David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 99

Poetry Thursday 138 - Old Men

I was inspired to tackle this subject because of two different TV dramas which obviously had elderly gentlemen as their focus even though one was a ghost story and the second a fictitious film dealing with social breakdown.
Harry Brown (Michael Caine)

Old Men
Old men gazing into spaceconsidering their present and their past,pondering their place in the human racethinking of each day as possibly their last.
Old men losing those they knewwondering why they still remain,when those loved are no longer in view,and still they wake once again.
Old men enjoying what they’d doneof all their achievements great and small,and yet they are left all alonewondering what was the point of it all.
Old men atop their family treewith nowhere left for them to gonothing remains for them to achievetrickling towards the end of life’s flow.
Old men waiting for that approaching daywhen their eyes at last remain finally closed.Their energy spent - too tired to play,and God has given the final repose.© David L Atkinson November 2014

[image error]Remember Me (Michael Palin)

God Bless

Writing - Dangerous Ideas

In these times of unrest across the world from a variety of populaces it is interesting to reflect that there is nothing new in the world. Writers allow their imaginations to test a range of scenarios because they need to and they base these 'flights of fancy' on real situations.
[image error]Fyodor Dostoyevsky
At the time of writing there have been recent riots in Ferguson in the US; the battles between authorities and IS in the Middle East continues; people are being murdered in Africa, and the general population of many democratic countries in Europe are unhappy with the current political systems.
There is nothing new!
The 19th Century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote about characters who justified murder in the name of their ideological beliefs. (Sound familiar?)
Born in 1821, the Russian writer was in his 20s when he joined a circle of radical intellectuals in St Petersburg who were entranced by French utopian socialist theories. A police agent who had infiltrated the group reported its discussions to the authorities. On 22 April 1849, Dostoyevsky was arrested and imprisoned along with the other members, and after some months of investigation they were found guilty of planning to distribute subversive propaganda and condemned to death by firing squad. Eventually this was commuted to 4 years hard labour.
In his great novel Demons, published 1872, he tried to point out that the predominant social ideas of the time were dangerous.
The plot is a version of actual events that unfolded as Dostoyevsky was writing the book. A former teacher of divinity turned terrorist, Sergei Nechaev, was arrested and convicted of complicity in the killing of a student. Nechaev had authored a pamphlet, The Catechism of a Revolutionary, which argued that any means (including blackmail and murder) could be used to advance the cause of revolution. The student had questioned Nechaev's policies, and so had to be eliminated. 
What Dostoyevsky diagnosed - and at times suffered from himself - was the tendency to think of ideas as being somehow more real than actual human beings.
Other books by DostoyevskyCrime and Punishment (1866): The story of Raskolnikov, a young student in 19th Century St Petersburg, who is consumed with guilt after he kills a moneylenderThe Idiot (1868): The tale of Prince Myshkin - the "idiot" of the title - whose naive and trusting nature precipitates disaster for the people around him The Brothers Karamazov (1880) - Philosophical novel about four brothers and their dissolute landowner father, whose murder raises questions about God, free will and morality.
I have said it many times before but writers seem to have the baton for social commentary.
God Bless

Tuesday Recipe - Lasagne al forno

No new recipe this week just tinkering round the edges of an old favourite.
Lasagne al Forno
It was all over the news last week that we should eat Mediterranean as it is healthier for us so I decided to cook my favourite - Lasagne. At the same time I keep my eyes and ears open for variations that may improve a dish that I've previously produced. In this case the difference between bog standard meat sauce, cheese sauce and sheets of pasta was sliced black olives. I read an article on cooking that extolled the virtue of adding black olives to Italian dishes to attain a truly Italian flavour so I did. It tastes good but then I enjoy olives anyway so I was never going to be disappointed.
The dish isn't totally unhealthy. The cheese sauce was made with fully skimmed milk and I promise you it tasted every bit as good as that made with other less healthy options, it also thickened beautifully. (TIP: warm the milk before adding to your roux). Also the ground beef was lean steak mince. I fried the onion and garlic off in olive oil because it is good for you. Perhaps the red wine is on the bad list but the alcohol does boil off while the meat is simmering.
On the plate

This was straight from the oven and I find it tends to be rather floppy but if refrigerated and eaten on the second day it keeps its form better even after re-heating in the microwave.
And on a different note
This 'letter' was included with a Lego set in the 1970's and I thought that it was quite relevant for those folk who write.

God Bless

Writing - 1984 and all that stuff

In a week when we were told of a website able to access your webcam then there is the below new law.
[image error]Snooper's charter
A law forcing firms to hand details to police identifying who was using a computer or mobile phone at a given time is to be outlined by Theresa May.The home secretary said the measure would improve national security.
Under the Anti-Terrorism and Security Bill, providers would have to hold on to data linking devices to users.
But campaigners warned it could see the revival of the so-called "snoopers' charter" - a previous attempt to bring in wide-ranging web monitoring powers.


[image error]
UK intelligence service GCHQ can legally snoop on British use of Google, Facebook and web-based email without specific warrants because the firms are based abroad, the government has said.


-----------------------------------------
1984
[image error]
The Plot
Winston Smith is a low-ranking member of the ruling Party in London, in the nation of Oceania. Everywhere Winston goes, even his own home, the Party watches him through telescreens; everywhere he looks he sees the face of the Party’s seemingly omniscient leader, a figure known only as Big Brother. The Party controls everything in Oceania, even the people’s history and language. Currently, the Party is forcing the implementation of an invented language called Newspeak, which attempts to prevent political rebellion by eliminating all words related to it. Even thinking rebellious thoughts is illegal. Such thoughtcrime is, in fact, the worst of all crimes.
I don't know how popular this book is these days, when all said and done 1984 was 30 years ago, but the message that George Orwell had to give then seems to have as much relevance today. If you have the time and inclination I'd give it the once over and consider the imagined society of Orwell to our current situation.


[image error]
Also taking a look at societal issues  is important to help keep writing current even though your story is not totally about this issue. I was gratified to read about a talk put together by PEN International and PEN American Centre entitled 'Creative Conscience, Writers on Surveillance, Society and Culture'

Speaking at the event were Adam Hochschild (US), author of “King Leopold’s Ghost” and journalist; Suzanne Nossel (US), Executive Director of PEN American Centre; and Janne Teller (Denmark), organiser of the Writers Against Mass Surveillance appeal. - See more at: http://www.pen-international.org/news...

Adam Hochschild spoke under the heading 'Power begins with surveillance'. Really there is no need to go further as the title says it all. There is an article  at the following link,

http://www.pen-international.org/newsitems/creative-conscience-writers-on-surveillance-society-and-culture/ 



God Bless

Writing - 10 things we didn't know last week

This weeks pieces seem to have a sex related theme.
[image error]
1. LA inmates have to pass a "gay-dar" test to stay in the safest wing.
-------------------------------------
[image error]
2. Seals like to have sex with penguins.

Looks like these two penguins are not up for a threesome!
-------------------------------------

3. Men are twice as likely to drown as women.


-------------------------------------
[image error]
4. A 10 second kiss transfers 80 million bacteria.

That's it I'm done!!
-------------------------------------
5. The world's largest billboard is in Saudi Arabia and is 250m long.


-------------------------------------
[image error]
6. Angelina Jolie can do a Derby accent.

Why Derby?


-------------------------------------
7. Manchester has the largest proportion of single people in the UK.


-------------------------------------
8. A sign language name can be recorded on your birth certificate.


-------------------------------------
[image error]
9. A rescue dog can be mayor of San Francisco.


-------------------------------------
[image error]
10. Norway's new passport was designed by competition. 


-------------------------------------

The collection is available in paperback from the following link
https://www.createspace.com/pub/member.dashboard.do
and also for Kindle on

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PY4FN8Q


God Bless

Writing - A surprise book launch

This is a surprise book launch because it all came together rather quicker than I expected thanks to Createspace.

The collection is available in paperback from the following link
https://www.createspace.com/pub/member.dashboard.do
and also for Kindle on

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PY4FN8Q
And the introduction,
This second collection of poetry is different from ‘The Musings of a Confused Mind’ in that it is NOT intended as a semi-educational experience in which I explore a range of styles with examples and rules. This collection apart from some recent insertions, if read chronologically, could almost be biographical in that I write poetry weekly and the enclosed works are from the last three years. However, it would be a reactionary and emotionally driven autobiography as that is how I see poetry working for me. Then there are poems occasionally interrupting the flow with my reaction to significant dates, birthdays, anniversaries and nationally important days.When I write poetry I choose a style that feels appropriate to the subject and mood I’m feeling at the time. It is my wish, as always, that when this is read it delivers something to the reader and provides a level of entertainment. Also if you need an outlet for tensions of your own then try writing.


At the same time my latest Steele novel, Earth plc, is also nearing its launch. The draft copies have gone to the proof readers and so the book should be available in a couple of weeks time.

God Bless

Writing - Here is the news - Thursday

We are bombarded by a variety of media with 'news' minute by minute, day by day. The question is which bits can you believe?This is a subject I've touched upon before - perhaps I should get out more - but as intelligent animals we should feel a responsibility for what is going on in our world and how would we know what that is if we don't take the news seriously.

I have had numerous conversations concerning unbiased reporting with a variety of people but in spite of trying emails to the BBC they always wriggle out saying that they present all sides of the arguments in question. This is blatantly untrue eg.
The news item on EU migrants being of fiscal benefit to the UK but neglecting the negative effects of non EU migrants.
I could dig out other examples. Of course it is all a matter of how we communicate - there it is writing again. It came up at a meeting I attended last night where a lady who assesses written work in an educational establishment was presented with a report written totally in text speak. As a lady in her middle years and not familiar with a wide range of such communication, she gave the work back to the girl who'd written it who thought it was a joke. The fact is that we need to communicate effectively whether writing tomes or short notes. Text speak is fine on the relative medium.
[image error]
Another health issue has been reported on today and guess what - it was obesity. Apparently it is only second in the world to smoking for creating health problems. Advice is that we should be eating like the Mediterranean countries inhabitants with more olive oil, nuts and vegetables. Interesting! So the Italians don't eat meat!!!!
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing.
Then there is visual communication.

It has been reported today that there is a website in Russia streaming live views from webcams from all over the world. Apparently if you don't change the factory set password, which are available on the internet, these Russians can access your webcam. If the Russians can do that what is to say that our own security services have the same level of access?
Poetry
Another form of communication. It actually pervades our communication world considerably more frequently than people would admit to, for instance, pop songs, advertisements, limericks, catchphrases and so on.

I have decided that my forthcoming poetry collection will have the title 'Words from the Raindrops' when it is finally available. To explain.I wrote a prayer/poem entitled God is in the Rain a couple of weeks ago. I'm aware that the link is rather tenuous but I didn't want to use 'God' in my title, and as He is responsible for everything, including me and the rain, attributing the words in my poems to God is not too much of a stretch.Watch this space.

Finally some thoughts to consider,

It requires a real deep thinker to grasp these most important facts of life.

Number 9 - Death is the number 1 killer in the world.
Number 8 - Life is sexually transmitted.
Number 7 - Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 6 - Men have two emotions: hungry and horny, and they can't tell them apart. If you see a gleam in his eyes make him a sandwich.
Number 5 - Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to use the internet and they won't bother you for weeks, months, maybe years.

Number 4 - Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in the hospital, dying of nothing.
Number 3 - All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.
Number 2 - In the 60's, people took drugs to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, and people take antidepressants to make it normal.

Number 1 - Life is like a jar of chili chutney. What you enjoy today might burn your ass tomorrow.

...and as someone recently said to me: Don't worry about old age; it doesn't last that long...
God Bless

Poetry Thursday 137 - Where stories come from

In a week during which I hope to publish a second collection of poetry I continue to write.
[image error]
Where stories come from
The beautiful thing begins like a seedgerminating in perfect conditions.A writer’s imagination is freedto pursue a tale as in compulsion.The tendrils of growth spreading like young shootsturning and writhing forever outwards,clutching the air, drawing food from its roots,nourishment to propel life onwards.When the story is fully matured,put out in the world for others to read,the bounty is fruit both rich and poorwhich goes to feed the next beckoning seed.
Writing brings joy with every story,each one wrote and consigned to its glory.© David L Atkinson November 2014

This in the style of a sonnet and will not appear in the new book - perhaps that means there will be another collection in a couple of years time.

Currently the title for the new work is God is in the Raindrops but that could change. Whatever there is a great variety of poetry covering a number of topics and delivered in different styles. A sample of the work below.
As one of the first acts at Christmas is to write cards.

The Question of Christmas Cards
Have you written yours yet?How will you put them on display?Who will it be that you forget?Is £3 a box too much to pay?
How many came to you last year?Who have you crossed off your list?Is the season full of good cheer?Have you sent back to all you kissed?
Buy them all from charitiesthen it doesn’t seem such a waste.They sell plenty of varietieswhich will suit everyone’s taste.
AND
REMEMBER TO RECYCLE©David L Atkinson December 2012

God Bless

Writing - Different media same base

Today has been very interesting from a number of viewpoints which have social and literary connections, no matter how loose.
[image error]Sophocles
I know being retired I'm somewhat more time rich than many and I'm happy about that, money isn't everything. Time is giving me the opportunity to fill in some of the gaps in my education and that found me reading some of the poetry of the Greek dramatists last evening. Working on the principle that as a writing poet I need to deepen my knowledge I looked up some of Sophocles poetry along with one or two others. It was an initial view and I liked what I read so will revisit and perhaps produce a more detailed review at a later date.
Imitation Game - a paper written by Turing
The film Imitation Game describes the life of the late Alan Turing, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and the work he was involved in before during and after  World War II. Apart from excellent performances from the cast, there is also an after echo of the level of inhumanity that governments can sink to in an effort to achieve their aims. It is a very good film and I would recommend it to all. An afterthought - if you type on a computer you probably have Alan Turing to thank for the facility. Turing's universal machine was an early form of computer.

While at the cinema the film The Theory of Everything was previewed and is a dramatisation of the life of the brilliant scientist Stephen Hawking. Looks like a good watch.
The two films have similarities in that they are both about brilliant men and the privations through which they had to battle to achieve the success of which they were capable. Sadly, for Alan Turing he never received the accolades he deserved during his life time.
Back to the poetry. As well as the upcoming launch of Earth plc I will also be producing a second collection of poetry before Christmas on Amazon's Createspace facility. It will be less of an educational read but more about my using different styles as a vehicle for a number of subjects. It is currently entitled God is in the Raindrops.
God Bless

Tuesday Recipe - Impossible Pie - savoury version

To those men who have to think up excuses to go to the pub you could perhaps try saying that you're going to collect a new and innovative recipe.
Savoury Impossible Pie
Whether 'her indoors' would accept this reason for a sojourn to the local for a couple of pints of Timothy Taylor's beer or not is between the two of you but it is where I obtained this recipe. A good friend who follows my scribing suggested the idea and I took it on board fervently.
Impossible Pie was probably first created in the 1970's in the USA and stemmed from a company called Besquix which produced instant biscuit mix. You can have either a savoury or a sweet version but as I rarely make anything sweet I attempted the savoury variety. The above pie has bacon, leeks and cheese as its filling.
The full recipe is on the relevant TAB at the top of this page.

I served the pie with peas and roast potatoes as seen above but it could be presented in a variety of ways. If you are unsure of how to treat this pie I suggest you serve it in the same way you would a quiche. It can be eaten hot or cold and reheated in the microwave without any loss of shape or texture.
As much as I've enjoyed this (there are alternative fillings suggested in the recipe) impossible pie I won't be trying the sweet version because I don't tend to create sweet food as there is only me to eat it!
God Bless