K. Morris's Blog, page 773

Reviews And A Thank You

I was excited to see that my collection of short stories, “An Act Of Mercy” has received the following 4 star review:

“A series of short, dark stories that one can easily relate to although most would not find themselves in the situations the stories involve. Thoroughly

thought provoking”. (For the review please visit http://www.amazon.com/review/R3PVJFPC6DWJDQ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm).

 

In addition, my collection of short stories, “Street Walker And Other Stories” has received a 4 star review from the same reviewer:

“The first page led me to believe this was to be a book of ladies of the night. Then it turned to little short stories reminiscent of Stephen King. But the

final entry joined them together in a way that sticks with you”. (For the review please go to http://www.amazon.com/review/RMGILYKK6L3ZV/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm).

 

Thank you to the reviewer for the above reviews and to all of you who have helped to promote my writing by reblogging and liking my posts. It is very much appreciated. Kevin

Dogs Prefer Physical Contact To Verbal Praise Study Claims

A study has concluded that our four legged friends prefer being petted to verbal praise and being fed over petting. Now there’s a surprise. I never, in my wildest dreams would have guessed that dogs prefer food over strokes or pats! To be fair this is a summary, in the Daily Mail of what is a rather complex piece of research and I am sure, as is often the case, that the press have simplified the findings. None the less I (along with millions of other dog lovers) could have told the researchers that canines prefer food to a good old fashioned fuss.

For the article please visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2744762/Don-t-bother-talking-Fido-PET-Dogs-prefer-physical-contact-vocal-praise-study-claims.html

The Free Promotion Of My Books Ends On 6 September 2014

The free promotion of my books ends on 6 September. For further information or to download my stories free from Amazon please go to http://newauthoronline.com/2014/09/01/free-book-promotion-4/.

Superintelligence By Nick Bostrom

Nick Bostrom’s “Superintelligence” sounds as though it will make for interesting and perhaps, at times somewhat heavy reading. The author, an Oxford Professor, looks at the future of artificial intelligence and what will happen when (he thinks that it is inevitable) machines attain greater levels of intelligence than we humans. Will they still want us around and what (if anything) can people do to mitigate against the potential dangers of superintelligence.

For Bostrom’s book please visit http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0199678111?pldnSite=1

 

Lost

An open window. Birds singing in the garden below. Cars passing, the sound of engines disappearing, forever lost in time and space.

Passenger: Let Her Go

From the small dog

drewdog2060drewdog2060:

This is very well done and made me smile.

Originally posted on Daily Echo:

“The time has come,” the doglet said,

“to talk of many things;

Of tennis balls and squeaky ducks,

and sneaky bees with stings;

of why the sparrows fly so fast

and if that cat has wings.”

“Just wait a bit,” the writer said,

“I’m busy with these things.”

“But writer,“ said the small dog then,

“The sun will shortly set,

the pheasants will be playing out,

and rabbits too, I bet.

I really should be practising,

I haven’t caught one yet.”

“Hmm. Never mind, it’s raining

and you don’t like getting wet.”

“Ok then,” sighed the little dog,

“We could consider, please,

the therapeutic benefits

of sharing Cheddar cheese.

Or why that spider’s sitting there,

Or why do you have knees…”

“You scratch a lot,” the writer said,

“You sure it isn’t fleas?”

The clouds were turning dusky pink,

Upon the fading blue.

The writer sighed, put down the pen

View original 43 more words

Reviews Of My Books “An Act Of Mercy” And “Street Walker And Other Stories”

I was delighted to receive the following 5 star review in respect of my collection of short stories, “Street Walker And Other Stories”:

 

“I’ve read several short story collections and stand-alone stories by this author; this one features the same good quality writing and attention to characterization”. (For the review please go to http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00HLRNDP4/ref=cm_cr_dp_syn_footer?k=Street%20Walker%20and%20other%20stories&showViewpoints=1).

 

I was also gratified to receive the below 4 star review as regards my collection of short stories, “An Act of Mercy”:

 

“A collection of well-written stories (set in the U.K) that had me engrossed from beginning to end. I like this author’s style and have not been disappointed

Yet”. (For the review please visit http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00EHS74CS/ref=cm_cr_dp_syn_footer?k=An%20act%20of%20mercy%20and%20other%20stories&showViewpoints=1).

 

I am grateful to the reviewer (the same person in both cases) for taking the time to write the above reviews. Both titles are free to download in the Kindle Store until 6 September.

Crossing The Road With My Guide Dog Trigger

There is, some 5 minutes walk from my home a particularly busy side road. During the rush hour a stream of vehicles uses the road making it problematic for a sighted person (let alone a registered blind guide dog owner, such as myself to cross in safety). Guide dogs are taught to work in a straight line and to avoid obstructions. On reaching a down kerb the dog stops and waits for the owner’s instructions regarding when to cross. While guide dogs do have training on crossing roads it is (as one guide dog trainer explained it to me) rather like having a young child assist you to cross. The young child (we are talking about a 4-5-year-old here) will (if properly instructed by adults on road safety) have some conception of road safety, however one wouldn’t want to place one’s life in their hands when traversing busy traffick. Consequently guide dog owners should ask for help at busy roads only trusting to their dog’s abilities in the event that no help is available. Obviously the presence of zebra and pelican crossings mean that visually impaired people can cross in safety at such places, however the road I am talking about is neither of these. Having said all that, I am extremely lucky as my guide dog, Trigger is very cautious and has saved me on several occasions from walking out in front of oncoming vehicles which, along with his loveable personality makes us extremely close.

Many drivers, on seeing me and Trigger stop to let us cross. This is as it should be at zebra and pelican crossings. However in certain instances the helpfulness of drivers unintentionally puts Trigger and I at risk. For example, at the side road mentioned above, traffick comes from both left and right. I have often experienced drivers to the right of me stopping and beeping their horns or shouting “it’s safe to go mate”, only to have vehicles continuing to traverse the road from the left. What is extremely helpful in such situations is for a driver to stop his vehicle and if it is safe to do so leave it and assist me in crossing. This has happened several times but on many other occasions drivers have, I am sure scratched their heads in frustration as they wonder why that stupid blind guy with the brindle lab retriever isn’t responding to their helpful advice that it is safe to cross! The answer is, of course that said guy doesn’t particularly feel like decorating the wind screen of an oncoming vehicle as it comes in, at speed from the left! So if you encounter a guide dog owner while driving please don’t shout out of your vehicle that it safe to cross. I know you mean well and I do, genuinely appreciate your kindness, however you may, wholly unintentionally be putting me or other guide dog owners at risk. If it is safe to do so please do stop for a moment and assist me or the other guide dog owner across the road. You will be performing an invaluable service which will be greatly appreciated by me or which ever guide dog owner you assist.

Tonight I can Write The Saddest Lines, By Pablo Nerud

Until yesterday I was unfamiliar with the work of Pablo Nerud. His poem, Tonight I can Write The Saddest Lines is beautiful and poignant. My only criticism (of the reading, not the poem) is the music which accompanies it, which, to my mind acts as a distraction to the reader.

For the reading please go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2zR7brOA3E