Paul Carney

What app eats up most of your screen time — and do you even feel bad about it? I don’t use social media. The app I use daily is the Notes app on my phone and tablet. It is an extension of my brain. I love thinking and wrestling with the big questions in life. 🤔🧐💭🙇‍♂️

What’s a book you think deserves a sequel? My debut novel, the Arthrobot Scriptures was a long, complex and difficult book to write. In addition, the whole process of trying to market it and make it available for sale was exhausting, with little in return. Without PR and marketing, without huge effort and finance, solo books are doomed to fail, especially when, as in the case of mine, it is a…

The universe from different perspectives The universe is an incredible, awe-inspiring, and as far as we know, completely unique place. The circumstances that led to its creation were mind-bogglingly precise and extreme. For example, the early universe was created in a tiny fraction of a second from an extraordinarily rapid inflation. This miraculous event is so profound, so special, so wondrous,…

WARNING: this post contains offensive language A key turned in the lock of an imposing, grey steel prison door. A bolt was pulled across with a clang, then a prison guard swung it forcefully open.  “New inmate for you, Higgy. As agreed. Look after him and I’ll see you right. Sweet dreams.” A thin, morose-looking young lad shuffled apologetically into the tiny cell, clutching a bag that…

‘Incel’ is a demeaning masculine term which implies that girls are only interested in the best-looking guys, hence all other guys are forced into involuntary celibacy. It’s twisted, toxic masculinity of course, which leads to intense resentment towards girls who are accused of being shallow and manipulative.  In my opinion, it is a pretty silly misconception because if there are 95% of guys who…

There are many compelling cases of children who recall past lives. They are able to provide such convincing accounts and details of events that are not easy to dismiss. One such case is that of James Leininger, a young American boy who had nightmares of being trapped in a burning plane that was crashing into the sea. Between the ages of two and five, he named aircraft types, a ship called Natoma,…

Priya paused before putting the sleek, black headset over her weary, hungover eyes. A sudden surge of reflux engulfed her mouth, no doubt a residue from last night’s ill-advised kebab. Her stomach was churning, and her head was pounding. She was deeply regretting that late-night tequila slammer contest with Pete and his friends, especially since it happened on a work night. As it was, she’d…

I love it when I’ve donated some money to a worthwhile cause like the Red Cross or Amnesty. There’s a site called Lend with Care, that uses your donation to give microfinance loans to help people work themselves out of poverty. It’s a great feeling to know you’re helping real people better themselves. It’s just lovely to be kind. Being kind is such a human superpower. It makes us feel good and…

Since I retired from education in 2024, I have released most of my art teacher training sessions as free videos for teacher development. Hopefully they will serve as support and guidance for art teachers in Key Stages 1-3, I wish you well. Drawing Painting Sculpture Sketchbooks Applying artist knowledge Developing ideas for art projects Art teacher CPD free

All of my life I have been labelled as an emotional person. “He’s moody.” “He’s a sulker.” “Cry baby.” “Whinger.” “Moaner.” Later in my life, work colleagues would wind me up for the sheer pleasure of seeing me ‘bite’. I garnered a reputation for having ‘outbursts’, some of which are legendary. I provided a lot of people with gossip and was the butt of many jokes.  Then in 2023, aged 60, I was…

Thought I’d share recent drawings from the studio. Microbes – pencil on paper. A very satisfying transfer of digital drawings into traditional media. I’m working on repeating some drawings of mine I love but want to reinterpret. There’s something beautiful about this subject matter combined with the process of drawing. #drawing #microbes #scienceart