Richard V. Rupp

August 21, 2021

Good Saturday morning. I'm author Richard V. Rupp, writing from Burbank, California. Welcome to Rupp's Notes/FBI Special Agent Hartman Series posts. I have enjoyed the mild temperatures typical for late summer for the past three days, but I understand it's only temporary. Shoot.

 

Happy Birthday to my Grandson Ryan!!! Sorry I had to miss the party.

 

Thank you, Norton. Remember my post about violating copyright laws because of my use of clipart photos. I received a similar complaint two days ago in the same format but with a different name. I have been advised by the Writers Guild, host of my website, that the complaints are part of a phishing scam. In both cases, when I tried to respond to the individual who sent the complaint, it would not go through. Additionally, Norton Antivirus would not allow me to open the files attached to the emails. Man, you have to be careful these days.

 

I'm sure I'll be blocked by FB for this one. Mr. President, I have just listened to your presentation on Afghanistan, and I'm perplexed. I love words and listen carefully to them. What I heard was double-talk (Webster – "language that appears to be earnest and meaningful but, in fact, is a mixture of sense and nonsense"). You said one thing and then a few seconds later contradicted what you initially said. You stated 'facts' that, from what I had seen just minutes before on the news (From BBC, PBS, to MSNBC, and FOX), did not seem to jive with reality. Yes, your confusion worries me. Did you use the same sort of double-talk to convey what you desired to the State Department and our Military? If you did, no wonder there is confusion. My concern is that it has placed our nation in jeopardy, and I'm afraid you will further compound the problem with more double-talk. Okay, enough of that. My blood pressure has risen enough.

 

I was pleased to see that Mike Richards will not be replacing Alex Trebek as the Jeopard host. I just couldn't get into Richards personality. It did not appear genuine like Trebek's. He actually turned me off when he was the guest host. Maybe my protest to Jeopardy helped.

 

I surrender in trying to be coy about my upcoming novel SKYWARD. These posts are turning out to be my notes for the manuscript. And they do take time to prepare. Not sure what the PR agency that got me into this had in mind. Yes, I have stacks of other notes, but these posts are easier to search and work with. So, there will be a lot of "spoilers" about the plot in my posts. You can follow along with me as I complete this manuscript. I can only hope you will want to read the compilation of my post spoilers in the published professionally edited copy of SKYWARD. Or, at least thank me for hopefully interesting posts by buying the book and contributing to my income stream and my desire and ability to write on.

 

I will admit I'm having fun researching and writing SKYWARD. And, it does convey something I want to say about our society and its future.

 

The more I study Robert A. Heinlein (RAH), the more I appreciate his works. In many ways, I have the same concerns and interests as his. He mainly wrote during the Science Fiction Golden Age (1938 – 1959) and died in 1988.

 

My comments below are important because if I'm right about space colonization, the individuals who will expand humanity to the Universe for infinity will have come from these traits.

 

RAH –  Speaks of religion in his works. "she had no religion with a brand on it." And refers to the "Pillar of Fire Repentance Tabernacle." It is reported that he was not a religious person but seemed to have a great interest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He assumes Earthly religion will exist in space colonies.

 

SKYWARD -  The Bowman Twins, like most millennials, are not religious. A PEW REPORT suggests "Americans ages 18 to 29 are considerably less religious than older Americans. Fewer young adults belong to any particular faith than older people do today. . .  Fully one-in-four members of the Millennial generation – so-called because they were born after 1980 and began to come of age around the year 2000 – are unaffiliated with any particular faith. . . few(er) young people say that religion is very important in their lives."

 

In their screening process of applicants for their space adventure, the Bowman Twins screen out those with strong religious beliefs to avoid tribalism and conflict.

 

RAH – "clan marriages are complex." From my research on RAH, he seems fascinated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Particularly the practice of polygyny, wherein a man has multiple simultaneous wives. He does not seem to address the subject of sexual preference.

 

SKYWARD - It should be noted that the PEW REPORT indicates that "young people are more accepting of homosexuality . . .than are older people." The Bowman Twins brought up in San Francisco fit into this mold, but . . .

 

The Bowman Twins attempt to initially screen out gays and lesbians as colonists. This is done passively as potential colonists are required to select a partner of the opposite sex to promote procreation on the Moon. The Twins conclude that it is easier and more productive to expand the Moon colony through procreation than transporting people from Earth. It also provides younger colonists for the future exploration of faraway planets and moons.

 

If you wonder about my research on the sex life of millennials, here's a W MAGAZINE story headline – "Phoebe Dynevor Will Star in a Very Millennial Queer Love Triangle Series."

 

Yes, "friends with benefits" does correctly define a millennial concept.

 

Music, games, and various forms of theatre evolve to help alleviate the effects of being confined to relatively limited living space in the Bowman Colony. But, the number one relief method is relationships and sex. Remember, just like on Noah Arc, the colonists were paired with a member of the opposite sex to promote procreation. Being millennials, things evolve from switching or sharing partners to swingers parties or group sex. Yes, sexual preferences also evolve. Over time the colony hospital does develop a sperm bank and assists in artificial insemination.

 

RAH – Luna has a newspaper, and people take notes on pads and use a typewriter. "Was announced in papers, we were given week to get passports." "I did not know of a printing plant in L-City willing to risk such a job." "had been typed on Underwood Office Electrostator, commonest model in Luna." "if they write a cheque."

 

NASA ­– Today, all writing in space (e.g., logs, details, and results of scientific experiments) is electronic. The discussion of writing instruments in space is somewhat academic: hard copy is produced infrequently, as of 2019.

 

SKYWARD - While RAH assumes pens, typewriters, and paper will be used in space, the Bowman Twins are more up-to-date. They, like all their millennial friends, prefer their electronic devices. While there are no trees in space to protect (at least not yet), it is not a concern. Communications and record keeping are done electronically by the master computer and individual devices.  No wastebaskets. No paper trash.

 

This theme continues in my next post titled: NO COCKROACHES, RATS, CATS, OR DOGS. A lot of people will hate me for this one.

 

Cheers,

 

Richard V. Rupp, Author

Website – www.richardvrupp.com

Email – rupprisk@gmail.com

Copyright©2021 by Richard V. Rupp