The Devils Fingers.

                                             Two houses face you; of equal size, material, style, and in every sense a carbon replica of one another. However, one distinct, discernible difference lies between them; the first house contains curtain-less, transparent windows - allowing you to view deep into the heart of each rooms décor. The second house is ensconced in boarded up darkness - each room a mystery to all who pass. The question is this; which house strokes more curiosity from within?

I was in Tesco today purchasing post gym products to nom on, when I happened to notice the cigarette counter in front of me was covered by thick white sliding doors; clearly making the jobs of the kiosk workers awkward - without any added pay, of course. On my inquiry as to why, I was told it was due to the introduction of a new government legislated white paper - to take full nationwide effect by April 2012. A paper declaring all for sale tobacco related products to be legally hidden from public view, or face punishment of a revoked trading licence. The idea behind this being it will discourage both old and potential new smokers from continuing or beginning to puff on the dreaded, nicotine fuelled, weed; out of sight, out of mind, I guess. They suggest this will help to eradicate smoking in the UK by 2035, and in their view, it will work something like this...

The long-term converted adult smoker strolls into the local newsagent; they glance around and cannot see packets of cigarettes anywhere. They think to themselves 'Hmm, my eyes do not see cigarettes, so therefore I do not think about them. Wow, suddenly I carry no desire to engage in the psychological and physical addiction, I have undertaken twenty times per day for the past three decades. Eureka! I will quit smoking. How easy was that!"
The young teenager however, walks into the same store, as a friend mentions buying a packet of cigarettes. He thinks "Cigarettes, what are cigarettes? Oh yeah, those dirty, cancer creating, devils fingers - the very same killers our wonderful, compassionate government do not want us to destroy our lives and health with. I know, I will listen to their lucid advice, and never smoke my first cigarette. Yay! I will live to 90 now, providing I don't get stabbed in an alley." In the world of Eastenders it works exactly like this. In reality, here is what actually happens;

The long-term converted adult smoker strolls into the local newsagent; they glance around and cannot see packets of cigarettes anywhere. They think to themselves "I want nicotine! I want my twenty fags!  Hold on, now they are a naughty pleasure I am not meant to have... I want fourty fags!" They are handed the colourless packet, and couldn't give a shit whether it was blank or had a picture of Ron Jeremy's twelve-inch cock on it, as they force open the packet in quick time, to light the smoke. They know nicotine is bad for them, but now the illusive veil of social rejection is apparent, it makes them wish to smoke more.
The young teenager however, walks into the same store, as a friend mentions buying a packet of cigarettes. And he thinks "Cigarettes? You mean those secret, guarded behind fort-Knox style closed doors puffing sticks? The very same narcotics adults never never never want us to even look at, let alone light and breather into our fit, healthy lungs? Shit yeah, if they don't want us to use them so desperately, they must be pretty fucking special! Lets rebel, lets buy some! Lets fight the system!"

You could argue the whole idea is a stonecutter style conspiracy to passively create more smokers, whilst pretending to desire the opposite; the strain smoking causes the NHS is considered a fault of government neglect, whereas buying the fags itself an act of personal choice. But I think it is just simple stupidity by people so seduced by forms of power they don't deserve or earn, their notion of reality is distorted beyond recognition. Much like Edwina Curry suggesting she understood the working classes because she "listened to Chas and Dave", these morons have no clue how the minds of the average person operate. The best way to stop smoking - just stop producing them globally; but there is far too much money in smokes for that to happen.

The whole situation made me laugh out loud; as the circus of life grows evermore unique in it's stupidity. I am not one who believes this nation is a mess; I think England is a wonderful country, rich in incredible people. I see the general despair as a viewpoint created by ferociously negative media outlets, to induce a culture of fear and consumerism. But it goes to show how inside out and upside down life can be. Those who care lack as much power as they attain understanding, and those with power hardly understand at all. What next? Alcohol, Coffee? Pot Noodles?

Cigarettes - it may as well be moonshine; and that still gets produced by the dirty, red-neck bucket-load; usually, in a boarded up house...

Lee.

The Rulebook Of Facebook.

An idea for a book recently hit me square in the frontal lobes like a cognitive freight train, whilst engaging in general conversation with a friend in Starbucks. I am not entirely sure of the legal aspects to creating such a work, so am throwing this article out as both a dated disclaimer for any potential creation bandits, and reaction to whether it is worth formulating a first draft. The book is entitled "The Rulebook Of Facebook"; a guide to the social etiquette and considered dos and don'ts, surrounding the billion strong virtual world  - a number which will only continue to evolve through time and teenage maturity.

Currently, Facebook is perceived in different terms by each generation; the fifty pluses find it amusing and hardly use it. Fourtysomethings create profiles, but tend to drift in and our randomly. The thirties are moderate users, and tend to enjoy the sharing of music videos, connections with lost friends, and updating intermittent statuses around the lives they live. Those in their twenties are consistent in their use, and while embracing similar aspects of the older generation, they also enjoy photo sharing, updating statuses, and generally expressing themselves in a usually dignified manner to on-line associates. Finally, there are the log-in fifty times a day, constantly updating, photo sharing, convinced it is bigger than life itself, manic obsessive purveyors of the site, the kids...

The youth live for Facebook, and the site primarily defines their generation; listen to incoherent conversations they partake in - Facebook dominates every sentence. Their 'Likes', Photos, updates, friends lists, even the games they play, all carry weight as barometers of defining social character. And unfortunately for the youth, image is not everything... it is the only thing. We as adults - even though we belong to the last generations alive to experience puberty without the powers of social networking, afford it more power in a passive means; while not the be all and end all of interaction, our actions upon the site do cause an effect. Disagree? 'Unfriend' someone you know personally from your account, and see how they react in person. Nobody likes rejection - be it on-line or in life. In essence, we are the living limbo period of the war in human history, between raising technology and slowly capitulating nature.

Everything we do or say on the site can be seen and read by as many people as we allow it to. I cannot simply tell my girlfriend she is smelly in good humour (She smells lovely, by the way), without a hundred people being able to see, read, and potentially misunderstand these words. This creates a certain knowledge of refrain for many who carry negative assertions of life. For example, if I was suddenly to 'like' the British National Party (I don't by the way, I think they are a bunch or low-intellect bafoons stuck in the 1970's - and not in the cool, Gene Hunt type way), I would naturally expect most of my liberal friends to ditch me. The site doesn't need a law-book as such, but perhaps a guide of how not to use the site in a way which makes you dislikeable. Of course, it helps a lot more if you are a decent person - so maybe I need a chapter on how to manipulate your profile for arseholes.

So this is my idea; a book about how to use Mark Zuckerberg's daddy of internet sites, in a way which does not leave you socially isolated, or looking like a desperate or judgemental prick. If anybody feels this is something they would wish to read, a heads up would be appreciated. The way I see it, social networking is here to stay, here to grow, and here to eventually take over as the standard bearer of communication. Love it, hate it, abhor it, adore it... you cannot avoid it.

Lee.

The Simplicity Of Genius.

"Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see"
Arthur Schopenhauer.

I have always maintained interest in the notion of defining what makes someone a 'Genius'; defined in my view as the understanding of understanding a deeper construction of any or all elements within the limitless confines of the human universe; we still remain somewhat infantile in our wisdom - much like ants trying to understand human life, I guess. Of course, this term genius is purely subjective, and anybody could argue a case of any solitary individual to be one; perhaps they are. But for the purposes of this article, my main focus are on those who carry a universal recognition, as one of the few placed into the historical chapters as exclusive members of this rarest of breeds.

A genius seems to be placed in one of two categories; the first is the super-intelligent thinker. This is someone who possesses ideas, theories, or even works of artistic merriment which stretch way beyond the basic standards of human design. Initiators of broad topics which affect aspects of all humanity, and set a course of progression in learning, to carry through for the ages ahead. Painter Vincent Van Gogh, polymath Leonardo Da-Vinci, and professor Stephen Hawkins, as standardised examples.

The second form of genius is the lesser kind; that of the artist who operates in their specific field in a somewhat obtuse manner, yet to the effect of great success, always able to hit almost effortless heights - and, as a barometer of all genius, are both irreplaceable and unrepeatable. Examples include Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan, Chess Grandmaster Bobby Fischer, and in my view, comedian Harry Hill; making the entire spectrum of human life - from little babies to old grannies laugh out loud, all the while without offending anybody, is a task much more difficult than at first appears.

The man I want to focus this article on however, belongs to both sections; his name itself synonymous with the term; the 20th century German born Physicist, Albert Einstein. Einstein is considered a genius due to his theories on relativity, endless papers on quantum theory and physics, and ability to configure scientific process in ways previously unimaginable, which, are a major part of his skills. But for me, Einstein genius lay not in his mass storage of information, ability to structure concept, or even express these ideas with poetic articulation, it resided in his ability to attain such an abundance of information in the mind, yet live with a pure, almost childlike innocence of the heart; seeing and feeling the joy and wonder, as if he were still a seven year old boy.

There is a certain ignorance in arrogance from intellect; a feeling of knowing more than others, whilst carrying a deluded superiority from the idea of formulating a multitude of ideas in quick succession. Intelligent people are often guilty of conceit, and suffer in both their social and personal lives for this outlook; which in itself lacks foresight from the corruptive power it carries. Einstein was a genuine man who knew he was a normal human being, merely aware of his God given talents in thought cognition. His mental development was wonderful, but his emotional levels of empathy, and love of the simple pleasure of humanity set him aside from the majority of genius. And in general, he is one of the few who isn't considered somewhat crazy; in itself a rare achievement alone.

There are many examples of men and women who can be labelled a genius. And in the coming 21st and 22nd centuries; as technology and the human brain evolve through repeated stimulation of thought, and an unstoppable global ability to communicate openly and freely through the world-wide-web, much like the human body evolved through the process of hunting and building civilizations, we are likely to see an abundance in the growth of genius. But I guess what I am saying is this; a true genius is as simple as they are complex, and the unseen target isn't the knowledge of an educated adult, it is the wisdom of an innocent child. And without the ability to understand this basic of philosophies, there will never be another like Albert Einstein.

Lee.