The Herald: February 2008 Edition

[The Herald]

After a very long couple of days, the Herald is here on time for your enjoyment. A big thanks goes to Tonya, Pandora, and Eternity for helping calm the situation, and help pull together the Herald and on time despite one's efforts to make us fail and not release an edition.

Now, putting that behind us. We have three changes within the Herald staff. First off, welcome Nathan (OZ, Crestfallen, etc.) as a writer. You'll be seeing his first article in this edition. Secondly, I've chosen two of the current writers to be promoted to Herald Supervisors. What does that mean? It means they have a bit of more influence on what the Herald features in the future, and what we accomplish as a team. Those two chosen ones are Tonya and Andrew (Sirius Wolfsbane). They both helped me a great deal this month.

I'm so proud of my writers for pulling together in two days and producing 29 articles to replace 36+ that were unfortunately lost. No matter what, I'm proud of this team. So please give them your thanks, and appreciation for doing such a great job.

Avatar/Signature of the month? I noticed someone asked James where this was taking place now. There is no long a thread. Instead, Tonya, or whomever accepts the article, browses the forum and picks out the best avatar and signature that they see fit. I trust their judgment, and if you have any disagreements, either PM me or the author of the article. Thank you.

That's all I have to say for this edition. I'm more than drained, and haven't really ate in two days. All my time's gone to the Herald. So if you don't see me around in a day or two, you know I'm just rejuvenating. Plus, the morning's payday. Yay.

Have a great February, and a Happy Valentine's day!
We'll see you next month.

Kay

[The Herald]

Staff Changes

First and foremost we have just a couple of staff changes, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. Just in case you didn’t, here they are.

Alan, a former administrator, has returned to the staff to moderate the Chillout. He’ll be using his leather whip to keep you kiddies in line when you guys fluctuate away from reality and maturity. Be nice to him, and treat him with respect.

James, former Global moderator and Head Coder, joins the rankings once again. He’ll be implementing new ideas and some activity into the coding area. They’ll also be the first to talk to about ideas for any changes in that areas as well. Save for the administration, of course. He also is one of my Herald minions. So welcome back Mr. Alien!

We bid farewell to Dalton for the time being. As his sickness is still keeping him away, James will look after all the coding boards. He may return, who knows.

Excellence Awards

The awards are now officially over! Click here to view the results. If you didn’t win anything this year, or weren’t even nominated, don’t fret! There’s always next year. Throw yourself into community projects, and be active in the Chillout and I’m sure you’ll find yourself walking away with an award next year. Thanks to all those that took the time to nominate and vote. A special thanks to Eternity for taking the time to set it all up, and the slick award signatures.

New Duels System

It’s only been postponed until Car’s return, but I’ve acknowledged a peek at this baby. I’m sure you’ll like it. If you don’t, well, that’s your own choosing. I will tell you this- the new system will provide you with ways to improve your designing skills. Trendwhore is alright, but originality is better. Broadening your horizons is always a good thing. If you don’t like change, well, open your eyes sweetie, life is full of them.

That’s it for this month. Enjoy the Herald.

Toodles,
Kay

[The Herald]

This month the award goes to Knighty!

Knighty has really impressed me this month with his up-beat attitude and good humor, I don't think there is anything that can get him down, not even the low turnout in some SOTW's!

Knighty has been working constantly to produce creative and inspiring topics for the SOTW competition and I really admire how hard he works to make sure the signatures are judged and another topic is put up.

Outside of his board Knighty is always welcoming the new and returning as well as furthering conversation in the Chillout board. He is definitely not afraid to take part and he has been doing an awesome job both in and out of his board.

Please help me show Knighty just how much we appreciate him!

<sub>On a sad note, can you ensure that you pm the author of this article should you have a problem with the choice for MOTM. The person chosen for this award should not be made to feel inadequate just because *you* feel they were not deserving of it. Remember, the MOTM choice did not ask for this and so any issues should be raised with the person who chose them in *private*, not all over the forum.

Thank you</sub>




Aww, yes. It's time for February, and I smell love in the air! Well, not really. However there are birthdays! The following birthday wishes go out to:

• Dishwasher Safe on the 2^nd
  
• Epic on the 14^th
  
• urban.cinderella on the 17^th
  
• Ross on the 29^th

Perhaps you have a birthday in February yet it's not mentioned above? Next time be sure to post in the thread located in the Herald board every month. If the thread is missing, please PM me with a notice and I'll get it up right away.

Thanks! And have a wonderful birthday month, you guys.




I’m a bit disappointed this month. Typically I have a hard time choosing because there’s so many great choices. This month it was hard because there weren’t nearly as many as I’m use to. I still, however, feel that the photographer deserves this mention.

Alan’s fashion shoot photo caught my attention. Although in his thread there were many things pointed out, I have to say I agree with some, but disagree with others.

Whereas I love her pose, it could be taken in so many ways. Boredom, thinking, waiting, etc. (Thanks to Tonya for point that out.) Which is a very good, and expressive vision to capture. I do love the colors. How they match and flow with one another.

My biggest demise? The lighting. It’s great on her face, and it draws all attention there. But the attention is supposed to be the clothes. Maybe it’s my monitor, but, especially the upper half is quite dark. Still, this is a spectacular shot and it gets your attention. Hope to see more from you, Alan.

Psst. Tell whomever made the dress that I want one.




This month the avatar was plain to see, while the signature, not so much. However, I will just jump in and give the wonderful lady who won Avatar of the Month her credit:

Pandora

I couldn't think of a more deserving avatar on this forum. I am sure you'll be seeing a lot of this avatar, so be sure to look for it. The simple, elegant eye that watches you all, it is Pandora. Congratulations dear.

Now, the signature of the month, I went through a few that I considered before picking this one. However he deserved it, here it is:

Jongos

Well done, Jongos. Again very deserved. I debated between a few different ones before picking this one. At first it just seemed too bright. After a while, looking around and coming back, I decided this one was the winner for this month

Congratulations to you both, keep up the good work!




Render Pack 4 by Stinky666 is this month's RotM. I know I pick +mw.siCk's work a lot for this article but he really does contribute a lot of pre-mades and resources to the database, and all of high quality too!

This render pack comes with four different renders, both with transparent and black backgrounds depending on which you find easier to work with. They are of a large size and would work well on CD covers or signatures added to a little brushing and some well placed text.

There aren't many colors but that can be easily changed in PhotoShop for those that know how. The main thing is that with the choice of transparent or black backgrounds, you have a very useful image that can be adapted to your needs easily, without any hassle.

[The Herald]

This month's choice was no easier than any of the other months. Every time I turn around, someone has posted something new and unique on the Literature Board, and then Kay expects me to pick one and declare it a winner. Really, though, writing is never about winning or losing. It is a passion brought from the depths of one's heart and spelled out for everyone to see and judge as they wish. It takes courage to post such things on the Lit Board, and I hope I'm not diminishing that courage by choosing one piece to honor above the others. That being said, this month's Literature of the Month goes to Kai's "Rebirth of Spring". The poem evokes somber and wonderful images. The symbolism is impeccable, and it was inspired by our very own and very lovely Tonya. Congratulations, Kai!

Rebirth of Spring
by Kai

Porcelain masks
All the lies they have told
All the pain they have caused

Dark winter
The poet without his pen
He sat by the candle

Blue blood genocide
The sword is drawn
All that is left is the undone deed

Masks of the blue blood
Along with their masters they fall
Like glass they shattered

The poet who never completed a piece
Took out his pen he did
And the words began to flow

The blood on the masks
The pristine white mask
The pristine red blood

Like redemption the masks unfold
The darkest secret their old masters never told
How they aren't the true nobles

The pen of the old poet
Completed its first and last poem
That of the fallen monarchy

That of the rebirth of spring.




From the New Year's Resolutions thread

Virtuoso: Bust a nut in a wallabee.
Jongos: hahahaha

i dont really have one

Pandora: A nut, or a wallabee to bust one in?

[x]

dmsuperman: My resolution is 1152 x 864.

[x]

Vintage: bum

stop pooping in museums and you'd have more time to peer through the massive amount of pieces building up over here.

[x]

Kay: Pssh. I just shoved him off though. I won't even let a guy talk to me that way, let alone let my male cat give me that look.

[x]

Ethan: Again, lawrie displays the emotional range of a teaspoon, in consummate fashion.
Bryanic: Well at least all the problems would be aired, rather than potentially festering for years. Like when you discover your father and mother are ex-national front neo nazis whose idea of a good time was a good lynching after lunch, and that though they said they approved of your life style choice they didn't quite and so have been putting testosterone in your cereal ever since they found out - in an effort to make you like girls.

[x]

Tao: Damn, you would have thought being here for this long you would know what a Bryanic comment is.
Jon: I don't expect you to take things that I say with authority anyway, and your not Bryanic and never will be so try using a smiley. Besides how am I supposed to tell you're being sarcastic when I barely know you.
Tao: I only wish to be as great as Bryanic some day. Able to call someone a twat and have is just brushed over, not really. But you get the idea dont ya... ya twat.

[x]

About Dalton's situation

Lamaenic: Best case, his brain had a fart and thinks it doesn't have a left leg. It would clear up in time.

[x]

Bryanic: If GG Allin came back from the dead and threw shit at you - then went away, would you feel more prepared to defend yourself next time a dead rock star attempts to defecate then throw it at you?

[x]

Nox: Well we are trying to practice a Hedley song. If you didn't read what I posted earlier.
Bryanic: Why not cover something good instead?

[x]

Virtuoso: Britney Spears should rule over Darfur.

Those rebels will be paranoid when they find out an anti-christ white lady's running the shit.

[x]

Knighty: I do like the entire UC profile on you though. It's very slimming.
Oliver: I'll crawl back onto my old account now

[x]

Chat Event Thread

Tao: Yay... where everyone can scratch at each others throats live!

[x]

Kay: Pssh.

There can never be too many ass references.

[x]

Bryanic: I like how you said that with the two important parts the wrong way round...it should read 'American armored contact football is some bastard form of the most perfect sport in the world, Rugby .'

Close, but no pineapple.

Artos: YOU WERE MY BROTHER! I LOVED YOU!

[x]

Ryan: Skiing is for girls. Real men slide down mountains on their bare chests.

[x]

Super Bowl thread

Knighty: GO LIONS!... shit.

[x]

adamonfire: fuck the pats
Artos: Your tears. Let me taste them.

[x]

Drunk Thread

Eternity: Just usual metal music stuff. Lots of New Rock boots and mohawks. It's a dangerous place.
Pandora: You could get cut on some of those mohawks, too.

[x]

Snow thread

Bryanic: HMMM HMMMMM MMMMM
MMMMM

SMACK DAVE FUCKING NEEDLES DAVE AHAHAHAHAH

MMM

MMMMM

[x]

Eternity: maybe someone was wearing some lethal jewelery? it's not hard to imagine getting slashed by some of the spiked bracelets and dog collar things people wear, at least at the gigs I've been to anyway
Pandora: What kind of gigs were those? And what was the safety word?

[x]

James: I'd beat her.
Kay: Not with your legs and arms duct taped down to the bed.

[x]

Alan: I'm pretty sure he doesn't like it when people misspell his name, though.
Avtar: And I don't like it when people don't keep in touch over long patches of time as well.

*pokes you in the bum with a hot rod*

[x]

In the Mod Inn

Alan: My last meaningful PM was November last year, the one before that was July last year, and the one before that April last year, haha.
Kay: That's 'cause your ass is like a ghost.
Knighty: Extremely pale.

[x]

Pandora: Why, oh why is [the] rape [of Artos] such a popular topic lately?
Artos: Listen. When you're as studly as I am, everybody is after your potent man-seed. It's just a fact that you have to live with.
Ryan: It's rape. You have no say in rape. Now bend over....
Artos: Sorry, pal. If anything, you'll be catching my screwballs.




(This month’s famous quotes courtesy of the “Little Surrealist Dictionary”)

aeroplane
“Aeroplane, A sexual symbol useful for getting rapidly from Berlin to Vienna.”
Sigmund Freud

ash
“Ash, a disease of cigars.”
Benjamin Peret

death
“Death is the horizontal prolongation of a factitious dream, life not being verifiable.”
Francis Picabia

dream
“Dream is a tunnel running beneath reality.”
Pierre Reverdy

enemy
“All our enemies are mortal.”
Paul Valery

eternity
“Eternity begins and ends in bed.”
Paul Eluard

infinity
“There are two infinities: God and stupidity.”
Edgard Varese

literature
“Literature, one of the saddest roads that leads to anything.”
Andre Breton

shadow
“The shadow precedes man, the assassin follows close behind.”
Pierre Naville

virtue
“Virtue is perfumed in crime.”
Luc Durtain

...And without further ado, almost certainly collectively agreed upon by all Dadaists and Surrealists, I present the somewhat official Sign Language of Eroticism:

(The preceding nonsense most definitely might not express the views of ProBoards or SolidSnake Designs. Thank you.)

WARNING: DEFINITELY CONTAINS SPOILERS

Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Will Smith

Meet Dr. Alice Krippin. The year is 2009 when Alice sits in an interview chair speaking of her scientific breakthrough. Taking the measles virus and genetically altering it to attack any cancerous cells in the body. According to her studies, it was proven to be 100% successful in 10,109 clinical trials. What does this mean? A cure for cancer.

Cutting to the year 2012, New York, USA. Grass sprouting through concrete, the whole city deserted. Dr. Robert Neville is the lone survivor.

Of what?

The so-called "cure" turning blatantly fatal. When the biochemical disease did the opposite of curing cancer, it caused another horrible fate for the users. The cure now known as the KV virus, had a ninety-percent kill rate; 5.4 billion people dead, less than one-percent immunity; 12 million healthy people, but that left the five hundred and eighty-eight million that turned into Dark Seekers. Human beings infected by the KV virus and mutated into blood thirsty zombies; the Dark Seekers. They acquired that name being as one effect from the virus was that sunlight, or any type of UV rays proved to be deadly to their life. They were only safe in the dark.

Feeding off from the remaining that weren't infected, Dr. Neville assumed to be the only survivor after three years of seeing no other sign of life other than his zombie neighbors. With the help of Sam, his daughter's pet German Shepard, he had a bit of company. Sending out messages through AM radio frequencies during the day when the sun was highest in the sky, at night he'd be home in his underground laboratory working on a cure for the virus.

After chasing a deer throughout the city streets, Sam is on the heels of the deer as it leaps into a dark building. After shouting Sam's name a few times, Robert hesitantly enters the building with a loaded rifle, ready to shoot and kill. Finding Sam, he turns, shining the flashlight that's on top of the rifle upon about 10 infected Dark Seekers who seem to be sleeping. Turning once again to be leaped at by one infected that had been feeding, he shoots and doesn't stick around to make sure it's dead. Sprinting out of the building quickly, he decides to set up a trap. Dark Seekers smell blood. Taking a vial of his own, he places it as bait. Smashing the vial, it's not even 45 seconds before one pounces on it allowing him to catch an infected.

As Robert does some tests and is developing a possible cure, he's out and about when he sees a mannequin from the empty video store he visits. Thinking that it was alive, showing a little insanity, he steps into a puddle and triggers a trap obviously set up by the Dark Seekers. Hitting his head, blood drips into the puddle.

Awakened hours later by the alarm on his watch signaling sundown in less than 15 minutes, he cuts himself free. After narrowly escaping the Dark Seekers infected dogs, he brings Sam home to try to save her, as she wasn't so lucky. But when it's apparent that she was infected after three years, he has no choice but to kill her.

Angry, he goes on a rampage with his SUV, running down the Dark Seekers. With his vehicle toppled and facing the fate of death, a light causing the Dark Seekers to scatter saves him as a blurry figure pulls him free of his wrecked vehicle. Waking up the next morning with Shrek playing on the tv and the smell of food and noises that he's not accompanied to, Robert's alert and grabs a hidden gun. Making his way into the kitchen where food is on the table, a little boy sitting at the table and a woman preparing the food, they turn around and stare at one another cautiously. Setting the gun down, they sit down to eat.

After a few outbursts from Robert's lack of interaction, the woman, Anna (Alice Braga) tells him about a colony further down south. Survivors that made their own secure compound. Getting into a bit of an argument that the colony doesn't exist, they leave one another alone just for a bit. Later on in the night after tucking in Anna's son, Ethan (Charlie Tahan), Robert explains the reasoning of his daughter's name. Strange noises alert them both. Locking down the house, it's apparent that the Dark Seekers finally found his spot after following them home the night before.

Anna runs upstairs to check on Ethan. Meanwhile Robert switches on some UV lights- that doesn't stop them all, hitting the button as dozens of them are upon barrels placed around the house, they ignite killing dozens of infected. After shaking himself of the concussion, galloping up the stairs he's greeted by a Dark Seeker. Shooting it dead, he makes his way to the bedroom where Anna and Ethan are curled up underneath an end table hiding from the Dark Seeker attached to the ceiling digging for something.

Snatching up a gun and shooting it dead, they fly down to the underground laboratory. Hiding behind the Plexiglas door that has the one infected that was sedated with the trial cure of his. Anna notices that the drug was in fact curing the infected. Her grotesque features were transforming back into her normal ones. As the Dark Seekers break through the other door, the Alpha Male starts ramming into the Plexiglas trying to bust in. Making possibly one of the toughest decisions of his life, he locks Anna and Ethan in a coal chute, with a vial of the blood from the infected with the cure present in her blood, he tells them to wait until daylight.

Grabbing a grenade and pulling the pin, he throws himself towards the Alpha Male just as he breaks through the Plexiglas detonating the Alpha Male, himself, and the rest of the infected in the lab.

Daylight comes, Anna and Ethan head south to the colony that Robert had sworn up and down didn't exist. As they come to a stop in front of a large gate, they are scanned electronically and approved to be let in. Introduced to a man, she hands him the vial.

I Am Legend is a very thrilling movie to watch. Never knowing how things are going to twist and turn is what keeps you captivated. I've talked to a few others that have seen this movie. They didn't know what the meaning behind the movie was, but was content with how entertaining it ended up being. Me? Sure, it was entertaining. Easily one of the best with Will Smith. It may not be the official meaning of the movie, but to me this is what it meant:

Our future, the world's future, will bring forth so many things we have no idea what the consequences will be. Scientific experiments, and cures for cancers can prove to be just as deadly as the cancer itself, if not more. Caution should be practiced when developing new things. Even more caution when unlocking the future.

If you haven't watched this movie yet, I highly recommend it.

Rating:

[The Herald]

February comes from the Roman word februa, which signified the festivals of purification that the Romans celebrated at this time. It is the second month of the year for us.

Over the years, it has had such a wide variety of lengths, especially due to the leap-year introduced due to the extra quarter day our Earth takes to move around the sun than was first thought. Originally February had just 28 days, this was changed to 23, and subsequently 24 every two years, before Julius finally settled on the 28 days with an extra day every four years that we are used to.

In the northern hemisphere February is a cold month, with storms and crisp air. Sunny days often break through, signaling that spring is on the way. In the southern hemisphere, February is very much a summer month with lovely sunny days and fluffy white clouds.

Should you have been born in February your birthstone would be the amethyst and this month's special flower is the primrose.

[The Herald]

This month is also known as American Heart Month, not because of Saint Valentine's Day. But because Cardiovascular diseases- including strokes, are America's number one killer. Can you imagine that?

In 1963 Congress required the president to declare this month American Heart Month. This month is used to help raise funds to research and educate people in America about heart disease and strokes,, the number one killer.

So, give a helping hand this month. It could save someone's life.

[The Herald]

Why is it that no one around here can take joke any more?

The cynics left.

Why are you so damn sexy?

I'm not, you've just had five too many things to drink.

Why do I feel new again?

You were never old.

How longs it been since you touched JS?

Absolutely no idea. At least two years.

What do you feel about George Bush?

I feel he has done as good of a job as anyone else could have in his spot. He has done a better job than he is given credit for, but I will be damned the day someone who does not support him will admit that. Honestly, take away knowing the public reaction to things after the fact, and tell me who would have done something different. If someone says they would have no it is only because they know what would come from it.

If the world was engulfed in Nuclear Holocaust, and you were one of the few survivors, what would you do?

Implement a logic test and kill those that did not pass it.

If GG Allin came back from the dead and threw shit at you - then went away, would you feel more prepared to defend yourself next time a dead rock star attempts to defecate then throw it at you?

I would finally have a reason for carrying a MP5. So what if they are already dead, I can still blow their arm off so they cannot throw.

When will SSD reign supreme again and have crazy activity in the GFX department?

As soon as Lighting FX and Virus return, yeah.

James, why are you not a fairy?

I do not know mate, but I just choose to like women instead. Sorry .

Why does Gorndon Ramsay say 'uh' so much?

He is English.

Why do people ask weird questions?

I prefer weird ones as opposed to ones of no interest.

Boxers or Briefs... or perhaps... COMANDO!?

Mostly boxer-briefs, though sometimes boxers. Every now and then I'll go along with "no underwear Wednesday" too.

will SSD listen to my suggestion for the code area?

Outlook not clear.

Why are you so awesome?

I'm a mortal God.

Why is Kay so pretty?

She went out with me.

Do you miss me?

How can someone not?

Why must these people ask questions allowing you to boost your own ego?

People like you and Whitney enjoy popping it, so they help rebuild it even bigger.

Is a mobile home with a flat tire just a home?

No, it is a beacon for people to honk, wave, and laugh as they pass.

Do you like butter on the top or bottom of your sandwich?

I cannot say I have ever had a sandwich with butter on it.

What happens if you take an indirect free kick that hits the post while a dog runs onto the field, catches the ball before it hits the ground, pops and drops it, runs off the field, the ball hits the corner flag and stays in play? How do you restart play? And, I can't see the dog getting away with entering the field without the referee's permission...

I run over the dog, get out of my car, and drop kick it. Wherever the dog lands is where the play is restarted.

Which word do you think is correct: soccer, or football?

I'm American, but I even use football to describe it.

Will I get to do Ask me Anything in March?

It does not look like it...

Why did the Lions falter at midseason?

They came to Detroit, that's why.

Can I get an ETA on the growing up every one has been suggesting?

No.

Where are the sig of the month's competition?

In a rage over a broken phone and not being able to wrap my mind around a piece of engineering homework, I started throwing things on the forum, out the window. Check the trash bin that Zanmato Designs resides in.

WHERE ARE THE SNOWDENS OF YESTERYEAR?

Caps lock and try again.

African or European swallows?

I figured they spit.

Who's Joseph Heller?

No one important.

[The Herald]

Please don't take anything in this seriously, it's all in good fun. Just funny matches observed around the forum, so take a moment, read it and laugh at these odd combinations.

• Kay and James, two wonderful people, both friendly and kind. They both deserve the world, and one another.
  
• Pandora and Bryanic, they make such a wonderful team.
  
• Jonny and Car, camera+beauty= perfect.
  
• The Diary Room and Oliver, just seemed right.
  
• Kai and Silverwings, ah Kai, I had to do it. We do make a good team.
  
• Epic and c130, both very outspoken people, and unique in their own way.
  
• Eternity and Artos, sweet E, and on the edge Artos. She'd be great to level him out.

That's it! Remember- this was all in good fun. You can take these ideas and run with them, or you can just giggle and brush them off. Up to you.

[The Herald]

I don’t know very many people who have an accurate idea of what they look like. We are generally our own worst critics. I am, and I bet I’m not the only one who doesn’t like the image in the mirror. I don’t think I’m creature-from-the-black-lagoon-caliber ugly, but I see my flaws first, and my positive features second, if at all.

Have you ever noticed the constant bombardment of magazines in this world, with six feet tall, 90 pound models and articles with names like, “How to lose 10 pounds in 10 minutes”? Music, television and movie stars are looked upon as role models. Scrawny women with zero body fat are put on pedestals. Even the healthy, curvy celebrities are pieces of art, created at the hands of the best hairdressers and make-up artists money can buy. All of it conveys one message: “You are worthless unless you look like us.” Ridiculous and sensationalist, right?

I’m sure men go through something similar, always wanting to be big and strong, paranoid about the adequacy of their size. I can’t say I’m convinced they have it quite as tough as women, though I haven’t walked a mile in a man’s shoes, I admit. I do believe our “shelf life” is much shorter than a man’s, and I personally think women are judged more harshly for putting on a few pounds. In some circles it’s like a cardinal sin to gain weight, worthy of excommunication. Some girls go to drastic measures to have an ideal body, endangering their own lives to be thin, participating in risky surgeries to have larger breasts and smaller butts. Bulimia, anorexia, over the counter “get thin quick” pills, etc, all illnesses and methods that kill, all in the name of beauty and body image.

I would like you to think about how many women you know. How many do you think are beautiful? How many of them look exactly alike? More than likely, they are each unique. Now pay attention to what characteristics they do have in common. Blonde hair? Kindness? Intelligence? D cups? Confidence? A sharp sense of humor? A great laugh? Excellent taste in music? Great legs? Can you even pinpoint that certain quality they all share?

The point I’m trying to make is this: Beauty is something much more meaningful than simply fitting a visual mold. What is an image but a two dimensional photograph? As inspiring as a photograph can be, it will not tell the whole story. I want to live to see the day when beauty is redefined. Physical beauty is simply the easiest and most convenient way to define a person. Look deeper; there are so many sides to the story of beauty.

Gentle, healing hands are beautiful. So is wisdom, optimism, patience, enthusiasm, passion, compassion, creativity, strength during tragedy. Mothers are extraordinarily beautiful! Do all our mothers look like movie stars? Women who ‘break the mold’, women who stand up for their friends, women who keep their promises, they are all beautiful to me. And I haven’t even put a dent in the list of characteristics that meet the standards of beauty.

Image isn’t everything; it is but one facet of an endlessly faceted jewel.

[The Herald]

”When you got somebody good, you hold on to them” – Lyfe Jennings

Bursting through the door to the roof, my eyes were moving quickly trying to find a place of solitude. Anywhere to get away from them, get away form everyone. Is that really too much to ask for? I didn’t think so, and I sought to keep searching.

Holding still and just standing there, I listened intently with my ear pressed to the door that I had just flown out of.

Drip, drip.

The only sound coming from the other side of the door was from the slight leak from overhead. Sighing with relief, I backed away and started making my way towards the edge of the rooftop. Wind whipped around me. Not having the smallest body frame ever, I didn’t care that naturally it’d cause some to be considerably unstable.

Me? No. I was perfectly still.

Finally deciding to sit instead, I went straight to the edge lowering myself to the ground with my legs dangling over the side of the building. I’m sure if you were a passerby down below, you’d suddenly get the urge that I was about to take my own life. Whereas that thought had lived in my mind a few times in my life; in the last year I hadn’t been haunted with those choices.

Wearing a short sleeve shirt with no sweater or light coat was a pretty brainless idea. Seattle, Washington doesn’t provide the most warmth anytime of year. The skyline at night- gorgeous. That’s where I was, the beholder of the beauty that is Seattle. Granted my thoughts were far from the exquisiteness of the night.

Momentarily looking down at the streets, my brown eyes locked onto those busily hurrying home to their families. A group of older kids was off to one side laughing it up at something the red-haired, fair-skinned girl had said. What it was like to be young, and carefree again? I wish I knew.

A creaking noise behind me interrupted my thoughts. Tensing up rather hastily, I turned my head in the opposite direction from where they were walking up on me. Tears welled up in my eyes threatening to spill at any moment. Why must I be so feeble? Wearing my heart on my sleeve is the most unattractive quality to myself. A weak spot I’ve never had any control over. Without a word, he sat next to me knowing to respect my space by not stirring me.

“What’s wrong?”

His voice was like a warm blanket over my chilled skin. My hands were clamped to my arms rubbing them furiously trying to keep them warm enough not to start shivering. Devoid of looking at him, I was reluctant on replying, whereas ignoring him didn’t come simply.

“I’m just sick of everyone around me disappointing me.”

This must have settled badly upon his conscious. With a shake of the head, his eyes settled on my face.

“Not everyone. I haven’t, have I?”

It doesn’t matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t keep the faint smile from forming on my lips. Finally gracing him with a look from me.

“No, I suppose not.”

We spoke for a few minutes about what had taken place downstairs. It all was frustrating for me, and he didn’t want to fluctuate my mood even more. Once again my eyes were wandering across the sky trying to find a place that would calm my nerves and relax the tension in my body.

”Someone as mighty as a lion, but still as gentle as a bluebird.” - Lyfe Jennings

Words from an old song were running through my mind as a warm arm snaked around me. I welcomed the additional warmth, so I didn’t complain. Feeling my love’s index finger move my chin gently to meet his own face, I peered into his eyes for a moment before he kissed me genuinely. The tension I’d felt earlier fell away with the gracefulness it’d lacked when it was established. Pulling away, I smiled at him reassuringly of my mood settling, and hugged him holding on tightly. I never wanted to let go.

That moment. That feeling. I just wanted to capture it. Preserve it for life. But there was no doing that. Jolting awake, I sat up and looked around.

“What the hell…”

I’d been dreaming, all along. Isn’t that a bitch? The most calming moments, the ones that you wished would come the most, are always ones that are stuck in your conscious but very rarely lived out. Sighing, my head fell into my hands as tears sprung to my eyes. The face of the guy, was an unexpected one. One which I knew I cared deeply for, way beyond what he’d ever really knew.

Reaching over, my hand was shaking, but I needed music. It seemed to be the only medicine for the hollowness in my chest. As I flipped on the radio, the song Must Be Nice by Lyfe Jennings was playing but nearing its end. No longer capable of keeping the tears inside, they fell down my cheeks, I in turn wiped them away quickly. It was the song that had been playing throughout my dream making me think it holds some sort of meaning. What it was yet, I didn’t know. I listened to the lyrics closely although I knew them all too well.

Must be nice
Having someone who understands the life you live
Must be nice
Having someone who's slow to take and quick to give
Must be nice
Having someone who sticks around when the rough times get thick
someone who's smile is bright enough to make the projects feel like a mansion
Must be nice
Having someone who loves you despite your faults
Must be nice
Having someone who talks the talk but also walks the walk
Must be nice

Crawling out of bed, I grumbled nothing but three words as the beat to the song died.

“Must be nice.”

[The Herald]

Link to parts i through xvii: Click

xviii.

Our pace slowed considerably for many reasons. We were no longer hunted. Tree had backtracked while I rested, and he was satisfied that no one else was following us. Also, my injury made frequent rests necessary.

But the main reason our progress slowed was my fault. I insisted on dragging Martin’s body along with us. When we reached the detour to the surface, I would bury him respectfully. We only had about 14 more miles to go before we reached that point.

Tree never questioned me. He waited for me to wake and regain strength, and he waited while I checked Martin’s pockets and person for useful information and supplies. He waited while I rolled his body onto my sleeping bag and secured him to it with rope so that he wouldn’t roll off. He waited because I told him to. This was my task, my penance. I did all of it in silence.

I moved forward without waiting to see if Tree followed. It wasn’t long before he moved ahead of me, though. He probably wasn’t relishing the view, my brother’s head bouncing along the uneven road.

“At least let me do my share of carrying the weight,” he said.

I didn’t respond. I kept moving forward showing no sign that I even heard him. We were approaching the check point which was a mere three miles from our detour to the surface.

“Is she alright?” Two Citizens were present at this post, a man and a woman. Both appeared to be in their early twenties. The woman approached us. She nearly saw eye to eye with Tree and was absurdly beautiful and graceful. “I really admire what you are doing,” the Amazon length woman said to me.

“What? Dragging a dead body?” I turned my back to her and removed my backpack.

Tree’s tone was apologetic. “Would you excuse us, please?”

“Yeah. No problem,” she said. She had a Jersey accent that rubbed my patience the wrong way.

He waited for her to be far enough away, and then he approached me. He grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear, “These people are our allies, and you are out of line.”

“I don’t trust anyone,” I whispered back. “Martin could have known spies among the Citizens. You know it’s possible.”

“At least pretend to be civil.”

“I don’t need to. She knows I could kill her in a heartbeat. I can act however I choose to act.” I wasn’t whispering anymore. In fact, I made sure everyone could hear, but I never looked to see their reactions.

Tree got the message. “Time to distance yourself, is it? Don’t burn any bridges here, Rebelle.”

“You don’t get it.”

“Then explain it to me.”

I pressed my body against his and stood on my tip toes to better look into his eyes. “It was easy. It was easy, and I’m glad I killed him. What bothers me is that Martin was counting on it.”

“What makes you think that?”

I reached into my back pocket and removed a folded piece of paper. “I’m not going to let you read it,” I told Tree, “Let me explain the gist of it instead. It’s a suicide note. He was trying to get a message to me. He knew I would, at the very least, suspect him of killing our parents and attempting to murder yours truly. You see, Martin did battle with his conscience a lot in the last three years. He put it all down in this note. He was sure I wouldn’t trust him, and he was right. He finally decided to give me what the Citizens needed in order to stand a fighting chance against the Government and their DOGS. However, he extracted a price in return for the information. He took my innocence. He made sure I had blood on my hands so that I would know how he’s felt all these years.

“We were manipulated the whole time, Tree. You said they don’t control everything. You’d be damned if they controlled your heart and soul, you said. Well, what do you think just happened? What do you think is happening still? Look around you. Do you actually believe we aren’t damned?!”

“I believe they are currently controlling your heart and soul, and you are allowing it. Come on, Belle. Think about it. Just knowing it was all a deliberate plot should make you think twice about letting the fact that you killed him destroy you like this.”

“What’s the point? Even if we knew the name of the book, we find it and then what? We read some fiction novel and try to read between the lines to find an answer. And still, if we do that much, this country is a wasteland. Here’s an idea. What if we just lay down when the steamroller comes?”

Tree calmly pushed me away, disgusted.

I didn’t blame him for doing so. I felt like I was trapped inside some unused portion of my own brain. I was powerless, watching someone else control my actions and words. It wasn’t someone else, though. I wasn’t powerless. I could take control if I wanted to. Unfortunately, I was too busy nursing my pride.

He went to meet with the Citizens without me. I was fine with that. My brother lay before me, and he looked so beautiful. I couldn’t bear to actually put him inside the sleeping bag. It probably would have been easier to pull him along that way, but I still planned on sleeping in it later.

xix.

That was a very long, cold night for me. Well, actually, I was no longer sure about the difference between night and day. Even the short stint on the surface seemed ambiguous. It was drizzling steadily. The whole world was desperately gray. I hadn’t exactly prepared for a burial, so I used Martin’s knife to dig his grave. The rain and the mud made the chore nearly impossible. My hands slipped time and again, and the cuts crisscrossed my palms.

Once we were back in the tunnel Tree offered to sleep by my side, but I repelled him with more bitter condescension. Determined to protect me, he honored my “request” by settling just out of my immediate reach.

He didn’t say a word to me after meeting with the two soldiers at the last checkpoint. He mentioned nothing about a book; he didn’t even look to see if I was following him. If I weren’t so hell bent on being bitter and stubborn I would have approached him and apologized. The damage was done, though. I was sure he would look at me with those disappointed eyes again, and I couldn’t stand the thought. Besides, if I let down the wall I’d been building since I killed Martin, the resulting flood would drown both of us in a heartbeat.

I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. I thought obsessively about how things might have been if only I had convinced Martin to stay when he asked me to runaway with him five years ago. Every time I created a new theory about how it would have been, one part never changed. We always ended up happy and together, my parents, my brother and me.

That would never happen now. When no tears surfaced at that thought, I finally fell asleep, convinced that my wall remained intact.

The saga continues...soon.


(To anyone that may be following this story: I will no longer be posting sequels in The Herald. I will, however, continue building THIS thread periodically.)

[The Herald]

Phobias:

• Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth.
  
• Cacophobia- Fear of ugliness.
  
• Cyberphobia- Fear of computers or working on a computer. (We know no one on SSD has this one)
  
• Euphobia- Fear of hearing good news.
  
• Ideophobia- Fear of ideas.
  

Animals:

• Jaguars are afraid of dogs.
  
• A rat can last longer than a camel without water.
  
• A female ferret will die if she goes into heat and cannot find a mate.
  
• Mayfly, named because it swarms in May, lives only 6 hours. but lays eggs that require 3 years to hatch.
  
• Sitatunga, an African antelope, has the rare ability to sleep under water.
  

Humans:

• When you die, your hair still grows for a couple of months.
  
• The average person spends about 2 years on the phone in a lifetime.
  
• Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
  
• Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than
  left-handed people do.
  
• Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks or it will digest itself.
  

Around the World:

• The highest point in Pennsylvania is lower than the lowest point in Colorado.
  
• In Holland, you can be fined for not using a shopping basket at a grocery store!
  
• A company in Taiwan makes dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate.
  
• In India, people are legally allowed to marry a dog!
  
• Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada has the most bars per capita than anywhere else in the world.
  

[The Herald]

In Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Huck and Holden, in an attempt to break away from the standards of society, start off on a journey, hoping to gain their freedom and identify their character. Huck, being previously acquainted with adventures, fakes his own death to escape Pap and begin his journey down the river. Holden, on the other hand, is kicked out of yet another prep school, which is the main deciding factor in his journey throughout New York. Both boys, though they may not realize it now, are starting on a journey that not only will define their character, but test their physical and mental strength, as well as setting the boundaries of their morality.

Twain’s novel holds one common theme throughout its entirety: holding onto the symbol of youth. In a paper written by Eric Solomon, it was stated that many critics over the years have attacked and defended the novel on the common theme of the novel (Solomon 172-78). Many critics are trying to figure out whether or not Twain was showing Huck mature, displaying the hardships of life on the river, or explaining the dangers of escaping slavery and civilization. Those critics who are saying Huck wanted to find freedom may be right, as a boy around his age is venturing off into a new world, trying to prove they are more mature. To do this, Huck breaks away from his family and begins an adventure down the river. Directly, this may not be an attempt to prove his maturity, but an attempt to break away from a society he cannot possibly live in.

Along with the theme of youthful symbolism, Adventures of Huck Finn is filled with many great themes. One such theme, as presented in Solomon’s article, is emphasized at the Phelps Farm: “a boy is trying to identify himself by finding a satisfying family life” (Solomon 172-78). One of the reasons Huck may have left the Widow and Pap was that he didn’t find his life satisfactory. A boy his age looks to his family for guidance, something he really didn’t think he was receiving. He wanted to find himself, and to test his boundaries and society. His journey across the river may have been an attempt to find a family, to find himself, or to place him in a society that he could very well conform with.

Perhaps there was something working inside of Huck, though, that forced him on his journey. Maybe all he was looking for was companionship. T.S. Eliot said, “Huck Finn is alone: there is no more solitary character in fiction. The fact that he has a father only emphasizes his loneliness” (Eliot ix). Some may argue that a journey down the river is lonely in itself, but Huck did find companionship on his journey. Jim joins him early on, as well as the King and the Duke later on down the river. The companionship he had with these three men may not have been exactly what he was looking for, but it was something better than what he had previously received. It was a step forward in his search for finding his freedom.

There are many different passages from the novel that indicate Huck is trying to find himself. For example, upon arriving at the Phelps Farm and finding out that everybody thinks he is Tom Sawyer, Huck says, “But if they was joyful, it warn’t nothing to what I was; for it was like being born again, I was so glad to find out who I was” (Twain 315). Being put into a role he knew was an amazing thing for Huck. Throughout his journey he had to make a character up to continue on, but upon reaching Aunt Sally, he knew who he was. In that sense, even though he still wasn’t himself, he had found a part of him he had been looking for. He had found that family life. He was happy.

The ending of the novel wraps up Huck’s journey to find freedom and family (Solomon 172-78). Even though the growth and maturity that developed inside him will always be there, the incident at the Phelps Farm, finding out he is playing Tom, is a rebirth of sorts. The end of the novel is Huck being born a boy again. By finding this family, by finding the freedom that a life here offers, Huck has found himself and, in turn, has become free from everything he was attempting to run away from.

In an article written by Charles Kaplan, he stated that the trip Huck took south of the Mississippi is a rebirth as he tries to find out who he is. Society has him trapped, which is one of the indicating factors of him taking this journey. However, society follows him wherever he goes. The way it acts, society, is different with each place he stops on his journey, but it is present, rejecting his idea of freedom. Huck, as a boy, may never be “free” (Kaplan).

Kaplan also touched on The Catcher in the Rye. Holden is a very similar character to Huck, as both boys are a refugee of sorts. Holden leaves Pencey hoping for three days of freedom before having to return home. To survive in the city, he lies. The boy is unsure of who he is in what he calls a “phony” world and wants to try and find himself before returning home to the rule his parents have established.

Like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Catcher in the Rye contains many passages that indicate Holden doesn’t know who he is. For example, “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It’s awful. If I’m on the way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I’m going, I’m liable to say I’m going to the opera. It’s terrible” (Salinger 16). Holden has accepted the fact that he is a liar, but that isn’t what he wants to be. That isn’t who he is. Lying is a means used to get by in the life he is living, but that’s not how he wants to live. It’s a bad habit he has picked up, really. Inside, Holden may be hoping that his journey through New York will help him find himself and put the part of him that loves to lie on the back burner.

Huck, just like Holden, has to decide whether or not he is going to conform with the standards of society or continue his path down the river (Kaplan). By conforming with society’s standards, Huck would turn Jim in at any of the places they had stopped at. By not doing this, by keeping Jim free and on the raft, Huck is deciding his own path and breaking away from a society that doesn’t agree with his thought process. He’s keeping Jim free even as they head further south into slave territory.

Kaplan touches on both novels quite a bit. He is constantly switching between the two novels, comparing and contrasting them. In one section of his article, he says Holden is depressed - he is fighting a constant war with society. He is trying to change himself, trying to become honest, and in doing so, he notices his own weaknesses. These weaknesses show him what kind of person he truly is. Holden is accustomed to telling a lie to get by, but he doesn’t like it. It’s not honest, nor is it something he wants to continue doing. He puts on this false face to survive in a society that is holding him back.

In an article with an unnamed author, a very simple idea is presented. The idea is that Holden doesn’t fall in line with normal society. He does things as he feels they need to be done (Hypothetic). This puts a veil over his view of society. Holden has trouble getting close to people who follow the normal standards, causing him to have relationships with less than desirable people. These relationships cause him trouble through his journey in New York. They cause him to do things he wouldn’t normally do, things that society might not look too kindly on. His drinking, for example, and how he treats people when he has been drinking, is an example of his doing things how he wants them to be done. He wants to be in control of his life and every aspect of it, and by being able to get a drink at such a young age, he is controlling that portion of his life.

Another idea presented in this article is that Holden may reject society because he is afraid of a change that must happen inside of him (Hypothetic). He doesn’t want to accept or allow any kind of change, which is what drives his negative outlook on society as a whole. Holden wants to be in control of his life, to be free, and to find out what kind of person he is, but that kind of change is foreign to him and, deep down, he is afraid of it. He wants to be accepted into a society of adults but is afraid to let go of that childlike innocence that is sitting somewhere inside of him.

Some people, however, such as Christopher Parker, don’t agree with what many say the novel is trying to promote. In an article, Parker states that many characters in literature, as well as in real life, are trying to “find themselves.” Because Huck and Holden are doing the same, why should they be special? Their journey, though portrayed in a different manner, is no different than the journey taken by every other teenage male in literature. It’s not Huck and Holden that is wrong, it’s society. Society is insincere, and these two characters are trying to be sincere. They are more human than society.

While some critics find both novels a search for identity, Leo Marx touches a different aspect. [uAdventures of Huckleberry Finn[/u] is about a boy who starts a quest for freedom (Marx 425-27). He is searching for a freedom he could never have while living back in a normal society. While on Jackson’s Island, Huck thinks he is the king of the castle. He has the entire island to himself and nobody knows he is there. He can do what he feels like doing when he feels like doing it. When Huck finds Jim, he is very happy, as the two of them could enjoy a life of freedom together. But when Huck finds out that freedom could be taken away from them, when he finds out men are coming to the island to search for Jim, he bolts, not wanting to let go of that freedom that he has come to enjoy so much.

Marx uses many quotes from the novel to display this point. For example, when Huck returns to Jackson’s Island, he says, “Git up and hump yourself, Jim. There ain’t a minute to lose. They’re after us!” Marx uses this quote to say that Huck not only wishes to keep the two of them free, but he is enlisted in the actual cause of freedom. Nobody is after “us,” Marx says, but they are after Jim. At this point, nobody knows Huck is even alive. The people that could threaten their freedom are searching for Jim, who everybody thinks killed Huck and ran away from the people he served.

There are many characters in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn whom Marx refers to in his article. Miss Watson, for example, is the enemy, as she represents everything society is standing for (Marx 425-27). She is the society that is holding Huck back, preventing him from chasing and making true the ideas he has in his head. Huck is running away from Miss Watson, from society, as he wants his freedom, something society and, in turn, Miss Watson cannot give him.

Some critics say society rejects Huck because he is trying to be his own person (Dyson 106-8). He is following his own path, living to his own ideals, and creating his own standards. These standards, which seem perfectly fine to Huck, don’t fall in line with how society expects a boy of his age to be. Huck wants freedom, freedom that can only come with age, but society as a whole is not ready to grant him that freedom. Huck himself might not be mature enough to accept what can happen when a person is totally free. Perhaps society is trying to protect Huck from a world that he is not yet ready to face.

Maybe the problem with Huck is society itself. Marx, in his article, stated, “Huck and Jim seek freedom not from a burden of individual guilt and sin, but from social constraint” (Marx 425-27). Society is forcing them to accept a freedom they may not be ready for because society believes they may have done something that is socially unacceptable. They are pushing them away from people as they don’t think the things Huck and Jim do are right. Slaves should not interact with their white masters as Jim does with Huck. This may be what society is looking down upon.

From the very beginning of the novel, Twain shows that Huck, as well as Jim, are enjoying their freedom. For example, shortly after leaving Jackson’s Island, Huck says, “Jim, this is nice. I wouldn’t want to be nowhere else but here. Pass me along another hunk of fish and some hot corn-bread.” This particular quote shows that Huck does enjoy his freedom, does enjoy his time with Jim, and does enjoy everything the river has to offer. The river, in a sense, is life itself: if it weren’t providing for Huck and Jim, it would be dead, as would the two of them. The river is freedom, as it is alive, provides, and does what it would like to do when it would like to do it.

Mrs. Judith Loftus, a character Huck runs into during one of his adventures, says something that, in its own right, is in support of the society that Huck is running from. She says:pblockquote]The nigger run off the very night Huck Finn was killed. So there’s a reward out for him - three hundred dollars. And there’s a reward out for old Finn, too - two hundred dollars. You see, he come to town the morning after the murder, and told about it, and was out with ‘em on the ferryboat hunt, and right away after he up and left. Before night they wanted to lynch him, but he was gone, you see. Well, next day they found out the nigger was gone; they found out he hadn’t been seen sence ten o’clock the night the murder was done. So then they put it on him, you see; and while they was full of it, next day, back comes old Finn, and went boo-hooing to Judge Thatcher to get money to hunt for the nigger all over Illinois with (Twain 79).[/blockquote]This entire quote supports the fact that society wants to put a damper on freedom. Directly, society is supporting the fact that they are living in slave times and with a missing slave gone right after a murder, he was automatically the one to be blamed. Indirectly, the quote is leaning on the fact that society wants to catch Jim, as well as Pap, to lynch them potentially, to put a hold to their freedom.

Later on, Twain uses another quote to support the fact that Huck enjoys the freedom he has received and the adventure he’s on. Huck says:

This second night we run between seven and eight hours, with a current that was making over four mile an hour. We catched fish and talked, and we took a swim now and then to keep off sleepiness. It was kind of solemn, drifting down the big, still river, laying on our backs looking up at the stars, and we didn’t even feel like talking loud, and it warn’t often that we laughed - only a little kind of low chuckle. We had mighty good weather as a general thing, and nothing ever happened to us at all - that night, nor the next, nor the next (89).

This quote is showing that Huck and Jim could enjoy themselves freely, without a negative look from society. They share a relationship, an understanding, that may be looked upon unkindly from an outside eye. The two of them are being provided freedoms they could not receive in a normal society, particularly the freedom to do whatever they feel like doing.

Twain also indicates throughout the novel that the river is a source of freedom for Huck. In one particular quote, Huck says:

Sometimes we’d have that whole river to ourselves for the longest time. Yonder was the banks and the islands, across the water; and maybe a spark - which was a candle in a cabin window; and sometimes on the water you could see a spark or two - on a raft or a scow, you know; and maybe you could hear a fiddle or a song coming over from one of them crafts. It’s lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened. Jim he allowed they was made, but I allowed they happened (176-77).

Twain uses this passage to show that Huck, as well as Jim, found the freedom they had been looking for. The river, their “provider,” gave them a freedom nothing else could. Their life on the raft was a wonderful one, one that couldn’t really be disturbed by anything. Huck finally found a life away from society where he could be himself.

At the end of the novel, Huck is presented with something that, towards the beginning of the novel, he might have been looking for. He is given the opportunity to be a part of a real family, to live a real life. He says, “But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before” (Twain 407). Huck, after his journey with Jim on the river, had a taste of freedom and everything it offered. The idea of a family life, the idea of having to conform to a new society, doesn’t fit him. He likes his freedom and all the aspects it provides him and wishes to keep that.

In The Catcher in the Rye, Salinger also uses many different passages to show that Holden desires some kind of freedom. In one such passage, Holden says:

When I was all set to go, when I had my bags and all, I stood for a while next to the stairs and took a last look down the goddam corridor. I was sortof crying. I don’t know why. I put my red hunting hat on, and turned the peak around to the back, the way I liked it, and then I yelled at the top of my goddamn voice, “Sleep tight, ya morons!” I’ll bet I woke up every bastard on the whole floor. Then I got the hell out. Some stupid guy had through peanut shells all over the stairs, and I damn near broke my crazy neck (52).

This passage is marking the beginning of Holden’s journey. Having not met the standards of the school and not yet wanting to go home, he sees New York City as a place he can escape to. He’s looking for a few days of freedom, a few days to do whatever he wants to, to be whoever he wants to be. It’s a land of opportunity, and he wants to take it before the chance passes him.

Salinger soon shows, however, that Holden isn’t ready for the kind of freedom he desires. He doesn’t have the maturity. Holden says:

I stayed in the bathroom for about an hour, taking a bath and all. Then I got back in bed. It took me quite a while to get to sleep - I wasn’t even tired - but finally I did. What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would’ve done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn’t want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory (140).

When Holden first left the school, he thought he was ready for the freedom a new world would offer him. Once he entered that world and had a taste of that freedom, he realized he wasn’t ready. He toyed with the idea of suicide, but quickly threw that out.

Both authors use their novels to tell the story of a teen boy. This teen boy is trying to find himself, trying to gain his freedom, even though they’re not really ready for it. They embark on a journey that will test their physical and mental strength, a journey that will determine whether or not they are mature enough to hold onto the freedoms society has to offer. But they are also running from something: a society that wishes to suppress their real self. They cannot be who they want to be and must flee to obtain that right.

[The Herald]

Yeah I guess this was supposed to be different from the music artist review…but honestly I couldn’t think of anything worth talking about in music that wasn’t a musician – what’s the point otherwise really?

So yeah, GG Allin. Absolutely no musical talent or singing ability, and yet horribly, disgustingly, compelling. Screaming and shouting his love of rape, booze and the American way. Each song is a rambling progression from ‘I wanna fuck your brains out’ to ‘I’ll slit your fucking throat’, with some sort of detour through ‘needle up my cock’ – usually.

At first you just think, ‘man this is fucking awful, all he does is say cunt a lot’. It starts to grow on you though, and slowly you start thinking ‘well you know one or two of these aren’t bad…Drink Fight and Fuck, and Expose Yourself to Kids have a bit of melody and are pretty hilarious’. It doesn’t stop there, though, it gets worse. Maybe you download, ‘Freaks Faggots Drunks and Junkies’ or maybe you download ‘…Brutality and Bloodshed for All’, either way you start to think, does he have a point? And no he doesn’t, and he never will. But in itself that’s good, nothing but pure disgusting filth in a way that no other band ever managed to top. Oh sure they tried, maybe stuck a bit of ants up their nose, ate a bat, shot up on stage, but fuck they don’t have anything on GG Allin and the Murder Junkies.

So yeah, the live show, America’s – and the rest of the world – real sticking point. On stage GG Allin would kick people in, rape man, woman, and beast, and throw shit at the audience.

Rock.

Call it shock punk, or maybe just a psychopath with music, I’d still go – probably be fucking class too.

But he went too far, I guess. Despite how shit their music was, Motley Crue and a dozen other shite bands from that time are still remembered. The reason GG Allin doesn’t have their ‘respect’ – or their legions of 14 year old fans – is because he went too far and America came down on his head.

Possibly a good thing too…I don’t know what I’d do if everyone understood that I wasn’t serious when I sing ‘Lets fuck some kids/they can’t say no/molest them now before they grow/threaten them with oral sex/expose yourself to incest’, when walking down the street at 3 am on a Friday night. I’d be very sad.

‘When I die, put that bottle in my hand/all these years on earth it's been my only friend’. I wonder if they did?

[The Herald]

"Have you seen the living, tired of their own shells? All the non-believers, torso in the well."

The Mars Volta's fourth studio album effort, The Bedlam in Goliath, abnormally begins with not a minute of ambiance nor an acoustic introduction, but with Cedric Bixler-Zavala's infamous banshee shriek, now fully utilizing double-tracked vocal layers to further engorge his modern day Robert Plant howls and moans into the listener's eardrums. The first 14 minutes of The Bedlam in Goliath are nonstop and rock harder than the group has ever come, backed with some of the crispest audio production in rock music today. Baked or not, you're in for an intense psychedelic mind trip with this album, that at the end will make you wonder just what kind of nightmares the band has when they retire to their quarters.

Jon Theodore may be retired as the group's bombastic drummer, but 24-year-old Thomas Pridgen proves that he's not even phased by the legacy preceded before him. Pridgen's streamline, machine gun-like playing style and gospel jazz background brings a revitalizing new perspective on The Mars Volta's Latin influenced prog jams. He and bassist Juan Alderete go together like super-charged magnets, both providing an extremely heavy rhythm section behind Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's trademark guitar cacophony and Isaiah "Ikey" Owens's deeply textured keyboard swells and solos, who is now filling a much higher role in the band's music, usually creeping around in the right channel amidst the record's most chaotic breakdowns.

Like each release before it, The Bedlam in Goliath is a giant leap for the group's ongoing musical evolution as they leave behind integral elements that made up 2006's Amputechture and the recordings before it. New fans will be brought out from under the woodwork with the album's release, but old fans will ultimately be left in the dust with their copies of De-Loused in the Comatorium and Frances the Mute, unable to follow in The Mars Volta's direction of constant change and ingenuity. Those looking for a quiet dinner with a mild rock appetizer should order something else on the menu, as the fierce 75-minute full course meal of The Bedlam in Goliath will undoubtedly leave the casual and timid consumer unnerved and queasy.

[The Herald]

Attention all science and visual arts geeks: No longer do you have to balance a Nuclear Physics text book in one hand and an Art History book in the other. If you are a fan of both scientific discoveries and traditional art, I’ve just discovered a DVD to satisfy your wants and needs. The Dalí Dimension: Decoding the Mind of a Genius is a fascinating exploration through surrealist painter Salvador Dali’s thought processes and his open obsession with scientific advances.

Having already established himself as a front runner of the surrealist movement by the 1930’s, the young Dali made no secret of his fascination with the sciences and their influence on the direction of mankind. Psychoanalysis, the Relativity Theory, DNA and Genetics, Mathematics and Nuclear Physics are heavy influences indeed.

Dalí’s vision was far reaching. He had an innate understanding of how such inventions as the Atom Bomb would tear at the world with an orderly disintegration, man systematically destroying man. Freud unlocked key elements of the subconscious, further opening Dalí’s mind to dual interpretations of the world around him. Space, the macrocosm to the atom’s microcosm, protons and electrons mimicking the movements of the very Solar System in which we live is yet another concept that helped him grow as an artist.

“The Golden Spiral” is found in many
places in nature; a mathematical perfection
found over and over in seemingly unrelated
objects and celestial bodies.

“The Ascension of Christ” is one
of many paintings in which Dalí subtly
incorporated “The Golden Spiral”.

All of these discoveries and theories are integral to man understanding himself, and art is every bit as necessary to reach that same understanding. Add the element of God and religion, and we have a well rounded study of both human nature and Dalí’s portfolio. “Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus)” is a flawless example of Art, Science and Religion existing in harmony.

“Crucifixion
(Corpus Hypercubus)”

[/center]

To the left is one single cube, unfolded.
The image to the right is the same figure
in the 4th dimension.

It was a theme the artist explored extensively throughout his career. It earned him a reputation among the leading minds of the time. He met with many prominent scientists, and quite a few of them appear in this documentary describing their hesitance to meet the eccentric artist, only to discover that Dalí had read and understood many books pertaining to each scientist’s particular field of expertise. He was, in fact, a genius, and he soon earned their respect.

Something I found misleading was his famous painting, “The Persistence of Memory” prominently featured on the cover with the text “The Relativity Theory”. The painting was actually not inspired by Einstein’s theory. It was a more general ambiguity of time he was trying to portray. Most experts of the time made the assumption that it was Dalí’s interpretation of the Relativity Theory. The DVD cover only further enforces that incorrect assumption.

Other than that minor detail, The Dalí Dimension is an exceptional documentary. Less than an hour long, it gets to the point and makes clear the importance of science in our ever changing world. The constant flux of this world has an underlying order. The golden spiral, the subconscious and phobias, nuclear war, DNA’s incredible double helix containing the map of any living thing, all of these scientific discoveries and advances are part of the answers for which we’ve been searching since the dawn of humanity. It is only natural that a master like Salvador Dalí would come along and seamlessly apply those theories to his monumental works.

5 out of 5 stars.

Sources:
www.dali-gallery.com
www.fotos.org
www.hypermaths.org
www.fleischfilm.com

[The Herald]

From the start, you are placed in a global conflict concerning two petroleum-hungry superpowers of the world. The first is the Western Coalition, which consists of the U.S. and Europe. The other side is the Red Star Alliance, which has the powerhouses China and Russia. You will play both sides throughout the game. The people who created Battlefield 1942 also created this war torn adventure. Once you enter the first level and see combat, you'll know exactly what you are in for.

One great feature of this game is the "You're in the driver's seat" mentality. You can choose which missions you want to complete and in which order. Its non-linear role-play is sure to be a hit among gamers.

Another great feature for this game is the personal customization. You can not only choose the role you want to start with, but you can choose you weapons, supplies, and more. As you advance in campaign and presumably the online mode, you will attain more weapons and features, much like Call of Duty. There will be air strikes, snipers, vehicles, etc...

The game's era is around the near future, not year 4000 but rather 2024. So most most of the vehicles and weapons will be feasible creations that can possibly be produced in the next couple of decades.

One component everyone is anticipating for this game is the multi-player or live options. From what I have read the multi-player is very logical in the sense that all the maps are strategically laid out and every weapon placement and scenery makes sense. For instance, many maps have sniper nests that are prime for sniping, or alleyways great for ambushes. I would say the maps are more like Halo 3, but the game play is closer to Call of Duty. Also, the game lobbies can handle up to 64 players on the PC, and 16 on the PS3/360 platforms.

One device in the game that will be critical to your survival are the drones. They have the ability to shoot down helicopters, and to take out tanks and soldiers. They are kind of like the 6th man on a basketball court. If they are ever an option for your squad, and the the map is spaced out, make sure to enable them. Drones are a very unique feature that Frontline strategically added to the game.

Visuals are top of the tier. There is one map, a city with towering skyscrapers, that you can enter and climb to the top of for a great sniping perch. The maps are very realistic and the development team at Kaos Studios did and excellent job making each map layout interesting and sleek. In addition, the magnificent design team actually pulled of a Helicopter vs. Tank scenario very well which you will see a lot throughout the game. A very hard thing to master, but, not for them.

Frontlines: Fuel of War will make an excellent sci-fi first person shooter. It has many necessities that a FPS n a next-generation console needs and more. I think it will pave the way for new ideas and game play. This hot game will hit the market February 25, 2008.

[The Herald]

Call of duty 4 is the “true sequel” to call of duty 2. Call of duty 2 was more of the World war two era and Infinity Ward, being know for the beautiful recreation of the Normandy beach battle, they had a weight on there shoulders when they decided to stray from Nazi's and focus on modern warfare. With that said, they did one hell of a job.

What you have come to expect form IW in art direction, sound design, and all around game development is all enhanced in CoD4. Every detail was made just under perfection. And they even take you to areas not yet explored in war games. You would think with so many enemies, and teammates on one level that the quality would wither. IW had work meticulously on developing new ways to render graphics. Sometimes the detail you see, really isn't part of the character model, its part of the light map on top of the detail.

Modern warfare unlike CoD2 is told as one story through a few different eyes. You here one continuous story through both British S.A.S. And the U.S. Marines. Though each time the switch is made you aren't seeing the same battle through another persons eyes, each leap continues the progression of a single storyline. Done quite well I might add. The story may not be top of the line it is certainly not bad. You may not find a shocking turn of events but you will see your share of almost far from reality moments.

Much like most shooters now in days, run and gun tactics are frowned upon, and may get you killed quickly. IW has kept their system of look before you shoot tactics. Much like Rainbow Six just running out without a game plan will get you killed in a matter of seconds. When playing the game a lot was to be desired as far as cover came. In CoD4 enemies come from just about every direction, and lots of them. So when you find yourself looking one direction thinking you are safe from the rear assault you find that your right side is completely open to that sniper on the third floor. Then again one could say this is more of a realistic approach to war.

If you have played the previous titles in the CoD lineup you shouldn't have trouble jumping in. Only big change is the combat itself. This game is truly intense from the significant increase in enemies. Smarter enemy AI doesn't help you situation either. Especially when it seems your teammates AI has been decreased. Granted I played the game on the hardest difficulty, your team seems to wait for you to mark the enemy with a non fatal bullet before they decided who to engage. Most often the enemy is smart enough o know that you wont be running around shotting everything that walks. They know you will be around that corner or behind that vehicle at this precise time that the three grenades that were just thrown, will more then likely make you move or kill you. Be prepared to scream at your xbox when you are stuck in an area for 30 min – 2 hrs. Oh, and watch out for that dog closing in on you. (Dogs are included in CoD 4) To help with matters you always have the ability to shoot through certain walls. Near to perfect bullet physics, your bullets when coming in contact with a surface, wall or flesh, don't just stop. Momentum is carried through to the next surface.

Going back to the AI in the game, as I look at reviews I find people praising the teammate AI. I don't think they are as high quality as they are portrayed. Sure when they do as they would in real life thats amazing and well coded by IW, but when you have died three times in a row from your TEAMMATES MP5, thats when controllers are broken. Would have been nice if you could play Co-Op but thats not an option. Single-player is single-player.

Lets step away form the campaign for a minute and focus on the Online component. At first the multiplayer seems a bit lacking. It truly becomes adicting around level 10-15 when you create your own classes, get better weapons, and get more familiar with the game. Customization come in the form of a custom class setup of weapons, camouflage, and player abilities known as perks. Each weapon has a group of challenges along with it, creating an even more customizable class. For me the “perks” were a necessary addition. They really make the game fun rather than annoying. Some of my favorite aspects of online are as follows. First working as a team. If you're use to playing as a lone-wolf in Halo 3, you will possibly be on the lower end of the kill charts, unless of courase you level up to enter the “Cage Match” game variant also known as one on one. Another nice thing is that many of the multiplayer maps are taken from the campaign. It's nice to see a familiar place as you eat dirt. And yes you will be getting your daily fulfillment of dirt. You don't have to trudge half the map to get to where bullets are flying. Infact an issue me and a few found was that the console places you close to teammates and enemy fire. Some times you will end up getting spawn killed three – four times in a row.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a genuinely great game. Some minor flaws but nothing to write home about. This is something every gamer should have in their library.

[The Herald]

Today's gamer is more tech savvy than the 80's. More people want to make their console truly theirs. The following is not just a simple "what console modifications are" but it's also a great place to see what you could potentially void your warranty with.

What classifies a console mod?
Is it adding a few skins, or stickers for the outside of your console, or does it involve taking out the hard drive and replacing it with something of your personal liking?

Well, in a sense it's both.

Console modification is taking your console and adding a certain touch, a sense of flare. Something that makes your console unique from the ordinary. But it doesn't have to stop with the console itself. In my opinion, console modifications are not just slapping on a few skins. A true mod is a way to improve either the look or the performance drastically. With that being said, what can one do to their devices to mod them?

As the title of this article states, some of these projects may void your warranty so neither Solid Snake Designs or I take responsibility for any broken devices.

Recreate the Past.
To begin, let's talk about older consoles being re-invented for modern uses. With a little Google searching you can find some pretty cool revamps of the old NES controller. One that really catches my eye is taking the controller and making it run ROMs, or a not so legal version of a game to play on an emulator. Multiple games can be installed at once removing the need for cartridges. What's even more appealing about this console mod is that the entire device is no bigger then the controller itself.

Controllers are still ugly.
Face it, controllers these days are still a bit clunky. They don't have the flare most gamers want. That is, until the console modder gets a hold of it. Take the following modification from www.llama.com. This website gives great modifications including giving the buttons on a 360 controller a very cool glowing effect. With some glue, LED's, solder, Dremel, and a screw driver you can do it too, as long as you are skilled enough with a soldering gun. The mod can be found at llama.com (link)

Box Modification for the Weary.
It's very understandable that you don't feel comfortable about completely removing your case cutting a hole in it and adding Plexiglas. In fact that is why premade's were made. Nowadays, a slew of manufacturers offer a case shell. A shell is basically just a case using a different material or coloring scheme that you install. Using the following tutorial (link), you can remove the case and install a different shell. A good statement to remember from the tutorial is:

“... when you do it right it just pops apart, never pry or you will be very disappointed with the results.“

Don't get over zealous about the step you're on. Just think about the end result of your work.

Future of Modification.
It's quite unpredictable to say what the future can bring for console modification. Considering when the NES was released, I highly doubt Nintendo expected people to make their entire console fit inside the controller. Who knows, with the technology coming the near future, like LED monitors as thin as a piece of paper, who's to say we couldn't make a NES t-shirt.

Make it happen people!

[The Herald]

Marc B., or Bluefley is a brilliant user at PSCS2. Although we have our fair share of talented artists within our community, I was really in awe when looking at some of his pieces. Most of his pieces fall in the category of Fantasy, and typically I’m not a fan, but these captured my attention and held it.




Meyer, or smashmethod features a wide variety of art categories. From Abstract, to CD covers, comics, and Photography, it’s like everything he tries, he succeeds at. Some better than others. His abstract pieces are stunning, colorful, and very well made. If you want something eye-pleasing, and done right, then here’s the gallery to gaze through.




Alyn, where you can find here, is probably one of the most talented mentioned. Don’t get me wrong, everyone else in this article is talented, very. They far surpass anything I could ever complete. In the words of someone that I know that’s fond of his work, “His post-render work is amazing. His landscapes look real, his water looks real,” and they’re right. Just take a peek at some of his pieces and you’re sure to see just that. Amazing is something that fits his work perfectly. If you’ve never laid eyes on any of his pieces, please, do so! You’ll be captivated.




Vitaly, or alexiuss isn’t as well known as most of our other top artists, but his artworks are very appealing. As you can clearly see by the examples, he’s got a variety as well. Some pieces look similar, but other pieces are very unique. A good eye for creativity is seen here.




Chris H., or tigaer is another brilliant artist. I’m surprised some of these artists haven’t been seen in this article before. Moving on…ranging from Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Photography, and Photo-Manipulations. All such great types of art, some pieces are a bit trend whorish, but we all have our times. That doesn’t mean they don’t come out great, right? Right. One thing that I have to compliment is great use of lighting. I love it, it really catches right in the perfect spots and moments. Very pleasing.