Your Family - My Business. Short film for the REED.co.uk film competitio...

I've Gone Again!

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'Writing Off the Page' - How to use writing as a means to travel the world.

Travellers, those hippy-types, who faf around asia all year in search of ‘themselves’ 

Writers, those self-centered-types, who faf around the house all day in search of ‘an idea’

Travel writers, searching for an idea whilst (sometimes) finding themselves. 

Three mis-conceptions I had before leaving England, picking up a pencil and boarding a one-way flight half way across the globe. I’ve found out a few things along the way, things i’d like to share. If you love to write or you love to travel hopefully I can convince you that the two can be the most wonderful combination. Here goes. 

Money? thats fiction, right?

Travel writing will never earn you enough money to live on, I had better get that in early, at best you might be able to buy a new biro once in a while! This is exceptionally true for those budding young writers out there, taking a gap year from ‘creative writing 101’ in search of a million dollar story. 

If your ‘destination’ is to become ‘rich beyond your wildest dreams’ then you needn't travel the world. In fact, you needn’t travel further then your local retail park. But what if you’re not ‘in it for the money’? 

Well, thats a start! If you’re passion is for the words and not for the cash then you’re ahead of the game.

I read a speech once made by Alan Watts. He talked about if you truly love something, eventually, you can become a master of it. And when you become a master of something you’ll be able to charge a good fee for whatever it is you do. Sounds great to me.   

The secret of writing.

There are so many writers to read. So many ideas to immerse yourself into. So many hours of procrastination to be had before becoming a masterful writer. Those really want to write will always do so. But the really good writers have something in abundance which the average joe-bloggs-would-be-novelist lacks. Inspiration.

Thats it. Secrets out. So simple too! just go out and be inspired, write a best seller, and retire in the Maldives before they sink. -If only that were true.

Well actually there is a source of inspiration in the world, it comes from a Vietnamese hostel at 3am. It comes from waking up hungover on a boat and having no idea where its headed. It comes from an Indian yogi’s 7ft of unwashed hair. It comes from going out into the big wide world and experiencing new things.

But most importantly, Inspiration comes after you learn how to say ‘yes’.

“yes, i will try juggling those! so what if they’re on fire?!”

“yes, i will go with you to find your brother. where is he again? the arctic?”

“Yes! Free-diving looks like fun. bet i can hold my breath longer!”

What’s in it for me?

As if 14 hour bus rides and dysentery wern’t enough!

You’ll find that horrible things like writers-block cease to exist, it is replaced by an overwhelming urge to share your experience with the world (whether you write it in a simple blog or shout it from the beaches of Koh Tao). Life becomes a real adventure, the never-ending search for the next great thing… to be able to tell the world ‘i found this’. Here’s what I found…

• Opportunities are found only when we go out and search for them.

• New experiences fuel writers (and travellers).

• The best stories come from great adventures.

So use writing ‘for a living’ your excuse to travel the world. Use writing ‘for a living’ as an excuse to say "yes".

Author: Mark Powell. Click here for more. 

Silly songs with Mark - Track one

http://www.youtube.com/v/5yYaNapDHUI?version=3&autohide=1&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=DUdivth_i3BgY5svIQSowA&autohide=1&feature=share

Tekkit for minecraft just got ridiculous - Tekkit52 - Episode two

http://www.youtube.com/v/wcloWgtwsd4?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=XA97_paIraMozVdhIHSl0g

Tekkit for minecraft just got better - Tekkit52 - Episode one

USA Government Shutdown - Wishful thinking!

Please read, then share. It really helps!


As of midnight, tuesday morning, the American Government goes into (partial) shutdown. This has had to happen due to the fact that the law that funds the government ‘ran out’ it expired - like the focus on Iraq - Poof, and it’s gone. For the government to stay open, the republican house and the democratic senate need to pass a new law, they both have to agree for it to go through.

   This is where the U.S of A has fell short. They simply can’t seem to agree on the new budget - or more specifically they can't agree on one point. Obamacare. What a horrible phrase. We can thank Jeanne Schulte Scott who first coined the phase (she was mocking that private care seemed to be all the presidential candidates cared about) “Health care is hot” she said back in 2008 - when Obamacare was a mere spec in the greedy little eye of the the ‘States.

But what does this shutdown actually mean? well, to be honest, nothing. 

• Government looses revenue from the tourist industry. 

• Keeping money from the 800,000 workers that don't need to be paid. 

• Taxes still collected from the citizens - with no need to spend them on pesky things like opening a 93m high french lady.

   With all this going on take one guess who's still being paid? No, not the NASA Scientists, Not the Police force either (they get IOU’s) but the ‘America’s bravest’ soldiers are still being paid for they’re daily pillage of the world. 

   Well, if America couldn't fund their army then how on Earth could they continue to control other countries oil supplies?! - Don’t be silly! thats not going to happen. Not on Obamawatch. Not when Obamacares. Not when it provides a beautiful smokescreen.

   What i’ve loved in watching this story develop is the unconditional bias shown (yes, i’m one to talk) but CNN and BBC are both only reporting the democratic side of the argument and Obamas reactions to what these ‘hostage taking’ republicans are doing. The underlying tone of the senate is comparing republicans to terrorism! 

   Fancy that! Russia steps in with the Syria fiasco, with their nonsense of ‘peace talks’ before bomb drops and suddenly the USA have ran out of fiction to fight! They have to literally bring the fight into there own house (pun intended) rather ironically over the inability to compromise with each other! Ridiculous. 

Obama Himself has just made a statement to the American people and the world.

   Blame game! From the outset he attacks the ‘one branch of one house’ he then goes on to compare them to holding ransom - again a terrorism reference. He talks of the services that have been shut down. he pleads with the republicans to reconsider. 

   Of course the affordable care act comes up. He focus’ on this heavily, more-so then the apparent devastating news of a government shutdown. He started giving sob stories of ‘true americans’ who are now blessed by his Obamacare. He went on to ‘plug’ websites and phone numbers for it! 

   This leader of the free world was more concerned (perhaps rightly so) with people liking his new care package! he doesn't want people to question why republicans are SO against it. 

Why are they so against the affordable healthcare act? has Obama once addressed this in public? no.

He gloats that “even though parts of the government are shut down, Obamacare is not” 

He over-simplifies important congressional discussions in terms of car loans and paying your mortgage. 

   In the end - Mr. Obama talked for three quarters of his address talking about his care package that he is obviously standing his ground on. 

   If you ask me, It looks to me that we need the ruskies in again. Sit down and have a look at both sides of this argument. Find all the facts about the bill that is bringing down a nation. The world might be a better place too if the government shutdown INCLUDED the massive drain on funds ‘the United States Army’ and maybe rethink the definition of ‘essential shutdowns’ and keep all sciences open and funded indefinitely. 



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