Brilliant is listed on Goodreads with Jim Bennett's five star review.
Throughout Brilliant, steveLearn is where Jennifer learns new material, takes college courses, and practices on the Brilliant Bridge Simulator. Here is the story of that technology.
steve
In 2019, Alexandra Warner received her Ph.D. From Harvard in Educational Psychology. Based on her love for working with both kids and computers her undergraduate work included a double major in Child Psychology and Computer Science. A descendant of Hollywood royalty, she returned to her hometown of Burbank and became one of the first faculty members at the newly formed University of Van Nuys.
Throughout Brilliant, steveLearn is where Jennifer learns new material, takes college courses, and practices on the Brilliant Bridge Simulator. Here is the story of that technology.
steve
In 2019, Alexandra Warner received her Ph.D. From Harvard in Educational Psychology. Based on her love for working with both kids and computers her undergraduate work included a double major in Child Psychology and Computer Science. A descendant of Hollywood royalty, she returned to her hometown of Burbank and became one of the first faculty members at the newly formed University of Van Nuys.
by Jim Bennett
Review of Brilliant by Rick Lakin, Available for pre-sale on Amazon.com
Science fiction, technology, tennis, and mostly humans interacting.
This is three hundred plus pages of mostly sheer action. It is well written, with clearly defined characters and the necessary tensions.
The future has a number of technical innovations, but they are not used ‘deus ex machina’ but are part of the story’s world. People interact and grow. You will find yourself liking most of the characters.
The scenes of conflict are very well done and I can’t easily show you with small quotes. But let me try.
It is well written, with clearly defined characters and the necessary tensions.
The future has a number of technical innovations, but they are not used ‘deus ex machina’ but are part of the story’s world. People interact and grow. You will find yourself liking most of the characters.
The scenes of conflict are very well done and I can’t easily show you with small quotes. But let me try.
“Well, at least you get to follow your dream this summer.”
Jennifer looked away and shrugged. “If I get in.”
“Come on. You’re way over-qualified. You had a great interview,” Tayla smiled at her friend. “You’ll be starting that internship before you know it.”
Jennifer bit her lip. “Assuming Mom agrees.”
“Your mom understands you and trusts you. She’ll let you go.”
Jennifer looked Tayla in the eye. “I’m going to find him.”
Tayla paused and looked at Jennifer, “Your father?”
“Yes.”
“You think he’s alive?”
“I know he is.”
“The vision thing?”
Now let me try again:
Jennifer remembered the day she found the file on her mother’s computer. Jennifer was surprised that her mother would keep a news story that was many years old. Then she looked at the date. December 10, 2049. Mom was pregnant with me then. Was he my father?
And again:
“Captain, they are running and hiding,” Hanna said.
“The ship is grounded. Lowering the ramp.”
“I, for one, am famished. It is almost noon. Let’s see if these filmmakers will invite us to lunch.”
The three time-travelers emerged and walked toward the movie set location.
I have not even tried to handle the battle scenes and the tennis matches. You will have to buy the book to read them. Now for my star count boilerplate.
My personal guidelines, when doing an ‘official’ KBR review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. I try hard to be consistent. I have read a Lot of science fiction, and many novels. Five stars is my evaluation. Extremely recommended.
Kindle Book Review Team member.
(Note: this reviewer received a free copy of this book for an independent review. He is not associated with the author or Amazon.)
Chapter One – Enter the Pirate
Front Steps of Harry Ford Academy
Jennifer and Tayla walked slowly down the path to the parking lot on the last day of school. Other excited students passed them in a rush to begin their summer.
“So glad school’s finally out,” Jennifer said.
Tayla grunted, “After I graduate Sunday, I don’t plan to set foot in this school again. You should’ve graduated with me.”
“Graduating early sounds good, but I still want to walk with my class next year.” Continue reading
By ricklakin
When retired employees gather, the funny tales fly back and forth. Here are stories from people employed over eight decades at General Dynamics, a U.S. aviation and aerospace company headquartered in San Diego, California that began as Consolidated Aircraft, later Convair, became part of General Dynamics branching into Astronautics, Space Systems and then spun off several other corporate entities.
From Southern California to the beaches of Cape Canaveral, these employees created thousands of B-24 bombers that helped win World War II, some of the first commercial airliners, the Atlas Rocket which took Astronaut John Glenn into orbit and the Tomahawk Cruise Missile, which revolutionized Naval Warfare.
Tom Leech’s newest book is Fun on the Job, Amusing and true tales from Rosie-the-Riveters to
Rocket Scientists at a Major Aerospace Company. Tom Leech was with the San Diego General Dynamics aerospace operation for two decades, with assignments in business development, engineering and internal communication (including as division ombudsman, one of the first in corporate America). That GD career provided a solid base for starting his own consulting firm as a presentations coach, seminar leader and conference speaker.
His articles have appeared in many publications, including San Diego Magazine, Presentations, Frontier Airlines, Executive Excellence, and The Toastmaster. His article “How General Dynamics Integrated the Cape,” originally in the San Diego Union, was reprinted in Quest: the History of Spaceflight Quarterly.
The third edition of his highly-successful book, How To Prepare, Stage & Deliver Winning Presentations (AMACOM, 2004), was lauded as one of only two “Top of the Class” books on the subject by Presentations Magazine. He’s author of Say it like Shakespeare: the Bard’s Timeless Tips for Communication Success, an update of the McGraw-Hill First Edition, which has received high praise from many quarters.
Wearing his weekend hat he is co-author, with GD colleague Jack Farnan, of Outdoors San Diego: Hiking, Biking and Camping (Premier 2004) and was longtime Editor of the Outdoors Forum for San Diego Magazine. With his traveler’s hat, he describes his six-months’ wandering the world in On the Road in ’68: a year of turmoil, a journey of friendship. Donning his poet’s cap, he and wife Leslie Johnson-Leech are authors of the children’s tale The Curious Adventures of Santa’s Wayward Elves.
For information about all of his books, visit presentationspress.com. For information about Tom’s coaching, training and speaking services, visit winning-presentations.com. And to expand your nature enjoyment, visit outdoorssandiego.com
By ricklakin
His first elected office was as President of Candy Cane Lane at the age of 10. Since then, Jerry Rindone has dedicated his life to public service as an educator, elected official and community leader. After graduating from Chula Vista High School and receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at San Diego State University, Jerry began teaching high school in his home town, Chula Vista. As Assistant Superintendent for Adult Education, Jerry doubled the size of the program and received a visit from the United States Secretary of Education. From 1997-2007, Jerry served as Principal at Hilltop High School where he was named “Principal of the Year” in 1999 , and “Outstanding Administrator of the Year” in 2002 and 2006. Under Jerry’s leadership, Hilltop High School achieved the coveted designation of “California Distinguished High School” in 2005 and won three straight San Diego Academic Decathlons.
Jerry’s leadership and administrative skills led him to a life of engagement with his local government. After serving on the City Parks and Recreation Commission and the Chula Vista Library Board of Trustees, Jerry was elected to the Chula Vista City Council in 1990, and was re-elected in 1994. In 2000, seeing his city in need of experienced leadership, Jerry was elected to serve two additional terms on the Chula Vista City Council, where he served as the representative to the SANDAG Transportation Committee, served as Vice-Chairman of the Metropolitan Transit System, Chairman of the MTS Budget Development Committee, and played a key role in strengthening the relationship between schools and local government. His 16 years on the City Council is the longest in city history and longer than the combined terms of his opponents.
Jerry completed his term as an elected member of the San Diego County Board of Education in 2012, where he continued his passion for improving the quality of education in San Diego. As a leader on the Board, Jerry utilized public-private partnerships with local businesses to fund the countywide Academic Decathlon Program for the San Diego County Office of Education. He is a leader in gaining community and business support in order to make up for the constant cuts to education funding.
Jerry also served as President the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, President of the “Laurels for Leaders” Scholarship Program, serves on the Crime Prevention Committee, the Scripps Hospital Board, and the American Cancer Society, and was a charter member of the Chula Vista Historical Society.
Visit Jerry at JerryRindone.com
Guests on The Rick Lakin Podcast appear in exchange for promotional considerations.
Theme Music is Energy: http://www.bensound.com
Contact me at ricklakinpodcast@gmail.com
VisitiCrewDigitalPublishing.com
Follow me on Twitter @rickspodcast
By ricklakin
His first elected office was as President of Candy Cane Lane at the age of 10. Since then, Jerry Rindone has dedicated his life to public service as an educator, elected official and community leader. After graduating from Chula Vista High School and receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at San Diego State University, Jerry began teaching high school in his home town, Chula Vista. As Assistant Superintendent for Adult Education, Jerry doubled the size of the program and received a visit from the United States Secretary of Education. From 1997-2007, Jerry served as Principal at Hilltop High School where he was named “Principal of the Year” in 1999 , and “Outstanding Administrator of the Year” in 2002 and 2006. Under Jerry’s leadership, Hilltop High School achieved the coveted designation of “California Distinguished High School” in 2005 and won three straight San Diego Academic Decathlons.
Jerry’s leadership and administrative skills led him to a life of engagement with his local government. After serving on the City Parks and Recreation Commission and the Chula Vista Library Board of Trustees, Jerry was elected to the Chula Vista City Council in 1990, and was re-elected in 1994. In 2000, seeing his city in need of experienced leadership, Jerry was elected to serve two additional terms on the Chula Vista City Council, where he served as the representative to the SANDAG Transportation Committee, served as Vice-Chairman of the Metropolitan Transit System, Chairman of the MTS Budget Development Committee, and played a key role in strengthening the relationship between schools and local government. His 16 years on the City Council is the longest in city history and longer than the combined terms of his opponents.
Jerry completed his term as an elected member of the San Diego County Board of Education in 2012, where he continued his passion for improving the quality of education in San Diego. As a leader on the Board, Jerry utilized public-private partnerships with local businesses to fund the countywide Academic Decathlon Program for the San Diego County Office of Education. He is a leader in gaining community and business support in order to make up for the constant cuts to education funding.
Jerry also served as President the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, President of the “Laurels for Leaders” Scholarship Program, serves on the Crime Prevention Committee, the Scripps Hospital Board, and the American Cancer Society, and was a charter member of the Chula Vista Historical Society.
Visit Jerry at JerryRindone.com
Guests on The Rick Lakin Podcast appear in exchange for promotional considerations.
Theme Music is Energy: http://www.bensound.com
Contact me at ricklakinpodcast@gmail.com
VisitiCrewDigitalPublishing.com
Follow me on Twitter @rickspodcast
By ricklakin
My name is Jim Bennett. I have a website at jim-bennett.ca with a welcome page, a blog (writing, writers, and politics) and pages promoting my work. I have provided a few references I think valuable to other human beings, and a plug for the charity at which I volunteer.
I am a writer, mostly poetry, with previous publishing successes. I have several collections of poetry available on Amazon/Kindle. Selection was taken from poems I have work-shopped and worked on and had validated by “my” group of professional writers. See my website’s Available Now page for more.
My first Amazon / Kindle book is about death and aging, weakness and coping, hope and despair, and the real human excellence which allows us to rise above our difficulties and love each other, and sometimes even like ourselves. The title poem is Cold Comes Through; there are several poems about my father, whose early death still haunts me.
My second Amazon / Kindle book is about relationships. Some non-starters, some OK, some in trouble, some destructing. The title poem is Behind the Lime Kilns, a drama I made up out of various experiences.
My third Amazon / Kindle book is called Hard Landing, and is about difficult situations and the individuals in them. I have also added ten salacious limericks and some other just-for-fun pieces to lighten up a bit. You may see yourself, your friend, your enemy in the difficult personal experiences captured in these poems. This one book is not for children nor squeamish adults.
My fourth Amazon / Kindle book is titled The Scroll of the Violin. It is about religion and irreligion, belief and disbelief, trial and error, success, relationships, and joy. What it means to be alive and mortal is explored here.
My fifth Amazon / Kindle book is titled Retirement Clock. Some of the poems are a form of time travel: Grand Prix races at Watkins Glen, 9-11 and other disasters (some Canadian), aging and coping, and the cynicism of business success and retirement layoffs. Plus a few poems questioning existence in different ways. What does it mean to come back? from a trip? from an assignment? from a job? These poems will share such experiences with you.
My personal interests include biology and religion. I started out with Shroedinger’s title question, What is Life, and delved into biochemistry, biology, microscopy. Quantum effects became important so I sort-of understand that (badly). Social effects made themselves noticed, thus a study of Joseph Campbell and Bruce Feiler, on myths and religion. I have read the Koran in two different (English) translations, cover to cover. I do not claim to understand it, but I have a fair idea of what it says. I think.
My own religious background is Christian, now highly diluted. Yet I volunteer at a Catholic charity, and load boxes and things onto shipping containers, two mornings a week. I’ve been doing this for years. I retired early, and can spare that much time for a good cause.
I have subscriptions to Scientific American, Popular Photography, and Nature (UK science/research magazine). My head does hurt sometimes when reading the last.
I keep tropical fish. I am a photographer of some ability; I’ve done two weddings (swore never again after the first one, it’s work!) but prefer arty outdoor scenes. And travel photos. And anything my wife tells me to shoot: sometimes I execute better than she, but just don’t see the opportunities she does.
I have degrees from University of Toronto. I worked in data processing for IBM and a large Canadian bank. I was once addressed as Mister Systems Architect by an IBM honcho of Finance Industry Marketing. I was good at what I did. It was interesting and challenging.
One thing I learned from development projects is, the product belongs to the client and perhaps the company, but the results of the teamwork, including know-how and mutual respect, belong to the team.
Thus my interest in poetry. I’ve been in the team on Earth for awhile and have come to many observations. Now I am finding ways, in this new and open digital world, of sharing those with others.
I want each one of you to have a chance to profit from, recognize yourself in, or laugh or cry, with or at, some of my poems. They were written for us, that is, for you.
Jim Email: jim.jimb@gmail.com
Note: Jim Bennett has previously published poems in Event, The Fiddlehead, The New Quarterly, and Prairie Fire. Another poem was published by Quest Booksellers Review in conjunction with a review Jim was asked to write for Margaret Atwood’s poetry collection, Morning in the Burned House. Another poem was included in Cathy Miyata’s book, Speaking Rules! which teaches how to teach young children public speaking. The collection Cold Comes Through contains fifty entirely new poems, as does the collection Behind the Lime Kilns, at 56 new poems, Hard Landing, at 57, the Scroll of the Violin at 69 shorter poems, and Retirement Clock at 54 longer ones. Every book contains entirely new, first-published, poems.
My name is Jim Bennett. I have a website at jim-bennett.ca with a welcome page, a blog (writing, writers, and politics) and pages promoting my work. I have provided a few references I think valuable to other human beings, and a plug for the charity at which I volunteer.
I am a writer, mostly poetry, with previous publishing successes. I have several collections of poetry available on Amazon/Kindle. Selection was taken from poems I have work-shopped and worked on and had validated by “my” group of professional writers. See my website’s Available Now page for more.
My first Amazon / Kindle book is about death and aging, weakness and coping, hope and despair, and the real human excellence which allows us to rise above our difficulties and love each other, and sometimes even like ourselves. The title poem is Cold Comes Through; there are several poems about my father, whose early death still haunts me.
My second Amazon / Kindle book is about relationships. Some non-starters, some OK, some in trouble, some destructing. The title poem is Behind the Lime Kilns, a drama I made up out of various experiences.
My third Amazon / Kindle book is called Hard Landing, and is about difficult situations and the individuals in them. I have also added ten salacious limericks and some other just-for-fun pieces to lighten up a bit. You may see yourself, your friend, your enemy in the difficult personal experiences captured in these poems. This one book is not for children nor squeamish adults.
My fourth Amazon / Kindle book is titled The Scroll of the Violin. It is about religion and irreligion, belief and disbelief, trial and error, success, relationships, and joy. What it means to be alive and mortal is explored here.
My fifth Amazon / Kindle book is titled Retirement Clock. Some of the poems are a form of time travel: Grand Prix races at Watkins Glen, 9-11 and other disasters (some Canadian), aging and coping, and the cynicism of business success and retirement layoffs. Plus a few poems questioning existence in different ways. What does it mean to come back? from a trip? from an assignment? from a job? These poems will share such experiences with you.
My personal interests include biology and religion. I started out with Shroedinger’s title question, What is Life, and delved into biochemistry, biology, microscopy. Quantum effects became important so I sort-of understand that (badly). Social effects made themselves noticed, thus a study of Joseph Campbell and Bruce Feiler, on myths and religion. I have read the Koran in two different (English) translations, cover to cover. I do not claim to understand it, but I have a fair idea of what it says. I think.
My own religious background is Christian, now highly diluted. Yet I volunteer at a Catholic charity, and load boxes and things onto shipping containers, two mornings a week. I’ve been doing this for years. I retired early, and can spare that much time for a good cause.
I have subscriptions to Scientific American, Popular Photography, and Nature (UK science/research magazine). My head does hurt sometimes when reading the last.
I keep tropical fish. I am a photographer of some ability; I’ve done two weddings (swore never again after the first one, it’s work!) but prefer arty outdoor scenes. And travel photos. And anything my wife tells me to shoot: sometimes I execute better than she, but just don’t see the opportunities she does.
I have degrees from University of Toronto. I worked in data processing for IBM and a large Canadian bank. I was once addressed as Mister Systems Architect by an IBM honcho of Finance Industry Marketing. I was good at what I did. It was interesting and challenging.
One thing I learned from development projects is, the product belongs to the client and perhaps the company, but the results of the teamwork, including know-how and mutual respect, belong to the team.
Thus my interest in poetry. I’ve been in the team on Earth for awhile and have come to many observations. Now I am finding ways, in this new and open digital world, of sharing those with others.
I want each one of you to have a chance to profit from, recognize yourself in, or laugh or cry, with or at, some of my poems. They were written for us, that is, for you.
Jim Email: jim.jimb@gmail.com
Note: Jim Bennett has previously published poems in Event, The Fiddlehead, The New Quarterly, and Prairie Fire. Another poem was published by Quest Booksellers Review in conjunction with a review Jim was asked to write for Margaret Atwood’s poetry collection, Morning in the Burned House. Another poem was included in Cathy Miyata’s book, Speaking Rules! which teaches how to teach young children public speaking. The collection Cold Comes Through contains fifty entirely new poems, as does the collection Behind the Lime Kilns, at 56 new poems, Hard Landing, at 57, the Scroll of the Violin at 69 shorter poems, and Retirement Clock at 54 longer ones. Every book contains entirely new, first-published, poems.
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