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Portrait by C. Dey Prescott
D. R. Prescott has written a novel, short stories, a nonfiction book, a collection of essays, a full-length-three-act play, planetarium show/display scripts, two family histories, technical articles and business plans as well as written for and edited several newsletters.
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Recent awards and published work include Writers' Journal, Long Story Short, Taj Mahal Review literary journal, The Orange County Register, Writer's Digest and Writing.com among others.
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Prescott currently writes and explores life in Orange, California.
"Sentience can be annoying."
-DRP Abt. 1990
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My fifth contribution (BENGAY AND PROMISES) to The Taj Mahal Review
Literary Journal December 2010 is available: http://ning.it/ggarW6 ________________________
Don Prescott appears on Episode 7:Colonizing the Cosmos and 8:The God Question of D. Wayne Dworsky's Alpha Centauri & Beyond Blog Talk Radio.
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Available today in most eBook formats from these fine people:
 Apple iBookthrough Apple iBook App on your iPad or iPod Touch
Barnes & Noble Books
Diesel Book Store
IS THERE TIME: http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000027236/Prescott-D.-R./Is-There-Time/1.h...
LAYMAN'S LICENSE: http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000040155/Prescott-D.-R./Layman-s-License/...
Kobo Books
Smashwords
Sony Reader Store
And, COMING SOON at Amazon.com
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O R D E R T O D A Y !
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The Layman's License
by D. R. Prescott
Each of us has somewhere between twelve and thirteen billion brain cells. This abundance of those tiny marvels of evolution endows us with the ability to think and reason, along with a penchant for making mistakes repeatedly.
Most of us, with varying frequency, consider ourselves superior in some way to most everyone we meet, as well as having a healthy dose of smugness about society in general. There are a finite number of people, mostly self-appointed, who tend to lump the balance of humanity into a category known as “laymen”, “lay woman”, “lay person” or “lay people.” (I know that the hair on some people’s neck tingle at titling this book “layman” as opposed to lay “person.” Most of us use it as generic to mean male or female, old or young, without giving the gender implications a second thought. If you have a problem with that, I am at a loss to help you. Read on and I may try to avoid controversial, gender specific terms, on second thought, maybe not. Unfortunately, those who casually use that term fail to recognize that they are also lay people. No matter how good we think we are, each of us is limited, not only in our expertise, but also in a multitude of human activities. It is human. Perfection is a brass ring that humans do not seem to be able to grasp.
Every day, everywhere, people seek each other out to talk about their ailments, their politics, their religion, the national debt, sports, sex and, an all time favorite, other people, which is the fodder for the really juicy gossip. Each of us has an opinion. Each is convinced that his or her answer is the ANSWER (capitalization intended.) We frequently tell ourselves that the rest of the world wallows around in a manure pile, then knowingly hang and shake our heads before going about out daily businesses in a reverie of imaginatively constructed self-righteousness.
Perhaps, my reaction to the word, layman or layperson if you prefer, is a defensive, deluded response to my own ignorance and lack of competencies about more things than I would like to admit. Yet, I cannot rid myself of the thought that even laymen are sometimes reasonably good analysts of the human condition as the non-lay experts. (Is there is such a category for human beings?) Rarely, but sometimes, we even verge on brilliance; do not expect any in this blog.
Undoubtedly, there are more answers than there are problems, by a significant multiple, bobbing about on the sea of humanity. It is likely impossible considering the psychological and physiological ambiguities of human beings to develop cohesive answers to problems where people have differing opinions. Come to think about, would such solutions be only a series of compromises? Worse, would such solutions even be right or good or of any value at all?
Considering how complex our Universe is, I have decided that it is time for this layman to voice a few obviously exceptional opinions; note I do not claim brilliance. I am convinced that there is nobody better qualified to inform everyone else of that which they err, or by some miraculous good fortune, are doing right. I am a layman (male version!)
I intend to unclothe many diverse subjects in this blog at the risk of displaying, unwittingly, of course, varying degrees of ignorance about virtually everything. I may even become momentarily as vulnerable as the fabled king with no clothes-a risk I am willing to take; you might need a little comedy in your life.
I will qualify this work as solely the author’s opinions. Naturally, you will discover that I am usually right. Whatever your point of view, mine will be slightly better, even if we share the same premise. The reason is genetic. It is inborn; we know that we are right, regardless of the facts.
Incidentally, if it appears that my opinion changes tomorrow, it is not because I was wrong today. It is because I was astute enough to make minor adjustments in my thinking, making today’s opinion just a little more accurate. This is fundamental human activity at its best, or worst. If you do not believe it, look into politics--an intensely human activity.
Now, I am doing what has been one of my driving desires for decades—writing. I have always wanted to write and have, more or less, since grade school. I found out that it is hard work, but scratches an itch that I need to scratch (cliché intended, okay!). When you are done with a piece, it feels great, not quite orgasmic, but nearly; of course, I am over sixty; a younger me might reword that a bit. I suppose artists and composers feel the same way. It feeds the ego and exercises the mind. (I am convinced that inflated egos significantly out number great minds.) It also is therapeutic; it soothes the savage gremlin. My only concern is about how much I have written and mislaid, discarded or forgotten. Where there any gems in those?
As you read my ever-growing blog (which you must because you cannot stop yourselves,) you will be able to impress everyone, explaining how you could have done it better. Congratulations! I urge you to do it. I hate to admit, and will admit it only this one time, that you are probably as good as I am, maybe better. The only difference is that I am writing at the risk of personal criticism. You are not! If you are writing, more power to you. Go for it!
Now that I have succeeded in capturing your undivided attention, I have a request. The next time we meet, treat me as member-in-good-standing of that august group worthy of your respect—lay people. You will most certainly be as cocksure of your opinions as I am of mine. You will have my respect, if not my agreement. Remember, if there is power in numbers, we outnumber non-lays! Come to think of it, I can’t remember ever meeting anyone who knew everything.
I have intended this blog to be flexible where you can read some topics quickly and come away with a thought or, at a minimum, a feeling. Whether that thought or feeling is complete, right, or substantive is up to you. (If you print them out, you might even be able to use unread portions in a bathroom emergency providing that you have used soft enough paper.) There may even be some parts of this blog that conflict with other parts. That is allowed because I have a Layman’s License, and remember this; I am also a chronic dabbler!
Standby, more is definitely coming. Are you ready?
© Copyright 2010 D. R. Prescott (UN: donprescott at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved.
D. R. Prescott has granted InkSpot.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
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