Musings

• Midstream Musings – we scale ourselves and return Sisyphus …

  • Clara’s world – context and characters
    I’m still building out Clara’s world: framing, context, characters, throughlines, homages, scientific & literary references, phrases & terms. And sketching out scenes (sort of story boarding). Gemini chats are helpful (sort of workshopping). Much of this background (like a story in itself) will be part of appendices. Here’s a chat […]
  • Clara’s world … the sky sucks
    © 2026 John HealyDraft 7-28-2026 Epigraph Whether good or evil, something wicked has come to stay, changing the face of night and day. Teaser Introducing Clara’s world Chapter 1 The sky sucks(the glittering cage)(celestial obscura) “The sky sucks!” – an earworm hissed. As the swing lifted her toward the sky, […]
  • AI’s taken my job blues – song
    a contemporary homage to Jim Croce‘s song Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues Intro AI’s taken my job blues (AI’s doing my job now blues)(AI’s going to take my job blues) Well, …I had just got out from my jim-dandy collegeDoin’ pricey years for a degreeTried to find me an […]
  • Casting out images of holy battle – dueling without dualism
    Holy battle – on earth and in the heavens – is a familiar way to depict clashes between cultures and countries, divisions between moral values and spiritual virtues. Especially in turbulent times, riled by social grievance and religious offense. The tone may become apocalyptic, imbued with militant metaphors and sacred […]
  • Beyond A Good Place 10.0 – workshop blueprint
    [A chat with Gemini – executive summary] Beyond The Good Place (The Architecture of 10.0) by nobody+0 Workshop Blueprint [2.0] I. Executive Summary: The Structural Critique of The Good Place The Good Place achieved a rare feat in network television by utilizing the bright, high-stakes scaffolding of a sitcom to […]
  • Comment on AI’s taken my job blues – song by jph
    When doing one's level best requires finding another level … The modern mantra – "Study hard, get these jobs and then you’ll be rewarded" – is getting a reality check. Is there something novel in the current interplay of AI hype and headcount? Throw in your lot (with AI) or […]
  • Comment on A Clear Way for LA – sweeping away homelessness by jph
    • LA Times > "Spared from life on streets again" by Doug Smith (7-15-2026) – New funds [for housing subsidies] and a waiver keep thousands in housing in L.A. County, officials say. An infusion of new funds approved by Congress this year and a waiver of eligibility procedures have staved off […]
  • Comment on Beyond A Good Place 10.0 – transcript by jph
    Regarding the framework of the series: "focusing on ethical behavior rather than religious salvation." • LA Times Voices • 7-9-2026 • "In God he doesn't trust, yet he thrives in Capitol" by Mark Z. Barabak, Columnist Jared Huffman was unstinting and unbowed as he raised an arm heavenward. … "I […]
  • Comment on A Clear Way for LA – sweeping away homelessness by jph
    • LA Times > "Progress on Skid Row still falling short" by Steve Lopez, Columnist (7-9-2026) – There’s been a lot of focus on the area, but it resembles its old self. On my way through Skid Row to meet up with Estela Lopez, things looked pretty much as they […]
  • Comment on Casting out images of holy battle – dueling without dualism by jph
    I was reminded of a useful metaphor for dualistic thinking yesterday: the two-lane highway. Regarding, in this case, political identity. The reality is that any stark divide is misleading. Sadly, choices often are cast as one way or the other. [prompt] metaphor: the two-lane highway in politics and identity politics […]