Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: Meet Dallas Thain

Welcome joyous readers. Thanks for being here.

Everyone knows Max Gavaskar. Not everyone knows her husband Dallas Thain. He likes it that way.

I’ve known Dallas since he was born just before we moved from planet Harappa to planet Lava. I watched him grow up. As a lad he was adventurous and explored his environment with passion and curiosity. It was this curiosity and sense of adventure that led him to join Tom Starr’s first exploration of the far side of Kusha. He did so by stowing away in Tom’s boat and not revealing him self until it was too late for Tom to turn around. The two of them made the discovery that eventually led to Max Gavaskar deciphering the Fordian writing and making first contact.

Dallas was with Max when she fell into the whirlpools at Insight Point  (which was then called the Toilet Bowl). His brave actions then may have saved Max’s life and also been the spark that helped her come to her great insight. He was also with her on her Earth adventure, again helping to protect her when she was assaulted by Gary Meyer. He stood beside her when she gave her inspirational speech in Estonia and supported her during the following peace conference.

When that was over he stepped into the background, never to be heard from again. At least not heard from by the public at large. He was very active in local politics, at one time being on the Harappa City Council. 

Most of his time was spent caring for their two kids and the property they settled. Dallas became quite a gardner and I understand that Max especially enjoyed eating produce from their own private garden.

I still meet with Dallas and his dad for cider occasionally. We chew the fat over tall mugs and solve the Milky Way’s problems . . . at least the ones that Max Gavaskar hasn’t already solved.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: Meet Max's Kids

Welcome kind readers. Thanks for being here.

Max Gavaskar was both the most famous person in the galaxy and one of the most private persons too. Most folks know much about her professional life. Even school children know about her famous insight and how she parlayed her fame into a solution for the building Galactic War.

But, not everyone knows much about her personal life. Some know that she married Dallas Thain and they lived together on Kusha just north of Harappa City, at least when Max wasn’t traveling the Milky Way solving problems.

Very few people know that she also raised two kids. Mary was first born. She’s stayed on Kusha and has a family of her own. Like her mother would have liked, Mary lives a quiet life. Her and her husband, Mike, live in a small farm a little further out than Max and Dallas’ place.

Second born was Miles. He’s lived a life more like his mother’s professional life. As soon as he was old enough he talked Max into taking him along with her on diplomatic missions. He is quite a charming person and he established contacts all over the galaxy. He now is a business consultant specializing in making inter planetary deals. He has a place on Kusha but he travels so much he’s rarely here. I haven’t seen him in years, though I understand that he is due to come home for a visit very soon. Perhaps his mother’s failing health has something to do with this.

Tomorrow: Who is Dallas Thain?

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: Max Gavaskar's love life.

Welcome great readers. Thanks for being here.

This week we’re looking into the life of Max Gavaskar. Most people know how she became known as the Mother of the Galaxy, a name she hates, but not many people know the private Max.

I met her just after she escaped her exile on planet Lava. While on Lava she met my friend Dorian Thain and together they made their way on to an SID starship, hiding in the pantry, and got to planet Kusha.

When they got here the first place they went to was my house. I am proud to say that Max lived under my roof for several weeks while we were trying to depose the people who had staged a coup while Dorian was away at a peace conference on planet Earth. 

While that was being done Max was sent to the far side of planet Kusha where she had her insight and made her big discovery. Every school child knows the story of Max falling into the whirlpool at Insight Point, which was then called The Toilet Bowl.

What people don’t know about that time in Max’s life or at least most people don’t consider how young she was at the time. She was still such a young woman with a young person’s views and problems. 

She was a very attractive young woman and many young men tried to get her attention. As smart as she is, social interactions were always difficult for her. It wasn’t so much shyness but more a protective shell she’d created during her exile.

Fortunately she found the perfect partner in Dallas Thain, Dorian’s son. Dallas is a quiet and sweet man. When he and Max went on their exploration of the farside of Kusha they were both so wrapped up in the mission that they didn’t realize the forming connection until it was too late. The fell in love before they knew it.

When Max became famous Dallas was her foundation. He ran the home life and kept the hearth warm for Max’s return. He stayed completely in the background and I’d venture to guess that many if not most people don’t even know Dallas’ name. I think people know that Max is married and has a family but probably don’t know the names of her husband or kids.

Tomorrow: Max’s family.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: Meet Max Gavaskar

Welcome fine readers. Thanks for being here.

It’s all about Max Gavaskar isn’t it? I mean she rose to become the most influential person, regardless of species, in the Milky Way. Certainly as a species the Fordians of the Lors have been more engaged over the long haul but even they have not had the impact that our little Max has.

Much has been written about her insights, her exile on planet Lava and her call for peace. On the other hand she has always been a private person. She never sought out the attention. She just did a few things that caused everyone to look at her.

From her first date, where she fell into the pool, making her dress nearly invisible, to her call to peace in Estonia, she has drawn attention to her self without actually seeking attention.

I think that is some of her appeal. To my way of thinking the best leader is someone who has to be drug kicking and screaming to the stage. My friend Dorian Thain is also such a leader. He and Max share several qualities. Both are self effacing, modest and more interested in life and the experience of it than they are in influencing others and how they experience it. I have never observed either one enjoying the act of being a leader. I think both of them would have preferred to life in anonymity.

I’d say both are proud of their accomplishments. Both feel that they have done their part to improve the lives of people everywhere.

So . . . this week we’ll take a look into Max’s life. What made her tick behind the scenes. What was she doing when she wasn’t on diplomatic missions and saving the galaxy from itself?

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Bubba the Science Fan's Friday Blog: Why are some people afraid of peace?

Welcome excellent readers. Thanks for being here.

Doom and gloom seems to be on the mind of many people. Israel, Palestine, The Ukraine, Iraq and more trouble spots occupy our thoughts. Indeed there are atrocities happening in these places. In some of these trouble spots there seems to be no end in sight.

How can I reasonably argue that were are in peaceful times? I must be crazy . . . right? Nope, I’m not. At least not regarding this.

Think about advertising. When I was growing up in the 50’s almost every comic book had a Charles Atlas ad where the skinny weakling guy has sand kicked in his face by the big bully. He takes the body building course then comes back to beat up the bully. Are there any ads around now that suggest violence is a solution to any problem? In the 60’s it was common to see men spanking their wives for not having dinner ready or for allowing a waxy yellow build up on the kitchen floor.

Crime is down, war is becoming rarer all the time. The US is the only modern nation that still regularly engages in preemptive war. And, we’ve shown some decent reticence in recent years. 

Bullying is being challenged in schools everywhere. We are no longer tolerating violence like we used to.

So then, why do so many people argue that things are so bad? I have a new theory. 

I believe some of the problem is that some religious groups have a vested interest in promoting the need for salvation. If the secular world is getting more peaceful as we move further and further away from our ancient religious traditions, doesn’t that make these old religions look bad? I don’t blame religion for all our wars but it has certainly played a big part in dividing people and setting them against each other.

There are political groups that wish us to all be fearful of our neighbors. If we aren’t afraid then we might be less likely to support huge investments in national defense. How can you justify America’s massive military spending when the facts indicate we are living in one of the most peaceful times in human history?

Lastly many earnest activists seem afraid to accept the fact that we are becoming more peaceful. I believe this is because they fear that people will become complacent if they believe we are indeed becoming more peaceful. It is hard enough to get people to pay attention when they are afraid.

I contend that if we let the truth be told that humans are becoming more peaceful, less violent that humanity will see the light at the end of a very long, very dark tunnel.

Believe in peace. Work for it. We can have it if we try.

Never mix red wine with Oodo, but cider is fine.

Earth Year 2014

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: The Knights of Tarsus

Welcome dreamy readers. Thanks for being here.

The Knights of Tarsus were one of the main villains in the Earth Revolution and they wanted to be the same for the Galactic War. Fortunately their aggressive leader, Mary Carmini, was out of the picture before the Galactic War got going in earnest.

They are now seen as the spiritual leaders of the Milky Way, in part because of our friend Max Gavaskar and the attention she gave them in her plea to stop the war. But, also through the guidance of Paavo Tarvus, who is credited with being the driving force behind the conversion of the Tarsans from the militant theistic group to the open and peaceful organization now known around the galaxy as the keepers of spirit. Their missionaries, once targets of derision and anger are now welcome in every planetary government as advisors.

They are well known across our portion of the galaxy for their tolerance, their commitment to peace and their compassion when people are in need. The Tarsans have set up a disaster relief agency. Any time, anywhere in the galaxy that suffers from a natural disaster, the Knights of Tarsus are the first to arrive with help.

People of many species seek the spiritual guidance from the Tarsan priests.

It is not true that they have abandoned their god and messiah as some claim. However, they tend to keep their discussion about that part of their belief system to themselves when administering to people from other worlds and belief systems.

The core of their beliefs that they show to the outside is a firm commitment to peace, treating everything with respect and harming no one or no thing unless it is to prevent even more harm.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: The Rise of the Knights of Tarsus

Welcome cherished readers. Thanks for being here.

This week we’ve been discussing some ancient Earth history. Today the Knights of Tarsus.

They formed as an underground in response to the rise of the Greenies. The Greens made illegal all the ancient religions forcing them to hide their devotions. Some people still argue that severing ties with the tribal beliefs is a good thing. This despite the redemption of the Tarsans in Estonia.

When the Greenies fell at the beginning of the Earth Revolution the Knights of Tarsus seized the opportunity to place themselves in a position of power in the Americas and eventually Europe. 

Here is where I have to bring up a sore subject for many Harappans . . . Mary Carmini. Harappans of a certain age cringe when they hear that name. She was part of the diplomatic mission that my friend Dorian Thain went on when we first met the Earthers. 

Dorian was abducted by a group called the Friends and that helped him get a voice to say that we Harappans thought the Green Bible was a fake, that it did not sound at all like the philosophy of the Founder, Marcus Johnson.

Mary Carmini was then abducted by the Tarsans. She took that opportunity to place herself in a position of power within their body. Hindsight shows us that it is quite possible she was the driving force behind their violent acts. We don’t know much about their leadership before Mrs. Carmini, but she soon became the face of the organization.

Her demise seemed to take the steam out of their expansionist movement. That was also when First Contact was happening and many historians argue that contact with alien species was the primary factor in the Tarsans mellowing.

Tomorrow: The Evolution of the Tarsans

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: The Fall of the Greenies

Welcome bright readers. Thanks for being here.

This week we’re going over some ancient Earth history for our readers who aren’t familiar with the human homeworld.

The period from Earth Year 2190 to 2391was called the Pax Veridis (not to be confused with the drug of the same name). Shortly after Marcus Johnson left for planet Harappa a text called the Green Bible was attributed to him on Earth. We now know the book was a fraud created by a think tank to control the masses. A new religion formed around this text and very soon the Greenies took over. They filled the vacuum left by the fall of world governments around the globe.

They established the Leadership Council which ruled for the Greenies. The Scribes Guild was formed to be the face and voice of the LC and soon the actual leaders disappeared from public view. Eventually the Criers Guild was absorbed into the fold and they became the controlling unit. The Criers were in every town and city letting the people know only what the LC wanted them to know.

Then shortly after humans from Earth made contact with Harappa a delegation of Harappans was sent to Earth on a diplomatic mission to reunite the human worlds. Well, that didn’t go so well did it? My friend Dorian Thain spoke up about the Green Bible having nothing in it that sounded like Marcus Johnson. That was the spark that ignited the Earth Revolution.

Soon, groups that had been long suppressed seized this moment to assault the LC and their fall was swift and complete.

The Science and Industry Division which was created by the Greenies to maintain food and other production as well as scientific research survived the Revolution in part because they provided so many tangible benefits but also because they distanced themselves from the LC as soon as things started falling for the Greenies.

Tomorrow: The Rise of the Knights of Tarsus

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: How humans rose to prominence in the Milky Way

Welcome awesome readers. Thanks for being here.

I hope all you readers had a great weekend. While I was playing with my band the Gutterminds at the festival this weekend it occurred to me that some of my readers may not be human and you may not know the story of how humanity came to prominence in the galaxy. I’m sure you all know who Max Gavaskar is and her story but you might not know what led to her story.

Humans first left our star system almost four hundred years ago in Earth year 2094, when Marcus Johnson led two thousand followers (including Dean and Lori Normer, my ancestors) to planet Harappa. We’d been there two hundred years when the Earthship Marcus Johnson showed up with word that humanity had developed faster than light technology.

In a fight for resources (the mineral illumaphane which is essential for FTL) planet Harappa was knocked off it’s already wobbly orbit and sent spiraling toward it’s sun. It should complete that journey within a few months. Scientist are there watching the final moments of the planet’s death spiral.

My friend Dorian Thain negotiated with the SID, the political power of the Earthers after the fall of the Greenies (more on that tomorrow). He arranged for Harappans to take possession of Kusha while giving Harappa to the SID for mining and planet Lava to them as well. Lava is a world tipped on it’s side and only livable on a narrow belt around it’s equator. Kusha on the other hand is the garden spot of the Milky Way.

Shortly after we settled Kusha we were contacted by an alien race called the Fordians. They claimed that Kusha was an ecological preserve of theirs. They meant to move us off the world but, again my friend Dorian along with the help of Max Gavaskar herself negotiated with them allowing us to keep possession of this wonderful world. At the same time Max Gavaskar solved the problem with the FTL that allowed all advanced species to travel freely around the galaxy and we all know how THAT turned out.

Tomorrow: The fall of the Greenies and the rise of the Knights of Tarsus.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Bubba's Friday Blog: Having a positive attitude.

Welcome gentle readers. Thanks for being here.

In last week’s Friday science blog I laid out my reasoning for why I think peace is possible. Not too long ago I wrote about being the “Nicest atheist” a Jehovah’s Witness had ever met.

The connection? When I was a young man I often got the comment from strangers, “What are you smiling about? What do you think is so funny?” This happened a lot. I recently noticed that it doesn’t happen any more and I resolved to smile more and be more positive.

I think it’s working. I got a new job that is huge fun and I seem to be good at it. I’m hosting at the tasting room of Finnriver Cidery. I’ve gotten more compliments from guests there than I’ve gotten in a long time. I’m working with sweet, upbeat people. The owners seem very honest, very caring. My supervisor is a beautiful young woman who’s beauty comes in part from her enthusiasm and joy.

When I decided to turn around my attitude other parts of my life followed. Yesterday I had a short debate on Facebook. One friend posted a comment about not trusting people, they would most likely let you down and that most people are self centered and vain. I posted that I did not agree. Then I went back and forth with someone else who wanted to say that people are crap. You can’t trust ‘em.

I refuse to believe that. I hope you do too. The more people we can get to have a positive attitude the better the world would be.

Never mix red wine with Oodo, but cider is fine.

Earth Year 2014

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: The Tellon Berry Festival

Welcome fine readers. Thanks for being here.

It’s that time of year again. Time for the Tellon Berry Festival. You know what that means don’t you? The Kushan Yam festival is right around the corner!

Just kidding . . . kind of. Summer on Kusha is a series of festivals honoring various forms of Kushan Food. Cooks from around the settled portions of our world will come to Harappa City to showcase their recipes and crafts.

Earlier this week I discussed some of the new technologies and scientific research, but for most people life on Kusha and from what I’ve seen around the advanced Milky Way, people are more into simple pleasures. Visiting with friends and family, eating good food, drinking good ales, beers, wines and sometimes Oodo.

Histories of the advance species in our galaxy tend to follow a pattern. When they emerge from their tribal darkness they tend to have a century or two affair with technology. Then they settle down with the techs that really work for them and they get back to basics. Tech is for research.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: Death Watch for Planet Harappa

Welcome great readers. Thanks for being here.

I live on planet Kusha but I still think of myself as Harappan. I was born there, I grew up there, my roots are there.

The death watch for my Homeworld continues. I believe the last of the mining drones have been removed and nothing operable is left on the surface. Current estimates are that the world will crumble in about three standard months.

There will be 3-deo coverage of course so I don’t plan to go. Dorian is staying home too. He says he wants to be near Max. Her health is getting worse. Some think she wont last too much longer. I’ll have more on this tomorrow.

A lot of Kushans are planning on going. The Lors are arranging a vessel to take humans there to view the event. As the date is narrowed down I’ll post information here about it.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: Science in 2480

Welcome great readers. Thanks for being here.

Yesterday I mentioned that scientists have been doing some great things without having to work on creating machines for war. So, what are they doing?

The Lors have made progress on their project to understand the nature of the space outside the universe or the inter-universal gap. We’ve come to a much greater understanding of how star systems form. With the travel restrictions lifted, people are able to explore thousands of previously unknown systems.

We don’t hear much from the Fordian scientists. They have indeed been gathering data on planetary systems but they don’t seem to be making any new theories or proposals.

The Taxian scientists have been working on discovering the origin of the primal bacteria. They don’t have a source yet but they have located the original strain and claim that they are getting very close to learning about the beginning of this life.

Human scientists haven’t made many great waves in the scientific world beyond our own home-worlds. With the collapse of the SID humanity no longer has an organized body directing our scientific research. Most advanced species in the Milky Way do this.

Human scientists work mostly alone or in our educational institutions. The current generation of humans have been working on rebuilding our civilization. We were fractured during the Pax Veredis, now living on four (soon to be three) separate worlds, Earth, Lava, Kusha and for a few weeks more Harappa.

Earth has been rebuilding after a half a generation of religious wars and suppression by the Greenies. Lava is in recovery from the vacuum left by the fall of the SID and Kusha is still in our pioneer phase. There is much work to do on all the human worlds before we will have the luxury to engage in much “pure” science.

Tomorrow: The latest on the Harappan Death Watch.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: The Pax Gavaskar

Welcome marvelous readers. Thanks for being here.

It’s been over a year since I started this blog. I let the anniversary pass without mention because I hadn’t realized that I have been doing this for more than a year.

It’s been a quiet year on planet Kusha. It’s been a quiet few decades here. People are starting to call it the Pax Gavaskar. Our little Max brought about something special, something that’s lasted, at least for the brief flicker of one human life.

Still, life goes on and we make the best of a great time. Much scientific research has opened up new discoveries, even for the species that have been tech savvy for hundreds of thousands of years. We are much closer to discovering the origin of the primal bacteria that seems to have spread life around the milky Way. The Lors are making great strides in learning about the inter-universal gaps and the nature of space there.

Peace has many dividends beyond the absence of war. Scientists can divert their attention away from destructive technologies and focus on things more beneficial to life and civilization.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480

Bubba the Science Fan's Science Blog: Is Peace Possible?

Welcome fine readers. Thanks for being here.

I am still recovering from the Evolution Expo. What a wonderful time I had there. Meeting celebrities and learning new things about science. The best kind of fun teaches you something. I look forward to next year there.

Looking forward I want do discuss something I try to deal with in my novel “The Mother of the Galaxy” due out soon.

Is peace possible?

I have to believe it is. Certainly, there are historical arguments that it is not so. Humanity has fought over resources and philosophy as long as we can remember. Many theists tell us that they would kill and steal if it weren’t for their god. It doesn’t sound good for humanity. Without dealing with what we are doing to the Earth’e climate I see a bright future. (assuming we can deal with the climate) I see solutions for resource management and distribution. I see technological solutions to many of our problems and I see religious dogma waning.

Several years ago I moved to a small town in Oregon. I was struck by how polite everyone was. Part of that was just that Oregonians tend to be nice people but much of it was the :small town feeling”. People weren’t jerks because they would probably have to deal with the other person some time soon. It is a small town.

The internet is beginning to create a “small town” vibe around the globe. Sure much communication on the net is rude and offensive but I think that will eventually change when we do more of our business on line.

Certainly if the climate fails there will be huge fights over resources. I continue to hold out hope that we will address what we are doing to our world and that we will learn to work for a common good. We will learn to consider that all of humanity, indeed all of life on planet Earth is family. We are all living in the same “small town”.

Never mix red wine with Oodo.

Earth Year 2014

Philip the Bard's Harappan Blog: Earth vs. Kusha

Welcome terrific readers. Thanks for being here.

Since I’ve come back from a short “stay-cation” I’ve been rambling on about some of the human worlds. We haven’t talked too much about the Homeworld. 

As a Harappan I have often been at odds with the Earthers. I think most Harappans have in inborn distrust of anything connected to Earth. This is a pain who’s roots go very deep. I can, however, step back and appreciate the world for what it is, a beautiful planet.

The landscape of Earth is as dramatic as any livable world. Of course many of the uninhabited worlds have dramatic landscapes as a result of the forces that make them unlivable.

For a planet with a strong atmosphere the mountains on Earth are quite lovely. Earth has an exceptionally diverse ecosystem and has many of the environments that other alien species live in. You can find almost anything you like on Planet Earth. Deserts, it’s got ‘em. Oceans, yep. Mountains aplenty and grand river systems as fine as anywhere.

Some Kushans and Earthers will get into a friendly debate about which planet is most beautiful. I hear the Earth sky is a lovely shade of blue but there is no way it can compare with the Kushan sky. Kusha might not have the grand mountain ranges that Earth has but has much more farmable land.

These kinds of arguments are silly in their way. How can you compare a rose with a tulip? A tellon berry from an apple? Still, we have these impossible debates and we enjoy debating something that can not be debated. 

As long as this is done over a mug of cider or cold beer.

Never mix red wine and Oodo.

Philip Normer

Kushan Year 88

Earth Year 2480