20 Oct

Posted at 20:03h in Stories

I was touring Europe and found that too many people held up smartphones and cameras in front of their eyes that not only blocked our view of Italy and Greece’s wondrous sites, but also got me thinking about the state technology and the rabid photo-seeking habits we all have. For instance, why don’t people want to see things with their eyes? So, my wild imagination ran amuck and out of it came a story called Datapocalypse. Datapocalypse?! What’s this guy’s beef with technology? You might ask. Well, nothing really. So long as it doesn’t enslave those it purports to help or provide conveniences to. Let me explain… Like any good idea, new technology needs to have safeguards and controls—even some regulations (sorry libertarians!)—to ensure it doesn’t have a runaway effect that diverts from its benefits and leads to unintended consequences (or maybe intended consequences if you’re a conspiracy theory buff). It reminds me of a mushroom patch growing fervently in front of eager mushroom pickers’ eyes, except the mushrooms are poisonous and nobody knows it yet. Okay, maybe that’s a little melodramatic but I aim to entertain as well as get a point across. This is kind of the theme behind Datapocalypse, not...

15 Sep

Posted at 08:54h in Stories

I've put a lot of thought into what it means to take pictures of things. Sometimes photographs are artistic, other times they're hackneyed; most are probably somewhere in between. Pictures' significance are in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. Whatever it is, I hope it's for art's sake! Otherwise everything is logical, and logical can result in, well, boring. That's right, I said that. Logic is static but art takes the normal and creates the abnormal. Art takes the paradigms conditioned in society's collective mind and brings it to the brink of shift. Art lets us see through the every day menial nature of things and adds flare and vitality to normality. I've heard about art therapy, and wonder if it's for pre-ordained artists, or newbie artists, or both. There is a valid point to it, though. It reminds me of a quote from the great dark poet, Leonard Cohen, who said: “...

15 Aug

Posted at 08:54h in Stories

Picking up from a recent post by Ghost Emoji , he's absolutely right! From my follow up internet travails, it looks like this phrase was coined by James Murphy of a rock band called LCD Soundsystem. Although I've never heard their music before, this statement rings true to my ears. I have heard Ghost Emoji's music, by the way, and it rocks! Think about it, American colonists complained of British rule and from that created a confederation and a constitution. Punk rockers constantly complain about oppression, and a host of other legitimate concerns, and they create loud music with in-your-face messages. People complain all the time about environmental destruction and out of that movements are created so we can learn to live more harmoniously with nature. That was how the idea behind Datapocalypse was formed. Too many people taking selfies and pictures of things they may get more immediate value out of by seeing through their eyes. I don't mean just seeing, but comprehending and appreciating too. If I travel to Rome to the see the Trevi fountain, it would be nice to not have to sift through all the raised smartphones and cameras with people's faces lined up behind them and...

30 Jun

Posted at 06:56h in Stories

If you've read this far, then I feel lucky. Welcome to my first Datapocalypse post featuring some exciting content from the novel. One of the things I value most from readers of Datapocalypse is the reviews! I would love to hear what you think about the story. Was it exciting? Did it make you think? Laugh? Do you relate to the characters? How can buildings disappear out of thin air? Is the future really so bleak? Cherry-picked Datapocalypse quote: "Kicis, your poetry is lovely, but if I showed it to my friends, they'd never guess such love came from you with your knack for secret plots and doomsday predictions," she said. "My tone is harsh but my heart is warm," was all Kicis added in response. "You're saying I love like we're going to live forever ." I never imagined writing a story so "out there" yet whimsical and laden with dark humour. But after being inundated with selfie-addicts over the past few years, I just couldn't help myself. Give it read and let me know what you think. Peace, love, Datapocalypse! ...