Clandestine Francis
Dr Illya Ness says … Worldwide rise in superbug resistance to antibiotics. Over use in food & medicine is bound to cause the little nasties to evolve. Stupid us.
My Illness page
Guru Tony says … As I predicted, new pope is a PR man. And what PR! South American & to be called Francis. Great brand. Keeps non-Europeans & Italians happy.
My Religion page
Major de Ranger says … Just as Argentina gets vocal about the Falklands again we get an Argentinian pope. Global PR may soon be bad for UK. Let’s not fight over it.
My Warfare page
You’ve read them. Now Meet the Team

FUTURE ZONE
My Writing Tips
Continuity
Continuity, conti …
Haiku don’t allow
***
LAUNDER: Red Luna had to read the psyche
report on humans. ‘Hid their self behind
a mask,’ it said. Soon caught, wearing a
literal mask didn’t wash.
![]()
Alone with the stars
Cacophony of silence
So loud is the void
MICROPEDIE IN 55 WORDS
Jack the Ripper – media myth arising when clever individual murderers concocted a monster so as to avoid suspicion.
Janus – god of new beginnings with 2 heads looking front & back. Yet, looking both ways, shouldn’t you have the wisdom to get it right first time?
Jupiter – the planet that inspired so many supreme gods – yet no substance; full of hot air.

Blogger Bard says:
CLANDESTINE: He’d found the truth.
The aliens had come to Earth so long ago.
Now, so clandestine, you can only see
one when you look in the mirror.
***
Momentous moment
Cacophony of a life
Pearly Gates open
**
MYTHALIENS: The alien invaders
resembled unicorns in the west, huge birds
in the east, fauns in … Shapeshifters,
it was decided. Shifting perception,
offered the shrinks.
***
In a moment, born
Progression of moments, life
In a moment, gone

I, SPACEMAN
by Anthony North
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J Cosmo Newbery said on March 17, 2013
I certainly wonder who I am looking at first thing in the morning.
Anthony North said on March 17, 2013
Hi Cosmo, Ah, a common problem, I think.
Mary said on March 17, 2013
Anthony, your comments on the new pope are priceless. I never thought of it exactly that way, but you have made a valid point (which made me both nod and smile).
Green Speck said on March 17, 2013
A loud void is always hard to fill !!!
David King said on March 17, 2013
Yes, I’ve been wondering what difference, if any, an Argentinian Pope will make to the Falklands issue. MY gut feeling is: none at all.
Poet Laundry said on March 17, 2013
I like your cacophony haiku -nice work!
brian miller said on March 17, 2013
nice…rather love that short verse in the middle..so loud the void….ah, love being under the stars…
and do you think the election of the pope was a PR move….surely not…smiles.
Anthony North said on March 17, 2013
Hi Mary, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Green Speck, it certainly is.
Hi David, I hope you’re right.
Hi Poet Laundry, many thanks. Glad you liked it.
Hi Brian, thank you. What? Intentional PR? Heaven forbid
Kathe W. said on March 17, 2013
Worldwide rise in superbug resistance to antibiotics. Over use in food & medicine is bound to cause the little nasties to evolve. Stupid us.
oh ho so very very true- we are bound to be our own worst enemy
Geraldine said on March 17, 2013
so loud is the void…I like that. Very evocative words. :<)
Anthony North said on March 17, 2013
Hi Kathe, yes, we are indeed.
Hi Geraldine, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Stafford said on March 17, 2013
NO particular comment, except that I my visits here always suck me in to reading more than I really have time for. Good stuff.
laurie kolp said on March 17, 2013
Love the loud void!
Karen S. said on March 17, 2013
So loud is the void- I like that thought- it speaks volumes doesn’t it. It will be fun to see just how the whole new Pope thing does play out, although so far so good !
Judy Sheldon-Walker said on March 17, 2013
Wow! Anthony, that’s deep. You could take that two ways, which I am sure is your intention.
Jim said on March 17, 2013
..
Jim said on March 17, 2013
..
Pat said on March 17, 2013
It’s good to be able to wear a mask sometimes, as well as to be able to wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve at times. But too much of either of those things gets old.
wayne said on March 17, 2013
nicely done Anthony…under the stars indeed…there is a Theatre Under The Stars in Vanouver…..thanks again for sharing
Anthony North said on March 18, 2013
Hi Stafford, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Laurie, many thanks. Glad you liked it.
Hi Karen, thank you. Yes, interesting times for the Papacy.
Hi Judy, very kind. Yes, I like to leave a little ambiguity.
Anthony North said on March 18, 2013
Hi Jim, you could be right about that
Hi Pat, I’m not sure we ever really present all of our self to society.
Hi Wayne, many thanks for that.
David King said on March 18, 2013
Much enjoyed the Clandestine post.
kaykuala said on March 18, 2013
LAUNDER: That’s the danger! The ladies are all made up it doesn’t seem real. They’re not themselves any more!
Hank
Meenakshi Ganesh (Mixi) said on March 18, 2013
Haiku continuity – hilarious
Thanks for the smiles Anthony!
laura Hegfield said on March 18, 2013
loving your theo-political commentary:-)
Reading Pleasure said on March 18, 2013
Oh Anthony, this is the best so far that I’ve read. Perfect oxymoron!
dsnake1 said on March 18, 2013
enjoyed your witty & entertaining articles.
thanks for the haiku tip.
about the aliens. i always wonder if we are not alone. there are so many galaxies out there…
Anthony North said on March 18, 2013
Hi David, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Hank, a very good point
Hi Mixi, many thanks. Glad you liked it.
Anthony North said on March 18, 2013
Hi Laura, thank you. Very kind.
Hi Reading Pleasure, many thanks for those kind words.
Hi dsnake1, thanks for that. yes, billions of them.
Adriana Dascalu said on March 18, 2013
I really enjoyed your post, especially the Haiku! that line – cacophony of silence – is great great great!
Kim Nelson said on March 18, 2013
LOL! Your haiku gave me my first morning laugh!
Anthony North said on March 18, 2013
Hi Adriana, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Kim, hope the rest of the day goes well.
Audrey Howitt said on March 18, 2013
Loved–that “haiku don’t allow”!
Grace said on March 18, 2013
Good one on mythaliens ~
I like the cacophany of silence ~
Sherry Blue Sky said on March 18, 2013
I love “Haiku dont allow”….clever!
Anthony North said on March 18, 2013
Hi Audrey, thank you. Very kind.
Hi Grace, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Sherry Blue Sky, many thanks. Glad you like it.
SandyCarlson (USA) said on March 18, 2013
I really like this poem about the clandestine. You sure hit it.
Serena said on March 18, 2013
Of course, no wonder the bugs are becoming Super Bugs! I never thought of that… I do so love the way you get me thinking. You are very talented and unique. Have I said that before?
Anthony North said on March 19, 2013
Hi Sandy, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Serena, many thanks for those kind words.
David King said on March 19, 2013
Interesting theory: are there references for Micropede?
Anthony North said on March 19, 2013
Hi David, I’ve written about this in depth but not on the net. I refer to it at the beginning of my essay, here:
http://anthonynorth.com/essays/crime
It has the most important points, such as no letter referring to more than one victim. Other bits not in this include the initial name of the ‘killer’, Leather Apron. The name was changed to Jack in another letter, and then caught on. Hand writing is not the same. Forensics were out to prove themselves, hence the ‘similarities’ which were actually non-existent. And also, a quick look at how many prostitutes were actually killed in the area is most illuminating, both before and after Jack; and not only 1888, but for years before and after. At one point it was thought there were six victims but Martha Tabram didn’t fit so she was dropped. As I see it a mythology naturally developed which caught media attention and they added to it. Of course, it’s just a theory of mine.
Carol said on March 19, 2013
Particularly enjoyed your ‘religion page’ ~ so insightful as are your posts ~ Kudos to you my online friend ~ so glad to meet someone who is of ‘like mind’ about many things ~ ‘We live in strange times’ but aren’t they all?
Anthony North said on March 19, 2013
Hi Carol, many thanks for that. Yes, times have always been strange, but the problem comes when most people think they aren’t.
prema said on March 19, 2013
hi anthony ! its been a long time….and the space away was worth it, when i return to a piece as good as your haiku
Roger Green said on March 19, 2013
well, your Janus remark reminds me of a couple Billy Joel songs Get It Right the First Time, and You’re Only Human (Second Wind); totally different POVs. Getting it right the first time is what I’d prefer, but second chance is generally what I need…
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
Kay L. Davies said on March 19, 2013
This, at my age, is scariest of all, Anthony:
“In a moment, born
Progression of moments, life
In a moment, gone”
Because I’m still at the stage of “it can’t happen to me, not to ME.” I wish I could just move on into acceptance, but it hasn’t happened yet. Maybe in 20 years when I’m older than either of my parents were.
—K
Anthony North said on March 19, 2013
Hi Prema, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Roger, you and me both. As I’ve often said: a wise man usually begins as an idiot.
Hi Kay, well it seems to me you’re already expecting to be around for a good 20 yrs yet.
brian miller said on March 19, 2013
oh dang…you can only see the alien when you look in the mirror…that is def something deep man…missed that earlier…
Leslie said on March 19, 2013
I went to the museum in London where they showed all the types of torture and punishment meted out through the ages. The entire thing ended with a Jack the Ripper thing….exciting and fascinating!
Leslie
abcw team
ayala said on March 19, 2013
Nice, Tony. The Pope is a people’s Pope which is refreshing
Anthony North said on March 19, 2013
Hi Brian, thanks for that. I like to place layered meanings whenever I can.
Hi Leslie, I remember seeing that when I was a kid – in Madame Tussaud’s, I think. It was scary.
Hi Ayala, yes, he seems to be heading that way.
Claudia said on March 19, 2013
ha smiles…i sometimes look like an alien when i look in the mirror in the morning…smiles
Pamelasayers said on March 19, 2013
Anthony, I like the fact that the new pope is from Argentina, but they are all thieves. Nice collection.
Pamela
yasniger said on March 19, 2013
I love the creativity…. mind blowing stuff
Anthony North said on March 20, 2013
Hi Claudia, yes, me too.
Hi Pamela, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi yasniger, many thanks for that.
David King said on March 20, 2013
Much truth in your warfare analysis, but I do think that xenophobia fuels it as much as political theories.
Meenakshi Malhotra said on March 20, 2013
‘so loud is the void’ it blew me into bits.
As if I wrote it.
Nessa said on March 20, 2013
Whenever I see your Dr. Iylla Ness I think you are talking to me.
I have been saying for years and years that we over use antibiotics and it’s going to backfire.
Fool’s Gold
Anthony North said on March 20, 2013
Hi David, yes, usually when politics meets and fuels the hatreds within a society.
Hi Meenakshi, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Nessa, yes, it’s common sense – something science tends to ignore unless it can be proved. By then it’s usually too late.
londonlulu said on March 20, 2013
Jack the Ripper, Janus and Jupiter – a fascinating trio of J, and each one holds a strange fascination of its own. I was always intrigued by the Janus films choice of logo.
Anthony North said on March 20, 2013
Hi Londonlulu, yes, each one is an intriguing subject. Thanks for the visit.
Suzy said on March 20, 2013
I concur with Dr Illya Ness – stupid us! And cacophony of silence is often deafening. Good one.
Anthony North said on March 21, 2013
Hi Suzy, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Nessa said on March 21, 2013
I love picturing a god being full of hot air.
Thursday 13 – 1st words of tSLBoM
sandy1943 said on March 21, 2013
intetresting about pope
brian miller said on March 21, 2013
that last haiku, the momentary nature of birth and death…the progresion of individual moments in between..i like it like a flip book…smiles.
Mia Celeste said on March 21, 2013
Yep, another intriguing post. Just what I would expect from you.
Thanks. The super bug has me concerned too.
http://otherworlddiner.blogspot.com/2013/03/inspiration-car-rides-conversation-and.html
Anthony North said on March 21, 2013
Hi Nessa, yes, it rather appealed to me, too.
Hi Sandy, many thanks for that.
Hi Brian, thank you. Much appreciated.
Hi Mia, thanks for that. Yes, it’s worrying.
Alice Audrey said on March 21, 2013
Wait. The new pope is trying to rename a continent? The things I miss by keeping my head in the sand.
Anthony North said on March 21, 2013
Hi Alice, ah, different nations, different names.
Alice Keys said on March 21, 2013
I like “cacophony of silence”.
Kimberly Menozzi said on March 21, 2013
I’ve said for a while now that all the antibacterial products were overkill of the highest order. …sigh… Sometimes it feels like they do these things on purpose, ya know?
Anthony North said on March 21, 2013
Hi Alice, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Kimberly, half the time they just don’t get it, I think.
CountryDew said on March 21, 2013
Nice eclectic TT – illness and aliens. I suspect they go hand in hand.
Anthony North said on March 21, 2013
Hi Country Dew, thanks for that. You could be right.
Stephanie Sullivan said on March 21, 2013
Clever little snippets, Anthony! Oh, and I love the title of your ebook.
Happy Thursday!
Hazel said on March 21, 2013
Janus has two; ours got four and he didn’t get it right the first time either.
Anthony North said on March 21, 2013
Hi Stephanie, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Hazel, quite often the case.
Talon said on March 22, 2013
So true about the silence being noisy, Anthony! And I’m still laughing over the continuity haiku!
Nessa said on March 22, 2013
If I was a murderer I would murder extra people to throw the coppers of my tracks.
Flash 55 – Witch Love
G-Man said on March 22, 2013
Tony, you are so Cosmic!
Loved all your prompt offerings.
Loved your Mythic 55
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End
Anthony North said on March 22, 2013
Hi Talon, thanks for that. Glad you liked it.
Hi Nessa, I hope you don’t get upset often
Hi G-Man, many thanks. Much appreciated.
hedgewitch said on March 22, 2013
Always interesting seeing your eclectic mind at play, Anthony. Totally agree about the pope–a marketer first.
Grandma`s Goulash said on March 22, 2013
Liked the “doesn’t wash” phrase in your launder tale. I’ll be humming Billy Joel’s “The Stranger” for the rest of the day!
Anthony North said on March 22, 2013
Hi Hedgewitch, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Grandma, many thanks. glad you liked it.
Margaret said on March 22, 2013
Jack the Ripper… yes, he certainly created a monster…
Anthony North said on March 22, 2013
Hi Margaret, yes, indeed.
Alice Audrey said on March 22, 2013
Jack the Ripper wasn’t one guy? Seriously?
WabiSabi said on March 22, 2013
Love your haiku this week! Haiku don’t allow…. indeed!
Mother Spring
Magical Mystical Teacher said on March 22, 2013
You really adhere to those haiku “rules,” don’t you?
Blossom Haze
Karen said on March 22, 2013
LOL on continuity, haiku is often a limiting art form…or not! Dr. Ness, I am allergic to most antibiotics, I have to buy clean meat, else I will perish.
Anthony North said on March 23, 2013
Hi Alice, as I say to David, above:
I’ve written about this in depth but not on the net. I refer to it at the beginning of my essay, here:
http://anthonynorth.com/essays/crime
It has the most important points, such as no letter referring to more than one victim. Other bits not in this include the initial name of the ‘killer’, Leather Apron. The name was changed to Jack in another letter, and then caught on. Hand writing is not the same. Forensics were out to prove themselves, hence the ‘similarities’ which were actually non-existent. And also, a quick look at how many prostitutes were actually killed in the area is most illuminating, both before and after Jack; and not only 1888, but for years before and after. At one point it was thought there were six victims but Martha Tabram didn’t fit so she was dropped. As I see it a mythology naturally developed which caught media attention and they added to it. Of course, it’s just a theory of mine.
Anthony North said on March 23, 2013
Hi Wabi Sabi, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi Magical Mystical Teacher, I try to
Hi Karen, sorry to hear about that.
rebecca said on March 23, 2013
gorgeous haiku today anthony, thank you!
priti.lisa said on March 23, 2013
so loud the void
in a moment gone…
fabulous thoughts♥
Anthony North said on March 23, 2013
Hi Rebecca, thanks for that. Much appreciated.
Hi priti.lisa, many thanks. Glad you like them.
Marit said on March 24, 2013
Your haiku is breathtaking today Anthony. “Cacophony of silence” – how wonderful said!
Anthony North said on March 24, 2013
Hi Marit, many thanks for those kind words.
Kim Nelson said on March 24, 2013
As always, you bring me details and dimensions of the world I’d not considered today. My favorite bit? Well-being begins with food. Isn’t it the greatest irony that so few seem to understand this basic fact?
Anthony North said on March 24, 2013
Hi Kim, thanks for that. Yes, it is indeed.
David King said on March 27, 2013
Dr Illya Ness is fast becoming my favourite.
Anthony North said on March 27, 2013
Hi David, that’s very kind. I’ll tell him