Paul Rance's New Website: paulrance.com

Yes, a new website launched this week. So, more stuff of mine to entertain ya, bore ya - whatever...

Here it be: https://www.paulrance.com

Being St. Francis - In Crowland, Lincolnshire

These are pretty distressing times if you hate prejudice, and since Brexit and Donald Trump's election, flight or fight comes to mind. I'm in the heart of Brexitland, and people I care about voted for Brexit. So, things have been difficult, as they have strong opinions and so do I. Anyway, I've been busy working on a variety of projects, including a book I've given the provisional title of Being St. Francis.

I've always done my best to respect all living things, and that's what St. Francis was all about. I don't believe in organised religion, but there are good religious figures that we can aspire to. All humans are descended from a tribe in Africa. We're all family, so where does this hatred of foreigners and people of different faiths come from? Fear of something different?

So, would St. Francis feel at home in Crowland? Perhaps, but I feel increasingly isolated, and if you can't beat 'em there's the choice of fighting your corner, or retreating into one's shell.

Love and Peace.

Fighter Jets Noise Pollution Over Whaplode Drove

For two months now the noise from fighter jets has been horrendous over Whaplode Drove. As I type, I'm trying to listen to David Bowie via headphones, and he's drowned out by the hideous din up in the sky.

Almost every weekday there's hours of noise from these planes, and it just seems like the MOD are taking the piss because rural communities don't matter. No doubt there'll be those living in towns and cities who say that it can't be that bad. Trust me, it is. It's like hearing a loud rave of crap music for a few hours every day, with a break at the weekend.

Yesterday the noise was more of a non-stop droning for a few hours, before it stopped well into the evening. The North Sea's a big area, so go and practice over there, RAF! It doesn't feel like you're protecting me - more like making my life a misery!

Unfeeling Monsters by The Peace & Freedom Band

Peace & Freedom Band Co-Founder Paul Rance Hits Out At Tories, Beyonce, Jay Z And Katie Hopkins

Before the Internet arrived, booksmusicfilmstv.com's founder had been involved in the world of underground music and fanzine publishing since the early 1980's. His longest running magazine, Peace & Freedom, was first published in 1984, and began life as an environmental, animal/human rights, music and arts fanzine. The next year he formed the alternative, anarcho underground band, The Peace & Freedom Band.

When I interviewed him in the middle of May, 2015, he was still as rebellious as ever and passionate about animal/human rights and the environment. I took the opportunity to ask him about his musical influences, values, the underground music scene and his views on modern music and the recent general election. He also went on to discuss his dislike of the State and why we need a revolution.

- Andy Bruce.

Paul Rance with his beloved Sparkle in May, 2015

Paul Rance interview extracts

"It seems like it's cool to be hard these days. The Tory elite like showing how tough they can be with poor migrants, the unemployed and the disabled. I find their attitude repulsive, and they remind me of the posh bully, Flashman, from Tom Brown's Schooldays."

"I like The Black Eyed Peas, because they've supported issues concerning animal rights, the environment and human rights, and their music's inventive. But, Jay Z, what's the point? No real talent from what I can see, and he, and the equally odious Beyonce, like wearing parts of dead animals. Unfortunately, the media fawn all over 'em and keep telling us how great they are. No, they're not."

"I fear there's more people in this country who agree with the sick views of Katie Hopkins than we'd all like to believe. Though they tend to be cowards who keep their mouths shut, and then strike when it's voting time. That'd kinda explain why the polls indicated that the election would be close - and it ended up not being close at all. People were too ashamed to admit that they'd be voting Tory. Don't get me wrong, if it was a choice between voting Tory or The Kitten Killers Party I'd vote Tory. But that wasn't the choice, and many people have basically given the thumbs up to austerity, and are saying to the weaker members of society: "F**k you.""

"Politics hasn't really worked in the UK since the 1970s. We've had the poll tax fiasco, now it's the austerity cuts. Too much corruption from people in power, too much injustice - Hillsborough, the Jimmy Savile cover-ups, crooked bankers and politicians, the expenses scandal. The list is endless. People who set standards, i.e. those who make the laws for the rest of us, should be beyond reproach. But they're often as immoral as it gets."

"The problem is that most of the individuals who carry out the state/system's dirty work aren't evil people. Most of them are scared of losing their jobs if they question specific decisions. It's all very clever and sly really, because it's always hard to get at the real bastards - the ones at the top. But, like any machine, it will not last forever and then it'll get really interesting. I want to see it all fall to bits, and then let's start again. It probably won't happen in my lifetime, but it will happen."

Read the full, explosive interview here:  

http://www.booksmusicfilmstv.com/Music/P&FBandPaulRanceInterview.html

BBC's News Coverage Of Anti-Austerity Demo In London Further Proof It's In Bed With The Establishment

It's a pity the ‪BBC‬ concentrated on the nastier elements at the anti-austerity demo in London, rather than what people were actually demonstrating about. But then I don't really watch the BBC news much now, as it's too in bed with the Establishment.

End Austerity Now Demo, London, June 20th, 2015

Charlotte Church Wants To Settle Her Dispute With The Sun's Rentagob Katie Hopkins In Boxing Ring

I hope any match takes places in front of a few thousand migrants, Northerners, the Geldof family, and everyone else Katie's offended. But you can't fit the world's population in one boxing arena I guess. Go Charlotte! ‪#‎CharlotteChurchKatieHopkins‬ ‪#‎CharlotteChurch‬ ‪#‎KatieHopkins‬ ‪#‎Rentagob‬

The Mirror on how Charlotte and Katie may look in boxing gear, if they do eventually square up to each other: http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/katie-hopkins-v-charlotte-church-5678010

Brutus Now Out In Paperback

Brutus - the Rabbit That Changed the World

Paperback

Amazon.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BRUTUS-Rabbit-That-Changed-World/dp/1503220974/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416304816&sr=1-1&keywords=brutus+the+rabbit+that+changed+the+world

Amazon.com

http://www.booksmusicfilmstv.com/cgi-bin/apf4/apf4.cgi?Operation=ItemLookup&ItemId=1503220974&locale=us

Extracts, including some read by the author, and info on the main characters can be found here:

http://www.paulrance.com/Brutus.html

The Short Kindle Novel For The Occupy Generation

Brutus - the Rabbit That Changed the World

My fairytale, which I hope comes true. Kindle - available for pre-order. Hopefully in paperback fairly soon, too.

If you're sick and tired of the system this book's for you. If you're a person who cares about all life and the Earth this book's for you. If you like a mix of the dark, humorous, erotic, philosophical, futuristic and a world-changing rabbit this book's for you! 'Brutus - the Rabbit That Changed the World' looks into a future that's not too far away, and one which offers hope to those who feel there is none.

Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brutus-Rabbit-That-Changed-World-ebook/dp/B00NTBDRRA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411466312&sr=8-1&keywords=brutus+the+rabbit+that+changed+the+world

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Brutus-Rabbit-That-Changed-World-ebook/dp/B00NTBDRRA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411466567&sr=8-2&keywords=brutus+the+rabbit

Amazon Canada
http://www.amazon.ca/Brutus-Rabbit-That-Changed-World-ebook/dp/B00NTBDRRA/ref=sr_1_1/187-2659332-7319018?ie=UTF8&qid=1411466699&sr=8-1&keywords=brutus+the+rabbit

Paul Rance Reads Care Home Fees Corruption Blues

KEITH LEVENE DONATES HIS VINTAGE SUPRO GUITAR IN SUPPORT OF GLOBAL RECORD STORE DAY

Clash/Public Image Ltd. founding member  Keith  Levene  has  donated  a  vintage  Supro  guitar  to  raise awareness of the April 19, 2014 global Record Store Day. The black and white guitar will be given away a promotion the Mike & Jenyr’s  Q106.7 FM radio program celebrating Record Store Day.

“I’m getting involved in this way because I want to do everything I can in support of what, unfortunately, appears to be a dying but very important industry,” declares Levene.

“A music lover simply cannot have the same unique experience in some bland corporate chain that can be had in a mom-and-pop type record store establishment.  I have personally  spent  countless hours at  record stores and then at home listening to vinyl, and enjoying the artwork and liner notes that accompanied the music,” adds the legendary guitarist.

Although Levene has owned and used countless guitars over the years, his Supro  is  special  to  him  as  it  was  used  to  compose  music  for  his forthcoming  album “Commercial  Zone  2014”  release  –  a  project  which represents more than three decades of his work.

In 1982-1983, Levene started composing what was intended to be PiL’s fourth album, the Commercial Zone.  However, lack of support and creative differences over that album led the fiercely independent Levene to leave PiL  and  abandon the project.  A  crowdfunding  campaign,  which will  run through April 28, 2014, has been established on Indiegogo to help bring the project  to  market.  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/keith-levene-s-commercial-zone-2014-initiative

“I acquired my Supro not at a music store chain but at a mom-and-pop vintage  store  and  it  helped  me  finish  unfinished  Commercial  Zone business.  Now, hopefully, it will help bring some commercial business to independent record stores,” Levene says.

For further information, contact Kathy DiTondo at kathy197778@gmail.com, or go to www.keithlevenelive.com

Keith Levene playing his Supro

Robert Wyatt - Pigs...(In There) Video

Soft Machine legend Robert Wyatt's disturbing discovery in the 'idyllic' countryside.

The First 10 Poetry Tips...

The first 10 poetry tips from '101 Poetry Tips', which is available on Amazon. Paperback details here.

101 Poetry Tips Ebook (Amazon.co.uk)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CNRB6QK?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creativeASIN=B00CNRB6QK&linkCode=xm2&tag=peacefreedpre-21

101 Poetry Tips Ebook (Amazon.com)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNRB6QK?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00CNRB6QK&linkCode=xm2&tag=thedoctowhofa-20

1. Don't pester people with your work. If a poem's been accepted don't then bombard a publisher with several submissions in a week or month. Also don't send whole manuscripts to small press publishers with no return postage, as many are struggling financially as it is.

2. Don't forget to practice writing poetry. As the great golfer Gary Player once said: "The more I practice, the luckier I get." In the case of poetry that should read: "The better I get."

3. Don't believe the myth about how magical a poet's life is. It's hard graft for little money for all poets initially, and involves gradual steps towards success - unless you really are one of those loathsome geniuses who finds it easy and who is quickly appreciated.

4. Don't copy Byron's lifestyle - unless you want to have the paparazzi outside your front door 24/7.

5. Don't ignore constructive criticism, but judge whether it's fair comment. Violence rarely solves things...

6. Don't use too many big words in your poems as it'll seem like you're pretentious.

7. Don't stick to one poetic form, but experiment with several, which will then help you find out which are the best poetic forms for you.

8. Don't go anywhere without a notepad. Inspiration can come at any time.

9. You don't need to set a time period regarding when to finish a poem. If it's midnight and you're tired, consider it finishing it the next day.

10. Don't sulk if your work gets rejected. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and all that.

Keith Levene - Commercial Zone Campaign

PiL legend Keith Levene's new project - get involved!

 

101 Poetry Tips Kindle Book Introduction

'101 Poetry Tips' Introduction

After producing my first collection of poetry in 1980, when I was 20 years old, I've gone on to select and publish hundreds of poets from around the world via Peace & Freedom Press magazines, paperbacks and booklets. I'd like to think that I've learnt something along the way! '101 Poetry Tips' is intended to help you get the most out of your poetry writing. Good luck!

 

101 Poetry Tips - Kindle

Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CNRB6QK?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creativeASIN=B00CNRB6QK&linkCode=xm2&tag=peacefreedpre-21
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNRB6QK?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00CNRB6QK&linkCode=xm2&tag=thedoctowhofa-20

Nonsense Creatures For Children Aged 3 To 120

12. The Three Humped Camel Car of Cairo

Three Humped Camel Car of Cairo,

Was more careful than a tyro,

Children sat on his humps,

And there were never bumps,

Camel Car took bridges real low.

1 of the 12 Nonsense Creatures Limericks and Illustrations by Paul Rance.
Book 1 out now on Amazon. For children (and adults) of all ages.  

Paul Rance rediscovered Edward Lear in 2009, and began creating his own nonsense creatures - in the form of illustrations and limericks. Originally published in 2009, and now currently available only through Amazon, here are the first batch of limericks, which should appeal to children aged 3 to 120.

Show More

Show Less

Amazon.co.uk

Paperback
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1481272470?ie=UTF8&tag=peacefreedpre-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=1634&creativeASIN=1481272470

Kindle
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nonsense-Creatures-Limericks-Illustrations-ebook/dp/B00AQL52PG/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358360930&sr=1-2

Amazon.com

Paperback
http://www.amazon.com/Nonsense-Creatures-Limericks-Illustrations-children/dp/1481272470/ref=la_B004P2ALYY_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1357048205&sr=1-4

Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Nonsense-Creatures-Limericks-Illustrations-ebook/dp/B00AQL52PG/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358360348&sr=1-2&keywords=nonsense+creatures+limericks

Thelma Rance Biography - Chapter 17 Extract

Extracts from Chapter 17 of 'Mother Becomes Stardust'. See my other blog posts for more details about this book, which is about my late Mother's struggle with the twin effects of breast cancer and a stroke.

Chapter 17 - Chinks of Light (extract)

I would walk up to Cedar Falls with stuff like The Sex Pistols 'Pretty Vacant' on the MP4 player. It'd get me to get me pumped up as I strode towards the home. It'd feel almost like a marching song at the beginning, and prepare me for any confrontations.

Mum has another hospital appointment, on October 4th. Dad was buried 10 years ago on this date, so another thing to think about.

The writing work had been picking up again, but in the morning I get an email from a writing website informing me that they're letting most of their writers go. You couldn't make it up really. No wonder the doctor in the hospital asks if I'm okay, as I'm obviously looking stressed.

At Cedar Falls, Mum enjoys her orange juice: "Oooh. Lovely." Since her stroke, Mother seems to be more enthusiastic about things she likes, and more angry about things she doesn't.

Mum, up until her stroke, had a photographic memory. She was a big film buff, as well as having wide-ranging musical tastes. Mum would rattle off names of obscure film stars from the '40s and '50s, and name films that they were in. I remember telling her that Morrissey, whose first name is Steven, was named after B-movie actor Steve Cochran. Mozza has said that he didn't think anyone would know who Cochran was, but my Mum did.

There's still good signs re Mum's fight against the dreadful disease. I'm regularly told that the cancer that's already there can only be contained and not eradicated. I'm aware of that, but I appreciate the honesty.

I've bought a Charlie George autobiography for Vaughan, my bus driver and Arsenal fan, as a leaving present. Another driver I liked, Mick, had left in July. I tell Mum: "Reading about (former Gunners star) Charlie George. Do you remember him?" Mum: "Yes, I remember him." She actually remembered a lot of football stars from the early 1970s, especially players at Arsenal, Leeds United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton, West Ham, Spurs, and Chelsea - though she wasn't into football. Mum had a soft spot for gentleman footballers, including Bobby Moore, Bob Wilson and Frank McLintock. But Mum also liked George Best...

The Breast Cancer Bombshell

More extracts from my book, 'Mother Becomes Stardust', which is about my late Mother's brave fight during her final months on Earth - and what I also often experienced within the system.

Chapter 10 - Cancer (extract)

Cancer, the real c-word. The word itself still strikes terror in people. On March 8th I was talking to Anita, a nurse at Cedar Falls, and she let slip that my Mum had terminal breast cancer. She presumed I knew...

That my Mum had cancer had been known for months, but nobody explained this to me. I'm my Mother's only child and easily her closest blood relative, but that didn't seem to matter. On my Mother's Service Option Form it stated quite clearly that, in the client group, my Mother was classed as suffering from "frailty/temporary illness". Being terminally ill is not a "temporary illness". Whether Social Services were as ignorant of my Mum's condition as I was is open to question. Going back to Mum's Reassessment of Needs form I again looked up "fumigating mass", but I came to realize that it should have read "fungating mass". The verb 'fungate' means: "To grow rapidly, like a fungus." For example, cancer. The reassessment was dated November 12th, 2010. All these months I had been thinking: "At least Mum hasn't got cancer..."

After hearing the news, if a truck had hit me I wouldn't have felt it. I said to nurse Mary that "The brown stuff is going to hit the fan", and, bless her, she was outraged on my behalf that I hadn't been informed of my Mother's condition. She rang the doctor concerned, and I was then given a copy of my Mother's Inpatient Letter, which certainly explained things more clearly. It had also earlier been deemed, by the Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust panel, that my Mother's prime need was social rather than health. My Mother had inoperable breast cancer and couldn't walk since her stroke. I've learnt since my Mum's death that, depending on what prime need is deemed appropriate, there can be differences with how a patient's care is funded. When needs are deemed as social then loved ones are expected to pay more.

I possibly wouldn't have signed Mum even going into temporary care if I had known that she was terminally ill. I also wonder how ill you have to be to stay in hospital exactly. If Mum was going to die, I and she would have wanted it to have been at home surrounded by her two beautiful cats. That wish was denied her.

'Mother Becomes Stardust' is available through Amazon in Kindle and paperback format. Check my other blog entries for more info.

Hurricane Sandy May Become America's Biggest Ever Storm

Hurricane Sandy, aka Frankenstorm, may become the biggest storm ever recorded in the United States. Though, on Sunday, considered a category one storm, Hurricane Sandy is certain to cause major flooding issues along the eastern seaboard due to its sheer size.

Sandy is expected to make landfall in the US either late on Monday, or early Tuesday. Several states have already declared a state of emergency, and New York City has closed its subway, rail and bus services from Sunday evening. States of emergency have been declared, due to Sandy, in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

Though winds may exceed 70mph, it's really flooding and high tides that are of most serious concern, as Sandy will merge with another more wintry storm. With Halloween and the US Presidential Election days away it's another example of Mother Nature not wanting to be outdone.

Hurricane Sandy has already caused dozens of deaths in Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas. The danger zone for US citizens ranges from North Carolina to the New England states, and the cities affected could be New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

The First Few Paragraphs...

...of 'Mother Becomes Stardust'

1. Friday the 13th Does Its Worst

Thursday evening, August 12th, I watched a DVD of the Alfred Hitchcock classic, 'Notorious', with my Mother. I said to her after the film had finished: "We'll watch the extras later." Later never came, as this was to be my Mother's last evening in the family home.

I'd never seen what all the fuss was about regarding Friday the 13th - until August 2010. I woke up late on that day and saw that the time was 10am. It was a time my Mother and I would normally be on our way to the nearby town of Spalding to do some shopping. Not this time. I couldn't find my Mother anywhere and, when calling her, I received no response. I went into her bedroom and found Mum collapsed by the side of her bed. She could have been lying like that for hours. All the signs indicated that she had suffered a stroke.

This was confirmed when I called 999. I was asked, by a helpful guy, to try and get a series of responses from my Mother. She made drunken responses, but her smile reassured me.

The paramedics arrived very quickly and got Mum to Peterborough District Hospital in Thorpe Road just as quickly. It's a distance of some 16 miles. I remember that the driver looked like a New Age traveller and that we talked about music. A surreal image, but this was just the start of a what would be nothing less than a surreal journey for the next 18 months.

'Mother Becomes Stardust' is available at Amazon. Links to both the paperback and Kindle versions of the book can be found on the Amazon pages below:

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Becomes-Stardust-ebook/dp/B00946Y1VA

Amazon.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mother-Becomes-Stardust-Paul-Rance/dp/1479237930