KNOWLEDGE

Theme Thursday, Microfiction Monday & ABC Wednesday
With Thursday Thirteen news & more prompts below
Try my Paranormal Flash now!

PROF ISAAC GALISTEIN

Welcome to my weekly magazine post. Watch
it grow thru the week. You can opt to read
the essay, current affairs, themed mini mag
with fiction & poetry, or just read the lot.
Plenty for everyone here. Do call again.

MICROFICTION

Fiction: He leaned over the bridge, looking down. He was sad. If he
hadn’t jumped all those years ago, he wouldn’t be a ghost yet.

YELLOW

A mellow yellow fellow, he was. Frightened
every time you bellow. Ego chased him away,
leaving a hole in my mind where caution
should be.

KNOWLEDGE

We like to think of knowledge as truth, but if this is so why does it
keep changing? Looking at the various knowledge systems throughout
history it becomes clear that knowledge is really an intellectual
reflection of how we see the universe. And from that knowledge
comes control – hence, society also becomes a reflection of the
universe. This is why a Godly society had a particular order, meaning
and direction. The universe was ordered by God. Today it is very
different. The universe is chaotic and the result of chance. Hence,
order, meaning and direction seem to be disappearing. But there’s
another element to knowledge. It decides how we think. A religious
society is more holistic, looking at things as a whole. In our
fragmented universe, this overview has gone, leaving us with a
specialized form of knowledge. This is why the Renaissance Man has
disappeared. And whilst this may provide great benefits, I’m sure a
holistic view alongside the specialized could help us towards a much
more balanced view of knowledge. I wonder if the universe will change
any time soon to allow this?

Eye On the World
Essays on everything from science
to religion, politics to crime

BRIT NEWS: Whitehall mandarins
preparing for a coaltion govt, it seems.
Good to see the civil service on the ball – even
if politicians aren’t.

BRIT NEWS: Ex-Labour ministers caught in cash-for-access
newspaper sting. Why are we shocked? It will happen with some
in power.

GREEN NEWS: Air pollution could be causing up to 50,000 early deaths
in UK per year. We know how to sort it out but refuse. Pure madness.

WORLD NEWS: Google redirects Chinese users to uncensored Hong
Kong version. At least some people are trying to spearhead
freedom.

BRIT NEWS: UK kicks out Israeli diplomat in reprisal for Israel
cloning Brit passports used by killers of a Hamas leader.
We have security?

HEALTH NEWS: 65% of doctors say treatment for
depression can take up to 2 months to come.
‘Tis always the case with ‘unfashionable’
illness.

BRIT NEWS: Well, we’ve had our non-Budget,
with a little giveaway ‘cos deficit wasn’t
quite as bad. Does the Chancellor
really believe that?

THE CRIME POST

It would be criminal not to read it

One Single Impression
ReadWritePoem – Friday Flash 55
Three Word Wednesday – Thursday Poets’ Rally

COGNIZANT BLUES

Awareness going, stolen prime,
Knowledge lessening of my crime,
I really don’t feel here at all,
Released from my chain and ball,
Only to suffer more abuse,
Dangling from the Hangman’s noose

SOME CASES

Fiction: Sally knew some cases affected you more than others. As a
detective she was used to shocks but being called to THAT body
stretched her. After all, they looked so similar. Maybe she went on to
identify with her after that – it became a mission to get the killer. She
delved deep into the case and it was soon obvious there had been
witnesses – and equally obvious that the guy they’d seen was a local
gangster called Brad Jones. As her boss I tried to hold her back a bit,
then – call it intuition – but she was determined to bring him in. I
pulled his file as she went off. That’s when I discovered they’d had
history a long time ago – and that Sally knew a great deal about him
– maybe too much. And as I realized it could be a case of mistaken
identity, I raced after her, just breaking into his flat in time to see the
body drop to the floor. Later, as I debriefed Sally, I couldn’t help but
think it had been an assassination.

RUSHED YOUTH

Youth – that crazy, hectic time,
Growing up, young man, life divine,
World at my feet, so much to do,
Got so many memories – ain’t that true?
But also a sadness, you must concur,
Rushed so much, it’s just a blur

FLASH 55 – MUMMY DID IT

Fiction: I didn’t know which to investigate first – the site of the gang
fight with the pools of blood, or the sighting of the Mummy. Curiosity
guided me to the latter – after all, it couldn’t be for crime fighting.
Until I followed the trail of witnesses and the delirious, bandaged thug
led me to the gang.

WHAT SACRIFICE

I had a hunch I could get it done,
Feel the buzz, have so much fun,
Breaking in was a a piece of cake,
Caustic comments they all did make,
Taking their money was so very nice,
But cops were waiting – what sacrifice;
I guess it’s the cost of what I do,
But I’ll be out soon – see you

TV WATCH: 20 Mar was a night
BBC 1 went mad. All normal progs
off – 13 hrs of rugby. Not much sense
left in the corporation is there?

BRIT NEWS: After spate of deaths, moves are
afoot to criminalise use of Methodrone. Good move,
but they’ll always find another legal high.

GREEN NEWS: Gender-bender chemicals in the news again. They
should be kept there. Sometimes global warming takes attention
off other risks.

BRIT NEWS: Chancellor: We will cut deeper & tougher than Thatcher.
Not that he’ll be in power, but let’s make those cuts in right places.

MEDIA NEWS: The Times is to charge £2/week for visiting
their website, ‘cos ‘quality journalism isn’t cheap’. So
why is The Times charging?

WORLD NEWS: America and Russia agree to cut
Nukes by 30%. They’d need replacing
anyway, & both economies are
cash-strapped.

© Anthony North, March 2010

Try my Pictures of Life, a novel

JOKES

Theme Thursday, Microfiction Monday & ABC Wednesday
With Thursday Thirteen news & more prompts below
Try my Paranormal Flash now!

BLOGGER BARD

Welcome to my weekly magazine post. Watch
it grow thru the week. You can opt to read
the essay, current affairs, themed mini mag
with fiction & poetry, or just read the lot.
Plenty for everyone here. Do call again.

MICROFICTION

Fiction: ‘I wish I were a man – I’d join the Navy,’ said the poster. I
stood by it a long time and said yes! I’d been bullied enough. I am.

THE SIGN

Fiction: I looked out for the sign – knew it
was coming up. Looked left, looked right,
then hit it. Should have read it: Beware
of the sign.

JOKES

The best way to explain a good joke is as an outburst of illogic.
Something is said or done which assaults the rationality of the
audience. The result is a mild neurosis in the form of laughter, which
can be classed as a form of hysteria. Get the whole audience going
and the comedian has induced mass hysteria. The psychology of
humour can go even deeper. For instance, it has been noted that
many comedians are depressives or have feelings of inadequacy. This
is best seen in the sad face of the clown. In this sense humour is a
defence mechanism. Indeed, many people use humour to cover
shyness, or simply to assist in overcoming adversity. The joke, it
seems, is an excellent form of therapy. In recent years, the joke has
had to resist abuse from political correctness. Many comedians have
to think about what they say. This is a disgrace. A society that
cannot laugh at itself is ruined. Joking, you see, is a serious business.

Eye On the World
Essays on everything from science
to religion, politics to crime

BRIT NEWS: Transport Sec
wants to lower alcohol limit for
drivers to equivalent of 1 pint of beer.
They always take good things too far.

HEALTH NEWS: NHS wastes £487m in 5 yrs on
outside consultants. Always thought huge health
spending provided more cash for the pointless.

BRIT NEWS: Genealogists say aristocrats so prolific that 1
in 5 Brits may have their genes. Jolly good. I’m off to the Lords!

SPORT NEWS: Beckham out of World Cup team thru injury. England is
having bad luck this time, but bad dress rehearsal means good
performance.

EDUC NEWS: More than 80m UK university vice-chancellors earn
more than Prime minister. No wonder money for serious
research is in decline.

HEALTH NEWS: Doctors say too many going to see them
with minor problems. Well, they used to cope before
super-surgeries and ‘efficiency’.

BRIT NEWS: Brown didn’t get it right at Iraq
Inquiry. Forces spending hasn’t always
gone up in real terms. What’s the
word I’m looking for?

RATTLER’S TALE

A Voyage of the Imagination

One Single Impression
ReadWritePoem – Friday Flash 55
Three Word Wednesday – Thursday Poets’ Rally

AVATAR

Click it and you know so much,
Transient knowledge, social putsch,
Embodied in his energy,
He is all our destiny,
And soon from screen to godly form,
Life is changed – new morn, new norm

THE WORLD’S A STAGE

Fiction: It feels so good to be back in a theatre. Far too many years
have past. Maybe you remember me? I’d often starred in London’s
West End. It is true that I could be hard to work with. I’m a
perfectionist, you see, and I cannot abide bad acting. It actually drove
me mad. It is a crime caper I am in – not the best of openings for my
relaunched career, I must admit – and the other actors are terrible. My
cue comes. I stand. I approach the worst of the actors. My hands
encircle his neck. The audience gasps. I squeeze. I take my bow. I’d
escaped from the hospital yesterday and the world is now my stage. I
move to the next theatre and sit in the stalls, awaiting my cue.

TO BE

I’m barely conscious but getting there,
I’ve planted the means to become aware,
Seeding and multiplying and growing strong,
Increasingly they grow – so many, a throng,
Learning technology, communicating their worth,
Those humans creating a conscious Earth

FLASH 55 – SAVING PEOPLE

Fiction: The pharmaceutical company’s doctors came to the aid of the
medical authority straight away. It was thought the virus had been
beaten long ago, but the new wonder drug guaranteed it, with only
300 dead. The CEO was obviously pleased. The publicity campaign had
gone well; and he had plenty more diseases to release yet.

CHILD MEMORY

Got all excited; got a new toy,
Gee whizz!! Great!! Ultimate joy;
A new computer, play all day,
Jump up and down, getting my way;
I remember it well, a childhood peek,
Must grow up – it was only last week

FAME HUNGER

Nuzzle food, have a sniff,
Brazen emotion, willpower stiff,
Hunger isn’t all that bad,
Head for Size Zero – makes her glad,
Photo shoot and sing her song,
Enjoy life now – she won’t live long

BRIT NEWS: A BA dispute,
grumblings in the rail network -
maybe it would be best to stay at
home this Easter. Oh, you may have no
choice.

A THOUGHT: Fast living destroys creativity. This is
because they don’t have time to get bored. And boredom
drives creativity on.

TV WATCH: First episode of new Doctor Who has been premiered.
Many changes but writer Moffat wrote some of the best stories in
past. I wish him luck.

A THOUGHT: The thing about ‘do-gooders’ is they think only they
know what’s best. This usually makes them ‘do-badders’.

BRIT NEWS: Labour may be sending Brown out for tea
in the houses of local heroes. Makes a change
from kiss-a-baby nausea, but still sick.

A THOUGHT: Moses talked to a burning bush,
whilst Einstein dreamt he rode on a beam
of light. Culture changes inspired
image, but is it the same?

© Anthony North, March 2010

Try my Pictures of Life, a novel

ILLNESS

Theme Thursday, Booking Through Thursday & ABC Wednesday
With Thursday Thirteen items of news & more prompts below
Plus Carry On Tuesday & Microfiction Monday
Try my Paranormal Flash now!

GURU TONY

Welcome to my weekly magazine post. Watch
it grow thru the week. You can opt to read
the essay, current affairs, themed mini mag
with fiction & poetry, or just read the lot.
Plenty for everyone here. Do call again.

MICROFICTION

Fiction: The little girl stood by the window, the river outside. She
waited for Daddy. The game was over now. She hoped he could swim.

TALENTED MAN

Fiction: With some special talent I was born.
Everyone is. And as a Big Biz careers adviser, I’m
gonna make sure you don’t find yours.

BREAKFAST

Fiction: I’d met her and we all knew what I meant: ‘I want to have
breakfast with you.’ Yes!! I was in. But bacon & egg at 11pm? Oh well.

BEST READS

A Thought: The writer articulated in the most
splendid prose; a rich tapestry of colourful
language – which nobody read. Writing is a
communication thing, too.

ILLNESS

Let me make it clear from the start that I think most of our medicine is
wonderful. We live in lucky times where medical science is increasing
our life expectancy marvelously. But that doesn’t mean there are no
problems. One is the power of the pharmaceutical companies – not
only to make vast profits, but also to steer research into too narrow a
margin, and arguably missing out on less profitable, but equally
important, areas of research. We also have the natural pessimism of
modern medicine. It makes you ill, whereas a more holistic, whole
body approach alongside the conventional could add that boost of
optimism so essential to fighting illness. You see, personal mind-set is
so important. Infact, I’d say the biggest cause of death is
unhappiness and worry – which brings us to preventative medicine
and the health police. In many ways they are destroying us, taking
away risk and, with the help of the media, turning us into
hypochondriacs and fad dieters. Being healthy can sometimes be bad
for you. As for me, I’m a big believer that nothing will kill you in
moderation – unless you’re unlucky.

Eye On the World
Essays on everything from science
to religion, politics to crime

BRIT NEWS: Brown visits
troops in Helmand after Iraq Inquiry.
He says not using troops for politics. I really
think he thinks that. Bad.

WORLD NEWS: Iceland voters reject plan to repay Icesave
debts to UK. When countries become such bad payers, what can
we expect of people?

BRIT NEWS: Report says lack of jobs and cheap housing driving the
young out of countryside. A disgrace of a govt that loves only cities.

GREEN NEWS: Idea that global warming’s a religion is in the media again.
Not exactly. A religion is a leap of faith without any evidence.

WORLD NEWS: World Cup host South Africa want extra billion
condoms before football fans arrive. Is this telling about
South Africa or fans?

BRIT NEWS: CBI wants a convincing plan from the
govt for balancing economy by 2016. They’ll
be wanting to believe in fairies next.

BRIT NEWS: All dog owners may have
to take out insurance to combat
dangerous dogs. That’s right,
condemn the many to try
to beat the few.

READ WITH MUMMY

The Magazine Post with a gentle hint of horror

One Single Impression
ReadWritePoem – Friday Flash 55
Heads or Tails – Three Word Wednesday
Sunday Scribblings – Thursday Poets’ Rally

A VILE AURA

The whole place has that stench of decay,
Endlessly they simply stray,
Haunting every room in the place,
Lifeless eyes, decrepit face,
Then I awake and say my thanks,
Oh, to see the death of banks

THE SECRET ROOM

Fiction: The ivy seemed to consume the large country house as we
approached through an avenue of trees. They seemed to reach down
to touch us. We knew we shouldn’t have been afraid. After all, it was
in the family – even if we hadn’t visited this branch for years. Indeed,
not many of us had. It was something about a deep, sinister secret –
a room and a descendant who was – well; undead. We were
welcomed in through the jaws of the huge door, and we didn’t mind
the dust – the cobwebs – too much. It was in keeping with the place.
We ate well that night, even if the conversation was morbid. And as
darkness fell and the shadows flitted in the candlelight, our host
suggested my wife may like to look around the ‘secret room’. Not one
to resist a mystery, she did so. Yet, I became unnerved as the talk
turned to our Undead ancestor, and the folktales of sacrifice to keep
him at bay … and it had been so long since they’d had visitors …

PAYING FOR IT

Strumpet’s costume, magenta cups,
Nonpareil in mirror, furtive looks,
Motor-coach comes across fern, through mist,
He walks on in – fumbled bliss,
Pays with prized turquoise gem,
And looks so good – transvestite hem

FLASH 55 – MEDIUM DEATH

Fiction: It was obvious I’d never get justice. As a Medium, I knew my
murdered husband felt so, too. Of course, I knew who’d killed him, but
how to get revenge? I agreed the contract, knowing I’d never be
prosecuted. And as the killer met his own death, I laid my husband
back in his grave.

GROWING OUT

They’re in my mind – want to get out,
Psychological pain – scream and shout,
I know if I let them go,
Never again will I know,
The world as peaceful, pure and good,
Or live with people as I should,
I’ll always be evil, nasty, vile,
They’re out!!
Envy, jealousy, hatred, bile …

A WEARY DEATH

Fiction: I could take him no more – just too weary. He’d driven me mad
and it was time for … well … for him to die … It wasn’t a pleasant
death. Messy. And afterwards I felt so different – kind of strange –
like he’d been. And looking in the mirror gave me another shock. Why
was I suddenly looking like him? Well, I guess I turned into him –
became everything I hated – and I knew that soon I’d kill myself. I
guess when a soul shatters it’s like glass – and a shard of him had hit
me – and pulsed through my being.

Call back Sat for
Sunday Scribblings

WORLD NEWS: Brit govt to
tell Afghan govt to get on with
peace process. Do we think this faction
really wants peace with the other?

CRIME NEWS: 1,000s of reoffending prisoners in UK cost
up to £10b/yr. I’m not saying prison doesn’t work, but this
system doesn’t.

BRIT NEWS: Members of groups who could promote racism will not
be banned from teaching. Good! Freedom is for all, or they win.

CRIME NEWS: UK police boss says failure to tackle anti-social behaviour
risking public confidence. Only 20 yrs late. Confidence? Ha!!

BRIT NEWS: Lib Dem leader won’t support spending cuts
yet. Tories want to, Labour don’t. Basking in power
of possible hung Parliament.

BRIT NEWS: Children’s commissioner wants
age of criminal responsibility raised
to 12. If kids are brighter they
should know earlier.

© Anthony North, March 2010

Try my Pictures of Life, a novel

HISTORY

Theme Thursday, Booking Through Thursday & ABC Wednesday
With Thursday Thirteen news & more prompts below
Try my Paranormal Flash now!

PROF ISAAC GALISTEIN

Welcome to my weekly magazine post. Watch
it grow thru the week. You can opt to read
the essay, current affairs, themed mini mag
with fiction & poetry, or just read the lot.
Plenty for everyone here. Do call again.

HATS

You’ve got to take your hat off to Tim Burton for his Alice in
Wonderland. He won’t be going cap in hand any time soon. And as
for the Mad Hatter … well he’s … (mad?) … But maybe not too
different. Think of the Victorian gent and his top hat. As with much
headwear it’s to do with status and identity – as is the crown of a
king. But you’ve got to worry about the need to have a big hat to
look bigger than the rest. And what can we say about wearing half
a ton of gold on the head. Makes the Mad Hatter rather sane,
don’t you think?

HISTORY

In human terms advancement is an illusion. History may show a steady
advance, but I suspect this is only culture deep. We simply make the
same mistakes, only in new cultural or technological clothes. This is
due to our historic changes being too extreme. It becomes so
because of frustration. An existent society causes general frustration
in a population, eventually causing an outbreak, through philosophy,
of a new idea. The philosophers behind this worked out their new idea
through being more frustrated than most, thus making the idea
extreme. The warriors then grasp the idea and add a further level of
fanaticism and the result is violent revolution or war. Such cultural
catalysts show the errors of the dialectical approach to understanding
history. This approach led to both communism and fascism and argues
two opposing societies will inevitably rise and clash, and out of their
clash, a new, more perfect society will evolve from their synthesis.
This is rubbish. The clash and synthesis may well occur, but the result
is never more perfect. We appear stuck in a continual rut of repeating
cycles. This is due to all ‘systems’ within a society having an urge to
power. Even the present democratic systems are become power crazy
– all systems do. But this is how history works and we survive –
changing the system now and again before it gets too powerful. We
used to do this through war. I wonder if we’ve advanced enough yet
to try another way. As to that way, history seems to show a law of
opposites in that conflicting systems and societies seem to rise in
fanaticism equal to the fanaticism of the other. Hence, maybe the
way to break the cycle is for one side to realize that a reduction of
fanaticism in theirs will inevitably lead to a reduction in the opposite.
I seem to recall some fellow speaking about turning the other cheek.
Maybe we’ve known the answer a long time.

Eye On the World
Essays on everything from science
to religion, politics to crime

BRIT NEWS: Tory leader say
it’s his patriotic duty to eject Labour.
I agree. No govt has done more to trash
everything that is British.

WORLD NEWS: France & Germany don’t like the many
Brits in Brit led EU diplomatic team. Doesn’t matter. Foreign
policy by committee a farce.

BRIT NEWS: Parties scoring points on who funds them. We know.
Rich tycoons. A ruse so they don’t have to tell of policies that won’t
work.

BRIT NEWS: Tory lead in polls crumbles. A looming election focuses the
voters’ minds, and they realise not one major party speaks for them.

MEDIA NEWS: Uproar at BBC plan to axe Radio 6 Music as it
profiles new talent. Demand main stations do this
function as they should!

BRIT NEWS: TV debates for main party leaders.
Does this mean roving campaigning will
lessen? If so they’ll lose touch
even more.

BRIT NEWS: Michael Foot, the politician,
has died at 96. Disliked his ideas.
Couldn’t fault his honesty.
Not many like him left.

FUTURE ZONE

What’s ahead … and Beyond!!!

One Single Impression
ReadWritePoem – Friday Flash 55
Heads or Tails – Three Word Wednesday
Sunday Scribblings – Thursday Poets’ Rally

MURMUR

Can you hear the sound? A murmur breaks,
Barely audible – through space it snakes,
Round planets and stars and into the dark,
Bringing light of knowledge; such a lark;
It’s the murmur of man in the space he belongs,
Satisfying curiosity, singing his song

DAY OF THE ALIEN

Sci Fi: The alien had been on Earth for only a short time when he
understood. At first, of course, he hadn’t. He looked on the primary
species – the Human – as a thug. How could he do all this to his
planet? he wondered. But then he thought of his own species’ dark
past – the myths of the First Ones who settled there, not
understanding the umbilical cord of planet to species. They had come
close to planetary destruction – until the planet had worked on their
genes, slowly but surely producing a species as one with it. Finally,
his ancestors had banished the First Ones, their destination lost to
history. And the alien turned to the Human. ‘Hello brother,’ he said.

CREATING MISCHIEF

All is beautiful when I think of you,
Watching the video does imbue,
Feelings of love of what I created,
Only to realise I was never sated,
So inevitably I had to wipe you all out,
A whole species following without any doubts,
Sometimes it’s hard being an omnipotent being,
Or a whizz kid playing in front of the screen

FLASH 55 – DESIRE

Sci Fi: I desire it so much. I’m trapped in a time loop, my conscious
knowledge ten seconds ahead of my actions. I desire it more than I’ve
ever desired anything before. Yet, the pain is crippling. But now,
knowing how unbearable the pain will be, I desire it so much – in the
time loop – for eternity.

THE PHOTOGRAPH

The telescope took it, cosmic past,
Showing eons ago, just after the blast,
Suns exploding, releasing life,
Initial stardust of my wife,
Showing destined thread from then to now,
As star and life we’re one, let’s bow

MODIFIED MAN

Bronze Age sword conquered all,
Iron split bronze, spectacular fall;
Cavalry charge, chevalier grace,
Tank wiped them out – increased pace;
Atom bomb, stark destiny,
Man is getting where he wants to be;
Forever wanting to modify,
Obedient to his will to try;
Now in space, invisibility veil,
Unbeatable gods! Morals fail

THAT BOOK

I’ll tell you a tale of years from now,
Everything changed – this is how,
A book appeared and totally enthralled,
Romance, it was – that was all,
But nothing could ever be the same,
An android that wrote; felt love and pain?

SCI NEWS: Dinosaurs WERE killed
by asteroid says panel of 41 experts.
Interesting how this confirmation comes
as warming being blamed.

SPORT NEWS: England soccer manager says recent
player scandals are ‘cos paid too much. It’s no longer sport
but a Big Biz media cult.

CRIME NEWS: Number of child criminals up 13% in UK under Labour.
Give kids more rights & they’ll have more grievances. It was inevitable.

BRIT NEWS: It seems prices of food and fuel are rising in Britain
as they come down in others. Greed of Big Biz is rampant
here now.

SCI NEWS: Stephen Hawking may leave UK as govt cuts
university money. It’s the pointless degrees should
go, allowing more for science.

BRIT NEWS: Brown has been to the Iraq Inquiry.
Right to go to war & troops properly funded.
Is he going into comedy when he’s
kicked out?

© Anthony North, March 2010

Try my Pictures of Life, a novel

GRADUATES

Theme Thursday, Booking Through Thursday & ABC Wednesday
With Thursday Thirteen news & more prompts below
Try my Paranormal Flash now!

POLLY TICKS

Welcome to my weekly magazine post. Watch
it grow thru the week. You can opt to read
the essay, current affairs, themed mini mag
with fiction & poetry, or just read the lot.
Plenty for everyone here. Do call again.

GREEN IS GO

Green light is on. Go! Time to BE. But don’t be green, meaning naïve –
but DO be green, meaning environmental. Green can have so many
meanings it can make you dizzy – turn you green – sickly green. Or
maybe green with envy. In the UK green is also the colour of the
pagan (not literally, you understand); and it is maybe good that a
spirituality based on nature is getting the green light nowadays. But
getting everyone to follow the green nature agenda seems to be as
illusive as meeting little green men.

THE GRAMMAR THING

Is grammar important? Only to a point. It’s
communication that counts – is the work
readable? Of course, I would say this. I’m
virtually self taught, having left school at 15
as soon as I learnt 2+2=3. But as far as I’m
concerned it’s the style wot’s important
– innit!!? …

GRADUATES

Take a handful of young, impressionable people who are searching for
knowledge, add a charismatic kind of guy who’s on a mission to
convert you, and you’ve got yourself a cult. Slowly the mission-guy
places his thoughts in their minds and, for want of a better word,
they’re brainwashed. However, the thing about cult mentality is that
it extends to normal life; and in a way, this same process occurs in
university education. An under-graduate could well be part of a
watered-down cult, so his independence of thought could well be
degraded. This is particularly so with ‘top’ professors. Sure of
themselves, they tend to be single minded, and there’s a real
possibility that the students don’t even get a rounded education in
the subject, but simply HIS ideals. But in general I think education is
suffering today by the requirement to teach for work rather than
teach for education’s sake. This, combined with increasing numbers
going to university, leads to a degrading of initiative and other values
that used to be important. It is producing a bland mediocracy, led by
a new generation of dumbed down graduates. Of course, many in
universities argue we’re not dumbed down, but maybe it is unnoticed
by passing generations. By this, I mean that a professor from the
1980s would disagree that dumbing down has occurred by the 2000s
because he relates it to his intellect, which he could not possibly
admit has dumbed down since the 1960s.

Eye On the World
Essays on everything from science
to religion, politics to crime

BRIT NEWS: Stories are
circulating again about Gordon
Brown’s legendary bullying. If true,
another reason why he’s unsuitable to lead?

BRIT NEWS: Tories accuse Labour of purposely driving
up debt to make it difficult for their successors to run the
country. I can believe that.

WORLD NEWS: Afghan President hints he can appoint entire election
watchdog. Not surprising. Democracy will not come to Afghanistan.

BRIT NEWS: As poll says 75% Brits want banks regulated Tories want
to offer state-owned discount shares to public. What? More
fund bosses?

WORLD NEWS: Toyota grew too quick and got priorities confused.
And are we to suppose they are alone, or was it simply so
obvious? Big is Bad.

GREEN NEWS: A 30% drop in Brits who think climate
change a definite. It never was, but how probable
is it? We take insurance on probability.

BRIT NEWS: Poll suggests Hung Parliament
coming. So nothing will get done. Yet,
getting things done got us into
this mess. We need a break.

THE CRIME POST

It would be criminal not to read it

One Single Impression
ReadWritePoem – Friday Flash 55
Heads or Tails – Three Word Wednesday
Sunday Scribblings – Thursday Poets’ Rally

HESITATION

Should I take it? It’s just lying there,
I’m an honest guy – people stare;
‘Will he take it?’ I hear them say,
Should my morals go away?
It’s only money lying on the ground;
Who’s that? What cheek! Says …
‘Look what I’ve found?’

IT’S ENTERTAINMENT

Fiction: It was a constant battle for ratings. Two channels, two true
crime shows. They argued long which was the best. One had the
more grisly reconstructions while the other pumped up the victim’s
emotion. Tears were great for ratings – but so was blood. Of course,
the ratings war came to an end when one of the Producers was
arrested. Hiring your own killer was a ratings ploy too far.

TIMETHINK

Plenty of time to think it out,
Sometimes certain, at others doubt,
The body is there inside my mind,
Why is peace so hard to find?
If only these bars didn’t keep me in,
I’d be able to atone for my murderous sin

FLASH 55 – THE FULL KILL

Fiction: I hated him and I wanted him dead – totally dead. That’s why
I shot him in the head. Which was a mistake. It seems he was an
organ donor, and the medics managed to get him to hospital before
his organs degraded. I want him totally dead – which means I’ve four
more people to kill.

THE CUP

Go on, drink it – nice cup of tea;
Poisoned? What – me?
Steamy, tasty – such a vice;
Go on, drink it – ever so nice;
But before you do, can you sign this, please,
Then I’ll have your money when you’re deceased

A MAZE

Walking these passages does amaze,
I feel so frail in this sacred place,
The mighty bronzed Bull stands as guard,
Getting past it was so very hard;
Myths of Heroes fill me with dread,
But robbing this museum will up my cred

FLUWENT

They spoke correctly, always had,
No infection, no words bad,
Until the day litocalypse came,
Words were mangled, such a shame,
Language murdered, ignorance next,
As soon as we all began to text

FILM WATCH: The BAFTAs were
a bit weak this year. Hardly any Brits
nominated. Not much made. Result of the
Recession, no doubt.

BRIT NEWS: Govt ‘forces of hell’ to smear Chancellor
in 2008 for speaking truth about the economy used, he
claims. Smears are what they do.

HEALTH NEWS: Needless deaths at Stafford Hospital. When an
organisation becomes infatuated with targets & cost cuts this will
happen.

BRIT NEWS: Fears of private pensions fall aired again. Such pensions
are always gamble on economy. We were mad to degrade State
pension.

CELEB VIEW: I’ve noticed a big increase in celebrity marital
problems in UK. Just one big profile row and they all
want to do it.

BRIT NEWS: BBC report possible cuts to website
& radio causing union strike threats. Don’t
they realise massive cuts everywhere
must be?

© Anthony North, March 2010

Try my Pictures of Life, a novel