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David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 25
January 7, 2017
Writing - 10 things
Weird this week ranging from poo to pounds.
[image error]
1. Emails you send on Mondays contain more grammatical mistakes than those sent on other days.
Still rusty after the weekend.
---------------------------------
[image error]
2. The Queen of Sweden thinks her palace is haunted by ghosts.
Boo!!!!!!!!!
---------------------------------
[image error]
3. You can use a display computer in an Apple store all day and no-one will ever ask you to leave.
An apple a day
---------------------------------
[image error]
4. Gary Lineker and Jonathan Agnew regularly receive soiled loo paper in the post.
That stinks
---------------------------------
5. It's possible to travel by train all the way from Yiwu in eastern China to Barking in east London.
Who wants to go to Barking?
---------------------------------
6. The British government thinks people have £433m of pound coins stashed away in their homes.
They need to think again
---------------------------------
[image error]
7. In the US, at least one person a week is shot by a toddler.
What can I say?
---------------------------------
[image error]
8. Only one member of the US Congress identifies as unaffiliated with any religion.
Thank God.
---------------------------------
[image error]
9. There are 79 organs in the human body, one more than previously thought.
Which one?
---------------------------------
[image error]
10. The most popular condiment eaten with chips in Australia is chicken salt. Which contains no chicken.
I have so many questions
---------------------------------
God Bless
[image error]
1. Emails you send on Mondays contain more grammatical mistakes than those sent on other days.
Still rusty after the weekend.
---------------------------------
[image error]
2. The Queen of Sweden thinks her palace is haunted by ghosts.
Boo!!!!!!!!!
---------------------------------
[image error]
3. You can use a display computer in an Apple store all day and no-one will ever ask you to leave.
An apple a day
---------------------------------
[image error]
4. Gary Lineker and Jonathan Agnew regularly receive soiled loo paper in the post.
That stinks
---------------------------------
5. It's possible to travel by train all the way from Yiwu in eastern China to Barking in east London.
Who wants to go to Barking?
---------------------------------
6. The British government thinks people have £433m of pound coins stashed away in their homes.
They need to think again
---------------------------------
[image error]
7. In the US, at least one person a week is shot by a toddler.
What can I say?
---------------------------------
[image error]
8. Only one member of the US Congress identifies as unaffiliated with any religion.
Thank God.
---------------------------------
[image error]
9. There are 79 organs in the human body, one more than previously thought.
Which one?
---------------------------------
[image error]
10. The most popular condiment eaten with chips in Australia is chicken salt. Which contains no chicken.
I have so many questions
---------------------------------
God Bless
January 6, 2017
Writing - Available in paperback
It has been a bit of a struggle getting the paperback version of 7 Hours After ready for general distribution but it has finally made Amazon in paperback.
The price at Amazon is £5.99.
At the current time there is a president elect in the USA and if you consider the electoral system there is undoubted connection back to the events of 9/11. There is the involvement of the security agencies, unexplained and precipitate actions by the US Government and a failure of security agencies to communicate knowledge with each other. Many of the same people are probably still in post 15 years later. So read 7 Hours After and allow your mind to wander freely and decide what is fact and what is fiction.
Synopsis
Patrick Steele is off crusading once again with his sidekick, fiancée Naomi Kobayashi. This time he is risking life and limb by returning to the hostile shores of the USA. He has had brushes with the authorities in that vast country on previous occasions, but now has been stimulated to return because of apparent dodgy dealings over the World Trade Centre disaster of September 11th 2001.After discovering numerous ‘theories’ concerning 9/11 and who was behind it, Steele identifies possible links between large corporations with financial interests and political parties. In a presidential election year he is concerned that those vying for that prodigious post may have links with the disaster.Has Steele discovered underhand dealing by the US security services? Did one of the major political parties have a hand in the destruction of 9/11?Will Steele be caught by the CIA or can he escape back to the safety of the UK?
What was Building 7?
Where can the books be bought?
amazon.co.uk
completelynovel.com
smashwords.com
In each case search under David L Atkinson, don't forget the 'L', and search through the available options to see all 11 novels.
Or click on the links below.
The Kindle copy available from amazon.co.uk will upload to devices supporting the Kindle App as well as Kindle devices so you can get this an all of my books on your smartphone.
God Bless
The price at Amazon is £5.99.
At the current time there is a president elect in the USA and if you consider the electoral system there is undoubted connection back to the events of 9/11. There is the involvement of the security agencies, unexplained and precipitate actions by the US Government and a failure of security agencies to communicate knowledge with each other. Many of the same people are probably still in post 15 years later. So read 7 Hours After and allow your mind to wander freely and decide what is fact and what is fiction.
Synopsis
Patrick Steele is off crusading once again with his sidekick, fiancée Naomi Kobayashi. This time he is risking life and limb by returning to the hostile shores of the USA. He has had brushes with the authorities in that vast country on previous occasions, but now has been stimulated to return because of apparent dodgy dealings over the World Trade Centre disaster of September 11th 2001.After discovering numerous ‘theories’ concerning 9/11 and who was behind it, Steele identifies possible links between large corporations with financial interests and political parties. In a presidential election year he is concerned that those vying for that prodigious post may have links with the disaster.Has Steele discovered underhand dealing by the US security services? Did one of the major political parties have a hand in the destruction of 9/11?Will Steele be caught by the CIA or can he escape back to the safety of the UK?
What was Building 7?
Where can the books be bought?
amazon.co.uk
completelynovel.com
smashwords.com
In each case search under David L Atkinson, don't forget the 'L', and search through the available options to see all 11 novels.
Or click on the links below.
The Kindle copy available from amazon.co.uk will upload to devices supporting the Kindle App as well as Kindle devices so you can get this an all of my books on your smartphone.
God Bless
January 5, 2017
Writing - Jack and the beans talk
Like young George Washington, I cannot tell a lie, this is not all my own work but sometimes one has to celebrate quality by imitation. This came from the Diocese of Durham.
[image error]
Once upon a time there was a poor widow who had an only son named Jack. Jack was a hair stylist and worked at Goldilocks, in Stiltskin’s Retail Park. All they had to live on was Jack’s earnings which didn’t amount to much, and he had quite a bit of credit card debt. Still living with his mother in his twenty-second year wasn’t ideal either, but needs must.
Every Sunday, Jack took his mother to the church on the hill in his Vauxhall Corsa. Each week he winced as she put their contribution on the plate during the service, for they had so little to spare, but he was too afraid to tell his mother. Jack had been reckless with money when he was a boy (something to do with selling a cow) and it had taken years to regain his mother’s trust. His mother was serious about contributing generously to church funds because she was a big believer in sacrificing things dear to her as an act of faith. Jack struggled with this, being rather too fond of money to happily give it up.
Today Jack didn’t feel like after-service coffee so he left his Mother to chat with Mrs Hubbard and he took a wander around the cemetery behind the church. He wanted some space. He hadn’t gone far when he met a funny-looking old man, who said to him: “Good morning, Jack.”
“Good morning to you,” said Jack, and wondered how he knew his name.
“Well, Jack, and where are you off to?” said the man.
“Nowhere really, just wandering.” Jack sat on a bench under a giant tree and absentmindedly checked his phone to see if he had any new followers on Twitter. He hadn’t.
The funny-looking old man, who had a crooked nose and crooked legs and crooked stick, walked straight up to him and sat beside him on the bench, sucking in the cool morning air. A moment or two passed in semi-awkward silence. The old man broke it by slapping his thigh and exclaiming,
“Oh, you look the proper sort of chap who’s concerned about this and that,” Jack looked up from his phone. “Tell me about your giving.”
“Excuse me?” said Jack, taken aback. What a personal question, he thought. Who does he think he is? I always attract weirdos. I must have a sign on my forehead that says “Talk to me if you’re…”
The man interrupted his train of thought.
“Your giving. What do you give? How do you feel about it?” said the man, and as he did he offered a brown paper bag to Jack. It was full of assorted beans coated in chocolate, salted caramel and icing sugar. They looked delicious and expensive. “Here you are, Jack, help yourself,” and he presented Jack the paper bag.
Jack paused, irritated and a bit unsure of accepting sweets from strangers, which he was fairly sure he’d been told not to do, but he could see they were from Thornton’s and the packet was newly opened, so he picked a few out and popped them into his mouth. He crunched on his beans and his irritableness seemed to disappear like the fog that had been lingering in the cemetery and was vanishing in the weak sun. With his mouth full, he asked the old man, “So, what do you want to know?”
“I want to know why you find giving hard,” said the man.
“We’ve hardly got anything to give,” he mumbled, still chewing on the beans.
“Yes, thought so,” said the old man looping strands of his wispy beard around his forefinger and staring in the distance. Jack took another handful of beans. He couldn’t help himself. This one was gingerbread flavoured.
“When we give our money to the church, I’m worried we won’t have enough for ourselves.”
“Giving is always an act of faith Jack. But more so when you have little to start with. You show great faith by what you give. But what if I told you about a very special gift? How would you like to give something away and still have just as much of it?”
This man’s insane, thought Jack. But he was curious and he wanted another gingerbread bean. He reached into the paper bag and took another handful.
“Whaddya mean?” spluttered Jack, showering his lap with gingerbread bean crumbs.
The old man emptied what was left of the bag of beans onto the bench and counted them. Twelve beans. Jacks eyes widened. He’d eaten at least a dozen beans, possibly twice as many. But the small bag, which, Jack was very familiar with by now, couldn’t have held that many. Yet here they were on the bench. How could this be? Was it a trick? He’d eaten so many beans.
As Jack’s stared in disbelief, the old man scooped up all the beans, popped them back into the paper bag and slid them into an inside pocket of his tatty jacket.
“Never mind all this beans-talk Jack, let’s talk about the greatest gift you can give.”
Jack didn’t feel like he had any great gifts at all, apart from styling hair. The old man went on, “You have a great gift dear Jack, but you keep it all to yourself. You fret and you worry about giving, and yet all the while you are hoarding great treasure.”
Jack was irritated by this strange man and his beans and his talk of great treasure that Jack was absolutely sure he did not possess.
“So what’s this great treasure I have then? How can I give it away and still have it? What are you on about?”
“You can give it away and not just have it, but have more of it. It grows!”
--------------------------------------------
Now the story goes on to sell the idea of church giving but that isn't my reason for reproducing it rather to show how you can take any story and adapt it to your needs while still retaining the original elements. The same treatment could be given to nursery rhymes, fables and other pantomime stories. You never know I may get round to something for next week.
God Bless
[image error]
Once upon a time there was a poor widow who had an only son named Jack. Jack was a hair stylist and worked at Goldilocks, in Stiltskin’s Retail Park. All they had to live on was Jack’s earnings which didn’t amount to much, and he had quite a bit of credit card debt. Still living with his mother in his twenty-second year wasn’t ideal either, but needs must.
Every Sunday, Jack took his mother to the church on the hill in his Vauxhall Corsa. Each week he winced as she put their contribution on the plate during the service, for they had so little to spare, but he was too afraid to tell his mother. Jack had been reckless with money when he was a boy (something to do with selling a cow) and it had taken years to regain his mother’s trust. His mother was serious about contributing generously to church funds because she was a big believer in sacrificing things dear to her as an act of faith. Jack struggled with this, being rather too fond of money to happily give it up.
Today Jack didn’t feel like after-service coffee so he left his Mother to chat with Mrs Hubbard and he took a wander around the cemetery behind the church. He wanted some space. He hadn’t gone far when he met a funny-looking old man, who said to him: “Good morning, Jack.”
“Good morning to you,” said Jack, and wondered how he knew his name.
“Well, Jack, and where are you off to?” said the man.
“Nowhere really, just wandering.” Jack sat on a bench under a giant tree and absentmindedly checked his phone to see if he had any new followers on Twitter. He hadn’t.
The funny-looking old man, who had a crooked nose and crooked legs and crooked stick, walked straight up to him and sat beside him on the bench, sucking in the cool morning air. A moment or two passed in semi-awkward silence. The old man broke it by slapping his thigh and exclaiming,
“Oh, you look the proper sort of chap who’s concerned about this and that,” Jack looked up from his phone. “Tell me about your giving.”
“Excuse me?” said Jack, taken aback. What a personal question, he thought. Who does he think he is? I always attract weirdos. I must have a sign on my forehead that says “Talk to me if you’re…”
The man interrupted his train of thought.
“Your giving. What do you give? How do you feel about it?” said the man, and as he did he offered a brown paper bag to Jack. It was full of assorted beans coated in chocolate, salted caramel and icing sugar. They looked delicious and expensive. “Here you are, Jack, help yourself,” and he presented Jack the paper bag.
Jack paused, irritated and a bit unsure of accepting sweets from strangers, which he was fairly sure he’d been told not to do, but he could see they were from Thornton’s and the packet was newly opened, so he picked a few out and popped them into his mouth. He crunched on his beans and his irritableness seemed to disappear like the fog that had been lingering in the cemetery and was vanishing in the weak sun. With his mouth full, he asked the old man, “So, what do you want to know?”
“I want to know why you find giving hard,” said the man.
“We’ve hardly got anything to give,” he mumbled, still chewing on the beans.
“Yes, thought so,” said the old man looping strands of his wispy beard around his forefinger and staring in the distance. Jack took another handful of beans. He couldn’t help himself. This one was gingerbread flavoured.
“When we give our money to the church, I’m worried we won’t have enough for ourselves.”
“Giving is always an act of faith Jack. But more so when you have little to start with. You show great faith by what you give. But what if I told you about a very special gift? How would you like to give something away and still have just as much of it?”
This man’s insane, thought Jack. But he was curious and he wanted another gingerbread bean. He reached into the paper bag and took another handful.
“Whaddya mean?” spluttered Jack, showering his lap with gingerbread bean crumbs.
The old man emptied what was left of the bag of beans onto the bench and counted them. Twelve beans. Jacks eyes widened. He’d eaten at least a dozen beans, possibly twice as many. But the small bag, which, Jack was very familiar with by now, couldn’t have held that many. Yet here they were on the bench. How could this be? Was it a trick? He’d eaten so many beans.
As Jack’s stared in disbelief, the old man scooped up all the beans, popped them back into the paper bag and slid them into an inside pocket of his tatty jacket.
“Never mind all this beans-talk Jack, let’s talk about the greatest gift you can give.”
Jack didn’t feel like he had any great gifts at all, apart from styling hair. The old man went on, “You have a great gift dear Jack, but you keep it all to yourself. You fret and you worry about giving, and yet all the while you are hoarding great treasure.”
Jack was irritated by this strange man and his beans and his talk of great treasure that Jack was absolutely sure he did not possess.
“So what’s this great treasure I have then? How can I give it away and still have it? What are you on about?”
“You can give it away and not just have it, but have more of it. It grows!”
--------------------------------------------
Now the story goes on to sell the idea of church giving but that isn't my reason for reproducing it rather to show how you can take any story and adapt it to your needs while still retaining the original elements. The same treatment could be given to nursery rhymes, fables and other pantomime stories. You never know I may get round to something for next week.
God Bless
January 4, 2017
Poetry Thursday 245 - Winter sun
It has probably been said many times but the angle of the winter sun is a nuisance. It is low in the sky, reflects from wet roads, shows up the dirt on car windscreens and has probably caused accidents; but there is a beauty about it and it was there first long before the first car was built.
[image error]
January Sun
The bright winter sun pierces the thin air,bouncing from slick, white pavements,through windows, dazzling coldly those who stare,wrinkling foreheads, crinkling faces, falsely ageing.
The steel, blue background to the chilly fire ball,allows vapour to trace patterns with its cloudy finger,to be viewed and interpreted by those who see all,and to enjoy the short-lived glorious sight.
The fickle winds return edged with lowering cloud,pushing away the crisp gloriousness into memory,heralding a damp greyness and foggy shroud,covering the previously optimistic vision,till next time.©David L Atkinson January 2017
That's all you get this week folks.
God Bless
[image error]
January Sun
The bright winter sun pierces the thin air,bouncing from slick, white pavements,through windows, dazzling coldly those who stare,wrinkling foreheads, crinkling faces, falsely ageing.
The steel, blue background to the chilly fire ball,allows vapour to trace patterns with its cloudy finger,to be viewed and interpreted by those who see all,and to enjoy the short-lived glorious sight.
The fickle winds return edged with lowering cloud,pushing away the crisp gloriousness into memory,heralding a damp greyness and foggy shroud,covering the previously optimistic vision,till next time.©David L Atkinson January 2017
That's all you get this week folks.
God Bless
January 3, 2017
Writing - Bad fracking #AntiFrackinguk
I recently installed an app on my phone called MyShake and constructed by the University of Berkeley Seismology department. It records seismic events and sends the location and severity to your phone. The idea is that it allows them to track events around the world.
[image error]MyShake
I downloaded this piece of software because I have a natural interest in physical geography. I have views on global warming, burning fossil fuels, other sources of carbon emissions and green issues so its hardly surprising that I have views about fracking.
I was surprised by the app alerting me to 3 earthquakes in the Oklahoma region this morning. It prompted me to look a little deeper.
What I found, in short, was a rapid increase in the number of earthquakes registering greater than 3 on the Richter scale, from 2/year to hundreds. The increase coincides with the advent of fracking in the area.
The information is factual and supported by USGS (United States Geological Survey).
The U.S. Geological Survey, in a March report on "induced earthquakes," said as many as 7.9 million people in parts of Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas now face the same earthquake risks as those in California. The report found that oil and gas drilling activity, particularly practices like hydraulic fracturing or fracking, is at issue.
[image error]Californian earthquake
The danger is obvious so why aren't the British government listening. Well it is money of course. However, the anti-fracking campaign needs as much evidence as it can muster and the facts stated here are worth consideration. It is one thing that the tremors are relatively minor but the USGS news that they could escalate, the latest tremor on Saturday was 5.6 which is significantly larger that before, is worrying.
[image error]
#Anti-Frackinguk
God Bless
[image error]MyShake
I downloaded this piece of software because I have a natural interest in physical geography. I have views on global warming, burning fossil fuels, other sources of carbon emissions and green issues so its hardly surprising that I have views about fracking.
I was surprised by the app alerting me to 3 earthquakes in the Oklahoma region this morning. It prompted me to look a little deeper.
What I found, in short, was a rapid increase in the number of earthquakes registering greater than 3 on the Richter scale, from 2/year to hundreds. The increase coincides with the advent of fracking in the area.
The information is factual and supported by USGS (United States Geological Survey).
The U.S. Geological Survey, in a March report on "induced earthquakes," said as many as 7.9 million people in parts of Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas now face the same earthquake risks as those in California. The report found that oil and gas drilling activity, particularly practices like hydraulic fracturing or fracking, is at issue.
[image error]Californian earthquake
The danger is obvious so why aren't the British government listening. Well it is money of course. However, the anti-fracking campaign needs as much evidence as it can muster and the facts stated here are worth consideration. It is one thing that the tremors are relatively minor but the USGS news that they could escalate, the latest tremor on Saturday was 5.6 which is significantly larger that before, is worrying.
[image error]
#Anti-Frackinguk
God Bless
January 2, 2017
Writing - New Year's Revolution
No I haven't made an error in the title of this blog. It could be a personal reference or a more significant worldwide occurrence.
[image error]
The concept of change is a thorny issue for many people but it is my contention that ordinary folk who are uncomfortable with change, can be motivated to revolt when they perceive that the direction in which their lives are being controlled is not heading in a direction with which they are comfortable.
[image error]Russian Revolution 1917
One hundred years ago this year the Russian Revolution took place and changed the country.The Russian Revolution was a pair of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which dismantled the Tsarist autocracy and led to the eventual rise of the Soviet Union. The Russian Empire collapsed with the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, and the old regime was replaced by a provisional government during the first revolution of February 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar; the older Julian calendar was in use in Russia at the time). In the second revolution that October, the Provisional Government was removed and replaced with a communist state.
The revolution happened because the ruling classes were getting it wrong.
[image error]
"English Revolution" has been used to describe two different events in English history. The first to be so called—by Whig historians—was the Glorious Revolution of 1688, whereby James II was replaced by William III and Mary II as monarch and a constitutional monarchy was established.In the twentieth-century, however, Marxist historians introduced the use of the term "English Revolution" to describe the period of the English Civil Wars and Commonwealth period (1640–1660), in which Parliament challenged King Charles I's authority, engaged in civil conflict against his forces, and executed him in 1649. This was followed by a ten-year period of bourgeois republican government, the "Commonwealth", before monarchy was restored in the shape of Charles' son, Charles II in 1660.
The reason that there were two revolutions within thirty years was because the ruling classes were getting it wrong.
[image error]
The current war in Syria is in fact a revolution, or a civil war and it is also because the ruling regime, President Assad, is getting it wrong. Of course the situation has now become a world political football.
[image error]
So what happens next?
That question is the scary one for people who like to maintain the status quo.
The symptoms I perceive that there is a growing problem will have been picked up on by the powers that be and more. So what are they?
1. Extreme political groups.
Across the western world there has been a rise in extreme political parties and increasing public support for those groups. The obvious example in this country is UKIP. It's popularity rose and supplanted that of the more violent Britain First etc probably because most people were looking for alternatives to the current political system but in a non-violent scenario. There are similar groups in most major countries across Europe and of course there was the election of Donald Trump in the USA.
2. Strike action.
The number of strikes that take place tend to be an indicator of public dissatisfaction with their lives. Before Christmas there was a flurry of such actions.
3. Hung parliaments.
There have been a number of instances of surprising election results in what are considered to be the more westernised countries. We had our own hung parliament from 2010 - 2015 and the current conservative party only has a majority of a dozen or so.
Just three examples of public dissatisfaction with the system.
What's Next?
I'm not suggesting that there will be any kind of violent overthrow of our government, or that of any other country in the supposedly civilised west, more an apathetic overthrow. Consider the introduction of elected Police Commissioners. An American idea imposed on the British people without adequate preparation or information. The result, electoral turn outs of around 10% - 15% with no more than 7% - 9% voting for the winner - hardly a representative sample of the voting population.I believe the voting in France and Germany this year will be an indicator of how far the anti-establishment feelings among the public has fallen in relation to the status quo.
The Solution
Obviously, no easy fix. The people in power control the money and it is only their fear of losing their ill-gotten gains that will bring about change. At the moment there are far too few controlling vast wealth and far too many suffering in poverty a situation that always ends up in revolution. The wealthy need to understand the unfairness and act to change that situation if they wish to keep their cash.
God Bless
[image error]
The concept of change is a thorny issue for many people but it is my contention that ordinary folk who are uncomfortable with change, can be motivated to revolt when they perceive that the direction in which their lives are being controlled is not heading in a direction with which they are comfortable.
[image error]Russian Revolution 1917
One hundred years ago this year the Russian Revolution took place and changed the country.The Russian Revolution was a pair of revolutions in Russia in 1917, which dismantled the Tsarist autocracy and led to the eventual rise of the Soviet Union. The Russian Empire collapsed with the abdication of Emperor Nicholas II, and the old regime was replaced by a provisional government during the first revolution of February 1917 (March in the Gregorian calendar; the older Julian calendar was in use in Russia at the time). In the second revolution that October, the Provisional Government was removed and replaced with a communist state.
The revolution happened because the ruling classes were getting it wrong.
[image error]
"English Revolution" has been used to describe two different events in English history. The first to be so called—by Whig historians—was the Glorious Revolution of 1688, whereby James II was replaced by William III and Mary II as monarch and a constitutional monarchy was established.In the twentieth-century, however, Marxist historians introduced the use of the term "English Revolution" to describe the period of the English Civil Wars and Commonwealth period (1640–1660), in which Parliament challenged King Charles I's authority, engaged in civil conflict against his forces, and executed him in 1649. This was followed by a ten-year period of bourgeois republican government, the "Commonwealth", before monarchy was restored in the shape of Charles' son, Charles II in 1660.
The reason that there were two revolutions within thirty years was because the ruling classes were getting it wrong.
[image error]
The current war in Syria is in fact a revolution, or a civil war and it is also because the ruling regime, President Assad, is getting it wrong. Of course the situation has now become a world political football.
[image error]
So what happens next?
That question is the scary one for people who like to maintain the status quo.
The symptoms I perceive that there is a growing problem will have been picked up on by the powers that be and more. So what are they?
1. Extreme political groups.
Across the western world there has been a rise in extreme political parties and increasing public support for those groups. The obvious example in this country is UKIP. It's popularity rose and supplanted that of the more violent Britain First etc probably because most people were looking for alternatives to the current political system but in a non-violent scenario. There are similar groups in most major countries across Europe and of course there was the election of Donald Trump in the USA.
2. Strike action.
The number of strikes that take place tend to be an indicator of public dissatisfaction with their lives. Before Christmas there was a flurry of such actions.
3. Hung parliaments.
There have been a number of instances of surprising election results in what are considered to be the more westernised countries. We had our own hung parliament from 2010 - 2015 and the current conservative party only has a majority of a dozen or so.
Just three examples of public dissatisfaction with the system.
What's Next?
I'm not suggesting that there will be any kind of violent overthrow of our government, or that of any other country in the supposedly civilised west, more an apathetic overthrow. Consider the introduction of elected Police Commissioners. An American idea imposed on the British people without adequate preparation or information. The result, electoral turn outs of around 10% - 15% with no more than 7% - 9% voting for the winner - hardly a representative sample of the voting population.I believe the voting in France and Germany this year will be an indicator of how far the anti-establishment feelings among the public has fallen in relation to the status quo.
The Solution
Obviously, no easy fix. The people in power control the money and it is only their fear of losing their ill-gotten gains that will bring about change. At the moment there are far too few controlling vast wealth and far too many suffering in poverty a situation that always ends up in revolution. The wealthy need to understand the unfairness and act to change that situation if they wish to keep their cash.
God Bless
December 30, 2016
Writing - Procrastination fortified
It seems that procrastination is the bedfellow of writing.
I get this.
The fact is one could describe procrastination as the brain giving itself the opportunity to exercise the imagination and so feed the creative urge. Whatever - it is real.
[image error]
Of course I hide in the realms of poetry because it is a more immediate response to the creative urge and the inspiration is everything. On the other hand procrastination is sometimes the result of indecision and that is what my problem is. Having too many options is almost as problematic as too few and hence the indecision.Do I choose one project or work them all?
At the current time there is the presidential election in the USA and if you consider the electoral system there is undoubted connection back to the events of 9/11. There is the involvement of the security agencies, unexplained and precipitate actions by the US Government and a failure of security agencies to communicate knowledge with each other. Many of the same people are probably still in post 15 years later. So read 7 Hours After and allow your mind to wander freely and decide what is fact and what is fiction.
Synopsis
Patrick Steele is off crusading once again with his sidekick, fiancée Naomi Kobayashi. This time he is risking life and limb by returning to the hostile shores of the USA. He has had brushes with the authorities in that vast country on previous occasions, but now has been stimulated to return because of apparent dodgy dealings over the World Trade Centre disaster of September 11th 2001.After discovering numerous ‘theories’ concerning 9/11 and who was behind it, Steele identifies possible links between large corporations with financial interests and political parties. In a presidential election year he is concerned that those vying for that prodigious post may have links with the disaster.Has Steele discovered underhand dealing by the US security services? Did one of the major political parties have a hand in the destruction of 9/11?Will Steele be caught by the CIA or can he escape back to the safety of the UK?
What was Building 7?
Where can the books be bought?
amazon.co.uk
completelynovel.com
smashwords.com
In each case search under David L Atkinson, don't forget the 'L', and search through the available options to see all 11 novels.
Or click on the links below.
The Kindle copy available from amazon.co.uk will upload to devices supporting the Kindle App as well as Kindle devices so you can get this an all of my books on your smartphone.
God Bless
I get this.
The fact is one could describe procrastination as the brain giving itself the opportunity to exercise the imagination and so feed the creative urge. Whatever - it is real.
[image error]
Of course I hide in the realms of poetry because it is a more immediate response to the creative urge and the inspiration is everything. On the other hand procrastination is sometimes the result of indecision and that is what my problem is. Having too many options is almost as problematic as too few and hence the indecision.Do I choose one project or work them all?
At the current time there is the presidential election in the USA and if you consider the electoral system there is undoubted connection back to the events of 9/11. There is the involvement of the security agencies, unexplained and precipitate actions by the US Government and a failure of security agencies to communicate knowledge with each other. Many of the same people are probably still in post 15 years later. So read 7 Hours After and allow your mind to wander freely and decide what is fact and what is fiction.
Synopsis
Patrick Steele is off crusading once again with his sidekick, fiancée Naomi Kobayashi. This time he is risking life and limb by returning to the hostile shores of the USA. He has had brushes with the authorities in that vast country on previous occasions, but now has been stimulated to return because of apparent dodgy dealings over the World Trade Centre disaster of September 11th 2001.After discovering numerous ‘theories’ concerning 9/11 and who was behind it, Steele identifies possible links between large corporations with financial interests and political parties. In a presidential election year he is concerned that those vying for that prodigious post may have links with the disaster.Has Steele discovered underhand dealing by the US security services? Did one of the major political parties have a hand in the destruction of 9/11?Will Steele be caught by the CIA or can he escape back to the safety of the UK?
What was Building 7?
Where can the books be bought?
amazon.co.uk
completelynovel.com
smashwords.com
In each case search under David L Atkinson, don't forget the 'L', and search through the available options to see all 11 novels.
Or click on the links below.
The Kindle copy available from amazon.co.uk will upload to devices supporting the Kindle App as well as Kindle devices so you can get this an all of my books on your smartphone.
God Bless
December 29, 2016
Writing - Things sent to try us
I don't want to make this blog to be all about me today but it was inspired by two stressful situations at opposite ends of the spectrum.
[image error]Debbie Reynolds (84), Carrie Fisher (60) RIP
There is a saying that 'parents shouldn't have to bury their children' and the deaths of Carrie Fisher and a day later her mother, Debbie Reynolds, is evidence of the stress that a person is put under in such situations. My thoughts go out to Todd Fisher and the rest of the family.
Children are sometimes described as the fruits of our loins and Christmas is a time set aside for children, but there is something in the saying. The children we bring into the world are the vehicle for the future in the way in which they develop the culture to which they have become a part. One just needs to think about the life of a babyboomer and children born since 2000. There was something much quieter and slower than these days and I think we had it better.Enough nostalgia!As with all youngsters they are undoubtedly sent to try our patience but that is far outweighed by the rewards they bestow.
Carrie Fisher was a successful writer (Postcards from the Edge and Wishful Drinking) and screen writer and was often ready with a merry quip,
'I act like someone in a bomb shelter trying to raise everyone's spirits'RIP to the two ladies.
[image error] Louise Dear - artist
Celebrity is another thing that is sent to try me, not that I am or will ever be one. It is just annoying that you can be labelled as such for all sorts of nefarious reasons and totally at the whim of the media and some of the questionable characters therein. Louise Dear is an artist, popular with people in the music scene such as Elton John, but she was described on the BBC website as Celebrity artist.I'd be disappointed if she would prefer the celebrity handle rather than the artist title.
If you consider the references made to anyone as 'celebrity' it is almost like an honorary title bestowed by the Queen and as such a reward, but the signifier for the awards come after the name.
There are numerous celebrities who have written, or more accurately had ghost written, biographies. It would be wrong to describe them as celebrity writers. They may have gained their celebrity via sport, films or something else but they aren't writers!
Rant over!
[image error]
I may or may not write before 2017 so a Happy New Year to both (all) my readers.
God Bless
[image error]Debbie Reynolds (84), Carrie Fisher (60) RIP
There is a saying that 'parents shouldn't have to bury their children' and the deaths of Carrie Fisher and a day later her mother, Debbie Reynolds, is evidence of the stress that a person is put under in such situations. My thoughts go out to Todd Fisher and the rest of the family.
Children are sometimes described as the fruits of our loins and Christmas is a time set aside for children, but there is something in the saying. The children we bring into the world are the vehicle for the future in the way in which they develop the culture to which they have become a part. One just needs to think about the life of a babyboomer and children born since 2000. There was something much quieter and slower than these days and I think we had it better.Enough nostalgia!As with all youngsters they are undoubtedly sent to try our patience but that is far outweighed by the rewards they bestow.
Carrie Fisher was a successful writer (Postcards from the Edge and Wishful Drinking) and screen writer and was often ready with a merry quip,
'I act like someone in a bomb shelter trying to raise everyone's spirits'RIP to the two ladies.
[image error] Louise Dear - artist
Celebrity is another thing that is sent to try me, not that I am or will ever be one. It is just annoying that you can be labelled as such for all sorts of nefarious reasons and totally at the whim of the media and some of the questionable characters therein. Louise Dear is an artist, popular with people in the music scene such as Elton John, but she was described on the BBC website as Celebrity artist.I'd be disappointed if she would prefer the celebrity handle rather than the artist title.
If you consider the references made to anyone as 'celebrity' it is almost like an honorary title bestowed by the Queen and as such a reward, but the signifier for the awards come after the name.
There are numerous celebrities who have written, or more accurately had ghost written, biographies. It would be wrong to describe them as celebrity writers. They may have gained their celebrity via sport, films or something else but they aren't writers!
Rant over!
[image error]
I may or may not write before 2017 so a Happy New Year to both (all) my readers.
God Bless
December 28, 2016
Poetry Thursday 244 - Post Christmas
So the day has gone and the aftermath is upon us. I hope you all had a wonderful day and received all that you desired. My day was perfect.
Christmas Day
When the big day dawned, after he’d been,the lounge floor was a proper scene,carpet covered with cars of every hue,it would be fair to say more than a few.The colourful wrapping paper mountain,waxed and waned like a glittering fountain,the little one sat amongst the colourful mess,a mite confused by the pulsating largesse.
Then there were the visitors big and noisy,smiling their generosity at the just past baby,large feet kicking the toys as they entered,carrying drinks that were mostly fermented,big voices demanding some response,from the infant recipient – please just once.Mum and Dad understand and where needed intervene,avoiding a misunderstood unhappy scene.
Soon it is time for food to be servedalthough sweets and crisps have been nibbled.The laden table is almost groaningunder dishes full to overflowing.Little one secured in the high chair,doesn’t eat but his eyes stare,at the vegetables, meat, sauces and pudding,the gingerbread house he is targeting.
A successful day had by all,presents received well by great and small,No tears or toy breaks to mar the day,for the hosts - successful in every way,A thought spared for the significant child,that caused the day celebrated worldwide,the special bonus acquired additionally,a loving atmosphere for friends and family.©David L Atkinson December 2016
God Bless
Christmas Day
When the big day dawned, after he’d been,the lounge floor was a proper scene,carpet covered with cars of every hue,it would be fair to say more than a few.The colourful wrapping paper mountain,waxed and waned like a glittering fountain,the little one sat amongst the colourful mess,a mite confused by the pulsating largesse.
Then there were the visitors big and noisy,smiling their generosity at the just past baby,large feet kicking the toys as they entered,carrying drinks that were mostly fermented,big voices demanding some response,from the infant recipient – please just once.Mum and Dad understand and where needed intervene,avoiding a misunderstood unhappy scene.
Soon it is time for food to be servedalthough sweets and crisps have been nibbled.The laden table is almost groaningunder dishes full to overflowing.Little one secured in the high chair,doesn’t eat but his eyes stare,at the vegetables, meat, sauces and pudding,the gingerbread house he is targeting.
A successful day had by all,presents received well by great and small,No tears or toy breaks to mar the day,for the hosts - successful in every way,A thought spared for the significant child,that caused the day celebrated worldwide,the special bonus acquired additionally,a loving atmosphere for friends and family.©David L Atkinson December 2016
God Bless
December 23, 2016
Writing - A Christmas sigh
A Christmas sigh is that one that escapes when you realise that all arrangements, all presents and all cards have been dealt with and you've nothing pressing that needs doing to get you through the big day. What a relief!
Christmas Sigh
Phew!All presents bought and wrappedPhew!All cards written, posted or deliveredPhew!All arrangements confirmed.Bring on Christmas Day.
At the current time there is the presidential election in the USA and if you consider the electoral system there is undoubted connection back to the events of 9/11. There is the involvement of the security agencies, unexplained and precipitate actions by the US Government and a failure of security agencies to communicate knowledge with each other. Many of the same people are probably still in post 15 years later. So read 7 Hours After and allow your mind to wander freely and decide what is fact and what is fiction.
Synopsis
Patrick Steele is off crusading once again with his sidekick, fiancée Naomi Kobayashi. This time he is risking life and limb by returning to the hostile shores of the USA. He has had brushes with the authorities in that vast country on previous occasions, but now has been stimulated to return because of apparent dodgy dealings over the World Trade Centre disaster of September 11th 2001.After discovering numerous ‘theories’ concerning 9/11 and who was behind it, Steele identifies possible links between large corporations with financial interests and political parties. In a presidential election year he is concerned that those vying for that prodigious post may have links with the disaster.Has Steele discovered underhand dealing by the US security services? Did one of the major political parties have a hand in the destruction of 9/11?Will Steele be caught by the CIA or can he escape back to the safety of the UK?
What was Building 7?
Where can the books be bought?
amazon.co.uk
completelynovel.com
smashwords.com
In each case search under David L Atkinson, don't forget the 'L', and search through the available options to see all 11 novels.
Or click on the links below.
The Kindle copy available from amazon.co.uk will upload to devices supporting the Kindle App as well as Kindle devices so you can get this an all of my books on your smartphone.
God Bless
Christmas Sigh
Phew!All presents bought and wrappedPhew!All cards written, posted or deliveredPhew!All arrangements confirmed.Bring on Christmas Day.
At the current time there is the presidential election in the USA and if you consider the electoral system there is undoubted connection back to the events of 9/11. There is the involvement of the security agencies, unexplained and precipitate actions by the US Government and a failure of security agencies to communicate knowledge with each other. Many of the same people are probably still in post 15 years later. So read 7 Hours After and allow your mind to wander freely and decide what is fact and what is fiction.
Synopsis
Patrick Steele is off crusading once again with his sidekick, fiancée Naomi Kobayashi. This time he is risking life and limb by returning to the hostile shores of the USA. He has had brushes with the authorities in that vast country on previous occasions, but now has been stimulated to return because of apparent dodgy dealings over the World Trade Centre disaster of September 11th 2001.After discovering numerous ‘theories’ concerning 9/11 and who was behind it, Steele identifies possible links between large corporations with financial interests and political parties. In a presidential election year he is concerned that those vying for that prodigious post may have links with the disaster.Has Steele discovered underhand dealing by the US security services? Did one of the major political parties have a hand in the destruction of 9/11?Will Steele be caught by the CIA or can he escape back to the safety of the UK?
What was Building 7?
Where can the books be bought?
amazon.co.uk
completelynovel.com
smashwords.com
In each case search under David L Atkinson, don't forget the 'L', and search through the available options to see all 11 novels.
Or click on the links below.
The Kindle copy available from amazon.co.uk will upload to devices supporting the Kindle App as well as Kindle devices so you can get this an all of my books on your smartphone.
God Bless
