Stephen J Kimber's perspectives on life, the universe and pretty much everything else
Finished first full draft of Trafficville- dystopian cyberpunk fiction re gaming, social media and so on; it is 24,600 words, give or take. Probably merde - I'll follow Mr. Hemingway's advice and let it sit in my cyber kitchen drawer for a couple of weeks before I have another look. The final chapter reads: Chapter … Continue reading Trafficville – full draft written; time to let it sit
We are, most of us, unrooted in place and time. (See pp. xxi – xxii of introduction to Nabokov’s Speak Memory.) Our obsession with stuff over substance, with the now over duration, with one-liners & tweets over discourse has seen us come unstuck (just like Billy Pilgrim). “That this darkness is caused merely by the … Continue reading Freedom vs. Rootlessness
Came across this passage in a novel by Donna Leon entitled The jewels of paradise and was struck by it; I fear it accords with an almost universal (and timeless - didn't Plato rail at politicians in his Republic and cry out for the philosopher king) feeling about those who become politicians. Here it is:
Some random thoughts from my Facebook page I'm finding (re the Holympics) the unashamed jingoism & nationalistic prattle, the reporting on tedious trivia, and various rejoicing over conspicuous consumption (the US basketball team ensconced on a luxury liner comes to mind) more than a little irritating. .. whatever happened to sport for sport's sake? Suspect … Continue reading Just a wee bit on the Olympics juggernaut
Interesting (now that I think about it) that websites can live in one's own domain; with all the royal prerogatives that that implies. This may explain my kingly mood in now owning my own domain at http://historynarratives.com/
Economic growth – doesn’t it sound lovely? But is sustained, continual economic growth really possible? Really, the whole to’ing and fro’ing over budgets needed for economic growth and austerity measures and just who is paying for it all has been about this fundamental question. It underpins all sorts of debates about not only Australia’s contentious 2014 … Continue reading Why a steady state economy might be a good thing
I have to confess to reaching for the wallet (at least metaphorically) when I heard how bad the devastation caused by cyclone Pam has been in Vanuatu. And then I paused (mid click on the donate now button), as I’ve done any number of times with other disasters and the cries for help from charity … Continue reading CHARITY: good, bad or just ugly
Ch 2: A Haves and Have Nots World A much greater hunger In 1800 the world’s population was about 1.36 billion. If we are to believe statistical analysis, most people lived, in income terms, relatively similar lives. According to Gapminder statistical analysis (admittedly conjectural, given that data before 1900 is ‘highly uncertain’) the world’s poorest … Continue reading Extract from ‘The beguiling sins of industrial capitalism’
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
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
Versatur Circa Quid!
Short story fiction from around the world
Exploration of poetry and the arts
Musings and books from a grunty overthinker
Empowering suburban dads to master the art of living - from maintaining pristine lawns and home improvement to taking care of family, personal finance, and self-care. Your one-stop resource for a fulfilling suburban lifestyle.
Life is not perfect
a resource for moving poetry
I dream so I write ..
About history and the writing of historical fiction
The Musings of a Writer / Editor in Training
With previous posting of "Our World" on Blogger
Science in focus
Milly Schmidt
Stories and photos from Scotland
Science for sustainability
Fantasy Author
VOICE OF GOD (a sci-fi mystery)
Passionate about communicating the issues that affect our minds, bodies and planet
Inkstained fingers 