Science, Religion and Our Emerging Culture

Al Bundy checked his watch and cursed as he hurried through the front door of the high school. It was the first session of his computer course, and he was late. He rushed down the hallway carrying his laptop, perspiration sliding down his neck. He was only a couple of minutes late, but Principal McDougal had been keeping a close eye on him. The old battleaxe was trying to build a case that he should be terminated for incompetence. What is wrong with her anyway? This is the school system, not some big corporation that had to make money. She needed to get a life and leave him alone.

He slipped into the classroom, which was filled with students. They all looked enthusiastic and ready to learn.

I hate enthusiasm.

He didn’t really want to teach night school classes for adults, but he needed the money. Damn credit cards made it too easy to buy stuff. And his wife Peg had lost her job at the department store because of that stupid fight with a customer. So what the guy was seventy-five, he had landed a few good shots on Peg. She was only defending herself when she threw him into the TV’s. The display holding all the sets had collapsed, smashing everything. They fired her on the spot, but at least the store had dropped all the charges. That’s Peg’s story, anyway.

“Okay class, let’s get started,” Al said. “My name is Al Bundy and I’m a teacher at this school. This short course is called Protecting your PC. For those of you who haven’t figured it out, I’m going to teach you a few basic measures you should do to keep your computer safe.”

“Are you a computer science teacher?” one of the women asked.

Al straightened up. “Physical Education.”

The class tittered. “But I’ve had plenty of experience with computers,” Al added.

A big middle-aged guy shouted out, “Besides porn?”

The students roared, which really got under Al’s skin. He would have thrown the guy out of the class, but the bastard looked like he could kick Al’s butt. Then a dopey twenty-something guy in the front row started waving his hand impatiently.

Al sighed. “What do you want? First state your name, then ask your question.”

“My name is Tony Balboa.” He picked a piece of paper off his desk and held it up for Al to read. “This here schedule says this is the Introduction to Sex Education class. Taught by Jessica Mathews. You’re not her, so what the hell is going on?”

Al walked up to Balboa and snatched the calendar out of his hand. Tony had drawn a circle around a description of the sex education class. Al spotted the problem immediately. What a freaking idiot!

“The sex education class was last week. This is last week’s calendar.”

The idiot scratched his thick black hair. “Let me see.”

Al handed the calendar back to Balboa. Tony studied it and then said, “Shit!”

Al smiled at the young idiot’s confusion. “Well, Mr. Balboa, I suppose you want to leave now. Don’t let us waste your valuable time.”

Balboa scratched his head again, staring at Al through puzzled eyes. “So this class is about computer shit?”

“Fraid so. Just dumb ol’ computer stuff.”

Balboa nodded his head, as if he had decided something. “I’m going to stay in this class. My nephew has a computer, but I don’t know how to use it. I need to learn this computer shit.”

Al was tempted to try to change his mind, then sighed and mumbled, “What the hell.” It didn’t matter. Balboa would stay for this class, realize he was in over his head and never show up again.

“Okay,” Al said to the class. “Now let’s really get started. When you use the Internet, you run the danger of unauthorized software getting into your computer. These undesirable programs could really foul up your PC. They might trash your system, steal information from your files, take control of your PC or just do things to annoy you. These nasty programs are called viruses, worms and Trojans.” He looked over the class, hoping there might be some intelligence out there. “Can anyone tell me what these terms mean?”

“Let me answer,” Balboa shouted. “I know what a Trojan is.”

“No, Balboa, not that kind of Trojan. We’re talking about software.”

“Yeah, soft wear, that’s what I use.”

“Balboa, I want you to shut up and listen for the rest of the class. There’s an outside chance you might learn something.”

“Thank you, professor.”

Al leaned back against the front desk. He believed in heavy class participation, not because it was a superior learning technique, but because it allowed him to offload the work to students. If Balboa would shut up, he could get the smart kids to teach most of the class.

A geeky looking kid in the front row raised his hand. When Al nodded, he said, “I’m Wayne B. Click. I design relational databases for ISpy Consulting.”

“Not that I want to throw a wet blanket on your party, but why are you taking this class? This is an introductory course, designed for people who don’t know squat about computers.”

“I understand, Professor Bundy, but my analyst said I had to get out and meet people.” He shrugged. “Maybe have sex with some women, too.”

“I’m not really interested in your situation, Click. Just explain a computer virus.”

“Well, a computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host software is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending mail over the Internet, or by carrying it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, or USB drive. A computer worm is different. A worm can spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host. A Trojan Horse, like the Greek legend, is a program that looks like another, harmless program. A user is fooled into using it; then it does something nasty.”

Click shrugged. “Is that okay, Professor Bundy, or should —.”

“Shut up, Click,” Al interrupted. “I mean, you did great. Now does anyone have a question?”

A leggy blond in the back row raised her hand, pulling a very short skirt to the top of her thighs. Al moved a couple of strides to his right, trying to get just the right angle to improve the view up her skirt.

If she were only in the front row, but no, I have to get losers like Balboa and Click up here.

“The young legs … lady in the back,” Al said.

“My name is Sharon Pebbles, Bindy.”

“Bundy, my dear, but you can call me Al.”

Sharon shifted in her seat, and to Al’s delight, her skirt did the impossible by moving higher. She paused a second, and slowly crossed her gorgeous legs. He’d never seen so much skin in a classroom. Al couldn’t speak; for a moment he feared a stroke.

“Bindy, I’m not really interested in all these technical terms. Can’t you just tell us what to do to protect our computer.” She stood up, ending Al’s dreamy view. “Otherwise, I might as well leave right now.”

“Please sit down,” Al squeaked. After clearing his throat, he said, “We are just getting to that part of the class.”

Since Sharon continued to stand, an impatient look spreading over her pretty face, Al decided he had to act fast or this luscious idiot might actually leave. He couldn’t risk calling one of these idiot students; he would have to do the work himself.

“The most important step to protect your computer is to take regular backups. At least once a month, make a copy of all your key data files. Anything that you can’t afford to lose, back it up and store it offline.” He was relieved when Sharon took her seat, restoring his wonderful view. “I backup my files weekly, just to be extra safe. In addition, some really important files — for example my financial information — I back up every day when I finish working with them.”

“I got one,” Balboa shouted. “I know what you should do.”

Why me, Lord?

“Okay, Balboa, what do ya got?”

“It’s so simple, you’re gonna love it!”

It would have to be simple.

“You planning to tell us anytime soon,” Al said. “Class will be over in a few minutes.”

“Here it is,” Balboa said. “Turn off your PC overnight. If it’s off, nobody can stick a Trojan in it.”

Al was prepared to laugh, but the damn thing made sense. He himself had a bad habit of leaving his computer on overnight, where it was vulnerable.

“Good suggestion, Balboa. Turn it off overnight or at any time it’s not in use for several hours. A computer can’t be infected while it’s off.”

Al looked over the class. “Anyone else with an idea how to keep your PC protected?”

“Never give up confidential information to a stranger,” the big middle-aged guy said. He must be six-one and pushing two-fifty, with a beefy face to match. “Watch out for emails, text messaging, chat rooms, everything. You fool around with that freakin’ stuff and they’ll pick you clean.” He looked around and smiled. “Only give confidential information to websites you trust. This is friendly advice, because youse are my classmates.”

“Sir, your name, please,” Al said.

“Vinny Soprano.”

“Didn’t I see you in the news last week?”

“You didn’t see nuthin.”

“My mistake.”

Soprano was staring at him, and he didn’t look pleased. Time to wrap this up.

“Well, class, that’s enough for today. Next week we will get into the specifics of anti-virus software.” He moved over again, ready for one last look at Sharon. “See you next week, same time, same place.”

Just as Sharon uncrossed her legs, Balboa stepped in front of him, blocking his view. “Great class, Professor Bundy. See you next week.”

Al collapsed against the side of the desk. Maybe I could have the class moved to another building. The students filtered out, leaving him alone in the classroom. Or another night. He packed up his laptop and walked toward the door. Or another country.

Unholy Domain, my new novel, has been compared by other writers to the works of legendary science fiction author Philip K. Dick. I’m honored to be mentioned in the same breath with the creator of Blade Runner, Minority Report and other classics. In Unholy Domain, I’ve followed Dick’s investigations into the dark new worlds of the near future.

“Unholy Domain tackles the age-old battle of scientific enlightenment and reason vs. religious fanaticism. In a future world ravaged by technology two factions fight for supremacy. Dan Ronco tells a tale that is unique, provocative, and engrossing while maintaining enough slam-bang action to keep you turning the pages. It reads like a cross between Blade Runner and Angels and Demons.”
-R. Douglas Weber, author of Solomon’s Key: The CODIS Project

“Dan Ronco fills the gap left by Philip K. Dick with Unholy Domain.”
-Simon Wood, the Anthony Award winning author of Paying the Piper

I have always loved Star Trek, from the original series beginning in 1969 to the ever present reruns on television just about any day. Admirable characters, a stern but humane Starfleet code to live by, lots of action (but no gore) and the wonder of new frontiers. Traveling in glistening starships several hundred years in the future, facing all types of dangers. Great television, but the reality we are spiraling into will be very different.

First consider the Enterprise crew; basically, they are no different than you or me. Okay, Mr. Data is the exception, but all the others are plain old biological humans, even if wearing Vulcan ears. It’s as if technology hadn’t progressed over the next centuries. Sure, the hardware is more sophisticated — phasors instead of pistols — but everything seems very familiar.

Consider Captain Picard, the leader of the Enterprise. First of all, he looks like your old high school math teacher. Medium build, medium height, hair just about gone. Nice guy, pretty smart, but no exceptional or unusual powers. Not directly linked to computer intelligence, no implants to enhance his senses, no nanobots in the bloodstream regulating biological processes. Bor-ing!

By the way, how old is Picard? I always wondered about that. With the wrinkles and the hair, he looks late forties, but it’s hard to tell. Actually, nobody in the crew seems very old. Hey, they all act age appropriate, and from their conversations, it seems everyone is in the twenty to forty range. It appears they experience about the same aging process as we do here in the first decade of the twenty-first century.

Now that’s just ridiculous. In 1900, the average lifespan was about forty-nine years, while now it’s pushing eighty. As science continues to learn more about human biological processes, we will develop cures for many of the diseases that cut our lives short. In addition, we will develop a much better understanding of the aging process, enabling us to tune up our bodies and stretch out normal lifespans. Tiny nanobots in our cells will monitor, report and regulate many of our biological processes. By the middle of this century, the average lifespan in the developed nations should be well over one hundred years.

Our bodies will change dramatically during the next few decades. Hell, it’s already happening. Look at all the mechanical replacements now available. Hip, shoulder, elbow, tooth, artery and knee replacements are commonplace. Contact lenses and hearing aids enhance our senses. Mechanical legs allow the severely injure to walk, even run, again. I’ve seen a paralyzed man control his personal computer through thoughts that interface with a network.

How much will we accomplish during the next few decades? Well, for one thing, we will be able to replace virtually any part of our skeleton system. Bone broken, joints wearing out? Replace them. Want to think faster, move with more agility? The nanobots in our cells can become a computer network that responds hundreds of times faster than our neurons. Need more and better information at your fingertips? Forget about fingertips. A wireless interface between nanobots in your brain and computer databanks will allow you pull down whatever processed information you need. How about a second heart? A mechanical heart could reduce the pumping load on your biological heart, maybe take over during a heart attack. Better yet, eliminate the need for a heart with blood cells that power their own mobility.

But that’s just the start. Artificial intelligence will eventually dominate biological intelligence. And let me cue you in, it’s a short eventually. Here’s what I mean. Your brain processes information relatively slowly. Computer hardware is already much faster and the difference is growing year by year. On a pure horsepower basis, AI beats the brain’s processing. Of course, you need much more than fast computer hardware, the software has to be in place, too.

Let’s separate AI into two classes, weak AI and strong AI. Strong AI is general purpose intelligence, the ability to handle a wide variety of tasks at the same or higher level than a human. Weak AI is designed to process a very limited number of tasks, for instance, playing chess or walking. Strong AI is still some years away, maybe decades, but weak AI is available in many areas. Most of us know that IBM’s Big Blue computer can defeat the best human chess players. Robots can hit a baseball or dance (check out my videos), although not at the level of the best humans. Not yet, anyway.

However, it’s clear that we are only a few decades from seeing very intelligent computers approach and then exceed human intelligence. Humans will need to link into networked AI just to stay competitive with our computers. But that’s just delaying the inevitable. In the end, our biological brains won’t cut it. Blood and flesh is just too slow and inflexible. In the second half of this century, we will be able to download our personal intelligence into robots. Mr. Data isn’t too bad an example of what humanity will become.

But the story doesn’t end there. Mr. Data’s brain, while much faster than a human brain, is still constrained by limited size. A networked intelligence will outperform a single Mr. Data, so that’s the direction science will drive us. Maybe Star Trek has a pretty good example, after all. It’s called the Borg.

Please realize a networked intelligence need not be evil. The Borg could very easily be a beneficial superintelligence, with all units working toward a good purpose. Or many good purposes. Each individual would very likely retain his or her unique personality, rather than being stamped out of one mold. A diverse set of androids networked together would seem to have greater survival capabilities than one individual repeated over and over.

And it would be a lot more fun. Imagine how close you would become to the people you love. In addition to the physical intimacy we now enjoy with our flesh and blood bodies, think about the emotional intimacy of joining your lover’s mind through the net. Step aside, Vulcan mind-meld! Misunderstandings would be cleared up, feelings and thoughts immediately transmitted and received. I could describe the sex, but it’s not that kind of article.

Maybe the future is Star Trek after all.

If you’re looking for advice on how to pick up a woman at a bar, this isn’t it, but if you’d like to know how to build a friendship with the opposite sex, then stay. Not that I’m the guru of first impressions, but what the heck, even an unwound clock is right twice a day.

First, you need to be comfortable with yourself. Not arrogant, not ignorant, just comfortable. If you’re not, she’ll probably figure out that you’re a phony or a loser. By the way, if you are, stop reading now, I can’t help you.

First piece of advice: don’t talk about yourself all the time. Let’s face it, you’re probably a little boring. Your story about how you saved the company 3% in office supplies isn’t really that fascinating. No offense, but let her do most of the talking.

This next one is very important: Look into her eyes while you’re having a conversation. Her breasts don’t speak, so there’s no point in staring at them. Unless she’s really …. but I’m losing my train of thought.

Now listen up, we’re getting to the most important stuff. Try and have a real conversation with the woman. You know, something you’re both interested in. It’s hard to believe, but she may not care if the Eagles beat the Cowboys.

Contrary to common belief, women do have a sense of humor. They will laugh if you happen to say something that’s actually funny. Laughter is a great way to break the ice and begin a friendship. Just as long as she’s laughing with you, not at you. You understand the difference, don’t you?

And above all, don’t try too hard. This is related to my first point, but somewhat different. Don’t push too hard or too fast, she’ll get suspicious. If she asks probing questions, tell her that all the charges were dropped, or whatever else comes to mind. Keep the conversation low-key and, well, conversational. There’s an old Chinese proverb that says just sprinkle a little water and the desert will bloom with a thousand flowers. Or some crap like that.

You’ll know pretty quickly if you and your target, er, acquaintance are hitting it off. If so, keep doing what you’re doing. If not, she’ll probably give you a hint that things aren’t going well. If she slaps your face and calls you a jerk, it’s a good clue to move on.

That’s my sure-fire way to develop a friendship with a woman. To summarize, keep your eyes up, breath normally, try not to be boring and don’t use any sentences including a body part.

And let me know if any of this stuff actually works.

Tax time is coming around again. I’m reminded because I just placed my order for the 2007 version of TurboTax, which is a software application that guides me through federal and Pennsylvania tax return preparation. The damn tax code has become so complex, you really need either a good accountant or a tax package to get it right.

Taxes are everywhere, on everything. Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, federal death tax, Medicaid, state income tax, state sales tax, state death tax … let me catch my breath. Certain cities or counties get you for an income tax or a wage tax or maybe even a sales tax. Then there are the smaller but still irritating levies like federal and state gasoline taxes, the state automobile registration tax, the hotel room occupancy tax (talk about taxation without representation!) and the federal telephone taxes (check out your phone bill for the beloved Federal Subscriber Line Charge and the smaller, but still irritating Federal Universal Service Fee). And if you have a small business, well, I won’t get into that.

They tax you when you earn, they tax you when you buy and they tax you when you die. Whatever you do, the Taxman has his hand in your pocket. If they could figure out how to do it, they’d tax you for bodily functions. Maybe a little meter on the toilet. Two cents per flush. Wireless, of course.

And think about the skillions of hours that are wasted on tax planning, preparation and collection. Tax attorneys, tax accountants, tax return software, IRS employees, state and local tax collectors, they are all working day and night on our taxes. While you’re sleeping innocently in your bed, an IRS computer is selecting you for an audit. And if you are in a hotel, you’re paying tax to sleep while that IRS computer is humming away. Your federal government at work.

I read somewhere that the top half of earners pay 96% of federal income taxes while the lower half pays 4%. The principle that a person with a larger income should pay more in taxes is fair, but 96% seems a bit extreme. Every citizen with a decent income, it seems to me, should pay something in taxes. Even if it’s only a couple of bucks withheld from each paycheck, at least you’re holding up your end as best you can.

My personal choice would be for a flat income tax. No tax on the first twenty five grand, then 15% on everything after that. Or something similar. Allow a few deductibles such as spouse and children, mortgage and medical. Keep it really simple, so that a normal person could file their return without screaming. That’s right, tax prep would become the no scream zone. Maybe even no cursing … okay, I lost my head. Anyway, I enjoy cursing at my return.

It’s interesting that our government has too much money and yet not enough. A duality that would interest a quantum mechanics researcher. Here’s the issue: the government needs more money to fund entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare, but a big tax increase might plunge the economy into recession. And recessions are not good for incumbent politicians.

The simple truth is that people should be allowed to keep the bulk of the money they earn. They know what they need better than a government bureaucrat. Plus, the more an entrepreneur can keep, the more likely she is to invest her money in a small business, and that’s what drives the economy. JFK knew that and so did Reagen and Bush 43.

Entitlements are out of control. Already Medicare has more money going out in benefits than tax payments coming in. Social Security is still in the black, but economists predict 2017 as the date it goes into the red. To fund these deficits, the government has to increase its borrowing, raise taxes or divert funds from other programs. These are not good alternatives, so why don’t we actually try to fix these creaky old programs. To put it bluntly, they suck. No rational young person would invest his money in Social Security if he had a choice. Let’s fix the damn thing! Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen. Here’s a bold prediction — they’ll eventually put together a bipartisan, blue ribbon, lip smacking panel of old pols and they’ll recommend … hold your breath … raising Social Security taxes.

Let’s face it, we fifty plus citizens are pretty demanding. We coughed up money supporting prior generations, so we want our fair share of the benefits when we get older. Without these entitlements, many baby boomers will have a tough retirement. If you can afford to retire.

But let’s be fair and look at it from the point of the twenty something working stiff. The ratio of retired persons to workers is getting worse year by year. A young guy or gal has forty or fifty years of ever increasing Social Security taxes to pay. They are not happy and I don’t blame them. Especially if the benefits are cut back or the retirement age raised to, let’s say, 112. I’m all for working with these youngsters so that we can cut them a fair deal. Just as long as you don’t touch MY retirement benefits.

So how do we reduce taxes? The government has to find a way to fund Social Security, Medicare and other entitlements. That’s the bulk of the federal budget. We certainly need the Defense and State departments and, to some degree, the regulatory agencies. That doesn’t leave too much to cut, but there are a few items that make no sense.

Take agriculture subsidies. Why the frack do we pay farmers to NOT grow food? (Love the sound of the word frack — got it from Battlestar Galactica)These subsidies go into the pockets of big, rich agriculture corporations. It’s not 1930, with Oakies starving on their little farms. Agriculture is Big Business, just like Insurance, Computers or Finance. Should we pay Microsoft to not develop software? No wisecracks, please, I’m just trying to make a point.

Then there are the natural disasters, like Katrina. I’m all for emergency aid, but the government went way overboard. I read that more than 80 billion dollars has already been committed. Now if you choose to live below sea level or on the coastline, okay, you can take a chance, but don’t expect the taxpayer to rebuild your home if a flood washes it away. At least buy fracking flood insurance. It’s cheap (government subsidized, of course). Can you believe they are rebuilding New Orleans without improving the levies! Who pays when it floods again? Spell it t-a-x-p-a-y-e-r-s.

So we have to find a way to reduce the cost of providing necessary services, while eliminating the handouts. There’s no solution unless entitlement programs are restructured, and I’ll discuss this in future posts.

Fracking A!

Exactly where are we in this conflict? It’s difficult to cut through to the truth with so much hot air coming from all sides. I decided to go back and read the Joint Resolution approved October 2002 by the President and the Senate authorizing the invasion or liberation (take your pick) of Iraq.

It begins with a bunch of whereas clauses summarizing the then current situation: Iraq had been kicked out of Kuwait and had agreed not to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and Iraq would not support terrorism; weapons inspectors had been forced to withdraw in 1998 and Congress had declared that Iraq’s continued development of weapons of mass destruction threatened world peace; the Iraqi regime continued to brutalize its civilian population; Iraq showed its hostility toward the United States by attempting to assassinate Bush 41 and shoot at US planes enforcing the no-fly zone; members of al Qaida are known to be in Iraq; the regime continues to harbor other terrorist organizations; Iraq might launch a surprise attack on the US or provide weapons of mass destruction to terrorists.

Therefore, the Joint Resolution authorized the President to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to:
(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and
(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq.

A review of this document indicates the US had several objectives, at least initially, in the war against the Iraqi regime.
• To eliminate weapons of mass destruction stockpiled or under development by Iraq as called for by various UN resolutions.
• To implement democracy within Iraq and eventually throughout much of the Middle East.
• To free the people of Iraq from a brutal dictatorship.
• To eliminate a dangerous enemy.
• To prevent Saddam Hussein from working with international terrorist groups that might threaten the US.

Although not specified in the Iraq War Resolution, it seems clear to me that the US was intent on making sure that control of Iraqi oil was taken from Saddam and turned over to a friendly Iraqi government. Removing Saddam also eliminated his threat to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other oil rich Middle East nations.

As everyone knows, we did not discover weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Although there are rumors that these weapons were shipped out of Iraq shortly before the invasion, no hard evidence supports this theory. Therefore, we must conclude that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq during the days leading up to the war. It appears there was a massive intelligence failure not only in the US, but in many other nations as well. Some have claimed that the Bush administration knew all along that there were no such weapons in Iraq, but this claim isn’t justified with evidence. Basically, it was a screw-up of massive proportions.

Iraq does have a democratic government, a parliamentary system where the people vote for their representatives, who join together in political parties and elect a Prime Minister. As described in Wikipedia, a permanent 275-member Iraqi National Assembly was selected in a general election in December 2005, initiating the formation of a new government. The Prime Minister of Iraq is Nouri al-Maliki, who holds most of the executive authority and appoints the cabinet. The current President of Iraq is Jalal Talabani, who serves largely as a figurehead, with few powers. The vice presidents are Tariq al-Hashimi and Adel Abdul Mehdi, deputy leader of SCIRI, the largest party in the Iraqi National Assembly. Although the government at times seems ineffective, it is an honest democracy. It remains to be seen if additional democracies will be established across the Middel East.

The US-led coalition has freed the people of Iraq from Saddam’s brutal dictatorship, and the new government is not oppressive. However, a violent Sunni/al Qaida insurgency has continued to murder thousands in an effort to plunge the nation into chaos and civil war. The US-led Surge, actually an increase in troops and a change in strategy, has splintered the insurgency and reduced the violence. Although the war is moving in the right direction, Iraq is still a dangerous country, both for the Iraqis and US troops.

The elimination of Saddam’s regime removed a dangerous enemy without question. However, the insurgency is equally dangerous. If our enemies are able to win in Iraq, they may be able to spread their hatred of the US beyond the borders of Iraq and across the region.

There is no hard evidence that Saddam was working with international terrorist groups. There appears to be some contact between al Qaida and Saddam’s regime, but no evidence of any type of alliance. It may be that the US was concerned about the potential for an alliance, given that both Saddam and al Qaida hate us.

Iraqi oil production is about 2.5 million bpd, about where it was before the war. However, the oil is being sold by a friendly government, so we don’t have to worry it will be used as a weapon.

To summarize, we have removed the yoke of dictatorship from the people of Iraq and implemented a democratic, if somewhat ineffective, national government. After years of warfare with extremists, the Surge seems to be leading to a better life for Iraqis. We have also removed an enemy from Iraq, and secured a supply of oil. All good things, clearly. On the other hand, no weapons of mass destruction were found, and the ties between Saddam and terrorists were not threatening. And we paid a heavy price in blood and national treasure.

Was it worth it? Each of us will have to make that assessment.

I grew up in a tough blue-collar neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. My folks both had to work to put food on the table. Not that we were poor. When I was seven, we moved out of the top floor of a three family home into a house just down the street. Yeah, we moved the sum total of half a block. But it was our own home: three bedrooms, one bath and a screened-in porch. I could reach out a window and touch (well, almost) the neighbor’s house. Could hear them, too. Sometimes.

I could walk to Alexander Street School, which I attended through sixth grade. Three stories high, if I remember correctly, lots of faded red brick, two playgrounds (one for the big kids, one for the little) and a ten foot high chain link fence around the big playground. We played basketball, stickball, or punchball every day after school.

It was great fun playing with my friends, but I always left after an hour or so. Time to go to the library, which was just down the block. Another red brick building, but this one was a place to dream. I could walk down the aisles and pull out another world. My favorites were stories about horses, dogs and baseball. Walter Farley was a special author, bringing the world of Alec and the Black Stallion to my little corner of the world. Racetracks, ranches, the countryside — these were places way outside my range of experience. Made me understand that Newark wasn’t the whole world.

The baseball stories were great, too. Little morality plays in the guise of sports, where the good guys always won. No matter how bad things seemed to get, the good guys would come through and win the championship game in the last chapter. Something you could rely on.

I loved those books and I looked forward to my trips to the library. It was both safe and exciting. I don’t think the library changed my life, but it sure enriched it.

Every child should have a library.

Daphne Hayden, DNS News Anchor, interviewed Dan Ronco regarding his new novel in 2012.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: I’ve found your biography online at www.danronco.com, and I know you have not one, but three degrees: Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering and Computer Science. Why so many?

DAN RONCO: It’s my nature. I’m never satisfied, always looking for the next challenge. My career has been like that, too. First I designed nuclear reactors, next I became a Partner in a huge accounting and IT consulting firm, then President of a small software company and finally a General Manager with Microsoft.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: So how did you go from technology guru to writing a novel?

DAN RONCO: After more than two decades in the IT business, I felt that it was time to do something else. Although I loved working at Microsoft, 70 hour weeks and heavy travel take a toll. Besides, I had been thinking about writing a novel for years, but hadn’t made much progress. It was time to choose. So I left my job and concentrated on writing.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: You’re much better looking in person. Trash that photo on the cover of Unholy Domain.

DAN RONCO: Well, I was trying to look author-ish. Guess it didn’t work.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: In your first novel, set in 2012, PeaceMaker a Windows-like operating system is infected with an intelligent virus, leading to a shutdown of computers across the globe. With Windows computers so widely used, could this really happen?

DAN RONCO: Software terrorism is already a threat, and it will grow over time. Every time a new virus attacks Windows, someone has to detect and report the problem, programmers have to develop and distribute a fix, and millions of users have to apply the fix. A relatively slow process, but it works as long as the virus isn’t too destructive, doesn’t spread too fast (or secretly) and doesn’t evolve too rapidly (the fix won’t work if the virus can change tactics). In PeaceMaker, I envisioned a fictional virus attack that exceeded these parameters. At some point within the next decade, a terrorist may be capable of launching such a sophisticated attack.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: PeaceMaker and Unholy Domain have been touted as the first two books of an anti-technology trilogy. Is that true? What are the books about?

DAN RONCO: My stories dramatize the question: how much technology is too much? The first novel, as you know, illustrates the consequences of a runaway, lethal computer virus. My new novel, Unholy Domain, set in 2022, considers the meaning of being human as artificial intelligence begins to approach human intelligence. It takes a hard look at what I believe will be accelerating conflict between science and religion. The last book of the trilogy, set in 2025 and tentatively titled Tomorrow’s Children, considers the risks and benefits of genetic engineering.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: You didn’t really answer my question. Don’t your books warn against the continuing growth of technology?

DAN RONCO: It’s clear to me that the exponential growth in technology over the next two, three decades will bring incredible change to our society, possibly beyond our ability to cope. Whether that’s anti-technology, well, I’ll leave it for the reader to decide.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: Scientists and the clergy are already in conflict over issues such as evolution, homosexuality and abortion. You believe it will get worse?

DAN RONCO: Without a doubt. Consider a few emerging issues. Should we enhance capabilities such as intelligence, athletic ability, beauty or health through gene manipulation or artificial components? If so, who gets the enhancements? Should human cloning be permitted? Should an intelligent robot have the same rights as a human? Does God care if we evolve into a new species? Should we allow artificial intelligence to approach and possibly surpass human intelligence? These issues will shake the foundation of organized religion as never before.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: I see what you mean. Complex issues, no easy solutions. Must the novels be read in chronological sequence? Do you have to be an engineer to understand the technology in the novels?

DAN RONCO: First and foremost, I wrote the novels to entertain a reader who enjoys thrillers or science fiction. If you can use a computer, you will have no problem with the technology in my stories. Although the novels are all consistent with each other, each is a self-contained story. You can read them in any sequence, so just start with the one that most appeals to you.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: How long did it take to write your novels?

DAN RONCO: Including research, I have been working on the trilogy for about eight years. Not full-time, but I try to write three to four hours per day on average. Tomorrow’s Children will be complete in a few months, so I have dedicated a big chunk of my life to this work.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: What lessons have you learned as a writer, and what changes would you make if you could start over?

DAN RONCO: When I started, I had no idea how difficult it is to write well. I thought that once you had the concept for the story, the words would just tumble out of your mind onto the page. Man, was I wrong. Every word in your story must have a reason to be present, and it must convey the right shade of meaning. Extremely difficult, but what a feeling of satisfaction when you get it right.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: The women in your novels are highly unusual to say the least.

DAN RONCO: I knew we were going to get into this.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: Don’t get alarmed, I think it’s a good thing. Your female characters are beautiful, smart, tough and physically strong. I particularly like Darlene Duboski, DoubleD as you call her. How did you come up with this amazing woman?

DAN RONCO: DoubleD isn’t really that unusual, if you think about it. She’s the culmination of a long-term evolution. Today’s females are bigger and more athletic than previous generations. Go to any workout facility and what do you see? Plenty of women. And not just doing aerobics, either. Pumping iron, pushups, building their strength against all manner of exercise machines. They’re dropping baby fat and showing off lean, hard muscles. Not that they are becoming bodybuilders (although some do), but they are not the women of your mother’s generation either.

Drive around town and you’ll certainly come across a jogger. What’s the gender most of the time? And she’s probably setting a fast pace, too.

Muscles are no longer solely a masculine domain. Check out the ladies playing basketball or tennis, let alone the boxers. Not a wimp in the bunch. Title IX has opened the door for women to excel at sports, and they are succeeding. You want to see Serena Williams or Mary Pierce getting ready to serve a cannonball at you? I don’t. That doesn’t mean today’s women aren’t as beautiful or sexy as previous generations. I think they look better, actually, with their lean, athletic figures.
DoubleD—and many of my female characters—are based upon this new model of femininity. They are just as tough and smart as the men, and they don’t take a backseat to anyone. Damn sexy, too.

DAPHNE HAYDEN: Kudos to you! I couldn’t agree more.

Ms. Hayden appears as herself in both PeaceMaker and Unholy Domain. Click here to order Unholy Domain or PeaceMaker on Amazon.

I drove from my home in eastern Pennsylvania south to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor to have lunch with Paul, a long-time friend. Paul and I worked together years earlier at Microsoft—he managed the Washington DC consulting practice while I had responsibility for the East Coast. We grew to be close friends, and we get together for lunch about every three months or so at the Inner Harbor. Paul also helped with a critique of my novel Unholy Domain, and I thanked him in the acknowledgements.

The Little Italy section is just north (3-4 block walk) of the built-up Inner Harbor. There must be a dozen or more old-fashioned Italian restaurants in a three block square. You know the kind I mean—old brick front, a couple of steps up, long and narrow inside, white tablecloths and waiters who have eaten just about everything on the menu. Places that look like they have been providing Italian food to the residents for twenty, thirty, who knows how many years.

Paul and I have sampled all the Italian restaurants in Little Italy over the years, and we picked one of our favorites. Not to imply that any of these places are bad, just that some are better than others. Fresh pasta, great seafood, the usual delicious food as we caught up with each other’s lives.

Then came the athletic segment of our day, walking around the Inner Harbor. I have to admit that the politicians in Baltimore have done a great job. The Inner Harbor is a big tourist attraction, with people from all over coming to enjoy the aquarium, the stores and restaurants, the lighthouse, the ships and the pier. I stopped to buy chocolates for my wife—always earns me points—and Paul and I enjoyed browsing at a bookstore and a big electronics retailer. Of course, we checked out many attractive women walking around the harbor. We’re old married guys, but we’re still breathing.

Just a simple day enjoying the Inner Harbor with a friend. Not everything has to be a big deal.