FF – The March of Time

October 9, 2019 55 comments

Here’s my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Ted Strutz.

Well, less a story, more a journey through time itself!

Copyright Ted Strutz

 

1950: Oh, I say Ethel, isn’t it wonderful, the modern world today, just look at these wonderful photographs. Just think, our memories somehow inscribed on paper…

2050: What the hell’s all this? How did those 1950s people get their photos off their phones and onto this, what’s it called again? Paypur? Not sure how I’d get all mine on there. Maybe if I deleted all the photos of my lunch…

2150: Hang on, I’ll get you those photos in a sec, my brain comm’s lost connection to the database…

2250: Meep… system error… photo album corrupted… reboot brain immediately… meep…

 

Sharing My World 30-09-2019

October 6, 2019 36 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

If confronted with a violent crime against a single individual in progress (severe beating, rape, assault) do you try to do something about it (phone authorities or confront the criminal, stop the crime) or do you figure it’s none of your business and walk or drive on by? Worse (to me) would you record the crime for social media use without doing anything else?
I would leap into action, using my secret ninja skills to incapacitate the attacker and render them helpless, give an enigmatic smile to the victim and disappear into the night, the unknown warrior, seeking neither reward nor recognition, fighting only for truth and justice.

In reality… no-one really knows how they’ll react in such a situation. I’m not a fighter so hopefully I’d hide round a corner, call the police and then try to video it on my phone for evidence for the police. Maybe I would yell out to try to scare the attacker away, but I’d probably be too scared.

I liked my first answer better.

If someone asked to be your apprentice and learn all that you know, what would you teach them?
First I would need to assess that person’s suitability. Are they up to the task? Do they have what it takes? If I decide to take them on, I would teach them all about the dark side of the Force.

I need to find someone soon. It’s very hard to rule the galaxy with an iron fist on your own.

First think of a product. Now, what would be the absolute worst brand name for one of those products?
How about a real product? KIA cars. “Killed In Action.” Not something I want written on my car.

I would like to propose “Chocopoo”. It’s a chocolate bar shaped like a poo. It’s designed to gross people out. Plus, it’s tasty and delicious!

What ridiculous and untrue, yet slightly plausible, theories can you come up with for the cause of common ailments like headaches or cavities?
All that sort of stuff is caused by the low-level control wave used by The Few – the secret council which rules the world from the shadows. Though largely undetectable, it can cause minor ailments in a few susceptible individuals. And occasionally make their brains explode. But that’s quite rare.

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – And They are Us

October 2, 2019 72 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Dale Rogerson.

Click on the froggy for other stories and to add your own.

Copyright Dale Rogerson

 

“Hey, they’ve switched on the floodlights! This is going straight on Twitter!”

“Um, this park doesn’t have any… argh!”

The mini-nuke had exploded high up in the atmosphere, producing a blinding light but very little damage. The resulting electromagnetic wave, however, fried every piece of electronics in the country.

People stood motionless, shocked, inner thoughts gone, minds disabled, spittle dribbling from slack mouths over blank screens.

Teens stood wide-eyed, unable to book an Uber, their homes an unreachable half mile away.

Unable to function. Brains frozen. Screens dead. Unplugged.

The zombie apocalypse has begun AND THEY ARE US.

 

Sharing My World 23-09-2019

September 29, 2019 19 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

When was the last time you face palmed?
I’m not sure I ever have. Do real people actually do that? I assumed it was an over-dramatic gesture for the theatre and suchlike. I do the occasional eye roll though.

When is censorship warranted? Ever?
Uh-oh, this sounds like one of those potentially contentious issues mentioned last week that I said I’d never discuss. But I’ll give it a go.

Yes, definitely. Or not. Never censor. Maybe. Yes in some circumstances, or never at all. YesNo.

I hope that’s cleared it up for you.

If there were commandments for the modern day world, what should (could, would) some of them be? Get creative!
And I say to thee, yea verily, thou shalt not… oh, who am I kidding, no-one’s going to read these in this modern hustle-bustle world. Maybe I’ll make a fun app and display one of my new commandments every so often. In between levels or something.

Thou shalt not continue playing this app, and instead shalt thee get out in ye sunshine.

What did you Google last?
How to get the “Black Hand Prototype Weaponised Wingsuit” in Just Cause 4. I’ve destroyed nearly everything in Just Cause 3 now so it will soon be time to start 4 🙂

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – Live or Die?

September 25, 2019 72 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by Na’ama Yehuda.

Ah, there’s a big queue and it’s raining. How very British 🙂

To read the other stories, click on the froggy.

Copyright Na’ama Yehuda

 

Queuing for days. Life or death lottery.

Red ticket? Fiery death. Green ticket? A seat on the Ark Ship.

Uproar! All the seats filled by fat cats, politicians, dictators. Ordinary people? Doomed to die when the asteroid hits.

The Ark Ship leaves for its new home. The people of the world prepare.

News flash! The Ark Ship’s off course! Headed for the sun! Very sad. Everyone dead. And incidentally, completely unrelated, that asteroid? Not going to hit Earth after all.

Conspiracy? Hush. Bite your tongue and get on with your life. A fresh start! Don’t screw it up.

 

 

Sharing My World 16-09-2019

September 22, 2019 21 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World. This week we have another coolio new logo. Check this out!

Are we losing the art of listening in comparison to simply hearing?
Yep. It’s really embarrassing when someone suddenly stops talking and waits for you to answer and you have no idea what they said 😦

How often do you openly discuss with friends or here in WP with your readership topics that make you feel uncomfortable or may be taboo or stigma laden?
Pretty much never.

Do you think that these discussions should be freely discussed and written about more?
Yes. But not by me 🙂

Did you have a nickname as a child and if so, what was [or what is it now]?
Ah, this old chestnut again. Here’s the picture which sparked it all, and click here for the SYW from last April with the explanation.

 

Me and Roland

I’m on the right (1985), taken in Germany.
Photo copyright BBC I would assume.

Why is there still ‘stuff’ we simply just don’t understand despite our progressive world?
Why? We’re not so advanced that we could possibly understand everything about everything. The more we know, the more we realise we don’t know. So we’d have been better off not knowing anything at all, then we’d be of the belief that we knew everything.

Or something.

Would you rather double your height or lose half your weight?
Lose half my weight. Then I could eat pizza, chips, ice cream and chocolate for weeks until i regained a healthy weight. Lovely!

What is your most essential kitchen tool?
My cooker. Without that, there would be no pizza!

Yum

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – Safety First!

September 18, 2019 58 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by J Hardy Carroll.

Copyright J Hardy Carroll

 

“Ha ha you have tied my utensils to the ceiling what a jape.”

“Yes ha ha now you cannot cook.”

“But… (line!)

(But I must cook…)

“But I must cook I shall retrieve my utensils.”

“No you must not you may be hurt.”

“Oh nonsense I will just use this ladder help I am falling.”

“Oh no he is dead how tragic what have I done what have I done.”

(Cut!)

 

We hope you enjoyed our safety video. Don’t muck about in the kitchen! It’s a dangerous place!

 

(Actors sought for our next video, “Danger in the Bedroom!” Preferably with talent this time.)

 

Sharing My World 09-09-2019

September 15, 2019 21 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

What’s the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery or came into a huge fortune?
I’d buy myself a nice island as a retreat, for the pursuit of self-awareness and introspection. It would just be me, my mansion, my private security army and my lethal response security system. We can’t have local yokels turning up in their crappy little boats and walking on my private beach, now, can we?

Which decade do you think had the best sense of style?
None of them. They’ve all been rubbish. In no decade has it been acceptable to walk around in your pyjamas. Except possibly in 70s discos.

Would you rather be half your height or double your weight?
Neither would be much fun. I suppose half my height, as double my weight would lead to imminent death. Although… weight can be lost but you can’t add height. So on the other hand, double my weight would be temporary.

If you wanted to get away from everyone totally, where would you hide?
My aforementioned private island, as any interlopers would be quickly dispatched by the aforementioned private security army or aforementioned lethal response security system.

Categories: About draliman Tags:

FF – Code Breaker

September 11, 2019 66 comments

Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by C.E. Ayr.

I had a bit of trouble coming up with a story this week. Click on the froggy for all the other stories!

Copyright C.E. Ayr

 

The special lenses easily picked out the relevant letters encoded into the text. Writing them down, Jerry smiled. Karl Marx’s tomb in Highgate Cemetery. Too easy. Jerry was one of the best.

He arrived at Highgate after dark. Placing the package on the gravestone, he watched from the bushes as it was… stolen by a drunken hobo! Chasing down the thief, snapping his neck and replacing the package cost ten vital minutes, but finally it was collected, and payment left.

Job done.

Some days he really regretted taking a job at DeliverMyFoodInSecretBecauseTheWifePutMeOnADietAndShellKillMe.com.

 

Sharing My World 02-09-2019

September 8, 2019 27 comments

Here is my post for Melanie’s Share Your World.

When you’re 90 years old, what do you suppose will matter most to you?
Watching “Homes Under the Hammer” at the retirement village while keeping my bodily functions under control. I hope there’s raspberry jelly for pudding today! I can’t handle anything that requires chewing.

What’s the best way to spend a rainy afternoon?
Napping, reading, watching TV and playing PS4. It doesn’t have to be rainy!

What is one thing you don’t understand about yourself?
I understand myself perfectly. I know myself like the back of my hand… aargh, what the hell’s that on the back of my hand? How long’s that been there?

When was the last time you tried something to look ‘cool’ (hip), but it ended in utter embarrassment? Details?
I don’t have to try to look cool, it’s just something that comes naturally 🙂

There was this one time when I was walking along the top of a wall and decided to jump dynamically off the end. I leaned too far forward during the jump and went head over heels. I did, however, manage to twist in the air so I didn’t land on any of my expensive electronics. I landed on my face instead so that was a lucky escape.

Categories: About draliman Tags: