MIND MODELS
Posted by anthonynorth on October 9, 2010
Microfiction Monday, ABC Wednesday, more prompts below
Try my Paranormal Flash now!
PROF ISAAC GALISTEIN
Microfiction: She’d scared all the
passengers away. After all, trains
crash don’t they? She knew this
from the first time she’d died.
MIND MODELS
I play with mind models. I construct ideas in my head and see how the
world would operate if they were true. It is not belief, for at heart I
accept that the only truth is there isn’t one. Rather I use reason. It is
a discipline that is dying in the modern world. Things either have to be
due to belief or science provable by data. It leaves a conflicting gulf
where mind models should be.
SCIENCE NEWS: Google has launched
a prize for lunar exploration. Great idea. Get
private enterprise involved as much as possible.
But I like companies like Google for another reason.
They’re big, certainly, but they are not so much producers
as facilitators. This is what Big Biz should do – provide a blank
canvas and support for small biz to thrive.
BRIT NEWS: Child Benefit for high earners to be scrapped. The idea
of universal benefits for all is gone. I hope this isn’t the beginning of
getting rid of all such entitlements. As long as it is only high earners
who lose it, fair enough, but a word of warning: keep off the State
pension! There’s a pact between governed & leaders in the UK.
Don’t break it.
RELIGION NEWS: The Druid Network in England & Wales has
been given charitable status by the charity Commission.
This does, in effect, give Druids official status as a
faith. Could we finally see other minority faiths
accepted? This is a very good move, if a
couple of thousand years too late.
THE CRIME POST
It would be criminal not to read it
One Single Impression
Friday Flash 55 – Writer’s Island
One Shot Wednesday
LONELY
No one wants him, I suppose it’s fair,
Always shunned by those aware,
His life is misery and nothing more,
No one to love or adore,
Got plenty of money but he’ll end up beneath,
That’s the price of being a thief
FLASH 55 – THE PLAN
Fiction: There are no super crooks – just lots of petty villains who get
together for a big job; hence the incompetence. But Bellamy had to
get this one right. That’s why he kept suggesting changes to the point
that they’d missed the window for the job – which was why he was
such a good undercover cop.
ENVISION
He sees a life beyond these bars,
But might as well go to Mars,
Entrapped behind their sturdy form,
In a nightmare room that is his norm,
Trapped through the years, tingling nerves,
No matter how much booze they serve
© Anthony North, October 2010
Try my Pictures of Life, a novel
This entry was posted on October 9, 2010 at 7:50 am and is filed under Crime Stories, Current Affairs, Poetry, Science. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
shanegenziuk said
I liked how you ended that one off. I don’t hear the word ‘booze’ much these days.
anthonynorth said
Hi Shane,
Thanks for that. No, it isn’t a word used much nowadays.
vivinfrance said
I can visualise clearly the subject of your poem.A neat response to the prompt.
Pensions: They can’t take the OAP away – we’ve paid for it through our National Insurance contributions – notwithstanding that ‘they’ have squandered the money instead of investing it for our futures. Never having been a higher rate taxpayer, I can’t see a problem with capping the child benefit for them. But no doubt there will be greedy souls who protest.
anthonynorth said
Hi Viv,
Many thanks. Yes, the protest is quite loud at the moment. They haven’t moved onto State pension yet, but I suspect it will come.
Deborah said
Brilliant … and excellent MM too! :o)
Mary said
Well done, Anthony. You took the topic in an interesting direction!
systematicweasel said
Awesome post, Anthony! Loved where you took the idea! =)
-Weasel
anthonynorth said
Hi Deborah,
Many thanks for those kind words.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Weasel,
Many thanks. Glad you liked it.
Diane Truswell said
My favorite line:
No matter how much booze they serve
Booze in confusing, isn’t it? You might as well go to Mars, LOL!
anthonynorth said
Hi Diane,
Thanks for that. You’re right.
James said
If only people were resonable and logical as a mind map. Any system that ignores the basic human need for ….more.
Will fail… why? because human desire built in a way as soon as its filled it disappears only to return in stronger and different form. Look what happens if bought something of high value like a car for example i mean expensive one. For a few days that person is on cloud nine. then the desire disappears and person is left feeling empty. What will they do now? they will tell all there friends “look at my new car , isnt she a beaut”. This person is now using other people enevy and honour to boost themself back to level when first got the car. once they exhausted all this the person will sell the car or join car club.
Its same old cycle thats been going on for centuries. Why do you bill gates and warren buffet announced they giving away thier billions of dollars to charity? Its not to do good its because they got so much money its become empty of all meaning. So now they must find some way filling this empty hole in thier lives. How ? by honour. These people not doing for good mankind they doing for thier own selfish needs.
Food,shelter,sex (this are basic desires that never change) then you have human desires honour,money,knowledge. These desire are what seperates us from the animals. Then you have spirituality sitting at the top. Human nature follows this path.
So what every system you build must take this into account or it will fail.
anthonynorth said
Hi James,
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is basically food, shelter, procreation (sex), self esteem and finally self-actualisation. Too many get stuck in self esteem – your beloved ego.
pamela said
Anthony it is always a delight to read your posts!
I like the direction you went with this prompt.
Pamela
anthonynorth said
Hi Pamela,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
1sojournal said
I like the under cover cop simply because he makes sense. Also like what you did with the prompt. Booze does facilitate visions of one sort of another, but most are negative because the booze is a depressant. Why don’t people learn from their hangovers? And thanks for commenting and visiting my site,
Elizabeth
Jim said
I like your µfiction. Some ladies are just plain jinxes.
..
Irene said
Oh you describe a condition behind bars well. Are we all behind bars? Booze isn’t our best friend!
Ramesh Sood said
What a price one has to pay.. wow.. your take on Lonely is so beautiful..
anthonynorth said
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for that. I admit I never learnt from my hangovers when younger, but I finally nailed it. I still like a beer or two on a night to unwind, but can say the last time I was drunk was in 1984.
Hi Jim,
They certainly are.
Hi Irene,
It certainly isn’t when it gets out of control.
Hi Ramesh Sood,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Geraldine said
I like it! What an interesting mind you have Tony, it’s always fun to stop in.
http://www.mypoeticpath.wordpress.com
anthonynorth said
Hi Geraldine,
Many thanks for those kind words.
Amity said
I like the rhyme of your lonely poem…:-)
And tis’ sad, he’s got lots of money but won’t enjoy it “for that’s the price of being a thief”…
are politicians thieves? so then they will not enjoy their loot?
Eaton Bennett said
As always Anthony, you surprise and delight with your verse and 55’s. The cop is smarter than the crims…I am pretty sure that’s how it’s supposed to be. 🙂
anthonynorth said
Hi Amity,
Thanks for that. Yes, I’m sure some of them are.
Hi Eaton,
Many thanks. I certainly hope they are 🙂
systematicweasel said
Loneliness, the life of a thief. Wonderful take on the prompt! =)
-Weasel
kimmy said
on MIND MODELS: can’t help but agree with ‘I use reason. It is a discipline that is dying in the modern world..’ and i think several people are just to lazy to ‘use reason’ instead they choose the more conventional, popular belief..
sandra.if said
what a price!! that is fair!!
anthonynorth said
Hi Weasel,
Thanks for that. glad you liked it.
Hi Kimmy,
Yes, this is increasingly the case.
Hi Sandra,
Yes, I think so, too.
zephyr said
Boy, isn’t it good she scared them away? 🙂
Mind models is awesome. There certainly has to be something besides faith and science and what better than reason?
I agree about minority faiths getting acceptance. After all accepting a faith is as important as political recognition since it legitimizes an entire group’s beliefs. But if it has taken centuries for this to happen to the Druids, the rest had better be patient. 😀
Pat, CA, USA said
I like the surprise spooky ending to your MM…reminds me of an O Henry story.
anthonynorth said
Hi Zephyr
Thanks for that. Yes, the Druids had a long battle.
Hi Pat,
Thanks for that. O Henry was an excellent writer. I have his collected short stories somewhere.
Sweetest in the Gale said
Clever take on the lonely prompt…an enjoyable read, as always!
anthonynorth said
Hi Sweetest In The Gale,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
BIll said
Pretty Dark Microfiction, I guess she keeps reliving it over. Next it will be the Wickens or is it the Wicca who will want to be recognised as a Religious Entity, or maybe they already are? Great Flash 55, seems as if he was too good, the way it should be to catch the Bad Guys n Gals.
You have a wonderful Week Anthony, my Microfiction will post in a couple hours and a bit.
BIll said
Oops, that was supposed to be Wiccans.
anthonynorth said
Hi Bill,
Thanks for that. Yes, the cop was certainly quick.
Peggy said
Anthony;
Holy cow, a ghost. Perfect for Halloween, just around the corner.
I loved it!
Twilight said
Do you see “reason” as the same as “logic”, AN? It’s a tricky concept to define. Rationality? They are all related – close cousins.
Re Druids and their new status – I wonder whether atheists will ever be given a comparable status? Atheism though not a belief or religion in the accepted sense , is a belief in non-belief, non-religion – which is just as real status in theory as a belief or religion – yes?
Sylvia Kirkwood said
Oh, yes, we definitely remember the first time! Don’t you?? I love it Anthony! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Sylvia
anthonynorth said
Hi Peggy,
Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.
Hi Twilight,
On atheism, yes, a belief, certainly, but a religion? Not sure about that one. What do they venerate above the individual?
Now reason and logic. No, I don’t think they’re the same. Follow any logical process and you go back to an axiom, which is ‘self-evident’ – another word for belief, in my opinion. Reason can transcend the axiom, so is significantly different.
Thanks for the thought prod 🙂
anthonynorth said
Hi Sylvia,
Thanks for that. And I do indeed 🙂
Susan at Stony River said
I enjoyed them all (as usual) but Envision took me by surprise and I like it even more the second time. The microfiction, wow, I like that twist on it!
anthonynorth said
Hi Susan,
Many thanks for the kind words.
EG Wow, Canada said
Now that was a surprise! Dead already? I like that bit of information at the end.
Kay Davies said
I tried “Microfiction” for the first time today. It reminds me of telling the editor of our little boating newspaper in the early 70s, “We have a seven-inch hole on page 12, seven inches including the head!” He’d sit down at his typewriter, write a little story and a headline, then I’d set them both and plunk them right in. They always fit. The good old days in the newspaper biz.
Kay, Alberta, Canada
Michael G-G said
Great twist in the MM. And love your comment about the druids. Will there now be a run on mistletoe?
Have a great week.
Jim said
I’m liking your poem, ‘Lonely.’ Yes, he’ll end up beneath for sure. My first thought is a U.S. saying, “end up beneath the jail.” Also could be beneath the dirt, i.e. dead and burried. I’m not Brit enough to know. 🙂
..
SandyCarlson said
Nice job with lonely. Thank you.
I enjoy your blog, Anthony. Work has me chasing my tail lately, so I am grateful for the escape into your sanity.
Thom said
Nothing better than being a good undercover cop 🙂 Great 55…along with that your microfiction could be a continuing series 🙂 Love it. Very well done my friend 🙂
gautami tripathy said
Sure! Thiefs are lonely!
dad, farther and farther away
anthonynorth said
Hi EG Wow,
Thanks for that. glad you liked it.
Hi Kay,
Yes, it’s a good exercise in writing.
Hi Michael,
Yes, I’m sure mistletoe will thrive now 🙂
Hi Jim,
Any of those definitions will certainly apply.
Hi Sandy,
Many thanks. Isn’t it terrible when work interferes with blogging?
Hi Thom,
Many thanks for the kind words 🙂
Hi Gautami,
Yes, and deservedly so.
Ellie said
Ooo. . .a ghost story. I like it!
Have a fab week x
anthonynorth said
Hi Ellie,
Many thanks. Yes, I like doing ghost stories.
Akelamalu said
Oooh spooky Microfiction today Anthony – I like it. 🙂
anthonynorth said
Hi Akelamalu,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Mama Badger said
One would think she’d try to forget that first time. Or all of them, for that matter.
anthonynorth said
Hi Mama Badger,
Very true. If she could.
hope said
And just when I think there may be ONE mode of public transportation which is safe. 🙂
anthonynorth said
Hi Hope,
Not even a ghost of a chance 😉
quilly said
Microfiction: I see dead people! LOL!
55: Well, it is a cop’s job to prevent crime, right?
anthonynorth said
Hi Quilly,
Well, it’s supposed to be.
Lenore said
great microfiction!
anthonynorth said
Hi Lenore,
Thanks for that.
Sylvia Kirkwood said
True words for the M Day, Anthony! You always say it so well! Thanks for another insight! Hope you’re having a good week!
Sylvia
anthonynorth said
Hi Sylvia,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Reader Wil said
Hi Anthony! Great post as always! I am especially interested in the faith of the druids. I knew a bard when I was in Cornwall. He taught Cornish to Cornish men and women. In about 1777 the last person to speak this Celtic language died. It was Dolly Pentreath. What was her faith?
anthonynorth said
Hi Reader Wil,
Thanks for that. Far too many of those old languages are being lost. A great tragedy.
Jannie Funster said
Your writing is So AWESOME, Anthony. You remind me it’s high time to design a cute little sidebar link button for you, so more can be exposed to your fine mind. I’ll get that up later this week on my blog.
Yay, for the druids getting equality! Equality for ALL.
And it is sad old languages are being lost. Everything changes so much.
xo
anthonynorth said
Hi Jannie,
Many thanks for those kind words. Much appreciated.
Tumblewords said
Mind Models – how true. Not a lot of original thought processing going on – mostly repetitious sound bytes which mean little. Good post!
anthonynorth said
Hi Tumblewords,
Many thanks. And so true.
suzicate said
Lonely – crime doesn’t pay, good point in your poem.
anthonynorth said
Hi Suzicate,
Yes, they always pay one way or the other.
KB said
What a miserable life behind those bars.
dustus said
Well done across the board. Enjoyed Envision and Lonely the most, tight writes.
brian said
have know quite a few trapped at those bars…trying to get rid of what they know they have to live with in the morning…nice one shot!
Roger Green said
I’m fascinated by your mind models. I suppose many of us do that, except for those who are doctrinaire enough think the world is/should be only one way.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Gay Cannon said
Many interesting topics as usual. It always makes me think to come by your place. I like the one about religious freedom. I fear extremes with no exploration of the Gulf, too. I think your other topics equally absorbing. Thanks, Gay @beachanny
anthonynorth said
Hi KB,
It is indeed.
Hi Dustus,
Many thanks for the kind words.
Hi Brian,
Yes, you’ve got it right there.
Hi Roger,
Yes, the best way is to never accept the system as right.
Hi Gay Cannon,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Barb said
Good post. Thanks for playing ABC Wed.
Barb- Part of the ABC Team.
Chris G. said
Love “The Plan.” Nice twist. Good cop–poor, simple crooks. Good representation of being behind bars as well, you’ve really captured the image starkly. And I share your views on Google–they’re doing right, in a lot of areas. I love the whole blank canvas philosophy. Much more fulfilling and easier to swallow than, say, a Walmart “I will devour you all” philosophy.
Talon said
“Envision” was so good…and I admit it made me feel so sorry for him. And “The Plan” – that was a tight write! Amazing how you get such a tight write out of 55 words!
anthonynorth said
Hi Barb,
Thanks for that.
Hi Chris,
Many thanks for the kind words about my philosophy.
Hi Talon,
A kind comment. Thank you.
patti said
Loved the poems- especially “envison”- very clever!
anthonynorth said
Hi Patti,
Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
trisha said
just loved isaac gallistein. 🙂
anthonynorth said
Hi Trisha,
Thanks for that. Glad you liked it.
Claudia said
heading for a life beyond these bars..well done
Reflections said
Life between, behind and beyond these bars… to which layer do we tell…
Nicely written.
anthonynorth said
Hi Claudia,
Many thanks. Much appreciated.
Hi Reflections,
Many thanks for that.
Jay from The Depp Effect said
Wow … druids are at last officially recognised? But .. aren’t they one of the very oldest religions we have in these isles?
Mind models. Hmm. Well, all ideas that are thought through are mind models, I suppose, aren’t they? It’s a very human thing to do, it seems.
anthonynorth said
Hi Jay,
Yes, it’s about the oldest, although it was rediscovered and practised again quite recently after a centuries long intermission. As for mind models, quite true. Except for scientists, it seems 😉
alex said
wow i like this!
🙂
so much creativity
anthonynorth said
Hi Alex,
Many thanks for the kind words.
Mama Zen said
Awesome microfiction!
anthonynorth said
Hi Mama Zen,
Thanks for that.
Hootin' Anni said
You, my dear Anthony, are one of the best fiction writers in Blogland!!!
My 55 is a double whammy this week, two for the price of one. Of course, as always, you need to scroll down below my Friday’s Show n Tell.
The link is HERE I’d love to have you stop by for a visit.
anthonynorth said
Hi Hootin’ Anni,
Many thanks for those kind words. Much appreciated.
brian said
hehe. dare i say i think he may get his man this time…great 55 you twisted once or twice in 55 words…
anthonynorth said
Hi Brian,
Thanks for that. I guess he may do 🙂
Claudia said
twisted and creative 55 anthony
anthonynorth said
Hi Claudia,
Many thanks. Glad you liked it.
G-Man said
Tony…
Your Micro-Fiction was the best one that I’ve read.
I very much enjoyed your 55..
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
anthonynorth said
Hi G-Man,
Many thanks for that. Much appreciated.
joanny said
Extra-ordinary read Like the “mind models” the last three reads were interesting, lots of truth in that one about being lonely and the second one about becoming a “good undercover cop.” The irony of that is I too have seen some folks become “cops” for similar behavior.
Nice 55ers .
cheers,
Joanny
http://thedowsersdaughter.blogspot.com/
anthonynorth said
Hi Joanny,
Thanks for the comment. Much appreciated.
ladynimue said
2 posts on thief and crime !! but loved both of them 🙂 Specially the 55er .. i am a fan of them for always 🙂
anthonynorth said
Hi Nimue,
Many thanks for the kind words.
Dianne said
I loved envision, well done rhymes, I would like to be more subtle and skillful with rhyme.
My scary 55 is up HERE
anthonynorth said
Hi Dianne,
Many thanks for the kind words.