“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” —Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough For Love
Welcome to the Renaissance Humans Newsletter, where I focus on sense-making and story-telling in the turbulent twenties. The Renaissance (“rebirth,” in French) spanned from the 14th to the 17th century and marked a period of cultural, artistic, and intellectual renewal in Europe. A Renaissance Human fosters curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and character in a journey of never-ending learning. They cultivate Mind, Body, and Spirit, in service of Community, and oriented to the Transcendentals.
A few quick announcements, updates, and then some recommendations.
Retirement: As of June 1st, I am officially retired from the U.S. Navy. 27 years, six months, four days. Still trying to process—I’ve been in the military longer than I haven’t. I am very fortunate to have made it to this day, when so many of my brothers and sisters didn’t. So far, I thoroughly recommend the practice of retirement. It seems to agree with me. Which leads to the next announcement…..
Back to School: I have been accepted as a student in the Humanities Ph.D. program at Salve Regina University, in Newport, Rhode Island. I am looking forward to the curriculum, which revolves around the question, “what does it mean to be human in an age of advanced technology?” There are many dissertation topics of interest, and I can’t wait to begin exploring. It will be mostly an independent study, with a short in-residence component each semester.
Fiction Update: I first wrote The Infernal Tower as a novella (25,000 words) back in 2011. I completely scrapped that, did a page one rewrite in 2021-22. I had a pair of amazing developmental editors (The Story Ninjas- Randy Surles and Laura Graves) take it apart, and then I mostly rewrote rather than revised based on their feedback. After several other drafts and reader notes— including the two amazing writing groups I am part of—I queried agents and obtained representation. The novel was making submission rounds, but then the agent and I parted ways amicably over some differences. I then had another developmental editor take a look at it (Former Tor editor Chris Morgan) who helped me tighten the story. I did another revision based on that, and I’m currently back in the query trenches. I have a pair of agents doing full manuscript reads. It’s a long, slow, grinding, frustrating process. Tough industry. But the novel will get out into the world, when the time is right. In the meantime, I’ve been churning on short stories and working on the next novel. My takeaway from the process thus far is that you just have to keep going. Published authors, like Brazilian Jiujitsu black belts, are simply the ones who never quit. The ones who Endured.
Recommendations
Metacrisis Anthem: I heard this last week on local public access radio. Globalized supply chains, industrial/factory farming, rampant consumerism, environmental degradation, with notes of Moloch lurking in the background.
"Half A World Away" by Parker Millsap
Who pulls the dirty strings
That wrap around the earth?
Who's choking everything
For its money's worth?
Who grows the food I eat?
Who sews the clothes I wear?
Who murders for my meat?
Who gets it here from there?
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
I’m living in the mouth
Of the big machine
It sucks the spirit out
Sells me shiny things
I’ve learned to hear that ghost
I’ve learned to know his lies
He makes a moving toast
Then drinks the river dry
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
Who made this microphone?
Who mined the metal ore?
Who takes the profit home?
Who stays poor?
Who deals the mercy out?
Who's made to beg for more?
You know I have my doubts
That I could pay my debt
That I could settle my score
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
From half a world away
I love reading Freya India. She is wise beyond her years. Great perspective from a Gen Zer, on Gen Z and the state of the world.
This is over three hours long. That may seem daunting, but it’s a really enjoyable discussion. Spotify link here. I haven’t read the white paper they discuss yet, but it will come out on The Consilience Project website in the near future. Throw it on for a walk, making dinner, chopping wood, whilst fighting in a no-holds barred secret international martial arts tournament (Wait, correction, that’s the plot of the movie Bloodsport).
Finally, in honor of the D-Day Anniversary, this essay by COL Keith Nightingale is well worth reading, about the landing on Omaha Beach. From the piece:
This was the pivotal watershed moment of D Day--three Navy officers and four Rangers, disobeyed orders and created the decisive acts of disobedience that saved the beach. As a major in Frederick the Great's German army admonished a lieutenant during a battle:
"The King gave you a commission because he assumed you knew when to disobey an order."
There is a lesson here. Flexibility exercised with good judgment is a pearl without price if it resides within the mind of the man on the spot.
Have a great week!
Congratulations on retirement! It's nice out here on the other side. I love the fact that you're getting your PhD, and in a great subject, too. It is a fascinating subject when get down to it. And love the published authors and black belt reference, pretty much says it all. Badass.
Lots to digest. Congrads on your retirement and next chapter ❤️