I’d Like to Know: Why? #5 Cyclists

This is the fifth in an occasional series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the posts. Enjoy! Why Don’t Cyclists Use Bells Anymore? Okay, this is trivial. But what’s the …

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I’d Like to Know: Why? #4 Leaders

This is the fourth in an occasional series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the posts. Enjoy! Why Do We Keep Appointing Leaders? We’re living in pretty tumultuous times, aren’t …

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I’d Like to Know: Why? #3 Religion

This is the third in an occasional series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love for you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the post. Enjoy! Why Are We Required to Respect Religion? This question has been at …

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I’d Like to Know: Why? #2 Dying

This is the second in an occasional series of posts asking sometimes awkward questions. Some topics are trivial, some serious, and others vital. I’d love for you to join in any ensuing debate using the comments at the foot of the post. Enjoy! Why Do They Keep Terminal Sufferers Alive? I’ve been involved with the …

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I’d Like to Know: Why? #1

For some time, I’ve been tempted to run a series of questions here. I’ve serious issues I’d love to open for debate, silly matters that might cause amusement, trivial irritations that cause me grief, and fairly vital matters that demand answers. I’m opening the series with a minor peeve. It might result in some relief …

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Liking is Lovely, but Sharing is Caring.

All of us who blog, or use a website to inform potential readers about our books, are aware of the struggle for exposure, the difficulty of getting our names out there. We indulge in online activity to add value to the lives of others (at least, I hope we do: those interested only in self-promotion …

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Returning to the Digital Drama

On 20th September, I wrote a short piece titled ‘Denying Digital Demands’. This is the follow-up. If possible, once a year, I attempt a break from the demands of online life. Usually, it coincides with a holiday away from home. Breaking free from both the everyday and the unending demands of constant connection can refresh …

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What’s it Like to Run the Great North Run?

I'm reminded by this morning's BBC1 TV showing, that a year ago I ran the Great North Run. It struck me that others may be wondering what that's like for the ordinary person. I wrote an account after the race, and you can find that by following this link. I'm resurrecting this post for a couple …

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The Democracy Delusion, UK.

From time to time, some topic fires me with enough passion to express a view. However, this website is really about readers and writers, so I've joined a website more appropriate for such outpourings. If you click on this link, it will take you to my first post on that website. It's a longish piece …

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In, Out; What’s It All About?

This post is for UK and EU readers, so my apologies to the rest of the world. On 23rd June we’ll make a decision that will affect all our lives for a very long time. Can we leave it to those darling sociopaths that style themselves politicians? No, I agree; we most certainly can’t. But …

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Is it Time to Re-evaluate our Attitude to Religious Freedoms?

From time to time, I feel compelled to express an opinion about some matter or other. As a writer, with my own blog, I consider this the most appropriate place for such things. Please join the discussion. And, if you’re easily offended, please avoid these topics. # It has happened again: a terrorist attack on …

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Question For the Week: Do Cheap and Free Books Devalue Books?

I was inspired to ask this by a short blog post I came across on ANewDomain, via Book2Book, a daily email from BookTrade. It set me to wondering whether we, as writers, are our own worst enemies. And it was reinforced by another short piece I read a little while ago at Digital Book World …

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Technophobe, Technophile, or Technosceptic?

How do you see today's technology? As a barrier to your progress, a brilliant tool to be manipulated at will, or simply another fashion to be treated with scorn? Take email with its multiple platforms and utter ubiquity. Can't escape it, can you? And now it's embedded into the world of mobile phones, it's probable …

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