The View Up Here

Last night I had a very lucid, frightening dream about robots. Rod Serling was brainwashed by the robits . I was visiting an R&D company that insisted the robots would be the best thing that ever happened to humans. I saw them in rows, awaiting activation. These weren't any Will Smith-hating I Robot creeps, or Terminator death machines, or frakkin' Toasters, or even this guy . These were giant, menacing, metal boxy things. And there weren't no vacuum cleaner hose arms, neither. I'm sure that's a death ray in his head. I was being guided on a tour, meant to convince me of the goodness of the robots, but I knew better, and I was scared witless. I faked my agreement and went along with the tour, nodding and smiling all the while. Finally we ended up in a giant lecture hall type of room, with a glassed-in office high above looking down. The room was filled with old robots - not the new ones I'd seen lined up awaiting activation. They were all taking a tes...

Hey y'all. I'm in L.A. right now, and I promise to write about that soon, but first I want to express my thoughts about the Rod Serling Conference at Ithaca College held Sept. 9-10, for which I served as Academic Coordinator. The week leading up to the conference was a bit nutty, as you'd expect, made even nuttier by the fact that the Northeast had just been slammed by a tropical storm (I forget who) that left flooding, evacuations, power outtages and destruction in its wake. Thankfully, the Ithaca, NY area was spared, but many of our attendees and presenters had to carefully pick their routes among roadways and airports not underwater. A few people did have to back out at the last minute, which was very unfortunate. Still, we were ready to go Friday morning, and as if to honor the mood of the Twilight Zone, the fog was intense and didn't let up until close to noon. Our presenters were wonderful, and the overall quality of work presented was by far the most academic o...

First of all, how the hell did it get to be September? I hate to admit it, but it does feel like late summer. There's that heavy, pregnant feeling, a bit sluggish, things slowing down just a bit, harvest ready to gather. I can feel this as clearly as I can feel my own heartbeat. It has always been one of my favorite times of year, but this year it has a sad tinge to it. This summer has been so awesome for me that I really don't want to see it slip away. Nevertheless, it is September. The harvest this year: two important events. The Rod Serling Conference at Ithaca College is next weekend (registration is still open!). Working as the Academic Coordinator has been an honor and a wonderful learning experience for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the Serling family and my colleagues at I.C. on this celebration of the work and life of Mr. Serling. The other event is my 2-week recon mission to Los Angeles. I'll head out on the 20th and stay through Oct. 4. ...

Last night was one of those times I'm very happy to be living in Ithaca (so few and far between during the Winter months). I attended a very informal, entertaining and inspirational talk by Mr. Nick Sagan and Mr. JG Hertzler - both with connections to the Star Trek universe (ahhh now the title of this post makes sense!) - cosponsored by Light In Winter and Science Cabaret . Nick Sagan is a wonderfully approachable, down to earth yet introspective writer and speaker. I enjoyed listening to his insights about writing for Trek and his science fiction novels , and hearing about his latest projects . He strikes me as someone who can still feel, or at least appreciate, the underpinnings of hope and awe that Trek is all about for many people. I don't think screenwriters can write successful sci fi film or TV unless they understand what's really at the heart of it - which to say, the heart. Nick told a lovely story about himself and his dad, Carl Sagan, watching Star Wars when h...

This cold is really hanging on and wiping me out. I finally got the xmas decorations down, and Epiphany was well over a week ago. What can I say; I'm Buddhist. I'm excited because tomorrow starts Part Deux of my writing retreat at the Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts . I'm trying to use today to get ready, dealing with mundane stuff at home so that I can get to work with a clear mind. Unfortunately, the congestion in my ears is still making me want to claw my head off like that poor chap in The Caterpillar from Rod Serling's Night Gallery. The never-ending gray skies and on-again-off-again snow fall in Ithaca is driving me just as batty, as it does every year about this time. A close friend of mine observed that I am usually a bitch this time of year (thanks for that). It's kind of true, though. Even with Vit D. supplements and a faux sunlight lamp, I really just despise existence from now until early April. I keep telling myself I need to move out of...

I am honored to be the Academic Coordinator of The Rod Serling Conference for this year. If you are interested in submitting a presentation proposal, please read on: “The Rod Serling Conference,” an interdisciplinary academic conference dedicated to the lasting works of Rod Serling, will be held at the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College, Sept. 9-10, 2011. Explore that unique “dimension of imagination” that was the creative work, teaching, and public conscience of Rod Serling where he taught from 1967 – 1975. Submit papers and presentations by APRIL 1, 2011 to the Rod Serling Conference Committee at serling@ithaca.edu. Include an abstract (max 250 words), A/V needs, short biography of presenter(s) with daytime phone number, mailing address, and e-mail address. More info at: http://www.ithaca.edu/rhp/serling/