TONY ON RISK, TT #21 & MORE

Including Thursday Thirteen, Three Word Wednesday and Totally Optional Prompts.
Have you had a go yet?

Welcome to my Wednesday Magazine post, which includes an award.
So Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have been taken over by the US government. These huge mortgage lenders were just too big to allow to go bust. Even though they were at the forefront of the madness of recent years, they survive.

Well, they couldn’t go under, could they?

‘Big’ works like that. If a ‘big’ company like this goes under, it can cripple an economy. So becoming as ‘big’ as possible is a guarantee that, despite the mistakes, government will save you. But remember this – it is being too ‘big’ that risks the economy in the first place.
And here’s another thing to ponder. Super-capitalism is based on total freedom of market forces (as long as you’re ‘big’ enough to compete, of course). But now we know – when the going gets tough, the ultimate right wing goes left. Two words come to mind – hypocrisy and socialism.

Britain has a health and safety problem.

It isn’t that we are not safe enough, but that we are TOO safe. Indeed, health and safety regulations are becoming ridiculous, the latest lunacy being a move against ladders for workmen, and onto scaffolding.
Yes, I know some people fall off ladders. But there has to be a balance between risk and convenience – something that used to exist throughout life; when, of course, the people were permitted to use commonsense. But what has changed?
One answer is that such regulations are now used to control us more, but I also think there are two other problems. Authority has lost its ability for sensible risk management. Also, because we are living longer, we are seeing life as much more precious. Will the time come when this attitude means we can’t do anything at all?
Next Magazine post, Friday. See you then.

© Anthony North, September 2008

TT #21 – INDIVIDUALLY ME

I am me, you are you, no one else does what we do,
yet hold on a minute, be it vane, but don’t we look just the same?
You’re an individual, so am I, yet so many similarities I can spy,
So is this ‘me’ thing really true, or is it a way to invent anew,
what we really think we are, changing models as if a car?
The reality, I’m afraid, is much more plain, throughout history we’ve been the same,
The idea that we really are not, is a means to make us buy a lot,
so we can shape just who we are, wrapping ‘me’ up in a jar,
A consumer lifestyle is what it’s about, commodities of change are what they tout,
the individual a mannikin of sorts, to be dressed by fashion, its periods short,
so you’re constantly changing look, to the ad men an open book,
to keep the world growing like a tree, you’ve got to be you, and I?
Me

(c) Anthony North, September 2008

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NOTE: Three Word Wednesday hasn’t posted yet, so no fiction at the moment. Call back tomorrow, and I’ll make sure I’ve a story for you.

CONVERSATIONS

I am me, I know it’s true,
‘So you say, until you’re blue’
Things I do, I work them out,
‘Thanks to conscience providing doubt’
With confidence I can get through life,
‘Thanks to ego, sharp as a knife’
Remembering things, no problem to me,
‘Thanks to memory, don’t you see …?’
Hey! This is my poem, please shut up!
‘Ooohhh! Along with muse, with whom you sup’
Such an annoying, pestering voice,
‘Well we’re in here, so you’ve got no choice’
At least with my love you have no say,
‘Thanks to libido, you perform okay’
But I am me, I know it’s true,
‘Thanks to us – and we’re quite a few’

(c) Anthony North, September 2008

Mary the Teach at Work of the Poet has awarded me with a Brainy Blog award. She is so kind, and I thank her for this award, for which I’m honoured. And now I must:

1) Think of at least 5 bloggers that you believe to be “Brainy Bloggers”
2) Post it on your blog for all to see! Let them know you’ve awarded them by email, twitter, etc or via a comment on their blog!
3) Share some linky love and link back to both the person who awarded you and back to Mommy Brain Reports.
4) Come back to the Brainly Blog Headquarters to sign our Mr. Linky and then pass it on!

I give this award to:

Brian at Truth Is Freedom
Paisley at Why Paisley
Selma at Selma In the City
Twilight at Learning Curve On the Ecliptic
Annie at Writer Chick Talks

I would also have awarded Sandy at Writing In Faith and Sandee at Comedy Plus, but they’ve already got it. The html for the graphic can be downloaded from Mommy Brain Reports. I want the awardees not to feel pressured into going through this little ceremony if they don’t want to. I simply want to say how much I appreciate them.