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X FILES

Posted by anthonynorth on June 27, 2010

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

houses-of-parliament3

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. Here’s hoping you enjoy your visit. Plenty
for everyone here so do call again next week.

I’m now on Facebook

MICROFICTION

‘I’m so sorry,’ said the girl as the
mermaids gathered, ‘but this is my
Daddy’s canning ship.’

X-FILES

Most governments have them – reports of strange events ‘rational’
people would rather forget, dismissed as hallucination, fakery, etc.
Science ignores such events, certainly. But whether they are due to
‘real’ phenomena or not, there is something vital that government and
science forget. There is a need in so many of us for such mysteries.
They are part of our historical and psychological make-up. For the
establishment to ignore them is to discount a large part of what it is
to be human. Maybe they should move on a letter – to the ‘Y’ Files.

BLUE

Blue is such a negative colour. It can
be for sad, pornography, being cold.
Would make me see red if I wasn’t so
yellow. Oh dear, most colours appear
negative. We’re quite green about
this. If only there was a happy colour
I’d be in the pink.

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

newsflash

EDUC NEWS: Over 700 groups
like idea of starting ‘free schools’ in
England, many made up of teachers. Is
this the new way for education?

BRIT NEWS: Cameron makes it clear the middleclass
will have to bear brunt of deficit cuts. Affluence swelled
their numbers, so quite right.

BRIT NEWS: 20% VAT, 2 yr public sector pay freeze, purge on
benefits – welcome to the austerity budget. Harsh but sensible.

BRIT NEWS: Deaths of Brit soldiers in Afghanistan reaches 300. A high
price to fight terrorism; a disgusting price for state building.

HEALTH NEWS: Health watchdog warns processed foods kill 1000s.
If so, don’t we have corporate manslaughter laws in the UK?

BRIT NEWS: Health Sec calls for NHS management costs to
be halved. All Britain awash with too much management.
Product of smug affluence.

WORLD NEWS: General who devised Afghan policy
sacked by Obama for his comments. Let’s
not let worries about image impede
getting job done.

beta-robot

FUTURE ZONE

What’s ahead … and Beyond!!!

One Single Impression
Sunday ScribblingsFriday Flash 55
Three Word WednesdayWriter’s Island

ASTRO-ROADS

Galactic trade routes travel far,
Connecting planet, asteroid, star,
Juggernauts finally become the gods,
Powered by nuclear cooling rods,
Commerce doing what it’s always done,
Bringing us together after the gun

FLASH 55 – THE SOLUTION

Sci Fi: It was in the First Phase that it happened. Monsters reigned and
the Earthers were facing extinction. But the scientists came up with
the answer – or so they thought. They created the species specifically
for their violence, and soon the monsters were gone. But sadly, so,
too, were they. The Humans had an insatiable appetite.

IMAGINE

Large hadrons collide around the rods,
Forever in search of the meaning of gods;
What is this particle that created it all?
Mysterious enough to keep us enthralled;
Maybe it’s our capacity to think it out,
Imagination makes science, there can’t be doubt

FUTURES

Sci Fi: Danvers worked his way up the secretive Time Corporation quite
quickly. It was a career full of hassle, but he was determined to inject
his own ideas into the process. His family thought it a strange move as
he dreamt of wealth, yet his research position provided little. But even
they didn’t know that his work, alone, at night, had a hidden agenda.
He’d go back to the early 21st century, check the stock exchange,
then go back a week earlier and play the future’s market. Transferring
the amount to gold, he’d then return to his present time and deposit it,
his wealth increasing in kind. Yet it was inevitable he’d get greedy. Of
course, the markets blamed sub prime mortgages. After all, how could
they explain how so much credit seemed to disappear overnight? As for
Danvers, his greed got to him in another way. The initial idea for time
travel had just begun to form. Unfortunately, the economic climate
made it impossible for any company to take the project on, and the
idea was lost – leaving Danvers to never be born.

LIFE SWAP

Had enough of this life so cold,
How could I have been so bold,
To think that I could thrive in here,
A planet with little atmosphere,
Boring, boring – nothing to see,
Life swap in virtual reality

pen

BRIT NEWS: Is UK on ‘road to ruin’
as Chancellor says? Wouldn’t say that,
but it’s certainly on road to economic change.

BRIT NEWS: Thinktank warns poor will suffer from ‘tough
but fair’ Budget. Of course they will. If rich taxed 100% it wouldn’t
be enough.

BRIT NEWS: Pension age to rise quicker than planned. This govt seems
to be hitting us with the nasty stuff early while we’re still reeling.

BRIT NEWS: Govt to ask public sector workers how to find savings.
Does anyone really believe this is more than publicity stunt?

BRIT NEWS: Poll shows Lib Dems ready to leave party in
protest at budget cuts. How long can this coalition
really stay in power?

BRIT NEWS: Researchers warn cutting welfare could
kill. Family used to support the needy but
that’s been degraded. We ARE a
welfare society.

© Anthony North, June 2010

Try my Pictures of Life, a novel
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117 Responses to “X FILES”

  1. Stan Ski said

    This government wouldn’t have got my X on a ballot slip.
    Science – Science Fiction – Now Science Poetry!
    All good.

  2. A lot of interesting things here. I shall have to come back and read more when I have some free time. Great post on the Writer’s Island prompt! And who knows, maybe the government already has a Y-Files, and we just don’t know it. Thanks for sharing!

    -Weasel

  3. 1sojournal said

    Ah, but a Y file suggests that there might actually be a reason behind all of the phenomena. Can’t have those inquiring minds, let alone questions. Thus, it will always remain the X files, as in curiosity banned.

    Elizabeth

  4. I agree with your X-Files piece. So very, very true. And I enjoyed the microfiction a whole lot. Very nicely done. You make me smile, Anthony.

  5. pamela said

    Anthony imagine if they did change it!
    Nicely written to the prompt!
    Pamela

  6. Hi Stan,
    Thanks for that. I don’t think this govt will last long.

    Hi Weasel,
    You could be right. Many thanks and welcome.

    Hi Elizabeth,
    Yes, the present intellectual establishment certainly thinks that. And I’m sure they’re wrong.

    Hi Sandy,
    Many thanks for that. Much appreciated.

    Hi Pamela,
    One day I hope they will.

  7. Mary said

    So true, Anthony, without imagination there would be no science.

  8. Hi Mary,
    Many thanks for that.

  9. wayne said

    nice one again Anthony…sitting here with my mind wide open IMAGINING

  10. Akelamalu said

    Ooooh scary 55 Anthony :0

  11. william said

    brilliant posting this week Anthony

    best part

    X-FILES

    Most governments have them – reports of strange events ‘rational’
    people would rather forget, dismissed as hallucination, fakery, etc.
    Science ignores such events, certainly. But whether they are due to
    ‘real’ phenomena or not, there is something vital that government and
    science forget. There is a need in so many of us for such mysteries.
    They are part of our historical and psychological make-up. For the
    establishment to ignore them is to discount a large part of what it is
    to be human. Maybe they should move on a letter – to the ‘Y’ Files

  12. Old Grizz said

    your comment on Obama interesting. wrote a full blog on his ineptitude.
    I thought about swapping with a brit but decided it was to cold..unfortunately most of your comment about the Brit. Gov. could also apply to the US of A

  13. Hi Wayne,
    Many thanks. That’s a good place to be.

    Hi Akelamalu,
    Yes, good job it’s fiction … I hope …

    Hi William,
    Thanks for that. It’s a subject close to my heart.

    Hi Old Grizz,
    Many thanks. Yes, politics in the west seems to be becoming standardised. Very worrying.

  14. Pat said

    Swim, mermaids, swim. Swim away fast! Don’t become Chicken of the Sea.

  15. Hi Pat,
    Don’t worry, I have a heart. They’ll live ;-)

  16. Bill said

    The Mermaids better be careful or they might become a can of Minute Maid. Another great take on Susan’s picture.

  17. Dee said

    Hope the mermaids weren’t hoping to meet Charlie the Tuna! I don’t care what letter they use – I think the government has too many files!

    Another great collection of work Tony!

  18. Hi Bill,
    Many thanks. Yes, scary times for them.

    Hi Dee,
    Thanks for that. Yes, govt has far too many files – and I bet there’s some on mermaids.

  19. John said

    Snap!140 Story

  20. Hi John,
    Yes, great minds thinking alike? :-)

  21. jabblog uk said

    Brilliant microfiction – it made me giggle and reminded me of Spike Milligan’s little rhyme about sardines.

  22. Ooops! Hopefully we won’t be seeing in “mermaid of the sea” on the shelves at the grocery store!!! Great one for the day, Anthony! Hope you have a great week!

    Sylvia

  23. Peggy said

    Your story went along with mine from last week.
    So clever Anthony, you are a pro at this.

  24. Hi Jabblog,
    Glad you enjoyed it. Old Spike was a genius, wasn’t he?

    Hi Sylvia,
    Many thanks. I can guarantee that no mermaids were hurt during the making of this story.

    Hi Peggy,
    Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

  25. Twilight said

    I wonder if The Establishment does ignore X files, AN – or do they keep them secret in the hope of finding something that could be used to further control The Great Unwashed?

    Your “Imagine” may not be as beautiful as Lennon’s – but it’s still as thoght provoking. :-)

  26. Hi Twilight,
    Thanks for that. Lennon’s Imagine cannot be beaten ;-)
    The last civil servant known to be involved in such files was Nick Pope, who left and began writing books on the subject. Of course, we can’t be sure he was passed them all.

  27. Akelamalu said

    Flee mermaids, flee, before you end up as tuna!

  28. Maybe that sign saying “Sorry, Charlie” will appear on a fish hook and save the day for these mermaidens. LOL!

    SparkleFarkle!~~~~~

  29. Hi Akelamalu,
    Indeed – although it would have a happy ending – honest ;-)

    Hi Sparklefarkle,
    Good idea. Maybe for a sequal :-)

  30. Ellie said

    Great microfiction!

  31. TUNA! TUNA! TUNA!

    Very good, Anthony! Funny!

  32. Love your MM, Anthony: a canning ship, indeed.

    When will the Lib-Dems bolt? Any bets?

  33. Hi Ellie,
    Thanks for that, and welcome.

    Hi Southlakesmom,
    Many thanks. Glad you liked it.

    Hi Michael,
    Much appreciated. To answer your question, I can’t see this coalition lasting more than a year. After that, how about canned Lib Dem?

  34. Janel said

    I loved you Life Swap piece. The grass is always greener on the other side!

  35. Quilly said

    It is lunch time here. I am now considering my tuna sandwich in a whole new light.

    Oh, and don’t eat YELLOW snow.

  36. Thom said

    LOL..a canning ship. Love it. Insatiable is the understatement. So clever my friend as usual. :) Have a great week ahead :)

  37. Hi Janel,
    Thanks for that. Very true.

    Hi Quilly,
    Hope I haven’t put you off the sandwich. I’ve never eaten yellow snow, but created it a few times ;-)

    Hi Thom,
    Many thanks. Much appreciated.

  38. Mama Zen said

    Outstanding 55!

  39. Old Egg said

    Great variety of posts and news. I only came for the “Life Swap” and it reminded me of the the “Voyage to the Planets” TV series which has ended in Australia. Why would anyone bother to visit these hostile places? Yet all the while these scientists enthuse about them.

    Thank you for my weekly fix.

  40. ladynimue said

    Had bit trouble finding the microfiction but i am glad that i got to read such amazing writes !! this is cool way of post :) loved most the poetry on life swap !!

  41. Hi Mama Zen,
    Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

    Hi Old Egg,
    Many thanks for the kind words.

    Hi Ladynimue,
    Thanks for that and welcome.

  42. Zephyr said

    Micro-micro fiction? That and Solution are ‘horr(or)fic!

    Yes, I agree about the need to have some mystery in our life to enliven it.

    And that was colourful musing:) Enjoyed the post AN!

  43. wordwand said

    a great job anthony, well done.the piece of news that struck me is the number of groups willing to start free schools in GB .

  44. Hi Zephyr,
    Many thanks. Yes, we used to thrive on mystery. We should relearn it.

    Hi Wordwand,
    Thanks for that. Yes, so many here want control over their children’s education, rather than being dictated to by a central govt.

  45. Interesting thoughts on the X Files. I do tend to agree with you! Great word for the X day, Anthony! Hope your week is going well!

    Sylvia

  46. Hi Sylvia,
    Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

  47. Reader Wil said

    Very great post again. One of my daughters used to watch the series of the X files, which was fascinating.
    You are complaining about your government, but at least you have one, and we are waiting for our parties to come to a reasonably good coalition government. Very difficult as there are too many parties, one of them a sheer racist party. Well I hope we won’t get a right wing government!

  48. We’re so “sophisticated” that we minimize anything that we can’t explain as “not real”, assuming the viewer is, at best, seeing things, and at worst, is “crazy”.
    I say, the more we know, the more we know we DON’T know!

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

  49. I waited and waited for the abc-Wednesday site to shoew the links for the new letter ‘X’, but I still did not get the first spot. Suddenly there are 21 people ahead of me!

    That was just side comment.

    The ‘X-files’ is an excellent choice of ‘X-word’ for this meme. Especially if you are interested in world politics and/or conspircy-theories.

    Best wishes,
    Anna

    Anna’s X-words

  50. Hi Reader Wil,
    This is the problem, so often, with coalitions. So hard to put together, and to sustain.
    Yes, I’m always hard on any govt the UK has. It’s when the electorate takes its eye off them that trouble occurs.

    Hi Roger,
    Very true. I think one of the main problems is that we live in too scientific a culture. This isn’t to degrade science, but to accept that there are other ways of thinking. It’s a matter of balance.

    Hi Anna,
    Oh, it’s hard to be first on these prompts :-)
    I don’t accept most conspiracy theories, but I love reading about them.

  51. Actually, I do believe they might listen to the public sector workers this time around. It’s encouraging that they’ve even asked, and it’ll be the only way to actually find a solution, that’s for sure. I can remember many years ago when my mother was nursing, she complained bitterly about all the directions from ‘up high’ regarding day to day policies. She often said ‘if ONLY they’d ask us before they do these things!’ Well, maybe this time it’ll work out. We can only hope.

    X-Files … didn’t I hear recently that they’re closing that programme?

  52. ladynimue said

    visiting again to read 3 word wednesday post. liked the idea of economic travel !! cool :)

  53. Barb said

    Great X post. On behalf of the ABC Wed. team, thanks for participating. Barb

  54. suzicate said

    “Life swap” – gotta find excitement somewhere, huh?! And Sadly, we have become a welfare society.

  55. mark said

    Anthony, I smiled, laughed, and you caused me to think about some thing. All in all, time well spent. Micro-fiction, Blue and Futures in particular struck me as well done.

  56. Hi Jay,
    I hope you’re right. And yes, officially I understand the dept has been wound up.

    Hi Ladynimue,
    Thanks for the comment.

    Hi Barb,
    You’re welcome. I couldn’t miss ABC.

    Hi Suzicate,
    Yes, we are. Welfare has replaced family and i suspect it’s here to stay.

    Hi Mark,
    Many thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.

  57. trisha said

    loved your side of rainbow :)

  58. Futures – Poor Danvers, it was a good scheme.

    Life Swap – Virtual Reality can have so much yet so little to offer.

    Imagine – The last line sums it all up.

  59. Hi Trisha,
    Thanks for that Much appreciated :-)

    Hi Jay,
    Many thanks. Yes, Danvers just didn’t think it through, did he?

  60. brian said

    i dunno blue is not so bad…i do like yellow too…happy tt!

  61. Amity said

    Hmmm…the Future of Danvers? An entertaining rendition of the prompt! And Danvers’ dreams are equally entertaining to read!

    Am back to 3WW Anthony! With some smiles to share… :-)

  62. Hi Brian,
    Yes, I may have been harsh – but the prompt demanded ;-)

    Hi Amity,
    Thanks for that. Glad to see you back.

  63. Sandy said

    Interesting post. I enjoyed your take on Blue. I usually find it calm and comforting, but I there is the other side as well.

  64. Hi Sandy,
    Thanks for that. Yes, I was being a bit biased, I must admit.

  65. betsy said

    blue is my favorite….calm, cool, restful…like the sky! happy tt, anthony! Don’t be blue! :)

  66. Hi Betsy,
    Thanks for that. No, blue has its nice meanings, too :-)

  67. dustus said

    Life Swap is amazing! Also, throughout the micros and flash; your witty one-liners come at the end of the pieces, which makes creates a lasting impact. Excellent

  68. Hi Dustus,
    Many thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.

  69. Poor mermaids. Of course, nothing says they don’t have their own version of a floating cannery.

  70. Hi Alice,
    I’m sure they do :-)

  71. Nessa said

    Those mermaids better high tail it out of there if they don’t want to join Charlie Tuna.

    I’m rooting for the Z-Files.

    Blue is worth its weight in gold.

  72. Hi Nessa,
    Yes, I can guarantee no mermaids were harmed in the making of the story :-)
    I’ll have to work on those Z Files.

  73. I enjoyed your riff on colours, Anthony!

  74. LOL – and blue is my favorite color.
    I enjoyed the sci-fi slant this week.

  75. Monkey Man said

    Came for your Blue post and, of course, had to read on. Colorful Theme Thursday. Loved the underlying truth in youe 55 and felt reborn over the Futures story. Great work.

  76. Hi Julia,
    Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.

    Hi Shelley,
    Many thanks. Purple is mine.

    Hi Monkey Man,
    Glad you liked the post. Many thanks.

  77. Futures is a hoot. Greed that never came to be. That could be helpful!

  78. Hi Tumblewords,
    Thanks for that. Yes, a little morality tale.

  79. moondustwriter said

    I think your Sci-fi s and stories fit in perfectly with the news. It could be integrated and no one would be able to discern fact from fiction. Those processed foods – mermaids in disguise

    Anthony thanks always for honoring me with your visits

    hope all is well in your Thursday and beyond

  80. if (Sandra) said

    I love all the shades from pink to purple…you make the world to be less boring Anthony!!

  81. Patti said

    Really good 55. But so not true for blue.

  82. Hi Moondustwriter,
    Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.

    Hi Sandra,
    Many thanks. The world always fascinates me.

    Hi Patti,
    Yes, I admit it was a little one sided.

  83. “processed foods kill 1000s” Scary! great posts!
    Gerardine

  84. Hi Gerardine,
    Yes, very scary. Thanks for the comment.

  85. brian said

    gotta be careful that the solution is not worse that the plague…nice 55.

    mine is up!

  86. Hi Brian,
    Yes, always a risk. Thanks for that.

  87. jabblog uk said

    X-files – very interesting. There’s an awful lot that’s hidden from the general public.
    Flash 55 – yes, not only are we secretive (X-files) we are extremely destructive of ourselves, each other, our planet . . .

  88. trisha said

    dint like your microfiction an inch :(
    poor mermaids

  89. Tasneem R said

    Interesting

  90. Great 55! At first I thought the beings created by humans to rid the world of the monsters would also exterminate the humans, but no, they humans ate them!

  91. John said

    and then many years later the humans developed computers and wondered why they heard the echo of ancient laughter…My 55 here

  92. Hi Jabblog,
    Yes, we’re getting a lot of things wrong, aren’t we?

    Hi Trisha,
    I guarantee no mermaids were harmed in the making of the story.

    Hi Tasneem R,
    Thanks for that, and welcome.

    Hi Peter,
    Many thanks. Yes, who knows where we really came from.

    Hi John,
    I like that.

  93. Felicitas said

    Sadly, your 55 is too true. Hope our reality doesn’t mimick your sci-fi too closely!

  94. Hi Felicitas,
    I hope not, too.

  95. G-Man said

    Excellent as usual…But Ohhhhhh.
    Did that 55 ever Kick Ass!!!
    You my friend are a pleasure to read.
    Thanks for the honor…
    And have a Great Week-End…Galen

  96. Hi G-Man,
    Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

  97. You know, about that “solution” business in your 55 – sometimes I wonder if that isn’t exactly what happened.

  98. Hi Alice,
    Well, our violent nature must have come from somewhere.

  99. naramalone said

    Big appetites, So true in all aspects.

  100. Hi Naramalone,
    Thanks for that. Yes, very true.

  101. Akelamalu said

    Of course the humans had to eat them – what else?

    Great 55 as always Anthony. :)

  102. Hi Akelamalu,
    Thanks for that. Yes, quite an appetite :-)

  103. ThomG said

    “Futures” is a great tale of greed – and getting caught in time.

  104. Hi Thom,
    Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.

  105. Your blue poem has me thinking how we heap meaning onto things–and how that meaning can change from moment to moment.

  106. Loch Rob said

    I liked your poem for the OSI prompt “roads”. I do think one day our roads will the skies into infinity. I think it is our destiny to reach out for the stars. We just have to watch out for that gun. :)

  107. Hi Sandy,
    This is very true. No meaning seems to be cast in stone any more.

    Hi Loch Rob,
    Yes, I agree – we should have been up there long ago, too.

  108. I loved the way you have highlighted the role the commerce plays in life today.. a ggod take on the OSI prompt ROADS.

  109. Hi Ramesh Sood,
    Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

  110. Tammie said

    roads: I feel as though you have summed up our times in this poem, my kind of news.

  111. Hi Tammie,
    Many thanks. Yes, it IS the kind of society we live in, isn’t it?

  112. Amity said

    What a road Anthony…scientific, realistic?

    Whatever human existence takes…this is quite dreamy!

  113. Hi Amity,
    Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

  114. Lots of interesting work here … particularly like “Life swap in virtual reality” … clever!

    peace,
    JP/deb

  115. Hi Deb,
    Many thanks. Glad you liked the post.

  116. Interesting astro-roads. Lots of distance covered!

  117. Hi Tumblewords,
    A lot of distance indeed.

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