It all starts with an idea…
(c) K Wicks
Notes and ideas
writing
Cities in the Sky
It turns out, there have been many instances of cities in the sky, or fata morgana as they have been named. I only knew on one in China a few years back, but seems there have been others. Charles Fort collected a number of tales as below and detailed in his book New Lands.
In October of 1796 a mirage of a walled town had been seen distinctly for half an hour at Yougal in Ireland. Again upon March 9th 1797 in Yougal had been seen a mirage of a walled town.
In June of 1801 a mirage of an unknown city, It was seen for more than an hour. A representation of mansions surrounded by shrubbery, with forests behind.
October 10th 1881 that at Rugenwalde, Pomerania now Poland and Germany the mirage of a village had been seen in the sky, Snow covered roofs from which hung icicles.
On June 29th 1882 over lake Orsa in Sweden, representations of steam ships had been seen in the sky, and an island covered with vegetation.
March 12th 1890 at 4pm in the sky of Ashland, Ohio was seen a representation of a large unknown city.
Early in June 1897 in the Yukon in Alaska, A city had been seen in the sky, The description of this city is that it looked like some immense city from the ancient past.
On Feb 17th 1901 it is said Indians of Alaska had told of the occasional appearance of city, appearing suspended in the sky, description by visitors to this area, we could see plainly houses, well defined streets, here and there rose tall spires over huge buildings, which appeared to be ancient mosques and cathedrals. More like an ancient European city.
August 2nd 1908 at Ballyconneely on the coast of Ireland, was seen a phantom city, of different sized houses, in different styles of architecture, visible for over 3 hours.
And in 2015 there was a sighting and video footage in China of one.
Hard to know for sure what is going on up there, but interesting none-the-less.
(c) K Wicks
Short Stories
I have seven various short stories available to read for free, I thought it might be nice to link them all in one post so if you find yourself with a bit of time to fill and fancy a creepy read, see below.
Full book links available as well if you decide you may want to read more, although most of them are now shared here for free 🙂
There is also a newer short story available, which isn’t in a collection yet but you can also read for free here – In the Mountain
(c) MKW Publishing
Sim City
There is a growing consensus that the simulation hypothesis may not be as far-fetched as once some may have thought. The way being paved for this through various films and ideas and as we gather more information about the apparent world around us and the construct upon which we base our ‘reality’. So, in my usual way, I shall use a list of films to illustrate how reality can and is determined by what’s around you. And by changing or simulating a different environment, can thereby change your reality and perceptions towards it.
The Matrix – so far this film is kind of heralded as the top spot for simulation theory played out in visual terms. It’s easy to understand, requires very little thought and appears to cover all bases. It’s too slick but a good starting point to get familiar with the idea.
Dark City – for me this film covers all bases and is neatly complex, it’s got psychological, physical, mental, metaphysical aspects and more.
Logans Run – This is a strange film, and has all sorts of overtones and undertones. But their reality is dictated and controlled and is no longer questioned.
Ready player one – an entertaining and fun look at the idea of a metaverse where it caters to your every want. Unless your want is to be able to fit in to normal life. It’s about finding out who you are by thinking you need to be someone else. Done in the classic Spielberg 80’s style, which I can’t fault.
Free guy – a recent film and goes even further into the computer programs running in the simulation touched upon in matrix. The replication of agent Smith, the fear of deletion by others. But this takes it further and goes with AI becoming sentient. An awareness of the system and programming develops leading to an evolution of thought. It’s a fun film though too and I recommend it. Easy viewing with lots of thinking material.
The Truman Show – a simulation of reality to convince one person it is. Meant to be portrayed as a reality TV show, but it’s a pretend sheltered fabricated existence. Until the party subject to the manipulation and lies snaps and realises all is not what it seems.
Star Trek – Next Generation – Many episodes involving the holodeck and varying degrees of simulated reality, but episode 138 of the series is very interesting.
Updated: realised I forgot two that should be in this list. Tron and lawnmower man. Both of those where people become part of the program.
Also, popular now as well as ‘reality tv’ are games simulating things. The Sims being aptly named and encourages people to build their ideal setting and characters. Tying into the metaverse possibly as an end game, who knows.
So, where does the simulation end and reality begin? Or once you believe the simulation is real, does that make it real? Are they just perceptions or absolutes? That will remain to be seen.
(c) K Wicks
Face Of A Clown, In Story Town
You may have guessed what the overall theme of this is by the title, if not, you will. Clowns have never sat well with me, and is the case for many I have learnt along the way. There may be various reasons for this, as the list of references below may reveal. But there is a crossover for me, into pantomime dames and other garish forms of ‘entertainment’ which use an overly exaggerated version of something, often in a stereotypical way, for you know, entertainment. But I have never found the representation of a ‘woman’ in these situations to ever be appealing or even funny. I cringe at panto stuff, but understand because of times past that apparently men were cast in the female roles for those things because women weren’t allowed on stage. Don’t get me wrong, when done correctly, men in drag or as dames can be hilarious and very on point. Some of my favourites being Monty Python, Kenny Everett and Lily Savage. So I decided it must be something else I am not enjoying about it, something not as obvious and which wasn’t funny.
The recent story time debacle going on has made me think about it and what it is that I personally don’t like or find comfortable about it, to revisit the theme as it seems remarkably similar in the way it is being presented. Just a bit of fun for kids. Firstly, I personally see no reason why you would need to dress up for story time, unless the outfit was appropriate to the story – i.e., Princess story = princess dress, dragon story, dragon outfit, relative to the activity and wouldn’t it be more fun to have the children also engage in dress up, after all, they enjoy it the most don’t they? Children can be very easily distracted and if they have something visual to look at kind of demanding their attention, then how much of the story is really going in anyway? But recently as the stories are being reported more and people protest to them taking place, I can’t help thinking the outfits and make-up of these ‘performers’ are really quite terrifying. I have been watching horror movies since I was a child, I know disturbing. Rather demonic and overwhelming on the senses in my opinion, and to a child who may take that imagery home with them, mull it over and give it lots of thought without any real context or understanding is a potential concern. To me anyway. Maybe not so much to others.
The reason I have an issue with garish presentation specifically being aimed at cashing in on children’s love of bright, sparkly, shiny colourful things, is because it’s been used before for nefarious purposes.
John Wayne Gacey – He was a serial killer in the 70’s who killed lots of young men. And one of his side hobbies was being part of a clown club, which gained him the name killer clown, but he didn’t kill as a clown. Interesting though is what he had said about why he enjoyed being a clown “acting as a clown allowed him to regress into childhood”. That is why it’s on this list.
IT – We should all know this clown Pennywise, either the original (to which I refer), or the remake, or the book. An awful and very scary depiction of a clown in full demonic mode. Enticing a child with a red balloon. Honestly, I thought about little Georgie for a long time after that.
McDonalds – Yes, the fast-food chain. Who’s main advertising tool was a clown, weird really for food. And food that has turned out to not be the healthiest, a slight leap from serial killers to bad nutrition, but neither are in the future interests of the child. Gratification and profit seem to be heading of the wheels of these machines.
Child catcher (chitty chitty bank bang) – Need I say more? Possibly not, but I will. Lollipops and music, to lure the children into the cage.
Hansel & Gretel – a gingerbread house and sweets to lure them in.
Pied Piper of Hamlin – music and dance to get the children to follow and be led to their abduction.
The last two may be Fairy Tales, but I believe there is always a thread of truth running through them too, as with movies and stories that remain with us. All of these things highlight a child’s tendency (and some adults too), to have their attention taken with something that seems bright and bouncy, but without knowing what is really going on. I don’t fully understand the need to expose school age children from nursery to secondary school to drag acts. I have read an account of a private school in the states that had a drag act sprung on them in church service. Heels and sequins parading up and down the aisle, for what purpose I cannot imagine. Why is it that we have a niche part of the adult entertainment industry suddenly being inserted into educational environments, religion and everyday society and events? It’s baffling to me.
What is also baffling, is how women have been slagged off and vilified for years for wearing heavy makeup, and what some consider to be inappropriate clothing but now it’s men doing it, that’s fine and we just clap and say well done. I really don’t get it. She’s a slapper or a prostitute for wearing that, but he’s a hero. Am I the only one thinking WTAF is going on here, are we actually in the Twilight Zone? Maybe it is just me that sees the overdoing of the outfits and makeup as a cover for something, whether they are hiding from themselves or something darker, that remains to be seen, but having to outwardly express yourself in such a garish manner, means you are compensating for something in my view. Why aren’t you comfortable as you? Why the extra razzle and dazzle? I just see painted faces and outfits pretending to be something, rather than it being an expression of self. I think I must be missing their whole point. How can you ever be you, if you are trying to be something or someone else?
(c) K Wicks
Pod Life
A new way of breeding seems to be on the cards in the strange ideals of the rather disturbing international organisations.
You won’t have to procreate the old fashion way, indeed not. You can ‘spawn’ in an entirely detached way in the future apparently in their vision. Growing your offspring in a pod, in your living room no less. With monitors and a clear covering so you can watch it gestate. Maybe this is what the Tamagotchi things were really all about, prepping kids for a future where you will be inclined to ‘care’ for a virtual creation.
They appear to be doing a good job of desensitising people towards other people, animals, reality and so forth. Changing terms, definitions, meanings. Trying to go for things like birthing person, taking away the word mother and female associated words for things. I believe it’s to facilitate a detachment from being normal and doing normal natural things. The system appears to want to insert themselves in every person detail of your lives. But if they can get people before they are born, and manipulate the components, fully monitor the process and adjust as necessary, then you stand more chance of developing what they may consider a more appealing society.
Virtual babies maybe for some people, while they ‘train’ you to do it their way. All monitored of course, it will be remote and studied. You will be studied. The world around us is one big maze now, and we are the rats. They are building new puzzles, obstructions and incentives as we speak, constantly adapting as we do. But they really don’t seem to want us breeding like rats now do they? If you haven’t watched the films Logans Run and Dark City you should. And if you haven’t read Brave New World, you should. There is much to understand…
(c) K Wicks
A Raw Deal
Kids are getting a real raw deal at the moment. It’s relentless. The most recent two things, firstly, in Wales they are looking to ban children under 16 from buying tea and coffee. Apparently because of obesity and sugar intake, but completely not mentioning the energy drinks laden with chemicals and sugar they have been pushing and encouraging for years. The second is about a secondary school somewhere in the UK deciding that for summer, boys can wear skirts if they don’t want to wear trousers, to be more inclusive. No shorts allowed. I’m outraged on their behalf as I hated not being allowed to wear trousers at school, we had to wear tights in the winter if our legs got cold, end of. And this seems similar, if you are too hot, wear a skirt, end of. But what are they really doing it for? Surely if it was about being inclusive, you would have choice for all. Trousers, skirts or shorts, for all. Is it just to make waves? Or do they really just want children to feel weird, and pressured, and restricted by bizarre rules and regulations? It says the parents are not happy about it, but I would like to know what the kids think.
They seem to have been dealt a weird blow over the last few years, and it shows no signs of letting up or normalising anytime soon. Their future has been impaired beyond belief from my view, not only have they had to contend with constantly changing rules and regulations around their homelife, school life and socialising, but they are being conditioned to know it can be disrupted at any time thereafter. And we see how the powers that be seem awfully focused on getting children to partake in the experimental jab doing the rounds, bribing them through offers of ice-cream, cinema tickets, calling them ‘superheroes’ on posters, all very telling and obvious. Or not, because not all do see it. They still think the system is there to help. But to the rest of us it appears they are being groomed. That is another word that will pop up later in the article, and with good reason.
It seems to be a new world, and it sure isn’t a brave one. It’s one where some adults seem quite obsessed with exposing children to adult themes and concepts, without them having the experience or emotional maturity to understand them. Children can be very impressionable, and how they interpret things is not like an adult would at all, as well it also depending on what age they are being exposed. What may affect someone profoundly at one age, could have just passed them by if only a few years later. It helps to mould, shape and influence them. It strikes me as easier to manipulate people if they are worried and confused, either by what or who they are, leads to uncertainty and insecurity. And one that requires an authorative body to ‘help’ to solve that uncertainty and issues around it, so we are led to believe. But what if that authorative body had an ulterior motive, and not your best interests at heart? They don’t want to see you happy and adjusted to life, because then they wouldn’t be needed. At all. If we understood we are capable of looking after ourselves and each other, the ‘ruling elite’ would be surplus to requirement. And they know it.
Grooming. Here is where I will revisit that word, it should hold meaning in the UK (and far beyond I’m sure) it has been an issue in this country for decades and only a few people have tried to sound the alarm on it for a while. The media have finally and very unwillingly picked up the story, of thousands of children across the country in various towns, mainly female we are told, being coerced and abused on a shocking scale. But what is even more shocking, is how the authorities have completely turned a blind eye. ALL of them. Social services, media, police, councils, churches, politicians, teachers, business owners to name but a few. Why? Because they don’t want to be seen as racist apparently or inflame local tensions. Because if they were talking about the problem, it would highlight very clearly it is a cultural one, that predominately it is men of Pakistani origin or background. One can only assume that a number of people in authority were also involved as it appeared to suit their purpose very much to keep it all ticking over. I’m in my 40’s now, but knew as a teenager you didn’t want to get too friendly with the blokes that ran the local Indian restaurant. They encouraged young people to stay after hours, offering drinks and smokes. A ‘friendly’ place to hang out when the doors are locked. Although I was 18 at the time, as was my friend I was with, it didn’t feel right and I didn’t want to stay, so we left and I didn’t go back. And it may have been nothing at the time, and not what I thought, but I didn’t want to risk it. I’ve known for a long time that the ruling establishment is not there to help, protect or save us, but they want you to think they are. Now it has become more obvious than ever that their intentions are not entirely admirable, and if anything, are really quite sinister towards all of us, adults and children alike.
I’m not sure what kind of education young people would do well to learn these days, but I’m giving it thought. They are changing the goalposts of life very quickly and where one would normally be able to think years ahead (or even months), it has been hampered. But what once was no longer is, and what is will no longer be. A new time is coming…
(c) K Wicks
They Are Vampires, But Not As You Know It
It isn’t by accident we think of a bloodsucking Dracula, or Nosferatu, or more modern renditions like blade, or twilight when the word vampire is mentioned. They can only prowl at night (apart from the day-walker concept in blade of course), an aversion to garlic, holy water etc. The origin of a vampire type entity seems to go way back to an ancient Egyptian god called Sekhmet. Having such an extreme lust for blood after almost wiping out all of humanity, she was then tricked by Ra using blood coloured alcohol to lure her in. And after getting drunk, she stood down and peacefully left humans alone. How that one hasn’t been made into a movie, I don’t know, but seems to qualify as a vampire by the original standard.
But what if a vampire is a good description for them. Only they steal and drain your energy instead of blood? (And in some cases, may actually have a requirement for blood talked about in More like us than we would like). I used to refer to people as social vampires when coming home from being out during my sociable years, and rather than feeling energised and like you had had a good time, it was the opposite. And after narrowing it down, realised it was certain people who would contribute to that feeling, and others that did the opposite. But on a bigger scale, if you realise your energy is being taken from you by people using various methods, two things should be considered. 1) Where does the energy go and what for? 2) Who or what needs it?
Another thing that started to make me think of the real concept of vampire, is the incessant need for people to volunteer for things that appear to give away their freedom or soul. You must consent. You must be a volunteer, rather than a victim. They need you to invite them in, I am not sure why, but it seems to be a theme that you have to sell your soul willingly, it can’t just be taken. Is that why we have that saying ‘selling your soul’, because it does indeed represent something quite real and tangible? Perhaps. So much that was once foolish to consider, now seems almost perilous not to. There is so much at stake here (no pun intended), we can’t afford to not cover all bases. And maybe their new digital ID travel method they would like to roll out, which requires a drop of your blood for screening, has another purpose. As if they are looking for something and testing the DNA of everyone hasn’t yielded the results they were after, so they have to find another way to monitor and find what they want. That shall remain to be seen.
I will continue to think through what may seem ridiculous and far-fetched. Pulling together ideas, plot lines and theories and putting them out there. But it should be clear to many that we are in danger, individually and as a group, and should have our wits about us and senses on alert. Who knows what is really going on and coming up, but it can’t hurt to consider it all.
(c) K Wicks
A Short Walk – new book release
It is here, my new book of short stories I have been saying is coming, has now arrived. Hopefully these ones will get feedback as good as the first book, but it’s always a bit nerve-racking putting something new out there.
(c) MKW Publishing
It is coming… (new book)
It’s now in the final stages of edits, and coming soon.
(c) K Wicks
MKW Publishing 