Finding Dan O’Brien

Have just discovered (via the strangest of pathways - researching falconry in medieval Europe) a writer, ecologist, lecturer and thinker named Dan O'Brien. Check out his material at: http://wildideabuffalo.com/about-us/dans-writings/

POPULAR CULTURE: Capital opera (the story)

The story below is to feature in my upcoming book: HiStory 2 (stories for History and English for Years 9 - 10). The camera as all-seeing City location - studio: bird’s eye view. Wide shot. A line of people stretches from the entrance around the block. Silence, other than the wind. And then I lower … Continue reading POPULAR CULTURE: Capital opera (the story) →

Carrying fire

It's bitterly cold and we are in trouble. Snow falls from the sky; not hard, it's soft and almost floating. It should be lovely and when we had our fire it was good to sit in the cave and watch it. Then we had terrible luck. Tree, who carried the coals near the end of … Continue reading Carrying fire →

Kill Your Darlings… metaphorically, anyway

I've recently discovered a literary journal called 'Kill Your Darlings'; I presume the title is derived from William Faulkner's notion that 'in writing, one must kill one's darlings...' or words to that effect. The fiction looks interesting and the articles provocative. Try this one: http://www.killyourdarlingsjournal.com/?post_type=article&p=10190

Hello, goodbye

A brief anecdote about a song... and soon to be published on stereostories@gmx.com There I was, gaga with all my recent speechlessness, crouched down with Geraldine and Natty seated on the gutter. She scuffed out her cigarette against the gutter and looked at me after a while and said, 'How're you, Grif'?' 'Okay,' I said. 'How … Continue reading Hello, goodbye →

Films featuring cartoon characters and perceptions regarding terrorism

Watching Iron Man 3 last night prompted these idle meanderings re the nature of the psychology of terrorism. Iron Man 3, by the way, seems the best of the Iron Man films... so far. I say so far because I suspect that, as the credits at the end said, Tony Stark will be back. Stark desire for money, stark desire to … Continue reading Films featuring cartoon characters and perceptions regarding terrorism →

Ch 5: Human nature — The hierarchy of needs

A bit from the chapter I'm writing: Capitalism plays to what is most insidious in human ‘nature’: competitiveness, acquisitiveness, instant gratification, tribalism. It’s fundamental mandates, the profit motive; economies of scale; the price mechanism; inelasticity of demand… allow this game. The game derives from its character. Capitalism is not programmed for altruism. It is, and … Continue reading Ch 5: Human nature — The hierarchy of needs →

A free story (for Year 7) from my History Short Story Book

ANCIENT GREECE: The Other Runner (The story) A little cloud of dust and a hubbub, boys calling to each other, the unmistakeable sounds of a school yard brawl. Diemeter wandered across, not so fast that the boys would notice him and call it off… And thus, a slight figure amongst older boys he’d hoped would … Continue reading A free story (for Year 7) from my History Short Story Book →

Must be getting old

I've taken to re-reading old loved titles, boys' own yarns such as H. Rider Haggard's Quartermaine novels and others, such as Stuart Cloete's Rags of Glory. Some I am rediscovering my affection for; others not so much. Here is my review of: The H. Rider Haggard Omnibus: 50 Novels and Short Stories (Halcyon Classics) (Kindle Edition) Despite … Continue reading Must be getting old →