From The Mind of Merc - Prejudgment

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about judging a book by its cover.

So many people seem to think they can guess everything from a person just from how they look. But how can you can possibly know their story based on your own subjective perception of their appearance?

And, to that end, I've written a poem:

Hidden Depths

The eyes are open but the gaze is bare

It might make you think there’s no-one there

But the brain is alive, it’s buzzing inside

It’s deep in their memories that they seek to hide

Their eyes do not see the world that we know

But the way that they knew it many years ago

When the champagne flowed freely and the hairstyles gleamed

And everything was more wonderful than it seemed

Where laughter echoed around dazzling halls

And dresses sparkled at countless balls

In their mind they’re dancing to a catchy beat

It’s a heady vision from which they won’t retreat

Because between that and monotony

Which is the one where you’d want to be?

Cats - !!!NEW!!!

This is inspired by a post a friend of mine put on Facebook which was actually just the first line of the chorus - that ignited the fuse and this is the result.

Girls Cats not by Calvin Harris

I like them black cats, I like them white cats
I like them Asian cats, I like them mix-breed cats
I like them Spanish cats, I like them Italian cats
I like the French cats and I like Scandinavian cats

I like them big cats, I like them small cats
I like them long haired cats, I like them short haired cats
I like them fat cats, I like them skinny cats
I like them carrying a little-bitty weight cats

Now kitty, I've got a lot of love to give
And I've been under-undersubscribed with relationships
See they’ve got a little thing I won’t let through this door
But I must warn ya that I can't help but just acquire some more
Some more because

I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats

I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats

Now maybe I might learn to just move on one day
But right now I want something in my life that will stay
See they’ve got a little thing I won’t let through this door
But I must warn ya that I can't help but just acquire some more
I’ve done it before

I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats

I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats

I like them black cats, I like them white cats
I like them Asian cats, I like them mix-breed cats
I like them Spanish cats, I like them Italian cats
I like the French cats and I like Scandinavian cats

I like them big cats, I like them small cats
I like them long haired cats, I like them short haired cats
I like them fat cats, I like them skinny cats
I like them carrying a little-bitty weight cats

I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats

I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats
I want all the cats, I want all the cats

Disney Life Hacks #8 - Rapunzel

Continuing my Disney Life Hacks series today - those little tricks the Disney stars use to achieve the unlikely, unbelievable and impossible.

Today, Rapunzel from Tangled shares her top tip:

Shakespeare Rap Battle - Richard III vs Macbeth

My third rap parody inspired by the brilliant Princess Rap Battles created by Whitney Avalon (the inspiration for this one can be found here). 

Princess Rap Battle – Maleficent vs Daenerys Shakespeare Rap Battle – Richard III vs Macbeth

[RICHARD III]
No doubt made the best of a bad situation
Was quite distressed to not receive at least an invitation
To my nephew’s coronation: Became their own ruination
And it wasn’t long before I ruled over the whole nation

[MACBETH]
I am Macbeth Findlaích, First of My Line
You can call me Your Majesty - that will be fine       ,
You’re insane bringing battle, you know I cannot be beat?
By challenging me you are heading for defeat

[RICHARD III]
You know, I am so impressed by all the carnage that you wreak
But think you should know you’re on a losing streak
Having killed the king, you then killed your dearest friend
Then learnt that your darling wife had just gone right round the bend
Well, at least you tried. For what that was worth
Cannot compete with me - the baddest on earth
Medieval evil who is regal, I’m tyrannical as well     
Evilest royalist who’s killin’ - dispatching my rivals to Hell

[MACBETH]
Oh, whatever King Dicky, you think you’re so bad?
You’re an Old English softy: you are really just sad
And what’s your obsession with those two young boys?
Even in my time that’s some question’ble joys
You can say that they are bastards as much as you like
But not everyone will believe that hype
And think that I stand no chance well you just wait
My reign was prophesised. And you can’t argue with fate

[RICHARD III]
You believe those witches? This is worse than I thought
You’d better start running for the hills before you get caught
You think you are immortal? That’s crazy. So cute
But you can’t pick out which bits of the prophecy suit
Think you’re so scary when you’re forced into carryin’
The weight of the crown and then you’re losin’ your honey then
You’ve no heir to carry on this forlorn path you started on
Before you know it you are gone and there’s nothing left but your swansong

[MACBETH]
Think you’re so powerful but not what you seem:
What kind of great tyrant gets destroyed by a dream?
Think you’ve loyal subjects? Take another look, Dick
They’re not. They’re just pretending. It’s all a trick
It’s over, death is what your fate will bring
Here’s the thing know this king is ending got nothing          
My course was predestined – something I could not stop
I started as a mere Thane and I ended on top

[RICHARD III]
You think that was bad? It’s not even close
I killed my kin for what I want most
You think you have won, but you’ll soon crash and burn
Want to know how it’s done just watch and learn

[MACBETH]
I’m The Ruler of Scotland, you can’t teach me!
I am the best - it’s my destiny
So back off my throne, ‘cause that vacancy’s filled

Or you’ll scream when you die like the last king I killed

From The Mind of Merc - Titan & Titanic

(Evidently the internet signal on my phone was strong enough to post this so apologies for its delay)

Sometimes I find my mind wandering over various eclectic topics and occasionally I am inspired to write some of them down. Today I was thinking about the eerie similarities between 'The Wreck of the Titan' by Morgan Robertson and the fate of the RMS Titanic.

I’ve no doubt that more people will have heard of the real Titanic than the fictional Titan but the similarities between the fiction and the non-fiction are quite staggering.

But to start with a difference:

Titan	Titanic
Written 1898	Sank 1912

So, just to set the scene, the story of the Titan was written 14 years BEFORE Titanic set sail.

Now let’s move on to the similarities.

The specifics:

Titan	Titanic
Steel vessel	Steel vessel
British owned	British owned
c.800 feet long	c.800 feet long
Capable of and travelling at speeds over 20 knots	Capable of and travelling at speeds over 20 knots
Capacity for 3000 people	Capacity for 3000 people
Displacement of 45,000 tons	Displacement of 45,000 tons
3 propellers, 2 masts	3 propellers, 2 masts
Weighed c.45,000 tons	Weighed c.45,000 tons
Horsepower c. 40,000	Horsepower c. 40,000
Claimed as being “Unsinkable”	Claimed as being “Unsinkable”
Too few lifeboats on board	Too few lifeboats on board

The sinking:

Sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic	Sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic
Hit an iceberg 400 miles from Newfoundland	Hit an iceberg 400 miles from Newfoundland
Iceberg hit starboard bow	Iceberg hit starboard bow
Sank in mid-April	Sank in mid-April
Sank around midnight	Sank around midnight

That’s some pretty psychic storytelling!