Sojournal-2026-Spring - Revision history

Helmsman: /* YouTube Channel? */

2026-05-09T23:16:03Z

YouTube Channel?

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:16, 9 May 2026
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	===YouTube Channel?===		===YouTube Channel?===
	Finally, I’m going to explore the idea of a YouTube channel (don’t laugh at me!). I’m trying to think through a coherent focus for the channel, something that I could make interesting and unique. Let me know if you have thoughts about what I should consider doing with it; email me at the address down at the bottom.		Finally, I’m going to explore the idea of a [https://www.youtube.com/ YouTube] channel (don’t laugh at me!). I’m trying to think through a coherent focus for the channel, something that I could make interesting and unique. Let me know if you have thoughts about what I should consider doing with it; email me at the address down at the bottom.

	==Third Book in the Sojourner Saga==		==Third Book in the Sojourner Saga==

Helmsman: /* Instagram */

2026-05-09T23:14:54Z

Instagram

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:14, 9 May 2026
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	===Instagram===		===Instagram===
	Another experiment is trying to boldly advance into the social media world of 2010 and learn Instagram. I’ve been resistant, but too many people have now asked to communicate with me using this tool; I guess I have to learn how to use it. Ack, save me! :-)		Another experiment is trying to boldly advance into the social media world of 2010 and learn [https://www.instagram.com/ Instagram]. I’ve been resistant, but too many people have now asked to communicate with me using this tool; I guess I have to learn how to use it. Ack, save me! :-)

	===Conference and Other Public Venue Presentations===		===Conference and Other Public Venue Presentations===

Helmsman: /* Ongoing Relational Ambivalence with AI */

2026-05-09T23:13:46Z

Ongoing Relational Ambivalence with AI

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:13, 9 May 2026
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	==Ongoing Relational Ambivalence with AI==		==Ongoing Relational Ambivalence with AI==

	Unfortunately, this topic is inevitably a part of everything and everyone’s world at this point, so I feel compelled to say something about it. And I’m not going to be telling you anything you don’t already know, either; everyone is going to be talking about this from now on. This is a topic for not just a paragraph or two, but an entire library of new dissertations (and I have no doubt whatsoever that this will be the focus of endless dissertations from this point onwards). Again, for context, I worked for four years in the biggest federal funder of AI research, and arguably in the specific unit (OAC) that funded a lot of this new technology. While I wasn’t one of the program officers that made awards in this area, I worked closely with those that did. I had a deeply ambivalent view of generative AI at that point and still do, but not because of the technology itself. I feel ambivalent about it because of the inescapable nature of human beings that I pointed out before: some portion of human society will inevitably seek to use new technologies for selfish, divisive, and eventually evil ends.		Unfortunately, this topic is inevitably a part of everything and everyone’s world at this point, so I feel compelled to say something about it. And I’m not going to be telling you anything you don’t already know, either; ''everyone'' is going to be talking about this ''from now on''. This is a topic for not just a paragraph or two, but an entire library of new dissertations (and I have no doubt whatsoever that this will be the focus of endless dissertations from this point onwards). Again, for context, I worked for four years in the biggest federal funder of AI research, and arguably in the specific unit (OAC) that funded a lot of this new technology. While I wasn’t one of the program officers that made awards in this area, I worked closely with those that did. I had a deeply ambivalent view of generative AI at that point and still do, ''but not because of the technology itself''. I feel ambivalent about it because of the ''inescapable nature of human beings'' that I pointed out before: some portion of human society will inevitably seek to use new technologies for selfish, divisive, and eventually evil ends.

	If humans were uniformly well-intentioned, this technology would be unambiguously a good thing. I think it is as foundational a technology as computers, mathematics, or the wheel. But humans can use the wheel to make an incredibly constructive crane or an incredibly destructive tank. Everyone (including me) is (rightly) freaking out about all of the negative phenomena associated with AI, ranging from the environmental impacts from energy used to train AI systems to the trampling of individual human rights, and quite possibly the destruction of the Anthroposphere (aka humanity). yes, I’ll echo the most common statement on this: Did nobody else watch the Terminator movies (or series!)? Humans can be so incredibly greedy and fearful that they can (unbelievably) intentionally want to create a weapon that will kill everyone just have a weapon that will kill “the other side”. We’ve already been through this same drill when we “harnessed the atom”, remember?		If humans were uniformly well-intentioned, this technology would be unambiguously a good thing. I think it is as foundational a technology as computers, mathematics, or the wheel. But humans can use the wheel to make an incredibly constructive crane or an incredibly destructive tank. Everyone (including me) is (rightly) freaking out about all of the negative phenomena associated with AI, ranging from the environmental impacts from energy used to train AI systems to the trampling of individual human rights, and quite possibly the destruction of the Anthroposphere (aka humanity). yes, I’ll echo the most common statement on this: Did nobody else watch the Terminator movies (or series!)? Humans can be so incredibly greedy and fearful that they can (unbelievably) intentionally want to create a weapon that will kill everyone just have a weapon that will kill “the other side”. We’ve already been through this same drill when we “harnessed the atom”, remember?

Helmsman: /* More to Come */

2026-05-09T23:12:18Z

More to Come

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:12, 9 May 2026
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	===More to Come===		===More to Come===
	ElevenLabs is the market leader in custom AI voice audio (and increasingly video) production now. It has affordable subscription tiers, and gives Creatives not just one tool but an entire studio environment for crafting digital content. I’ve been using it for just over a month now, and I find it staggeringly powerful. It opens up huge creative possibilities for individuals. So, I’ve only just begun this particular new journey but, speaking as someone whose Ph.D. dissertation was largely on the topic of Transmediation, this is an incredible time to be alive. Yeah, frightening too, but it’s where we find ourselves. I will undoubtedly have a lot more to say about this in future Sojournals.		[https://elevenlabs.io/ ElevenLabs] is the market leader in custom AI voice audio (and increasingly video) production now. It has affordable subscription tiers, and gives Creatives not just one tool but an entire studio environment for crafting digital content. I’ve been using it for just over a month now, and I find it staggeringly powerful. It opens up huge creative possibilities for individuals. So, I’ve only just begun this particular new journey but, speaking as someone whose Ph.D. dissertation was largely on the topic of Transmediation, this is an incredible time to be alive. Yeah, frightening too, but it’s where we find ourselves. I will undoubtedly have a lot more to say about this in future Sojournals.

	==Ongoing Relational Ambivalence with AI==		==Ongoing Relational Ambivalence with AI==

Helmsman: /* Brief Recap of How We Got Here */

2026-05-09T23:11:12Z

Brief Recap of How We Got Here

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:11, 9 May 2026
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	===Brief Recap of How We Got Here===		===Brief Recap of How We Got Here===
	Audiobooks began to be a thing in the 1980’s, marked by the founding of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) in 1986 ([https://www.audiopub.org/about-the-apa APA Mission Statement]), but it was mostly tapes and CDs back then (I remember). With the founding of Audible in 1995 three decades ago, digital audiobooks started to started to rapidly take off, and accelerated as everyone started having smartphones circa 2010. But, for context, I’ll point out that for most of the last forty years the traditional model of audiobooks has been Solo Narration, in which one very talented and (justifiably!) highly paid voice actor read the whole book, differentiating voices through their performance. This already expensive model started becoming even more expensive with the inception of Full-Cast Production when a guy named Bruce Coville founded Full Cast Audio in 2002 and pioneered the super-deluxe model of having full casts of audio actors do blockbuster audiobooks like the Harry Potter series of novels. Audiobook afficionados started getting used to the idea of audiobooks using a different human actor (often famous ones) for every role, at least for major novels. This luxury format is obviously such an expensive model that it could typically only be financially feasible for the top one-percent of novels by the [https://www.9thstreetbooks.com/big-five-publishers-and-imprints/ Big-Five publishers] that gobbled up and consolidated all the small imprints.		Audiobooks began to be a thing in the 1980’s, marked by the founding of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) in 1986 ([https://www.audiopub.org/about-the-apa APA Mission Statement]), but it was mostly tapes and CDs back then (I remember). With the founding of Audible in 1995 three decades ago, digital audiobooks started to started to rapidly take off, and accelerated as everyone started having smartphones circa 2010. But, for context, I’ll point out that for most of the last forty years the traditional model of audiobooks has been ''Solo Narration'', in which one very talented and (justifiably!) highly paid voice actor read the whole book, differentiating voices through their performance. This already expensive model started becoming even more expensive with the inception of ''Full-Cast Production'' when a guy named Bruce Coville founded Full Cast Audio in 2002 and pioneered the super-deluxe model of having ''full casts of audio actors'' do blockbuster audiobooks like the ''Harry Potter'' series of novels. Audiobook afficionados started getting used to the idea of audiobooks using a different human actor (often famous ones) for every role, at least for major novels. This luxury format is obviously such an expensive model that it could typically only be financially feasible for the top one-percent of novels by the [https://www.9thstreetbooks.com/big-five-publishers-and-imprints/ Big-Five publishers] that gobbled up and consolidated all the small imprints.

	===The Advent of Generative AI===		===The Advent of Generative AI===

Helmsman: /* Brief Recap of How We Got Here */

2026-05-09T23:10:07Z

Brief Recap of How We Got Here

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:10, 9 May 2026
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	===Brief Recap of How We Got Here===		===Brief Recap of How We Got Here===
	Audiobooks began to be a thing in the 1980’s, marked by the founding of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) in 1986 ([https://www.audiopub.org/about-the-apa APA Mission Statement]), but it was mostly tapes and CDs back then (I remember). With the founding of Audible in 1995 three decades ago, digital audiobooks started to started to rapidly take off, and accelerated as everyone started having smartphones circa 2010. But, for context, I’ll point out that for most of the last forty years the traditional model of audiobooks has been Solo Narration, in which one very talented and (justifiably!) highly paid voice actor read the whole book, differentiating voices through their performance. This already expensive model started becoming even more expensive with the inception of Full-Cast Production when a guy named Bruce Coville founded Full Cast Audio in 2002 and pioneered the super-deluxe model of having full casts of audio actors do blockbuster audiobooks like the Harry Potter series of novels. Audiobook afficionados started getting used to the idea of audiobooks using a different human actor (often famous ones) for every role, at least for major novels. This luxury format is obviously such an expensive model that it could typically only be financially feasible for the top one-percent of novels by the Big-Five publishers that gobbled up and consolidated all the small imprints.		Audiobooks began to be a thing in the 1980’s, marked by the founding of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) in 1986 ([https://www.audiopub.org/about-the-apa APA Mission Statement]), but it was mostly tapes and CDs back then (I remember). With the founding of Audible in 1995 three decades ago, digital audiobooks started to started to rapidly take off, and accelerated as everyone started having smartphones circa 2010. But, for context, I’ll point out that for most of the last forty years the traditional model of audiobooks has been Solo Narration, in which one very talented and (justifiably!) highly paid voice actor read the whole book, differentiating voices through their performance. This already expensive model started becoming even more expensive with the inception of Full-Cast Production when a guy named Bruce Coville founded Full Cast Audio in 2002 and pioneered the super-deluxe model of having full casts of audio actors do blockbuster audiobooks like the Harry Potter series of novels. Audiobook afficionados started getting used to the idea of audiobooks using a different human actor (often famous ones) for every role, at least for major novels. This luxury format is obviously such an expensive model that it could typically only be financially feasible for the top one-percent of novels by the [https://www.9thstreetbooks.com/big-five-publishers-and-imprints/ Big-Five publishers] that gobbled up and consolidated all the small imprints.

	===The Advent of Generative AI===		===The Advent of Generative AI===

Helmsman: /* Brief Recap of How We Got Here */

2026-05-09T23:09:35Z

Brief Recap of How We Got Here

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:09, 9 May 2026
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	===Brief Recap of How We Got Here===		===Brief Recap of How We Got Here===
	Audiobooks began to be a thing in the 1980’s, marked by the founding of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) in 1986 (APA Mission Statement), but it was mostly tapes and CDs back then (I remember). With the founding of Audible in 1995 three decades ago, digital audiobooks started to started to rapidly take off, and accelerated as everyone started having smartphones circa 2010. But, for context, I’ll point out that for most of the last forty years the traditional model of audiobooks has been Solo Narration, in which one very talented and (justifiably!) highly paid voice actor read the whole book, differentiating voices through their performance. This already expensive model started becoming even more expensive with the inception of Full-Cast Production when a guy named Bruce Coville founded Full Cast Audio in 2002 and pioneered the super-deluxe model of having full casts of audio actors do blockbuster audiobooks like the Harry Potter series of novels. Audiobook afficionados started getting used to the idea of audiobooks using a different human actor (often famous ones) for every role, at least for major novels. This luxury format is obviously such an expensive model that it could typically only be financially feasible for the top one-percent of novels by the Big-Five publishers that gobbled up and consolidated all the small imprints.		Audiobooks began to be a thing in the 1980’s, marked by the founding of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) in 1986 ([https://www.audiopub.org/about-the-apa APA Mission Statement]), but it was mostly tapes and CDs back then (I remember). With the founding of Audible in 1995 three decades ago, digital audiobooks started to started to rapidly take off, and accelerated as everyone started having smartphones circa 2010. But, for context, I’ll point out that for most of the last forty years the traditional model of audiobooks has been Solo Narration, in which one very talented and (justifiably!) highly paid voice actor read the whole book, differentiating voices through their performance. This already expensive model started becoming even more expensive with the inception of Full-Cast Production when a guy named Bruce Coville founded Full Cast Audio in 2002 and pioneered the super-deluxe model of having full casts of audio actors do blockbuster audiobooks like the Harry Potter series of novels. Audiobook afficionados started getting used to the idea of audiobooks using a different human actor (often famous ones) for every role, at least for major novels. This luxury format is obviously such an expensive model that it could typically only be financially feasible for the top one-percent of novels by the Big-Five publishers that gobbled up and consolidated all the small imprints.

	===The Advent of Generative AI===		===The Advent of Generative AI===

Helmsman: /* Brief Recap of How We Got Here */

2026-05-09T23:08:30Z

Brief Recap of How We Got Here

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:08, 9 May 2026
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	===Brief Recap of How We Got Here===		===Brief Recap of How We Got Here===
	Audiobooks began to be a thing in the 1980’s, marked by the founding of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) in 1986 (APA Mission Statement), but it was mostly tapes and CDs back then (I remember). With the founding of Audible in 1995 three decades ago, digital audiobooks started to started to rapidly take off, and accelerated as everyone started having smartphones circa 2010. But, for context, I’ll point out that for most of the last forty years the traditional model of audiobooks has been Solo Narration, in which one very talented and (justifiably!) highly paid voice actor read the whole book, differentiating voices through their performance. This already expensive model started becoming even more expensive with the inception of Full-Cast Production when a guy named Bruce Coville founded Full Cast Audio in 2002 and pioneered the super-deluxe model of having full casts of audio actors do blockbuster audiobooks like the Harry Potter series of novels. Audiobook afficionados started getting used to the idea of audiobooks using a different human actor (often famous ones) for every role, at least for major novels. This luxury format is ~~obvious~~ such an expensive model that it could typically only be financially feasible for the top one-percent of novels by the Big-Five publishers that gobbled up and consolidated all the small imprints.		Audiobooks began to be a thing in the 1980’s, marked by the founding of the Audio Publishers Association (APA) in 1986 (APA Mission Statement), but it was mostly tapes and CDs back then (I remember). With the founding of Audible in 1995 three decades ago, digital audiobooks started to started to rapidly take off, and accelerated as everyone started having smartphones circa 2010. But, for context, I’ll point out that for most of the last forty years the traditional model of audiobooks has been Solo Narration, in which one very talented and (justifiably!) highly paid voice actor read the whole book, differentiating voices through their performance. This already expensive model started becoming even more expensive with the inception of Full-Cast Production when a guy named Bruce Coville founded Full Cast Audio in 2002 and pioneered the super-deluxe model of having full casts of audio actors do blockbuster audiobooks like the Harry Potter series of novels. Audiobook afficionados started getting used to the idea of audiobooks using a different human actor (often famous ones) for every role, at least for major novels. This luxury format is obviously such an expensive model that it could typically only be financially feasible for the top one-percent of novels by the Big-Five publishers that gobbled up and consolidated all the small imprints.

	===The Advent of Generative AI===		===The Advent of Generative AI===

Helmsman at 21:48, 9 May 2026

2026-05-09T21:48:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:48, 9 May 2026
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	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	[[File:Greymalkin-01.png\|296px\|right\|alt=Series protagonist Greymalkin Thomas]]		[[File:Greymalkin-01.png\|296px\|right\|alt=Series protagonist Greymalkin Thomas]]
	Hi folks, I decided that I should keep a seasonal journal/blog/newsletter of what’s going on with my writing and publishing activities. This is the first one! I'm going to call it Sojournal, ~~mainly because I can~~'~~t think of anything else appropriate~~. The last two years have been a super busy and personally meaningful journey for me. This is a way for me to reflect on the journey and share it with you, my friends.		Hi folks, I decided that I should keep a seasonal journal/blog/newsletter of what’s going on with my writing and publishing activities. This is the first one! I'm going to call it Sojournal (Sojourner+Journal, get it? ''Sigh''). The last two years have been a super busy and personally meaningful journey for me. This is a way for me to reflect on the journey and share it with you, my friends.

	==First Two Sojourner Saga Novels Published==		==First Two Sojourner Saga Novels Published==

Helmsman at 21:43, 9 May 2026

2026-05-09T21:43:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:43, 9 May 2026
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	==Introduction==		==Introduction==
	[[File:Greymalkin-01.png\|~~256px~~\|right\|alt=Series protagonist Greymalkin Thomas]]		[[File:Greymalkin-01.png\|296px\|right\|alt=Series protagonist Greymalkin Thomas]]
	Hi folks, I decided that I should keep a seasonal journal/blog/newsletter of what’s going on with my writing and publishing activities. This is the first one! I'm going to call it Sojournal, mainly because I can't think of anything else appropriate. The last two years have been a super busy and personally meaningful journey for me. This is a way for me to reflect on the journey and share it with you, my friends.		Hi folks, I decided that I should keep a seasonal journal/blog/newsletter of what’s going on with my writing and publishing activities. This is the first one! I'm going to call it Sojournal, mainly because I can't think of anything else appropriate. The last two years have been a super busy and personally meaningful journey for me. This is a way for me to reflect on the journey and share it with you, my friends.