STRANGER

Find current affairs & prompts below.

PAPPA RAZZI

The Stranger
(Take One)

The Stranger is an important archetype. He inhabits our deep psyche,
and is a part of the heroism within ourselves. He is our dream of going
out into the world, doing good, and then simply moving on. He is
usually subsumed by our Ego, who needs a reward, but he is alive in
culture. From James Bond to Doctor Who, he is our ultimate fantasy
hero. And he is so successful because he is what men dream of being.

My Columnists
The ‘Y’ Files

Inde-Pol

BRIT NEWS: City watchdog says we
will have to work until we’re 70 to get
decent pension. Sorry, decent pension is a
dream we can’t afford. When will we realise this?

HEALTH NEWS: Swine flu no longer containable. In UK 100,000
cases a day by Aug most gloomy prediction. But still mild in
most cases.

WORLD NEWS: Bloggers and Govts working as one? It
seems pressure from the two spheres are making
China relent on internet censorship. Shocked
all round.

One Single Impression
Sunday Scribblings

HUMAN

Sci Fi: ‘So you have your report?’ asked the Director of Galactic
Misdemeanour. ‘I have,’ replied the Investigator. ‘The species is
Human, planet Earth. Typical evolutionary path. Reached globally
calamitous tech levels rather quickly, spurred on by a series of
ideologies and inter-species hatreds. The destructive path always
seems to provide the better tech. Descended into trivia-based
mass capitalism as expected, and accelerated climate change,
with the double problems of tech-based medications accelerating
viral evolution, and chemical use reducing sperm count.’ The
director sat back: ‘Classic self-hate syndrome.’ He sighed. When
will these lower species learn, he wondered, looking again
at the fossil.

STRANGER
(Take Two)

The stranger comes, who is he?
He’s going to change your destiny,
Stranger – how things now occur,
Nothing the same, all a blur,
Stranger, stranger all you do,
For good or bad, it’s life anew

© Anthony North, July 2009

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THEY’VE GOTCHA

Find current affairs & prompt below.

Anyone who has survived a cult can testify to the
power a guru holds over them. Families have temporarily
lost a member, and cult de-programmers are aware of
the difficulties of banishing cultish thoughts from the
person being recovered.

How does the guru do it? What power does he exert over the person? Is it really ‘brain-washing’? Perhaps one way is for the guru to show the future disciple he has authority. Stanley Milgram showed how easy this is in the 1960s.
In Milgram’s infamous experiment an actor was rigged to a fake electric chair. Students were told to turn up the power as part of an experiment, the actor squealing in kind. Some would have delivered enough power to kill him.
It is accepted that these otherwise non-violent students did as they were told because they accepted the authority of the experimenter. Their moral objections were therefore overcome and they became obedient.
Another obvious power a guru exerts is an over-powering charisma – an ability to ‘seduce’ the person into compliance. We can actually see such a process in action quite often. It is achieved by stage hypnotists in their act.
Some people can become natural hypnotists. They are usually those who are so sure of themselves that a similar authority to Milgram is achieved; especially when the person to be hooked is searching for something to believe in.
In one way, we can say that a person’s individuality is transferred to a higher authority in such instances. The social processes involved were described by the sociologist Elias Canetti, who studied crowds and the power people and symbols can have over them.
Calling such focal points ‘crowd crystals’, Canetti studied all forms of crowd, including riots, where individuality seems to be submerged below a ‘group’ entity. With such powers over the person, it is hardly surprising we use the term ‘brain-washing.’

First posted: Dec 08

Inde-Pol

BRIT NEWS: Survey: two thirds of
teenagers don’t believe in God and think
reality TV is important. Whatever main media
says, kids will believe.

BRIT NEWS: 13.5 million working days lost due to stress. When
will govt/Big Biz wake up to the fact the system in inhuman.
We’re not cogs.

BRIT NEWS: Govt survey says 3 out of 4 Brits
think police have let them down. Time to
forget social engineering and get
back to policing.

FUTURE ZONE

What’s ahead … and Beyond!!!

One Single Impression

BLUE RAIN
(Take 1)

The music played, electronic haze,
The festival buzzed, crowd amazed,
The rain, it came, it was blue,
Pixies danced, all so true,
Demons arrived and swallowed the crowd,
None of them were now so proud,
Narcotics police arrived in vain,
They’d all taken that damned Blue Rain

BLUE RAIN
(Take 2 – a rewrite)

Sci Fi: It was the first Earth-like planet they had found. At least,
how Earth had once been. Nature proliferated here. It was a jewel,
and the crew were ecstatic. They had really found paradise. Yet, as
one crewman found out, paradise held dangers. The branch just fell
from nowhere. He was rushed to sickbay, leaving a pool of blood on
the ground. Later, clouds gathered, and when the rain came it was
fierce. But when it turned blue, they began to fear the rain. And as it
became acidic and burnt their skin, they raced back to the ship. It
took just an hour to realise the rain was only over them – and it was
burning through their hull. They took off after that, never to return,
and on the planet the ants removed all trace of the blood.

BLUE RAIN
(Take 3)

The rain comes down, an ozone hue,
Death ray, bombardment, all is blue,
Wiping them out, they stand no chance,
Nowhere to go, can’t enhance

He smiles as he fires again,
His rays causing them much, much pain,
No mercy here, he’s the big player,
Radiotherapist, cancer slayer

© Anthony North, June 2009

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TONY ON POLITICIANS

Including Thursday Thirteen, ABC Wednesday, Three Word Wednesday
and Totally Optional Prompts. With Thursday Thirteen lines of poetry.

POLLY TICKS

Politicians

I criticise politicians a lot, and I make no apologies for this. The party
system is such that they attract a particular kind of individual –
usually a career person rather than one who is there to serve. But for
once I’d like to say that not all politicians are like this. Some ARE
there to serve, and they should be remembered – and remembered
because no one does. Service rarely provides promotion or exposure.

My Columnists

EDITORIAL

This post is in two parts – newspaper and
magazine. Read either or both. It is also
a debating platform, so do join in. Don’t
forget to call again.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The ‘Y’ Files – Choose an Essay

Inde-Politics & Socio-Capitalism

BRIT NEWS: BNP gets seats in Euro
Election. This is not a success for racism,
but a failure of main parties to address peoples fears.

WORLD NEWS: China demands blocking software in computers
to stop porn, but could be used for political reasons. Now, I
wonder: will they?

BRIT NEWS: Labour meets to rid itself of Brown. He
survives. They can’t even organise a revolt.
Old New Labour, limping to oblivion.

Call back Fri for more NewsFlash
Tomorrow: a story

FUTURE ZONE

What’s ahead … and Beyond!!!

My Sci Fi Archive

U is for … UNIVERSE

Look up! It’s there! All around;
The universe, mysterious, profound,
The ultimate goal of human endeavour,
Enough to keep us going for ever,
So why are we stuck on this little blob?
Wake up, mankind! Get on with the job

KEEPSAKE

Sci Fi: He’d found it when he passed through the time anomaly
and joined the Intergalactic Fleet to help save the universe. His
adventures were, of course, many. Dangerous, too, but when he
returned he brought the keepsake with him. It was a simple,
handheld device which, when activated, allowed him to jump ten
seconds into the future. And he had inevitably used it to do good,
saving lives, fighting crime, and being a generally good superhero.
Of course, now that he had lost it, and found himself just lying
there, he was increasingly restless – something that was not lost
on the psychiatrists, who kept the straight-jacket tight.

GARDEN SALE

I bought it! So much fun,
Cost a fortune, hard to run,
Life support to keep it going,
But it’s beautiful; life all glowing,
The last one ever on Planet Earth,
Flowers and bushes and nice green turf,
Remembrance of before nature’s dearth

© Anthony North, June 2009

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Totally Optional Prompts
The prompt is: yard sale
Three Word Wednesday
The words are: dangerous, keepsake & restless
Naisaiku Challenge
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Simply Snickers
A weekly prompt here
ReadWritePoem
Poem about date with historical figure

TONY’S MUSE DIARY

Him Outside watches a lot of films. His favourite period was the
1940s, but above all other films he loves The Sound of Music. Now
yes, I know, it’s a bit twee, but it really is the film with everything,
from drama to music, romance to comedy, and an acute sense of
realism at times. And, of course, seven kids. Now, when he met His
Dearest he soon discovered that her favourite TV programme was
The Waltons with … seven kids. And yes, they had seven kids.
Who says life doesn’t imitate art?

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and campaigns. Tomorrow: a story

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TONY ON BRAVERY

Including One Single Impression and Sunday Scribblings.
Have you had a go yet?

GURU TONY

Bravery

What is Bravery? Sometimes it seems obvious – those who receive
an award for gallantry, yet so often such bravery is an unthinking
response – you just do it. Bravery of a true nature is when you have
time to think beforehand – which is the key. You can be brave for
standing up to the fight, or brave for standing down. I guess bravery
is a decision to do something you are uncomfortable with.

My Columnists

EDITORIAL

This post is in two parts – newspaper and
magazine. Read either or both. It is also
a debating platform, so do join in. Don’t
forget to call again.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Eye On the World – Choose an Essay

Inde-Politics & Socio-Capitalism

BRIT NEWS: Think tank warns that govt
spending is heading for half of national income.
So now they’re nationalising the people themselves.

BRIT NEWS: Minister resigns and makes direct challenge to Gordon
Brown to go. The last days of this terrible govt may be here. We
can hope.

BRIT NEWS: UK food price inflation 4 times higher than
rest of Europe as supermarkets profiteer. This
used to be a land of fairness.

Call back Mon for more NewsFlash

RATTLER’S TALE

A Voyage of the Imagination

Twist In the Tale Archive

INTERSECTION

Two people meet, a boy, a girl,
An episode of life about to unfurl,
Intersecting angrily,
Surely not their destiny?
Intersecting sensually,
They’ll get there eventually;
Intersecting moods, man and wife,
That’s what it’s about, this thing called life

HOLO-STATE

Sci Fi: Roll up, roll up! Get your holo-husband here. No need to
feed, no need to suck up to his ego. Just switch on and he’s yours,
complete with variable sex settings … They looked back upon the
launch of the product with dread. Maybe they should have realised
they’d have had to perfect the holo-kid, too, before the human
race died out through lack of procreation.

SOUL MATES
(Updated 1200 GMT 7 June)

It’s gone again but it’s coming soon,
There it is! Now ahead – it blooms,
We’re always as one, in harmony,
Marching towards my destiny,
Two soles make a handsome pair,
Lose one and there’s nothing but despair,
But walk through life in goodness and stealth,
And surely the soul will look after itself

© Anthony North, June 2009

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Movie Musings
Check out this new monthly prompt
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For daily memes
One Single Impression
Sunday’s prompt is: intersections
Heads or Tails
Monday’s promt is: tune
Poefusion
You can usually find a poetry prompt here

TONY’S MUSE DIARY

Him Outside got a little frustrated by a recent Time Team Special on
Channel 4. It looked at the conclusions of a six year dig at
Stonehenge, deciding that it was all about the ancestors. Linking up
with a nearby woodhenge, it was centre of a ceremonial festival
linking a land of the living with a land of the dead, and the River Avon
was central to the process. Now, Him Outside considers this theory to
be almost true, but the problem comes with natural lines in the ground
that aligned with the Midsummer dawn – hence the solar alignment of
the monument. So this was pure luck? He doesn’t think so, as this
alignment is true to hundreds of ancient monuments the world over.
So to degrade the alignment is incorrect. Hence, the alignment
theories, such as its a calendar or a temple, cannot be ignored. Which
bring Him Outside to the frustration. People in the past almost
certainly thought holistically. Everything was a ‘whole’, so the most
likely answer is that it WAS a temple, it WAS a calendar, it WAS a
place of the dead. It was all of these things. But the modern
specialised mind cannot grasp it.

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TONY ON POOR DEVIL

Including Heads or Tails, American Sandwich, Naisaiku Challenge,
Acrostic Only and Poetry Train. Have you had a go yet?

GURU TONY

Poor Devil

I often think the Devil gets a bad press. Known as a trickster,
his job is to make things bad for you. Without him, everything
would be sweetness and light. But a question: what makes us
advance as people? Overcoming the problems in life – problems
that used to be laid at the Devil’s door. So maybe we’d not
advance without him.

My Columnists

EDITORIAL

This post is in two parts – newspaper and
magazine. Read either or both. It is also
a debating platform, so do join in. Don’t
forget to call again tomorrow.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Eye On the World – Choose an Essay

Inde-Politics & Socio-Capitalism

BRIT NEWS: Survey says two thirds do
not want EU rules placed on us. Is it time to
leave Europe? Cooperate, not assimilate.

BRIT NEWS: Archbishop of Canterbury warns humiliation of MPs
a threat to democracy. No. MPs who’ve lost touch are the threat.

BRIT NEWS: Smart electric meters to let you monitor
power usage will soon be mandatory, but
will add £50 to bill. Very smart – for
the provider.

Call back Wed for more NewsFlash

GREEN SCENE

Save the Planet – or you’ll be sorry!!

Green Scene Sub Domain

ATMOSFEAR

Atmosphere, a marvellous shroud,
Look after it – feel proud,
That you’ve done your bit for the world we love,
Not just nature, but that above,
‘Cos if we don’t we’ll shed a tear,
It’s the one thing we should at mos(t) fear

NO TELLY
American Sandwich

Sci Fi: He stared at the TV but it was useless as nothing would
come on. It was all gone, taken as the power went and the air
boiled and died. Mad ways done, he was alone – stared at the
screen – ‘til his skeleton fell.

NAY SAY YOU

Roll up, want to buy?
Lots of things to fry the air
BIG BIZ MARCHES ON
Lots of things to buy the air
Roll up, want to fry?

TONY’S HAIKU CHAIN

Hell is a big wind
Under spin, politics’ lies
Rant, no green action

Revolting pollution
Industry churns the air fast
‘Cos Big Biz farts

Atmosphere does whirl
Neglect of weather brings death
Ever hurry Cain

© Anthony North, May 2009

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Only the Good Friday
Write something optimistic
Sunday Scribblings
The prompt is: worry
Inspire Me Thursday
The theme is: warrior
Write Anything
Good source of tips & Fiction Friday
American Sandwich
A story in 3 sentences of 17 syllables

TONY’S MUSE DIARY

Him Outside got to watch another of his Alfred Hitchcock collection
over the weekend. This time, Shadow of a Doubt – a great
psychological thriller from the early 1940s. It tapped many of the
classic storytelling devices, revolving around a serial killer hiding out
with his sister’s family. Known as Uncle Charlie, it immediately gives
him a sense of the innocuous, and as his niece slowly realises what
he is, the tension is excellent. A classic invasion of evil into normality,
there’s a great alchemy as opposing polarities clash. Old Alfred
certainly knew how to make them.

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TONY ON INFORMATION

Including One Single Impression, Manic Monday and Sunday Scribblings.
Have you had a go yet?

TECHIE WITHOUT A CLUE

Information

We live in an information age, where intelligence is measured in
terms of how much information you can handle. This is all very
well, but is this true knowledge? I don’t think so. Knowledge is
information plus wisdom, and wisdom is the ability to reason things
from the information. This seems to be a dying art, leaving us as
data-processors rather than philosophers.

My Columnists

EDITORIAL

This post is in two parts – newspaper and
magazine. Read either or both. It is also
a debating platform, so do join in. Don’t
forget to call again Monday.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The ‘Y’ Files – Choose an Essay

Inde-Politics & Socio-Capitalism

BRIT NEWS: MPs are pushing Prime Minister
to introduce reforms to Parliament. I don’t think too
much is required. What is needed is honesty & service.

TECH NEWS: US govt warn GPS system could fail by 2010. Oh dear,
talk about putting all our eggs in one basket. Does anyone remember
how to read a map?

BRIT NEWS: 10% of population now on waiting lists for social
housing. We’ve got a major homeless problem looming
and nothing is being done!

Call back Monday for more NewsFlash

FUTURE ZONE

What’s ahead … and Beyond!!!

My Sci Fi Archive

DROPPED
(or beware of an intolerant future)

They dropped him from the faculty,
Wouldn’t listen to his plea,
No matter how illogical the act,
He was out – that’s a fact;
‘Twas his fault, having an original thought,
Should have kept quiet – he knew he ought,
The future’s intolerant, he knew that,
So they dropped him – from the roof -
Splat!

THE WORRIOR

Sci Fi: War seemed inevitable. And now that the ultimate weapon was
available, fear gripped them. They worried how they could possibly
defend themselves. No, there was no defence! They knew that. And
as the enemy mobilised, ready to strike, the decision was simple.
Surrender. Afterwards, the victors thanked their new weapon – the
worrior. What a spinmaster he was. He had created the ultimate
illusion and fired fear at the enemy.

MEMORIAL

Look out the window, my spaceman friend,
The memorial is there, don’t let it offend;
Here we are, safe and very secure,
Just as before, we were sure,
Mis-using our brains and technology,
No point, now, in apology;
But it’s there forever, telling of our dearth,
Stuck here in space, above a dead Earth

© Anthony North, May 2009

SCRIBBLERS’ NEWS

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Simply Snickers
A weekly prompt here
ReadWritePoem
A poem about changes. Post thu
Thursday Thirteen
List 13 things
ABC Wednesday
Next letter is: S
Blog Your Blessings
Write about a blessing

TONY’S MUSE DIARY

Him Outside often thinks back to when he nearly made it big as a
writer. It was the mid 90s and his work on the paranormal was doing
well in the enthusiasts’ mags. Then a break – a nod, and news of an
opening at a publishers. Success!! Two books on the paranormal
followed, a third in negotiation, and dozens of articles appearing in
newsstand mags! Then the publisher was bought out in the latest
round of big takeovers. List cancelled. Him Outside managed to move
quickly to another publisher, but before the book appeared, the
money men pulled out and publishing just stopped doing his type of
book. And that was it – about 500 rejections before the break, and
another 500 from then to the present day. Him Outside – the biggie
who nearly was.

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TONY ON GOVT CONSPIRACY

Including Sunday Scribblings, Three Word Thursday and Inspire Me Thursday.
Have you had a go yet?

WEIRD OBS ORG

Govt Conspiracy

I don’t believe most conspiracy theories but they’re essential to
understanding how things work. The main bogeyman is government,
conspiring against us. But how true is this? Totally true. It is the
nature of government to crave more and more power. So why do
I disagree with conspiracy theories? Because it isn’t a conspiracy;
it’s the natural way of things.

My Columnists

EDITORIAL

This post is in two parts – newspaper and
magazine. Read either or both. It is also
a debating platform, so do join in. Don’t
forget to call again tomorrow.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Eye On the World – Choose an Essay

Inde-Politics & Socio-Capitalism

BRIT NEWS: The London Olympic Village is
to cost taxpayer another £500m as private firms
pull out. This was inevitable, but let’s be good sports.

TECH NEWS: Spending too much time on net changes how brain
thinks of food, causing obesity, says study. No, I blame all the
cookery blogs.

SICK NEWS: Back in 1984 UK comedian Tommy Cooper
collapsed and died on live TV. For some reason
this footage has now become popular
on You Tube. Sick!

Call back tomorrow for more NewsFlash

THE PHILOSOPHY

To know is to empower

History of Man

PETALIFE

Petals fall, petals bloom,
This is life, from joy to gloom,
Analogous to our own stay,
On this planet as we sway,
From one experience to the next,
So let’s stay rooted, not perplexed

THE OTHER ONE
(word meanings below)

Sci Fi: She had no idea why she preferred glabrous men. She hadn’t
felt like this for long, as her partner had enough hair, and he was
uxorious enough. But as the man quiddled towards her, opened the
cage and injected more serum, the feeling increased. Little did she
know that the fool at the research institute had begun the process
towards a real Planet of the Apes.

quiddled – dawdled
uxorious – submissive towards wife
glabrous – no body hair

DISCONNECTED
Updated 16 May

Where am I? I cannot think,
My world is going – I dare not blink,
Nothing left if I do,
It’s all lies, nothing true;
Disconnected from all I hold dear,
Insanity! Can you feel my fear?

© Anthony North, May 2009

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ReadWritePoem
Do a poem with links
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List 13 things
ABC Wednesday
The letter is: Q
Blog Your Blessings
Write about a blessing

TONY’S MUSE DIARY

Him Outside is on a mission. His recent foray into the Holy Grail has
inspired an idea – it usually does – and he’s going to write his first
book for quite a while. Well, I say write, but he can’t do anything
normal, can he? No, he’s realised that a number of posts here actually
point to a new idea. So he’s making a book of blog posts with minor
rewrites to turn it into a book proper. I don’t think this has been done
before, so he might even interest a publisher. Gee! Look up! Was that
a flying pig!!!?

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TONY ON OBSERVATION

Including Friday Flash 55, Totally Optional Prompts and Simply Snickers.
Have you had a go yet?

PROF ISAAC GALISTEIN

To Observe

Quantum theory suggests that to observe something we directly
affect it. I think this is true of all life. By the act of observation we
become part of what is being observed, suggesting that we cannot
observe anything without causing a change in what we are observing.
Hence, it could be said that, rather than identifying the universe, all
observation validates what we want to believe.

My Columnists

EDITORIAL

This post is in two parts – newspaper and
magazine. Read either or both. It is also
a debating platform, so do join in. Don’t
forget to call again tomorrow.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The ‘Y’ Files – Choose an Essay

Inde-Politics & Socio-Capitalism

CRIME NEWS: UK Serious Organised Crime
Agency says world cocaine market in retreat.
O maybe there are none so blind as those who see.

BRIT NEWS: Jobless hit 2.2m, worst for 30 years. Well, actually it’s
worse. Since then the figures have been massaged to take millions
off the register.

BIZ NEWS: Centrica to buy dirt cheap stake in nuke
firm British Energy. A new super co coming,
and it will glow. Hope we don’t, too.

Call back tomorrow for more NewsFlash

GREEN SCENE

Save the Planet – or you’ll be sorry!!

Green Scene Sub Domain

ECO-TARDINESS

We go so slow, so much delay,
By going fast, such dismay,
Wanting the best in travel, to eat,
Always after the ultimate treat,
Yet eco-measures never catch up,
Never realising we still can sup,
Of everything we want to do,
If we used some sense and thought it through

FLASH 55 – COLLIDING ORBS

Sci Fi: The simple fact was the two planets were going to collide.
Their scientists tried everything to stop it, but it proved pointless.
Finally, a joint suicide pact was agreed, and at the appointed hour,
both planets let loose their missiles and wiped each other out –
which released just enough energy to push the planets apart.

WHAT A VIEW

It seems so droll, looking at it now,
So much beauty taken a bow,
But we had to decide to go this way,
Destroying the balance without delay,
Waters rising, living in camps
‘Cos everything’s so very damp

© Anthony North, May 2009

SCRIBBLERS’ NEWS

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Keep up with the latest prompts and writing
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Totally Optional Prompts
The word is: tardiness
Three Word Wednesday
The words are: bicker, nervous & trajectory
Naisaiku Challenge
Have you taken the challenge yet?
Simply Snickers
A weekly prompt here

TONY’S MUSE DIARY

Okay I’m writing this in a low voice as if a David Attenborough
wildlife documentary, the observer whispering as he approaches
something or other. The subjects are Him Outside and His Dearest.
They’ll be on best behaviour today; maybe an intimate moment –
which will be messy. They’re both still full of cold. I don’t usually
stay out of his mind, but today I won’t cause him any hassle.
After all, it is their 32nd wedding anniversary.

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TONY ON READ A BOOK

Including Thursday Thirteen, ABC Wednesday, Search Engine Stories
and Three Word Wednesday. With Thursday Thirteen lines of poetry.

BLOGGER BARD

Read a Book

Too many people do not read books. This is a shame. Words
are such inefficient things, meaning that to read is to merge
the mind of the writer and reader, requiring the reader to think
out the concepts for himself. This is essential for a healthy
mind, for, just as a body stays healthy through exercise, the
mind requires similar mental exertion to be honed.

My Columnists

EDITORIAL

This post is in two parts – newspaper and
magazine. Read either or both. It is also
a debating platform, so do join in. Don’t
forget to call again tomorrow.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Eye On the World – Choose an Essay

Independent Politics & Socio-Capitalism

MEDIA NEWS: Fears that free news on
the net is coming to an end as media barons
think of charging. Not sure it’ll work. Too many
alternatives to take their place.

BRIT NEWS: Well, politics is getting heavy now. Tory leader
Cameron says all MPs must say sorry over their expenses claims.
Okay, I’m waiting.

WORLD NEWS: Pope criticised for not apologising
for Church’s actions during WW2. Okay, they
were not good, but let’s move on folks.

Call back tomorrow for more NewsFlash

FUTURE ZONE

What’s ahead … and Beyond!!!

My Sci Fi Archive

Q is for … QUANTUM MECHANICS

Absolute madness following its ways,
Uncertainty, probability, intellectual malaise,
How do we grasp concepts so mad?
Was God really such a cad?
But there is a way to make it seem bland,
Begin by reading Alice, from Wonderland

TRAJECTORY TRUE

Sci Fi: He was nervous as he watched the trajectory of the warhead
change. The Starship had banked perfectly into the run towards the
practice target. His new crewman had been awkward at first – they
had bickered – but now the android had settled down. It was the
new ‘human’ chip that was at fault, he was sure – to allow machines
to examine their feelings was stupidity. And as the trajectory
confirmed the new target was the city, he asked: why? ‘To
experience the ultimate of being human,’ the android said. ‘After
all, you all dream of being gods.’

GLASS HOUSES

Glass house mind, brittle, sad,
Like a futuristic city; oh, so bad,
Everyone seeing what everyone does,
Everyone dancing a single buzz,
Privacy a thing of the past,
Thoughts interlaced, communal, vast,
Smashing the mind; just one entity,
Beware this terrible destiny

© Anthony North, May 2009

SCRIBBLERS’ NEWS

Check out my Writers’ Tips posts

Keep up with the latest prompts and writing
news. Let me know of any new sites.

Poetry Train
Link any poem here
Weekend Wordsmith
The word is: uniform
Saturday Scribes
The theme is: underground
Scribble Soup
Have a bit of word play here

TONY’S MUSE DIARY

Okay, it began Sunday night – a whole night dedicated to Dan
Brown on Channel 5. The Da Vinci Code screened, and a couple of
documentaries. Him Outside had tried to read the book, but as soon
as Sophie appeared I said: Duh! Think! It was solved. He’d immersed
himself in the mystery years ago – one of the seminal books in his
search for knowledge – and every time the subject comes up like
this, out come the books and he reads – and reads – and reads.
He’s read himself out now for a while. Of course, the idea’s a load
of rubbish, but also the most ingenious conspiracy theory ever.

CAMPAIGN TRAIL
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Together bloggers can make a difference.
Friends of the Earth
Campaigning for the environment
Liberty
Promoting human rights in the UK

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and campaigns

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TONY ON GOVT CHAOS

Including Thursday Thirteen, ABC Wednesday, Search Engine Stories
and American Sandwich. With Thursday Thirteen lines of poetry.

POLLY TICKS

Govt Chaos

Modern government is infatuated by targets and central control. In
this way, an air of order seems to validate what they do. But order in
central government is always a disaster. Order must come where the
services are required, at the local, organised with the local in mind.
Such services would automatically appear chaotic to central
government. We need that chaos back.

My Columnists

EDITORIAL

This post is in two parts – newspaper and
magazine. Read either or both. It is also
a debating platform, so do join in. Don’t
forget to call again tomorrow.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Eye On the World – Choose an Essay

Inde-Pol Sub-Domain

BRIT NEWS: Police to remove innocent
people from DNA database. About time. Are we
waking up to creeping totalitarianism? I do hope so.

HEALTH NEWS: Flu related absences from work have soared
by 20% in UK. I guess that’s the price for over-hyping the
swine flu threat.

BRIT NEWS: Labour ministers speaking out in favour,
or not, of Brown. jockeying for position. Knives
being sharpened? Are we in the last days?

Call back tomorrow for more NewsFlash

RATTLER’S TALE

A Voyage of the Imagination

Twist In the Tale Archive

P is for … PROPULSION

Warp it up, let it fly,
Starship blazing above the sky,
Anti-grav, floats so high,
We can reach those stars, if we try,
But no propulsion for the human mind,
In space travel we are far behind,
Not yet yearning to find other kind,
One day we may learn to shine

BUZZWORD
(American Sandwich)

He was the son of a bitch who killed poetry through multi media.
Sent them mad on the net with audio, video and psycheo.
Watched them all experience the ultimate word, get the buzz, and die.

LOTS OF LOVE
(Take One)

Fiction: He lay so still. She looked at his face, his hair, his misshaped
ears, the laughter lines by his eyes. Soon she found herself beside him
and she placed her arms around him. Maybe they would have stayed
like this forever, but when they were found, she was dead, too. And
they looked on, hand in hand, as their bodies were taken away.

LOTS OF LOVE
(Take Two)

Yes I do, I do love you
Nothing has ever been so true
But kiss you now
I’ll have to bow
Sorry, I’ve got Man Flu

© Anthony North, May 2009

SCRIBBLERS’ NEWS

Check out my Writers’ Tips posts

Keep up with the latest prompts and writing
news. Let me know of any new sites.

Poetry Train
Link any poem here
Weekend Wordsmith
The word is: hearing
Saturday Scribes
Theme is: strange occurrences
Scribble Soup
You know you’re getting old when …

CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Keep up on alternative news or join a campaign.
Together bloggers can make a difference.
Unexplained Mysteries
News & features on the unexplained
Friends of the Earth
Campaigning for the environment

Call back tomorrow for more prompts
and campaigns

Follow me on Twitter