Not Old, Just Old Fashioned

Hey gang, this is Detective Dallas Holden, the main character in S.C. Lang's first novel, Original Sin checking in again.
Okay, so here's what I'm gonna rant about today, I'm not old - just old fashioned. I don't need every new-fangled electronic gizmo that comes out, I much prefer a simpler way of life. One of the new guys here in the squad room is walking around with one of those Blue tooth things in his ear, and for the first half of the day I thought the guy was losing his crackers and talking to himself. I even checked his desk to see if he had a bottle of hooch tucked away in there. Somebody please tell me why we need these things? Has picking up a telephone receiver really become that much of a hassle? While I'm on the subject of telephones, remember the good 'ol days when people talked instead of typed on them? I swear, texting is the very bane of my existence. Just this morning I saw a uniform writing a ticket to a young yuppie wannabe female who was texting while driving - never a good idea by the way, folks. Texting while driving really upsets us law enforcement types. There, consider yourselves officially warned. Cops hate when people text and drive at the same time. So don't do it!
The only new trick I can actually find a use for on these new high-tech, slick-looking wafer-thin cell phones is adding the camera to it. In my line of work that can come in handy. Other than that, it's all just a bunch of silliness in my book.
Do we really need a phone that can connect to the Internet so people can keep track of their precious Twitter and Facebook accounts? What, exactly, are they afraid they're gonna miss? The latest "What Kind Of Indian Spirit Are You?" quiz? Seriously?
Now don't get me wrong, I think the Internet is just fine. But come on, can we use it just a bit more wisdom than we currently are?
Last pet-peeve - the Blackberry! Boy we've really lost our minds over this gadget haven't we? One time I found a person's Blackberry that he had left behind in a cab. With just a few touches of my finger, I knew his name, address and telephone number. This schmuck - I mean tax-paying citizen, had all his personal information loaded onto this thing. And you say identity theft is running rampant? Gee, I can't see how or why! But, he could access the Internet, download music, books, ring tones and videos, play a couple gazillion games, balance his checkbook, order food from just about anywhere, get his horoscope, weather conditions, local news, sports scores and anything else he could think of, all on this one hand-held gizmo. Let's hear it for modern marvels. He also made it easy as pie for anybody with a grudge against him to find him. Or to clean out his bank account, trash talk him on his social networking web sites, and any other manner of crap. For every convenience, there is the flip side to consider. I know, I deal with that flip side every day. I see the damage these electronic gizmos can, and oftentimes do, inflict. I'm not saying don't use them, just use them with caution.
I have to go into Interview One now and have a jabber session with some punk now, so I have to wrap this up. Until next time, this is Detective Dallas Holden signing off.

The Road To Success Is Paved By The Deeds Of Many Hands

Well after a long hiatus, this is Detective Dallas Holden returning to tend my blog. A lot has transpired since I last sat here at my desk tickled the keys, namely S.C. Lang's first novel, Original Sin has been released to the general public. This is very exciting news since yours truly here is the main character of Original Sin.
Now, I could rant about the book's plot and how it follows me through my first homicide case, and I just might do that in another blog, but for the moment I want to talk about something else.
I want to talk about a lesson S.C. Lang is experiencing very strongly at the moment. Well, perhaps lesson isn't the right word here. He's not actually learning anything he didn't know, he's just seeing it from a more personalized point of view. I know, I've probably lost you all by now, right? Well don't worry kiddies, I'm about to explain.
My old partner, and father-in-law, Stu Hubble once told me that the road to success is paved by the deeds of many hands. Kind of a cool saying, don't you think? Yeah, I do to. But, you may be asking, what does it mean? It means this; nobody gets where they want to go alone. Others are always involved. Lang's situation is no different - other people are helping him get to where he wants to go. What makes me proud to be the star of Original Sin, however, is the fact that Lang understands this concept, and is very grateful to everyone who has reached out and lent him a helping hand. For example, many of his old high school friends, such as Beck, Stejskal, Laurie, Tonia, Karen, Leah and a host of others, have bought Original Sin, and have promoted his work on their Facebook pages. These people are exposing Original Sin to other people and a buzz is beginning to spread about Lang.
Another example is Cory Lockwood of 88.5 Harvard Radio who has offered to put Lang on the air and let him ramble on about Original Sin. How cool is that?
Lang understands that without these people he would be nowhere. And without all these special people lending him such a helping hand, how would anybody ever read what an amazing adventure my first homicide case was? I don't know either. I shudder at the thought that people would miss out on discovering who I am. See, a shiver just ran right through me. Kinda freaks me out when that happens.
Teamwork is a true miracle. It shows people at their very best. I know that I couldn't do my job as a cop without a heavy dose of teamwork, and Lang simply couldn't do what he does without teamwork either. It gladdens my heart to see these people helping Lang out, he really is a decent guy. Okay, so he can be an ass when his writing gets interrupted, and he really doesn't handle it well when the Los Angeles Dodgers drop a game, but who am I to judge? I'm a Chicago Cubs fan, I'm used to disappointment from my team. At least the Bears have Cutler this season and might just make it to the post season without buying a ticket this time.
Anyway, I have a small mountain of paperwork I need to get through, so I should wrap this bad boy up. I just want to take a moment to give all of you my heartfelt thanks for supporting Lang and his novel, Original Sin. I know that I can come off as a little too light-hearted sometimes, but I really appreciate the efforts you guys are putting forth to help ensure Lang's ultimate success. Whether he becomes the next-big-thing or not isn't the point, and he and I both know it. By doing what you good people are doing, you are showing Lang what you think of him, and I know how much that means to the man. So, thank you.
Until the next time I decide to tickle these keys, this is Detective Dallas Holden signing off. You all be good to each other out there. I'll be watching if you don't - and I have a licence to kill.