Take The Tube
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi all, thought i would share this version of 'Take The Tube' with you. This version was sent to me by Micha³ Serdeñ and the original version can be found in my book (Urban Legends Uncovered) or on my website (project2067.com). Not only is this version funny, it is 100% true!

Hi Mark;
Id like to say that take the tube legend (CM1609) may be possible. I had
very similar and funny situation. It was in 2000 in Rome when there were
World Youths Days. We were coming back with friends from Vatican to
place where we had accommodation by metro. I was holding flagpole and
because it was quite long, I based it on one of the pipe in the train.
It was very crowdy inside and few people started to held my flagpole,
but then I shaked it, they noticed what were they holding and laugh.
Take a tube legend could be possible.

15:46 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

update

Hi, sorry I haven't been on Myspace much lately but I have been bogged down with work.  Just thought I would give an update of what has been happening of late:

The Polish version of 'Urban Legends Uncovered' is called 'Legendy Miejskie', and i have been told by the publishers that the sales figures for the first 3 months is fantastic.  I have done a bit of publicity for the Polish version including an interview with a journalist from Laif newspaper - an big article should be appearing in their magazine supplement soon.

I will be attending the London bookfair, and intend to meet up with Summersdale Publishing (my English publishers) to market the foreign rights for my book.  I expect some interest from Eastern Europe.

The website for the book (www.project2067.com) is getting increasingly popular with over 200,000 hits a month.

more updates soon.

Mark B

15:12 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

origins of Halloween

Origins of Halloween - as found on my website www.project2067.com

Halloween, the original fright night, has a complex history of mixed traditions and cultures. The origins are thought to date back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1st. This date was not only recognized as the end of summer and their harvest, but also the beginning of winter, and the following cold, dreary and dark nights were closely associated with death. They celebrated Samhain on the night before (October 31st), and on this night it was believed that the boundaries between our world and the spirits world became blurred, resulting in the spirits of the dead returning to earth destroying crops and generally causing trouble. It was not all doom and gloom though, as it was believed that during this transitional period the Druids and Celt priests could predict the future, giving comfort to the Celts to help them through the long, dark winters.

During these celebrations huge bonfires were built with animals and crops being sacrificed in the burning bonfires Animal heads and skins were used to make costumes that were worn during the festival. Costumes and masks were also worn after dark to disguise themselves from passing spirits and to trick the spirits into thinking that they are also ghosts. The Halloween tradition of dressing up in costumes and masks originates from this.

The Romans had entered the scene by 43 AD, occupying most of the Celtic territory. Never being one's to miss a trick; they combined the Celt celebration with two of their own. The first being Feralia, a day in late October when they celebrated the passing of the dead. The second festival was a celebration of the Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona was the apple, and many believe that the Halloween tradition of 'bobbing for apples' originates from this traditional festival.

By the time that Christianity had spread across the Celtic lands in the 800s, the celebration became known as the Eve Of All Hallows (Hallow meaning to bless, consecrate or sanctify), and eventually became known as Halloween. Pope Boniface IV assigned November 1st as All Saints' Day to honour all the saints that didn't have a special day of their own, although it is widely believed that he tried to create a commercial holiday to replace the pagan Celtic holiday. Three hundred years later the Catholic Church created All Souls' Day (November 2nd). This official holiday was created to honour all the faithful dead, and was celebrated like Samhain with big bonfires, parades and costumes. Together, the combined celebrations of the Eve Of All Saints, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day were called Hallowmas.

Trick Or Treat

In medieval times there was a couple of customs that resemble the modern day 'trick or treat'. One is the custom of beggars (and in latter years children) going from door to door asking for 'soul cakes' on All Saints Day. Another popular custom on Halloween across the British Isles and Ireland was that of 'Hobby Horse'. This involved adults and older teens going from house to house demanding Beer and food in exchange for a performance.

In Britain, we have Guy Fawkes Night on the 5th November. It is a celebration of the foiled plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. It is celebrated with big bonfires and fireworks. In the old days, children used to dress in rags and beg for money to buy fireworks. Over the years Guy Fawkes Night and Halloween have become closely entwined with each other.

In 19th century America, men used to run amuck on Halloween causing mischief and playing pranks, this was all blamed on the spirits being abroad that night.

The term 'Trick or Treat' did not appear in print until 1939, and started off as a Thanksgiving Day tradition when children (nicknamed Ragamuffins) would dress up in costumes and beg for pennies. This was all quite harmless fun until the depression hit 1930's when adults started to recruit 'boys' to carry out organised vandalism. Organised safe events and parties were organised by communities and bribes were paid out to local boys and gangs to prevent the anarchy. The Ragamuffins switched their dates to Halloween.

Things got nasty in the US during the 1980's when a bad combination of poverty and high unemployment fuelled violent vandalism and attacks that resembled pure anarchy. This was a time when unemployment was breeding a culture where frustrated and bored jobless young males had a lot built up anger, and, as any criminologist would tell you; Halloween was the perfect excuse to release it with explosive results.

The custom of 'trick or treating' hit the UK shores in the mid 80's with a wave of media hysteria, and in no time urban legends started doing the rounds. Despite all the fears and anxieties, 'trick or treating' has never reached the popularity and violent levels of the US.

Final Thoughts

Halloween is big business with an estimated $6.9 billion spent on the festive holiday in the US.

15:06 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

BBC Coventry interview

I am doing another interview tomorrow morning (about 10am) with BBC Coventry.  It is a last minute arrangement with the show's producer Heather.  It will be a light hearted look at the topic of urban legends and i ill discuss what initially got me interested in urban legends and what made me decide to write a book.  We will also discuss my journey from self publishing to landing a publishing contract with Summersdale in the UK, to my book now being released in Australia.

My interview with ABC Tasmania went really well if not a little gruelling.  I enjoyed it and the time went quickly, but i was live on air for 30 mins!

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ABC Radio in Tasmania
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hi all,

The publicity campaign in Australia for 'Urban Legends Uncovered' is really building up momentum.  Hot on the trail of the fantastic double page article in the Herald Sun (if you visit my website (www.project2067.com) and go to the press room, you can view the article),  I am being interviewed live on ABC Radio tomorrow.

The radio station is based in Hobart, Tasmania.  The interview will take place at 11am UK time, 8pm Tasmanian time.

I am nervous but looking forward to the interview, it will be a great opportunity to market my book down under by giving them an insight to what my book is all about.

Wish me luck!

13:49 - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

My view on the McCanns
Category: Blogging

The Portuguese police have set a new high for incompetence.  It seems that they have now decided to use the McCanns as scapegoats with a despicable dirty tricks and smear campaign by leaking confidential information and rumours to the press.

Their latest theories about the McCanns have come straight out of a 70's cop show.  Not only do they reckon that the McCanns managed to sneak her body into a hire car 25 days after Maddie's disappearance and dispose of the body, all under the noses of the world's media, they now have announced that they believe the whole McCann party were involved (at least 9 other people) and that they had help disposing the body out to sea by a British owned yacht.

Do they truly believe that the McCanns could have conspired and hatched this master plan with so many people involved?  This is a conspiracy theory on a grand scale.  Next, they will announce that they believe the McCanns were the ones who shot JFK from the grassy knoll.

The so called 'evidence' against the McCanns is flawed and has more holes than Swiss cheese.  The Portuguese should stop plotting a media campaign against the McCanns and concentrate on finding Maddie. 

08:46 - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

UPDATE - Madeleine McCann

Madeleine: Mum 'Offered Deal To Confess'
Updated: 19:41, Friday September 07, 2007

Kate McCann has been named as a formal suspect in the "death" of her missing four-year-old daughter Madeleine.
A family member has claimed she was offered a deal by police - that she would serve only two years in prison if she admitted accidentally killing her daughter.

Kate McCann leaves police stationPolice are said to believe that Madeleine was killed accidentally and that her body was hidden, then moved and hidden again.

They are not treating Madeleine's disappearance as murder.

There have been reports that Mrs McCann, 39, is likely to be charged with causing the accidental death of her daughter.

She was questioned by police again today but released without being charged. Detectives quizzed her for 11 hours yesterday.

Police have suggested that Madeleine's blood was found in a car hired by the McCanns 25 days after their daughter's disappearance.

Gerry McCann's sister Philomena said Mrs McCann was offered a deal through her lawyer to confess to killing her daughter by accident and then disposing of her daughter.

Mr McCann is now being questioned in the same police station in Portimao, Portugal.

Before he arrived he said that any suggestion that his wife was involved in Madeleine's disappearance from their holiday apartment on May 3 was "ludicrous".


Gerry McCann arrives at police stationWriting on his blog he said: "Anyone who knows anything about May 3 knows that Kate is completely innocent. We will fight this all the way and we will not stop looking for Madeleine."

Mrs McCann's father Brian Healy told Sky News: "It would be a joke if it wasn't so disgusting. My daughter's not like that. I just want to hug her."

Family and friends in Rothley, Leicestershire, have said there is "something untoward" in the police investigation. Mrs McCann's mother Susan Healy has suggested that evidence may have been planted in the hired car.

Portuguese police have confirmed that they have a new formal suspect - or arguida - in the case but did not identify them. However, family friends have said that Kate McCann is that suspect.

The only person previously named as a suspect is British expat Robert Murat. He has denied any involvement.

13:27 - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

London calling
Category: Blogging

I have lived just outside London my whole life and have spent the last 13 years working in and around the West End, so some people might question my sanity for spending the last Bank Holiday in London with my wife for a day out. We got a train to Waterloo and walked across to the London Eye.  The first impression of London for tourists stepping out of Waterloo station can not be great as piled high on either side of the walkway is the discarded rubbish of revellers from the night before and that distinctive aroma of piss - there is nothing like it to awaken your senses early in the morning.

Believe it or not, I have never been on the London Eye (it has only been there since 1999), and we thought that the half an hour trip on the world's biggest Big Wheel was amazing.  It is only when you are at the top and can see the Thames lazily snake its way through the city, the amazing architecture of the Houses of Parliment (I am so glad that Guy Fawkes didn't blow it up now!) and Buckingham Palace, St.Pauls Cathedral, Leicester Sq, Trafalgar Sq, Piccadilly Circus, the Docklands including Canary Wharf, and in the distance the distinctice arc of Wembley, do you realise what a truly vast and inspiring city London actually is.

We walked down to Trafalgar sq. past Downing Street (unfortunately you are not allowed to throw eggs - the armed guards are a bit funny about that sort of thing), and soaked up the atmosphere of the West End before having lunch.

We had lunch at Planet Hollywood which was a bad choice.  Don't get me wrong, the food was great and they do great cocktails, but it looks really dated and run-down now.  the place still has the same photos of Bruce Willis from 1988, and believe me, Planet Hollywood really is Dying Hard.

After lunch we had a stroll down Oxford St. and Regents st. before going to the tranquil St James Park.  All in all it was fantastic day out and I was amazed with how much I enjoyed seeing the sights that everyday I take for granted.  I guess that sometimes we all don't appreciate what we have on our doorstep.

14:21 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Amazon No.1 slot again
Category: Writing and Poetry

Without wanting to blow my own trumpet; I have just regained  the Amazon.co.uk number 1 slot for Urban Legends - Yippee!

If you havn't got yourself a copy of 'Urban Legends Uncovered', what are you waiting for?  Get a copy now through my website:  www.project2067.com or from any decent book shop ( and a few dodgy ones as well)

05:37 - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Harry Potter
Category: Blogging

Hi all,

I have now got the new Harry Potter book.  Don't worry though, i was not mad enough to queue up at 12 midnight last night like so many other thousands of people did.  My wife just walked into Tescos and picked up a copy this morning.  The only problem is that I will have to wrestle the book off her because she wants to read it before me!

The Potter franchise has turned into a monster that could eventually turn on it's creator, with the backlash and fallout that usually occurs when anything gets this big.  Not J K Rowling will care, the only thing she will care about is buying a bigger enough mattress to stuff under the many millions of pounds that the book will generate! Unfortuantely, her style and writing will get criticised simply because of her fame - just look at the treatment Dan Brown got.

I am a big fan of Harry Potter although i must admit, I thought the last book had lost it's fizz and was very drawn out.   I have heard that the 'Deathly Hallows' ties up many loose ends from the series and mysteries are unravelled, so i will look forward to reading it (if I can get it off my wife).

The big question is - Does Harry Potter die?  At the time of writing I do not know, but I am sure that some wanker will spill the beans before i have had a chance to read it!

06:29 - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment