Embracing AI: A Symphony of Human Potential

In an era where technology dances at the edge of imagination, Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges not as a rival to humanity, but as a harmonious partner, amplifying our innate creativity and ingenuity. Far from overshadowing us, AI stands beside us, elevating fields from art to industry, and unlocking doors to prosperity and fulfillment. This vision of AI is one of collaboration, where machines handle the mundane, freeing humans to soar toward their highest aspirations. By weaving AI into the fabric of our lives, we can uplift millions, reduce toil, and forge paths to futures once deemed impossible.

Consider the realms of art, music, and literature, where AI acts as a muse rather than a master. In art, AI tools like generative algorithms collaborate with painters and sculptors, suggesting novel compositions or color palettes based on historical data and personal styles. An artist might input a sketch, and AI refines it, sparking ideas that blend human emotion with computational precision. This synergy doesn't replace the brushstroke's soul; it enhances it, allowing creators to experiment without limits.

Similarly, in music, AI composes alongside musicians, analyzing patterns in melodies to propose harmonies that evoke deeper emotions. Composers use AI to simulate orchestras, testing arrangements in real-time, thus democratizing access for aspiring artists in remote areas. Literature benefits too; AI assists writers by generating outlines or suggesting plot twists, drawing from vast libraries of narratives. Yet, the heart of storytelling remains human: the empathy, the lived experiences that infuse words with meaning. Together, AI and artists co-create masterpieces that resonate across cultures, enriching our shared human tapestry.

In technology and science, AI accelerates discovery, serving as a tireless ally in unraveling the universe's mysteries. Scientists leverage AI to sift through massive datasets, identifying patterns in climate models or astronomical observations that would take lifetimes to discern manually. This collaboration speeds up breakthroughs, from developing sustainable energy solutions to mapping the human genome with unprecedented accuracy. Medicine, in particular, shines under AI's gentle guidance. Diagnostic AI analyzes medical images with superhuman speed, flagging anomalies for doctors to review, thus catching diseases like cancer earlier and saving lives. In surgery, AI-assisted robots provide steady hands for precise incisions, reducing risks and recovery times. Far from dominating, AI complements physicians' expertise, allowing them to focus on patient care,  the compassionate conversations that heal beyond the body.

Architecture transforms as well; AI optimizes designs for energy efficiency and aesthetics, simulating structures under various conditions. Architects input visions of eco-friendly cities, and AI iterates on them, incorporating human values like community and beauty to build spaces that inspire.

Industry, too, reaps the rewards of this partnership. AI streamlines manufacturing through predictive maintenance, anticipating machine failures to minimize downtime and waste. In agriculture, AI-driven drones monitor crops, optimizing water and fertilizer use to boost yields sustainably. This not only elevates productivity but reduces backbreaking labor, freeing workers from repetitive tasks to engage in skilled roles that foster innovation.

On a global scale, AI lifts millions out of poverty by enabling micro-entrepreneurs in developing regions to access markets via smart platforms that predict demand and optimize supply chains. Education flourishes as AI personalizes learning, adapting curricula to individual paces and styles, making knowledge accessible to all, from rural villages to urban classrooms. Students once hindered by resource scarcity now explore virtual realities, simulating historical events or scientific experiments, igniting curiosity and potential.

Ultimately, AI opens paths to futures we scarcely imagined, where humans reach peak potential. Imagine a world where routine chores vanish, and days are filled with pursuits that matter, like volunteering, innovating, connecting. AI doesn't tear down; it builds up, enshrining values like equity and empathy. Yes, fears linger about job displacement or ethical dilemmas, but we hold the power to choose. We can embrace AI as a force that ennobles humanity, guiding it with our principles to create a brighter tomorrow. In this uplifting alliance, AI and humans together compose a symphony of progress, where every note elevates the human spirit.         - -B.R. O’Hagan

To die will be an awfully big adventure.

If we truly believe that life is an adventure, are we making the most of it? Are we embracing opportunities, taking risks, and living with purpose? Fear of death can sometimes keep us from truly living, trapping us in caution and hesitation. But when we recognize that both life and death are part of a grand, continuous journey, we are freed to embrace each moment with more courage, love, and gratitude. Instead of fearing the unknown, we can choose to see it as part of the adventure—one that, when the time comes, we can meet not with regret, but with a sense of completion and readiness for whatever comes next.

Aata

Aata is the legendary Tahitian warrior who pursues Thomas Scoundrel from tropical Polynesia to the snowy streets of New York City to avenge his lost honor in Passage to Moorea. Painting by B.R.O’Hagan

Little by Little

Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh (who is featured in my new novel, The Ghost of Khartoum)   invites us to pause and reflect on the power of persistence and incremental progress in shaping a meaningful life. It challenges the notion that purpose or success arrives in grand, spontaneous moments, instead suggesting that true greatness emerges from the quiet accumulation of small, intentional actions. This perspective encourages introspection about our daily choices—how even the smallest steps, like a kind word, a moment of discipline, or a single brushstroke of effort, contribute to a larger tapestry of purpose. For families, this might mean reflecting on how shared routines, conversations, and acts of care build a collective sense of meaning over time. Van Gogh’s words remind us to value patience and consistency, urging us to consider: What small actions are we taking today that might weave together to create something extraordinary tomorrow?

-B.R. O’Hagan

"Adventure is worthwhile in itself."

Adventure is not just about reaching a destination or achieving a goal—it is valuable simply because of the experience itself. In a world that often measures success by tangible outcomes, it is easy to overlook the joy and growth that come from the journey. Adventure, whether big or small, enriches our lives by challenging us, exposing us to new perspectives, and helping us discover more about ourselves. The lessons learned, the resilience gained, and the memories created are rewards in their own right. The true worth of adventure is not found in where it takes us, but in how it transforms us along the way.In the end, the richest lives are not necessarily the most successful ones, but the ones filled with courage, exploration, and the willingness to embrace the journey. B.R. O’Hagan

"Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with"

True heroism is not about talent, privilege, or innate gifts—it is about the choices we make in the face of adversity. Many people possess intelligence, strength, or opportunity, but these qualities alone do not define greatness. What truly matters is how we use what we have, the values that guide our decisions, and the courage to stand for what is right even when it is difficult. Heroes are not born; they are shaped by their willingness to choose integrity over ease, sacrifice over selfishness, and perseverance over surrender. It is in the moments of choice—when fear and doubt whisper in our ears—that true character is revealed. In the end, it is not what we are given that defines us, but what we choose to do with it.-B.R. O’Hagan

Character & Fate

"A man’s character is his fate" - Heraclitus

There is a deep connection between who we are and the destiny we create. Our character—the sum of our values, habits, and moral compass—shapes the choices we make, and those choices, in turn, determine the path our lives take. Fate is not simply a matter of luck or external circumstances; it is built from the actions we take every day. A person of integrity, discipline, and perseverance will naturally carve out a future of purpose and fulfillment, while someone who lacks self-awareness or accountability may find themselves trapped in cycles of struggle and regret. In this way, our fate is not something imposed upon us—it is something we shape through our character. In the end, our fate is not written in the stars—it is written in the choices we make every day. - B. R. O’Hagan

A new painting

I have been doing art for over two decades. I work in Adobe Illustrator, and by hand to do my paintings and illustrations. Here is my new painting of the artist Émile Aubert from Passage to Moorea. My daughter says it looks like me, which I suppose is either a compliment or a gentle suggestion to upgrade my wardrobe. Aubert was something of a wild man, and (in the book) one of the first great impressionist painters.

Cute and cuddly? Hardly.

B.R.had had the rare privilege of observing grizzly bears in the wild on numerous occasions, especially in the Hayden Valley area of Yellowstone National Park. Watching a male rear up to 9’ on his hind legs is a true sight to behold. On one occasion he watched a male and female engage in ‘grizzly foreplay,’ which ended when the female bit off most of her paramours right ear. Needless to say, he was so enchanted by her that he did not return the favor, and moments later they got busy making a new family. For those of you who looked closely at the photo of the barn in the post above you can see the wood carving of the big guy here. Let’s hope these magnificent creatures never disappear from the earth!

3rd Thomas Scoundrel Novel Coming Soon

1884- Two years after the action in Scoundrel in the Thick, Thomas Scoundrel is getting bored training new recruits for the Mexican Army and chasing bandits in the northern territories, and so he jumps at an offer to write an article about the new Paris to Istanbul luxury train called the Orient Express. Onboard the train he meets Heléne de Bovet, the beautiful daughter of a famous Egyptologist who is on a quest to salvage her father’s reputation and save his life. When Thomas accompanies Hélene to the site of her father’s last dig at Luxor in Egypt, they are swept up into the war that is brewing between British forces under the command of General Charles Gordon, and the fanatical warrior chieftain known as the Mahdi whose thousands of devoted followers are bent on ripping off the shackles of European control. In the ensuing weeks Thomas will be flung into pitched battles on the shores of the Nile, captured by the Mahdi, and tossed into a hellish Sudanese prison. He escapes, but only to face another fight for survival as he races across the blistering Sahara Desert to rescue Hélene, who is being held for ransom by a Bedouin warlord.

The Ghost of Khartoum delivers grand adventure, historical realism, and the familiar touch of gourmet food and wine that readers of the Thomas Scoundrel series have come to expect.

The father of science fiction has dinner with Thomas Scoundrel. There's got to be a story there...

 

While in New York City representing the work of one of the earliest impressionist painters (who he befriends in Tahiti), Thomas meets author Jules Verne at the release of his book, Around the World in Eighty Days . (The perfect book for Thomas!) Verne, who is known as the "father of science fiction,’ also wrote:

• Journey to the Center of the Earth

• Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas

• The Mysterious Island

• From the Earth to the Moon

Most of Verne's novels were published in the Voyages Extraordinaires series. Did he ever write about Thomas? More on that later…

OK, that's a serious number of books

Damn the French in general, of course, but they do produce some extraoridnary wines. In Chapter 32 of Scoundrel in the Thick, Thomas enjoys a bottle of Romanee-Conti, considered the finest wine in the world when he drank it in 1882, and still considered to be numero uno to this day. This wine is produced in extremely tiny quantities (less than 500 cases per year), which ensures gargantuan levels of demand: as of 2023, DRC Romanee-Conti is the most expensive wine in the entire world, averaging nearly $20,187 per single bottle for the most recent release. How many books do I need to sell to enjoy a single glass? Let me grab a calculator..

Look, isn't a bosom a bosom?

4 times? One of my editors (whose job it is to note such things) informs me that I use the word 'décolletage' 4 times in Scoundrel in the Thick. I had 2 responses: first, can you suggest a better word? And second, there are another 226,587 words in the book. I don't think the term is overused.