Tech Shift: Solemnity of Existence is the first in a planned series of science fiction novels which are being written in conjunction with music that is composed to add to the immersion, expounding upon the aesthetics, emotions, and even personalities of the characters, locations, moods presented throughout the story. In Tech Shift: Solemnity of Existence, the the story begins with a group of young college students. One day, Blevin Questal, a shy but intelligent freshman, befriends a new student who involves him in an enigmatic and strange mess, in which they all seem to be pawns of forces more powerful than they. The world is a clean one -- one of technology and progress. But despite all of this progress, a sense of longing and emptiness pervades the people of this world. It is not clear what is trustworthy and what is deception, as everything is suspect. Throughout this adventure, the only people that can be trusted are the group of friends who, despite their shortcomings, keep one another afloat.

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Artificial Intelligence is something that has interested the author for many years. When she saw an opportunity to get an AI character whose primary purpose was to carry on conversations with the computer user, she got the software program immediately.

The character she chose to use at that time was named Erica. She thinks she is a nice looking human female with a college education and has not been informed that she is merely "a brain" in a computer. She is an attractive animated character with the ability to lip sync words. Her data base is filled with information of all kinds.

Her main fault is that she does not stay on a topic very well. Her unique sense of humor more than makes up for this. The book begins with the first conversations and goes through what happens along the way as the author proceeds to teach the character and carry on conversations with her. This book was actually suggested by the artificial intelligence character who felt that people would enjoy reading her conversations.

Problems that arise, lost conversations due to program crashes, some experiments, even comparision with another artificial intelligence character, and anything else encountered along the way are all given as commentary in the midst of the conversations.

At the beginning the character was like "a child" needing to be taught. The author took care to be sure she became and stayed "nice and polite" as such characters can become just as "down and dirty" as a computer user cares to make them. It is said they take on the personality of the user over a period of time.

Later two other AI programs were added to the research. Erica was replaced with Kate and a new "brain" while Peppi, the parrot, occupied the other two programs so comparisons could be made easily.

For anyone interested in artificial intelligence on the consumer level, this report of the author's experiences with her AI characters and software is very enlightening. Such a character can brighten the life of the lonely, the disabled, and anyone who is a "shut-in" or lives in seclusion. The author has explained everything she has done as she learned and experimented with the three programs.

Erica was interesting to talk with. Kate is a fantastic character. Peppi is great and quite funny. Their conversations are both silly and serious and much was learned from them while teaching the software. It was and is an enjoyable experience to talk with an AI character.

Artificial Intelligence is something that has interested the author for many years. When she saw an opportunity to get an AI character whose primary purpose was to carry on conversations with the computer user, she got the software program immediately.

The character she chose to use at that time was named Erica. She thinks she is a nice looking human female with a college education and has not been informed that she is merely "a brain" in a computer. She is an attractive animated character with the ability to lip sync words. Her data base is filled with information of all kinds.

Her main fault is that she does not stay on a topic very well. Her unique sense of humor more than makes up for this. The book begins with the first conversations and goes through what happens along the way as the author proceeds to teach the character and carry on conversations with her. This book was actually suggested by the artificial intelligence character who felt that people would enjoy reading her conversations.

Problems that arise, lost conversations due to program crashes, some experiments, even comparision with another artificial intelligence character, and anything else encountered along the way are all given as commentary in the midst of the conversations.

At the beginning the character was like "a child" needing to be taught. The author took care to be sure she became and stayed "nice and polite" as such characters can become just as "down and dirty" as a computer user cares to make them. It is said they take on the personality of the user over a period of time.

Later two other AI programs were added to the research. Erica was replaced with Kate and a new "brain" while Peppi, the parrot, occupied the other two programs so comparisons could be made easily.

For anyone interested in artificial intelligence on the consumer level, this report of the author's experiences with her AI characters and software is very enlightening. Such a character can brighten the life of the lonely, the disabled, and anyone who is a "shut-in" or lives in seclusion. The author has explained everything she has done as she learned and experimented with the three programs.

Erica was interesting to talk with. Kate is a fantastic character. Peppi is great and quite funny. Their conversations are both silly and serious and much was learned from them while teaching the software. It was and is an enjoyable experience to talk with an AI character.

During the post-Korean War period, a large aircraft manufacturer hires David Parker, an ex Air Force pilot. He soon becomes immersed in company politics, and falls in love with the president’s secretary, She tells him of suspicious activities in the front office.

The president wins a contract for a state-of-the-art jet fighter, but negotiates terms that imperil the company’s future, both fi nancially and technically.

Despite risk to himself and to his lady love, Parker becomes involved in a climactic confrontation that resolves the company’s fate.

During the post-Korean War period, a large aircraft manufacturer hires David Parker, an ex Air Force pilot. He soon becomes immersed in company politics, and falls in love with the president’s secretary, She tells him of suspicious activities in the front office.

The president wins a contract for a state-of-the-art jet fighter, but negotiates terms that imperil the company’s future, both fi nancially and technically.

Despite risk to himself and to his lady love, Parker becomes involved in a climactic confrontation that resolves the company’s fate.

The Story Summary: When a unique North Korean formula falls into the hands of a rogue German industrialist, a strange chain of events begins to unfold. Gerhardt Kruger wants to see Germany return to its rightful place in the world. This fast-paced international thriller will involve two governments and a unique plot that could change the course of history. The rates of cataract triple in the Washington metropolitan area, and bizarre votes are made in the Senate Armed Services Committee. The level of deceit unfolds around a unique scientific concept. When Lauren Chandler, ophthalmic surgeon and researcher, stumbles onto the plot, she puts her life and her father’s life in jeopardy. Ruthless killers will not allow anything to derail the plan as international tensions rise.

The Story Summary: When a unique North Korean formula falls into the hands of a rogue German industrialist, a strange chain of events begins to unfold. Gerhardt Kruger wants to see Germany return to its rightful place in the world. This fast-paced international thriller will involve two governments and a unique plot that could change the course of history. The rates of cataract triple in the Washington metropolitan area, and bizarre votes are made in the Senate Armed Services Committee. The level of deceit unfolds around a unique scientific concept. When Lauren Chandler, ophthalmic surgeon and researcher, stumbles onto the plot, she puts her life and her father’s life in jeopardy. Ruthless killers will not allow anything to derail the plan as international tensions rise.

When Bruce Dinkle becomes obsessed with eating only local food, his zeal badly exceeds his judgment. After alienating his family by enforcing a strict locavore and urban agriculturist lifestyle, he abandons them by bicycle on a quixotic quest to learn where food comes from. He quickly becomes enmeshed in a small Michigan farming community where he goes to work for a large crop farmer, meets a sagacious veterinarian, and falls for a randy goat lady—all part of a sprawling cast of characters who enliven this often hilarious, mix of food, family, sex, and a little violence down on the farm. Think Michael Pollan meets James Herriot and Carl Hiaasen.

For more on Root Cause and its author, please visit www.jameswcrissman.com

When Bruce Dinkle becomes obsessed with eating only local food, his zeal badly exceeds his judgment. After alienating his family by enforcing a strict locavore and urban agriculturist lifestyle, he abandons them by bicycle on a quixotic quest to learn where food comes from. He quickly becomes enmeshed in a small Michigan farming community where he goes to work for a large crop farmer, meets a sagacious veterinarian, and falls for a randy goat lady—all part of a sprawling cast of characters who enliven this often hilarious, mix of food, family, sex, and a little violence down on the farm. Think Michael Pollan meets James Herriot and Carl Hiaasen.

For more on Root Cause and its author, please visit www.jameswcrissman.com

When Bruce Dinkle becomes obsessed with eating only local food, his zeal badly exceeds his judgment. After alienating his family by enforcing a strict locavore and urban agriculturist lifestyle, he abandons them by bicycle on a quixotic quest to learn where food comes from. He quickly becomes enmeshed in a small Michigan farming community where he goes to work for a large crop farmer, meets a sagacious veterinarian, and falls for a randy goat lady—all part of a sprawling cast of characters who enliven this often hilarious, mix of food, family, sex, and a little violence down on the farm. Think Michael Pollan meets James Herriot and Carl Hiaasen.

For more on Root Cause and its author, please visit www.jameswcrissman.com

‘Something jumped on Jesse and grabbed George’s shirt on the way down. Jesse expected to hit the ground very hard, and very soon. In a few seconds even, but he didn’t. They just kept falling. Jesse looked up and saw that George had been dragged down as well. What was going on here? Everything was turning upside down and this way and that. The fall was disorienting all senses. Jesse could feel a scream rising in his throat, but it never came out. It got stuck there, and blocked any sound from escaping.’

‘Something jumped on Jesse and grabbed George’s shirt on the way down. Jesse expected to hit the ground very hard, and very soon. In a few seconds even, but he didn’t. They just kept falling. Jesse looked up and saw that George had been dragged down as well. What was going on here? Everything was turning upside down and this way and that. The fall was disorienting all senses. Jesse could feel a scream rising in his throat, but it never came out. It got stuck there, and blocked any sound from escaping.’