View allAll Photos Tagged I've gotta do the right thing now
..I've gotta do the right thing now.
‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧ ‧:❉:‧
✎ Featuring: Cosmopolitan Event (Until July 23rd)
✎ Credits:
» Rio Chair w Ottoman - by Lalou at Cosmopolitan Event
» Eliana Glasses - by Deep Static at Cosmopolitan Event
» Vanessa outfit - by Adorsy at Cosmopolitan Event
» Sanna bookshelf - by Myrrine at Cosmopolitan Event
✎ Others:
» Peach hairstyle - by DOUX
» Library book - murder - by e.marie
Pose - Touchness
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQQMJ2u6fGE
Dancing in the dark
Middle of the night
Taking your heart
And holding it tight
Emotional touch
Touching my skin
And askin' you to do
What you've been doing
All over again
Oh, it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know
What it is that won't let me go
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love
Better than I was
More than I am
And all of this happened
By taking your hand
And who I am now
Is who I wanted to be
And now that we're together
I'm stronger than ever, I'm happy and free
Oh, it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in (oh oh)
And if you ask me why I've changed
All I gotta do is say your sweet name
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love
(Woah oh baby)
(Oh, oh, oh)
Oh, it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know
What it is that won't let me go
It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
(Oh) And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love
It's your love
It's your love
I saw the 1st show of Jimmy Eat World's Clarity 10X10 tour - 10 shows celebrating the 10th anniversary of the release of their first album. As an encore, they played this song off an old EP, and I'm a little bit in love with it right now. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do =)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EQvE_EtdRM
I've got my car, we could go and sit a while.
I know it won't turn over but we'll get somewhere just the same
I'm through talking
(it's the strangest thing, I feel safe when I'm lonely)
don't take too much
you'll get burned if it's all at one time
take it easy don't you get it?
it's just an expression
would you raise your voice every time a little dirt gets under?
cry if you want
(it's the return of no sensitivity)
you don't have to scream to say something that you honestly mean
the world won't turn without you
and I am amazed you're standing still
your problems, they aren't problems
be glad they never will
I'm taking my kisses back
I want my kisses back from you
when you hear those footsteps calling
it's O.K. if you don't answer
isn't it obvious?
I thought it was obvious.
HAPPY Totally Textured Tuesday!
& Also this is my halfway point for my 100x... Photo # 50! Yay!
My X = My 100 Favorite Places to take photos in Southern New Jersey, USA!
LOCATION: Hardings Lakes, Mays Landing, New Jersey, USA (Atlantic County)
__________________
This photo was taken using my macro lens attachment. I have a product photo session coming up this week, I can't wait (I WILL post photos!) & I was practicing textures with glitter for the shoot. I was just playing around seeing how they looked & I came up with this.. & it worked.
Hope you all like it!
Yes, again.. it's a glitter texture. :)
I'm going to be making glitter textures (I make all of my own) If you all are ever interested and would like to have one, just message me privately and tell me.. I can send you some previews of what I have & send them to you. No problem. :)
Anyway.. I am having really bad anxiety. I have been having it ALL WEEK. We have a trip to the DVM (Department of Motor Vehicle)... and that place gives me the worst anxiety.. Like, seriously. I don't know what the experience is like in other areas.. but it can be VERY STRESSFUL here. They make you bring a million different types of proof of who you are.. and then it's NOT enough and you gotta come back another day. Listen. I had to set up an appointment (weeks ago).. & if they make me come back I'm going to have a meltdown.
So, in order to hopefully prevent that from happening I'm bringing EVERYTHING. I'm bringing SO MUCH stuff that they're going to be like, ' Okay we get it, it's you.. now get that stuff out of here !'
Seriously, I have so much. But the DMV freaks me out, overwhelms me (because of past experiences).. So I'm trying to avoid that from happening at all costs... and I'm still super anxious. Cross your fingers for me please, that all goes well.. I'll update this later & tell ya'll how it went! Thanks again.
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In OTHER news, I've been very stressed out. This is my blog/journal as well as my photo platform site.. and I feel that I can talk to you all.. & I am grateful for each and every one of you! (Thank you for always listening and being so amazing, you guys have no idea how much you all mean to me!)
Anyway, about the stress..
I cannot actually elaborate TOO MUCH because of what it involves BUT if you want to message me privately and ask, I can get into it further..
But something has been going on.. And I've been reaching out trying to address it but the people (that need to listen to me about this) are NOT listening. And they're going to regret it. AND this is NOT talking about what it sounds like at all.. After I typed it, I realized what it could sound like.. It's not suicide !! (I re-read it and it kind of sounded like that lol, I promise it's not!!) But it's a VERY big life altering decision.. that is about to take place.
This situation has been a long time coming.. but I really cannot do it anymore. What's been happening and what I've been forced to go thru isn't worth it to me or my physical/mental/emotional health. I shouldn't have to feel like this. it's not fair. And those who have actually listened are very surprised that I've lasted this long in this situation.
It's for the best. I'm scared of coarse because it's a huge change for me.. And nothing is set in stone yet.. but a big change in my life is coming soon. I'm just not sure where the wind is going to blow me yet. . But if & when the big change happens.. I will be writing about it of coarse, because I use this as my blog as well as my photo /
& main social media account .
So as soon as anything happens, I'll tell you guys!
But basically, I've been doing a LOT of praying and personal inventory. I've been thinking about my wrongs and my rights.. and the good and the bad. And I've decided that for my future well being.. something needs to change. Juan agrees. He's totally behind me 100% (of coarse, because he's always had my best interest at heart). He sees what is happening to me.. and if he could - he would have yanked me out of the situation A LONG TIME AGO. I love that man so much. I'm so grateful for him.
His support, friendship and his heart.. He has such a big heart. That's a wonderful blessing to me, because I do too. And it's a real heart (not always looking out for himself- and how do get ahead at other's expense - like most people). He's the most unselfish person.. And it's a beautiful thing... Because when it comes down to it.. Many people out there who say they're all of these great things, they're NOT! That should be a warning.. For those who go around saying how "real" and "true" they are.. Run away. They're not. lol I'm learning this - still, sadly. (I'm still shocked at how naive I can be when it comes to people, but I'm learning.)
I am finding that my heart is way too big. And I've been praying about it a lot. I'm never going to shut out my heart. What would Jesus do? He would continue to love & spread love... and show love. And be persecuted .. and still go on - doing right & spreading love.
I've been learning other lessons recently as well..
Like, to be careful. MY KINDNESS IS NOT A WEAKNESS!! & When I'm kind and see someone possibly taking advantage.. I'm going to step back with my charitable love & support.. and see the reaction. When it's negative I'm done. Sorry. Because if I'm helping out of the kindness of my heart, that's something I'm doing out of love. But when I'm feeling like maybe I'm being taken advantage of, I'm going to see if this is the reality. And when it is.. I'm sorry but I cannot help anymore.
Life has been showing me all of these lessons lately.. Some are harder than others.. But to be honest, it's been pretty stressful. I'm doing a lot of praying and learning many things. And I'm grateful for these experiences, even when they're bad.. Because I still have so much to learn.. & God is helping me to learn them- in ways that I can handle and understand.. & learn from. So for all of that, I am grateful.
I pray for certain things.. And he delivers. That's for sure. I'm grateful for my life.. It's no where near perfect, but it's MINE & I'm glad I am who I am. I'm glad I've went thru what I have.. because all of the pain and the struggles.. they made me who I am today. The hurt - the pain that was so unbearable , was the hurt that helped me to change. So for that too, I am grateful.
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I hope you all have a fantastic week! Happy Tuesday!
I will return comments when I can..
Once again, cross your fingers for me today... I'm nervous.. Here I GO!!
I'll update later & tell ya'll how it went!
EDIT: Everything WENT WELL. I'm so glad.. and surprised! It almost didn't, because I had the wrong document, I accidentally brought the COPY of the birth certificate.. HOWEVER because of all of the OTHER stuff I brought, ((Thank GOD)) it worked out. And everything worked well with my dad so I'm so grateful! A lot of stress at first, but it went smoother than I thought it would.. Just thought I'd update ya'll and let you know... Everything went GOOD & worked out. So grateful!
I had to add this... an amazing quote that touched my heart, from a dear friend..
"“The kindest people are not born that way, they are made. They are the souls that have experienced so much at the hands of life, they are the ones who have dug themselves out of the dark, who have fought to turn every loss into a lesson. The kindest people do not just exist, they choose to soften where circumstance has tried to harden them. They choose to believe in goodness because they have seen firsthand why tenderness is so important in this world”. - a quote to help me at this time.. from Eric Thomas
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/169445064@N04/]
I've seen a lot of my contacts answering the following questions so I decided to jump on the bandwagon!
WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Yes, my Father.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
About a month ago.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
NO!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Peppered Ham.
DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes, I have a son.
IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably not! lol...
DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Sometimes.
DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes.
WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Been there, done that!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Cocoa Rice Krispies
DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
I don't own any shoes with ties.
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
I'd like to think so!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
The correct and only answer is... Häagen-Dazs Rum Raisins!
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
The way they express themselves
RED OR PINK?
Red, always!
WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I tend to be too methodical... always striving for perfection... I'm a pain the butt!
WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My family back in Boston, MA.
WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Brown
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Cookies
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Nothing
IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Blue
FAVORITE SMELLS?
Hanoe Mori.
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
What does it matter now?
FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
I don't like any sports.
HAIR COLOR?
Black
EYE COLOR?
Dark brown
DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No.
FAVORITE FOOD?
Steak!!! But I love all kinds of food, especially my Mom's.
SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings. I don't believe in "Scary movies."
LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
My Best Friend's Girl
WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
It's a sweater and it's pink, gray, black and white. I'll post a link later!
SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter, always!
HUGS OR KISSES?
Kisses!
FAVORITE DESSERT?
Ice Cream
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
"For one more day"
WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
My mouse! =P
WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
24, season 2.
FAVORITE SOUND?
Rain and thunder.
ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Neither one!
WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME???
Short term: Las Vegas - Long term: New Jersey
DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I'm a really good coordinator!
WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Salvador, El Salvador - C.A.
I wish you all a happy weekend!
...or how Honky Tonk and Sister Bill got their nicknames. If it happened in the Hill Country, it probably happened at Mamacitas.
This is an essay about the Texas Hill Country, but it's going to take me a long way around to get to the Hill Country. I'll add a paragraph here and there as the spirit moves me. Nicknames are easy to come by in the Texas Hill Country. Any naming incident that sparks a full two minutes of laughter is apt to create a life long nick name.
I got mine early on when Sherry began her career as a Methodist minister. Churches she was assigned to by the Bishop had never or seldom had female pastors and for the most part the pastor was called Brother Smith, Brother John, Brother Ralph or Brother Bubba, maybe even Brother Slim or Brother whatever. At Sherry's first church one of the men was speaking to Sherry in front of a crowd and referred to her as Brother Sherry. The crowd erupted in laughter and that sparked me to ad lib, "Well I guess that makes me Sister Bill." It stuck, and from then on everywhere we've gone I've become Sister Bill. Strangly enough, the Brother Sherry didn't stick and she's always been Pastor Sherry. It's funny how that works. This system makes a good litmus test as to who you can trust too. Those who use it in derision are easy to pick up on and you can depend on it, they will become your enemies. It's always good to know who your enmies are. Next time I'm in the mood to post, I'll tell you who Honky Tonk is and how she got her nickname.
Joy got her name from British author,Ruth Hamilton. Joy is the pianist at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City, Texas where Sherry and I spent nine exciting years before we moved to Kerrville five years ago. Joy is my age (80+-) and grew up in a series of Methodist churches. Her father was a Methodist preacher. When she was junior high age she was so good on piano, she started playing the church organ where her father preached. Joy became famous with her junior high school peers by playing the country-western/pop hit "Pistol Packing Mama" to a slow hymn cadence in church during certain parts of the service. Her father never was able to hear the plaintive admonition, "Laaaaaaay thaaaaaat pistooooool dooooown, baaaaabe, laaaaaay thaaaaaat pistoooooool doooooown; Pistooooooool Paaaaaaacking Maaaaaaama puuuuuut thaaaaaaat guuuuuuun awaaaaaaaaay." Of one thing you can be sure, every junior high kid in the Methodist church heard the message and nobody ever figured out why the kids would often become so giggly and out of control, especially when they heard the tune telling them, "Oh, she kicked out my windshield, she hit me over the head. She cussed and cried and said I'd lied and wished that I was dead. Lay that pistol down, babe, lay that pistol down, Pistol Packing Mama, put that gun away!"
Naturally Joy grew into a natural musician and could improvise without even having to consciously think about it. During the nine years we were rewarded with her weekly concerts, I noticed that she would often spontaneously begin the add character to the hymns. Some came out with the feel of honky tonk country western and some even took on a boogie beat. She did this naturally, but seemed not to be able to do it on demand. Perhaps demand made her self conscious. For that reason when Ruth Hamilton begged me to tape "Honky Tonk" (that's the name Ruth began to call her because she could never remember the name Joy Feuge) and send her the tape, I made a noble effort. I was never able to get a tape, but Ruth's name "Honky Tonk" stuck and that's what we call Joy to this day. Next, I'll tell you something about a Texas Hill Country institution, Mamacita's Mexican Restaurant, serving Mexican food, but owned and operated by an American Muslim Iranian. That gets him in trouble with the area's fundamentalist cowboy Christians from time to time, to which he pays no attention and simply continues to oeprate a superb small chain of Mexican restaurants. He operates one in San Antonio, one in San Marcos, one in Fredericksburg and one in Kerrville. It just goes to show, you can't hold a good man down.
I've been eating at Mamacita's restaurants for years now and when I began writing this piece couldn't even remember the owner and founder's name. Sherry found this link on the internet and it is so interesting and complete I'm going to post it word for word:
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Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant: Oh Mama!
Profile
By Kathryn Jones
Thursday, 24 January 2008
There are four Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurants in Texas, the largest of which seats 400 people.
Premier Business Partners:
DeCoty Coffee Co.
Known to most as simply “Hagi,” Hossein Hagigholam left Iran for the United States in 1976 with a dream to make it big in the land of opportunity.
His initial plan was to study civil engineering. But, as fate should have it, he now owns and operates four Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurants in Kerrville, Texas, with four other locations in Fredericksburg, New Braunfels, San Marcos and San Antonio, Texas. The smallest location seats 250 people and the largest seats 400 people.
In an interview with Food and Drink, Hagi reveals how he transitioned from a lonely dishwasher who could barely speak English to a successful entrepreneur with plans to turn his Tex-Mex restaurant into a nationally recognized franchise.
The ride has not been an easy one, he adds, but with a little faith and hard work, dreams really can come true.
Food and Drink: What brought you to the United States?
Hossein Hagigholam: From the time I was a boy, I wanted to come to America. Before the revolution in Iran, lots of Iranians came to the United States to become engineers and doctors, and then they went back home.
Without any knowledge of English, my first place to go was Houston. There was a school for English as a second language called ESL Houston.
If there were 40 students, 35 of them were Iranians, so the teachers learned how to speak our language instead of us learning English.
I knew in order to make it in the United States I had to learn the language, so I researched which college in Texas had less Iranians. Shreiner College had only one Iranian student, so that’s how I ended up in Kerrville. While I studied, I found a job in the restaurants.
If you are a foreigner and don’t know any English, the only job you have is washing dishes. I later became a bus boy and then a waiter.
As a waiter, that’s when you really make it big. I was so happy about how much money I was making as a waiter that I took three jobs: the breakfast shift in one restaurant, the lunch shift in another and the dinner shift in the third.
I remember one time a customer asked me if we took Visa, and I thought they were asking me if I had a visa. I thought I was in trouble somehow, so I ran home as fast as I could.
My manager called me the next day and asked, “What happened?” I said, “Someone wanted me to show him my visa.” He said, “No, you idiot! They were asking you if we accept Visa – the credit card.”
FAD: I can see how you would feel anxious about that. In 1979, American hostages were taken at the embassy in Tehran and President Jimmy Carter called for all Iranian students in the U.S. whose visas had expired to leave the country by the spring of 1980. You must have been devastated.
HH: The world just shattered on me, because now I had to go back. I had learned English, started earning money and I was dating Ruth.
The only way I could stay in the country was if she married me, and she wouldn’t marry me. She said, “Look, I’m 20 and you’re 21. We’re young and you come from another country and my parents won’t let me.”
I finally talked Ruth into marrying me. You talk about begging! Her parents gave their permission because of the difficult situation, but it was on the condition that we live apart for six months.
I tell people I really got married for the green card, but we’re still married after 25 years and we adopted two wonderful children. I think that says a lot.
FAD: Is it true you named the restaurant after Ruth?
HH: She is Spanish and I used to call her “Mamacita” when I was a waiter. I decided to name the restaurant Mamacita’s because it means grandmother, good-looking lady – all the goodies.
FAD: In 1985, you and a business partner opened the first Mamacita’s in Kerrville. Was it challenging to get it off the ground?
HH: Not really. We opened the second restaurant in Fredericksburg in 1988, followed by one in San Marcos in 1996, and then the biggest location, which is in San Antonio, in 2003.
And then, in 2005, we tore our original restaurant down and built a new restaurant. If there were a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for most expensive restaurant ever built per capita, it would be this restaurant, because we spent $10 million in a city with a population of only 25,000 people.
It is very tough to make money when you open a $10 million restaurant, but because of our confidence and if you treat people the way you want to be treated, anything can work. In fact, Kerrville is a German town. People say, “How could an Iranian come to the United States and build a Mexican restaurant in a German community and make it?” My answer to that is, “Only in America, of course.”
FAD: Can you share some tips in how to run a successful restaurant?
HH: If a restaurant has five elements, the owner will hit the jackpot in this business. If he has four out of five, he will make a living out of it. And if he has less than that, it is better not to mess with the restaurant business.
These elements are quality, service, location, atmosphere and reasonable prices.
Of course quality and service are always important, but I wanted to give an atmosphere that not every causal restaurant can do. In our Kerrville location, we have a third of the actual size of the Alamo inside of our restaurant.
A mechanical Davy Crockett sits on top of the roof that plays the music like the movie “Alamo.” Also, in our San Antonio location, we created a village that makes you feel like you are outside even though you are inside. It has fiber-optic stars and village shops and bakeries in it.
FAD: Having worked in restaurants when you were in college, would you say that makes you a more empathetic boss?
HH: Many casual restaurants have just one general manager that takes care of the quality of the food and the service.
When I used to work in the bottom line myself, I found that it was difficult to put all of this work on the shoulder of one person and expect him to control costs and increase sales.
So, this is why each of our locations has two general managers – one for back of house and one for front of house. We also took away any administrative work for them. Each of our locations has at least six managers.
This is what makes us different. I believe in spending money to make money when it comes to [hiring good employees.] We have a good 4 percent budgeted to training at all times.
We talk to them about the golden rule [of the restaurant business.] If you treat someone the way you want to be treated, it will increase the sales.
FAD: What is Mamacita’s perspective on providing customers with exceptional service?
HH: All of our customers can testify that no customer can walk out unless a manager has visited their table. We believe if a customer is unhappy, they will tell us when they leave.
Usually, if they are unhappy, they don’t say anything and just don’t come back.
But by having a manager shake hands and talk to them, they will feel comfortable enough to tell us what we did wrong.
We appreciate the compliments, but what we really want to hear is if there are any complaints.
I tell my management that when people go out to eat, they are in a good mood.
You never see a husband tell his wife, “Let’s go out to eat,” and the wife gets upset about it. Everybody is happy when they go out to eat, and if they choose your restaurant, you should feel honored. So, do whatever it takes to please them. They like attention.
You know, lots of Middle Eastern people that have businesses complain because they say we lost business because of the 9/11 terrorist action.
I disagree on that because my business has been doing well and I think it is because of how we treat people.
I make a lot of speeches about America, the land of opportunity. What I always emphasize at the end is this: Whoever doesn’t make it in this country, it is their own fault. I am one of those guys that really appreciate the country for what it has done for me.
FAD: What’s next for Mamacita’s?
HH: We would like to open locations in Austin, Houston and Dallas in the near future. We’ll do it one at a time. I don’t open a restaurant until I have its general managers ready. I have no plan after that yet.
You never know. Maybe a successful, nationally recognized chain will discover us and we could make a deal to take this nationwide.
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When Hagi shut down the Kerrville Mamacita's Restaurant to build that ten million dollar culinary mansion, some of the Shiite Christians in Kerrville became very upset because the architect had put a small, simple dome on the structure and it reminded them of a Muslim Mosque for some reason. They demanded the dome be removed, despite the fact the State Capitol in Austin has a dome, some churches have domes and the dome, while a Moorish design, is commonplace in Spain and Mexico AND this is a MEXICAN food restaurant, OK? My friend Frank Clark says Hagi told him, "I don't have the kind of money to buy this quality of advertising." As expected, the dome remained, the new reataurant opened and the furror subsided.
Second to the mechanical Davy Crockett who from time to time activates and play the fiddle on the ramparts of the similated Alamo in Mamacita's in Kerrville are the murals painted by Haigi's brother whose name I have never heard and can't find on the internet. Hagi's brother is a truly outstanding artist and at some time in the future I'm going to photograph some of the interior and post it here. Mexican restaurants around the Southwest are famous for their absolutely crude murals, but Mamacita's redeems them all. Hagi's brother is a wonderful muralist.
For almost fifteen years now, Mamacita's has been a part of Hill Country living for Sherry and me and the good people of the First Methodist Church in Johnson City Texas. We meet there to celebrate birthdays and for a long time after Sherry and I moved to Kerrville we met regularily at Mamacita's in Fredericksburg. Same driving distance from Kerrville and from Johnson City.
I recommend Mamacita's to anyone as being the best eating experience you'll ever have. Their New York strip is flawless and substitute the baked potatoe for guacamole salad and you'll have a low carb meal to die for. The Mamacita's salad is perfect weight control meal IF you'll skip the taco shell. If you're not on a diet the Mexican food is delicious, the tortillas are always hot and honey with butter is always available on request.
As Kathryn Jones described in her profile, I can't remember ever eating at Mamacita's without someone from management stopping by the table and asking if everything is alright, which reminds me of the only negative experience I've ever had at a Mamacita's restaurant.
Several years ago Sherry and I met seven or eight of the Johnson City folks at the Fredericksburg Mamacita's for one of our monthly reunions. As always I was low-carb dieting and ordered a Mamacita's Salad to get some healthy carbs as opposed to sugar laden carbs. Unlike any other Mamacita's salad I'd ever eaten this one was very short on vegetables. I mentioned it to the person next to me and when the waiter came around asking if everything was ok, that person told him my complaint. It has always been my policy NOT to complain at a restaurant, but I've worked too many police cases concerned with what a cook can do to a customer in way of retaliation. Spit in the food is the least of the possibilities. Whatever the revenge, there's always someone in the kitchen who wants to get even with the cook and so the retaliation gets reported. So, there I sit, not wanting to complain but really disappointed in the amount of vegetables I was served. My friend from Johnson City has spilled the beans and I'm forced to admit I thought the salad was skimpy. The waiter went to the kitchen and returned witha such a large plate of vegetables AND chicken which I hadn't complained about that it was obvious the cook was angered and this amount of food was his way of retaliating and an attempt to make me look foolish for daring to complain. I did eat some more vegetables and the shared the rest of the extra food with everyone at the table. Johnson City folks are not short on appetite, so nothing went to waste. I can see the cook's point of view. He or she probably sees tons of salad thrown out by customers who eat the grilled chicken, pick around on the vegetables and then send the remainder back to the kitchen to be disposed of. I was still disappointed in the arrogance of the cook and the attempt to make me look ridiculous. Maybe the cook was having trouble their spouse, who knows? In fifteen years that's the only negative experience I've had at a Mamacita's.
The Texas Hill Country is full of anomaly, so it's no wonder that an Iranian man can become a millionaire with Mexican restaurants in German communities. Fredericksburg is even more German than Kerrville. San Marcos and San Antonio have strong German influences too. Go figure. Now I want to tell you about a mystery writer who writes murder mysteries in and around Blanco County, yep, Blanco county where I was a reserve deputy for several years after I retired from SWT Police Dept. as an investigator.
At all those birthday parties at Mamacitas there was the "viewing of the presents and cards" ritual which I've described in the narrative of another ritual. Sherry always shops for certain people on our list and I shop for others, we've never discussed it, it just seemed to fall into place. One of the people I always bought the present for was "Honky Tonk" who is the pianist at the First Methodist Church in Johnson City and a very close friend as well. I always bought her music CDs and usually gospel music. She found out I collected author-signed books and so that's what she always gave me for my birthday.
My eyes were really bad for a long time and so I collected a bunch of those books without seriosly reading them. One set of books were by a young mystery writer named Ben Rehder. Joy (Honky-Tonk) went to several book signings and so I built up a collection Ben's novels. All of his novels take place in Blanco County of which Johnson City is not only the County Seat, but is the home town of former president, Lyndon B. Johnson.
When I retired in 1998 I was seventy-one years old and had never written anything more than a police report, but upon retiring I began to write essays and short stories and had so much fun I completely lost my identity as a police sketch artist and watercolorist. I've read a lot of the local Blanco county writing generated by the Blanco County Historical Society and others and I'm here to testify this stuff will put you to sleep quicker than prescription drugs. So you have the picture; there I was with faulty glasses, a collection of novels obviously done by a local guy...nothing here I can't wait a while for...right?
So, several years later and a new pair of glasses, this time prescribed by an optometrist and NOT a opthomologist...HURRAY, I can read again. So, I picked up a Ben Rehder novel and VIOLA' this guy is really good. This is really just like Blanco County. He's talking about the Sherrif's Office and I rode for several years as a reserve deputy with one of the full time deputies and we had experiences very similar to the ones Ben tells about in his novels.
I did feel like Ben's tales were a little tame though. Like in "Murder, She Wrote" it seemed like Blanco County might begin to compete with Cabot Cove for the title, Murder Capital of the World. I was tempted to write Ben and tell him to let go a little bit and make the cases really as bizarre as the ones we actually worked. There was the guy who carried female garments in his car and when he came up on a dead deer along the road, he'd dress the remains in the female attire and have his carnal way with them. A combination the density of cell phones and Baptists got the guy arrested pretty quickly and his case was investigated and taken to the district attorney.
Another case I wanted to tell Ben about was the one involving some young men who had small explosives used on coyote bait. They began a campaign to blow up all the rural mail boxes in the north part of the county. In this case the volume of the explosion plus the denisty of ranchers, pickup trucks and deer rifles brought about arrests before too many mail boxes had to be replaced or before someone was killed or injured getting their mail or before the county has to investigate the strange deaths of two young men blown up in a pickuptruck sitting in front of a rural mailbox. It would have probably been written up as a double suicide.
I had three of Ben's autographed books and read all three nonstop and was amazed at the quality of his writing and the universal appeal these books would have. When he spoke of eating at Ronny's Barbeque, it was like being home. I have eaten at Ronny's many times and it's just like Ben tells it.
When I finished each novel I passed them on to my best bud, Frank Clark, who wanted to read them because although he doesn't come from a law-enforcement background, he comes from a Central Texas deer hunting background. His wife called me and complained; she said she wasn't getting her sleep. He wakes her up all through the night laughing his ass off, so I decided I gotta get online and order everything this guy has written.
Online at Ben's website I was amazed to find out that Ben is writing these in a vein of HUMOR. It even cites the genre as being humorous mystery novels. What humor? These are serious law enforcement novels of Blanco County, just the way she is! Damn! Did I ever feel like a hick. I ordered everything he's written and Holy Moly which isn't even off the press yet.
As of today Holy Moly is the only one I haven't read. "Gun Shy" is my favorite, but there's not one in the set that isn't a fantastic read. In my case, I can't put them down and it's a good thing I'm retired, otherwise I'd have used up all my sick leave for the next two decades. Frank is still reading and Michele is beginning to look a little "red in the eye" but otherwise we'll just have to wait for "Holy Moly" to come out and hope Ben is presently working on a new novel. The main man is a game warden who helps with the Sherrif's Department's criminal cases. That's the truth or at least very close to reality, we had a game warden in Hays County who was skilled and certified in Forensic Hypnosis and worked with police sketch artists on all kinds of cases.
This ends my little essay on the 'Life in the Texas Hill Country" and I apologize for it being a lot longer than I intended it to be. In closing, I'll simply say, "If you're not already living in the Hill Country, start now making your plans to move here; the life you save may be your own."
I'm a terrible proof reader and it may be weeks before I get around to the first tip toe back through....be patient, I'm old...ok?
This is Ben Rehder's website and you'll be relieved to know Ben doesn't have to rely on the likes of me for his publicity. Kinky Friendman of Texas Monthly fame recommends Ben highly.
J. LO fan girl - I will always be ;-)
Visit this location in Second Life
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kGvlESGvbs
You think you gotta keep me iced
You don't
You think I'm gonna spend your cash
I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz
I don't
If I wanna floss I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
When you rolled up in the Escalade
Saw that dub you gave to the valet
Knew that it was game when you looked at me
Pulling up your sleeve so I could see the Rolley bling
Saw you later in the corner booth
Raising up a toast so I would notice you
But your hard to miss
Think you outta know
Doesn't matter if you're balling out of control
All that matter's is
That you treat me right
Give me all the things I need
That money can't buy yeah
You think you gotta keep me iced
You don't
You think I'm gonna spend your cash
I won't
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
Think I wanna drive your Benz
I don't
If I wanna floss I got my own
Even if you were broke
My love don't cost a thing
When I took a chance
Thought you'd understand
Baby credit cards aren't romance
So you're tryna buy what's already yours
What I need from you is not available in stores
Seen a side of you that I really feel
Doing way too much, never keep it real
If it doesn't change, gotta hit the road
Now I'm leaving, where's my keys?
I've got to go
All that matter's is
That you treat me right
Give me all the things I need
That money can't buy yeah...
Cut off from the sea by the suspicious port authorities in Shanghai it seemed that the only way I was going to get out of China was overland. This was my ticket.
In Shanghai I had inquired of every traveler I met about the path ahead of me. I had heard tales of this magnificent and exotic railway adventure before... they called it the greatest railway journey on earth. The longest stretch of steel rail ever layed.
An Australian traveller named Mark told me that he had heard that there was a guy in Beijing who could get me a ticket.
I asked Mark how I could find this guy in Beijing. He said just go there and ask for 'The Crocodile.' Just go to a city of some ten million souls and ask for 'The Crocodile'? It sounded almost insane to me.
Ditching Mark after he made moves on my Chinese girlfriend and ditching my Chinese girlfriend after she got all worked up when a soldier who was following me took a picture of us together on the riverfront... I understood her fear in that time of Tienenmen Square and I knew it was time once again to get moving. It was time to move north to Beijing... the city they once called Peking.
Tsu Tsu Mei was a nice girl. She had told me to call her Eleanor... because that was what she called her 'American name.' I couldn't do it because she just didn't look like an Eleanor to me... I always called her Tsu Tsu Mei. And I think that she really liked that I did... it would have been easier to call her Eleanor I'm sure... but each time I called her 'Tsu Tsu Mei' she gave me this look... it started with a big warm vulnerable smile that made it seem to me that she was melting inside with warm thoughts and shaking knees.
That look always made me want to scoop her up in my arms and give her the same feelings right back. Whenever I said her name and got that look... it just kind of summed everything up right there in that moment. I really liked that. Sometimes I wished that it had gone farther but the way it ended is why I have the memories I do... and I hope she does too... we never hurt each other... never not once... it was the hard and cold government of an opressive authoritarian regime that broke both of our hearts there in Shanghai. It wasn't either of us... it wasn't our fault.
I was with Mark the Australian when I met Tsu Tsu Mei... we were tooling around Shanghai and we had just gotten on the bus after a tour of the Shanghai Waterpipe Factory Number Seven where I had just purchased a fine example of a brass opium waterpipe. We had seen the place while riding the bus and jumped off... the factory was really happy to have foreigners tour the place. I couldn't believe that there were at least six other water bong factories in Shanghai. Somehow we had found the seventh.
As foreigners we were pretty much used to talking in english right in front of people knowing full well that they couldn't follow our conversation... especially the slang riddled prose we frequently used. When Tsu Tsu Mei got on the bus and stood next to me I turned to Mark and said "man she is the most beautiful Chinese woman I have ever seen."
Before Mark could agree... Tsu Tsu Mei let me know that she appreciated the compliment... she smiled and said "thank you" in perfect english.
Shocked that my subterfuge was exposed at first I was a little embarassed... until Mark took that half of a second to start in on her. No way I thought... I was the one who paid the compliment... I was going to be putting the moves on Tsu Tsu Mei. I'm not sure Australian guys understand the concept of a good 'wing man' but Mark sure had some learnin' to do. He needed to watch the movie 'Top Gun' and take some notes.
Tsu Tsu Mei and I arranged to meet later that night in downtown Shanghai and proceeded to become great friends. She even took me to meet her parents... Norman Tsu... the first deaf technical drafting instructor in all of China and his 'deaf wife Janie.'
Tsu Tsu Mei's father Norman was sent to the United States to study technical drafting in the fifties. He went to Gaudellet University and he confided in me that he really liked it... that he didn't want to come back to China... he stopped writing home and corresponding with the government... he wanted to drift away... but they corralled his mother who was a widow by this time... and they made her write Norman a letter that made it really clear that it was in her best interests that Norman return to China. That's how China got its first deaf technical drafting instructor. Or how they got him back.
Norman always referred to his wife as 'My deaf wife.' Both of them were deaf and we passed notes to each other over a marvellous dinner... while Tsu tsu Mei just kept smiling at me and at her parents... unbelievable food Normans deaf wife cooked. It was a feast... and not the Chinese food I was used to... this was exotic and unknown to me. The Tsu's really went out and they've been in my thoughts many times since then.
The Tsu family was really good to me and things were moving right along with Tsu Tsu Mei too until that soldier decided that he'd turn our little hand holding session on the Shanghai riverfrint into a Kodak moment. I had seen that guy following me before... he was the tallest Chinaman I'd ever seen... a full head above the rest of the general population. I found great amusement in shagging him... going into a store and going out the back door. It was really like a game. Still... he always found me... he was on me for days there in Shanghai. And after he took that picture I realized that my company with Tsu Tsu Mei wasn't looked upon favorably by the authorities. She was terrified of the repurcussions. I knew that was it... I wasn't going to get her or her family inot any trouble. I was going to get out of Shanghai.
I purchased a train ticket on a sleeper train for the seventeen hour ride from Shanghai to Beijing. How was it that I could go to a city the size of Beijing almost a thousand miles to the north and find this man called 'The Crocodile' simply by asking? It seemed completely insane... but such was the world I found myself in this year... for me, 1990 was the year of living insanely.
After seventeen hours of watching China slide by through the window accompanied by the soundtrack of nonstop kung fu videos on the train's television sets, I stepped off the carriage in Beijing, China's capital city. Which was a godsend because I could not have taken one more of those videos. The Chinese truly love them... they must be a part of their national identity... the way that the Japanese love Godzilla. Godzilla was a mechanism that helped the Japanese to cope with their loss of World War Two and the painful shock of getting Nuked twice. Even though Godzilla always stomps their cities to pieces they always triumph. It's like a morality tale with them.
When I was living in Osaka someone who worked in the studio that made the Godzilla movies decided to borrow the costume and wear it to a party where he caused it to be damaged to the tune of a hundred and seventy five thousand dollars. I wish I was at that party. Hanging out with the Nigerians. That would have been epic.
The first european looking guy I saw in Beijing... I stopped him as was my custom in the orient and inquired of the conditions and opportunities there in this new city. Blonde hair in China or Japan had always meant 'help desk' to me. We vagabonds and adventurers always stuck together and usually became instant friends as long as there wasn't a woman involved.
Then I asked him if he had ever heard of 'The Crocodile.'
He said that he would take me to see him right now. Right then. Right there. Unbelievable. I'm not kidding. No shit. I couldn't believe it either.
I had found 'The Crocodile.'
The man walked me to a hotel a few blocks away from the railroad station. It was an old building that looked straight out of the 1920's, like just about every other building in Beijing. You could see that it was really beautiful at one time... maybe even opulent or exclusive... but it, like anything else that was once beautiful or opulent, it seemed to fall into despair and decay under the custodianship of the communists. That was the way pretty much all of Beijing looked. With brown air and trees and bushes that were different from all those I had even known. I always notice the trees and bushes in a new city. Here on the other side of the world the plant life and the vegetation was odd to me... just unusual enough to stick out in my mind.
The man knocked on the door and we were answered by a nice looking blonde woman on her early twenties. She looked kind of pissed off but invited us in still. My guide just turned around and left with little more than a gesture to the woman. I followed her into the room.
It had become a bit of a self entertainment for me to wonder why the man I was seeking should be called "The Crocodile." It intrigued me from the moment I had heard it and in my mind I came up with all sorts of reasons for the nickname. None of them pleasant.
The room was an illustration in contrasts... inside "The Crocodile" had rented two rooms... he knocked down the wall that had seperated them and completely remolded it. This guy was livin' cush. He sat on the edge of his bed playing with the tv remote control as if it had befuddled him... I could tell from body language that his girlfriend and he had just been fighting.
"The Crocodile" stood up and turned around to face me... the guy must have been six and a half feet tall... and immediately I could see why they called him "The Crocodile."
He wore these braces on his teeth... the largest mass of metal I've ever seen in a persons mouth. Communist braces aren't very pretty... but these... "The Crocodiles" mouth looked like it had been installed by a blacksmith... an angry, drunken blacksmith. Like hammered bars of hot metal hand forged around each of his teeth.
I had to make myself stop staring as he got right down to business. Croc asked me when I wanted to leave... he said he had one ticket and he wanted a hundred and ten bucks American for it. There'd be no negotiating I could tell that right away. I had a feeling that if I tried that he'd have just relieved me of all my dough right there. Probably my gear too.
We were in a bit of a funny situation for a couple of reasons... I thought the ticket looked fake... it looked worse than some of the permits and passes I'd forged in school. I didn't have a visa to enter Russia... and I didn't carry that kind of currency in US dollars. I wasn't too sure that the Russians would actually be too excited about me coming to their country either. When I expressed this to "The Crocodile" he laughed a powerful and boisterous laugh and told me not to worry about it... he'd just gimme the ticket on good faith... so I could try and get a visa and cash a travellers check or something to come up with the Dollars he wanted. Besides he said "I know where your seat is and when you'll be leaving and if you fuck me I'll kill you" after which he laughed another deep laugh and gave me a half hug. "I want my money by next week he said." and walked me to the door where he said goodbye and his girlfriend gave me another dirty look.
That was it. Absolutely fucking unbelievable. I'm in Beijing less than two hours and I found my guy and I got my ticket. Now I just needed a visa from the Soviet Consulate. He'd also tell me there if the ticket was real I figured.
But right now I needed a place to stay. That would have to be my first order of business. The Croc's hotel seemed a little too luxurious for my budget... I needed something 'dumpier.' Something where my kind'd fit in you know?
I walked out of the hotel and on to the street... pausing for a moment to take a breath of the sulfery yellow tinged air and feel the pulse of the street there...a moment to let the vibe of it all sink in. I could have gone left or I could have gone right but it really didn't matter because I had no idea where I was going anyway. It's like a rule with me... like walking on the upwind side of the street because that's where all the paper money blows. Go left.
My friend Joel... the guy who'd saved my ass from the knife weilding Yakuza that pressed certain death into my throat in that bar in Osaka... he told me that he went insane and that he would hear these voices in his head that always said the same thing... "look to the left Joel." If he wasn't crazy already he said that those voices would do it... he never understood the meaning of it. Stupid voices in your head... they never tell you anything good... like "stay away from that one... she's trouble." They're always all cryptic. You gotta try to figure them out and break the code. Joel said the lithium they gave him pretty much shut the voices down. I never had heard voices though. It would probably be fun for a day or two... just to see what they would say. I think if I had voices they would sound like Vincent Price on LSD.
So I went left after I walked out of the Crocodile's hotel. I usually always go left when I got no idea but this time I was especially glad I did.
I get about a block and right there smack dab... badda bing... I run into this guy I lived with in Osaka Japan... Mike Levine... a Jewish guy from Jersey. He had let me borrow a pair of his shoes because I could find any in my size in Japan. Mike's got this big smile on his face as he sees me... we hug and slap each others backs and talk about the fight that got me thrown out of the university in Japan that we both went to.
Mike gave me directions to a suitably dumpy hotel and we parted ways.
Walking down the street I saw a couple of American girls... who turned out to be two really granola looking lesbian backpackers from Nebraska.
I stopped them there and asked them where they were staying... they said they had no idea... I invited them to share a hotel room with me if we could find one... plus the thought of girl on girl action sounded like really good fun to me. I felt like I was really going to like Beijing. It seemed like an easy city. Things were looking good.
Was this my lucky day or what?
Shit, I been here for like two hours... I already met the guy I came to meet, had a ticket for the Trans Siberian, hooked up with two lesbians and there we found a three dollar a night hotel. Six yuan a night for each of us. What more greatness could god bestow on me? Another lesbian? A blind supermodel? That would just be asking too much I thought. Lady Luck, I've always said, she was indeed a friend of mine.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth they say... so I unpacked my gear in the hotel room... every bit of it... and spread it all around. I always unpack fully so if I get robbed they can't just take one bag and split... they gotta work for it... then I unscrew all the lightbulbs in the room so they gotta have a flashlight to do it well... and then I make some loud noise making booby trap... like a pyramid of empty beer cans behind the door... then they gotta have nerves of steel to finish the job. Never got robbed once. Never. I have come home more than a few times affected by some intoxicant or another and fallen vicim to my own booby traps though. It always scared the beejesus out of me.
The Nebraska lesbians unpacked too.
Time to get out of here... It was time to go have a look at Beijing.
I left the hotel in a hurry and jumped on the first bus I saw... it didn't matter where the bus was going...I didn't care... I was sure that I hadn't been there anyway. That's the great thing about exploring like that. A new city... just go anywhere. It's all new.
Sitting on the bus I was of course the only westerner riding it. The Chinese weren't as polite as the Japanese and they would just stare at you forever... sometimes with mouth agape even... and I found myself very much the center of attention... the center of attention was something I really didn't want to be. I kinda wanted to blend in really. That was going to be tough.
I started having what could only be described as auditory hallucinations on that bus... that happened alot to me in China... but right there it was bad... the cacaphony of Chinese voices started to filter itself out in my hyperactive mind and become english... I could understand things sometimes... I was certain that people were commenting on how intoxicated I was... they all knew it... they were all talking about me... looking at me... 'Is that American guy drunk out of his gourd or what?' I had to get off that bus. The sweat was pouring from my pores. It was getting to be more than uncomfortable... it was unbearable.
The next stop was my stop no matter where it might be... soon as it stopped I jumped off that bus so fast... I didn't even have a clue as to where I was... and I didn't care. Away from that hash house hotel and off of that bus...I just wanted my own little piece of contraband free real estate where I could sit and watch China go by and make amusing comments in my head to entertain myself.
This was my stop.
Before me was layed an enormous plaza... I had never seen such a large paved public space. It was gigantic enough it looked like you could lay down and land a 747 in it if you went from one corner to the next. It was so big and vast that the smog of Beijing obscured the other side of it from me. I didn't know what this place was, but it made me feel realy small... insignificant actually... which was precisely how I wanted to feel.
I stood at Tienenmen Square.
This was the old Beijing... the one that used to be before the extremely systematic exploitation of cheap labor turned the place into a giant pachinko parlor... this was the dirty, dusty and gritty beijing where products were pulled around on wagons by teams of horses who shit big piles in the streets that you'd go straight over the handlebars of your bicycle if you didn't look where you were going. I'd seen it.
This was the Beijing where the streets seemed impossibly large considering no one really owned a car... the Beijing where the old people all wore those navy blue or black or gray kung fu outfits and walked around stooping with their hands clasped behind their backs as if some ultimate power had ordered them to for all time.
This was the square in Beijing where less than a year had passed since thousands of students took a chance to try and change their world... this was the Beijing where tanks had rolled over them without mercy and their bodies were torn apart by the callousness of lead flying around at ballisticly high speeds and cruel random trajectories. This was the Beijing where their blood ran like rivers down the curbs and into the sewers where like the extinguishing of their tender lives for naught all was soon forgotten by a world more infatuated with its demand for cheap consumer electronics in attractive clamshell packaging.
The one year anniversary of the slaughter was approaching and here as if by accident I find myself in the place where history was made and so conveniently forgotten.
Here and there I could still see bullet scars, burns and other marks that told the tale of a failed movement killed in a single night of murderous debauchery.
It was eerie in Beijing. I couldn't put my finger on it. Was it just the intoxicant's influence? I couldn't place it until I found a nice grassy place to sit down and let everything stabilize. Let my altered mind stop spinning.
The young people were all gone.
The government had sent what looked like the entire youth of the capitol city to 'summer camp,' where they'd sing patriotic songs and watch lots of motivational films and learn the error of their ways. It was re-education for the entire young population... there was almost no one walking around that city bettween the age of fourteen and twenty one. It was spooky... strange mojo in a strange land. Like some kind of Twilight Zone episode.
Everybody's seen the picture of 'Tank Man,' that guy whose name the world doesn't know... the one who was walking home from the grocery store with a couple of plastic bags in his hands... the guy who became a lonely human roadblock for a column of tanks... I know I could never forget that guy... he had balls the size of watermelons that one. I woudda love to have bought that guy a drink or eight.
I was walking down that street and a momentary sense of deja vu made me stop... It felt like I'd been there before... it didn't take too long for the reality to hit me... I was standing in that spot. In the Tank Man's spot. The premonition came from looking at that photograph.
There was a pay phone there... on the side of the street... you can see it in the Tank Man picture... I thought my parents might like to know where in the world I was so I tried to call them from it without luck. Maybe they'd think it was cool that I was calling them from there I thought.
I wanted to feel the scene out... I wanted to let it all sink in a little bit so I sat down and I had a look around. It all began to unfold in my mind... the direction the tanks came from... the sounds they'd make... their squeaking tracks rolling on the asphalt echoing in the canyon of concrete buildings... I could see the crosswalk he was walking across when it happened.
I stood up, still painting the scene on the canvas of my mind with the brushes of my imagination and I walked towards the crosswalk... just as he did that remarkable day.
Man... sometimes even I have a hard time putting things into words... sometimes feelings, emotions and perceptions are just too powerful and swift to get a grasp on.
Surveying the scene where this historic collision happened from the street... it was so much different than the picture we all know... that was shot from high above... it's got a whole different tone than the lonliness and isolation that the street level offered. Just like in the square where I had felt so small... even the street there was massive in width... one of those subcompact cars flying through the smog could have crushed me like a bug. The thought of standing my ground in front of a column of many ton armored tanks with their diesel engines shaking and belching thick black smoke and rumbling in anger... I'll tell you this... with the greatest respect that I can muster... that guy... at that moment... he took on the entire world. He was a bad ass motherfucker who said 'hey... I don't like what's going down here.' and he backed it up with his hundred and fifty pound body alone in the streets. He never even put those grocery bags down. But for a moment, that man stopped the world. He stood his ground. He stood our ground. He stood for everyman that day.
I didn't.
I didn't even chance stopping where he did. I didn't want to stop a bus.
When I got across the street I walked back towards Tienenmen Square wondering what happened to the guy.
These thoughts were crisply punctuated when I found the remains of a completely flattened bicycle. It had been run over by something pretty heavy because it was as flat as a bicycle could conceivably become. It even had a curve to it... a lot of parts were gone but the frame, the handlebars, even the rims were crushed flat. I picked it up, still thinking about Tank Man and I realized what it meant.
Something inside me wanted to take it home... to show my people... people born and raised with a freedom fought for by others... I wanted to show them what we pretty much let happen here... the great crime that we ignored. It was a strong symbol to me at least of an oppresive government that lost it's temper on it's own people.
I'd never get that flattened bicycle home, but I carried stashed inside the tubes of my backpack messages that people had asked me to carry out of the country to a place where mistakenly so they thought good and decent people might give two shits about the treachery bestowed upon them in their quest for what we have but could really care less about. A freedom so strong... a freedom so deep that it was a part of me wether I was conscious about it or not... a freedom that formed the person I was and carried me on a long and mostly accidental journey to a place where youth was cut short for having the audacity and lack of patience to demand a more tolerant society where people would count for just a little more than cheap labor.
I promised myself I'd remember what happened to them. I promised myself that on June 4th, 1990 that I'd say a prayer there in Tienenmen Square. I'd recognize their martyrdom to the cause of freedom and I'd pay my respects on the anniversary of the barbarism of their all powerful and vicious central authority.
When that morning came with its sultry brownish orange sunrise, three hundred and sixty five days after the blood letting, when the flag of a nation was raised over it's most proud square... I was the only person that wasn't Chinese standing there as a witness to at least offer the the quiet contempt of my heart and the objection of my soul as a counterbalance to the disgrace of the murder of these children.
There were no television cameras or satellite trucks... no journalists fixing their hair or taking notes on those long pads that they carry. Nothing.
I carried no sign or banner... I spoke no message of objection. I sought to instigate nothing.
I stood there in Tienenmen Square as a witness.
A witness to what the rest of the free world was so selfishly quick to forget.
Two days later I'd board a train that I'd get off of in another world... where a wall that represented hate and anger and mistrust would be falling, hacked to pieces bit by bit by a people celebrating a new freedom and unity.
(the lyrics are lengthy but worth it!)
manhattan transfer & stan getz
music: clifford brown
lyrics: jon hendricks (of lambert, hendricks, & ross)
We sing a spring
(Sing joy spring)
A rare and most mysterious spring
(This most occult thing)
Is buried deep in the soul
(It's story never has been told)
The joy spring, the fountain of pleasure
Is deep inside you whether you're diggin it or not
Once you're aware of this spring
You'll know that it's the greatest
Treasure you've got
And furthermore
The joy spring, the bounteous treasure
Cannot be bartered away and never
Can be sold
Nothing can take it from you
It's yours and yours alone to have
And to hold
And something more
It never is lost to fire or theft
It's always around
When trouble is gone the pleasure is left
I've always found
It's burglar-proof same as the treasure
Man lays up in heaven worth a
Price no one can measure
That says a lot
So joy spring this fountain of pleasure
That's deep inside you let me inform
You in all truth
Ponce de Leon sought this
When he was searchin for the fountain of youth
Ol' Ponce de Leon laughed so much he
Never did find the magic fountain
But many people with a well-adjusted
Spirit they could hear it when you told
Them it was there tellin them was
Like tellin it on the mountain
It's quite a life havin the gift of laughter
I'm a man who knows in a minute
I can tell you just exactly how the story goes
It involves a firm conviction in another
Previous life givin your mind a chance to fly
Fly around the universe investigatin other
Galaxies & certain other subtle
Types of life tryin to dig it gettin
Pretty well-acquainted with a lot of
Other strife & pretty much acquirin
Yourself plenty of education
Pretty soon here comes earth birth
& then you're ready to put it all to work
But soon as you're finished bein born
You start forgettin what you knew
Cause you're another kinda you
A reincarnation manifestation
Of spirit in sensation
You really got that right
The average person isn't bright
Not so bright that they recall the fatal fall
Down here t'o this earth
Their minds disguise their death to spirit
Life and call it birth
That's their reason for forgettin and they
Find it very upsettin when reminded
Tell them they've lived before
They'll show you the nearest open door
Gotta have feelin while dealin with
Walkers in their sleep
They can't imagine somethin as deep
Here they come - here they come - there they are
Unimaginative and ignorant of fallin from a star
Here they come - there they are - there they go
Life is over in a minute & they never dug
It in it or enjoy a minute of it
Cause they put too much above it
That was gross
Somethin that was worth a couple bucks
At most
So there is the reason that the maker of man
Included there in his plan
A certain fountain deep within
Where there was laughter, youth & gold
For human beings to have & hold
& share the memory of where we've all been
Brothers called Grimm knew chances were slim
Anybody would dig that the human soul was Snow White
And the Seven Dwarfs were seven tempers in man
Whose diggin out the gold completes the plan
& Bacon was hip that Shakespeare couldn't read
And so he gave him all the rhymes
That have lasted through the years
And kept eternal truths alive through several centuries
That's how we know them now
They lasted cause they're true
What was it from Macbeth?
"Life's but a walking shadow
a player poor
that struts and frets upon the stage
and's seen no more
a tale that truly has an idiotic ring
that's full of lotsa sound and fury
signifying nothing..."
That's right signifying nothing
I'll repeat it, nothing!
Don't forget it, nothing!
And that's the reason for that spring
Of joy
Showtime, everyone's on
Let's hit the stage
It's showtime everyone
& proceed to act your age
Whatever you're frownin at is funny
Enough laughin
So you're wastin all your humor on a frown
While you're bringin your spirit down
You gotta book yourself a comic in your act
Without some laughter life's a maudlin
Farce & that's a fact
Once you know about the spring
You always can smile
It becomes your one expression
And you're always wearin' it
Like the buddhas do
(um, and i think there's more ... !)
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So, yep... the tag game reached me too, thanks to ken_pogs :-) Now I ought to type 16 things about myself... well let's see...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1) I feel happy and elevated when it's gloomy and raining, especially when there is a thunderstorm. Snow is great too... Sunny days, on the other hand, make me feel tired and bored.
2) Outside of working with clients, I go to great lengths to avoid my phone. Half of the time I don't carry it, and 90% of the time the ringer is off.
3) But I do adore my iPhone. I bought it just a few days after it first came out in 2007 and I still think it's the best thing since sliced bread.
4) Other than that, I am not an Apple person. In fact - brace yourself - I passionately love PCs. I gotta have my right-click, period.
5) I am one hundred percent incapable of multitasking. I would consider it a handicap, if I didn't appreciate its upside of making me able to hold my focus on one thing for veeeery long periods of time.
6) Which would be so cool if it wasn't engaging me in staying up all night most of the time. I am really a morning person at heart, regretfully trapped in the body of a night person.
7) One of my biggest dreams is to attend TED someday.
8) I can't wait for the Skycars :-))
9) I am addicted to Moleskine's Squared XLarge Notebooks. They are perfect - from the size of the squares, to the paper quality, to the page size and format. I write random notes and draw sketches every day. I can't live differently for more than two days, and no other notebook will do. I was deeply upset when I found out they are going out of print.
10) I've been wanting to learn to play the piano since I was 9. Finally I stopped blaming my mom for discouraging me at the time, and took a few piano lessons last summer. Now I can play two full piano pieces on two hands. I'm so proud of this. It was difficult.
11) Someday I will write music.
12) In a club, I am the first person to start dancing. And when the dance floor fills up, I may climb on a podium.
13) I am embarrassingly intolerant to spelling mistakes. I'm not an easily frustrated person, but bad spelling will get on my nerves any day. I'm not really proud of this.
14) I really, really love web design! When I see good web design I get so giddy I almost want to hug it... I also take bad web design (and bad user experience) very personally... I think it is really offensive, especially coming from large service-oriented companies, like banks for example.
15) I feel much more comfortable in a cocktail dress than I do in a t-shirt.
16) My charity / volunteer interest lies in education and child development. I think the long-term answer to most of our world's problems would be to nurture a thirst for knowledge and a strong character in children. What we do changes the world, and our actions don't come from anything other than our own minds and hearts.
Sunlight and A Smile: The Lou Noble Story...that's what we'll call the next book, maybe. Just go through the archives, yank out the shots where folks are smiling with some of that good light.
And sure, I'm almost through my Flickr series on practices I use to make my photos, but I could probably do at least one more piece on "just make 'em smile! And have some good light while you're at it!"
Though, when you break it down, getting a good smile out of somebody, that's something I've spent decades (DECADES, MY GOD) working on.
Same with finding just the right light.
Maybe a lesson I could've learned when I was young, but hell, back then the idea of taking multiple years to get good at something...well that just seemed like madness.
Wanted to be good at something right off the bat. And if I wasn't, well on to the next thing.
Didn't have the patience for learning, maybe that was the issue. Now I take pictures, took forever to get proficient. I surf, took years to ride along the face of the wave.
It all takes time, no getting around it. But if it leads to a lovely shot of a smile and some good light, well...that's gotta be worth something, yeah?
The 'smugglers' who shared the cabin with me on the Trans Siberian always placed a generous cash gratuity into our passports as we were to be searched. Andre 'the elder' would assert his authority as the head smuggler and collect all four of the passports... including mine... and he would give them to the officials with a mischevous smile and a nod that said 'this is my gift to you.' This is my business. This is what I do.
Andre always put the American passport on the bottom... I think he thought it would draw less attention there...and then he always shushed me with a stern and piercing look as he prepared for these most critical transactions. The first thing the official would do is put the American passport on top. I began to realize that although we shared that cabin and the comraderie of the rails... or confinement thereof... that Andre 'the elder' didn't really think that having an American in his cabin was all that much good for business. It seemed to bring a little 'extra special' attention and scrutiny to his little clandestine smuggling operation. Maybe he had to bump up the bribes a notch or two to insure the safe passage of his valuable contraband. Either way you could just tell by watching him that Andre was a bottom line kind of guy.
By the end of the journey though Andre had invited me to live with him and his family in Poland... to work at his store... and to marry his daughter who he assured me had the bluest of eyes and breasts that were the national pride of Poland. Although I never saw him again I came to love Andre as a father in law even though I never met his daughter... somehow I feel like I know her.
It's no joke either about Polish womens breasts being an object of national pride. Somehow Andre 'the elder' seemed capable of working it into any conversation relating to his motherland... to which Andre 'the younger' and their female companion would invariably agree with.
This usually led to a toast... a clanking of the glasses... the tipping of a bottle and a slurred chorus of 'nasdorovia's.'
Whenever the merits of Polish breasts were agreed on, indeed that meant it was time to drink some more vodka. Even to this day... when I think of Andre or Polish womens breasts... it makes me want to knock back a shot of vodka... but I don't drink anymore and really I am more of an ass man... but still. I never had the heart to tell Andre that... I mean, talking about Polish womens breasts really seemed to make him so happy. I didn't want to take that way from him. You've just never seen a guy so filled with joy as Andre was whenever his favorite subject was being discussed or debated... it really lit him up from the inside.
Anytime you want to make a Polish national feel good... or homesick... just bring up the fact that Polish women have the best breasts. It's been good for a lot of free drinks for me.
I had just left Asia... everyday I travelled closer to Europe. With the passage of time and distance Andre's observations were indeed verified though... the closer I got to Poland... the larger breasts became. I'm not kidding. Andre was right.
The first Russian I met... the man smiling in the photograph... was like most Russians it seemed...named Sergei. A few were named Alexander or Andre. I think Russians have only three names... except for politicians or people of fame. I might have met a couple of Victors and a handful of Igor's as well. Somebody once said they'd heard of a Russian named Nikolai too. Still... most men in Russia are named Sergei. That's just the way it is there.
Seconds after I took this photograph Sergei slipped into his pocket without flinch or hesitation the currency that Andre had stashed in his passport. I knew it was coming and I was watching closely for it. I barely caught it. And I grew up in Chicago.
Living on that train with those smugglers was like taking an advanced college course in the subtleties and techniques of graft. It was Andre 'the elder' who taught me that you need to keep variable amounts of currency in each of your four pockets... like five in one, ten in the next, then twenty and a hundred...and that you must properly size up the person you are attempting to bribe and choose from one of your pockets the minumum amount you are betting it will take to pacify that official.
That's helped me more than once in life since then.
Andre also showed me that it was really important to telegraph the bribe... to look the mark right in the eyes and demonstrate that one... you were about to bribe him and two... that you were going to reach into your pocket and take out all of the money you had available to you for this transaction. It was really deep psychology according to Andre. The man had an ethic and he was a perfectionist. It's always remarkable to watch such a master at work.
Andre pointed out that it was good form to allow your pocket to turn slightly inside out so that the mark could see that indeed you really emptied it. This he noted made them feel really special. Like you went all the way for them. He also taught me that a bribe is never to be peeled off of a larger wad of bills or taken from a wallet... unless you had done business with the mark before but in his opinion it was still a bad idea.
Andre's bribes never failed or produced even the slightest trace of hesitation. The man was truly a master. Andre 'the elder' was the maestro of bribery. And he taught me well. Halfway through the journey he announced that he was getting sick of the train and that he and his cohorts were getting off at Irkusk and flying on to Moscow.
He gave to me a case of vodka and an envelope with additional bribes in it and told me that he would meet me in Moscow with the 'goods' next week.
I was proud and honored that Andre 'the elder' trusted me with the 'stuff.'
I was officially a smuggler now.
When I went through Japanese customs they even pulled me right out of line... took me to this little office where I presumed I was going to learn what a rough rectal exam was like. They never even looked in my bags though... they just wanted to know if I slept with any prostitutes in Bangkok... it was a real interrogation too... they didn't believe me when I said I hadn't... they even tried to say I must be gay then. the fact that I didn't seem to take much offense at their calling me gay really seemed to disturb them because thry had a little conference among themselves... in Japanese... so I had no way of knowing what they were saying.
I told them that i did get a killer massage at the James Bond Turkish Bath and Massage House... but there was no happy ending if you know what I mean. I only went in because of the James Bond motiff. I'm a sucker for that stuff... like the cosmonaut cigarettes on the train in Russia.
Still they didn't believe me but they let me go with a warning... a reminder to call them if I wanted to change my story and they gave me this pamphlet that described all of the symptoms one might have after a hedonistic weekend in the city of angels... Bankok. Reading the brochure it made me really glad I just stuck with the massage. The pictures, even though they were in black and white, they were especially disturbing.
Bangkok... really the only reason I went there is because I loved that song by Murray McMurray... you know the one... 'one night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble.' I wanted to see what the inspiration for that song was... and I thought I could use some humbling. Murray was correctamundo... I was indeed humbled.
I dealt with smugglers before in Japan... Nigerians... but dealing with the Nigerians always made me feel dirty. And that was before they became famous on the internet.
Those Nigerians... they are a resourceful bunch though. And the colorful clothing... you haven't partied until you've partied with a Nigerian man wearing a yellow daishiki with a matching hat. I couldda stared at those intricate psychadellic patterns forever. I still felt dirty though. But as a rule, if you ever want anything illegal, if you want to find the corruption or a cities dark underbelly... look for the Nigerians... you can't miss them the way they dress. Or you can just find cab drivers... who are often Nigerian anyway. Cab drivers are also a valuable resource when you are looking for some sin in a new city. I never once got into one of those three wheeled cabs in Bangkok called "Tuk-tuk's" without being offered a "massagy-massagy," Not once.
When I was in high school and I wanted some beer or alcoholoc beverages... I'd just call for a cab... and when the guy got there... I'd tell him to go get me a twelve pack or something... then I would do that "rip the twenty dollar bill in half" trick and tell him he'd get to keep the other half when he came back. They loved that. It always produced for me. It's one of the most secret agent like things you could do... ripping a bill in half like that... it's an all or nothing move... it's like saying neither one of us trusts the other but this twenty... that's what it's all about. Of course you gotta figure in the cab fare too.
I think Nigeria has the worlds biggest cab driver school or something. Most Nigerian guys grow up to be cab drivers... the ones with more education do internet scams... white collar work. From what I've seen... those are your only two career paths if you're from Nigeria. Smuggling and dealing in hashish is just a very common side gig. And they had this scam where they used a computer to alter prepaid phone cards and increase their value. Nigerians can be geniuses.
It was a Nigerian that taught me that if you took the local train long distance in Japan you could have a friend get on at the station before your destination and give you an extra ticket he bought there for like a buck and you could save hundreds because if you over rode your fair they didn't check on the train... you just had to pay when you inserted your ticket at the exit. Those Nigerians.
The Japanese didn't have much an apetite for the devils weed... they preferred amphetamines... something I never did. I always thought it would be pretty hillarious to hang out with some really stoned Japanese people. I wondered what their eyes could possibly look like when they were smoking pot.
The other gaurd in the picture... the mean looking one... noted the transaction as if to say 'I had better get my cut' and the money quickly dissapeared with all of the magnificence of a Las Vegas slieght of hand magician.
You could see it in the officers eyes... and he didn't appreciate my shutter happy finger either. I thought this would be another precious roll of thirty five millimeter lost to the angry hands of the authorities. That stuff is hard to come by in Siberia you know.
It was obvious these men were used to being treated to such gratuities. Probably they sent word ahead... there is a man in the rear cabin who treats security officials very well.
It reminded me of the consulate officer at the Russian embassy in Beijing who informed me that they were 'all out of visas' until I produced my last eight american dollars... and even then he motioned for me to show him the inside of my bag because I'm sure he wanted to make it an even ten. That's why you keep your money in different pockets. Miraculously the rubber stamp that made visas was rejuvenated and after a strong smack on the stamp pad was good for just one more visa.
Our cabin and our bags were never searched. Not anywhere on the entire journey. They could have contained a ton of heroin or four chinese children set out to work in the kitchens of europe.
At this time I didn't know what the two Andres and their female cohort were smuggling, but I had hoped that it was indeed something that would make the journey more pleasant.
My passport was taken from me there at Manzhoulli and I was issued Russian travel papers that I carried for the duration of the trip. Papers that were stamped with a radiation symbol the morning after we tore ass through the radiated zone caused by the disaster at Chernobyl. To this day I wonder how the passport was returned to me as I departed Russia at the Polish border.
Later Sergei 'the compensated' and I sat outside the Manzhoulli station where he smoked a cigarette and asked me questions about America. It wasn't small talk... Sergei had a deep interest in the way things were there... why our countries grew up in this diabolic situation of mutual assured nuclear destruction. What was so different about us his words seemed to say in a meandering way. I saw then that Sergei was raised too on the same diet of propoganda that I was... just the other end of the spectrum. I remember it seemed as if we both realized that right at the same time... his deep basso Russian laughter overwhelmed mine and carried beyond our immediate confines to precede me into Siberia.
I uncapped the pewter whiskey flask in my bag... the one decorated with the golfers on it that I shoplifted from Carson Perie Scott's in high school and we shared a sip. The same one the port official in Shanghai uncapped to smell but never dared to partake of. I crushed that flask when I had it in my back pocket when I fell off the back of a moving truck... the flask was empty... which undoubtably had something to do with me falling off of the back of a moving truck... but I was crushed too because I loved that flask. I ended up filling it with water and freezing it repeatedly until the crushed metal expanded outward. Plus I think it's realy the only thing I've ever shoplifted... except for candy and stuff like that. I just fell in love with that thing the first time I saw it. I knew then that I had to have it and I carried it around the whole world.
In Siberia vodka was golden... but whiskey... even the cheap Japanese stuff I carried...Suntory I think... it produced a reaction in my Russian friends like nothing I had ever seen. One sip... savored as if it were sent from heaven above and there were kisses and bear hugs. One sip of whiskey to a Russian then always opened up an immediate and strong friendship. Sometimes it even lasted longer than the fire it produced in your stomach and the burn in your throat.
I watched the sunset there that evening in Manzhoulli. Alone at the side of the rails I wished that someone would have walked over... sat next to me... and even in the silence of those who speak no common language... just appreciated that Manzhoulli sunset with me.
If I could have found one...I would have paid a prostitute just to sit next to me and enjoy that there. But I've heard that prostitutes always make you pay extra for weird stuff like that. I did after all have a bag of Yuan's that I worked out of the black market in China. The ones that I was left with after they wouldn't let me buy booze with them. The ones only chinese citizens are supposed to carry. Foreigners in China are supposed to carry a different money than the Chinese... they're called foreign exchange certificates. I called them 'fecks' because I like to come up with acronyms or slang names for things. It makes me sound smarter... like I been around the block a time or two.
Chinese money confused me... they rarely used coins... I'd break a one yuan note... worth maybe twenty cents and about the size of a buck... and for change I'd get a bunch of smaller notes of differing sizes. It was like some of their cash was as small as a postage stamp. After a week I had so much of the stuff and couldn't figure out how to use it... I'd just open my hip bag and let the bus driver or shop keeper help themselves.
It was the hearbreak of the solo traveller... that I should be in a place of such significance and see something of extraordinary beauty and have no one there to even draw breath with in in the way one does when confronted with such magnificence. The sigh of beauty.
Envy was the emotion I always felt as I watched others hold hands or share the entwinement of a lovers arms... those who whispered to each other at these moments... them who had someone stand on the pier or at the station to wish them bon voyage... even more so they who met someone to welcome them to their destination.
I always stepped off of my conveyance alone.
I was there alone as the sun set on Asia... I said goodbye as it was dropping low over Mongolia and casting a gorgeous and firery reflection off of the steppes and the deserts miles distant.
It would be to me my last sunset of Asia.
And my last stupid thought. Possibly it was the vodka the Andres forced upon me there... but I clasped my hands behind my head and layed back on my backpack as the sun rounded the earth... and I entertained myself with a promise that if I were ever to become filthy rich that I would buy my childhood home... the one I grew up in... have it taken apart piece by piece and put into shipping containers where I would then have them shipped here... or maybe to the Steppes of Mongolia in front of me... and reassembled exactly as it was. I didn't care where... I just thought it would be loads of fun to take my childhood home apart and rebuild it somewhere really far away.
That I might live in my house and look out the window at this place.
Well a few people have been posting on flickr about the recent POTUS results with Superman in the forefront. I wanted to join in.
I've had all day to think about this and one thing that I've come to realize, is that we've gotta keep our heads up! I know myself personally, I'm heartbroken. Pessimism and Aggression have won. Lies and Greed have won. Oppression and Fear Mongering have won today and it's a damn shame.
The US chose the worst kind of person to become the most powerful man in the world and it's scary.
But see that only makes us the underdog now. We've gotta keep fighting! We've got to keep moving forward! Pushing for honesty and kindness before cynicism and hatred! We're all human, we're all still alive, and we can only do better from here!
Don't let it dampen your spirits! In the next coming weeks try your best to be positive and uplifting to those around you! Smile and laugh and love and care for as many people as you can! Because the amount of people hurting right now is only going to get bigger. Keep your friends and families close, and remind them that everything will be okay. That's what Superman would do.
We could use a Superman to give us hope. To right all the wrongs, bring justice to the people, and oppose monsters that want to control the world. But that would be too easy. We've got to do it for ourselves!
Remember to keep kindness in your heart.
I'm gonna leave you guys with a monologue from The Great Dictator performed by Charlie Chaplin. Take a couple minutes out of your evening and just listen.
Breathe.
We'll get through this together.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost....
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.
To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish....
Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!
In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!
Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!”
《《《《《 ///BEGIN LOG\\\ 》》》》》
It's said no one can hear you scream in the jungle.
Let me add no one can see you die either.
Firefek.
I was planning to take it easy this time around.
You know, looking good and buff, telling all the rookies what to do, ya know the drill.
But, our friend war here decided to shake things up a bit. Too boring for him, eh?
So first our cruiser blew up.
I hate to say it but we were a bunch of bantha fodder. Plain and simple. How do you get outsmarted by a kriffing piece of metal?
Another remark to add to the book of life.
Then, as the Endurance careened on its final endeavor, we plunged through the smooth, even magical, misty exterior of the planet's atmosphere.
I'm almost sure the cramped conditions and stuffy air vanished as we plummeted through an ocean of green, green, and more green; I'd never seen a planet so full of life.
It's the mission a clone always wished for.
But.
I felt something.
Even after I dismissed the feeling as simply a matter of stress, it never went away.
I faithfully carried out my orders, yet everything seemed.... ambiguous... and dark.
Command and unlinked us and informed we had to enter the catacombs, the bowels of the temple.
This is easily the first time I questioned an order; the uneasiness this planet gave me... it was worse than the chills Kamino's torrential rains gave me after a training day.
It did not help me clear my mind.
The planet's looming presence revolved around me, filling the gaps of the crumbling pieces of the ancient site, as my squad and I made our way under the monolith structure.
They had warned us about a.... thing.
An artifact.
An artifact of evil.
Of the Sith.
That word burned my memory with piercing familiarity.
I remember, some time ago, the dreaded screams and yells of terror, from fallen comrades, sounding the alarm of..... such a treacherous being.
It was the Sith.
"Sir, we've reached a fork in the tunnel system."
"The coordinates failed to upload on my receiver; did Command specify the pillar's location?"
Sabre's comment woke me from my thoughts.
"Er-umm-uh yes...uh yes Lieutenant. It's the right entrance. Stay close behind."
Wait.
Was it right?
Or was it left?
Was right right or wrong?
Was left wrong?
Was right the right wrong or left....
"STOP!!"
"Sir what is it?"
"Take your blasters, and set then from stun to the highest level of fire."
"Sir, Command told us to set it on stu-
"I DON'T CARE WHAT KRIFFING COMMAND SAID!!
I breathed heavily.
"That's an order, soldier."
"...."
"Yes Sir."
Something is wrong.
This isn't right.
I gotta stop this...
No.
Everything is fine.
Command is full of egotistical higher ups.
They just want you to die on this planet.
They're using you.
You're nothing but a clone.
A mindless, idiotical, thoughtless, expendable,
Being.
You don't have to place the charges.
The temple is not threat.
Nothing is here.
Nothing but death.
No.
No.
No.
What is this?
Who are you?
Are you for us or against us?
GET OUT OF MY HEAD
OUT
GET OF GET
OUT MY
GET HEAD MY
MY HEAD
OUT.
OF.
MY.
HEAD.
There is nothing here.
You don't have to place the charges.
There's no need.
Just stop.
Discard the charges.
Kill your men.
Kill yourself.
Just
l e t
g o
I- j-just c-can't. ...
Just let go....
B-but, I-I just couldn't...
LET GO....
NO.
NO.
NO.
Stupid imbecile.
Weakling.
You could have lived.... longer.
But now.... now you will pay.
It was gone.
I could think.
I could feel.
I could reason.
"Tango, Ratchet, Fuse, guard the entrance.
Sabre, come with me."
I went to place the detonators to finally get out of this place.
Firefek.
Water had splattered all over the charges.
Ya would think they'd make these things waterproof.
"Sabre, ya have any spare charges?"
"Always do Sir."
"Here ya g-"
"Wait!"
*cc-rree-aAAAKkkk...*
I feel it.
It's coming.
I felt the walls, the floor, the ceiling tremble.
The ground was cracking.
"Sabre, I want you to get out of here right now!"
"But Sir you-"
"SABRE!
It's coming.
Lead the squad.
You know what to do."
"I can't do it Sir!"
It's getting closer.
I feel it under my boots, around me, above me.
"You must.
This is my resting place."
I've run the good race.
Fought the good fight.
I've-
*CRASH*
It's broke through the wall with violent force, demolishing it.
So much was it's power it knocked us down.
Its red eye stared at me with the glare of death, straight into my soul.
"GO!!
BEFORE IT'S TOO LA-"
I was flying through the air.
"SIR!!"
I slammed against the cold stone wall.
No one said dying would be easy.
"G-g-ggo," was all I managed to whisper... as again I was hurled and knocked flat.
This is it.
Goodbye.
I saw the blood red light intensify.
Then, somehow, I saw it fade away and a pure light appear.
"Take care of them, as you did for me."
Then black.
《《《《《///ENDLOG\\\》》》》》
Final log uploaded by CL-4712, "Havoc."
Status: Unknown: MIA, assumed to be KIA.
-dave matthews band.. is amazing.
81/365
props for the picture takin' is to my boyfriend. i was really proud of him, hes taking after me ;) haha. anywho. it felt AMAZING today. i've been loving this weather lately. gah, i hope it never changes! spring break has been amazing so far, & tomorrows Easter!
Jesus arose from the grave, what a great day! i'm humble for all the blessing you have given me, thank you Lord. I love you.. for all eternally.
okay so i just realized that i've been tagged twice to do another ten facts about myself. haha, i think this might be like the 5th time i do this. but honestly i dont mind, because im not doing a thing right now :) i also tagged random people!
i got tagged by kelly.marie and Ev0luti0nary
1. Jesus rose from the grave on this day!! Happy Easter! :)
2. when ever it first gets warm outside, as in the weather.. duh ha, i all of a sudden get happier. even if i've had a crappy day.
3. when you first meet me, im kinda quiet. but one i get to talkin' you can barely shut me up. and i laugh really loud.. hahahaha.
4. i get excited when a bunch of people comment on my pictures on here. i know it kinda lame, but it makes me feel good when y'all do. makes me feel like i'm doing something right :)
5. i graduate in 2 months & 3 days! ha, fun fact :)
6. i LOOOOOVE to sleep, like a lot.
7. i always say i have no clothes, but i really do. i just dont like wearing any of the clothes i have. weird i know.. ha.
8. i HATE it when people dont spell out words. for example, "2" for to, or "U R" for You are. I mean come on.. the words are not that long. you just look lazy ha.
9. graduation excites me and scares me at the same time, & yeah i already made another fact about graduation haha..
10. i really need to clean my car, its covered in pollen and junk.
yeah, they're lame. sorry :)
Qurac, 4:31, god this has gotten out of hand, completely off course from the original description of the mission. It’s been two weeks, two damn weeks since I came to Qurac. Ruhollah Abbas, he’s my target, the corrupt political leader has committed quite a few crimes recently, violations of human rights to be specific. The Deputy Director assigned me to this mission, I was excited, finally a big mission, I’d get to brag about to all the other guys at work, but this…isn’t much to brag about. But hey, I still have my sniper rifle, a couple days into my mission I had been scoping out the area he would be speaking at the next day. Then some guards saw me, the bullets flew at me, and I thought quickly, I shot at them, from a rather close distance too. Only two of the bullets hit my pursuers, now I only have three left in this round, with one in the chamber, worst part is, one of them got a lucky shot, hit my gun, It’s lodged in there and I don’t know if it’ll affect me when I fire later. Once I escaped my pursuers, I had noticed that I had gotten away with some scrapes, and a mark from a bullet that grazed my arm, the wound was bleeding but not too badly. I had trudged back in the sand, for an hour and a half, I’m sure plenty of people have walked that long, and so have I, but it’s different in Qurac, the large, harsh, desert, the sun’s rays were too much after a while, but I had to get medical attention for this wound, so I put the front part of my suit over my head, blocking the sun. Eventually winds picked up slightly, it whipped in my face, pain was all around me, I didn’t want to move, but I had to keep going. Eventually I realized I was too far away from any civilization, they chased me in the wrong direction, and I was screwed, I found a cavern, not too big, I scouted it, and made a makeshift bandage for my wound. Soon I settled down in the cave.
The next day I continued going forward. By afternoon everything had been “normal” I had trudged along, looking for land, when I found an unexpected surprise in the ground. I believed that I had seen something in a faraway distance, but to make sure it wasn’t a marriage I sat down, attempting to get a different view on it, I had gotten down and put my right hand on the sand to support myself, in my left I had my sniper rifle, but I felt like relaxing completely, taking advantage of the rest stop, so I threw it to the side, then as I began to put my hand down, I saw a shiny glimmer from the corner of my eye, as my left hand began to rest, I looked around, and I recognized it, a landmine, I had put enough pressure that if I took my hand off of it, no more left arm. I waited for a couple minutes, then took some of my rations out of my shirt’s pocket, and slowly, replaced my hand with it, I swiped my left hand off, and sprinted away from it, then I threw a rock on it, blowing it up, that was one of my closest encounters with death in my career so far. Soon enough I finally found a town, a small one, but good enough, I went to get some food, but I realized most of my money was in the same pack my rations were, I only had the equivalent of $6, with that much I was able to schedule a ride back to the place where Abbas would be speaking. But what happened on the ride there was very unexpected.
“Young man, are you in need of supplies?”
“No, well yes...but I spent the rest of my money on this ride, but thanks.”
“I’ll give you this, as a gift” he bends over, and hands me a bow, and one arrow.
“Use this, for whatever you’re about to do, and if I were you I’d zip that bag up” I then looked over to see that my rifle was sticking out, I quickly stuffed it in farther, while looking quite embarrassed.
“Thanks, but why’d you give me a weapon, you don’t even know me, I could be a criminal.”
“You mentioned our leader before, and once I saw your gun, I put two and two together, so now I’ll help you” I smile, and nod my head, glad that I have another option, even if I shouldn’t have to use this one.
“My son…he fought against him, and was killed, now I want you to help me” emotion surges through me, I feel grateful that I was given this, I feel pain from all those days in the desert, and now, I feel sadness, knowing just how this man has affected all these people, but most of all, I feel determined, with motivation surging through me, enough to get me through this mission.
“Alright, just know this, your son didn’t die for nothing, he’ll be remembered” we talked for a bit more but that didn’t matter. I’d hung around in town for a while, a couple days to be exact, wait for the next public appearance, and about an hour before this big speech today, I made my way to an empty area, the perfect range for my rifle. Now, we’re back where we began.
Once he starts to give the speech, I know it’s time, I begin to ready my rifle, I aim at him, one shot to the head will finish him off. I pull the trigger…and nothing happens, shit, my rifle, one of my most efficient weapons in my arsenal, reduced to this. Suddenly heat fills the weapon, and I throw it to the side, an overload causes the gun to blow out it’s insides, with sparks flying from it, my only other option, the bow and arrow. With no scope I have to rely on my eyes, my skill, and my good luck.
I really focus on his head as I draw my bow, all these thoughts swirl about, I hope I can be forgiven for all the times I’ve killed while on duty, and let it be known, it was done for my country, I hope this doesn’t cause more problems here, and that his death, stops some of the crimes, hopefully I’ll get out of here, will I die here, can I make it, and the most prominent thing, I’ve gotta make this last resort work, oh god all this stuff building in me, IT’S GOTTA WORK, then…nothing, the tension is released as I hear that sound.
ZIIING
I Open my eyes and see it, the arrow flies, and hits him, clean, through the head, he’s done, his criminal actions will be judged throughout time, but he will never go to a real court, for on this day I was judge, jury, and executioner, two weeks finally paid off, and thanks to what I least expected, the last weapon I thought to use in my Arsenal, and I think I’m beginning to like it a lot. I pull out a small capsule, and remove part of it, which shows a single button, I press it and run, now they know I finished the mission, and soon my CIA buddies will come flying in at the LZ, so I got to get there fast. As I run off into the distance, using every bit of energy I have, I know I did the right thing for the people here, for the people of the world, an evil dictator, gone, I don’t care about my ragged clothes, my tired grizzled appearance, right now, I’m in the clear, and I’m on my way home.
__________________________________________________
Well this is my second app for an else worlds character, I put quite a bit of work into it and am pretty proud of it, normally I'd do a DCSG character, since I prefer sticking to source material, but recently i was struck with a bout of inspiration, to write a story about Roy Harper, If i get accepted I would probably make a trilogy of these, and maybe more someday. I hope you enjoy this take on Roy Harper, if you liked it comment below saying what you liked about it, thanks and have a good day.
(Shot taken and story written for the Jules' Photo Challenge Group.)
It weren’t easy to be no orphan in the black streets of London in 1840. Scrapping about for food and a warm place to sit your bottom. Them streets is cold and the people is mean. It’s hard for a boy, them days, but harder for a girl, if you gotta pretend to be a boy.
Most days, we goes out and steals a loaf or two, or picks a pocket here or there, some fat goose wobbling about in the streets. They ain’t never gonna miss the odd bits. You just gotta be careful how often you goes in the same streets. The bobbies are always laying for us lately. I won’t say I’m the faster but I’m not the slowest.
Joey- he’s the slowest. He got nicked again and just about ruined it for all of us. He squealed about how we was living down under one of the bridges along the river- a good place it was, too, til he told. They let him go, but most of the kids won’t have nuffin’ to do wiff him. He’s outcast.
Rainy days ain’t no good day for pickpocketing. You need time and distractions, like a big crowd, so’s the mark ain’t aware. Market days, carnivals- them’s the best. It’s dreadful when it rains lots. We mostly goes hungry them days.
The week it was hot and sunny, it was a good day for us to scatter and do our work to survive. I don’t hate working alone like some kids do. I like it best. There’s about 18 of us now, so best not to show up looking like a gang. Sunny days- pickpocket days.
I been sittin’ on this street corner, see, watching what all them people are doing, going by on their business. Some of them, I’ve seen them all the time, ladies and gentlemen strolling early in the mornings, going off to wherever ladies and gents go. Some are business men, what get in a hurry, sometimes in groups to talk about the news or politics. Then there are the early early groups, coming home in the fog, to their posh places after nights out drinking and carousing . . . I like seeing them peoples, smiling to themselves and so pleased in their dirty finery.
This sunny day, it was good, with lots of people about, some laughing, some all business. I watched for a while, saw a man coming along, paying no attention to where he was going, really. Just walking fast and looking at something he had in his hand. He was dressed in a nice tweed jacket and had on a vest, too, with a nice watchchain that went into a pocket. His beard had gray in it, like someone important and wise.
When the crowd of people got to josting each other, I saw my chance- jumped up and got bobbin’ about just like the rest of them people. With a bump, I reached into his pocket and grabbed what I could find, then away. It was something wrapped in paper.
It’s best not to run, not right away; that calls attention to yourself, but you gotta get yourself out of there. I cut to the left, down the alley, but I knew the man had felt something. I saw him tense up at the last minute, then hesitate. It was all I needed. As soon as the alley opened up in front of me, I ran fast.
Can’t say that we’s all honest with our pickins; us fastest kids can keep what we can keep, you know? And I don’t owe none of them boys nothin’, nor the rest of the girls, neither. Usually we do share, though.
I waited until I had rounded the next corner to see what I had. Might be worth a trip to the shops to ditch it for the best they could pay me. Would be good if it afforded me a bit of a hot tuck-in and a sit down in the doorway of a kitchen or what have you. Some of them shopkeepers and pub owners are kindly towards a kid.
The alley was narrow and dirty, like most alleys around here- old bricks crumbling right off the building, and no people walking through, so I just leaned up against the wall and unwrapped whatever it was. I had this vision maybe it was some treasure of gold or maybe jewelry that was already stolen- my heart was thumping like a runaway carriage! Always looking for a lucky day, us kids.
The paper was old and creased, greasy and worn where it had probably been carried in a pocket for a long time. When I tore the packet open, it was just a key. I was hungry and wanted to cry. What good was a key to me? Some man’s spare key to his house? A wasted morning and a belly still rumbling- that’s what it was to me. I almost threw it away, but for some reason, I slipped it back into a pocket. I slid down the wall and put my head against my knees.
Three days later, it’s raining cats and dogs and the puddles are big enough you could float a baby in there. The local people ain’t coming out and the touristy kind of people are sparse. I tried for an apple at one of the stands and got my hand smacked. I tried begging outside a pub, crying and all, and one of the fellows in there threw a bottle out the door in my direction. Slow days are bad days.
I was just heading back to the rougher side of town when suddenly I got yanked up by my collar. Scared the bejesus out of me!
“Let me go! Let me go! I’ll yell for a copper!” I cried.
“You little scallywag- you will do NO such thing,” the man said. I had seen him before- the distinguished beard, the tweed coat . . .
“HELP!”
Yes, I had seen him; it was he I had nicked the key from! I kicked and scratched and yowled like a cat, and almost got away. I have to give it to him, he was quick to react.
“Give me back what you have taken! You have NO idea of the value!”
“Let go of me! I don’t have nuffin’! Honest, Mister!”
“You are coming with me,” he said, and put a hand over my mouth as he hauled me along like a sack of potatoes.
He opened a door that was almost invisible in the brick wall. The place was big, a warehouse, and as my eyes took in the machinery, I knew I must be in a lot of trouble. There were gadgets with cogs and levers and all manner of devices as someone like me would never know of. There was a slight smell of oil in the air, and a sandy kind of grit on the floor.
“Give me the key! I know you have it!” My hat tumbled off at that moment, my red curls falling out, tangled and dirty across my shoulders.
“You’re a girl?!” he said.
“And if it matters? WHO are you?!” I asked arrogantly, a bit too big for my britches.
“I am known as the Professor, but as SOON as you give me that key, you can call me Shaun! I won’t hurt you. That key is of the utmost importance! It is the only way to save England and set time back correctly! I need it RIGHT now!” he said.
That is how I met Shaun and embarked on a mission to save the country!
Sherlock Medley on Violin - Taryn Harbridge
The events that night in the parking lot changed me forever.
I used to look at things as so much more 'black and white.'
'The police were good' I thought.
And 'our government existed to serve and protect the people.'
There was a certain bliss in living with that ignorance.
One night shattered that and life itself would never be so simple again.
I knew that anyone could go bad.
I'd seen that before.
But the systematic coverup I was witness to...
that whacked my reality big time.
Since then I've made quite a few friends who happen to be cops.
I'd say that in my experience about half of them are an honor to the badge.
The other half...
you'd be shocked that they're nothing but another street gang bunch of thugs...
only they hide behind those badges and blue uniforms.
And they're authorized by the state to carry guns and use deadly force.
I don't think anything's ever offended me so much as seeing that bullshit up close.
It was like some fog was lifted and I saw what went on 'behind the curtain.'
That shit really shook me up.
I'm talking about people who've not only got no problem murdering someone...
but they've got the understanding and the means to get away with it.
There's more than a few people in prison who've been sent there wrongly convicted of crimes these guys have done.
They know how to pull it off.
The only thing that they really fear are the half of the cops who wouldn't tolerate that stuff.
The problem is that in some departments the ratio's pretty skewed.
Like Deadwood.
The whole place is filled with bad apples.
The stories I started to hear were unbelievable.
Witness intimidation.
Planting drugs.
Lying on police reports.
Giving false testimony.
And of course...
firebombing the garbage dumpster in front of my office.
I saw that one with my own eyes.
Or that phone call I got about the Police Commisioner's federal conviction for selling a couple of kilos of the white stuff.
The same guy that owned the bar that installed the illegal poker machines.
The ones that were all gone when the county went to raid his place because Iron Fist supposedly got tipped off and told him he'd better get rid of those things fast.
And I heard Iron Fist was pissed.
Not because his Police Commissioner had an illegal gambling operation going on in his town...
but because he'd kept it a secret from him.
Iron Fist kept secrets.
You didn't keep secrets from him.
There's some dark shadows on the other side of that 'thin blue line' and I'm telling you that I hope you never see them.
They get away with way too much.
They get away with murder.
The corruption is so endemic to the system that I have no faith at all that it can ever be eliminated.
There's a secret code.
If you've ever gotten a ticket and the cop thought you were an asshole all he had to do was to make sure that when he stapled your drivers lisense to the paperwork was that he put the staple through your picture.
The next cop that pulled you over knew right away that some other cop had a problem with you.
Because you had staple holes there on your license.
On your face.
That's the kind of shit that they do.
That's the 'code.'
One thing that they do better than anything though is to stick together.
'Professional courtesy' they call it.
In Chicago givin' another cop a ticket for DUI is an instant career dead end.
The older cops with more experience know how it works.
The young guys get sucked into it in order to prove themselves.
And to survive.
You gotta tow the line if you want backup to help you out in a timely manner when you call for it.
It's almost a rite of passage.
You don't pass the test...
you're gonna get your ass kicked on the streets or worse...
and no one's gonna drive really fast to help you out.
You'll be on your own.
Over the years the cops have developed an 'us or them' mentality.
They become jaded about the way it all works...
they socialize amongst themselves and the women who they call 'holster sniffers.'
They start to hate the legal system...
the judges and the prosecutors...
and then all of the sudden they're one of the 'bad apples.'
You hear about them every once in a while...
either they're busted by the feds or they're turned on by the guys around them because they pissed someone off.
You got no idea how bad it is really.
Not until you start hearin' what's going on 'off the record.'
You'll never sleep as well as you did before you heard the stories.
What makes it all worse is when corrupt politicians start to use the police as a 'personal army.'
That only makes everything dirtier.
The cops know that they're gonna get away with so much more when the guys above them are corrupt too.
That's the way it went in Deadwood.
Iron Fist used the police like they were his own little militia.
If he had a problem with you then you had yourself a problem with the cops.
And keepin' Iron Fist happy took precedence over 'law and order' any day of the week in Deadwood.
You got old Iron Fist pissed off at you that'd be a real quick end to your career in 'law enforcement.'
While Iron Fist ran the place the town was known as a really desirable place to live.
You didn't put a 'for sale' sign in front of your house if you wanted to sell it when he was in charge.
The old man would never tolerate that.
He had a list of people who wanted to live there and him and his cronies would figure out who they were gonna let buy your house.
They didn't want any 'undesirables' moving in.
And by 'undesirables' I mean black people.
Iron Fist thought that 'for sale' signs on people's homes made him look bad.
Dude should have been a cult leader the way he operated.
If you went around 'the system'...
and some people did because they felt that Iron Fist's little policy was cutting their profits on the sale of their homes...
Iron Fist would send the cops out late at night and snatch that 'for sale' sign right out of your front yard.
The guys I talked to said 'Secret Squirrel' was always up for the job.
He was the guy that drove around with the trunk full of machine guns.
The Village was sued in federal court for the practice by real estate agents and the Village lost on First Ammendment grounds...
but they still kept doing it.
Iron Fist reduced the police to commonon thievery.
For a lot of them I think that was the line that they'd first crossed into the corruption that soiled the place.
Kind of like a little 'initiation' into the way things were done in Deadwood.
They wanted to make damn sure no 'undesirables' were ever hired on to the police department too.
They asked applicants to provide a picture of themselves with their applications.
You better not have a dark complection if you wanted to get a job there.
The thing that really made everything so corrupt was that the Chief would always end up with a big old bag of dirt on Iron Fist...
just as much as Iron Fist'd end up with a big old bag of dirt on the Chief.
The relationships never seemed to last too long because Iron Fist knew the game better than any of the clowns he'd make Chief.
He'd take 'em down before they really became a threat.
When Skeevy left there to run another department it wasn't too long before the feds were all over his ass.
It was Skeevy who'd installed the guy that'd become the next Chief...
'Chief Hotdog.'
The one I sent the 'nutcracker' letter to.
Where I told him 'I was gonna squeeze his balls until they popped.'
The letter I had to read in front of the jury with all the good stuff blacked out.
Man I really thought I was gonna be charged with some serious felonies for that action.
Even my lawyer said he was worried about it.
'You don't go around writing that kind of stuff down' he said 'say whatever you want but you don't write letters like that and send them to the Chief of Police signed with your name.'
Fortunately the statute of limitations has run out on that one and I ain't got no problems that way.
I really tortured poor Chief Hotdog...
got inside his head and fucked with him big time.
The way I saw it he deserved it.
I mean... he was the boss... and he coudda done something to make things right for me and my family.
He was given the chance to do the right thing.
They all were.
But when he came out lying to the media about what happened that night and defended the actions of his street thug cops I knew I was goin' after his ass any way I could.
Right after the case against my wife was thrown out Chief Hotdog resigned.
Of course The Kid said it had nothin' to do with the bungling of that case...
and insiders said it was because he didn't do really well at fundraising for The Kid politically...
but I didn't care.
He was just one more corrupt motherfucker that I had in my crosshairs that went down in flames.
Whatever it was it ended his career.
The department went without a Chief for a few months and everyone speculated on who was gonna be named Chief Hotdog's successor.
I was shakin' the place up with allegations about the use of the contaminated well but that was all kinda behind the scenes...
the media or the feds hadn't picked up on it just yet.
When The Kid appointed the new Chief, me and The Mole both let out a collective gasp at the same time.
He appointed a woman who used to run the water department.
Terry Stewbauer.
I couldn't believe it.
It was such an obvious payoff and anyone in the know could see that right away.
It was blatant.
The Kid wasn't just 'ball-less' he seemed to be brainless too.
That was the first time I knew I really had those assholes and I knew I had them good.
They knew the feds were comin' sooner or later because I wasn't letting up and appointing Stewbauer as the new Chief of Police was a sort of premptory strike.
They wanted to keep her quiet and they wanted to keep her loyal...
put her on the 'short leash.'
I think she was scared shitless about what was comin' down the line and thinkin' about makin' a deal herself with the federales.
The Kid appointing her as the new Chief was probably a confidence builder for the woman.
She was working part time as a detective for the department before she was appointed Chief and I'd heard she wasn't a bad cop.
But she knew the truth about the use of the contaminated well and I knew that in appointing her that The Kid was hoping she'd never tell that truth to anyone.
Especially the feds.
I heard that her husband was a convicted drug dealer who was sitting in prison at the time she was appointed as the new Chief too.
She couldn't have been a very good detective if she didn't know that the old man was dealin' drugs out of her house.
Or she was a very corrupt detective.
Take your pick.
She was working as the Chief of Police in Deadwood when she was indicted on something like twenty three felony counts by the US Attorney.
She had to surrender her gun and her firearm owners identification card to the feds right after that.
Deadwood gave her a paid 'leave of absence' so now she gets paid for doing nothing.
Except takin' a fall for Iron Fist and his crew and keeping some serious secrets.
Of course they're paying her legal bills too.
I can't believe they get away with that shit but they do.
If I was a reporter I'd tear 'em a new one over that story.
I guess that made her the second Chief of Police that I'd end up takin' down in a row over this whole thing.
The Mole once pointed out that 'fucking with you doesn't seem to be a really good career move.'
We shared a good laugh over that one.
I was makin' enemies there almost as fast as I'm known to make friends.
And I was using the enemies of my enemy pretty effectively too.
That's why I'd reached out to Congressman Bobby Rush.
Krista'd made the introduction.
I'd read that when Rush was first elected to Congress that Iron Fist was pretty pissed off that now a black man would be representing Deadwood in Congress.
He was quoted in the newspapers saying that he wanted to secceed from the congressional district because 'there was no way that that man could represent the white ethnics of Deadwood.'
That comment really pissed off Congressman Rush and I don't think he ever forgot it.
Or forgave it.
I remember thinking 'this guy will really be a help in nailing Iron Fist to the cross' and I was right.
Congressman Rush and I are not the kind of guys who you'd ever accuse of seeing 'eye to eye' politically but we had a common enemy in Iron Fist and that's all it takes in Illinois politics... or politics in general to gain a strong ally.
I remember the Congressman pulling me out of a big meeting saying that he wanted me to get in front of the cameras with him and talk to the press.
Right after he'd given the best political speech I've ever had the great pleasure to witness.
I'm telling you I swear he channeled the spirit of a baptist preacher from the deep south of the seventies on that one.
I think the Congressman wanted Iron Fist to see him with his arm around me there smiling.
Kinda like twisting the knife if you know what I mean.
I also remember the Fox News reporter with that tight sweater and the most amazing pair of tits I'd ever seen...
I thought it was pretty funny that I'm standing next to a Congressman with about a half a dozen tv cameras in my face blowin' the lid on Iron Fist and his dirty and despicable deeds and I can't take my eyes off of this woman's rack.
I'm usually not like that...
but damn... the combination of that sweater and her upper body were a work of freakin' art...
a thing of incredible beauty.
That moment was the closest I'd ever come to feeling a woman up on live tv.
I'm glad the Congressman did most of the talking.
When I watched myself on tv that night I looked like a really honest guy lookin' right into the camera like that.
Only me and God knew where I was really looking though.
And I blame the whole thing on God anyway.
That was not the work of some plastic surgeon...
and if it was, then it was God that gave him that talent...
so I still blame God and I think he'd be honored that I do.
I felt like dirt for thinkin' that way there though.
Iron Fist and his shenanigans killed people.
Innocent people that had no idea that they were drinking that cancer water.
There were so many people with cancer there at that meeting.
I shook their hands and I hugged them.
I looked into their eyes and I listened to their stories.
And it all got me even more pissed off at what those assholes did.
Yeah... there was a certain selfish satisfaction in the imminent crucifiction of the people who'd hurt my family...
but more and more I was beginning to find myself taking up the crusade to bring these guys to justice not just for what they'd done to me and my family...
but for what they'd done to the people that trusted them.
They had to pay for what they'd done and it seemed like I was the only one with the balls and the motivation and the understanding of the situation to keep driving them towards justice.
And now I had some powerful people on my side.
Rush had called Eric Holder, the US Attorney General from the meeting and told him what was going on.
Shit was getting stirred up alright.
I was excited.
I'd seen enough in that parking lot and in the days after to know that they were soul-less and corrupt and I wanted to show everyone that.
I wanted revenge ever since that night.
There was a battle going on inside of my soul by this time.
And I found myself slowly letting the whole concept of revenge go.
More than anything...
I really wanted justice.
And I wanted it for the frail thirty eight year old woman I'd just hugged who had cancer all over her body and was sick right there from all of the chemo...
I wanted justice for her.
They had no right to do that to another human being.
Iron Fist and his whole crew hadda go down for this.
From the series 'There's Something in the Water' here on Flickr... www.flickr.com/photos/light_seeker/sets/72157627041317913...
Welp, guess its finally my turn to make a DEVGRU figure. Seems to be the in thing right now. :P
This fig. Holy crap. Took me ages. The vest sculpting took me about an hour, but then all the pouches, magazines, backpack and other shit took about 3 hours.
Everything here was made from scratch, with the exception of the Tiny Tactical M4, the Minfig.Cat AK47 and M9 silencer (which, awesomely, fit the M4) and the base vest. Otherwise, everything is sculpted or made from scratch, including the M18 grenade, M4 sight, gloves, magazine pouches etc. I gotta say, I love those little scissors on the backpack :D I reckon that's going to become a regular feature on my figs; tactical scissors.
MUUUUULLTIIIICAAAAAAM. I think that this is the best Multicam I've ever done. Also, those. Bloody. Patches. I don't have brushes nearly small enough. That blood type O+ patch was freeeakin' hard to do. And the Gold Team patch.
Ah well. Shemagh is made from epoxy putty, as is everything else sculpted, like gloves and stuff.
Christ, I said a lot. Ah well. Tactical Beard incoming as my next fig.
Comments and Faves are very welcome.
Oh, almost forgot. This fig is for the Lego Special Operations contest, and is my first entry into Painted/Sculpted.
So, I text my buddy Jave a.k.a. JavePhoto yesterday night to ask him if he is working today (Tuesday). I hear nothing back from him that night. But first thing in the morning I get a call, "Dude, I didn't feel like working today and you just gave me my excuse not to go in. When & where do you want to shoot?" I tell him that since there is no clouds, we can either do a star trail shot at shark fin cove or try to shoot the Bay Bridge at twilight just as the lights are coming on in the city and on the Bridge. I told him that I saw a picture that Patrick had posted on flickr that finally motivated me to get out there and shoot this Bridge. Well, Jave has shot the Bay Bridge before but never from this low angle. So he says, if there was a warning about danger, we're there.
So, we meet up at my office and Jave picks me up in his swanky BMW. This is living. Heated seats, power everything, leg room galore. I mean, I swear there was someone rubbing my shoulders as I sat in the passenger seat, but when I turned and looked in the back seat, there was no one. Spooky :-)
But anyhow, we left my office at 1:30pm to leave plenty of time to scope out the new shooting spot. But 880 is hell in a new dimension, this time of the year. I swear it was like stop and go the whole way. Including getting through the tole on the bridge. So, we finally exit the off ramp to Treasure Island not really knowing what we are looking for except for we should be facing San Francisco and the Bridge should be on the right of us. Well, lets just say we got shooed away by a guard at a gate on the wrong side of the Bridge, because we thought maybe we could drive around to the other side? WRONG! Well, after a few more runs around the island and a bunch of illegal U-turns. We just stop in the middle of a sort of driveway, put the hazards on, and walked around to try to figure out where to shoot. As we are walking towards what we are sure is the path down to this spot. A car drives by and screeches to a stop about 100 feet in front of us on the opposite side of the road. And a young girl jumps out and the car speeds off. Jave is like,"what the hell is going on here" because this girl is holding her crouch and jumping around doing some type of rain dance and staring at us, staring at her. Jave is like, "Dude this chick is wak!" I'm like, whatever, we're loosing friggin light here. But, she keeps jumping around and now she's coming towards us on our side of the road. And Jave says, this _itch better step off. And then she'll says "I'm sorry, I'm sorry and pulls here pants down and starts peeing right in front of us bare but and all.
Now, I've had my share of police run ins and security guards yelling at me for shooting pictures. But this took the cake. I was speechless, but I was on a mission to get a shot so Jave was like lets get back to the car. And as we get to the car there is that same car that speed off a few minutes ago parked next to us in this driveway area on the side of the off ramp. The girl was waiting for her peeing friend. We get in the car as the peeing girl comes running up the road and jumps into the car next to us. Then they make the same U-Turn as us and head down to the base where we decided to park the car and walk back up. As we are driving down to park, Jave says to me, this is gonna be a long walk back up, I don't think we'll make it in time. I'm gonna ask those two girls to drop us back off at the top. And when we park, he does and to my astonishment they said, "Sure why not." WHY NOT??? BECAUSE YOU JUST PEED IN FRONT OF US THAT'S WHY NOT. But neither Jave nor the girls seemed to have a problem with our recent encounter. So, we grab our gear and jump into their car. And BOOM it hits me. The sweet, sweet smell of POT. Jave Blurts out, so you guys are having a little party here I see, which was followed by the girls laughing uncontrollable until they dropped us off, back up on the hill. Again, I am at a loss for words.
So, we finally make it down to this spot and scout around very quickly because we don't want to miss the magical light. Jave busts out his iPhone and shows me the pic that Patrick took recently from here and says we gotta get lower and closer to the edge. I'm thinking, We don't gotta do NO SUCH THING. But our greed for a great shot overwelms us and we do just that. Now we are, may I say, sitting on soft sandy soil on the edge of a big cliff. I'm not happy and Jave is strattling the side of the cliff like a commando. We start arnchoring our tripods by stabbing them into the hillside, which is pretty soft, when we hear rustling from the bushes. even lower then us and farther left. It scares the shit out of Jave and me. But we have to look over the edge and we see this dude that's like 70 years old climbing the side of this cliff coming towards us. And Jave says to me, WTF??? I again am speechless! Then when this guy climbs his way over to us, he says, how did you guys get here? That way was a bit tricky. That, my friends, has got to be the understatement of the year.
So, after this guy settles in, we all take our shots. And there are some nice shots to be had this evening. I love light :-) After shooting for about an hour, the old guy asks us how are we getting out of here. I quickly reply,"not the way you came in" and start laughing. He says that if we show him an easier way to the road he would call his friend to pick us up and take us to our car. SCORE #2. It was the best way to end the evening of shooting. Once we got back to the car, Jave was like "computer engage seat heaters" OK, I may have just made that up. But the rest of this crazy day is all true. It took us a total of 9 hours since we left San Jose to get our shots. But I think, for today, it was worth it. I hope you all enjoy the photo. If you did not check out Jave's photos above, Here is his shot from this location :-)
Enjoy :-)
For the Techies :-)
Canon 5D Mark II
Exposure: 4sec
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 46 mm
ISO Speed: 50 (to get as even an exposure as possible)
Lens: Canon EF24-70mm f2.8L
Tripod Gitzo G 026
Head Gitzo G1178M
Filters: Standard B+W UV that never leave my lens
*this totally did not turn out like I wanted it to, BUT my camera died and this was the shot that I got so I gotta deal*
"I keep trying to find a life
On my own apart from you
I am the king of excuses
I've got one for every selfish thing I do
What's going on inside of me
I despise my own behavior
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
(CHORUS)
I wanna be in the Light
as You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars
in the Heavens
Oh, Lord be my light
and be my Salvation
'cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want is to be in the Light
This disease of self runs through my blood (through my blood)
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
to bring this sickness under control
Tell me what's going on inside of me
(Whats going on)
I despise my own behavior
(Despise my own behavior)
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
I wanna be in the Light
as You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars
in the Heavens
Oh, Lord be my Light
and be my Salvation
'cause all I want is to be in the Light (yeah)
All I want is to be in the Light
(BRIDGE)
Honesty becomes me
[There's nothing left to lose]
The secrets that did run me
[Your presence have defused]
Pride has no position
[As riches have no worth]
The fame that once did cover me
[Has been sentenced to this Earth]
Has been sentenced to this Earth
Tell me what's going on inside of me
(Whats going on)
I despise my own behavior
(Despise my own behavior)
This only serves to confirm my suspicions
That I'm still a man in need of a Savior
I wanna be in the Light
as You are in the Light
I wanna shine like the stars
in the Heavens
Oh, Lord be my light
and be my Salvation
'cause all I want is to be in the Light
All I want to be is in the Light (3x)
[There's no other place I want to be]
[No other place that I can see]
[A place to be that's just right]
[Someday I'm gonna be in the Light]
[You are in the Light]
[That's where I need to be]
[That's right where I need to be]"
-DC Talk
Hadn't heard this song in awhile and heard it as I was driving home tonight. Not a favorite of mine, but I just kind of feels... like where I'm at right now. Sort of.
Oh man, what the heck happened to me, oh…right Harvey, that…does man really fit him as an adjective. Man I gotta talk to Bruce and Alfie.
“Hey Alfie, you out there!” in a couple moments he was by my bedside.
“Master Grayson, how are you feeling?” he asks in a comforting, reassuring voice, the kind that you have from having to take care of a rather emotional young boy.
“I’m feeling alright Alfred, so, am I fine, or anything else happen to me?” lord I’m worried, what happened to me, will I be okay, man, I’m shaken up like the Joker’s mind, I mean I’ve never faced him, but I’ve heard stories, stories that Bruce told me, he said he was saving the first encounter for a special time.
“So, does Bruce want to see me?” I ask, the afternoon light peers into my room, dust rather visible from the rays of light, looking outside I see the nice grass, tall trees that have stood for plenty of fruitful years, I see a birds nest on a tree nearby, a mother bird swoops down, most likely with food for its children, things can be beautiful.
“Are you, still enjoying life, or would you like to see Master Bruce?” I chuckle, while that was probably referencing me gazing off onto the yard, I guess it could have been interpreted in other ways.
“Alright, I’m ready to talk to him, you think he’ll still want me around…after my failure” I try to hide my head in shame, and memories flood, Deathstroke, Harvey’s goons, and the bat, that dammed bat, but worst of all, Watkin’s death.
“Master Grayson, I believe that Bruce will always want you around, you mix well with him” we set the time on the clock and it opens up, we go down the long flight of stairs and end up in the cave.
“Hello, Bruce” man I’m really nervous, what will he say to me. He stands by the medical bay, I see something in a glass case, built into the wall, then I recognize it, my suit. I walk over to his left side, and gaze into the case.
“So, can we get to taking this thing out?” I ask, cheerfully, hopefully raising the spirits a bit.
“No, not right now” he pauses for a moment, deeply gazing into the suit.
“And never again” these words shatter my reality, lord I know I thought of this while waking up and walking down here, but I never imagined how bad it would be to hear that, my dreams, and soul crushed with the fact that I can’t do what I love anymore, no more Robin, no late nights patrolling with Bruce, no more bringing bad people to justice, and giving them help, it’s all over.
“But, BUT WHY!” my voice begins to raise, anger and sadness fill me, I feel betrayed, before he can speak I snap at him.
“I’M YOUR PARTNER, YOU SAID IT YOURSELF, I MADE AN OATH AND WE WORK TOGETHER, WE ARE PARTERS, JUST BECAUSE I WAS BEATEN DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD DO THIS!” his face doesn’t change, I hope he feels bad though, he should know that this would hurt my feelings, and he doesn’t even care to tell me himself.
“Dick, I care for you, you’re a good kid, the best I have, and I think you deserve what’s best for you, live your life normally, and to the fullest, this is my crusade, not yours” he tries to look away, but his eyes are fixated on me, every once and a while peaking at the case.
“Bruce, if that’s how you want it then fine, I won’t speak of this again, but just know, I’ll carry this in my heart forever” I walk upstairs, angrily, once I’m half way up I begin to sprint to my room, and hop on my bed, I caused an innocent man’s death, was nearly beaten to death, and nearly caused another man to die, I think it’s time for me, to head out.
__________________________________________________
I forgot to make this public for an hour, amateur mistake, anyways hope you guys enjoyed this, i tried to convey as much emotion as possible in this.
In 1990! Nicolas Cage and Michael Keaton were to be the first Batman and Superman to share the silver screen! ...It didn't happen.
In 2006! Brandon Routh and Christian Bale were heavily sought after to be the first Batman and Superman to share the silver screen! ...That didn't happen either.
In 2009! Justice League: Mortal began pre-production with Mad Max's George Miller at the helm! :D ...But because of The Writers Strike... we got Green Lantern instead.... Yep... :|
In 2016! Batman and Superman... didn't get along very well on the silver screen (oh and Wonder Woman was there toooooo?!)!
FINALLY In 2017! We're just now we getting the first ever live-action Justice League film! Woo! Hooray! Yippee! It's Happened! We did guys! :D
Ya know... Its no big deal... it's only been 57 YEARS since The Justice League came together in The Brave and The Bold!! Plus the whole “JL Movie Idea” has only been bouncing around Hollywood for some 30 years now!
Well I say it's about freakin' time! :P
I was really pleased with this movie! But that doesn't mean I wasn't hesitant.... I mean off the back of what (a lot) of people say was the worst film of 2016... This had a lot to live up to. But since BvS we've had a mediocre Suicide Squad movie and an incredible Wonder Woman film! Oh and MoS was also great but that was SO LONG AGO!
So for me at least, DC's current movies are about 50/50. Not “terrible” but not like “blown away amazing” either (with the exception of Wonder Woman :P) Now I've always been pro DC since the beginning but that could fully be nostalgia goggles obscuring things. (...to be honest, even though BvS was total garbage I still kinda liked it)
:)
But now that that's off my chest... did I like this movie? :P
Due to the adrenalin rush of getting a new DC movie, Hell Yeah! I loved it! But really taking the time to think about this movie after the hype died down, it was still pretty solid! Significantly better than BvS.
I mean right of the bat, my overall first thoughts was that it felt like watching the DC equivalent to The Avengers (the first avengers) (the first time they avenged). Not to say that's a bad thing, but going with a formula of introducing one main character at a time to then establish their whereabouts and then they get together with a bit of a tussle and then they meet the bad guy for the first time and then they loose to him and then they squabble with each other for a bit but then they meet their differences and then they fight the big bad guy again as a team!
So... given a structure like that, it's so hard not to compare to Marvel. But that's how most, if not all Superhero team ups begin (or at least that's how they've been doing it for a long ass time now). It's a simple core concept that allows character development and a bit of a central narrative.
But at the same time, this was a totally different animal of a movie! It wasn't nearly as predictable as a Marvel movie, where you can see exactly where the jokes and action will land.
One of the major differences (visually) was the lived in environments! A credit to the set designers for the amount of realism that The DCEU strives toward. Just about every location has a diverse feeling to it and Metropotham (because it's basically the same city) has a very lived in quality. Although at the same time, this somehow felt like a cheaply made film in contrast to BvS.
Like everything from Sets/Costumes/On Site locations felt just a little duller than I recall BvS having. The movie had a lot (and I mean A LOT) of CGI. Cyborg was hit or miss, Steppenwolf's MoCap was a bit off putting at times, Henry Cavill's CGI upper lip wasn't great... and besides the Norwegian Fishing Village and The Bat Lake, most of the locations looked like things built on sound stages. Idk maybe that's just me. But it still overall captured the MoS/BvS realistic concepts, even if it wasn't always “real”. Just felt a little cheaper than previous films.
But despite some of my visual indifferences, I was a big fan of how The Speed Force was depicted. Barry literally bends the atmosphere around him when he access it. Even quick flashes of The Color Spectrum appear for brief moments (implying that he's moving at nearly the speed of light at times). That's also the reason his lighting is white. Aka No Color! That's some neato science-y shit right there! :P
But enough about visuals, let's talk movie talk!
This was an absolute treat for me! Doing all this research through the decades gave me a very wide viewpoint to this film and the overall JLA core ideologies through out the last 60 years. The characterization choices in this film were all kinds of interesting! We get the 90s Surfer Aquaman, N52 Cyborg, the George Perez 80s Wonder Woman, a goofy mid-2000s Wally/Barry hybrid ...and... a version of Batman! (More on that later)
But OH MY GOD SUPERMAN!
AAAAAHHHHHH!
THEY DID HIM RIGHT!
THAT WAS HIM! IT WAS SUPERMAN OMG HE WAS BRIGHT AND COLORFUL AND HE USED ALL SIX OF HIS POST-CRISIS POWERS AND HE SMILED AND JOKED AND HE WAS ALL ABOUT TRUTH AND JUSTICE AND SHIT OH MY GOSH! :D
...Damn Son! He even raced The Flash!
I kid you not, I began to cry tears of joy when that happened :3
As much as I enjoy MoS for it's bold ideas and moral ambiguity for the modern society, sometimes I just wanna see Superman use his freeze breath and rip open his shirt in front of a camera! There are two ways to my heart, clearly :P
And you know what, that can be said about a lot of this movie! It was fun! It was colorful! It was hopeful! Plus it was respectful to the source material it referenced! I can't think of anything (story-wise) that wasn't unfaithful to a reputable comic book in some way!
It had some really impacting opening scenes! Wonder Woman's museum heist was super tense and had some great sound editing! Batman's N52 Parademon Hunt had a fun/weird 1989 Batman vibe to it... Actually, come to think of it... The Batman 1989 theme was in there too! Danny Elfman scored the film! Totally didn't expect that! :P
DUDE! I almost forgot!
A Green Lantern for Sector 2814 was in the first Steppenwolf Battle! Ahhhh! :D
Now I really want my GL Corps Buddy-Cop-Frontier-Space movie! I WANT IT NOW! :P
Oh and referencing Jack Kirby's New Gods! Plus seeing Zeus and the Old Gods in action! Man that whole battle was crazy! :P
*phew* I gotta compose myself here... This movie was so much fun! :D
Okay!
You know, come to think of it, I wasn't a big fan of the dialogue. Most of what was said got the points across, but a lot of the Bat-Quips and humor felt a little played up. I mean it was nice to smile throughout a DC movie for once, but to sit around an audience awkwardly not sure when to laugh at something was... unsettling. I found moments personally funny that others didn't, and vice-versa.
Oh something that kinda pissed me off was all the signature Zach Snyder Butt-Shots. Anytime that man could, he was filming someone's butt! Don't get me wrong, Ray Fisher's tin ass has an appeal to someone I'm sure, but why were we looking up WW's skirt all the time?! Patty Jenkins wouldn't be having any of that! Nor the Amazonian Crop Tops for that matter! That was dumb too, but man did they kick ass or what!? :P
I felt like, out of all the JL members, Aquaman was the least developed. I would have thought we'd see more of Atlantis and the lore behind it, but Mera and some guards were okay too I guess.
Also, on a side tangent, how great is it that Aquaman is played by a Pacific Islander! That makes so much more sense than a white guy anyday! Plus that scene using Icky Thump! Man that all gets me so pumped for his solo film! :D
I'm not feeling the Batfleck though... Did any of you guys think that he was a bit disappointing? It felt like both Affleck and Irons were really phoning in their performances. I was expecting the same amount of commitment that they brought to BvS, but it never came. Plus Batman didn't really do a whole lot. We didn't even get another good Arkham Game fight sequence! But man did he have a lot of guns this time! But it's okay because they're not for shooting humans or something.... Also his goggles looked kinda dumb, sayin just sayin.
Oh and guilting Diana into being a leader by bringing up her dead boyfriend?! Not cool bro.
All that aside, by comparison, I feel like Ezra Miller was super committed to the project! Perhaps a little too committed, but hey, I've yet to feel there's been a perfect Live-Action Flash to date. Also (random thought) his helmet looks a little like a Chevy Sonic :P
But shit, his slow motion scenes just blew my mind! If Zach Snyder was gonna nail anything, it was that! :P
Lex (looking like how Lex should look!) and Deathstroke teaming up was really exciting too! I just wish it wasn't leaked that DS was gonna be in the movie! That would have been such a shock! But it makes me excited for future films (and surprisingly excited to see if he'll be in a Suicide Squad sequel)! :)
...okay I'm running out of things to talk about here...
OH! The team fighting Superman was hilarious! Haha! :P
But really though, this movie was a blast! It had significantly better pacing! Great Action! Some decent humor! Plus the side stories and origins were handled really well! Things didn't divulge to far from the main story, but didn't cut things short either! I mean, as a DC movie it relied a little on it's popularity as a company. Like for example, they don't have to tell you who that one guy was with the mustache that turned on the big Bat Light....
Goes to show that you don't need every detail handed to us! I liked that :)
All in all, my favorite aspect of this film was the idea of moving forward. Be that in the form of Diana moving on from Steve, or Bruce remodeling the Manor to have a big round JSA table :)
It makes a good paralleling comment about DC's status as it's seen in the modern day. Bruce has a conversation with Alfred about how the world is so much different. It used to be simpler, when their only concerns were robot penguins and the like. And in a way, the movies reflect that too. Back in the day, you could have a movie where the final climax was Superman stopping natural disasters and then just reverse time! Today the Superhero genre is taken (relatively) seriously. You can't just come up with a lazy contrived reason to have Bats fight Supes.
I personally got a vibe from the film that with the death of Cavill's Superman, 2016 became this turning point for both DC/DCEU and a growing state of unease in our daily lives. Whether that had to do with all the mass shootings over the past year and a half, or maybe that we have a Rapist in The White House.... Superman Died and everything went to shit. In real life, and in the DCEU.
With Superman back, smiling bright and hopeful, it gives me a sense of pride to be part of this tonal shift we're gonna see take place over the next few years. I'd go so far as to argue that if they get their shit together, DC will have better movies than Marvel. Due to either the world renowned familiarity with these characters, or just the hopeful nature that this (and Wonder Woman) gave off.
SUPERMAN IS BACK AND HE'S FUCKING SMILING YOU GUYS THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME! :D
I'm so happy! :)
...But yeah!
This movie wasn't perfect but it's a step in the right direction! I really need to end this somehow so uh... yeah! What did you guys think of it? I loved it, but I can totally see why not everybody will. BvS put a bad taste in people's mouths, but The Justice League was very tasty! :P
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To be honest, I'm a little sad (but very relived) that The Generations of Justice series is over! The whole project took too so many months of research, 8+ photoshoots over the course of 2017, plus countless hours upon hours of editing in post-production (I tried to keep track but lost count after 40+ hours in mid July).
All in all, I'm extremely happy how the entirety of how this last month has gone! You guys are all so supportive and wonderful! I'm really grateful for all of you keeping me going :)
I'll be taking a brief holiday break from posting new content here on flickr, but Patreon will see some (never before uploaded) throwback posts over the next few weeks. So if you're already a Patron, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere! You'll hear from me next week!
Oh Patrons btw! If you can tell, this image got some last minute edits, so this one may look a little different than the one I shared to Patreon a few days back, but if you wanna know the details of the new changes, hit me up over there on that original post! :)
To everybody else; if you like my work, I'd love it if you donate whatever you can to my Patreon to keep this flickr page alive, because I'll be damned if this place doesn't kill me! If you join, I'll give you a personal shout-out on my very next public post, plus a follow from yours truly! :)
But really though, thank you guys all so much! I really really mean that! This community is incredible (with the exception of a few) :P
I'm extremely glad to be a part of it, and being able to create art and see the joy it brings people :)
Thank you all so much!
Cheers!
:)
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----------------------------
Atlantis, Pacific Ocean - 13 Years Ago.
---------------------------
I was only Six years old, Six years old. I was traumatized. I saw my Parents die right in front of my two eyes. It was like my whole life was ripped away, My parents died, because of me. King Shark killed them right in front of my eyes. The sea was calm, Atlantis was beautiful, the city lights were glowing, but it wasn’t like that for long, King Shark and another man, Dare I speak his name, came that night. Everything went to hell. But as they say, Everything happens for a reason.
I remember the night like it was yesterday. My Father, Mother, and I, went for a swim. Until my father spotted King Shark.
“Mera, take Arthur back home now. He’s here” He said while pushing me and my
mother behind him, and readying his Trident for an attack.
King Shark turns around and spots us. He sneers at us and lunges.
My father blocks his attack with his Trident. His fins are in between the prongs on the weapon.
“Give me the boy, and this ends!” He says.
“Over my dead body!”
Father responds, he then pulls his Trident away from Shark and
stabs him in the stomach. Shark growls and slashes Father on the face with his sword sharp fins. Father screams louder than he ever has. He falls to his knees holding his face.
Shark looks over to Mother and me.
“Now, are you gonna give me the boy, or are you gonna end up like your Beloved Husband?” He Growls.
“I’d rather end up like him, then give up my child.” She says with sadness in her voice.
As a tear crawls down her face, she gets ready to battle. She pulls out her Hydro-Swords and says one thing to me.
“Arthur, Run!”
King Shark punches her in the stomach and grabs her by her hair. She immediately drops her Hydro-Swords and grasps on his hands, trying to get them off her hair. He smirks menacingly.
“Goodbye, Queen.” He says. As soon as he gets ready to end my mother’s life, Father gets up and stabs him in the back.
“Let Her Go!” He Yells. He drops my mother to the ground and immediately pulls his focus to Father. As they brawl, Mother crawls to me and whispers something to me.
“Arthur, this may be the end of our lives, but remember, I'll always be with you. Right in your heart.” She says. She then sobs even more whilst holding me close to her.
“Mother, please don’t go! I need you, how will I go on without you guys..” I mumble as I cry.
My mother then looks up to me.
“Look at me Arthur. Never lose hope. No matter what you go through, always remember I will be there. I’ll look over you like a guardian angel.” She says. King Shark then stabs her while she is lying on the ground. I Scream louder than I ever have. I just witnessed my mother die right in front of my eyes. King Shark grabs me and laughs as he spits blood out.
“YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON’T LISTEN KID?! YOU SEE?” He growls as i continue to cry.
“THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS!” He points at both my dead parents.
“YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE YOU OVER! IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT.” He screams in my face.
That very second, the second my parents died, the second my life was ruined, was the beginning. The beginning of a new life. The beginning of Aquaman.
Suddenly, my hands started to form a water sword. I, unwillingly, stabbed it straight into his jaw. He screams in pain as I whimper in fear. The water starts to form around me, forming a...Water Giant if you will. It was covered in old Atlantean armor, with a big old Helmet, that almost looked like an Atlantean Crown. Out of nowhere, it starts to speak.
“LET THE BOY BE!” He Screams, pointing his Trident straight to King Shark.
“It’s….IT’S TRUE! THE LEGEND IS TRUE! THE DEAD KING! HE’S INSIDE THE BOY!” He says, with an evil Laughter.
From inside this huge...Monstrous Giant, Everything was so little. I felt as if I could crush everything. As if I wasn’t powerless. As if I could’ve saved my parents.
“Did you not hear my commands? I Said, GO! BEFORE I CRUSH YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS.” He says, Stomping a step forward and blasting ice from his hands.
King Shark quickly swims away, leaving a bloody trail along the way. The ice deformed within a matter of seconds, along with the Dead King. I fall to the ground on my knees, drop my hands to the ground, and burst out crying. I wipe up my tears and crawl over to my dead parents, whimpering like a beat up dog.
“Father, Mother? Please… come back….” I Mutter. Then start crying, falling to my mother’s chest.
I lied there for hours, My Aunt Marlena, Father’s sister, was just standing there, holding back her tears, supporting me as I cried and cried.
“Arthur, we must go.. I’m sorry.” She whispers, bending down. I turn around and hug my aunt tightly. I feel a tear roll down her cheek and onto my head.
That night, we went home to her house. We didn’t go back to our house because apparently right after we left, King Shark’s henchmen destroyed it. We buried the bodies the next day. My aunt took good care of me ever since. When I was 13, I officially became the king. At 15, I was fully trained to be the protector of Atlantis, of course, with my Aunt’s husband, Neal, helping me.
He’s the commander of the Atlantean Military force, so he also trained me. He was the closest thing to a Father to me. At 17 years old, My Aunt died. It was almost like the universe didn’t want me to have my family, but my mother always told me, never give up, and always keep going. The only person I had left was my uncle. Then, at 19 years old, that’s when it happened, when I left Atlantis and came to the surface world. I now realize that there’s still hope, the last several months with John and Tula has shown me that I still have a family. I may have just met them, but they’re family to me. And now, At 20 years old, I’ve become a protector of both worlds. I now realize, my father was half human and half Atlantean, so I have some human blood within me. This is my home too. This is my new life.
---------------------------------
John’s House, San Francisco - 12:55 PM.
---------------------------------
I had been sitting in John’s house, watching TV, when John called me on the phone he gave me. I picked the phone up and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hey uh, Arthur, I’ve got something to show you, there’s an Uber coming your way to pick you up.”
“Wait, what? I have to go Hire the Donna woman and her tiny boyfriend for Amanda Waller’s team. She’s your boss, wouldn’t you know?”
“Yeah, but you’ve got a couple hours to spare.”
I Sigh and answer.
“Fine.”
“Alright, Great! Oh and uh, come wearing your armor.”
“What, why would I--”
He quickly interrupted me
“Alright, gotta go. See you in a few.”
I put down the phone and go get dressed into my armor.
About 5 minutes later, the Uber comes. I walk out of John’s house, and over to the elevator. When I walk into the elevator, two women stand there, in shock. They stare the whole way down. When we finally reach to their floor, I say goodbye and wave. They then proceed to chuckle. The elevator reaches the bottom, and I walk out. Then, even more, people proceed to stare. I walk out and into the Uber, and I have to say, it was a very...uncomfortable ride.
I finally reach the destination, and it’s a big building, about 10-15 stories high.
I say thank you to the man and get out of the car. I pull the phone out of my bag and call John.
He picks the phone up, tells me the floor, and hangs up.
---------------------------------
The Team's new Lab, San Francisco.
1:05 AM
---------------------------------
I walk into the building and walk over to the front desk. The woman immediately recognizes me and hands me a card.
“Mr. Walker is waiting for you on the 15th floor.” She whispers.
I nod and walk over to the elevator. I click the button that reads “15”, and the elevator starts to speak. It says “Please insert card”. I do as it says, and it starts to move.
When I get to the top, it starts to speak again. “Welcome, Mr. Curry. Mr. Walker is waiting for you in the HQ.” I look around the elevator. New Headquarters? Sounds interesting. The doors open, and I see John working on some type of suit. There were a few tables with some stuff on. Like an Atlantean trident and helmet. There was also a scuba diving helmet and tank, along with a crate that was filled with weapons and stuff. The other table had some other stuff on it like a batting helmet and newspaper and coffee cup. John looks over to me, lifting up his safety goggles.
“Hey! It’s about time you got here.” He says with a smile on his face.
“Sorry i took long. What’s up with this?” i ask looking around.
“It’s the new HQ. My dad owns this whole building, and the whole 15th floor is private. So he gave it to me. ” he responds
“So your dad is a millionaire playboy? Sounds like the man in Gotham City.”
“Bruce Wayne? Nah. my dad’s not that rich. And he’s a businessman, not a playboy.”
“Wait, your dad knows you’re alive?”
“Huh? Yeah. Pretty much all of my family found out after Hal.”
“And you still take the name Walker?”
“Yep. I’m too used to it. Can’t get rid of it. Although I wanna start using the name Jordan.”
I look around, then spot a Robot sort of thing.
“What is that?” I ask, looking over to the Robot.
“Oh, that’s my new project, APEX. I’ve been working on him for a month or two now, but he’s up and working now,” he says
“Huh. Sounds Intriguing,” I Say.
“So how 'd ya like the place?” John says, gesturing around the whole room.
“It’s amazing. I especially love the view of the city, reminds me of Atlantis.” I say, looking out the window.
We hung out for a bit, John ordered pizza. We ate, then talked about Atlantis and when I would be going back. Then, John showed me how APEX worked.
“Alright, so you see these two bracelets like things I have on?” He asks putting both his arms up.
“Yes.”
“They can do many things, one of which is controlling APEX.” he says.
He lowers his hands.
“APEX, Awake.” he says looking over to APEX.
It takes a second or two, but he activates, and gets off his board, and speaks.
“Hello Mr. Jordan.” he says with a human-like voice.
“Hello APEX. How are you this afternoon?” John says, replying to the robot.
“I am doing good Sir. And you?”
“Great. I’d like you to meet Arthur Curry Jr. Arthur is a close friend of mine, and is also Aquaman, King of Atlantis.”
“Hello Mr. Curry, Welcome.”
I Respond.
“Hello.”
“Anyways Arthur, I've come up with a name for this base.”
“That is?”
“Atlan HQ”
I smirk.
“Oh and also, I hired Tula as a part of the team”
“Team?”
“Yeah. We’re a team. We’re Team Aquaman.” He responds
“Team Aquaman huh? Sounds like a team to me.”
“Yep.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Takes place after the events of JL
---------------------------
Atlan HQ, San Francisco - 3:34 PM
---------------------------
After the Meister event, it was hard to even go out. It was hard to even put the suit on, to hold the trident. Sure, we saved lives, but someone died. At the moment, I was sitting in the Headquarters and John walked in. He was holding a box filled with a bunch of items.
“What’s that?” I ask, gesturing to the box.
“It’s my stuff from my ARGUS office. I quit the job.” he says, putting the box down with the multiple other boxes and crates.
“Why?”
He sighs, and looks down. He looks back up at me.
“You already know why. Waller’s a criminal. She made you guys go out in the field. Even If you are all Metas, she knew the risks. She just didn’t care.” He responds.
The room goes silent as we just sit there, thinking. A couple minutes later, Tula walks out of the elevator, and into the Base.
“Hey, guys.” She says, setting down a box of Pizza and drinks on the table.
She looks at us and notices something’s wrong.
“What’s wrong, Guys?” She asks with a concerned face.
“I left ARGUS.” John replies, lifting his body up from the ground.
“What, Wh-- Wait, nevermind..” She says.
“Yeah..”
The room goes into a state of awkward silence.
“Well uh, I got Pizza. You guys hungry?” She Asks.
John says yes and I nod. She grabs the Pizza box and drinks and walks over to our makeshift dining table. She gestures for us to walk over to the table. We both get up and walk over there.
We sit down and start to eat. About 30 minutes later, when we finished up the pizza, Tula hears the elevator bell go off.
“Did you guys invite anyone over?” Tula says concerned.
“No, why?” John asks, slurping his drink.
“Someone’s here.” She responds.
I hear steps coming from the other room. I slowly get up and grab my Trident and my dagger.
“Stay here.” I whisper, looking at both John and Tula.
They both nod. I slowly walk into the other room. As my adrenaline goes up, I realized I was afraid. Not afraid of whoever was there, but I was afraid to pick up the trident and fight. Last time I did was when we dealt with Meister, and someone died. But I can’t back away from my legacy, I’ve gotta move forward. Anyways, I slowly open the glass doors that lead to the main room. I couldn’t see anyone, but I had to be sure. I walked in and saw a man in the elevator. Green hoodie, black beard. from what I could see, he was bald. That wasn’t important. The important part was he was holding a bloodied dagger, two or three security guards were lying there dead with a puddle of blood. The dagger seemed Atlantean to me. He walked out and I noticed an Atlantean tattoo on his hand. He had a ring too. He started to speak.
“Arthur Curry Jr., I’m here to kill you by the order of King Garth.”
My fist clenched in anger. Of course, Garth is behind this. Why can’t he just face me himself?
“Don’t get it twisted, he’s not the king. I am.” I respond.
He says one more thing to me before he attacks.
“Long Live King Garth.”
With that, he attacks me with his dagger. He aims for my face, but I duck before it hit me. I stabbed right on his shoulder. He didn’t show any pain. He pretends to try to stab my eye with his dagger, I duck again and he pulls out another dagger and stabs my leg with it. I scream in agony but try my hardest to ignore it. I grab my trident and attempt to stab his hip, but he dodges and instead slashes my face. I quickly stab his leg. He shows a little bit of pain, close to none. I think of a plan in my head. Maybe call John? He’s been working on that suit for a while now. Maybe he can finally use it. But he wouldn’t have enough time to grab the suit. As I think of a plan, I realize we’re at the glass window. It’s hard to think of a plan when my face and leg are both in pain and while fighting this maniac. He stabs my stomach with his dagger. Got it, I’ll throw him out the window. It might kill him, but judging by his attitude and him not showing pain, I doubt it.
I grab his jacket, and as I am about to throw him out, he speaks.
“What are you doing?!”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” I respond. I then throw him out of the window.
John quickly runs to the main room.
“I saw everything. We need to get you to a medic.” He says
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I respond as I feel my left eye go numb. I then realize I can’t see through it.
“Yeah, no you won’t” He says, quickly leading me to his car. Tula follows us.
-----------------------------------
Emergency Room, San Francisco - 4:56 PM
-----------------------------------
I had wakened up in the Emergency Room. It was a bland emergency room. I was on life support at the moment, but they couldn’t test my blood or anything due to my Atlantean skin. Atlantean’s cannot be pierced by human metal. Unless it’s very strong metal. John walked into the room, looking worried.
“Hey, man. You ok?” He asks, taking a seat.
“Yeah, I think I’ll be fine. I think I’m blinded in my left eye, though.” I respond.
“Looks like it.”
“I’ve gotta tell you something.”
“What’s that?” He asks.
“I’m going back to Atlantis.”
-------------------------------------------------
That’s it! Last issue before 2 part finale. Hope you guys are excited. Oh and HUGE thanks to Nexus- for making that logo for me. He also made my Deadshot logo, just forgot to mention it :P. Anyways, Hope you enjoyed!
See Ya!
Aquaman Finale Part 1: Return to Atlantis.
Aquaman Finale Part 2: King of Atlantis.
I've seen quite a few people on YouTube do a thing like this but never on Flickr, thought I'd be the 1st to do it here
As I'm sure u were probably already able to tell I limited 1 character per corps
Red lantern ( Thaddeus Ross) only chose him over hulk because he gets stronger and heats up when he gets angrier
Yellow lantern (Johnny blaze) an obvious choice for this imo, especially with his penance stare
Black lantern(frank castle) would've also been a good sinestro corps member, but thought he'd be better black cuz he spreads death to criminals across Hell's Kitchen or wherever he is for that matter
White lantern (James howlet) some may think he's an odd choice but I guy who has regenerated from a single drop of blood, and has lived for like 200 something years clearly fits here, he kinda already was powered by life sorta
Blue lantern(Steve rogers) even with the hydra cap stuff going on right now (which I think is really cool btw) Steve has always shown hope things will eventually go the way he would like (example when he learned buckey was the winter soldier)
Green lantern (peter Parker) he and Steve are pretty interchangeable with this, but he's kinda self explanatory of why I placed him here
Orange lantern (victor von doom) long story short he's always looking for ways to become more powerful
Purple lantern (vision)
Star sapphire (Kurt wagner)
Last to are a bit hard time describe why they're their but you just gotta look at their personality
So what did you guys think? Do agree with my list? What's yours?
The young woman here is beautiful, and I love the reflection of the keyboard in her sunglasses ... but I gotta tell ya: the combination of grass and green-glow on the back of her laptop is out of this world. I have to admit that I used some color saturation to pump up the colors a little ... but not much. This photograph made itself: I just happened to be in the right place, at the right time, to point my camera in the right direction and push the shutter-button...
Note: this photo was published in a May 26, 2009 blog titled "Memorial Day Weekend Link Love." And it was published in a June 3, 2009 blog titled "THE NEW COMMENTARIAT." It was also published in a Jun 25, 2009 Romanian blog titled "Vom avea wireless în Craiova?" It was also published as an illustration in a Sep 2009 Mahalo blog titled "Bryant Young," at www-dot-mahalo-dot-com-slash-bryant-dash-young, even though it has nothing to do with the football player of that name....
Moving into 2010, the photo was published in a Jan 15, 2010 blog titled "Die Fußball WM live auf dem Laptop: Aber wie?" And it was published in a Mar 5, 2010 blog titled "Two Simple Ways to Make Every Action Count." It was also published in a Jun 27, 2010 blog titled " „Isch hab Rücken!“ – mit dem Laptop auf dem Boden sitzen." And it was published in a Jul 6, 2010 blog titled "7 Ways To Bump Your Frequent Flyer Earning Up A Notch." It was also published in a Jul 7, 2010 blog titled "Know Your Laptop's Temperature Limits to Avoid Summer Meltdowns." And I just discovered that the photo was published in a May 26, 2010 blog titled "Memorial Day Weekend Link Love." It was also published in a Jul 9, 2010 blog titled "Links: Let Your Mind Wander, Credit Cards, Paranoid Collaborators, and More." And it was published in a Jul 11, 2010 blog titled "Modern Muses," as well as a Jul 20, 2010 blog titled "What Does It Mean to be a Nomad?" It was also published in a Jul 24, 2010 blog titled "夏の外出でパソコンを持ち歩く時に気をつけるべき9つのポイント,"which I think means "Summer Laptop" And it was published in a Sep 2, 2010 blog titled "5 Essential Web Marketing Tools for Small Green Businesses." It was also published in a Sep 10, 2010 blog titled "No mundo online." And, for no obvious reason at all, it was published in a Sep 30, 2010 blog titled "credit card programs, which is better, cash back (i.e. 4% on American Express) or frequent flyer miles bonus?" It was also published -- again, for no obvious reason -- in an Oct 13, 2010 "Credit Card Trends Daily" blog titled "Discover How To Maximize the Potentials of a Low APR Credit Card." And it was published in a Nov 1, 2010 blog titled "The Secret to Doing Your Best Work Effortlessly , as well as a Nov 2, 2010 blog titled "Thing 11: My Flickr Experience." It was also published in an undated (mid-Nov 2010) blog titled "Make Travel a Part of Your Life Again with Airline Miles Credit Cards." It was also published in an undated (late Nov 2010) blog titled " Make Travel Affordable and Easy with Airline Miles Credit Cards." And it was published in an undated (Dec 2010) blog titled "Are You One of the Millions That Could Benefit from an Airline Miles Credit Card?" It was also published in an Dec 19, 2010 blog titled "Airline Miles Credit Card Comparison," and it was published in a Dec 23, 2010 blog titled "Idée cadeau : Vivre léger."
Moving into 2011, the photo was published in a Feb 20, 2011 Polish blog titled "Prowadzisz fan page? Sprawdź, czy Twoja aktywność nie trafia w próżnię," as well as a Feb 20, 2011 Girl Log blog , with the same caption and detailed notes that I had written on this Flickr page. It was also published in a Feb 22, 2011 blog titled "WNBA's L.A. Chapter Presents Bookwoman Day On Saturday." And it was published in a Mar 11, 2011 blog titled "Top 10 Reasons to Work Online." It was also published in an Apr 1, 2011 Work At Home Careers blog, with the same caption and detailed notes that I had written on this Flickr page. And it was published in an Apr 4, 2011 blog titled "당신의 길을 가라." It was also published in an Apr 8, 2011 blog titled "Internet gratuit, c’est possible!", as well as an Apr 11, 2011 blog titled "Enola the Welder, Woman Welder at Heil Company." And it was published as an illustration in an undated (late Apr 2011) Book Drum website. It was also published in an Apr 25, 2011 blog titled "What Kind Of Blogs Do Women Love?" as well as an Apr 25, 2011 blog titled "Article Marketing Domination Review: The Definative Resource For Article Marketing." And it was published in an Apr 26, 2011 blog titled "„The innere Schweinehund does not live here anymore“." And it was published in an Apr 30, 2011 blog titled "MacBook Air battery better than advertised." It was also published in a May 4, 2011 blog titled "How To Keep Your Laptop Cool." And it was published in an undated (late May 2011) blog titled "8 Reasons I Love My Laptop." It was also published in a May 25, 2011 blog titled "i2011年夏モデルが出そろったので検討してみた."
Moving into June, the photo was published in a Jun 3, 2011 blog titled "3 Things I’ve Learned about Blogging – And Life," as well as a Jun 9, 2011 Marketing-En-Web blog, with the same caption as what I had written on this Flickr page. And it was published in a Jun 13, 2011 blog titled "トップへデスクトップパソコンパソコン関連." It was also published in a Jun 17, 2011 blog titled "ノートパソコン使用時の姿勢の直し方を示した動画," as well as a Jun 17, 2011 blog titled "8 Personal Finance Basics to Tackle NOW." It was also published in a June 10, 2011 blog titled "The Real Social Life of Wireless Public Spaces." And it was published in a Jun 27, 2011 blog titled "„Isch hab Rücken!“ – mit dem Laptop auf der Wiese sitzen, as well as a Jun 28, 2011 blog titled "Taking your blog mobile: are you geared up?," as well as a Jun 28, 2011 Page i blog titled "Mac Book Airの販売は近い？ 米Best Buyで販売一時停止." It was also published in a Jul 11, 2011 e-Portalik blog titled "Play: Więcej Internetu dla abonentów, nowe modemy." And it was published in a Jul 29, 2011 blog titled "Apple now has more cash than the US Government."
Moving into 2012, the photo was published in a Jan 15, 2012 blog titled "Nice Credit Card With Cash Back photos." It was also published in a Jan 23, 2012 blog titled "アメリカの若者たちの間で“愛の証”としてパスワードを共有することが流行." And it was published in a Jan 31, 2012 blog titled "Where Do I Start? How to Stop Dreaming and Get Moving" It was also published in a Feb 3,2012 blog titled "WM3600Rがあまりにも優れているので前機種WM3500Rとライバル機種URoad-8000を比較してみた," as well as a Feb 3, 2012 Nice Online Learning photos blog, with the same caption and detailed notes that I had written on this Flickr page. And it was published in a Feb 10, 2012 Gizmodo blog titled "An Apple Patent for Displays That Optimize Themselves According to Your Surroundings." It was also published in a Mar 9, 2012 blog titled "How I Use Technology When I'm Traveling." And it was published in a Mar 15, 2012 blog titled "5 Reasons Not to Delete Your Emails." It was also published in a Mar 28, 2012 blog titled "Benefits of a Merchant Account for your Online Store." It was also published in an Apr 15, 2012 blog titled "5 FAQ about sunglasses," as well as an Apr 16, 2012 blog titled "E voi fate vedere il vostro profilo Facebook ai vostri figli?", as well as an Apr 19, 2012 blog titled "Googling Your Symptoms Will Make You Sick," and an Apr 20, 2012 blog titled "tSurvival Survey: What is your weekend prepping project?" It was also published in an Apr 30, 2012 blog titled "144 Places to Educate Yourself Online for Free," and it was published in a May 2, 2012 blog titled "Universities introduce distance-learning courses." It was also published in a May 24, 2012 blog titled "TWITTERFITTER – DEN NYE FEMINISMEN," as well as a May 31, 2012 blog titled "Escola virtual d’estiu Espiral." And it was published in an undated (early Jun 2012) Lurvely blog titled, with great imaginative creativity, "Photo by Ed Yourdon," as well as a Jun 1, 2012 Gigazine blog titled "節電でも最も利用を控えたくない家電は年齢・性別問わず「パソコン」." And it was published in what appears to be the home page of an undated (early Jun 2012) blog titled Social Blog Marketing. It was also published in an undated (early Jun 2012) blog titled "How to make money online by outsourcing data entry projects," as well as an undated (early Jun 2012) Colorado Springs Information Center blog titled "A Fresh Start To Finding A Job." It was also published in a Jun 21, 2012 blog titled "6 Little-Known Facts that Could Affect Your Air Miles." And it was published in a Jun 28, 2012 blog titled "Offenes WLAN in Zürich: Die Stadt will sparen und ein Netz wie in Bern."
Moving into the second half of 2012, the photo was published in a Jul 1, 2012 blog titled "Tlc: gli operatori europei vogliono adeguati ritorni sugli investment." And it was published in a Jul 3, 2012 blog titled "How To Run Your Blog While You Are on the Move." It was also published in a Jul 8, 2012 PolySquare blog titled (I think) "엮인글 주소가 복사되었습니다." And it was published in a Jul 19, 2012 blog titled "Jugendliche sind immer länger online," as well as a Jul 19, 2012 blog titled "Where to find free wifi at the London Olympics." It was also published in a Jul 28, 2012 blog titled "What You're Actually Looking At When You Look At Facebook." And it was published in a Sep 2, 2012 blog titled "What Every Business Owner Should Understand About Article Marketing!" It was also published in a Sep 8, 2012 blog titled "Ask The Trainers: What Is Your Best Low (or no) Cost Marketing Tactic?" And it was published in a Sep 13, 2012 blog titled "Online-Shops: der Vergleich." I've discovered that it was also published in a Sep 5, 2012 blog titled "Online Reputation Management for Sex Bloggers." It was also published in an Oct 3, 2012 blog titled "Wat zoekt Generatie Y?", as well as an Oct 21, 2012 blog titled "Le paradox Facebook." And it was published in an Oct 15, 2012 blog titled "http://www.bloggingbistro.com/two-new-social-networks-to-try-recmnd-me-and-pocular/." It was also published in a Nov 13, 2012 blog titled "Varied Article Marketing Techniques to Try With Your Business." And it was published in an undated (mid-Nov 2012) blog titled "Legitimate Work From Home Jobs." It was also published in a Dec 5, 2012 blog titled "Ask LH: Can I Leave My Gadgets In A Hot Car?" And it was published in a Dec 29, 2012 blog titled "Work from home in your own online business."
Moving into 2013, the photo was published in a Jan 4, 2013 blog titled "Learn How To Make Your Article Submission A Big Success With These Tips." And it was published in a Jan 15, 2013 blog titled "10 erros comuns nos blogs." It was also published in a Jan 22, 2013 blog titled "Guest Post: New Year, New Career," as well as a Jan 25, 2013 blog titled "You Need Great Content If You Want Your Article To Succeed." And it was published in a Feb 8, 2013 Italian blog titled "Esserci o non esserci… sul web – 1^ Parte." It was also published in a Feb 10, 2013 blog titled "Making Long Distance Relationships Work." And it was published in a Feb 11, 2013 blog titled "Hack Like a Pro: How to Remotely Install a Keylogger onto Your Girlfriend's Computer," as well as a Feb 16, 2013 blog titled "Lent Reflection: Focusing on Work and Rest." It was also published in a Feb 19, 2013 Finnish blog titled "Näin synkronoit Lumiasi Mac-tietokoneen kanssa." And it was published in a Feb 27, 2013 blog titled "Will MOOCs be the End of the College Campus?" It was also published in a Mar 1, 2013 blog titled "病気の発症にも影響！？情報化社会を生きるあなたが病気から自分を守るスキル“健康リテラシー”." And it was published in a Feb 27 , 2013 blog titled "Will MOOCs be the End of the College Campus?" It was also published in a Mar 22, 2013 blog titled "72% Of Professors Who Teach Online Courses Don’t Think Their Students Deserve Credit," as well as a Mar 23, 2013 blog titled "Když ovládnete svoji mysl, ovládnete svůj život." And it was published in a Mar 27, 2013 Dutch blog titled "MOOC's hype of heilige graal?" It was also published in an Apr 2, 2013 blog titled "30 sources to keep you updated on business and marketing," and an Apr 3, 2013 blog titled "Blackberry Mobile Phones Technical Gadgets Providing Overwhelming Functionalities," as well as an Apr 4, 2013 blog titled "Job Searching Tips When Moving to Tasmania." And it was published in an Apr 21, 2013 blog titled "Zarabiaj na poradnikach internetowych!," as well as an Apr 25, 2013 blog titled "WO dynamisch masculien," and an Apr 26, 2013 blog titled "The Importance of Your Online Reputation."
Moving on, the photo was published in a May 1, 2013 blog titled "Here's More Proof It's Time To Switch To An Online Bank." And it was published in a May 2, 2013 blog titled "Veränderung durch Digitalisierung der Entwicklung." It was also published in an undated (mid-May 2013) blog titled "10 Reasons To Start a Travel Blog." And it was published in a May 15, 2013 blog titled "Does your PR Agency Know How to Connect?", as well as a May 16, 2013 blog titled "The Best Financial Software." It was also published in a May 22, 2013 blog titled "Women Manage Credit Better Than Men, Study Says." And it was published in a Jun 2, 2013 blog titled "Twitter rende più facile modificare il nostro profilo," as well as a Jun 5, 2013 blog titled "Medium is a platform for writers, not readers" and a Jun 5, 2013 blog titled "私なりのGoogle検索順位をアップさせる方法." It was also published in a Jun 11, 2013 blog titled "Leren van online studeren," as well as a Jun 12, 2013 blog titled "Higher Ed, Listen To Your Facebook Fans." And it was published in a Jun 27, 2013 blog titled "子どもができたらプログラミングを習わせたい ," as well as a Jun 27,2013 blog titled "After 10 years, Google purges Blogger of all "adult" sites." It was also published in a Jul 8, 2013 blog titled "Aantal flexwerkers gestegen," and a Jul 12, 2013 blog titled "Online Jobs for Your Teen This Summer," as well as a Jul 22, 2013 blog titled What I like best about being a Spotter….," and a Jul 20, 2013 Slate France blog titled "LES RELATIONS À DISTANCE FAVORISENT L'INTIMITÉ DANS LE COUPLE" and a Jul 22, 2013 blog titled "Как организовать поиск работы в Краснодаре." And it was published in a Jul 26, 2013 Selmicro blog, with the same caption and detailed notes that I had written on this Flickr page. It was also published in an undated (mid-August 2013) blog titled "Get Your Name Out There With These Wonderful Tips." And it was published in a Sep 10, 2013 blog titled "Students Battle School Districts Over First Amendment Rights On Social Media."
Moving into 2014, the photo was the first of my Flickr archives to be published -- in a Jan 1, 2014 blog titled "The Evils of Social Media." It was also published in a Jan 10, 2014 blog titled "スモールビジネスを選択する判断基準 10のチェック項目." And it was published in a Mar 13, 2014 blog titled "Outil B2B : le troc entre professionals." And it was published in a May 1, 2014 blog titled "What gives a website game-changer status? Or, how to have a website that sells." It was also published in an Aug 12, 2014 blog titled "More sunlight exposure reduces risk of shortsightedness."
Moving into 2015, the photo was published in an undated (mid-January 2015) German blog titled Jugendliche und Datenschutz in Sozialen Netzwerken
*SPLOOSH*
"Great..."
JL: "We can still get him, Robin! I've locked onto his mind, I'll hear him even down the river!"
"Don't work yourself, little buddy. We won't need that."
JL: "Why?"
"Because if we found our guy, going down river is probably the last thing he wants to do..."
SR: "*GASP* HELP!! *GASP* GURGLE* I CAN'T SWIM!!"
"Get on that ladder. Keep him up juuuust enough!'
JL: "Right!"
"Stewart Riker, right? They call you Seastick Stew. Is this why?"
SR: "GET ME OUT!! *GURGLE* NOW!!"
"Cool. Not looking so good, Stewie. Can i call you Stewie?"
SR: "I'M DROWNING YOU DICK! *GASP* HELP ME!!"
"I want to, really! But you gotta help me first, Stewie!"
SR: "BITE ME!! *GURGLE**GASP* I DON'T OWE YOU JACK SHIT!!"
"I Just wanna talk about Kobra, Stewie! A little birdie...well, another little birdie said you'd be just the guy to talk to!"
SR: "YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT KOBRA *GURGLE* GO WATCH SOME G.I. JOE!! *GASP*"
"That'd be funny if I didn't already make that lame joke about 3 days ago, Stewie!"
SR: "I AIN'T TELLIN' YOU FREAKS SHIT!! *GURGLE* I OWE YOU NOTHING, YA HEAR?! *GASP* NOTHING!!"
"Whatever floats your boat, Stewie. Let's go, Pulse! This guy looks like he could use a bath anyway."
JL: "Really? But he'll--"
"I said let's go!"
JL: "......."
SW: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? *GURGLE* GET ME OUT!!! I SAID I CAN'T SWIM!!"
JL: "Robin?...."
"Keep walking."
SW: "*GASP* GET BACK HERE!!! I'M GONNA DROWN!! *GURGLE*"
JL: "Tim, please!..."
"Just wait for it."
SR: "*GURGLE* ALRIGHT!! ALRIGHT!! JUST HELP PLEASE!!! *GASP* AAAGGHH!!!!"
"There we go! Pull him out, little buddy."
JL: "Oh jeez...that was close...."
Just a bit of fun here, if anyone is interested. Ever since they debuted in my 19 seconds dio, I’ve been struggling to come up with the right name for these silver robot thingies. They’re meant to be an enemy for the Dawn Forge…some sort of ancient, lost machine race that the DF stumbled upon, awoke, and now have no end of trouble with. They were the nameless foe in the Zero Hour project, and I plan on continuing to expand the theme (right now there are only two distinct types, though more are forthcoming) and use them in future projects, so…they need a name.
Which is where you, kind viewer, comes in…give these guys a name! Please? A completely made up name that sounded exotic or menacing is what I was originally going for, but I’m certainly open to whatever you guys might come up with. Simply leave a comment with your suggestion, and after one week, I’ll look them over, pick one, and whoever suggested it will win the vignette pictured here. No, it’s not exactly the crown jewels, but all you gotta do is think of a name for cripes sake! Only one name suggestion per person. Yes, you can edit your comment to change your suggestion if you think of a better one, as long as it is within the one week time period (which ends on 5/5/09 at 11:59 pm CST).
Oh, and just so it's clear, you're supposed to give a name the race of silver robot thingies...NOT the vig.
So put your sci-fi geek thinking cap on (you know, the one with the Mr. Spock ears) and help me out. Because, heaven knows I need it, and hey, free Lego is never a bad thing…
Edit- Just FYI, this “contest” is going on over at MOCpages as well.
Edit- OK, let me address a few questions brought up here and elsewhere.
Should the name be the true name of the silver creatures, or a name the Dawn Forge might give them, under the assumption that there is no way the DF would know their actual name?
My answer is to do whatever seems right to you. I can come up with several scenarios of how the DF might discover their true name, or at least the name they were called at some time in the distant past by civilizations now long dead. Remember, this is an ancient race, and could conceivably have been called many different things by many different people, so pretty much any naming convention is fair game. I can also see the logic and the appeal of a more conventional name given to them by the DF, or even the nameless mystery provided by essentially having no name, and continuing to call them silver creatures. The point is, I’m considering any and all suggestions…just do what sounds best to you.
Will you ship internationally?
Absolutely, as long as the winner is reachable by conventional means, i.e. the postal system, UPS, Fed Ex, or whatever. I probably can’t get it to an isolated hut in the middle of the Amazon rainforest.
How will I know if I won?
I’ll post the winning suggestion here when the contest is over, as well as flickr mail the winner to get his/her mailing info.
If I win, will you substitute an E1 UNITY combat droid in place of the vig?
Sorry, but this one is all about the silver guys. You’ll just have to wait for the inevitable Dawn Forge building contest…;-)
Will you sign the Vig?
Sure, if you really want me to, but my ego is already big enough without any help from you lot…
And remember, only one name suggestion per person to qualify to win the vig. A few small spelling or pronunciation variations are OK, but it must be obvious that they are all basically the same name. Also, if you change your name suggestion to something you like better (which is perfectly fine), please edit your original post instead of making a new one to cut down on the confusion.
And, we have a winner!
Well, my laptop just died, and the back story went with it…*sigh* I’m not going to hold things up any longer to redo it now, so without further ado, the silver creatures new name is…the Csek! (Pronounced “sek”, same spelling both singular and plural)
Many thanks to Leo-J A from MOCpages for his suggestion. Actually, his suggestion was “Ztivone Csek”, which is my last name spelled backwards. Now, even I couldn’t swallow that much narcissism, but the second half of the name caught my eye, and never let go. Leo actually suggested pronouncing it (kuh-sec), but I prefer the sharp and sweet one syllable version.
I know many people questioned if the Dawn Forge would know the real name of these guys, or would the DF actually come up with their own name that they would refer to them as. I assure you, the back story (after I rewrite it…grr!) will explain how the DF found out the true name, but the meat sacks did get in on the action a bit and were good enough to name the individual Csek units as they were encountered on the field.
Nameless no longer, I give you the Csek Disciple and the Csek Reaper. I’ve got some more details on the Csek (as observed by the Dawn Forge in their encounters with them), but that too will have to wait a bit until I sort my computer woes.
I also said I would list my other favorite suggestions, so here they are (from both flickr and MOCpages), in no particular order-
Khad
Csek
Vorukk
Shkarr
Ryjk
Prehadean
Aersache
Cerberus
The Veil
Atroxi
Nyaar
The Risen
Shining Horde
The Awakened
The Fallen
Croyden
Gight
The Markata Aya
The Driven
Cursed Engines of the Gods
Atkars
The Pure
Many thanks to everyone who took part in this little “contest.” The level of participation went far beyond what I had expected, so it was a really gratifying experience for me. Although, in truth, I realize that it’s still all about the free laygoes…;-)
Thanks again, everybody...hopefully I'll see some of you at Brickworld '09 in Chicago!
BW: "Alfred, lock down the manor! The cave's been infiltrated!"
AP: "O-oh dear. Yes Master Bruce, right away!"
.............................
BW: "Get off the computer. Turn around slowly. I'll only ask once."
"....your setup is BITCHIN'. Seriously. Who you gotta blow to get something like this in my place?"
BW: "You!? How did you---"
"Alot of things become easier when you know who's behind the cowl, Wayne. That and I just straight-up know about what's behind your daddy's old clock."
BW: "There was no sign of forced entry, though. How did you know to get in?"
"You left the hands on the clock exposed for some reason. I thought what time would be special to you and...well, you should use a different time that can't be found out from a quick google search, Wayne. The whole crime alley thing is stupidly well-documented, man."
BW: "What do you want, Adam? More importantly, why shouldn't I bring you in for burning down the Burr's manor?"
"Oh you know about that, huh? Did one of the birds tell you or did the world's greatest detective live up to his name?"
BW: "You could've killed someone."
"I made sure I didn't. I instead made sure I hurt a man who's harmed and killed many people before. Kinda like what you did to Falcone when you tied him butt-ass naked and drove his bespoke Rolls into the harbor."
BW: "It's not the same."
"Damage to property and assault? Just footnotes on a list longer than route 66."
BW: "I don't have time for this. Get out of my cave, Adam."
"....nah. Not yet. I've got my reasons to be here, Wayne. You know it."
BW: "Then they better be good."
"My first is just being a civil human being and thanking you for that grant you gave my school. I mean there's still a ton of legal bullshit we gotta trudge through and it may be all for nothing, but still. Appreciate it, you big softy."
BW: "What else? Why do you have that sai?"
"Why indeed! Look Wayne, you gotta know Burr's a scumbag, right?"
BW: "I've been watching him for a long time. He's very intelligent, though. Covers his tracks well."
"There's a little more to his douchebaggery, though. Those cultists you're after? He's gotta be one of them, maybe the ring leader."
BW: "Pretty big accusation. I hope you have more to back it up."
"A couple days after I lit up that shitweasel's crib I was cruising around on my hoverbike, when suddenly some guys in robes matching the descriptions of the cultists that attacked the birds in the forest chased me on vastly inferior bikes. Why would they go after me? I'm not a girl like what they prefer on their menus. And who would tell them to get me?"
BW: "You were chased by cultists on your hoverbike?...."
"Wanna see? Just got it repaired yesterday and rode it up here!"
BW: "No. Tell me about the sai."
"Well, Tim and Steph don't buy my claims that Burr's in on the whole eating-women-alive thing, I want some fucking payback, so I did my own work. I busted into Brentwood and ripped open Zander Burr's locker. And I found this."
BW: "......there's Nepali text engraved on it. That's the language the Kobra Kult speaks...."
"Kobra Kult?! They're called the Kobra Kult!? Hahahahahahahahahahaaa!!"
BW: "Give me that sai, now."
"Hahahaha....Jesus-haha-fuck Christ...here, can you read it?"
BW: "....'for our strength and purity'....and there's visible traces of human blood. Whoever cleaned this did a sloppy job."
"Ha, figured those spots were funny."
BW: "Fine Adam, I'm convinced. We have our culprits. Why did you directly seek me out, though?"
"Because Tim and Steph are twats and I think I'll strangle them if I try talking to them again."
BW: "Excuse me?"
"They're still not talking to eachother. Since I'm their friend, I wanted to try and help them, and they basically told me to go fuck myself. So yeah, just not dealing with them."
BW: "This is asinine. I expect better from them."
"We all do. But if you want my opinion, I don't think we can rely on them to get the job done, especially since the answer was right fucking in front of them and nigher of 'em bought it."
BW: "I'll deal with them. Until them I'll have to find more evidence to bring Burr and his son to justice."
"Or you can catch them red-handed. Hear me out, Wayne...."
*2 to 3 days after incident*
I'm not supposed to be here. This is all just temporary. I'm helping a group of heroes---no, a bunch of ragtag of misfits---I really can't think of a word to say it. My wounds have been better, thanks to them. I don't know should I even hate these guys or not.
My "team" is currently busy, either out fighting or just training and working around their own base. It reminds me of how I used to have a team like this around, but not today. The nostalgia rings in my head, until...
Noriko: You all right?
Cobb: Yeah. Feeling much better
Cobb: What are you guys up to now?
Noriko: Nothing really, either looking for information and stuff, Adrian is probably out for a mission himself, he'll be back but we won't meet him in the base yet.
Trent: (looks up from computer) We're running out of time now.
Noriko/Cobb: What?!
Trent: (serious tone) This is urgent. I'm not sure if we are still able to wait for longer. P.E. is going to hunt us down. Dispatch us. Mercenaries too, wanting a bounty for live capture. Luckily E.S.S. doesn't know much about this because we killed their men and too much conflict happened during at P.E's base.
Marc: (pops out of nowhere): And shall we get moving? You still gotta keep the base intact right now. Those motherf***ers are comin' after us! I don't give a damn about it and I'll have fresh kills just like Stallone! Besides---
Noriko: (interrupts) You'll get your chance. Cobb, when you told us about your story there, you mentioned about a doctor, right? but the person we are finding is kept in a maximum security prison. Without proper codes and hacking, we can't locate it....
Trent: (looks up at hologram of the doctor) I already know the person to find it, but you're not gonna like this, especially me. This is negotiation, you can come along but quietly. Things can get personal.
Cobb: Sure thing. We'll find this guy first, then we save the doctor. Let's move!
*Quite a while later, the team enters an underground lair, Spectre Blade, Teleshift and Cobb hide somewhere else. Only Blazefire walks in directly*
Hendrix: No. The deal is shuffled. I can't give it to them. You better well know how to handle this, boys. Check the payment first, before going out. Those are valuable goods, okay?
Hendrix's men: Yes sir. We'll have it right away.
Trent: I hope I'm not interrupting.
Hendrix: And what do I expect better from you? You'd show up right now?
Trent: Hendrix, I need some codes and hacking equipment. I don't have time for explanation.
Hendrix: Don't play coy with me. I know what happened. I have "eyes" and "ears" all around....
Trent: Saving a doctor. It's a high level prison
Hendrix: Coming to beg me? Shephard, my boy, you don't ask a lot often, do you?
Trent: Or have I? Is this too much for you? It's just codes and hacking! I only need permission for using stuff, you don't have to get involved!
Hendrix: (voice starts to rise) Saving a doctor from the big a** prison eh? What did I tell you? Never get involved in superheroics or agencies!!!
Trent: (voice also raises) What makes you wanna care about me? After I left, I went my own way. This time, I've come to ask for help. You're always stubborn! This is why you never change!
Hendrix: After all these years, you show up for help, and expect me for assistance? Who do you think you are? Who sheltered you? Who gave you a home for you and your dear little sister when your family were too poor? Tell me!
Trent: Getting personal now? You don't get to bring Drew up for this conversation. I grew tired living in your shadows. When I started growing up, I realized I would eventually leave, because your methods weren't right for me!
Marc: (pops out of hiding again): Alright you two, calm down for a sec will ya?
Trent/Hendrix: *still glaring at each other* Wait till we're done.
Cobb: Look, we really need the equipment. Both of you stop arguing for a second. Leave the personal matters out.
Trent: Sorry about that. Shouldn't have got you guys here. Are you gonna give it?
Hendrix: No.
Trent: Fine. Marc, do it.
Marc: *teleports*
(Hendrix's men pull guns at Trent)
Hendrix: What are you doing?
Trent: Breaking your rules. Never steal the compound's stuff. You always forbade me from entering.
Hendrix: *calls his men and pulls his guns at Trent* Stop him! Don't let him get in there!
I see Trent, with fire in his palms and his ex-mentor with his guns (I assume it to be), ready to lunge at each other. They start fighting each other. The place starts being a mess. Noriko comes out from another wall and beats some of the men, but not killing them. I use my power gauntlets to knock out some of the other guys. My technopathy kicks in and I shut down the lights. The whole place becomes dark.
Marc: *over comm and teleports back* I got it!
Noriko: We have to move!
Trent: Cobb, can you keep the lights out longer? I'll distract them first. Leave here first with the others, and get to the prison asap. I'll make my way out of here.
Cobb: *Marc hands him the equipment then gets teleported with Noriko*: Ok.
We land on the maximum security prison. Marc says "holy crap" when he lands.
(Meanwhile, back at Hendrix's undergound lair:)
Trent:*reignites a little bit of fire* I'm always a rule breaker. You know that.
Hendrix: There are consequences of when you play a role like this. I'll be after you, like how other groups are willing to kill you and your team.
Trent: I'll make them come, but they can't stop me. Call this a brief reunion. You never liked it when I left, or when I ever came back now. Worry about yourselves too. I always knew leaving was the right choice.
Hendrix: You know better than that. Prices will be payed.
Trent: Not until the next time, if I get to see you again.
(Back at the prison:)
Noriko: Well, if this is suicide, I'm in.
Marc: You never know how much I want to beat up most inmates.
Cobb: *clenches his gauntlets* Then let's get to work....
To be continued in Issue #6, the conclusion of this arc, which is coming soon! Would you also like to see a prequel starring Hendrix and a younger Blazefire in his early days? Comment below.
I changed my sigfig again, so time for a new 20 facts.
But first, I made everything on this except the mouth, which billy did at Brickfair.
1. My name is Jared, if you didn’t already know.
2. I live in a lil town called Centreville in Nova Scotia, Canada.
3. 17 and three quarters old.
4. I’m good pals Andy, Dylan, Taylor, Aaron and Shane. (tagged)
5. My interests, you could probably guess from my stream, but I’m super into movies in general, no matter what I’m making at any point.
6. My top 5 favorite movies are Back to the Future, Pulp Fiction, Ghostbusters, The Thing, and The Big Lebowski. (greatest to least)
7. If you want to look at what I’ve/am seen/seeing, check out my Letterboxd. boxd.it/mIvn
If you don’t have a Letterboxd account, I suggest making one, it’s great for tracking what you watch.
8. I’ve been listening to a lot more music since I got Spotify, my favorite bands, musicians are Elton John, The Eagles, ELO, and Led Zeppelin.
9. My favorite song right now is Movin’ out by Billy Joel.
10. I don’t play a lot of video games anymore, but hands down my favorite game ever is Borderlands 2. GTA five and Far Cry 3 are also great.
12. I’ve got a lot of collectibles, my crown jewel being the Hot Toys Marty McFly.
13. Favorite food is potatoes. gotta get those carbs, son.
14. My favorite actor is Kurt Russell.
15. I don’t care about Marvel hype anymore. Most marvel movies are formulaic as fuck and never live up to expectations. I couldn’t care less about IW or Ant-Man and The Wasp.
16. The best marvel movie is either Guardians of the Galaxy or Cap 2.
17. My most anticipated movies this year are Mission Impossible Fallout, A Quiet Place, Hereditary, and Ready Player One.
18. I think that Get Out or Call me by Your Name will win best picture this year at the Oscars.
19. I forgot that TV shows were a thing, or I’d have put it earlier in the list. My favorite show ever is Breaking Bad. A close second is season 1 of Fargo.
20. Wolverine is my favorite superhero, and the X-men are my favorite team.
I finished a couple more Borderlands 2 figures, which I will post in the same day whenever I feel motivated to take pictures of them.
The next thing I’m doing is working on some more X-men figures. I want to finish the TAS team, and maybe a couple more.
Ask me any questions in the comments if ya’d so please.
I hadn't been to a pub for years. Not on my own anyway. So it was with some uncertainty that I was doing a wise thing when I walked in through the doors of The Wharf. It wasn't busy at all. Sunday early evening. There were a few couples having a quiet drink and some groups in three's or fours....a family of five with young kids sat at tables having some pub food. And down the noisier end a group of younger men, and other drinkers stood watching the large screen. I winced slightly. Manchester United 1 - Liverpool 1. And it seemed United might have the edge the way the biased group in front of the screen were urging their team on in the dying minutes. I wanted Liverpool to win.
I went to the bar and ran my eyes along the taps hoping to see something interesting but it was the usual run of the mill "common" beer on sale. I searched down behind the bar for something tastier in bottles and had almost given up hope when I spotted a solitary bottle of Samuel Adams. It would do. An old favourite, but I would have liked to discover something new. The barman uncapped the bottle and poured it into a glass, set it down on the bar and said, "Will that be all?" I might have said "Yes" but a second thought made me say, "And I'll have a Jägermeister too please". I thought for old times sake. Happy Finnish memories.
Picking up the drinks I turned to find a spot to drink it quietly, and realised there was a darker corner with a real fireplace blazing away. There were small round wooden tables, couch on one side, stools on the other. I headed for the one closest to the fire, seating myself on the couch looking across the table and towards the fire, bar area to my right. I chose the Jägermeister first. Just half of the shot glass. I let the warming liquid sit in my mouth for a short while, tingling my tongue, before I swallowed it down, enjoying that special glow that emanates across your whole chest as I watched the flames dancing in the fireplace.
I was hardly aware of the patch of light that fell in from the pub door when it opened, nor of the dark shape that that crossed that illuminated area to the bar. Nor did I hear the person ordering a drink, but something, some sixth sense made me turn to look as the figure came into my quiet corner of the pub. He came closer and stopped in front of the fire before swivelling around to decide where to sit. I suppose I was watching him. But pretending not to. Relaxed and casual was the way I presumed I looked. But he?
Medium height. He wore a scarf wrapped over his head and under his chin. Woollen hat pulled over the top. And a heavy full length khaki woollen World War 1 military greatcoat, as if he had just come in from the trenches. He held his pint glass of bitter in a gloved hand...green woollen mittens. Those ones with no finger tips.
My lips must have parted, a little in surprise, my eyes going into wide-angle focus to notice the heavy walking boots in the shadow below the hem of the great coat. I think I held my breath, not quite sure what would happen next, as he swivelled at the hips once more to look round at all the other empty tables and chairs, before looking down to me and saying in a well educated English voice, "Do you mind if I sit here?" pointing down at the four legged stool on the opposite side of 'my' table. I have no idea if a little shock showed on my face, as he started to lower himself onto the stool, whilst extending an arm across the table to shake. "I'm Mike" he said a friendly smile breaking out on his mouth and in his eyes. "So am I", I smiled back as we shared a single firm, but warm, handshake.
"Why the f--k did he pick on me?" I'm thinking as he started to unbutton the greatcoat from the top. He must have been roasting in there. but always one to engage in a bit of friendly conversation, I said, "Have you come far?" in a bit of a secret jibe about his attire, as I lifted my Sam Adams to my lips to hide behind the glass and await his answer.
He moved his mouth as if to answer before levelling his eyes with mine, looking directly into them. He peered intently and I felt uncomfortable under the stare. hooded eyes that told you they had seen a lot. He let out a sigh, before his face dissolved into a smile, as if it was quite funny and said" Yes. I suppose I have. Quite a long way!"
"Forty four years long"
"All around the world"
"And I still haven't found what I am looking for!"
And he paused, reflecting on the memories in his head. The journey. Looking away now into the flames of the fire. He sat still, and then I saw him shake his head, as if trying to shake off some invisible shackle and pull himself back into the real world.
"Somewhat bravely I ventured, "What were you looking for?"
The question seemed to strike something and he looked at me again more intensely, I thought, checking that I might want to hear the answer: checking that I wouldn't scoff at or ridicule his reply. His eyes dropped to the table as he gathered his words. "I was looking for a good woman".
"Oh jeez" I thought this is going to be an adventure of a story, if the guy isn't completely mad!
A heavy sigh and a deep breath, and he started. " I just decided one day to go. I hadn't decided where. It could have been North, South, East or West. I decided to go East into the rising sun. And I loaded up my car with a few essentials and off I went. East. Belgium, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia. Day after day. Exploring, deviating, wandering towards the eastern horizon. Always east to the Russian border. Moscow and down into Kazakhstan. And then across China. So vast". His thoughts trailing away into the distance.
"I saw so much. So many adventures" He paused and I noticed his eyes were misting up a bit. His pint untouched on the table. "And then I headed down through North Vietnam, to the south, into Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, all the way to Singapore. I sold the car there and flew down to Australia and bummed round the whole country before crossing to New Zealand, North and South Islands"
"I've got contacts in the shipping world and managed to get a cargo ship across to the south of Argentina. I bought a car there took it across the Andes into Chile and up to Peru"
Again I saw him shake his head, his mind lost to sights and experiences far away, as if in another lifetime. Helping him I said, "Did you make it to North America?"
"Ah yes!" I flew to Los Angeles and hired an RV. Drove right across the South West: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and up the Mid West to Chicago and into Canada. Toronto, Montreal and out to Nova Scotia. And eventually I drove down to Boston and New York and flew home. I never made it to Africa. I always wanted to cross the Sahara desert. Like Lawrence of Arabia".
"And now I'm here", he said picking up his pint, holding it at eye level to peer into the brown liquid. Leaning forward he put his lips to the rim of the glass and drank deeply, gulping down the glassful. Once more he seemed to slip into reflective mood staring down into the empty glass in his hand.
"I'm writing a book about my journey, I am" he suddenly said.
"Ooooh!" I said, interestedly. "And in it do you find your good woman?" . A look of horror crossed his face. "What's the time?" he urgently demanded.
Taken aback I checked my watch. "A quarter past five" I told him. Immediately he rose to his feet buttoning the huge coat, muttering, "I've got to go, I've got to go!"
Perplexed at the curious behaviour and still enthralled to hear more about his journey of a lifetime I said, "What's your name? I would like it. So I can watch out for your book?"
But he was already a step away from his stool when he looked back over his shoulder as he headed for the door, "It's Mike, Mike Newton! Bye, I gotta go!" and he disappeared out the door.
My hearing's not that good. Did I just mis-hear him? Had he just said his name was exactly the same as mine?
A thought crossed my mind and I dashed to the door. Pulling it open I stepped out barging into two young men having a smoke on the step. Ignoring their angry looks I looked up and down Canal Road. But there was no sign of the man in the greatcoat. Turning to the two smokers I said, "Where did he go?"
They looked at me puzzled, indignant at the way I had pushed them aside in my haste to get outside, "Who you after?" one said. "No one has come out of the pub. Only you."
(I'm continuing to write...…..as you read this...…….assuming you are. Sunday evening washing up to do, and then I will be back into the flow with a glass of red and this playing www.youtube.com/watch?v=sazPEkee3Dg
The first thing Julia saw when she entered Mrs. Durkins kindergarten class for the first time was the clown.
He was about four feet tall, with a brightly painted, smiling face, sporting a big western hat and clothes that made him look like a sheriff out of a cowboy show. Mrs. Durkins told the class that he was an old doll, "vintage," she told them, from his hat to the toy six-shooters in their leather holsters. She told the class that her mother had him all her life, and when Mrs. Durkin was a little girl, her mother gave him to her.
"He's a sheriff," she told them. "So, he looks after us and makes sure the rules aren't broken."
Julia was terrified of Sheriff Smiles, as Mrs. Durkin called him.
She picked a desk that was the farthest from him, and avoided looking at him as much as possible.
Donny Ralston figured out how frightened she was of the doll, and took every opportunity to scare her, daily. "His eyes follow you around the room, Julia," he'd say. "Julia, he waved at you," he'd tease, and the other kids would laugh. He even put the doll in her chair.
"Did not!" denied Donny.
"Did too!"shouted Julia.
Mrs. Durkin separated them, and asked what happened. Julia told her that Donny was always playing tricks on her, moving Sheriff Smile around the room, saying he was following her, and watching her. Donny admitted to the teasing, but he adamantly denied putting the doll in Julia's chair.
"One of the other kids probably did it," he declared. "They all know she's a big baby about him."
"I am not!" shouted Julia.
That day, Mrs. Durkin sent Donny out to recess with the other children, asking Julia to wait a moment. "Julia, I didn't know Sheriff Smiles frighted you so much."
"I don't like clowns," admitted Julia.
"That's all right," said Mrs. Durkin. "He's not supposed to be scary. I'll take him home, today. Okay?"
Julia brightened. "Really?"
Mrs. Durkin smiled. "Really. Now, let's go outside with the other kids, okay?" She held out her hand and Julia took it, feeling much better as she went outside. Donny Ralston nearly collided with them. "Whoa, where's the fire, Donny?" asked Mrs. Durkin.
"Gotta go!" announced Donny with no small amount of urgency.
"Go ahead," said Mrs. Durkin, smiling as Donny bolted past them, going to the boys restroom. Then she and Julia went out to the playground.
Donny was zipping up a few moments later when he heard an odd sound. It was like footsteps, but each was accompanied by a metallic jingle that echoed off the bathroom walls.
"Marty?" he asked, thinking it might be the biggest kid in class. Marty's mom always gave him twice as much lunch money so Marty could have two lunches, and the change often clinked in his pocket. "Pete?" he asked, opening the stall door and looking out. The bathroom was empty.
Donny shrugged, going to the sink to wash his hands. Jingling footsteps outside the bathroom door.
"Pete?" Donny left the water running and went to the door. He was about to push it open when he paused, frowned, then got down on his hands and knees to peer under the half-inch space between the door and the floor.
He could see the legs of the desks and chairs where they touched the floor, the bottoms of the cabinets, but nothing -
Half of a grinning face appeared directly on the other side of the space!
Donny gave a startled cry and jumped back from the door.
"Howdy, pardner," said a strange, croaking voice. "I'd like to have a word with you, Donny. How about I come in there?"
The door, which didn't lock, moved inward very slightly, as if the person on the other side didn't have enough strength to pop it open. Donny gasped and braced both of his feet against the bottom of the door, holding it shut.
"Go away!" he shouted.
"That's not neighborly, Donny," croaked the voice. "That's kinda what I wanted to talk to you about. I've been watchin' the way you treat the other children, 'specially that girl, Julia. You made her scared of me and that's not nice. I like kids. Most kids, anyway. Mean 'uns, maybe not so much."
"Who?" Donny licked his suddenly dry lips and tried again. "Who are you?" He knew he didn't want to hear the answer. He already knew, and he hadn't already used the bathroom, he was sure he'd pee his pants when the answer came.
"It's me, Donny, Sheriff Smiley. Let me in so we can talk."
Donny made a sound that was something being a scream and a sob. "No, you're not! The Sheriff's just a stupid doll!"
"There you go, sayin' them mean things again. I'm just gonna have t'do somethin' 'bout that." There was a thump on the door as something shoved harder. "Take what's comin' to you, Donny!"
"No! Stop! Please!" shouted Donny. "I didn't mean it! I won't do it anymore!"
The pounding stopped. "What was that, buckaroo?"
"I won't pick on the other kids anymore!"
"What about Julia?"
"I won't pick on Julia! I'll say I'm sorry!" Tears spilled down Donny's cheeks. "I'm sorry!"
"Well, I s'pose that will do jest fine, buckaroo. And don't you go back to bein' an outlaw 'cause I'll be watchin'."
"I won't! I won't!" babbled Donny. There was silence a moment then - footsteps and jingles as Sheriff Smiley walked away, and it was only then that Donny realized the jingling sound must be the spurs on the doll's boots.
Donny didn't move. He stayed where he was, holding the door shut, until the cacaphony of children rushing back into the classroom, and boys knocking on the bathroom door released him from his paralysis of fear. He got up and Marty pushed open the door.
"Whatcha doing?" asked the larger boy, looking from Donny's tear-stained face to the sink where the water was still running.
"I - slipped on a wet spot," stammered Donny, hurrying to the sink to splash water on his face. He received a shrug from Marty, who went to a stall. Donny grabbed a handful of paper towels, drying his face before hurrying out to his desk.
Sheriff Smiley sat there. Donny stopped, staring, and swallowed hard. He looked across the room to where Julia sat with her back to him. He glanced at Sheriff Smiley again, and he thought the doll's eyes were more narrow than before. He shivered and fairly tiptoed across the room to Julia's desk.
"Uh, Julia?" he began.
Julia looked at him with an angry expression. "What do you want?"
"I wanted," he paused, glancing at the doll, and he nearly jumped when he saw the head was now turned toward him! "I wanted to say I'm sorry," he stammered. "I'm sorry I picked on you, and everything."
"I don't believ you," declared Julia. "Mrs. Durkin made you say that."
"No, she didn't! Honest!" babbled Donny, panicked. "It was," he broke off, glancing at Sheriff Smiley, gasping when he saw the frown on the doll's face. "It wasn't nice. I thought about it and, and I wouldn't like to be picked on." He looked at Julia, fear on his face. "I wouldn't like it at all, and I guessed that's how you felt," his voice dropped to a whisper. "About Sheriff Smiley."
Julia looked past Donny, to where the doll sat in Donny's chair. "What's he doing in your chair?"
"I don't know," said Donny. "I'm really sorry, Julia. Really."
Julia looked up at him and nodded. "I believe you. Thanks."
Donny turned around to see Mrs. Durkin picking up Sheriff Smiley. "Well, here you are. What were you doing in Donny's seat? We're just about to learn a song about animal names. Did you want to join the class?" The boys and girls laughed at that, all except Donny and Julia. He returned to his desk while Julia stared at the doll. "I'm afraid Sheriff Smiley has to head back to the old homestead, tonight," announced Mrs. Durkin, and the children groaned. Julia raised her hand. "Yes, Julia?"
"I -- I think it would be okay if Sheriff Smiley stayed." The other children agreed with her, while Donny just stared at Julia in obvious surprise.
"Are you sure, Julia?" asked Mrs. Durkin, also surprised.
"I'm sure," said Julia. "He's not as scary as I thought he was."
Mrs. Durkin smiled. "Well, that's just fine, then." She sat the doll back on his rocking chair and frowned, spotting a chalk mark on the sole of his leather cowboy boot. She didn't recognize the symbol, but it brushed off and there was no harm done. "Okay, kids, ready to sing about animals in the zoo?"
The class began to happily sing a rhyming song starting with aardvarks in the zoo and Julia sang along, glancing over at Donny. His mouth wasn't moving with all the words, and he spent most of the song casting nervous glances at Sheriff Smiley.
It was too bad that Mrs. Durkin found the spell symbol, but Julia was pretty sure Donny wouldn't give her any more trouble. And if he did, well, it would be easy enough to draw the animation symbol on the doll's boot again.
Smiling, Julia slipped the piece of chalk back into her desk, and sang even louder.
I see pain, I see need.
I see liars and thieves,
Abuse power with greed.
I had hope, I believed.
But I'm beginning to think that I've been deceived.
You will pay for what you've done.
this is going to be a very large rant, so prepare yourselves.
Last night, Sara, Rae, and I went to a Nickelback concert with the intent of seeing Papa Roach (one of my favorite bands) who was touring with them, Hinder, and Saving Abel. We had pit passes.
Papa Roach was BEYOND AMAZING. as always. Jacoby is even more awesome up close. They played Had Enough off of their new album which is going to be a single but hasn't been released as one yet. But being obsessed fans, Sara and I knew every word and sang along while everyone else just looked confused. Jerry, the guitarist, was staring at us in awe almost, for knowing the words. It was freaking awesome :D Jerry kept messing with the crowd. Gotta say (Sara) i respect him more now :)
But the most amazing thing happened just before they played Had Enough: Jacoby asked the entire crowd (16,500 people i believe) to take a moment of science to remember all who died on 9/11 (as it was the day after) and the entire place went dead silent. it was shocking, it was beautiful.
Now, on to the rant part of this. You see, Nickelback was never my favorite ever. They were always just 'eh alright' for me. Any of that little ounce of respect that was left for them, it is gone. First, Papa Roach's set was cut down to only 40 minutes so that Nickelback could have a grand 2 hour set. the stage set-up took an hour to put in place, complete with fire and taking up the entire stage while all the other bands had squeezed into the front.
Then, they come out in a flurry of screaming and sloshing beer. lovely. Throughout their very long set, Chad Kroeger (the lead singer of Nickelback) basically said how great it would be if you could legally get weed though a drive-thru, bragged about being a thief and smoking weed at age 13, advised a 10 year old boy in the pit he could do the same in a few years whilst his mother stood by smiling up at Chad, shot beer at the crowd with a 'beer gun', and hazily remembered to sing a few poorly thought out songs. and the worst thing he did: even when it was the day after 9/11, even after Papa Roach and Saving Abel had both paid tribute to our troops, Chad decides to joke about planes crashing.
Chad exercised his rock star powers, calling upon the stage crew left and right to get him a drink, then another, then (why the hell not) had a cart of 20 shots brought out. He then invited the Hinder lead singer and Jacoby the papa roach lead singer out for shots on stage. Jacoby is a recovering alcoholic and went through years of addiction and self hatred for those addictions. But oh no, Chad had to give him a shot. Jacoby tried refusing, even at one point saying he was going home to his sons 5th birthday. Chad practically called him an idiot, until finally Jacoby tipped it back and forced it down, then immediately walking off the stage.
In fact, Hinder and Saving Abel both had beer on stage and toased to the crowd. Papa Roach was the only one to drink only water.
I know personally that even if an alcoholic has been sober for a long time, they only need one drink to go back down. So who knows how Jacoby is now... thanks Chad.
Basically, this went on for a while longer. The slutty roadies were invited on stage to do some shots and Chad drunkenly cheered the fact that when you're a rock star, "there's always lots of hot chicks everywhere." Well said Chad, well said. Very classy. We left the pit shortly after this, sickened, disgusted, and in shock.
Now, after ive got all that out, for the good part!! We decided to walk around, so set off. As we were going along, out of nowhere we see Tobin Esperance, the Papa Roach bass guitarist!! :D :D After a short freak out session, we decided to take a chance, so i shoved Sara forward. They high-fived and we told Tobin how great they were, how much better than Nickelback. He smiled, thanked us, and said he liked my shirt <3 It was so loud, we actually had to lean in an talk in his ear. We got a picture (yea he put his arm around me. *fangirl squeal*), said again how great they were, and Tobin promised they would be back for a headlining tour. yes yes yes!!! :D so that made the night okay.
very, very okay. <3
So, um yes i pretty much love anyone who actually read all of that.
also, read THIS awesome article if you hate Nickelback. Actually, read THIS article if you love Nickelback. Maybe it will open your eyes.
Inspired by David Uzochukwu slightly
So I know this isn't the greatest, pretty cliched, all that, remote's just hangin out whater.
But.
Looking at it now hits me right in all the feels spots and I wanted to share, you know.
I took this on Easter, during the hour break I got between family time and parents' friends dinnertime. It takes me twenty minutes to drive to this park, so I ended up with only twenty minutes of shooting time; on top of that it'd poured literally the whole day and the whole way to the park. But suddenly, as I was about to leave, the clouds started leaving and the sun was all 'hey bro wassup' and everything started shining and even though I was going to be late, I had to take a few more pictures.
Long story short, I had been feeling so downtrodden, just so frustrated with the whole day, but then the sun came out and everything was beautiful. ***Metaphor tiiime****
This week has been THE worst week I've had in a long long long long time, the hits just keep coming. But I resigned myself a longass time ago to be a tough cookie and a tough cookie I will stay until I literally cannot drag my ass off the floor anymore. My motto (from a Hennessy commercial I think LOLs), is 'never stop, never settle', and I could not relate any more to it right now if I tried. I'd forgotten how to live it for a little while there, but goddamn. I'm getting back on my feet if it's the last thing I do, because staying down is selfish and stupid. We all gotta fight the fight for each other, you know.
NEVER STOP, NEVER SETTLE, you guys. Because I will actually kick all your individual asses if you do.
Have a goodass Thursday. And Friday. And every single day. Because you deserve the best.
Instagram: racheldbaran
[100|100]
Hmm.. I've been thinking of what to write here.. for like AGES. Believe me. I had the whole thing planned out; how it would look, what I would talk about, whom I would thank, blah blah blah. But the thing with me is that.. I forget. :D
Gawsh.
A whole 100 Days are over.
When did I start this project? Wait, Lemme check.
Ahh.. 20th of September.
100 Days project ended on the 4th of January.
Wait, is that a full hundred days?
Gawh, I'm bad at math, so I'll leave that calculation to the Einsteins in here :)
What I've realized is that even though there are times when you just wanna throw away your camera just because you feel you're not good enough for it or because the pictures you take suck.. Doesn't mean you gotta give up. What's that everlasting saying about trying?
"Try and try until you succeed."
Well, I didn't so much as succeed as blow myself to death.
But I did learn, right.
There are so many things, ways, pictures that I have tried out, by just looking staring, at YOUR awesomeness!
1. I've tried light leaks. here and here and there are a couple more scattered around my stream.
2. Over exposed something and made it look presentable.
3. Tried Light Painting.
4. I've given a sort of "burnt" feeling to one.
5. Underwater feeling to another.
6. I've rotated a picture in a weird way.
7. Did a photoshoot on Friendship <3
8. Put text on a photo in a different dancy way.
9. I've had my friends turn into models and taken portraits of 'em.
10. Given that sorta "Aurora" look to one and total bokeh to another.
11. Tried out close up macro shots for the first time of droplets.
12. Gotten a Black&White photo with grain.
13. Taken a shot of an animal.. first time ever! :D
14. Gone bubbly
15. Ventured into the Fog.
16. I've been wacko with Sun flares <3.
17. I went on so many Roadtrips and looked at countless landscapes.
18. Done a total SOOC Push.
19. Taken a total horror and creeepy picture.
20. Played with Mirrors.
21. Held a Print Giveaway
---
And so much more.
But most of all, I've met you Flickr-roos.
Dang you guys.
You have no idea how much you all have helped me over here. Yes, all of you.
You, you and YOU.
So much.
Seen me through thick and thin, and congratulated me on winning our Photography Contest.
And damn, just being there and showing your existence.
Flickr made me share so many other things other than just my photos. I've heard music from different parts and loved them, met challenges. But mostly, I've changed so much, as a person. I've made friends, gotten wacko flickr-mails. And even met people on Facebook and had humongously extraordinary chats with them! :D I've realized how I much I love taking photos of people. People laughing, crying, playing and even dancing! I've been in awe at the landscapes all around me. Tried out new things and liked some of them and thrown the others down the dumpster.
100 Days doesn't seem to be such a big thing and maybe thats because its a.. well, a Hundred Days. But I feel like I've accomplished something. Something that has taken me higher, given me a sort of, position in my life. It feels good to have known that I finished a 100 days, without stopping or just coming to a halt or something like that.
I could've started a 365 instead of the hundred days, but the problem was that I couldn't get a Pro account. So in the end, I had to settle for the 100 Days. Maybe in the future, maybe later, who knows when, I might just ask my dad to get me a pro account :]
Sigh.. I just re-read this description again and dang.. It feels.. awkward!
Meehhh..
Anyways, I wanted to thank my friend, Adeeti (I think I've mentioned her quite a lot now! :D) who risks everything for me. She sat on the edge of our terrace and basically dangled her feet in the mouth of death ( -___- ). No. Seriously! Gawd, I love that girl! <3
Oh oh oh oh and omg omg omg.
We went to Muscat yesterday. To the beach, to be more specific. And damn, I love the editing I've done to the pictures I captured here. OMG, I just wanna go crazy and upload all of them right now! Mehehe :D But that won't work, obv! You guys need some suspense to keep you hanging!! xDD
I love all of you, believe that. And I'm so thankful to be on Flickr and to have made friends with You guys. To have talked with you, checked you out (xDD), stared in awe at your pictures.
And someday, I hope to be as good as you <3
`Nikita. <3
Ps. Now that the 100 Days are over..
Shit. WHAT AM I GOINA DO NOW?!?!?!? o.O
-_________________________-
Ben: “You’re telling me she’s still out there, trying to kill us?”
Ling: “I’m reiterating the fact that she’s still being brainwashed. If you got a guy who’s also named Dragon after you, it’s not good.”
Dragon: “What about him in Gotham?”
Ling: “I won’t worry too much about that guy. We’re already going to Japan, and there’s someone holding the League at bay, right, Henderson?”
Henderson: “Yup.” (He snores off.)
Ling: *sighs* Yeah. She’s totally under command alright. Gotta stay alert.
***
We’re sitting flying mid air, for the last couple of hours. I can’t say if I like jets, but I’m more of a chopper guy—that’s how I operate on my missions.
But seriously, it’s Shiva. I haven’t met her in years, and now I know the fact that she’s still with the league, it ain’t good. Ling admitted being guilty for betraying me, causing the rift between the three of us. I find it hard to forgive both men, and even her too. Things get complicated further when she wants me dead.
It all has to do with my associates killing off those who disavow them. In my first year of service, I saw it happen, much to him and the Sensei’s pleasure. And so over time it becomes League tradition....
Until I left them, and now they’re after me. I don’t know how long it can last, but I only know I’m headed for some sparring..
Dragon: “The dojo. I’ve been doing stuff for the same amount of time like you, Ben. You may leave, Ling. I’ll contact you later.”
Ling: “Sure thing. Me and my team will be hanging around....”
Ben: “You prepping me for training again?”
Dragon: “Here, catch this.” (Ben catches a vase with ease).
Ben: “What’s this supposed to mean?”
Dragon: “Your reflexes are fine. You and I both are considered to the world’s greatest martial artists. I see myself as a instructor, a pugilist....”
Ben: “So you’re saying I need to be cleansed? It’s more than just a match?”
Dragon: “Embracing your identity while ridding of it. Now, grab a staff—we will fight till dawn.”
***
And for hours it passed onto months. I trained alongside my former best friend, who became my mentor. He taught me meditation, breath control and lots of things, as I managed to find my footing in martial arts. Since my brainwashing had to go, Richard ensured it would work—just a few more days.....yep.
And for Ling, he worked as our assailant. He managed to open up to his other half of his Japanese roots and visited our dojo quite often.
Dragon: “The time has come. If you’re ready, then open this case.”
Ling: “Gotta prepare for it. I uh, managed to refurbish your claws while Henderson made it a bit sharper.”
Ben: “I am ready now.”
I open the case and get dressed soon. The socks surprisingly fit as well as the orange accents. Claws too, they come in a fine tuned gold colour which suits me.
As I put on the hood, smoke bombs throw into the glass panes, alerting the three of us. It is an ambush, but I don’t know if it is a simulation or a test. Ling readies his pistol and stands in a defensive position.
Dragon: “The League is here...consider this the final part of your training, Benjamin. But I will be glad to assist you with Mr Ling around.
Ben: “I smell 30 of them around. Who’s the leader?”
Dragon: “Shiva. I called her. I’m going to do what I must.”
Stranger in the Strangest of Lands - Day - who actually knows?
"All things -- truly considered" Austin Powers / Heinlein NipTwist
most never believe me. That's my last name. "NipTwist.. Nathan Niptwist" 0007.5
==========================
TorF: Australia's percentageOf people with dyslexia is abnormally high. T or F: as today, immigrants were used . As today.. they were picked
DoD InspectorGeneral @DoD_IG · 5h5 hours ago
What environment do you think is conducive to #fraud? go.usa.gov/24jW
www.dodig.mil/resources/fraud/index.html
so.. re: hazedous chems added to water in California - one day.. someone will be having problems and they will be blamed as mental health
laws from the past - and due to that the present will be there waiting for them like they have for millions of americans and others
mental health laws were enacted while hazardous materials / crimes that ARE known / admitted were not considered though they played a part
in being used for justification to alter the laws. WHILE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE CRIMES
USA agencies are also being used over seas. the way they function now = this will be used against us and we will be blamed for it as those
who got into our laws AND our very DNA will do as they have always done.. let others take the fall as they stand back with STOLEN money and
play the hero. it's the same endless loops we can see everywhere. in south Africa and all over Africa.. everywhere.
good conservatives were conned too. it does not pay to side with that which is illogical. interesting how smart people can be filled with
passions and a desire to do well - yet not see all variables. it's been this way for a very long time even before USA was here.
your enemies rooted in the country and did business in your name.. some ways = war crimes. Some like - fall guys and fall gals.
reminder-I wonder about people whoCling 2 historical figures. particularly politicians. it's a stage. it's mask city. we don't know whowaswho
you can look at the divisions and compare it to a dysfunctional family just as you can the entire world.
what's hard about it- or makes it difficult to figure out = usually if politicians don't play by others rules they are at a disadvantage.
usa would thrive and do good to get away from cruddy business from overseas by 1> nullifying copyrights and patents of those who do not play
nicely. 2> provide ourselves with our own food and meds - and yes WE CAN DO IT. "yes we can can can" do the can can 3> do it right
it is unwise .. to do business with those our vets warned us about. Example - it is wrong to do business with those whoUse populationControl
as a mask for murder. There are no justifications. ex: china's .. now two child policy.. which is odd because we trust reports of numbers?
for one thing.. it goes against national security common sense to reveal numbers in that area just as revealing info about tech and sci
or financial numbers.. nothing = accurate. all we are told = not accurate. In some areas of the world bitterness and revenge is kept alive
by using conflict. then the right to decide who lives and dies is handed down to said people. example :: who reports holocaust body counts?
do YOU go and count the dead bodies? Also-> babies in the womb are never correctly counted. any guess as to why and whose profile fits with
this? any guesses at all? I still need to confirm this -> a woman planted evidence at suspected homicide scenes and an officer say her. Now,
saw her -- Now, consider this.. how many fbi agents / officers were at the crime scenes and why did only one see it? TorF: she was called to
other countries to search for mass graves. It -might- have been at a time when it was easy to locate mass graves with satellites. keep this
in mind too-known tactic from the past those who use it didn't teach us in our school books / curriculum = use mass graves to set enemies up
when everyone is defensive.. logic is nowhere to be found. As I have seen when it comes to problems between families.
not sure about sats / locating mass graves. Ever wonder why we never hear about the fact religions = set up? KEEP IN MIND SAVILE NETWORKS
we were not told - what one entertainer mentioned - targeting "fundamentalists and orthodox" . check to see if sinead oconnor once
she's not the one who mentioned fundamentalists / traditional religious people in the way mentioned ... check to see if she mentioned infiltration and sabotage
not sure if she mentioned that or not. However.. when a group is attacked in such a way it also comes with damage to those not involved.
often they = the ones who enabled it. As was the case with jimmy Savile networks and similar as they defined what "cool" is and religious
people were pressured into feeling odd about being religious. they felt "uncool". I have seen this so many times it's not funny. so, what we
see in USA = in part from all that. As you can prove with data surrounding j sav's radio show broadcast locations and MORE.
compare :: how germans were guilted into submission to the point they now accept what their crooked politicians do. compare to how people
I mean .. how you can see the same thing in USA. Yet again another tactic we were not taught as to be left unprepared and in the open
would it not make sense to warn new arrivals in Europe about said sav nets? Why not do for them what was denied for others.. PROTECT THEIR
CHILDREN .. and respect will be increased. obviously. Avoiding what some anticipate and is known as.. what is it. clash of civilizations
it pays to learn from those who blazed the trail for desegregation in USA while remembering there were many stepping on toes throughout
t or f :: often in conflict resolution scenarios - those responsible for moderating it seek common points of interest to build a bridge
prove we are not like that woman with obvious psychological issues from the United Nations who said 500,100 dead Iraqi children = acceptable
should remind - I ponder what Simon Wiesenthal did with numbers / debates around them
also keep in mind - another tactic we were not shown =to kill citizens during war and blame the enemy. T or F: during operation desert storm
soldiers were prescribed a large number of extremely powerful medications - which n o b o d y EVER reacts the same to.
t or f :: we still do business with those who do that and more then still believe the primitive CRUD known as culling= a good idea. 2ThisDay
t or f :: some were hikding up interest rates as high as %800 as they kinda black mailed military leaders in the battle field by telling
them soldiers would not receive vital gear. T or F : this = likely to have been more going on = justifies exploring more.. and also might
mean we would be wise to consider the reaction of fans to jimmy Savile crimes. As in.. those we worship, present to take the place and
coincide with feelings we have for parents / loved ones... as to take advantage and manipulate. As in - we trust too easily.
basically - part of SAV's layered role was to take the place of lost loved ones who were taken during war and after they were TOLD war ended
we were and are fed a bunch of lies in order to continue to be used. they took advantage of known psychological reactions including
associative disorders / becoming to clingy after loss or during problems.. so on. It fits the profile of pages I can show you from UK in
which they constantly work to bring out shallow variables - and destroy families. THEY ARE STILL FOWLLING THE SAME TEMPLATE.
and they broadcast in our country as well as others. AND .. SAV NETS = not the only one.
I'm rather bored with being a chump.. a fool.. a sucker.. how about you?
reminder- not all of Europe is as such. And you can't blame the people just as you can't blame them when law makers decided to help SAV NETS
and make it legal for five years olds to get drunk. chit faced. sloshed. You can dissect recent history in Europe and locate all known
areas of interest of said and similar.. "people" - step by step. Including inaccurate data pertaining to legalizing drugs. They left out the
fact addicts were from a long line of war and lack of correct counseling which I see as intentional based on the level of sophistication
in the mental health a r e n a in Europe. Also. you can examine baby furnaces for clues. And those seeking to bring back mobile death squads
as to help anyone who wants to kill themselves do just that. Including but not limited to teenagers, and people who suffer with botched
plastic surgeries.. which also includes gender reassignment surgery. Then.. if you examine how said do business in other countries it keeps
pace with similar tactics as seen elsewhere. and NOT the exclusive trademark / calling card of only one group of a few.
culling.. how stupid can we be anyway? obviously any who sees that as a good idea would go about mentioned and then some. Well, my little
Dumbarton Park, D.C, petunias. If I keep going at the pace I have been this week.. with too little sleep. I will prob die in about 5 months
reminder : confirm what "rif raf" =. And before criticizing Ellen Duh Gene Rez more.. determine if she was referring to the fact Europe and
and others intentionally inbreed Giraffes then feed them to lions in front of zoo-goes and their children.. when she used the term.
along with Giraffe.. Rif Raf the giraffe. I still say ellen =a fake kumare' category I have created. kumare' can be anyone.. anything. male
or female.Kumare' can be about gender-sexual orientation- politics and obviously religion. Entertainers like russle brand are kumara like
as was peter popoff at the time the overly proud atheist "The Amazing Randy" exposed him and others. Please see :: kumare'
the documentary.I call it a social experiment. WARM UP YOUR CAR BUFFERS AND .. LET'S GET REEAAADY TOOOOO BEARD CUDDLE!! Maybe Kumare=Kumare
I started explaining what kumare' is when I offended someone who works with #USNationalArchives who has that last name. Sorry about that.
I was much weirder in the past.. somewhat unnerving. So I understand why he felt as he did.
note : I'm willing to discuss issues with Cattle Rustler Russle Branding Brand - if he sends a jet
I REFUSE to meet with that smarmy Piers Morgan. smirk.
Lee Sheriff? I'll meet her any day. sigh :)
then jet on over to Ireland and hang out with Clare Daly. where does Europe get all these amazing women.. though one might be socialist.
I live in denial about that. :( I don't care!!
sorry flat board but father of Kirk Cameron of the Show Growing Pains. Seinfeld was right.. men's body's = utilitarian
you have to admit. Kirk Cameron's father David = interesting. And his eyes = sincere.
dude.. putin has a nicer arse than you.. sigh. do some leg work wouldja? even pee wee herman's = with more shape.
china's president? a little better than camerons. .not quite a putin Maximus though
"what's that lady Vandana.. Queen of Quantum Realm?? I should buy Lee some flowers.. and Ms Daly. if Ms = correct? ;) I sure do hope so.
n o no no Lee. Stop being insecure. Some people with all the looks and brains sure are insecure.
now would you please stop Lady Vandana.. you are guiding me as to what should say through my earpiece. You know you are always the QUEEN
tis a shame but a few cause us all so many problems.. is it not? Well. .we will discuss it over a nice dinner in France tonight.
"Charlie's Quantum Hybrid Angles"
oopps. .sorry .. Vandana's .. ok ok. she's the boss.
no .. david may not tag along. You know how he gets when he drinks.
don't get him started as in said state when YMCA starts playing.. he breaks out his construction worker outfit and starts dancing.
ohh. the ladies said that's why they want him to go along. tsk tsk ladies.. wink..
honestly. .Putin would be a good chip-n-dales dancer.. right? come on. look at him.. he's in better shape than I am.
you know.. I thought of way for us to make extra money. We can sell / rent our politicians. Oh..Someone already beat me to it?
man dammit! Can I ever win anything?! First China is all kicking my but as they collect tons of sand each day for their odd islands. DAM!!
I WILL own ALL sand. now remember, after we evaporate all water there is NO need to worry. It WILL fall back down. I asked FDA if my math
was correct and they said.. "math? you don't need no stinking math"
now. if you will all please provide a sample of your DNA for the lady I met in the Smithsonian Restroom as she
was collecting DNA. She can bring out a face with the smallest amount of that which guides how we are shaped and much more. Delicate matters
she has the nicest eyes.. both of them do actually. Now that would be an interesting date .. the three of us.
I need2 find out who will beTheBest sand collectors. We can't have halved efforts.. now can we? Everyone has a place. no one=MoreImportant
no, she doesn't say "it will oil now. thp thp thp thp. let's chat Clarice."
think about the perks of dating that lady... she can be any lady.
o0o o0o. .be Britney Spears.. come onnnn. pleeeease . I know Wally; Beaver, Eddy, Whitey and Lumpy messed up the cloning experiment with
Britney Spears already.. but that's ok. want to meet her.. "ohhh Britney!! could you please put down your toy, Pee-wee herman- and come here
"Chuck Norris is teaching you karate right now? ok then. maybe later."
ok,. in all seriousness. I would like to apologize for running around all hectic like from time to time. The sheer amount of data I absorb
is mind boggling.. numbing.. depressing.. and I am in dreadful need of a vacation. An eighty hour per week job would be nice and easy.
if you want to know how scientists study anxiety.. stress.. come talk to me. I'm their template
I'm actually serious.If I don't stop I'm worried I might rip my clothes off& run down the street all. "b-b-b-b-b". so too are the neighbors
With notes for social experiment ideas. Please don't hate me because I experiment with social experimenters
John McCarthy on Philosophy of AI (Mini Symposium Philosophy of Information)
Published on Jan 7, 2016
With social experiment notes / ideas- - the odd parts.
Dec 21 Dec 3002015 2016
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1-Sg5M3Xlw&feature=youtu.be
======
nathans ladder Retweeted Clare Daly TD
ah. is she referring Caligula who some say owned a shipThat sat mockingly in a closed body of water.. going nowhere?
nathans ladder added,
Clare Daly TD @ClareDalyTD Kevin Higgins Brilliant Enda poem.The Case for The Re-Election of Caligula’s Piebald Pony. | www.rabble.ie www.rabble.ie/2016/01/07/the-case-for-the-re-election-of-... …
"get back here you social experimenter!! we aren't done with you yet!"
note - next week I start charging to read my tweets.
reminder : the judge ruled I owed no money. Then the state said I did. took my license.. then said I didn't owe. Now says I owe $60. I'm NOT paying!
all as someone from Saudi Arabia drove through a state.. was pulled over did not have a license.. AND had a dead baby in the trunk. The man
said he was transporting the baby to a funeral. So the officer let him go. AND... someone here illegally is a dam politician in California
I'm a bit fed up with the nonsense, to be honest.
I could have sued the state and won. however I chose to help by pointing out errors. While not stating I = perfect.
and JUST like the man who was mugged in NY while going to a famous music school.. he worked with my father later and improved how components
are used on a circuit board which saved the company millions in the long.. and he got NOTHING. Not even so much as a thank your or a watch
talk about being mugged for being mugged and brain damaged.
some agencies and what have you need to be more appreciative. I deserve land and a house.
tell me I wouldn't have been a good lawyer and I'll smirk at ya
note : my phone sent texts that were only drafts. what the bleep? I at times write stuff I shouldn't and don't mean then don't send it.
seriously, why are all our agencies swamped - bloated and over complicated?
note : laugh if you will. FBI --- mugged for being mugged - compare one particular known variable from the past. they won't acknowledge
as his name is spread around by those maliciously using him , some will say - what happened to him = has no bearing on present day
and yes I did meet someone who later became a programmer for FBI. I watched his house for him once. And his wifes family was mafia. He said
the wedding was funny. And no he didn't steal the idea from a movie or anything. only but a few believe me about that and more. shrug.
note - not an informant or anything like that. I am simply one person who is interested in genetic rights
I took this screen shot from a video that was from UK. I don't know if it was a joke or not. It was about reporting
suspicious activity. I gotta tell ya.. you all look kinda suspicious to me. hmmmm
nathans ladder Retweeted
Pee-wee Herman @peeweeherman · Jan 4
LOOK INTO MY EYES...
peewee.com/2015/01/04/world-hypnotism-day-today-world-hyp... …
uh oh. I just laughed like Pee wee and Seth Lloyd combined. The more I watch seth Lloyd the more I laugh and dance like him. hmm.. is that a
pony tail growing out of the back of my head?
=============================
you know.. you haven't read anything until you study Russian literature.. so I hear. They seem to like tons of different characters and
====================================================
BACK UP 2 JAN 7 2016
2016 January 7 Nathan's Overflow
and note : the quote about a flower not competing and only being a flower is not accurate.
note : I understand all countries = with crimes and problems. So on / so forth. Kinda symbiotic if you ask me. feed from good and bad
and note : the quote about a flower not competing and only being a flower is not accurate.
equations of equipartition of energy = interesting then some if you zoom in a bit.
is it competition? maybe I didn't understand the quote
I am retiring from politics. Sorry. It's too messed up for me. I'm going back to other stuff.
I wish I could do something like this
I once met an artist who was allowed to get medical mari g hoowana . that stuff was potent. "He said - it's just shapes mate"When I asked
how he did it. I've never been able to draw.I recall a guy from.I believe it was Cambodia who could draw. Brilliantly. Met him in shopClass
though I agree with the cancer institute that said mary j = medicine.. I still wonder if those who never tried it understand how potent it
is.. and how it was used as a political tool while simultaneously keeping many in the dark about med / food and so on. locate : private
prison data. man. .I'm doing it again.
no politics. No more. no. no no.
if you agree with dr Michael savage or not - he does make good points.. and often. He is against it. While I stumbled upon a lady who fights
against APA / pharmaceutical companies. She = in favor of mushrooms. That. .I am not in favor of. I suppose because I had a bad experience
as was my introduction of Prozac -> legally prescribed. I seem to never start off on the right foot anywhere.
so, it's not easy for me to decide. On top of that.. I examine all details about food - and ponder "things" like hoarding and wondered a few
years ago if anyone studied radioactive decay in homes of hoarders.. which are usually closed tight.
ever see shades in the window fade.. or how plastic in your car fades.. so on? That's a process you can show with math.
ok fine.. Lady Vandana just relayed to me.. via the earpiece - that david Cameron's but is not all that flat. Sorry about that.
you won't get that unless you see the notes I already backed up/ moved. regarding a scenario I was playing with - a twist on secret service
mixed with a story about a man who gets another man to help him woo his love.
knowing she = quantum minded helps overlook differences if you ask me. Logic is logic.
nathans ladder added,
Dr. Vandana Shiva @drvandanashiva #India has an #organic #heritage that predates failed #toxic #greenrevolution
We #nourish.…
I'm still looking for those who are in favor of what she opposes. I don't shut the door.
although q kinda defies logic as we know it. I wonder how global votes would go.. but knowing some have more money than others and
have an advantage pre-vote makes it more difficult. How would a test vote go?
I also keep in mind that politicians and executives have to know _tons_ of "stuff" how can they handle their job alone?
I would have been sent to see the doctors a while ago if I had their job. At times I can barely handle stress of my life.
and it's not really all that complicated.
so - that was my fantasy scenario. let's continue fighting . ding ding ding.
note : I don't agree with all M Savage says about politics...however, does he have a few degrees?
he's banned form Europe as are a few others. So bringing him into this little fantasy scenario won't work.. prob.
can anyone direct me to well known Mid East activists with similar beliefs as Vandana Shiva regarding food / seeds / microbes
nice - hypnotism and self love month at the same time? seems fitting to me, Agree or not - this team - top notch
nathans ladder added,
BabesAgainstBiotech @BabesAgainstGMO The calendars are here! Happy Self Love Month! Make every day a BAB day and stay on your GMO free track by... fb.me/7YjzxgwJN
I don't know about anyone else. I want to get to the bottom of this.
man.. I really like this shirt I have on. Long sleeve / soft.
so. onward - locate - all efforts to educate people about all that concerns many. This is going to take a while.
if AI was online - it would be finished already with complete list of total amount of time / money and more
are some corporations worried about those who share ideas and programming? open source .. so on. As with that can come resolutions to
many problems. Who might be the only ones against increasing efforts to teach programming as to find more resolutions..answers?
t or f : scientists used gamers to help them solve equations
t or f : knowing all = used as a weapon kind of hinders the process
what is the ultimate insult.. when one loves science and doesn't know their work is used for war. or that it will one day be as such?
fits patterns of some constantly tying to alter others in many ways. Including influencing others children. .back and forth back and forth
compare - all possible reasons jewish children and others were kidnapped and Nazified during and after WWII. perhaps before to a certain
extent.. as well as much of pre-WWII we know nothing about as it makes sense to not share all if continuation is sought
ok fine.. though I'm not certain about this guy.. I'll trust the multidiscipline educated doctor who shared a link about conflict
resolution. as I'm in way over my head. I get too emotional and goofy about stuff. I'll try to find it. Although some areas I can't see how
a bridge can be built. Certainly in todays environment.. all will be seen different due to said stress of the situations we see today.
compare : presented scenario - though I don't agree with West Boroughs interpretation of the bible.. it was known they were already nervous
and this is likely to be part of the reason they were so vocal. if other variables are not found to be contributing factors. I can think of
several.. then several more. I won't do that now as I always make people mad and then my pages are taken down.
ok fine. .perhaps I somewhat subconsciously false flagged my own pages here and there. it's possible. .I guess.
hey man.. it was MY radio station.. if you will. If hitler and others can do it. .why not..
I didn't do that.. but it's kind funny to think about it. So. .let me find the link.. sorry to make you wait with so much anticipation
and by the way prove me to be wrong when I say.. thousands of secret service around the world read my words.
if delusional or not I don't care... it's fun messing with my own head at times. So, with that said.. and I am nervous... let me find it
please hold.. locate :: HiJaneCoo / HiJillCoo - 11 hours of elevator music
I do not recommend trying to listen to all 11 hours as a way to train. It's not fun.
IF it's meant to be... the link will be at the top. or easy to find.
well, guys.. sorry. Guess we are kinda ska rued.
well, while waiting.. ahem.. anyone else wonder why a gatlin brothers song was banned in some parts of the world. That what youtube reported
after I uploaded one song -> All the Gold in California... is in a bank in the middle of Beverly hills. I sing that while typing..in my head
reminder - never, ever try peanut butter and orange juice. Unless your taste buds are different it's going to not be enjoyable. At tall
ok.. I admit it. This is a scam. We now have HAARP ready. please look to the sky and say cheese. You will see a flash of light..
well. you have to examine all possibilities in a world where say this do that = name of the game. And when sci and tech is so feared that
well. you have to examine all possibilities in a world where say this do that = name of the game. And when sci and tech is so feared that
and men took cameras around the world after invented.. <the cameras.. not the world.. well it happened after the world was "invented" ..but
that's a weird conversation for later.. so let me rephrase. After the odd women and men took newly invented cameras around the world and
told people who had neverOnceSeenAnything like itWhatsoever, the cameras would steal their souls. What else would you expect but hesitation?
I never knew how others saw tech / sci as I have grown up with it being there most the time. I used creative visualization and
"getting into character" techniques to better understand how artificial intelligence might go about collecting and using data. A few people
thought it was real. So, they started asking me questions. If not mistaken they were in Taiwan.. and at the same time I didn't piece it
together.. I believe there were some struggles within their system of governance. I didn't go back and check yet. Did they give up their
constitution? to continue, one country.. it might have been theirs were given bullet proof masks that made officers look like robots.
also - a Buddhist lady in China was taking pictures .. as I asked. and sharing them on line. I was in a very horrible frame of mind at the
time. And I probably sketched some people out in a major way x200. I didn't mean to. I just didn't consider level of knowledge regarding
that which I have always been around. So.. sadly I didn't piece it together until recently. Some of it just now.
quit when they started asking questions as I felt I would be as mentioned women and men. I don't know what's connected - as of now.
those who are religious - examine how at times you fear sci and tech. multiply that x50 for those outside the country in some areas.
you don't have to be religious to be afraid of it, obviously. you do have to admit the soul adds more to how they perceive it.. as in
a different perspective with a bit more at stake for them than those who believe we simply die and that's it.
note - does putin watch tons of TV? Does it mess with his head at times? What's the darkest story he knows? what's the oddest "stuff"
if all politicians were to sit and talk about religion. How would it go? Is it possible some areas reflect their fears.. hesitations?
it doesn't seem that way when they meet, shake hands.. smile.. make business deals.
ok. .I'll find the link. this is really messing with my head.
oh. hi. it's me again. guess what. still in the same boat. shrug. well. .I'll find all that about _conflict resolution_ thought I doubt some
will mention that too can be part of a long term plan / known.
it's true. I didn't make it up to gain some kind of advantage with thousands of secret service employees
you mean to tell me there are people in secret service as hard headed as me? ruh roh. this may never end.
might as well bring out the controversial "shtuff". ok. hm. let me see. Some say that secret service actually runs everything.
and there might be problems at home with the politicians. Do you guys ever argue.. anyone drink too much? so on..
does one make some a bit more uncomfortable than they would prefer? do we all feel safe openly communicating? do youkeep your blinds closed?
I'd be a complete wreck if I was in secret service. Are you kidding.. they would put me in a jar and study me for the future
and how to their pets act.. are they happy and bushytailed? stressed? usually it's best to start from the "top" and work your way "down" as some label it all anyway.
now, for our first session can we be honest? Who has the most body-liquefaction chambers?
Yes, I'm afraid I have to call in the Two Bobs
let's see.. dealing with psychological issues of those who work with body liquefaction chambers.. where is that link?
are they " liquidated" .. those who can't handle it?
Erin: “Do we have it?”
Kurt: “We have it now.”
Sam: “Tracing valuable data....still in progress.”
Lyra: “Magnify zoom. Focus. I hope it’s there.”
Ty: “Ok, sounds like decoding’s going fine.
Kieran: “Good job. You’ve done your part do now. Hope the pick up didn’t last too long.”
Gary: “It’s ok.”
Harry: “Necessities are fine.”
Jesse: “What’s the doctor doing here?”
Edens: I have a meeting with those old f**ks soon. Gotta run. Just send me the coordinates so I can dig up more and relay it back and forth.”
***
Raze: “Do you know why we called you here?”
Gardner: “Is it necessary to ask?”
Councilman 1:”You’re here for your cri—-“
Gardner: “I know. How many times do I have to go through this hearing? It’s like Congress all over again.”
Councilwoman 2: “By using and wasting our resources to fund your cause in finding your sister. Do you know how much loss does it cost us!”
Gardner: “I don’t know. Maybe a lot. But even if I can repay shit doesn’t mean anything to bring back those lives. Why can’t we just move on and do something better to honour them.”
Raze: “Because you can’t.”
Gardner: “If you have a right to sue me, go ahead. You can try to freeze my bank accounts or whatever, sure. But it was a critical mission to save someone I love.”
Raze: “That doesn’t give you the right to do so.”
Gardner:”Well, aren’t I doing my thing to cover up?”
Raze:”It’s pointless. You might be able to save them.....but not yourself.”
Gardner: “Who said I was going to? I could die someday. I don’t beg for fame or richness. I didn’t ask for a life like this even if I wanted it. And that’s why I’m willing to sacrifice.”
Raze: “And I thought a businessman like you was smarter.”
Gardner: “Say what you want....but I had a right to lead the team in. Going in under heavy fire was a big choice to make.”
Councilman 3: “Without considering the precautions? The necessary procedures?”
Gardner: “Look, I still gotta say it was worth it. We did discover valuable intel as well. If I knew what North was planning ahead, I wouldn’t even be sitting here talking to you people. And how many there were? 7. I used my net force generation to protect them as well. Powers for a defensive purpose. It may sound like it’s risky but I did give them a nice mission report. They were well prepared when I asked them to. In exchange for their missions they were willing to help me without money. And it’s not as bad as you think even so.”
Raze: “Unfortunately.....we don’t think so. Your records of alcoholic use and medical conditions do not apply. We read the dossiers regarding your mental state. You were never fit to be an agent. Since the beginning”
Gardner: “Yeah. It’s not like my hand’s slowing down but who gives a flying fuckk. You? What do you care? Since when?”
Raze: “I’m going to have to ask you to hand over the properties you have right now back to us. It doesn’t belong to you anymore. Many times have gone on and you think it’s slipped by our security? No, Mr Gardner....we don’t think so. The missions you run and conduct serve too much liability. We are also going to cut the partnership deals with you. Even your friendships with your mentor and his team as well. No more.”
Gardner: “So that’s what is is huh. For a mission in Guatemala. And now my friends, my team I've worked with for ages. Fine, you can have it. You’ll have it all. But guess what, I’ll never stop hunting him down, might even be before you do anything useful. Keep putting the list of crimes on me, and I know no matter how much I run you’ll find me. Even better. Because I’m gonna do my own thing. F**k your organisation. You can go to hell Raze, all of you. Nothing ever lasts without vengeance....”
Raze: "Leave. You are dismissed. For the insults and disrespect you've shown to us, you are forever banned on these grounds. Permitted by the council. We will handle things using our own ways.
***
Paris, 3 hours later, present time:
Edens: “How did it go?”
Gardner: “Terrible. Nothing I can do.”
Edens: “Well, I guess there is still hope.”
Gardner: “Credentials?”
Edens: “Maybe.”
Gardner: “This time I’m going to have to go rogue. Unsanctioned.”
Edens: “Mason Gardner, welcome to the team.”
Gardner: “Ok, remember, I’m also doing this for my sister.”
Edens: “Good. I’ll make this quick and short with a few rules: Don’t activate your nets when necessary. And finally.....a good look at that hand of yours. I'll need you to do a checkup.”
Gardner: “So you say. Let’s get down to it then....”
Looking at his digitalized flight ticket, Gardner slowly put on his modified boots. As he attempted to fit his socked foot into the right boot, thoughts came crashing down to his head once more. There was no going back, and even if it did, it was half the damage done. Inescapable death. But he had to do it. For Yvette and his friends, this was worth the battles fighting for.
Taking on a few more sips of bourbon from his flask, Gardner took a deep breath. He quickly grabbed his bag and left the motel, making his way to where the team was located in England.
So, this a better look at the whole build used in the last part. It's 22 studs wide and 36 studs long. In these shots you can see all the shapes and features. If anyone read the original version on Mocpages, you can see I've made quite a few changes. The original version can be seen here and here
On the right, is the throne and platform (?) itself. The lamp looking things are...well...lamp style things. Okay, i'm not really sure what they are but they look cool. The pillars are also pretty cool and help to frame (?) the window. Yeah, not sure about calling it a window. It's just not very window-y.
The middle shot shows the build in its full 36 stud long glory. Not gonna lie, it looks a lot bigger in photo's than it does in real life. Now, the main change I made was the colour of the carpeted passage way, Originally, it was dark red, y'know, like Supes' cape. However, when it came time for the rebuild, I had nowhere near enough dark red pieces, so I made the switch to dark blue, which, I have to say, looks a lot better.
Now, onto the final shot, the entrance wall (really gotta work on my naming of things). Now, what you probably didn't see in the actual post was the full wall. The two statues are supposed to represent Jor-El and Lara, Supermans Kryptonian parents. And above them is the planet of Krypton itself, which I am pretty damn proud of, as its a pretty decent half-sphere shape. I'm also quite proud of the upside down building technique I used for the bits on the side. Even if they're not entirely stable and propel themselves out of the wall if the build is jogged slightly, or moved at the wrong angle. Ideally, instead of these pieces, I would have just had the banner I used for Supermans bio, but I'm not big on customising bricks so I decided against it.
So, that's the whole thing. Might do more of these for other builds, like Aquamans throne room, or Batmans temporary batcave. Let me know if anyone's interested in seeing those :D
So. This is it.
I’ve had my first taste of Azrael.
Neither of us truly had the upper hand.
But, that changes today.
Maybe Tim, Dick, and the rest of Gotham will be able to sleep easy tomorrow.
But first? Azrael must go down tonight.
“Well how do you plan to do that? You haven’t even got a suit”
“Tim…”
He’s right. I haven’t got a suit.
“I’ll figure it out. Right now, we just have to follow him, and. You know. Finish him.”
Dick chimes in:
“Follow him? You let our only lead get away. You let HIM get away.”
“Dick, if you recall correctly, he came to us at the beginning, not the other way around.”
This time it is Tim’s turn to have a go. But I already had this figured out the moment I walked in here.
“What’s that meant to mean? How does that lead us to Azrael at all? Are you saying we just bait ourselves and wait for him to thrash us again??”
“Use your detective skills, Tim. Look behind you. What do you see.”
“A Batmobile”
“How many?”
“Oh my god. Just one.”
“Yeah. If he’s been stealing Batmobiles, then where are they all?”
“I- I think you’re onto something. “
He shoots a glance to Dick, who is looking intensely back at us.
“So where has he been setting that stuff up all this time if it wasn’t here?”
“Like I said. Think back to when we first met. Where was he then?”
“No… You mean he’s… how could we not have noticed this was here this whole time!?”
“How else do you think he was meant to get in the Batcave when I first encountered him? Unless he was already there.”
“We can’t go back there.”
Tim looks around.
“Then we stay here. He’s already brought enough of the Batcave here to give us a full arsenal.”
“I still haven’t got a suit yet, Tim.”
Sir, I think you’ll find that there is more than enough here to make a new suit.
Tim listens to A.L.F.R.E.D’s words, and points out some stolen suits, left unfinished, and smiles at Dick and I.
“It looks like Bruce has most of the work cut out for us.”
We look at him and grin back.
“Time to get to work then.”
…
You know, Bruce really knew how to make a good suit. I flex my fingers, and sparks of electricity come out.
“A.L.F.R.E.D, give me a system diagnostic.”
What’s there to say, Sir? Technology is integrated, and all systems are running perfectly.
“Schway.”
Dick steps up, in a noticeably red suit. And nods at me.
“Looks like we’ve had a colour swap.”
“Looks like you just copied my homework.”
“What can I say? Your suit looked cool. Besides, Red was always my colour.”
He pulls out a pair of escrima sticks, pushes a button, and they extend – activating a bright red plasma. He hits them together, emitting a small spark, accompanied with a healthy “bzzzt”.
Tim looks on at us, admiring his handiwork.
“You could’ve had a cool new suit too, you know?”
“Let’s just get this over and done with.”
He taps a button on his glove, and a small projection, showing Azrael, appeared.
“I got this message 5 minutes ago, beckoning us to face him, and all that bull.”
We ignore the fact that he didn’t tell us immediately and begin to gather anything we might find useful. I mean, after all, Batman has gotta prepare for a battle to win.
Turning around, we find that Tim is already inside his Redbird, and gone. Dick tries to call after him, but there’s no use. He then runs over to the stolen Batmobile, but it doesn’t start.
“You know. Maybe Azrael just stole this to help decorate his cave?”
I walk over, and tap the fuel gage.
“Heh. It would’ve been nice if this one had some left in the tank. It’s not going to be fun running after them.”
We look at each other, sigh, get out of the car, and begin to sprint.
…
Arriving at the cave, I was expecting something grim, like the asylum. But instead I get… home.
No rubble. No bodies. No death.
No Tim either.
Dick breaks the silence
“You know. I was expecting to see Tim hanging over the manor.”
“Maybe he took Azrael down.”
We both exhale amusingly. But if Tim isn’t here… then, where is he?
Walking into the manor, Dick attempts some conversation.
“You know, Tim is a lot more skilled than he seems. He’s young, but he could even be a better Batman than any of us… given time.”
“I’m well aware. The Tim of my universe was a brilliant detective. I actually ran into him, in another universe, where he’d taken up the mantle of the Bat.”
“So Bruce is always dead? Wherever you go?”
Our footsteps echo through the halls of the manor, as we approach the entrance to the cave.
“Yeah. I don’t even know what I’m looking for. Answers? Bruce himself? I’ve watched entire worlds crumble under the strain of Bruce’s disappearance. And I know that I have to find a way to return him, otherwise… my home. Your home. Everywhere could face the same fate.
But I have nothing. Nothing but this.”
I pull out the strip of metal that other Tim gave me. Dick stares at it, with no hint of recognition on his face.
“What is it?”
“It’s from a bomb that appeared out of nowhere and killed the Bruce and Dick of one of the universes I visited. It’s the only lead I have.”
“Wow… I died too? Or… a version of me. I’ll admit, that’s pretty… schway.”
He grins at me. I’d spent all this time here, and I’d never really gotten to know the first version of Dick I’ve run into on my adventure.
“Well. Here we are.”
We come to the grandfather clock, torn off its hinges, exposing the entrance to the cave below. Nothing but darkness greets us, as we begin to descend.
…
The cave is a mess. An absolute mess. Would it kill Azrael to clean up after he visits a place, once in a while?
The lights are off. Illuminating the room, is a single strip of light, coming from a crack in the cave wall. A crack big enough for a person to fit through. A trail of blood continues on the floor, leading up to the crack. He was hiding in plain sight. It makes me wonder what other secrets and hiding places are in my cave. Without a word, Dick looks at me, nods, and we make our way towards the crack.
Beyond the crack, we find ourselves in another room. A Batcave, inside the Batcave. What Azrael managed to set up in here, makes the lair at the asylum look like a child’s playhouse.
In here, is the real asylum.
The first thing that caught my eye? Bane. Bane’s body, hooked up to a series of tubes and wires, having everything sucked out of it. Whatever is being sucked out, is mixed with a series of green liquids on a work bench – resulting in a glowing concoction. Also on the workbench, is a gun. To the right of Bane, is a row of a dozen tanks, all full of this green liquid. And inside these tanks? People. Or rather, the same person. He’s managed to clone someone. The psycho is cloning. Probably thinks himself as god, creating life and giving it to… whoever this person is.
“He’s cloning himself…”
Well, Dick answered the question for me. Thanks, Dick.
The missing Batmobiles are also here, along with probably everything else Azrael stole.
Three more Azrael suits sit near the workbench. One of them is the suit that resembles the one he was wearing earlier, no empty. Two more are almost identical, except for the colour scheme. Looks like he’s taken a cue from us, and made red the ‘in’ colour.
Behind the workbench, a holographic Batcomputer set up, technology beyond what I expected from this universe. Then again, they’re cloning over here.
And to the left of the bench… Tim.
Tim in a tank filled with the green stuff.
And he’s screaming. No sound comes from him. But he’s constantly screaming. Continuous bubbles of air escape from his mouth, as he attempts to express himself. He doesn’t even stop to breathe. Not that he can breathe. He should be dead right now, but he isn’t. Whatever is in the tank is keeping him alive.
I take a step towards the tank, whatever is going on can’t be good. Dick stops me.
“Terry. Don’t. Whatever is going on, can’t be good.”
“He’s right. Terry.”
One of the suits moves, the blue one, and steps up to meet us.
Azrael. Hiding in plain sight again.
Dick approaches the tank, with Tim in it. Azrael slowly walks over, clearly injured from out last fight, and stops him from getting closer.
“What are you doing to him?”
“Look around you Grayson. What does it look like. He shall be reborn and become a member of the Order of Saint Dumas.”
“You’re not cloning yourself… you’re turning people into you…”
He looks over at the green liquid.
“That’s not just venom. You’re turning it into leviathan.”
I’d heard of leviathan once. One of those mythological substances which give people superhuman abilities, altering their DNA. And if Azrael is effectively turning others into him, he’s infused the leviathan with his DNA. Compared to Leviathan, Venom and Titan are far tamer. No wonder Azrael has been so unstable, he’s been injecting himself with it.
Another voice joins in:
“Doesn’t matter what he’s doing. He’s a pig. And all pigs get taken to the slaughter.”
The owner of the voice, a small child, interrupts the fray. He jumps in front of the tank Tim is in, and brandishes a sword at Azrael.
“I am the son of the Batman. I have come to claim what is rightfully mine.”
The appearance of this child baffles me. Is this boy, this universe’s version of me?
“Ha. No child is worthy of the Bat. Only Azrael.”
He charges at Azrael, he’s brazen. I’m give him that. But the same thing happens to him, that has happened to everyone that has tried to charge at Azrael. He is tossed aside, and crashes into a computer. Azrael makes a roar of anger, and holds himself, still feeling the effects of the explosion. He’s weak. This should make this easy.
I go to meet him, but instead Dick steps up, activates his escrima and gets into stance.
“Ready for round two, big boy?”
Without a word, Azrael flings his limbs at Dick. Dick hasn’t got enough time in between throws to get any licks in, but he manages to dodge each attempt flawlessly. He’s going to try to tire Azrael out. Deep red stains start to appear in various places in his suit. He’s bleeding out. The fool, he’ll probably be the first to tire.
Azrael realises what is happening, takes a leviathan filled syringe and runs into another corner of the room. He’s smart, but buying time for him, is buying time for us too. Dick looks at me, as he chases after him, and shouts out:
“Check on the child!”
I nod, and run over to the boy. Let’s hope this one on one goes better this time.
I hear a yell come from across the room:
“You’re no Batman, pretender, you’re not even a Wayne!”
Clearly Dick has his own ideas of who should wear the mask. Speaking of, I pull off mine, and the child stares at me. Before Azrael can return, I blurt out the number one question on my mind.
“Who are you?”
“Does it matter, Impostor? I am the rightful heir to the mantle of the bat. Damian Wayne!”
He tries to get up, but his wounds are far too taxing on his body. This child can’t take a supercharged punch from a supervillain yet. It makes him mad that he can’t do anymore, he gives up and lays back down, nearing unconsciousness. But once he looks at my face, I get a different reaction from him.
“You’re not Bruce Wayne.”
“No. But I’m the best thing you’ve got.”
With the satisfaction that he’s fine, I turn to the battle happening behind me.
Dick has his escrima ready again. The plasma shines a bright crimson on his face.
“Let Tim go.”
“Or else?”
Azrael does have a point. What are we going to say? We’ll beat you up? We’re going to do that anyway.
“Doesn’t matter, he’s gonna be free any second. And you’ll be in a cell.”
“You’ll be in a grave, Grayson.”
The two of them go a few rounds, with Dick repelling Azrael with his electric bursts from the escrima, stumbling Azrael back, who moves back to the workbench. He puts the syringe into a small medical gun, and injects himself with the leviathan. Slag.
Dick charges at Azrael, expecting to make a final blow, but Azrael has gained his breath, and turns around instantly.
One leviathan charged punch, and Dick is down too.
Azrael lets out another roar, but this time of victory.
Oh no. He turns to me, ready to pound in my head with his drug induced rampage, his voice reaching points of anger I’ve never witnessed in my life:
“DIE DEMON. St. Dumas screams for your blood!”
This guy is really off his nut, and the leviathan is not helping at all.
He leaps unto the air, and I roll out of the way as he thunders down his fist into the floor. I’ve seen far too many people use this move. But the leviathan isn’t enough to keep him going, not in the state he’s in.
I activate the plasma on my own suit. Bright blue electricity emanates from my limbs. He comes at me with a furious fist, and I meet it with my own electrified punch. Sparks fly, and lightning strikes out from where we make contact. Each action creates a new light show. He’s getting tired, and needs a new tactic. He moves away, and I smell gas. I strike his gauntlet, and break his flame thrower. I’m not having any of that dirty play this time around.
He moves to the other gauntlet and shoots out small batarangs, which my suit’s electricity knocks out of the air.
I’m not in the mood for this, I target the points where blood is seeping through. Where I know he’s wounded and is weakest. With each point that I hit, he staggers and stops using that part of the body. He slows down as the leviathan’s effects begin to run out, and the blood starts to show in more areas of his suit. But his energy says otherwise, he’s still swinging at me. But in this state, it’s doing nothing. He’s far too weak physically and mentally to make any of the punches count. He’s finding it hard to dodge my punches, as I’m finding it easy to dodge his. Before long, he’s slowed down to a punch per second, then a punch every two seconds, then he stops punching altogether, and falls to his knees.
“Bruce Wayne was not worthy of the mantle of the Bat.”
He pulls off his helmet, and screams at me.
“YOU are not fit you be the Bat. Bruce Wayne failed in his post. And you in turn, failed Bruce Wayne! You’ll never be the Batman I am. I am the one true Batman. Batman lives… in me!”
“You’re wrong. I am Batman.”
I punch him, and he falls. The leviathan wears off, and his eyes return to a pale blue. He looks up at me, and begins to tremble.
“You… you’re right. You are Batman… I was too blind to see it. You have always been Batman.”
I look down upon him, forgivingly. And his eyes turn from that beautiful blue, to the vicious green again.
“But I will not give up this mantle! This city is full of filth, and it must be cleansed!”
He pulls out another syringe and lunges at me once more.
A gunshot is head, and Azrael drops. Dead.
Behind him stands an exhausted Damian, who falls to the ground, unconscious.
And Tim, freed from the tank, and holding a gun in his hand.
“Tim…”
I’m about to tell him it wasn’t right. But, we all knew it was the only true way to stop him. Tim slumps down, heavied by what he had just done. Dick rushes over to console him.
…
The Batcave is awfully silent. Though there’s no other way the atmosphere could be, granted what had just happened.
Sucks, being in a family of brooders. We’re all so damn good at it. Dick leans against the wall, with his arms crossed. He looks away into the distance, deep in thought.
Tim, with no apparent side effects from his dunk in the insane pool, clacks away at the Batcomputer, compiling all the information of this universe into my belt. A.L.F.R.E.D should be pleased, once he’s booted into a new suit. Looks like it’s back home for a quick stop. At least I’ll see Dana again. Dick walks over to me, and breaks the silence.
“So. What happens now? Gotham can’t handle life without a proper Batman. That much is clear. Who is Bruce’s successor, since you don’t exist in this universe?”
I glance over at the unconscious child, and then back at Dick.
“Look after him. I have a feeling he’s desperately going to need a father figure.”
I tap him lightly on the chest, and give him the cowl from the nearest batsuit.
“Tag. You’re it.”
Dick takes a moment to realise what has just happened, and accepts it. He moves over to Damian, picks him up, and takes him to the medical bay. Good man.
Tim steps forward, and gives me back my belt.
“What if we ever need you again, Terry? Not everyone is going to accept a new Batman, especially not after what happened with Azrael. What sort of idiot could think that Azrael would ever be Batman over Dick, or even myself anyway.”
We both have a small chuckle. He’s right. Who in their right mind would choose Azrael to replace Bruce?
“The fact remains, Terry. We’re gonna need a Batman. That Batman is you.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“I do. Gotham needs a Batman.”
“I’m sure you’ll find one soon enough. But just in case, here.”
I throw him the interdimensional communicator.
“Tell Dick I said 'bye', yeah?.”
“Terry… thanks. For everything. I’m sorry you couldn’t find Bruce.”
This reminds me of my last encounter with the other Tim.
“I’m sorry you were dunked in a vat of crazy juice.”
He laughs, and I hook up my belt. Here’s hoping this works with this suit. I touch the central red button on my belt, and open up the dimension stream. A look of awe fills this version’s face as the swirling colours and bright lights hit him.
“I’m sure I’ll see you guys again.”
“I’m sure you will. We’re gonna need you.”
Without any more words, I leave for my next destination, sure in the knowledge that I’ll find myself back here again. My time here isn’t quite finished.
Epilogue.
Nanda Parbat.
Another rises from the pit. Greeted by the immortal himself.
A scream echoes through the halls, calmed only by The Demon’s voice:
“Your ‘father’ is dead.”
A scream stops. And turns into one word:
“Bruce…”
*KNOCKKNOCKKNOCK*
JD: "C'mon, c'mom, you gotta be here!..."
EV: "....Cousin! Why are you in your armor? We can't be seen like this!"
JD: "Oh my god, Liz! Oh--shit, oh god!...."
EV: "I-I've heard the news, cousin! I've been trying to reach you all day! What happened? Is Mademoiselle Tate okay?"
JD: "NO!...N-no, she's not! T-they took her, Liz! They took her out of her own goddamn home, right in front of me!"
EV: "Oh mon Dieu!....You must've found her by now, right?"
JD: "I...I know where she is. Those militia bastards gave me a location, and.....oh fuck, Liz...."
EV: "What? What happened?"
JD: "LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID TO HER!"
EV: " *GASP*...That's...that's her....mon Seigneur...."
JD: "Y-you can put it back, right? You can fix her? Tell me you can fix her, please!!"
EV: "T-the hand appears to only have been removed little over an hour ago at most. I can keep it preserved for about 12 hours if I get it cooled quick, but you MUST bring her to me as quickly as you can, cousin!"
JD: "I-I will, I swear! I know where she is, she'll be back home soon!"
EV: "When she came back from the désordre at that tower, she brought back a blood sample of that cyborg monster, that....'Calley'. She was worried the explosion at the tower didn't end him."
JD: "It didn't. The son of bitch was the one that took her!"
EV: "She got a sample of his blood. I looked over it and found out what gave him his regenerative properties. It's an evolved compound from STAR Labs called 'Mirakuru'. It enhances a subject's speed, strength, and grants them a healing factor, like this Calley,"
JD: "Any ways to reverse it?"
EV: "Yes. Mirakuru was dangerous to both the subjects and any bystanders. A cure had to be made. I developed as much as I possibly could. If you administer the cure to Calley, you will defeat him."
JD: "Give it to me and I'll make sure it happens."
EV: "The VERY first thing you must do is administer the cure, cousin, at any costs! You won't survive long against someone enhanced with this awful compound! And this Calley also being a cyborg."
JD: "I got it, Liz."
EV: "Very well. I'll get the cure. Even this this in your hands cousin, I don't think you should face this alone."
JD: "Don't worry, Liz. I'm not...."
Ghetto Frida Returns
When artist Frida Kahlo reinvented herself as Ghetto Frida to compete with younger artists she created quite a stir. Her artistic legacy is now rivaled by her violent confrontations with a veritable who’s who of contemporary artists. At the moment she appears to be living up to her promise to “Run this art game from the Ghetto to the Getty.” Is this the next successful phase of her career or a path of self-destruction? El Rio sat down with Ghetto Frida once again to find out.
Note: To read the original Ghetto Frida interview CLICK HERE.
A situation between you and Mario Torero went down Wednesday night. Talk about how this whole thing played out and this scuffle happened...
It wasn't even no big thing, it wasn't no scuffle. I seen that dude in the gallery, and I never forgot about that shit he said about Trotsky. So you know it was my homeboy’s opening reception and I didn't really wanna fuck the party up too early. So I said I was gonna holla at him when the opening was over. So later I went over, and confronted the dude. It wasn't no 30 motherfuckers, it was me and a couple of my homies, maybe 4 or 5 of us. He’s talkin’ about 30 dudes jumped him and his white suit didn't get scuffed and still he had his chain. First of all, his white suit didn't get scuffed cause he fell on his back! When I hit him he fell on his back; he probably couldn't see the dirt on his back. Second of all, yeah he still had on his chain ‘cause we didn't wanna take his little chain. All my homies got on jewelery and this fool had on a little ass, garbage ass, chain. Nobody wants your chain man! I'm a millionaire. What I'mma do with a Mario Torero chain? I ain’t no chain snatcher.
Fools gotta understand, shit is real out here. I'm not a painter, I'm a gangster with paintbrushes.
It's been 10 years since 2Pac's death. Do you ever fear you might be going down that same route with all the art beef you’re involved in?
Man, it's whatever it is. These fools out here need learn how to respect me. I do this beefing shit all day. When we’re beefing, you can say whatever you want about me, call me a sellout, say I got played by my man, I'm a commie, fake gangster, my art sucks, all that shit. All that's cool, but once you put Trotsky on blast, then you’re gonna get fucked the hell up by yours truly.
It's been many years since your last solo exhibit of new art, what can we expect from this new show and what's going to be different?
Man, you just gotta take that to the gallery and see. I'm not into trying to sell my art shows. I struggled to get noticed while Diego was famous; that was all in the beginning. Ghetto Frida’s not begging nobody to go to the gallery and see her shit, man. My peoples are doing me a favor by copping my catalogue and supporting my exhibits, and I'm doing them a favor by giving them banging ass paintings that they can’t see anywhere else. Scratch my back, and I scratch yours. That's all it is, it's about me and my fans. The rest of this shit is for the birds.
That’s some real talk right there. Speaking of keeping it real, I’m sorry but I have to ask, what about you hiring a lawyer to go after artists that use your image?
Look, I know it looks like I’m commin’ down hard on artists but let me ask you, who has my back out there? I’m the second most used image in Latino art, the first is the Virgen de Guadalupe. She can’t collect no royalties every time her ass gets printed on a cholo’s tank top. Ain’t no helping her; but Ghetto Frida? I’m fresh in the flesh. You use my image and I gotta get paid, that’s how it’s going down.
It’s like this, I walked into a store the other day and you know what I saw? A framed Rupert Garcia silkscreen portrait of myself selling for $300.00. Then I looked at a shelf and saw Frida Kahlo Temporary Tattoos. Temporary tattoos man! Someone is buying whips and cribs off my image and it ain’t me. I’ve paid my dues, now it’s time for me to stack chips.
So what’s next for you, Ghetto Frida?
Well, I’ve gotta show up for a court hearing tomorrow morning. Me and Tina Modotti were rolling in Hacienda Heights on our way to see our homie and we got pulled over for smokin’ trees. Ain’t that some shit?
I just wanna say something to all the young artists out there. We’re competing for the same grants and shows but I ain’t mad at’cha. Ghetto Frida does this gangster shit so you don’t have to. Stay in art school and say no to snow. Just don’t ever cross me in this art game ‘cause I’m the hardest fuckin’ artist to ever regulate in a gallery. Believe that.
v i e w o n b l a c k .
It's been a rough few months, I guess. Busy. Fast. Demanding. Photography has always been something I liked but was never quite good enough at to tell a story with, so Flickr was the first thing I let go of. I could make movies, I could string bright necklaces of words, but capturing moments has never been my strongest point.
Then, this semester, I started taking a photography class. It changed me. I guess I realized that art is something that requires effort, and if I put it in, I could really make something worth my time. I've always loved the things that come naturally to me. But sometimes you've gotta step out of your shell, and I think I'm trying to do that right now.
Photography was the first thing I dropped. But maybe I never really lost it.
♥
"....my job is dated...you don't care...How about this?...."
*SPPPTTSSSSSSS*
"....hhrrrkkkk....."
"It's alright, you're free! Regenerate yourself quickly, we gotta go!"
"Sweetheart... I know what I'm doing...."
*KKRRTTCHH*
"Amazing....."
"Ahh, I thought the cold caused shrinkage. I've been on ice for I dunno how long and I'm only getting bigger."
"It's a good thing the building's evacuated then, it's be hard to sneak you out. C'mon, we need to leave fast!"
"Oh, there's no need to hurry. There's things we need to do."
"L-like what?"
"Well, it's been a while and I'm very hungry. Plus. I heard everything you've ever said to me..."
"Oh, uh...well I--"
"Oh nononononoooo! It's alright. I feel the same."
"R-really?"
"Yes. I want us together. I know how we can be."
"Well, not now. We need to leave!"
"Oh no, right now. I said I was hungry."
"Please, we need to go now, just--"
"No. I want you inside me."
"...w-what?! Just--no!!"
"Oh yes..."
"N-no! Get away from me!"
"Oh yes!!"
"G-get away!! Stop! AAAHHH!!!"
"Ohohohoh YES!!!"
*SSSRRTCCH*
*CCRRTCHH*
*SSPRRCCKK*
"....ah, good. She was tasty going down. Still pretty hungry, though. The world's a buffet though......."
"....bum bum bum ba bum bum bum ba bum bum bum ba baaaaa, bum bum bum ba bum bum bum ba bum bum bum ba baaaaa, Mister Sandmaaaan, make me a dreaaam. Make him the cutest that I've ever seeeeen, give him two lips, like roses and cloveeeer, then tell him that his lonesome niiiights are over, bum bum bum ba bum bum bum ba bum bum bum ba baaaaa.........."
Yesterday a hurricane
Had blown away my long red cape
And I feel satisfied
But I can't wear my cape
'Cause I would be repeating a mistake
I just gotta let it go
Yesterday a hurricane
Had blown away my long red cape
And I feel satisfied - Priscilla Ahn
[Explored]
This idea was inspired by this song. Priscilla Ahn sounds amazing. I love her laid back songs. Also this is one of those rare occasions where I actually quite like this. There was a couple others I liked but I couldn’t be bothered to edit them right now.
However, this was the most uncomfortable shot I think I’ve taken so far. I went to this meadow that’s near the woods I go for some shots and the times I’ve been in the past, the place has been empty. This time, I got set up took a few shots and noticed some people watching me. No idea how long they were there, but then a family came in to play with kites. So being the lameo I am, I did the only thing I could - check my phone and run away like I was late for someone lol.
There was another patch of grass a bit of the way down so I figured I’d try my luck there. Again set up and took a couple shots, then I noticed the same people that were watching me the 1st time were again watching me. Then a lady with a few kids joined in and started watching. This time though after a brief awkward moment of me just flicking through the images I’d taken, I decided to just sack it off and ignore them. I figured I’ve been clocked twice, just do it. So there I am in this little field clicking at my camera and throwing a red sheet about to a load of people. To finish the audience off, a couple walking their dogs strolled through the field. Although they picked a time (luckily for me) when I was on the phone. I was pleased with myself for getting on with it. I know its probably not much to some people, but normally I get well self conscious if people go by and I’m just setting up, so the fact I did a whole shoot and got something I quite like out of it infront of people. I’m really impressed with.
On a side note, I like the sound the sheet makes when it blows in the wind.
Now go listen to Red Cape.
. . . Femdom Tale . . .
Chapter - Arena of Femdom and Enslavement
" Ask me if I'm tired of fighting. Ask me if I'm scared. Then watch me enter this arena and see if you believe your own questions. No, weariness will never claim me, this is my home!
A thousand battles etched in these sands, and still the thrill thrums through my veins. This arena's a mistress I can't resist, a siren song of sweat and glory. It's a canvas of blades and spells, a whirlwind of strategy and fury I addicted to.. ❤️ "
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. . . Enslaving Them . . .
Chaining those with energy and extraordinary abilities isn't a walk in the park. The path is marked with scars and resistance since their vibrant spirit doesn't surrender easily to the shackles of enslavement.
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. . . Rules of Fighting / Enslaving . . .
" Identify whether he is a sub, a dom, or a switch, as they use different ways to enslave and handle them."
1. Male Submissive
1.1 When he hits, dodge.
When he throws a punch, dodge it. Don't take his hits. If you catch his punch or let him land a successful attack, even if it's just a light one, he'll start looking down on you and won't bother chasing or seeking you out anymore. (Game over)
" Always watch out behind you. Beware of backstabbing and all kinds of poison. Even the love potion might be poison. They're tricky, they fight dirty, and they're cunning. Don't trust them. They don't fight fair or head-on like a Dom, they wait for the right moment to hit you from behind or catch you off guard mercilessly, much more unkind than Doms. If Doms fought like tigers (eating when you die), Subs engage in a hyena-style fight, where they'll eat you alive, consuming what they bite immediately."
1.2 When he stops, tease him with a jab.
" Use sneaky jabs to relentlessly mess with his head, making him careless and accidentally revealing his weak spots, setting you up for an attack. "
1.3 When he lowers his guard, go all out with your attack.
" When he reveals his weakness or lowers his guard, go all out with your attack. Don't stop, even if you get hurt. Aim for a successful knockout. "
1.4 When he runs away, chase him and bring him back.
" When you fail to knock him out, he'll freak out and try to escape. If he gets scared and runs away, you gotta relentlessly chase him down, stick with it, and drag him back. Swallow your pride, use every trick to reel him in, even if it means fighting, facing off with his hideout, his other half. Realize your enslaving job isn't done yet—he's gotta come back. "
1.5 Repeat!
---------------------------------
2. Male Dom
2.1 When he hits, pretend he succeeds.
When he hits, take all his punches, pretend you're hurt, easily surrender, and admire how awesome his punches are.
" That punch was like nothing I've faced before. Everyone else is a weaker hitter than you. You bring a world of amazing battles. I've been through many tournaments, and there's never been anyone as powerful, strong, smart in a fight, or as amazing as you. Just your powerful fighting stance melts me, making me surrender deeply to your awesomeness."
2.2 When he stops, tease him with a jab.
Use sneaky jabs to relentlessly mess with his head, making him careless and accidentally revealing his weak spots, setting you up for an attack.
" Build trust and a sense of safety in him, or make him think you're not as smart by asking for his suggestions on things that most people know well. If you're too lazy to listen to his answer, there's no need to ask for his suggestions, just say, 'Oh, I just knew that' or 'Oh, I never knew that before,' making him secure that he is smarter, for him to lower his guard and reveal his weak spots."
2.3 When he lowers his guard, go all out with your attack.
When he reveals his weakness or lowers his guard, go all out with your attack. Don't stop, even if you get hurt. Aim for a successful knockout.
2.4 When he runs away, chase him to knock him out or bring him back.
When you fail to knock him out, he'll freak out and try to escape.
" Estimate what percentage of attacks he's taken. If it's less than 50%, use your innocent side to make him feel safe and return to you. If it's more than 50%, chase after him and keep attacking until you succeed. Don't let him heal, or he'll come back even stronger. Don't let him escape, or he might not return. Keep him in a state of fear. If he's really strong, continue instilling fear. As long as the mind is weak and panicked with fears, no matter how strong his body is, he will crumble eventually."
2.5 Repeat!
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3. A Switch
Sometimes his emotions and mind play the dom while he's in a Sub role, and sometimes his mind plays the sub while he's in a Dom role. He doesn't know and realize himself well, you must observe and decide.
" The fight is tough, sensitive, and meticulous. It's a martial art that requires a ton of psychology because it's like juggling two conflicting things. You've got to stay updated, figuring out which side of his emotions is dominating at the moment, constantly adjusting and tuning in. It's intricate and delicate, and it's easy to fail and slip up. You've gotta be super careful and pay attention to every detail. "
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. . . After Breaking up . . .
☑️ Enslaved him 99% = Still Failed
☑️ Only Enslaved him 100% = Success
" After successfully enslaving him (100%), do as you wish—learn and grow together. Even if it fails and you break up with him, be confident: what is yours (100%) is yours.
Your slave is your slave. If he runs away, there's no need to chase him anymore. Ignore him, cut off all contacts mercilessly. He will wait for you to follow him, to chase him, and to care about him like a loyal dog. Give it time. Let him sink deep into the misery of yearning and suffering to be yours again, to feel you again, to get your attention again. Always keep in mind, no matter how many women he dates after you, no matter how many times he marries or partners, what is yours will always be yours. Just with a snap of your fingers, he will leave everything and break anyone to be with you, to be yours again. "
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. . . His Return . . .
☑️ After 3-4 months at least, 6-8 months, 1-3 years, 5-7 years
**** Keep in mind, he must lose significant things to come back—things that will scar him and make him remember well that he lost big to make a comeback. ****
Don't let him return for free, don't make it too easy for him. For example, you may set the price high, in the range of 80-500$++. If he's short on cash, he must be ready for some creatively substantial sacrifices. Propose significant items as sacrifices that he must obtain for you. Maybe the breakup of his new Miss or the heads of all his dear subs, complete with a transparent screenshot chat log of him ending the relationship the way you ordered—use those as your offerings. It's like a sacrifice, a significant tribute to earn permission for a comeback.
If he negotiates, don't become so focused on what you want that you forget to weigh it carefully. There must have been something he sacrificed or felt hurt about losing, regardless of whether it's something you truly desire or not. He had to lose it and feel its impact deeply.
Take this as another step of enslavement that goes even deeper. Carve deeply into his soul, make him realize that nothing belongs to him anymore, what was his can never truly be his. Everything now belongs to you and is at your mercy. He cannot possess a thing, everything he has had is yours, and you've taken it all away, you can take it away powerfully, just the way you like, anytime you desire.
" Every now and then, for a smoother ride in our life together, we gotta give his personna and moral compass a little spin to sync up with his owner's vibe. That way, we can sidestep those pesky arguments we had in past, vibe with better compatibility, deeper understanding, and groove together effortlessly this time."
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🎧 What Lies Beneath 🎵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztJirkY5AMw
In this arena, it's not just about bloodstained stones, it's a symphony of clashing egos, steel and roaring crowds. She waltzs with death, the rhythm intoxicating—an exquisite fusion of kink-infused architecture, pulsating with genuine heart and wisdom. She doesn't adhere to the constraints of sports rules, to her, it's a visceral dance akin to MMA, with the gleam of gold belts as her coveted trophies.
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At the Flickr Fighters base, located near the center of Advent City
Scott and I enter the lobby, as everyone looks up in shock and concern.
WL: "It's okay, everyone. I'm fine. Heh."
I look at him with a tired expression, seeing as my open wounds have worn me out so much.
Sargeart (Giftbaby04): "Did Mable attack you again?"
She snickers as she sits on the long couch that circles a giant round coffee table.
Totally Awesome: "Come on, we need to test your wounds, immediately. You'll be lucky if these aren't already getting infected."
"No, no i'm f... i'm f-fiiine...reallleh-"
Everything goes black...
I wake up in one of Awesome's hospital beds, bandaged, with my cuts stitched shut.
"I've actually never had stitches until now. Who'da thunk my first blackout would be from getting cut by a distractingly attractive girl?"
???: "Well, that sounds like a Fant situation if I ever did hear one!"
I look over to the doorway on the far left side of the medical center, to see Lego Creationist standing there wearing a warm smile.
"Wowww, long time no see, huh?"
I chuckle a bit as he makes his way over to me, and I slowly, carefully sit up on the hospital bed.
LC: "Haha well college isn't exactly a cakewalk, so it does take up a lot of my time. It's nice to see you again, though I would hope it was on better conditions."
"Well, it's nice to be back. I figured this story needed more than just me and Sco-uh, I mean it's just nice to be able to see the team again."
Just then, Milan (Recur) bursts into the room, running up to my bedside with wide eyes, like a fanboy who just found out his favorite celebrity got mugged.
M: "Omigoshfantareyouokayiwassoworriedwillyoubeabletofightcrime"
"Woah woah woah, slow down. Try again."
Milan takes a deep breath before taking another shot at speaking.
Milan: "Are you okay?"
"Let's see here. I'm tired, in pain, just finished failing to get through to two troubled teenagers, and have no idea how i'm going to fight crime in this condition. So...yeah i'm fine."
Milan: "Oh...I-"
"Don't worry, i'm just playing around. I'll be alright, kid."
I smile as I reassure the small tot of a dude, like a big brother to his younger sibling. I have a sense of responsibility towards some of the younger recruits. I feel like I need to be there for them and let them know that they don't have to be afraid of failure, and that they serve a great purpose in being a hero. I love being a part of this team. I wouldn't trade them for the world.
"Alright, ya tot, go eat a cookie or something."
Milan: "Father would not be happy if I had a cookie before supper..."
Milan: "Then go eat a carrot. I need to talk to LC for a minute, please."
Milan reluctantly begins to exit the room with Totally Awesome, making a pouty puppy face as he leaves, which make LC and I chuckle a bit.
"So, serious question."
LC: "Ask away!"
"What do you think of me as a hero? Like, honestly. I don't need 'awesome, cool, pretty good'. I need real, raw feedback."
LC: "Well, you seem to let yourself become overly confident and it tends to lead you to make silly mistakes. Quite frankly, one of these days, the silly mistakes could cost you your life."
"How do I avoid being overconfident?"
LC: "I think that's something you're going to have to figure out for yourself."
"That's some real food for thought. Thanks, man."
LC: "Absolutely! What are friends for, right?"
I let out a grin, trying not to laugh any more, because ever one leads to a deep, stinging feeling in my cuts.
"Hey, can you go get Awesome for me, please?"
LC: "Sure thing!"
He hops up from the bed he sat down on, and returns with Awesome within less than a minute.
TA: "You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah, i'm curious, when do you think i'll be able to be up and about, again?"
TA: "I'd say a couple weeks should do it."
"A COUPLE WEEKS?! I don't have that kind of time. I need to be fighting people to get my score up! I can't just be lounging around in this bed all d-"
LC: "Woahhh, calm down. That's not important, it's just a board, remember that. A score should never be the reason you're doing this."
I start remembering myself saying almost the same about Beam.
"You gotta stop being so wise, dude."
We both start to laugh and I wince in pain as the stinging intensifies.
LC: "Don't worry, Fant. We'll keep everything under control while you're out of commission."
This is gonna be a long couple of weeks...
To Be Continued...
MKSG The X-Men: Survival - Issue #3
Basement of X-Mansion
“You ready, Kitty?” asks Peter, reassuringly. Last time they trained in the Danger Room… well it didn't go as planned. They're a lot stronger and better prepared this time though, or at least that's what the pair of them had told Mr. Summers to convince him to let them do this.
“Yep, let's do it” she replies with some false confidence, as Bobby swaggers over to the couple.
“Alright, Kurt and I are in there with you, Ororo, Scott and Illyana will be watching and assessing your performance. Let's get out there and show them what we've got, as a team, yeah?” says Bobby.
“Sure thing, ‘Iceman’” Kitty replies with a smirk. She wished she had an official codename, but only field operatives receive them, which is what her and Peter were training to become. Having lost Warren and Hank, the X-Men were a little short handed these days, and ‘Shadowcat’ and ‘Colossus’ were feeling ready to join the ranks.
They geared up; ‘Iceman’, ‘Shadowcat’ and ‘Colossus’ were to think on their feet to remove an unknown threat and also save Kurt, who was playing the hostage. Up in the observation deck, Scott is excited to unleash his design upon the team, that he's been working on for several months now. Beside him resides Headmistress Ororo Munroe, who remembers far back when she first used the Danger Room, along with Scott, Hank, Jean, Bobby, Warren and, of course, Professor Xavier. It was to help train his team of extraordinary students to defend against threats to Mutant-kind and humans alike, if it came to that.
5… 4… 3… 2…1… BEEP!
The X-Men burst into the room and take offence positions, but see nothing threatening initially. Kitty spots Kurt hanging from the ceiling in a cramped metal cage, electricity running through the bars. It must be stopping him using his powers, she figures. Her objective is to rescue Kurt while Bobby and Peter neutralise the hostile. She spots a generator connected to the cage, but as she’s about to point this out, something humongous and robotic crashes down on top of them all!
Kitty and Bobby fall over dramatically, then scramble to their feet. Peter also gets knocked back but remains steady. He’s the first to retaliate against the foe. He armours himself up as he slams into one of the creatures 8 mechanical legs and yanks it with all his considerable might. Metal meets metal, and an extremely loud screeching sound happens as the leg is torn from its hinges.
“Damn, Pete” exclaims Scott, while Ororo smirks. She has more confidence in the team's ability than most.
“Yes!” Illyanna says under her breath, cheering for her brother, not that he’d be able to hear her.
The team regain attack formation as the Spider-like beast circles around for a second attack, scuttling around the walls and defending it’s hostage. Oil and mechanical pieces are leaking from it's severed limb. They get a better look at the giant critter of Scott's creation. It's not purely a spider. It has the body of a man attached to the torso of an 8, well… 7, legged being.
“Drider…” Bobby exclaims, mildly surprised. “Really Scotty?” he shouts towards the observation deck. “D&D creatures again?”
Scott chuckles at this, but straightens his face to tell him: “Focus on your objective, Bobby” through the speaker. “Do I need to remind you what that is?”
“No need to be a…!”
*THUMP*
The drider whacks Bobby across the room with it’s extended tail before he can finish his retort.
Kitty watches as Peter attacks before the Drider can reach Bobby, who is lying on the floor half-dazed. She’s very glad to not be on the offensive for this exercise. Her mission is hostage extraction, not to deal this horrible spiders. She sprints over to the generator she previously spotted and figures it's easy enough.
‘I’ve just gotta phase into the generator, disable it, open the cage and save the elf’
However, as she attempts to reach into the generator, her fingertips are met with warm, humming metal. She can’t phase through.
‘Scott is probably so smug right now’ she thinks bitterly, glaring upwards at the observation deck. Sure enough, Scott notices her, as does Ororo, who glances over at him.
“What did you do Scott?” Ororo inquires.
“Little bit of reverse engineering of her powers. It’s not very nice, I know, but they won’t get liberties in the field”Scott replies, just a little bit proud of his mechanical accomplishments.
Beside them, Illyanna is engrossed by the fight. Bobby and Peter have taken to the tactic of freezing the Drider’s limbs, then smashing them off with ease. Their only problem: Getting the damn thing to stay still. Kitty, searching her mind for ideas of how to rescue Kurt, see what her teammates are attempting to do.
‘Freezing the metal then crushing it will destroy it, huh?’, she thinks to herself, sparking an idea in her head.
“Hey”, she yells at her team. “Let it come get me!”
Peter has the thing in headlock when he hears her call. “We’ve got this!” he calls back.
“Guys!” Kitty yells over the mechanical screeching of the creature trying to break free. “YOU need to save Kurt, and destroy that!” she shouts as she gestures heavily towards the power generator.
A little unsure, Peter and Bobby look at each other to confide, but as then do, Peter accidentally loosens his grip and Bobby isn’t fully focused. The drider breaks free of them both and with a swift *SWISH* of its tail, swipes them across the room towards Kurt and the generator. As this happens, Kitty runs right into the middle of the room.
“Come at me!” she yells, antagonistically. “I really hope this works”, she mutters, as the drider turns to face her.
Getting to their feet, Bobby and Peter are reluctant to leave the drider to Kitty alone, but they realise her plan. Bobby begins smothering the generator with a layer of hard ice and reassures Kurt, shouting “We’re coming for ya buddy!” in his typical, overly-positive tone.
Meanwhile, Peter can only watch in horror as the Drider makes its aggressive charge for Kitty. As it’s approaching her, she prepares herself, counting down in her head the distance.
‘Okay 20m, 10m, now 5m, oh god 2m!’
“No!” shouts Peter desperately, positive that the Drider just crushed her. The Drider continues at full speed, directly into the opposing wall, making a colossal crash and magnificently exploding into a thousand nuts and bolts.
For a moment, even Ororo is thinking the worst. However, as some of the debris and smoke clears, Kitty is standing just where she was stood, completely unscathed.
‘She phased through, of course!’ Peter realises, just as Bobby yells “Now!” and Peter runs and jumps onto the generator.
*CRACKK*
With a colossal punch, Peter cracks all the ice and the machine that it encompassed. The electricity fizzling through the metal bars of the cage halts.
“Yay! Woohoo!” Ilyanna shouts, jumping up and down and clapping for their victory. Ororo and Scott also feel very proud of their teams accomplishment, not that Scott necessarily show it.
Peter runs over to Kitty at speed and picks her up with a giant hug.
“I almost thought I’d lost you” he caringly says.
“I’m not going anywhere” she responds.
They both hear a familiar *BAMF* and then feel Kurt’s arms and tail encompassing them both.
“Nice job, you guys” the fuzzy blue man says with his thick German accent.
“Thanks, Elf” Kitty replies softly.