enemy. Welcome back to On the Fly. Please click the link in the blog post to read the beginning of Marvin's thrilling journey to save his town and break free from the grip of the Silent Grid . This is my first attempt at crafting science fiction, inspired by a legendary figure in the genre: Isaac Asimov. He is known for his prolific writing and ability to make com...

Chapter One– Marvin Gellborn resides in Greenwood, a quiet Midwest town with a population of just over a thousand residents. The village has one main street, a country diner that doubles as the town's social hub, a town square, and an old grain elevator that looms over the fields like a sentinel from a bygone era. Marvin is a young, confident single man with a strong jawline, sandy brown hair, and piercing brown eyes. He radiates energy, and his practical common sense, positive attitude, and friendly demeanor make him a pleasure to be around. Ask any neighbor, and they say, “Marvin is the town's Renaissance man, fixing everything from leaky faucets to glitchy gadgets. He is known for his practicality, creativity, and dislike of unnecessary frills.” So, no one was surprised that he held onto his old, worn-out cell phone until it finally stopped working. When he bought his new smartphone, though, everything changed. This smartphone was different from the others Marvin had recondi...

Podcast - Charge Your Phone Faster . . .  Such agony! You're forced to stop playing your favorite online video game and plug your phone in to recharge its battery. And face it, some phones can take hours to charge. Are you a heavy-duty smartphone user? I think this includes just about everybody these days. According to Patrick Kiger in an article on How Stuff Works , the average American spends 4.7 hours a day staring at and tapping that tiny screen. However, there is good news. You can reduce your phone anxiety by following this tip. While charging, switch your phone to airplane mode. This way, the phone won't slow down the charging process by continually burning energy, trying to connect with cell phone towers, and plot your location with its GPS function. T his trick works. So dependably, that mobile provider Verizon recommends it. The reason why is this, while your phone is in its regular mode, it's continually trying to signal the cell tower and pinpoint your locatio...

Podcast  - Everybody Lies . . . We are all Statisticians. “Yah right, everyone I've ever talked to hates statistics, and they hate math.” Don’t believe me? Let me give you an everyday example: When you drive your car to work and approach a stoplight, pay attention next time to how you monitor traffic patterns and observe the sequence of the green, orange, and red lights. Watch the light above you, to your right. The traffic running past you (perpendicular to you) has a green light, it changes to orange, then red. When the traffic stops, notice the slight delay before the traffic in front of you get’s the green arrow to turn left. During that 3 second delay, you can make your right turn and be safely ahead of the oncoming traffic turning left. What’s going on here? You’re gathering data. Data that helps you decide whether to wait for your green light or make the right turn on a red light ahead of the oncoming traffic. In other words, you’re making an inference, “Drawing a conclusion...