Vera Mont

As it happens: like a witness statement. Or internal dialogue. Of course, if you don't like that, there is another option in the same situation: watch...

There's a story right there. A whole movie, in fact.

Innit obvious? In a horizontal society - where everyone has much the same wealth, political influence, opportunities, support and access to the law - ...

Like other human conditions, there is no absolute freedom - only relative freedoms from various possible kinds of bondage, confinement, restraint, con...

I should have guessed. However, ordinary people, when they accept a job, have defined duties and responsibilities, usually a comprehensive job descrip...

Many do. Technically, they're candy bars, but if manufacturers put a thin layer of chocolate on a cookie, nut, toffee or nougat bar, it can pass in th...

It got a lot of finger-pointers beaten, jailed and killed. History will rotate its big, crushing wheel when it's ready.

Okay. I will endeavour to abide by unspecified expectations and do whatever needs to be done." Is that the agreement you sign when you accept a new jo...

I didn't need to know that.

They do, though. The phrase is applied in specific contexts, such as "above and beyond the call of duty", which means that the soldier or police offic...

I think it's rather more subtle than that. What I like least about American popular sweets is that they put in too much salt and then too much extra s...

It has its ups and downs. Feeding one of yous can be a botheration, especially if vegetarian and salt-conscious. Meanwhile, I have a different set of ...

Waterbridge Belgian, Lindt dark classic, Ambrosia mint, Aero bar, Coffee Crisp

As long as societies enrich and privilege some segments at the expense of others, there will be discontent, jealousy and resentment. These mental stat...

So does he. And then, when the strips are very bad (by his exacting standards) he suddenly goes on an extreme diet, subsisting on boiled eggs and cabb...

I'm married to a well controlled type 2 of 78, and he can get a little chocolate into his diet, as a trade-off for things like rice and real sugar. Yo...

It's a snake-eating exercise: would have to simulate a world that physically exists; a hologram is digital representation of a physical object. All th...

Possibly. I also could see no reason for making it in the first place. What did you want an indifferent self-created god for?

Ain't we all? The cultural soil is all the better for us setting it out in print.

I used to love it as a kid. Plus, it's great fun to make. https://lilluna.com/sponge-candy/

When I didn't know where the story was supposed to go, I've tried Papa Hemingway's advice: “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the t...

I thought I had that last year. But the damn thing got finished, so now I have to work on a much more difficult sequel.

this one seems entirely superfluous, since it's either a tenet of unsupported faith or an infinite regression, neither of which promotes understanding...

T'was by way of a jest, intending no offense.

Why bother with that hypothesis? What does it clarify or explain?

So, that's a simulation. What's the original template?

Bec ause some of them are overprivileged macho shitheads?

I feel you, bro!

Not really. OTOH, the same society that requires that a woman carry a foetus to term - even if it was got by rape, coercion or deceit, even if it's de...

Narrow might or might not be on target; wide would be far too general. In any case, it was a facetious appraisal, not an in-depth analysis. I could ta...

Only, a lot of would-be writers don't know it's crap. They're hurt, offended and sometimes abusive if you even try to suggest improvement.

Yes. It's the divine sock-puppet who is expected to do the actual controlling on the petitioners' behalf. Therefore, if the prayer is answered, you gi...

The religious impulse may be directed at other than a named deity: it can take the form of hero-worship, obsessive love or patriotism. But I've often ...

That's because you are one of those writers who want to produce something worthwhile. It's easy if you don't care what. I was a pretty good editor, un...

That's because, as of 2018 writers outnumber readers. Okay, maybe it's an exaggeration. But with the advancements in word-processing, writing requires...

I guess - we're not in or from the US. They make so many underprivileged, unemployable kids, and so many movies glorifying armed violence, it's easy e...

Yes! I know you've all got stories just waiting to burst forth into the world.

Sure, and the people "interpreting" His will. But unlike conquest: you are persuaded to place yourself under their rule: you can't fight back. In reli...

I might, subconsciously - who knows? Except I've never sought a meaning or purpose for my life, and have always believed that life is too astounding a...

I know. Geez! Because, traditionally, a soldier asks not why; his is just to do or die. Carry on regardless. On neither of which does metaphysics deli...

Nor did it aspire to. And those qualities also don't inspire wrathful gods, vengeful systems of justice or wars of ideology. I'm not sure I could clas...

Yes, indeed! And I endorse them wholeheartedly - except for that unfortunate bit about soldiery.

Note: I also didn't say 'exclusively' - but if you can prove that organized religions and metaphysics are not predominantly masculine in origin, I'll ...

"If only" - I didn't say it worked, only that control is the aim.

I don't see how. Crocodiles have survived far longer without ever asking it - afawk... but then, how much do we humans know about crocodile philosophy...

A more interesting question might be: Why do you need to look for a meaning?

What's self-image to do with guerilla tactics? Or subjects suitable for discussion?

Seems to me the only reason to regret a true and accurate comment is to appease public opinion. Why should one's own nation's bad decisions be celebra...

Come on, Procrastinators Anonymous! Time grows short.

Without question! They romanticize courage, ingenuity, physical prowess, overcoming adversity, survival against all odds, victory in single combat and...