Why I Support the Iran Nuclear Deal

There is a lot of rhetoric being spewed about the Iran nuclear deal, about how horrible this deal is, how the U.S. will be somehow harmed, about how this deal give Iran free reign to create nuclear bombs.  My two favorite quotes come from Senator Lindsey Graham and Rep. John Boehner, directly after the deal was announced.  Both men claimed that this was the "worst possible outcome" but both men also admit that they hadn't read the deal yet.  In fact, several of the nay-sayers are just spouting off either without knowing the details of this agreement or knowing but ignoring the details.

So, I think we need to disseminate the details of the Iran Nuclear Deal, not the emotional, manipulative balderdash currently inundating the airwaves.

Before the Deal	After the Deal
Iran maintains a nuclear stockpile of 10,000 kg of low-enriched (up to 20%) UF6.  This gives Iran enough material to potentially make 10 or more bombs.	For the next 15 years, the Iran stockpile is limited to 300 kg of only up to 3.67% enriched UF6 or the equivalent amount in other chemical formulas. You need approximately 1,053 kg of UF6 at this enrichment level to make a single bomb.  Therefore, Iran would have less than a third of the material necessary to make a bomb.
No limits to how much nuclear development Iran can do.	Limited nuclear development for 8 years, then a gradual increase at a reasonable pace as determines by the IAEA.
Iran enriches uranium up to 20%.	Iran agrees to limited enrichment to 3.67% or less.
Iran has 19,000 IR-1 and advanced IR-2 centrifuges at Natanz.	Iran will reduced the number to 5,060 IR-1 centrifuges, which will be phased out during the next 10 years. The remaining centrifuges and enrichment-related infrastructure will be stored at and IAEA facility.
At Fordow (the previously secret nuclear research site), Iran has 2,700 IR-1 centrifuges, though only 700 are currently being used to enrich uranium.	Iran agrees that no uranium enrichment, research and development, or nuclear material be allowed at Fordow. Instead, this facility will be converted into a nuclear, physics, and technology center. Only 6 IR-1 centrifuges will remain, with none of them allowed to enrich uranium.
Iran has a heavy water nuclear reactor at Arak.	Iran will close down the heavy water reactor, including filling the core with concrete. Instead, Iran will build a light water reactor. All spent fuel rods will be removed by IAEA officials and stored elsewhere.

This table only lists the concessions by Iran; I'm not listing the myriad of ways Iran agrees to by monitored by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).  The IAEA will work with Iran and must signal that Iran is following the agreement in good faith before either the U.N. or the U.S. begins to remove financial and economic sanctions.

Yes, that means that Iran goes first in making significant changes before we do anything.

You will notice that the U.S. doesn't agree to changing squat with our nuclear programs, our nuclear reactors, or our nuclear weapons.  We aren't giving up anything.  In fact, removing the sanctions has the potential to stimulate our economy as new markets open up.

Yes, I know that the U.S. and Iran don't have a friendly history for these past few decades.  But we're at a turning point.  Right here, right now we have an opportunity to change the future.  We can accept this deal and have a real chance at creating peaceful relations with Iran.  Or we can refuse to allow the possibility of change, and almost guarantee a new war.

I choose peace.  I support the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Book Review: "Grayson, Vol. 1: Agents of Spyral" by Tim Seeley

Grayson, Vol. 1: Agents of Spyral by Tim Seeley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this graphic novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Grayson, Vol. 1: Agents of Spyral" by Tim Seeley relates the tale of what happens after Dick Grayson is publicly tortured, unmasked, and presumably killed. Lucky for us, he secretly survives both physically and mentally. Now Grayson works for a clandestine organization called Spyral. Spyral masks its agents using technology that erases their faces from biological memories, and makes a strange spiral appear as the face in technological memories. Oh, it can either show a face or show a spiral when meeting an agent in person, but regardless you won't remember the face.

Both the writing and the artwork exceed expectations. To be honest, I expected Grayson to perform some incredible physical tricks that rely on his acrobatic skills, and I was not disappointed. But the novel contains so much more. Introspection on Grayson's part, intrigues surrounding his current employer, and more than I can't get into without plot spoilers. Plus, the artistry shines through here, colors jumping out at you during action sequences while shades of grey dominate private moments.

I strongly recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of Dick Grayson, Batman, Teen Titans, or comics in general.

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Book Review: "Letters to Zell" by Camille Griep

Letters to Zell by Camille Griep
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Letters from Zell" by Camille Griep is a collection of letters from CeCi (Cinderella), Bianca (Snow White), and Rory (Briar Rose, known as Sleeping Beauty) to Zell (Raphunzel) who moved rather suddenly to Oz to raise unicorns with her husband, Jason.

The premise behind this book is that fairy tales are created through human imagination, and that all the people in fair tales must finished their "Pages" before moving on the the rest of their life. I find this an interesting premise, especially because we humans don't agree on who each fairy tale person in specifics. Does Cinderella like cleaning, or is she OCD about dirt? Does Raphunzel adore long hair or does she secretly hate to spend the time washing and conditioning it? Is Snow White built like Twiggy or a 1940s pin-up girl? This book handles these questions by giving each of the princesses personalities outside their known fairy tales, and the conflict in the book stems from the internal conflict in each princess as she attempts to reconcile her required behavior with her own internal wants/needs/desires.

I loved reading about the interactions between the ladies, especially since Bianca uses vulgarities and Rory seems almost prissy. How the women relate the same events through the letters provides insights into each personality.

The only negative about this book is that it tells the entire story, instead of showing the reader the events. As a writer, I know that it is preferable to show instead of tell, but Ms. Griep manages to keep the book interesting and engaging in spite this supposed "writing sin".

I recommend this book to anyone who wonders who these princesses would be as real people.

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Author Interview: Hope Schenk-de Michele and Paul Marquez

Today, I have a special post to share with you.  Recently, I spoke with Hope Schenk-de Michele and Paul Marquez, two of the three authors behind the book, "Devil's Daughter:  Lucinda's Pawnshop".  I interviewed them about the book and themselves, and we had a remarkable conversation.

First, a little background...

Hope Schenk-de Michele

Hope Schenk-de Michele and Paul Marquez have been best friends since either kindergarten (according to Paul) or college (according to Hope).  What we do know about Hope and Paul is:

• have lived in southern California since they met; 
• both love being in the television and film production business; 
• both belong to Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS), and International Thriller Writers (IEW);
• worked on dual language programming, such as producing "Humphrey" for Galavision;
• both are persistent!

Hope exudes enthusiasm and energy that translates into her entrepreneurial spirit.  Previously, she owned Post Solutions (a video post-production facility), Electronic Location Productions (a mobile television production company), and Command Concepts (a full-service advertising agency). 

Paul Marquez

Paul has worked in television and film production for the past several years (or maybe decades?), as the executive vice president  of operations for Wilshire Court, a Viacom production company, and as president of Paloma Productions, a production company specializing in dual language productions.  I looked Paul up on IMDB.com, and found him as a producer for the movie "El Grito".




Alas, due to technical difficulties I could not record our interview.  So instead of transcribing our phone call, I will relate their answers to you.

Here's the setup:  Hope called Paul, then conferenced me in.  As the virtual center of the call, Hope's voice came through loud and clear.  Paul sounded a bit muted, though his enthusiasm and energy flowed through when speaking about Lucinda, the main protagonist.

 1.  When did you start writing?

Neither Paul nor Hope have written books or literary works of fiction before now, though both have contributed to screen plays for television shows and films.

 2.  What kind of books do you read?  Do you like science fiction or supernatural stories?

Interestingly, neither reads supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction books.  Hope loves to watch supernatural, science fiction, and fantasy T.V. shows and movies.  We could have talked for hours over shows that we both enjoy.  Paul doesn't really watch supernatural stories, and he chooses not to read these types of books because he doesn't want to be unduly influence by another writer's styles or ideas.

 3.  How do you write a book together?  Who does what part?

Well, Hope and Paul worked on "Lucinda's Pawnshop" for over 10 years.  They met every Sunday morning at 10:00 am, went over the week's revisions, talked out ideas for the plot and characters, and then wrote more together before figuring out who would work on what the next week.   So in a sense, they both did everything in the book. 

Honestly, I have no idea how they managed this, but Hope made it sound easy and companionable.

 4.  How did you come up with  the idea behind your novel?

Paul answered this question.  In his mind, the story of Adam and Eve getting kicked out of Eden did not make sense.  Why would God care about a piece of fruit?  So Paul created a sin he considered worthy of the punishment - adultery.  Lucifer tricks Eve into having sex, impregnating her with his daughter, Lucinda.  

 5.  If you're not writers, how did you write a book?

After working on Lucinda and her story for 10 years, Paul and Hope happened to speak to a mutual friend about their story, asking if he thought it would work better as a T.V. show or a film.  The friend replied that Lucinda would make a better novel, and introduced Paul and Hope to Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff.  Being a professional writer, Ms. Bohnhoff assisted in turning their script into a novel.

 6.  Will there be more books in the series?

Yes!!  Hope confided that the second book is ready for publishing.

 7.  What was the hardest part of writing the book?

I laughed when Hope answered, "The marketing!"  As a published author, I must agree. Writing a book is much easier than marketing a book.

  8. Do you listen to music when you work?  If so, what kind of music?

Neither Hope nor Paul listens to music.  Hope said that she can't work if there is noise in the room.  I know what she means - I find myself to distracted if I can hear someone else.

 9.  What happens now?  Will Lucinda and Nick be happy together?

Sorry, but Hope and Paul refused to answer any questions about future plot.  I am both relieved because I love surprises, and disappointed because I want to know more about these characters.

10.  Who is your favorite character in the book?

Hope - Nathaniel, the fallen angel
Paul - Lucinda
Me - Nathaniel (We actually discussed this for several minutes.)

If you get a chance, I hope you read "The Devil's Daughter: Lucinda's Workshop".  The machinations and Machiavellian maneuvers provide a wonderful counterpoint to the characters in this tale of good v.s. evil.

Kim Davis - A Tale of Mistaken Beliefs

Kim Davis: the county clerk from Kentucky who captured headlines news and continues to hold it as she protests the legalization of gay marriages through her illegal actions.

Religious conservatives applaud her actions.  Liberals scorn her actions.  Gay people just want their bleeping marriage certificates so that they can get married.  Actually, everyone in Rowan County wants their marriage certificates, because Kim Davis refused to give out any marriage certificates after the Supreme Court ruling.

What I don't hear a lot of out there are the basic facts.

Fact #1:  The First Amendment of the Constitution prohibits the government, or anyone representing the government, from preventing the worship of any established religion and from establishing a state religion or creating laws that favor one religion over another.

Fact #2:  A county clerk is by the nature of the job a representative of the government.  So are police officers, school teachers, mayors,...

Fact #3:  The Supreme Court ruled that gay people have the legal right to marry.  Period, end of discussion.

So when Mrs. Davis refused to marry gay people because of her religious beliefs, she was in defiance of both the Supreme Court ruling and the First Amendment.  As a representative of the government, Mrs. Davis agreed to uphold the law and agreed not to foist her religious beliefs upon others.

The judge in her case was exceedingly lenient to her, bending over backwards to find a way to let Mrs. Davis perform her job and not feel compromised on her religion, going so far as to allow Mrs. Davis to hand off all gay couple to deputy clerks.  Mrs. Davis refused.  In fact, Mrs. Davis forced the judge to put her in jail, after which the judge ordered the deputy clerks to hand out marriage certificates to everyone.  Since the deputy clerks have been doing their jobs, Mrs. Davis was released.

If Mrs. Davis feels as if her beliefs are so strong that she cannot allow gay people to pass through the county clerk's office, then she has the right to quit.  If she doesn't want to quit, then she needs to do her job. No one is saying she has to smile and be friendly, though I hope she would be.  No one said that she personally must approve of all the marriages getting certificates.  But she does need to hand them out according to the law.

As for her personal religious beliefs, I find it extremely difficult to swallow her "holier-than-thou" attitude when she's on her fourth marriage, committed adultery, and became impregnated by a man not currently her husband.  

Wordless Wednesday: Oops!!!!

A West Virginia Fire Truck Accidentally Breaks Firehouse

Wordless Wednesday: When A Ruler Isn't Big Enough....