Month: February 2010

The facility had been designed by one of the world’s top architects. With welcoming doors, a low-profile and an overt attempt not to make any statements it was boring in the extreme. It was the first of many such facilities – to be positioned as regularly as post offices, in every city and county in… Continue reading Day #64: Stigma

(Dubia, UAE – February 25th). In an unexpected about-face, Dubai’s Commander-in-Chief of Police, Major General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, refused to answer questions regarding the alleged assassination of Hamas arms procurement specialist Mahmoud al Mabhouh. The Major General instead used his press conference to profess an interest in more mundane police matters, such as ensuring that the Pepsi… Continue reading Day #63: Dubai

Dr. Fred Boehner is not a medical doctor. He is an engineer by training, with a doctorate on magnetics. And he is promising to change the world. Dr. Boehner is a dashing figure, for a scientist. His brown hair, reflecting his military past, is cut Marine short. Unlike some soldiers, he hasn’t let himself go… Continue reading Day #62: Iron Ball

The corporate boardroom’s decor speaks of wealth restrained. Those who know can appreciate the expense of the room. The $7,000 chairs around the $20,000 table. The $3M painting hiding the flat panel display. The rich wood panelling, transplanted from the now historic library of the company’s founder.  And, of course, the incredible 75th-story view over… Continue reading Day #61: Mr. Ubarti

The silence and cold are each, in their own way, bracing. It is midnight in the Rub’ Al Khali, Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter. I have journeyed here, first by Jeep, and then my camel and finally by foot. I am in the heart of the desert. Far above me, the world is covered by a… Continue reading Day #60: Rub' Al Khali

🙂 I get some feedback from people asking why or how I took a position. Let’s say on privatizing the military or having leagues for reading Torah. The answer is, I don’t. I’m just throwing out what-ifs to have people reflect. The story can be quite interesting by taking a fresh perspective on a topic… Continue reading ADMIN: Not all stories are the opinions of the author

This is a follow-on to Wild West – although it stands alone. **** “WHAT?!” shouted my husband. We were in our module, an almost free floating cube of space junk the company called quarters. It was tethered to the asteroid we were mining As we were surrounded by vacuum, Jim could have shouted as loud as… Continue reading Day #59: New Frontier

Little Menashe was three years old when the Jews left Egypt. A little kid, really. Even though only a few months had passed, he had only a tenuous memory of the splitting of the Sea. He remembered being thirsty at the place of bitter waters. He remembered the bloody survivors of a sudden war. And… Continue reading Day #58: Hole in the Wall

People used to envision space exploration as some kind of massive operation governed by great big bureaucracies that were there to make sure everything went smoothly. Others imagined Cowboys and Indians with a totally wild world of unfettered freedom. The reality is the twisted off-spring of both. The fact is, you got to have money… Continue reading Day #57: Wild West

I’ve been sick and very busy so my quality has dropped in the last week or so. I’m hoping to pick up my game in the morning. Now, however, it’s off to bed 🙂