The Herald: June 2007 Edition

[The Herald]

First off, I'm sure you all noticed that the Herald is two days late. Thus, I'm apologizing for that factor. It would've been even later if it wasn't for our little, unknown visitor, and Car. They both have helped me out quite a deal this month. Which brings me to the other thing I'm here to tell you of.

June's edition, is the last edition that I'll be Herald Editor. Meaning while you're reading this, I no longer hold the position of Herald Editor, and I'm back to being a regular member. My reason for this? I have no time. Life's caught up with me, and it's catching up fast. I've enjoyed my 9 month run with the reigns as editor, and I thank Kari for giving me those reigns in the first place. But now I hand them back to Car (urban.cinderella) whom is more than capable to run the Herald, I mean, it was her 'baby'. Mother knows best.

So to any writers who have worked under me, thank you. I appreciate all your hard work, and for putting up with me. Things have been great with you all. You all have such great talent, and work great together. I hope you all continue to succeed, and even take part in being a part of the Herald.

So, enjoy the last edition with me as editor. I know I'll miss my spot, and my orange-ness. See you all on the other side.

[The Herald]

This is my last month for being able to pick and choose a lucky individual to have their name at the bottom of the forum. Though, really, it's more than just that: It's that you're finally being recognized for the hard work you put into being a member of the community, and helping out in anyway possible.

This month was a hard month to choose, but it's come down to one person. They've helped me so much this month, in ways some may not realize, and they've done some behind the scenes work that'll pay off when it's time to be released.

This month I'd like to award Whitney with member of the month. She's done a lot of work since she's been back, and it's time that she's recognized for it. Congrats, chica, and thank you.

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear people
Happy birthday to you!
(And many more)

Eagle	17th
Dude™	27th

If you didn't let us know, then shame on you.

Remember to tell us your birthdays in the monthly thread posted in The Herald board!

Grey Button Set 1 by Neko is a very well designed set of buttons. With smooth gradiented backgrounds and softly drop-shadowed text, this button set would add a touch of class to any forum hoping to look simplistic, but elegant.

With a touch of transparency, the buttons have just enough shape to make them interesting, because, let's face it, the rectangle is getting boring.

I think they would be even more popular if different colour sets were provided too, but let's not be greedy, these buttons are awesome enough!

Right folks, another Lit of the Month.

My last.

As I'm sure everyone has noticed, I am no longer the Literature Mod. I'm, in fact, no longer a mod. And so I am going to give this article to [orange]pandora[/orange], my more than capable replacement. I have faith she will do a fabulous job, and have no reservations in handing the job over to her.

So I guess it's only fitting that [orange]pandora[/orange] herself won this month's LotM.

Call me egotistical, but I take a huge amount of pleasure in knowing I had some hand in the inspiration of this fabulous short story. A story that would make Ray Bradbury himself drool in awe. A fabulous story of censorship, oppression, and individuality.

I'm sure you've figured it out by now. Wrong Side of the Moon is this month's winner. Congrats, [orange]pandora[/orange], on both counts, and good luck. ^-^

Artemis, assorted voices, exeunt.

Although I may not participate in the photography board as often as I'd like, it's still fun to observe the work that is posted. While browsing through submitted works, I began to feel as though I wasn't going to come across anything out of the ordinary. The photos I had been looking through seemed like plain, run-of-the-mill snapshots.

However, I then stumbled upon Kai's works from Korea. Although they were taken six months ago, they were only recently posted, so I dub them worthy of qualification. More specifically, his shot entitled The Three Titans is what really caught my eyes.

This photograph came to me as wonderfully surreal. The sepia-toned background brings out the surrealistic foreground, while "the three titans" command your attention from the water. Although things seem rather serene and village-like, you also get a feel of what looks to be a small city in the distance. (However, I do have to mention that the deviantART watermark is terribly unattractive.)

Congratulations to Kai for receiving June's photograph of the month. To Kai and all of the other photographers: Keep up the awesome work!

AotM: Jon Utah



I found this avatar very interesting. It was probably the animation that made it stand out from the rest. The chocobo was very detailed. You could clearly see the texture of its feathers and the different colors. The idea of a transparent background makes it much more appealing. Excellent job!

One suggestion is to maybe add animation to the eyes and maybe give the chocobo a hat. Overall, I am very impressed!

SotM: Zilla



Even though there were only three, it was still a hard decision. I just love the manipulative style Zilla went for. The cityscape of Amsterdam was designed very well. I liked the glossy effect that goes through the middle. My favorite thing for the signature, however, is the book and hand. I love how all of the edges are sharpened and it fits very well. The flower design around it adds a superb touch.

The text is very clear, but should be moved up a bit to the left. Only suggestion is maybe go with a different font. A moderate form of script would blend well. Uber job man.

"Sean, your such a nutter. I can't tell if that's a towel or a pair of short's, but thank god it's there."
- MMN: ~epic-:-century~

"Okay, how about we do a three way, and Pandora, you can use your scanner.



Sound good?"

"Well, ok then. Don't tell my boyfriend. "
- Obsidian & pandora

"hahahah tags: sexy boy
hahahahahaha ah dear luke, you pure geek "
- alix!

"Awww, you are so cute I could squeeze you 'til your eyes popped out! I mean that in the nicest way possible. I've got a niece I can fix you up with. "
- pandora

"Haha sounds like a bit of a kinky baron"

"Even the thought of doing something 'kinky' involving a toothpick and vinegar stings.

I do know someone who inserted a toothpick into their urethra though."
- Danny & The Baron

"Click."

"You would look killer in an evening gown with sequins."
- Criminal Mastermind & pandora

"Haha, I have many husbands and wives. They're all quite lovely. <3"
- urban.cinderella

"...is it's everyone's time of month or something?"
- Young Everest

"Hell, even I feel left out on a lot of stuff that happens on here "

"If you'd stop fondling your camera every chance your hands are free, perhaps you'd have a little time to come around and follow things ."
- Jonny & James

"Oliver - Duct Tape is like the force, it has a light side, a dark side, and holds the universe together.... Oliver, when did you become duct tape? "
- Dude™

"Let's pretend that SSD has a nice little yearbook full of nice little pictures (...all the pictures of me in our yearbook were of running track, boo). And let's say that you want to write someone a nice little yearbook message. Pick someone (or multiple someones, if you wish) to write to, and tell us what it is.

1-2-3 go.
Now.

"

"Die in a fire. =)"

- Whitney & James

"Haha, stop fishing for compliments. You seem to have the same face in all your photos."

"I hate to say this. But shouldn't she have the same face in all her photos?

It is her face afterall."
- Pojo & Young Everest

"The further one goes, the less one knows."
- Lao-tzu

"I have found out that there ain't no sure way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."
- Mark Twain

"To travel hopefully is better than to arrive."
- Robert Louis Stevenson

"There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne."
- Karen Blixen

"To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world."
- Dame Freya Stark

"Too often... would men boast only of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen."
- Louis L'Amour

"When I was very young and the urge to be someplace was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch... in middle age, I was assured that greater age would calm my fever, and now that I am 58 perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked... I fear the disease is incurable."
- John Steinbeck

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."
- Yogi Berra

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."
- Unknown

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward."
- Soren Kierkegaard

Usually a horror flick these days feed off the fact of keeping their viewers in suspense. Oh, but not Vacancy. It ranks in at a mere 80 minutes but it's a satisfying 80 minutes.

When David (Luke Wilson) and Amy (Kate Beckinsale) Fox's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere after a strange mechanic had fiddled with their car engine, they find themselves in more than they had accounted for. The unhappy, soon-to-be-divorced couple check into the one and only motel room for the night. After their encounter with the rather strange hotel owner, they attempt to settle down for the night. But a decision to put in an unlabeled VHS tape when the television won't tune into a station, David stumbles upon something he never expected.

Low budget horror films, homemade ones. That were videotaped in the very room they stood in. Searching the room high and low, the couple soon realizes that their every move is being watched, and that at any moment, their lives would be something they'd have to fight for.

Bringing them through a maze of terror, and unexpected situations, you'll be on your toes watching this. Surprisingly, the couple binds together to help one another. I'd suggest bringing someone to cling to while watching this film. Vacancy doesn't linger on cliff hangers, and such. They get straight to the point, but it paid off pretty well. I'd recommend Vacancy to anyone that is a lover of horror movies.

4 out of 5

[The Herald]

Welcome to the June Edition! It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was typing out the latest news for January. I shall aim to provide you with a general overview of the most recent events here in our community.

Staff Changes

Artemis – Our Literature Mod has decided to step down from his position, for his own reasons. Of course, we give our thanks to him for his contribution in that area. The board certainly is in a better position than when Artemis started his task. You will still see him in the Herald and around the forum (because he loves us like that).

Pandora – Staying with the Literature board, as a result of Artemis’ departure, we have a lovely familiar face who is responsible for leading that area. Welcome Pandora!

Kay – Unfortunately, Kay will be leaving us soon, too. This means the Herald shall be edited and lead by my co-admin, UrbanCinderella- another familiar face, I’m sure. I’d like to say thanks to Kay for keeping the Herald running. I have never carried out the job of an editor, and I can only start to imagine the amount of work that is required to put each edition together. Thank you very much!

Under Construction

Some of you may have seen in various posts that we are currently in the process of revamping the current website located at www.solidsnakedesigns.com. The details of this so far have been kept rather sketchy. I shall announce everything in a separate thread later in the month, but for the keen Herald readers I can unveil the details.

Our current website was constructed over two years ago, but it is safe to say that the web has moved on since then in terms of coding, and so has SSD. When was the last time you looked at the history page or read a tutorial on there?

It was decided that the whole site was in need of dramatic changes in order to attract more hits. Thus, a brand new system has been chosen in order to help us improve things.

Main Changes

- Removal of blogs
- A wiki style tutorial area, where you will be able to add and edit existing tutorials
- A new image gallery that will be integrated into the website
- The page will no longer be a fixed width
- RSS Syndication
- Preview images for all resources
- Interactive polls
- Search area, located at the top of all pages

Those are all confirmed and have been configured, but there are a number of extras that we are still deciding on.

The website is currently open for staff beta testing. We shall use their valuable feedback before presenting it to you all.

The website shall be released in the current v5 design.

[The Herald]

June was named after Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods. It was the fourth month in the Roman calendar until they changed January to the first month and rearranged the calendar; it was made the sixth month and there it has stayed. Before it became the sixth month, June was referred to as Iunius.

The Romans could not make their mind up as to how many days June should have. It started out with 30, went to 29 under Numa's rule, but then returned to 30 under Julius.

As the spring comes to an end and summer begins, more flowers are blooming than at any other time of year in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, it is the change between autumn/fall and winter, bringing cold and rainy times.

The flower for June is the rose and the birthstones are pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone.

[The Herald]

Hey dude! Congrats on your selection for this months Meet the Newbie article. How does it feel? (Better not say anything bad *Holds baseball bat* lol)

It feel great to be recognized for being active on a great forum. It honestly means a lot. However, I am active here because it's a very welcoming forum. I love it here.

That is what we like to hear! First off, the basics.

Name: Alex Maricani
Age: Almost 16
Forum/Website: None at the moment
Location: Hamilton, ON, Canada
Height: 5' 8"

Canada? Too cold for me. Anyways, what brought you to SSD?

Here I was browsing Google for a graphics forum/community and SSD pops out. I click on it and find a very active forum. I checked the boards and found it to be perfect for my spare time.

It's cool how Google works like that. What do you plan to bring to our community?

My activity. I am pretty active when I don't have other things going on like sports or assignments. I am also good with PS so I can be an active member around the battle board and SOTW board.

I have seen you hanging out in the Battle Board. Doing pretty good. I saw you take Project on a few times. He’s good. How would you rate yourself as a graphics designer?

Graphics battles are actually the reason I was searching for a good forum. SSD provides that very well. As I said earlier, I am good with PS. I have taken a break from it but I am just starting to come back. And yes, Project is a great designer. I'm looking forward to battling him again... once I get the feel for PS back.

Well, no matter if you win or lose, you are still a great designer. What do you find interesting about the Battle Board?

I just like making images. Digital art has always been my hobby but I drifted away from it for a while. I am just starting to come back. It's just a great hobby and what better way to get better other than battling others.

That's a hobby of many of our members here. That's why SSD is an excellent place to get advice. What do you do in your spare time?

I love sports. Basketball, volleyball, soccer, track, badminton, tennis, etc. You name it, I play it. I also like video games. I have a PS3 and I like it a lot. Reading is cool and movies. I am just a general type of guy.
Nice. Would you say the glass is half empty or half full?

You could say both, actually.

If you could bring anyone three people in the world, dead or alive, to dinner, who would they be and why?

Einstein: to tell him to tell the world that I did all his work for him.
Michael Jordan: my sport idol.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: Just respect.

What area’s in the field of graphics do you think you are a little rough on? How are you working to improve on those?

I am a little rough on bigger pieces because of my time away from PS. However, I am getting back to where I was. I guess practice makes almost perfect.

As I said, if you need any help, ask any one of our excellent graphics designers. I thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and I look forwards to seeing you out on the boards!

[The Herald]

Note: All of the article excerpts found in this page were written by Sirius Wolfsbane, based on the information provided in the article.

The queen is here!


Photo courtesty www.cnn.com/

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, arrived in Virginia today (May 3) to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the Jamestown colony. Many restaurants and businesses across Richmond have invited the queen to come visit their establishment. One worth mentioning, the River City Diner, has a large sign bearing the words "QUEEN EATS FOR FREE."

Click here to read the full article.

Small Kansas town destroyed


Photo courtesty www.cnn.com/

Greensburg City Administrator Steve Hewitt surveyed his town of 1,600 people after a mile-wide tornado swept through. With a death toll of 9 people and 95% of the town destroyed, Hewitt says he and the town are going to band together and rebuild themselves.

Click here to read the full article.

Gas giant sets a new record


Photo courtesty www.cnn.com/

HD 149026b, a typical gas giant orbiting a star in the constellation Hercules, sets a new record. Scientists are calling this the hottest known gas giant. The planet, sitting at a lovely 3,700 degrees Fahrenheit, is said to absorb almost all of the light that reaches its surface. The atmosphere is thicker than that of Jupiter, which scientists say is the cause for the high temperature.

Click here to read the full article.

[The Herald]

Bryanic’s Opening Statement: Wrong

There is not a single man or woman, I would think, in Britain or America that does not have an opinion on pederasts. Many will cite 'distinctions' between 'pedophiles' and 'pederasts,' and many others will argue that they are unfortunates who need help.

I am here today to tell you that they are wrong.

When a mad dog is in your living room, you don't pet it or try and restrain it- you kill it. And once you have killed it you burn the carpet and bleach the floor.

And I propose nothing less efficient and effective for those pedophiles who break the laws set in place for societies protection.

Pandora’s Opening Statement: Wretched Life Is Still A Life

Pedophilia is an illness, and illnesses deserve treatment. While I don’t think known pedophiles should be unleashed and put back into normal society, I do believe they can be taught to comply with the law under strict supervision. They can hold jobs and perhaps labor for our government and in return receive room and board.

Pederasts are a different matter. Ancient Greece is known for pederast relationships, both sexual and non, but entirely consensual. Over the course of time, pederasts have been lumped in with pedophiles. Since the law has decided upon an age of consent, many pederast couplings are now illegal. The argument is that even with consent, minors cannot possibly know what they are agreeing to due to their young age.

Pedophiles are largely heterosexual and predatory by nature, forcing their will on mostly preadolescent children. It is an illness and must be treated as such. Strict supervision is necessary, but the death penalty keeps doctors from studying the various levels of the illness and the effectiveness of treatments.

Bryanic’s Rebuttal: The System Is Wrong

Wrong!

Cancer is an illness, AIDS is an illness, Pedophilia is a crime- and crimes deserve punishment.

As we progress, times change. As times change, we have to realize that the attitudes of our ancestors are simply not applicable to modern society. The government has placed a limit on the age they think it is appropriate for people to have intimate sexual relations with each other. It is no coincidence that this age is also the age at which they can fight for their country and get married.

The separation between 'Pederast' and 'Pedophile' in this day and age is besides the point... both are crimes and both should receive the same sentence if they press their attentions on those who are under age. What sort of society would we be if our distinction between whether or not someone receives a significant sentence rests on if they ask permission to suck on an 11-year-old’s spine before they do it?

Buggery.

Do you approve? (Unless between consenting adults.)

Pandora’s Rebuttal: Hope for the Hopeless

I was simply making a distinction between the two, not condoning breaking the law. By the way, Pedophilia is both an illness and a crime.

That being said, I don’t know about your land of the plaid, but in our country each individual has rights: the right to a fair trial, and the right to pay for mistakes and move forward with their lives.

I’m suggesting a close monitoring of known pedophiles. As far as we know, no “cure” exists for their predatory ways, so let’s take the temptation out of the equation. Let’s keep them in guarded colonies, perhaps. If we keep them in our current prison system, chances are they will be the victim of the unwritten laws of prisoners. Pedophiles are singled out by inmates for harsh beatings, and I have a feeling the guards tend to look the other way in these situations.

I admit, a smile crosses my face when I think of a pedophile getting his teeth smashed in, but again I bring up this point: If the pedophiles are kept alive and isolated, psychiatrists and doctors have a better chance of understanding how such a sickness arises. Who knows what scientific advances lay in the future, offering hope to the hopeless? We’ll never know if we march them immediately to the guillotine.

Bryanic’s Closing Statement: Mad Dogs Make Bad Company

Okay, okay... let me get this one straight, hippy. You want to spend taxpayer’s money on maintaining a separate prison entirely for a subsection of the criminal population who can't be cured?

Prisons are, at heart, intended as rehabilitation centers, as are our mental institutions and our young offenders units. They are useless when applied to incurable subjects- as any security guard will tell you about 'lifers.'

As you yourself admit, pedophilia cannot be cured, by that we are to assume we would be holding them indefinitely? We can't let them out because then they would only re-offend- as it stands 70% of convicted pedophiles are arrested on the same charge.

Their very presence disturbs communities- reformed or not- they have no place in modern society, and if left to mingle with said communities, they will only bite again.

I have no delusions about the state, and, moreover, purpose of our jail system. It cannot afford separate jails for separate offenses and was never intended to hold anyone aside from what is, hopefully, the minority of murderers, for life.

No smile crosses my face when I think of pedophiles being harmed or beaten in general population. Prison is not about revenge, as you Yankees might have it- it is about protecting society.

When a mad dog is in your house you kill it... you don't torture it... you kill it for its own good as much as yours.

Pandora’s Closing Statement: Be Grateful It Isn't You

Since you insist on being selectively ignorant of certain points in my argument, let me restate this: Isolate them, use them for labor, study them in case a cure or effective treatment is possible and we as a race are able to gain a deeper understanding of the illness.

You are forgetting, my dear close-minded buffoon, that some states, countries, provinces, etc. do not abide by the death penalty. Some people actually hold a human life in high regard, no matter how foul the mistakes that human made.

And just to satisfy your sadistic side, you could rest easy since a pedophile kept alive and separated from that which he desires is a miserable, tortured soul. Just be glad you aren’t one.

[The Herald]

Lots of people like to become active outdoors when the weather allows it. June in America is Great Outdoors month. To be informative, and in no way trying to scare anyone out of hiking and camping, I’m going to link you to a few sites that will educate you about the common creepies and crawlies of the forest.

^{This picture shows the many common varieties of poisonous mushrooms.
Aminita, fly agaric, brain mushroom, false morels, death cap, paraso; mushroom, destroying angel, Bolete, Satan's Bolete, Tricholomas, deadly corts, Cortinarious, Entolomas, Gyropilus, laughing mushrooms, poison pie, Russula, Omphalotus, Jack-o'-lantern, Paxillus, Lacterius, milk cap, liberty cap, psilocybe, crown cup, Clitocybe, Inocybes, inky cap, Coprinus, ergot, Claviceps, earthballs, sulfer tuft, philiotina, Hypholoma are included in this picture.}

I’ll ease into it by starting with mushrooms. They aren’t very scary… just kind of quiet and innocent looking. The thing about mushrooms is this: Sometimes the non-poisonous and poisonous varieties look almost exactly the same! Best bet? Just don’t touch ‘em. If you are interested in becoming a collector, do your research, thoroughly, and you’ll be the most prepared you can be, like a boy scout.

There is no surefire way to know for certain if a mushroom is dangerous or not just by looking at it, so I’m going to stick with my initial advice. Just don’t touch them, even if it tries to tell you it’s a “fun-guy.” And if it’s talking to you, it’s probably one of the psychotropic ‘shrooms we’ve all heard so much about. I don’t advise experimenting with those either.

This picture will help illustrate just how similar some of the poisonous and nonpoisonous species can be.

^{Biologist Rodney Olsen shows the difference between poisonous and nonpoisonous mushrooms on a field trip into a preserve. (Craig Kohlruss / The Fresno Bee)}

Are you ready for something creepier and crawlier now? Spiders: They are extremely common and seem to have an infinite number of species within the genre called arachnids. In the great outdoors, we as humans are on their turf. Our best safeguard is information. Here I will provide a link to a chart of common spiders and the levels of danger they may or may not pose.

Spider Identification Chart

As recent as one week ago, I had a black widow on my front porch, doing her thing like she owned the joint. Then she met the business end of my boyfriend’s shoe. I approve of the killing, because males were sniffing about her, and black widows are dangerous and occasionally a threat to human life. They jump extraordinarily high and are venomous, attacking when provoked. I wasn’t exactly relishing the idea of hundreds of little widows swarming my front porch.

And then there is this harmless variety of crab spider, the Bob Vila of the arachnid community, building impressive homes and repairing them flawlessly when necessary. I also have one of these nearby, on the side of the house. I leave that one alone, though. Its brutal red spikes and Jason Voorhees-esque hockey mask look are really just a deterrent to birds, not a warning to humans.

I'm including a good link for outdoors survival. The link below is titled dangerous animals, but the site also informs the reader about poisonous plants, insects, etc.

Dangerous Animals

Snakes are feared by many, including Indiana Jones. Like the mushroom, types of snakes need to be studied closely in order to determine if they are venomous or harmless, but, unlike mushrooms, snakes won’t just sit still while you study its markings intensely. Again I give you this advice: Just leave them alone, and research sites like Wilderness Survival before exploring new territory outdoors.

Knowledge is the key to survival. Luck has something to do with it, but your chances are so much better when you are armed with information. Chances are you will have an awesome, incident free hike or camping trip if you have one planned this summer, but you never know when information like the above will come in handy.

[The Herald]

Things in my life don’t always turn out the way that I want them to. But, then again, I’m always listening to people tell me “life isn’t fair.” I know that all too well firsthand. I struggle daily, and not many people know what all lies in my past. Opening my eyes is one of those lesser struggles.

Rolling over onto my back, I stared at the ceiling. There were sharp points from someone taking a sponge to the paint when it was still wet. I’d never liked my ceiling, and had always imagined myself taking some spray paint and designing my own little mural. But only being a renter of the current house I live in is what stops me from being able to follow through with that fantasy.

I heard a thump on the door, and my eyes instantly were diverted from the ceiling. A whining sound erupted as the door clicked open in protest. It swung open and I saw my mom standing there. It was early in the morning, and I wasn’t ready for the day to start. "Come on. Time to get up, you have work today, and don’t go ignoring me. I didn’t raise my daughter to be that way." She threw a towel on my head and exited my room.

I rolled my eyes before yanking the towel off my head. The towel was freshly washed for my daily shower. I couldn’t live without one. Being dirty and grimy all day is absolutely disgusting in my eyes. So this is the time where I struggle out of bed and into the bathroom.

I didn’t feel like going straight into the shower. It would mean getting up and facing my mother. I loved her dearly, but there just wasn’t the typical mother-daughter relationship. I’d raised myself up since I was 5-years-old, so she had no room to talk. I felt myself slip into a horrible mood, which, in the end, wouldn’t help me with getting through my day at all. However, I knew that I’d survive and somehow I’d see at least one of my friends that day; they’d make it all better.

Grumbling as I went, I raised myself up and swung my legs over the side of my bed. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I peered out the window at the back of the church that resided behind my house. It wasn't very pleasant living there, but it made due. It was a roof over my head. I gathered up the clothes to wear for the day- it was all lightweight. The summer heat was enough to keep me warm. I wasn’t trying to win the contest for the fastest human to be toasted.

The shower seemed so far away, but I dragged myself there anyways. I shed my clothes and hopped into the steaming water. Washing away all the sweat that had built up during the night time temperatures of nearing a hundred degrees, I felt more relaxed and my mood was starting to simmer down. After cleansing myself and rinsing off, I stepped out and into the towel that my mother had so kindly given to me. I quickly dressed myself and tossed my waist length hair into a ponytail. Usually I’d dry and straighten it, but I didn’t have the desire to go through all the trouble today.

I worked as a courtesy clerk for the local grocery store by my house. Safeway wasn’t exactly my dream job, but it provided me with just enough money that I needed until I got out of high school. I didn't need to be all beautified for the day, but I tried to look at least half-decent. Sighing, I strutted out of the bathroom and into the kitchen.

I didn't want to stick around long enough to listen to my mom bitch about me hardly being home anymore. Friends, a job, and my boyfriend took up all my time. I'd work, hang out with the chicas, and then I’d make my way over to Chris's house. That's where I enjoyed most of my day. He was the one person in my life that cared and had never let me down. He was my numero uno.

Dressed in my uniform for work, I needed my name tag to pull the whole thing together. With my hands on my hips, I stomped through my house searching for it. I finally saw the name tag reading “Gabreiella” on top of the microwave and I pinned it onto my shirt. Sighing, I glanced at the clock, placed my hand on the door knob and opened the door. "I'll be home sometime later. I'm not sure. Chris doesn't work today." I mumbled to my mom before I exited, slamming the door behind me.

Leaving things in a rut isn't my favorite thing to do. It's absolutely irritating to think that I'll have to come home to an old geezer that has a temper of a bull that's seeing red. I shrugged it off and hopped into the car that I drive. It's a 1996 Toyota Camry painted a navy blue with white decals that Chris had purchased and given to me as a birthday gift. The guy spoiled me every chance he could get, mainly because his work schedule could be hell getting around to spend time with me.

Starting the car, a cloud of dust circulated my face as the air conditioner turned on. Going into a coughing fit, I switched off the air conditioner and rolled down the windows. It was already 70 degreesm, and it was only 8:17AM. Today was going to be a scorcher, and I definitely wasn’t looking forward to it.

The day went by in a whirlwind. I got off from work by 2:30PM and headed over to my friend Nicole’s house, popping the cap off a bottle of Corona when I got there. I'm 17-years-old and like to drink. Typical? I think so, at least for the teenagers in my city.

It’d help make me loosen up and forget my problems. Nicole came down with a pipe in her hand and, in it, was a fresh bowl. Shoving the pipe into my hands, she tossed a lighter at me and told me to take green. I didn’t care. Everyone I knew smoked pot, so it was no big deal, but it was something else that I completely enjoyed. Bringing it to my mouth, I covered the hole with my finger, and used the lighter with my other hand. Inhaling deeply, I held it in for a few seconds. Slowly, I blew out the smoke. Licking my lips, I relaxed and smiled.

It was a Friday afternoon- no work for the next two days, no school for the next three months, and a whole lot of Chris, partying, drugs, alcohol, and fun. It was going to be a blast. I had no doubt. Nicole took a seat on the stool sitting in front of me and extracted the pipe and lighter from my hand. The pipe made it's way around the room. Hours passed, or so it seemed.

Things couldn't get any worse than they have in the past. That's what I was thinking to myself, but I swear I should have learned my lesson from past mistakes of saying those same words. I shook off the feeling though. It was almost as if it was a nasty spider crawling across my delicate skin. Eww. I despise bugs.

Shrugging my complications and problems off was a daily activity. Part of my routine. My eyes flickered over to Nicole, and I remembered our plans for tonight. "Girl, we're still going to that party tonight, right?" Nicole nodded her head as she chugged down a can of Pepsi, crushed the can, and threw it into the garbage can beside her. "All right. Chris is supposed to meet us there. Remind me to hit him up when we leave." Extracting my cell phone from my pocket, I glanced at the clock, reading 8:56PM. Whoa! Where'd the time gone? The party was said to start at 10PM, and I needed to swing by my house and change.

"Chica, I'm headed over to my house to change. Want to go with, or stay here and chill until I get back?" I questioned my friend. "I'll ride with you, make it easier." Nicole stood up, smoothed out her outfit and trudged after me. We got into my car, and motored off the two blocks to Gabi's house. Oh how lazy we could be.

Fast-forwarding to the party, Nicole and I walked into the house with our heads bobbing to the music as my eyes searched the room for Chris. My eyes were just running over each and every tall guy that had redish-blonde hair. Badd by Ying Yang Twins and Mike Jones was blaring through the speakers. I found my hips moving side to side slowly to the beat as I found my way through the room. Finally spotting Chris in the corner with some of his buddies, I grinned and walked up to him, leaning against him, standing up on tip toes and kissing him hello.

"Hey, babe. I see you finally made it." He smiled down at me with glazed over eyes. The boy already had a blunt and 6 beers down him. I licked my lips as I tasted beer and pot. Tracing a finger along his jawline, I nodded and smiled. Chris and I never made small talk, as we both found it pointless. Grabbing his hand and leading him onto the dance floor, I unleashed my killer dance moves. Or... what some might consider slutty, but it was my boyfriend of 8 months, now. So what? Grinding up against him and following his moves with my body, we meshed with the music. As a slow song came on, I turned to face him and reached up with my arms slightly around his neck. His height kind of made it hard for me to do this, but he always bent his neck to help me out a bit. We swayed together until the final second of the slow song, and then found our way back to the tables and chairs.

Chris sat down, and I sat on his knee with my head laying on his shoulder. I reached up and whispered in his ear the three words that would always put a smile on his face. He kissed me on the forehead in turn.

After slamming down six shots of vodka, two of red rum, and three beers, I was having a hard time forming my words. Someone from the party made me down three glasses of water to attempt to sober me up a bit. I was Chris's and Nicole's ride home, and they were in worse shape than I was. After being able to walk in a straight line, I loaded Chris into the passenger seat and Nicole into the back. I managed to get Nicole buckled, but failed with Chris. Hopping into the driver's seat, the engine roared to life as my system started pounding through the speakers in the back. I glanced back at Nicole, but she didn't even move at the sudden vibration. Shrugging, I pulled away from the house and onto Sprague Avenue, headed towards my house. Nicole had a bed there, and Chris would just sleep next to me.

Yielding for a red light and slowly stopping, I bent over to retrieve a CD off the floor of the car. That's when terror struck me. My foot slipped off the break and landed with a 'THUD!' on the gas, sending the car careening through the intersection. Sitting up quickly with panic striking my soft features, I looked up to a semi-truck hitting my side of the car. A sheet of black fell over my eyelids as I heard screams of pain coming from all around me.

Awaking to the sound of beeping, I glanced up at a pair of blue eyes. Definitely not Chris- he had soft brown eyes. Coming into focus was the image of my petite mom standing over me with tears streaming down her face. Slowly raising myself up as my mother protested for me to stay laying down, I shook my head. I instantly regretted it. Pain shot through my skull as if someone had shot me in the head. "Mom, where's Chris? Nicole? Where are they? Are they okay?" Panic was more than crystal clear in my voice. Shushing me with a finger to my lips, "Calm yourself. You need to rest. Nicole came out of it with just a couple of scratches and bruises. Chris, however... is in a coma." My eyes flooded with tears and I bawled in my mom's arms, the same mother I'd been fighting with just that morning. Oh how I regretted everything in my life I'd ever done! Other than the friends and Chris, I regretted my actions and the bad choices she'd made.

After being examined by the doctor that was on duty at the hospital, I was allowed to go in and sit with Chris. After sitting in silence for quite some time, I finally stood up carefully, laid down next to him and placed my mouth by his ear. Bandages were covering his head, just as they were mine. Whispering to him, I started rambling to him, "I love you, so much. And baby, I'm sorry for not doing the smart thing and calling someone sober. This is all my fault. I'd rather be in your place, this should be me lying here. I want you to come back to me! Let me have one more chance. One chance to straighten my shit out. Please." Tears were falling off my face and onto his neck. Kissing his lips softly, I exited the room in tears, barely being able to stand up.

Five hours later, Chris passed away. Blood had flooded his brain, and done him no good. My nurse was the one who had the joy of telling me. Walking into my room cautiously, she played with something in her hands. "Miss? I'm afraid I'm here with bad news. Chris..." My breath caught in my throat. "...passed on about ten minutes ago. This was found amongst his belongings. I'm assuming it was meant for you." Handing me a small velvet box, she turned and hurriedly exited the room to grant me some privacy. Tears were just flooding my eyes, and I was hiccuping uncontrollably. Standing up to get myself some tissue, I blew my nose, and then took the box off from the bed. Standing beside it, I slowly opened the box. Inside was a one karat, silver banded, diamond engagement ring. The inside was inscribed with, "GKC + CSH Forever & Always". All feeling was lost in my knees; they buckled and I went down to the floor in a hysteria of tears. A beeping went off as I started to hyperventilate. I felt a pin prick in my arm, and again a sheet of black fell over my eyelids.

This time when I awoke, I felt something cool on my left hand. Raising it up to eye level, I noticed the ring was on my ring finger. Tears once again poured down my face. My mother came to my side and brushed my hair out of my face. "Honey, please, don't blame yourself for this. It wasn't your fault." My attention snapped to my mother, and I let loose on her. "What the fuck is your problem?! Of course it was my fault! I DROVE DRUNK! He'd still be alive if it wasn't for my stupidity. I'd still have him by my side! This is completely my fault, so don't try disclaiming it." Glaring at the only parent I'd ever known, I turned my back on her. Things stayed tense between the mother and I up until the next day when I was released.

Upon arriving home, my mom went to bed to catch up on missed sleep. Locking myself in my room, I eyed my bathroom door. It was covered from top to bottom with pictures of Chris and myself. Camping, bowling, Silverwood Theme Park, swimming, sledding, the fair, everything we'd done. I had all the memories on film. Grief overtook my body, and I shook violently as I cried tears of pain and anger for myself. The life of my love was gone at the harms of my own hands. What had I been thinking that night? Clearly not the smart way.

Entering my small bathroom that had just a sink and toilet, I locked that door too, and reached into my medicine cabinet. The anger and pain was too much for me. I couldn't live with myself. Not only would I live with the emotional guilt and pain from the loss of Chris, I'd be blamed by his family and the state- charged with Vehicular Manslaughter.

The razor blade felt cool in my hand. Leaning up against the wall and sliding to the ground, I rolled up my sleeve. Sliding the cool metal into my palm, I gripped it, pressing the blade slowly into my warm flesh. Blood trickled down my forearm as physical pain coursed throughout it. Making a number of cuts on my arm, I wasn't even trying to put pressure on it. Throwing my head back in pain, and shedding a few more tears, I thought to myself, hell ain't a bad place to be.

Once again, I slipped into the blackness.

[The Herald]

I had an epiphany while watching a movie the other day. “Elizabethtown” yanked quite a few tears from the pit of my soul because it taught me a lot about the flaws that, in contrast to my virtues, anchor me to the real world and to the people who populate the same real world. It is this contrast that makes me human. It is our flaws that teach us how to be better. I’m beginning to come to terms with my own faults when it comes to my family. If you’ve seen the movie, you may already understand where I’m coming from. If you haven’t, I suppose a quick outline of its key points is in order.

Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) pours eight years of his life into designing an innovative sneaker for a prominent shoe company. It launches. It fails. The company loses nearly one billion dollars over his design, and Drew decides to “shed his mortal coil” over the fiasco. He is, however, interrupted by a phone call. His father has died. He must represent his mother, his sister and himself to the rest of his family. He travels by plane from Oregon to Kentucky to meet a huge family he barely knows. Along the way, and this is important, he meets a Flight Attendant named Claire (Kirsten Dunst) who is almost obnoxiously cheery, and yet Drew accepts her help with directions and her phone number.

Depressed and overwhelmed after meeting his family, he dials her number on a whim. They talk ALL NIGHT, and a strong bond is born. She eventually helps him come to terms with his billion dollar failure, the death of the father he barely got to know and his large and eclectic family. She changes his life, and his father’s death changes his view on the value of family.

I don’t really do the film’s quirkiness and its profound messages justice, I know, but the road trip he takes, solo, is the real genius of the film. He dwelled only briefly on his own failure and realized at last that great failures do not start as an attempt at mediocrity, but great failure is a risk that dreamers and inventors take on the road to true greatness. Dreamers and inventors also lose touch with the real world sometimes. They forget their roots and get lost in their own pursuit of… whatever goal consumes them.

I MUST be a dreamer, because I’ve surely lost touch with some very important individuals: folks who made me and influenced me and inspired me in the first place. On my journey to understand the mysteries of every corner of our existence, which I then attempt to put into words, months and even years have passed… life going on without me all the while. I’ve disconnected myself, much to my regret. I have a feeling it will be a long road to repairing those broken bridges.

Well, I better get started.

[The Herald]

• Butterflies taste with their feet.
  
• A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
  
• In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined.
  
• On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.
  
• On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.
  
• 90% of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.
  
• 35% of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.
  
• Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.
  
• Only one in two billion people will live to be 116 or older.
  
• It's possible to lead a cow upstairs... but not downstairs.
  
• Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
  
• It's physically impossible for you to lick your elbow.
  
• The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building when it was built.
  
• A snail can sleep for three years.
  
• No word in the English language rhymes with "month."
  
• Average life span of a major league baseball player: 7 pitches.
  
• Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
  
• The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
  
• All polar bears are left-handed.
  
• In ancient Egypt, priests plucked every hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes.
  
• An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
  
• "Typewriter" is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
  
• "Go" is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
  
• If Barbie were life-sized, her measurements would be 39-23-33. She would stand 7'2" tall.
  
• A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.
  
• The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
  
• On average, Americans eat 18 acres of pizza every day.
  

[The Herald]

As declared by President Bush on May 31^st of 2002, June is Black Music Month in the U.S. Many forms of music have come from the African-American heritage, ranging from gospel to jazz (which I am a definite fan of) to the blues. In this article, I’ll be focusing on specific people who influenced the music that grace – or, in some cases, torture – our ears today.

Gospel

Thomas Andrew Dorsey (1899-1993), known as the "Father of Gospel music," combined Christian praise with the rhythms of jazz and the blues. After formally studying music in Chicago, he became an agent for Paramount Records, putting together the “Wild Cats Jazz Band” in 1924. (Although not mentioned here, he also had many other notable successes in his career.)

He was the first African-American elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and also the first in the Gospel Music Association's Living Hall of Fame. His papers are preserved at Fisk University, along with those of W.C. Handy, George Gershwin, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

Jazz

Three people that are notable for the production of jazz are Louis Armstrong (1901-1971), nicknamed the "Founding Father of Jazz"; Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), a great American jazz-pop diva; and Miles Dewey Davis (1926-1991), being remembered as an accomplished trumpet player.

As Armstrong’s music and popularity progressed, his singing also became important. He had a hit with his playing and scat singing on "Heebie Jeebies" when, according to some legends, the sheet music fell on the floor and he simply started singing nonsense syllables.

Louis Armstrong

Ella Fitzgerald’s vocal range spanned three octaves, being noted for her purity of tone, near faultless phrasing and intonation, and a "horn-like" improvisational ability. Over a recording career that lasted 57 years, she was the winner of thirteen Grammy Awards, and was awarded the National Medal of Art by Ronald Reagan and the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H.W. Bush.

Ella Fitzgerald

Miles Dewey Davis was partially responsible for the formation of model jazz, with jazz fusion arising from his works with other musicians in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Davis was awarded many awards, including quite a few Grammy’s. He also has a Hollywood Walk of Fame star and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Blues

Mamie Smith (1883-1946) earned the title of "Queen of the Blues," being noted as a dancer, singer, and star of both the stage and screen. She earned her history by being the first African-American to make vocal blues recordings in 1920.

Mamie Smith

Robert Leroy Johnson (1911-1938), though living a short life, is known for his guitar playing skills combined with his expressive lyrics, making him the subject of intense literary examination even today. He’s also an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, considered by some to be the "Grandfather of Rock and Roll." His vocal phrasing, original songs, and guitar style influenced the likes of Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The White Stripes, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton, who called Johnson "the most important blues musician who ever lived."

---

Although these are not the only genres influenced by African-American heritage, you can check out others for yourself: Rock and roll, pop, hip-hop, soul, underground, and even rap. Personally, learning about the history of how these genres came around has been fascinating for me.

As a sort-of confession, I had no idea that June was marked as Black Music Month until only a few days ago! It’s amazing to trace the music we have today and have grown up with back to its cultural roots. I definitely encourage you to do the same this month!

(I would like to note that the majority of this information and all images came from Wikipedia. The ideas for which people to use came from browsing, but, again, the majority of the information is from Wikipedia. Look there for more!)

[The Herald]

I chose this novel for two reasons. One, I was in need of reading it anyways due to a writer's workshop I attended on May 10, where I actually got to meet Michael Harmon; the other reason is because the setting of the novel is my very own location: Spokane, Washington, USA. So, in ways, I can connect with this novel. It gives me a sense of feeling that I'm there since I can literally picture the scenery.

Fifteen-year-old Ian McDermott has lived a rough life at his tender age. Dealing with his father walking out on him when he was a mere 5 years old and his mother's drug habits getting increasingly worse, what is he to do? Sammy, his ten-year-old brother, is the person that Ian's world revolves around. Ian is like Sammy's mother and father combined into one little fifteen-year-old teenage boy.

Downhill things go- and quickly. When Ian finds that his principal is trying to get rid of him, and that it seems like all his teachers at Morrison High are against him, it just spirals out of control. A faulty decision to strike one of his teachers lands Ian in a panic. If he gets caught, he's hauled off to juvenile while Sammy is placed in a foster home, never to see Ian again until he's at least eighteen. So Ian does all that he knows of: he packs up some bags and goes on a hunt for their father.

Ian and Sammy stumble upon hidden details and factors of their life they never knew about. Things become clear, and help them see a non-distorted reality lying right in front of them.

This novel is a clear picture of what everyday life is like for children that have parents that just don't give a damn. However, Ian tries to make the best out of things. At fifteen, that's all he can be asked to do. Keeping his baby brother safe and fed was his top priority. Courage, determination, maturity, perseverance, and vigilance is shown throughout the whole novel. For a first young adult's novel, Michael Harmon sure pulled this one off greatly.

Rating: 5/5

[The Herald]

Have you ever had your car stolen? (Those dirty bastards.) Have you ever been around an obnoxious cellphone user, discussing his/her business far too loudly in a far too inconvenient and rude place? Have you ever had to go to the Thanksgiving dinner of a mother-in-law you've never liked, and never will?

Is your favorite hangout on forums the debate board? Do you love swapping intelligent thoughts with the people around you? Have you been described as pompous?

Then this book is for you. "When Falls The Coliseum: A journal of American culture (or lack thereof)" is a compendium of short stories and articles, gathered from the now deceased website, www.WFtheColiseum.com, and organized by the editors, Scott Stein and C. P. Keiser. These stories will make you laugh, make you cry, and most importantly, make you think.

Scott Stein is a teacher at Drexel University, of a class my sister happens to attend, hence my coming to own this book. However, the stories are compiled by a community so remarkably similar to SSD that it boggles my mind, and makes me consider talking Barbie into calling a publisher with me.

This book gets four out of five stars from me. Some of the thoughts I would love to see expanded. Some of the thoughts were terrible, and shouldn't have been included.

And some of the thoughts were just damn funny.

A really good read. I recommend it to anyone.

[The Herald]

I have just recently started listening to this amazing band. I just love their style.

The Lostprophets are a Welsh alternative band. They formed in 1997, shortly thereafter producing ten singles and many demos. Their first album, thefakesoundofprogress, was not exactly an ideal success in the U.K. They later re-recorded and re-released it in the United States, where they gained much more attention. Then, two more albums in 2004 and 2006. Lostprophets have received a surplus of commercial success. They have been losing popularity, but plan on releasing a new album soon.

Lostprophets formed after a band called Public Disturbance broke up. They attained a drummer and a guitarist as a result, and recruited the rest of their band. The Lostprophets started out small, as all bands do. They started to play at many small gigs, and later joined the U.K. toilet circuit. While on the circuit, they started recording demos and experimenting.

Kerrang! magazine saw potential in them, so Lostprophets were offered an even bigger gig in London. The feedback from the gig was phenomenal. Metal Hammer Magazine gave them a 10/10. Because of that, Visible Noise offered an opportunity to record a single.

The band worked very hard to make sure they would be a success. Their first album was released to great success. It caught the attention of many people, and they began to develop a very strong fan base. There was talk about them in America. They were offered a spot at a gig in California. Many record labels attended it and wanted the rights to produce their label. Columbia record label attained the rights to do so. The album was released in 2001 to utter success.

They had many sell outs and were offered support spots on tours with bands such as Linkin Park. As expected, their next album was later released. However, the band lost attraction. Many people didn’t like the new punk style they were switching too. The band listened to all of the feedback and therefore came back with an excellent album in 2006, which is my favorite.

With this album, they reached #1 on the U.K. charts. The album, called Liberation Transmission, conveyed superb talent and had that pop-rock style that many people liked. They went on many tours in Europe in venues in Whales and England. Then, at the Kerrang! Awards of 2006, Lostprophets picked up awards for Best Album and Best British Band, something that really boosted their status.

As for the future, there is definitely going to be an album by the end of this year. They have been in Los Angeles writing and recording new material, with the help of a new band member. It is obviously not the end of Lostprophets. If anything, it is only the beginning.

Download These: Last Train Home, Rooftops, and Can’t Catch Tomorrow
Current Band Members:
• Ian Watkins — Vocals (1997-present)
• Lee Gaze — Lead Guitar (1997-present)
• Mike Lewis — Rhythm Guitar (1999-present, Bass 1997-1999)
• Stuart Richardson — Bass (1999-present)
• Jamie Oliver — Keyboards, Back-up vocals, Turntables (2000-present)
• Ilan Rubin — Drums (2006-Present)

[The Herald]

Linkin Park just came out with a new CD, and, to our surprise, it is nothing like their old style. This is their third studio-released CD, and I enjoyed it. Others have commented on the lack of their old style, thus making it horrible. I have even heard that it is a sellout album.

Each song is a little different from the next, each having a different meaning and sounding unique. As we all noticed, Mike is singing more in this album, and I welcomed his voice. While I miss the rap of the old CDs, I welcome the actual singing of this one. I feel it is more of a punk/rock mix, and I welcome this. I am a huge fan of their old work, and now a huge fan of their new.

Along with their new style, they use profanity in their lyrics. This is a big change for Linkin Park, but I feel it gets their points across. Without it, in the few songs where it is present, the point wouldn't be as strong.

If you are a Linkin Park fan, then this needs to be added to your collection. After you really sit down and listen to the lyrics, you will find that it is indeed very Linkin Park, and a MUST have.

I would have to give Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight an 8.5/10.

[The Herald]

They say it is supposedly the biggest game of 2007. Coming out on October 16 for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, it is loaded with phenomenal game-play and graphics. Just by looking at this game, I think it puts all companies in contention for the real next generation.

GTA 4 (Grand Theft Auto IV) will again be situated in the lovely and safe town of Liberty City. Developers of this game have claimed it is the most technologically advanced map. The layout is based on New York City. Many aspects of the city will be replicated in GTA’s metropolis. For instance, the MetLife building that many of you may have heard of is dubbed Getalife in Liberty City. Dan Houser, the Vice President of the creative department, said they chose New York as the location to base Liberty City on because "it has all of these iconic things that you couldn’t put into a game before." One very interesting detail is the fact that there is not one wasted inch of land. Everything from the towers to the people is very animated and world class.

Speaking of people, you know how in every game with people such as Crackdown, all they are doing is walking straight forwards and are very plain? Well, Rockstar was eager to announce that the majority of the population will be doing a variety of things. Whether they are smoking a blunt, running to catch a cab, or mingling amongst each other, every action is very idiosyncratic.

As I stated in the beginning, the graphics of this game seem phenomenal. By viewing screenshots, I can see the shimmering of glass work, revealing the core architecture, or even a can of soda with intricate detail. The day and nights in Liberty City are very different. The daytime is much more cheerful and rapid. At night, however, is when things get down to business. It has the atmosphere of an alley in a gang-infested territory. The town has awkward silences and has an extremely well developed nightlife.

Another interesting debut in this game is, again, related to the characters and people. The citizens of Liberty City are very diverse. There are many races involved with this game, which adds to the city feel. One funny aspect is there are lunatics in this game. Yep, while you are walking in the city, they will harass you and get in your face.

One component of GTA: LC I am looking forward to is the cars. Ah, nothing better than crashing a carjacked taxi into stop signs and statues. The cars are very realistic- one theme that developers tried to stay hand-in-hand with. Their Artificial Intelligence (AI) is very capable. They are very aware of their surroundings, and will honk or scream when they need to. As for other transportation, according to Dan Houser, “There are no airplanes, as it’s just a city.” He later goes onto say, “We are giving choice and variety that feels right for the character. We’re not suddenly saying there are no motorbikes.” The airplane situation may anger some gamers, but they weren’t the most exciting part of San Andreas, so you’ll get over it. Since Houser wouldn’t comment much on the vehicles used, I think Rockstar has some pretty cool ideas up their sleeves.

The storyline is supposedly phenomenal. Your life is through the eyes of Niko Bellic, an emigrant from Europe. He immigrates to Liberty City after his cousin, Roman, tells him how amazing America is. He says it is an American dream come true, with women and hot tubs included.

However, the ironic part is that America is exactly the opposite for Roman. He is in a lot of trouble and isn’t very popular. He used Niko to unleash his own troubles. Roman is like a teddy bear, while Niko is a hardcore mastermind. Since Roman is in a lot of debt with many malicious criminals, you will need to support him. Houser says that Roman is "... a friendly buffoon... a high energy optimist... constantly bickering."

Niko has black hair and brown eyes. He has a keen sense of style. He is white with a scruffy outlook. He is taller and stronger than most men of Liberty City. During the opening scene, Bellic trespasses into a house that isn’t his and steals a car. He doesn’t even see if the door is unlocked, he just makes a fist, smashes the window, then hops in. This clip really sets the mood for how his life is going to be throughout the duration of the game. One important necessity to Bellic is his cell phone. It is complete with a camera, phonebook, and organizer. This is often his way of staying in touch with Roman.

Something many gamers are looking forward to is freedom. According to Houser, "In all previous GTA games you might have felt like a slave." However, in this game, you choose what you want to do. If you would like to hang out with friends, why not? If you feel like completing a mission, then you can choose to do so. Your whole life is overflowing with interactions of characters around you. This game is taking the video game evolution into a new era. Houser bragged that the AI and physics of this game have never been achieved before. Surely this game will be a revolution. It is the biggest game of 2007, and will probably be the best game of 2007 when it is released.

Platforms: Playstation 3 and Xbox 360
Role: 1-Player Action. There has been limited information on what the multiplayer mode will be like, but I am 99% sure it will be incorporated.
Developer: Rockstar
Release Date: October 16, 2007
More Info: www.rockstar.com

[The Herald]

After a conversation with Kay about a game review, she told me that I could review an MMORPG. I had to explain that an MMORPG is a Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Yes, I am aware that most of us know this, but not all of us.

Well, after considering several MMOs, I decided on Dofus.

Dofus was developed and published by Ankama Studio, which is a French manufacturer. It was released in September 2005, and has since then attracted millions of players. Dofus is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux. It is also a free-to-play, with the option of pay-to-play. When you pay-to-play, you get to go to new areas of the map, and also get a cute little pet.

As for the game itself, Dofus has simple, yet intriguing graphics. After playing this game for a few hours, I began to realize that it reminded me a lot of Final Fantasy with the turn-based battle style. When it comes to the battle system, I have to say it is a little hard to get used to. Each person can move up to 3 spaces on their turn and use a total of 6 attack points. There are some spells that allow you to increase your attack points and the amount of spaces you can move. However, because of set attack points, you can attack over and over in your turn until you are out of attack points.

Seems simple, right?

There are 12 different classes to choose from; each class is dedicated to a different God in the world. The 12 classes range from archers to healers to mages- each being stronger than the other in something and weaker in other areas, but each class is good in their own way. As is normal with games, you can choose your gender (the gender you choose does not effect anything but the appearance of you sprite). And, of course, you can choose your name and the colors of your sprite, but these cannot be changed at a later date, so choose carefully.

You can level all the way up to 200, each level wielding new spells and points to be spent. When you gain level 100, you gain a bonus of 1 AP. For each level over 100, you gain 10 HP. When you reach level 200, you gain a spell to summon a Doppler. Sounds exciting, huh?

You can quest, or just run around the level, if you'd like. You can go solo, or join a group. You can join a guild, or make your own. This game allows you to make it all that you want it to be.

Overall, I enjoyed playing this game, and if you have the patience to sit down and learn a new game, you will too. The people are kind, and they are more than willing to help.

Check out www.dofus.com/ for more information.

[The Herald]

Alright, so I'm going to talk about art movements in the past, and possibly how they affect art now.

Minimalism

Minimalism is an art movement, where the focus is placed on an art piece’s fundamental features, and based on simplicity, rather than complicated forms, as seen in Realism and several other art movements.

It is often interpreted as a reaction to Abstract Expressionism, as well as the discourse, institutions and ideologies that supported it. A minimalism piece usually consists of rectangular and cubic forms, purged of all metaphors, equality of parts, repetition, neutral surfaces, or industrial materials, in order to obtain maximum impact, while still focusing on the art piece’s fundamental features (Wikipedia homepage, 2007).

The origins of Minimalism are in the geometric abstractions of pre-World War II painters in the Bauhaus, Russian Constructivists and the Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi (whose work was a major influence on the Minimalism works of Robert Morris). The Russian Constructivists proclaiming the distillation was in order to create a universal language of art which the masses were meant to understand. It may have also supported the rapid industrialization planned for the massive country. Brâncuşi's work was much more of a search for the purity of the form and thus paved the way for the abstractions that were to come, such as minimalism (Wikipedia homepage, 2007).

When it just started, in the 1960s, Minimalism was heavily criticized; many critics did not see how basic shapes like rectangles, squares, and others, could be considered art. Thus, they found it difficult to accept Minimalism and its artists. While the artists were jeered at by the public, by 1972 the artists were being taken more seriously (Respree homepage, 2007).

As Ad Reinhardt summed up the style of Minimalism in these terms, “The more stuff in it, the busier the work of art, the worse it is. More is less. Less is more. The eye is a menace to clear sight. The laying bare of oneself is obscene. Art begins with the getting rid of nature.” (Wikipedia homepage, 2007) Minimalism seeks not to self-express, but instead to allow the viewer to interpret its meaning.

Indeed, Minimalism has affected modern arts in various ways. In the internet, the trend of web design is rapidly heading towards Minimalism; functional and simple layouts, while not sacrificing on aesthetical effects.

Hence, the effects of Minimalism on today's visual art community can still be observed.

Symbolism

Symbolism was largely a reaction against Naturalism and Realism, both of which attempted to objectively capture reality. Symbolism is a movement in favor of spirituality, the imagination, and dreams. In fact, many of the symbolists began as naturalists, before moving in the direction of Symbolism (Wikipedia homepage, 2007).

Symbolists believed that art should try to capture more absolute truths, which could only be accessed by indirect methods. Thus, they began to use a highly metaphorical and suggestive style of painting to create a visual language for the human soul. They used iconology, though they were not the familiar emblems of the mainstream art. Instead, they used personal, private, obscure and ambiguous references, to provoke the viewer to start thinking about its underlying meanings. Symbolism does not “like plain meanings, declamations, false sentimentality or matter-of-fact description” (Wikipedia homepage, 2007). Instead, the ideal goal of symbolist art is not in the art itself, but in the expressing of ideal itself.

Symbolism holds several similarities with Romanticism, but while Romanticism was “impetuous and rebellious”, Symbolist art was “static and hieratic” (Wikipedia homepage, 2007). Though, Symbolism sets a path to a darker, and more gothic, Romanticism.

Since the end of the nineteenth century, the influence of Symbolism has significantly decreased. However, its influence on arts, even today, is clearly visible.

Surrealism

Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the mid-1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members. The works feature the element of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur. However, many Surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an expression of the philosophical movement first and foremost with the works being an artifact. Leader André Breton was explicit in his assertion that Surrealism was above all a revolutionary movement. From the Dada activities of World War I, Surrealism was formed with the most important center of the movement in Paris, and from the 1920s spreading around the globe (Wikipedia homepage, 2007).

Surrealism focuses on free association, dream analysis and the hidden unconscious, and considers it to be utmost importance to the Surrealists in developing ways to liberate imagination. They embrace idiosyncrasy, while rejecting the idea of an underlying madness or instability of mind (Wikipedia homepage, 2007).

The movement was characterized by meetings in cafes where Surrealists played collaborative drawing games and discussed the theories of Surrealism. Soon, more visual artists joined Surrealism, and Surrealism began to spread on the visual arts community.

Throughout the 1930s, Surrealism maintained its influence to the public, while Surrealists continued to produce works that exposed “psychological truth by stripping ordinary objects of their normal significance, in order to create a compelling image that was beyond ordinary formal organization, in order to evoke empathy from the viewer.” (Wikipedia homepage, 2007)

However, as the world headed into the 1940s, and thus the Second World War, it seemed as if Surrealism as an organized movement had ended. Indeed, some art historians suggest that WWII effectively disbanded the movement (Wikipedia homepage, 2007).

Yet, despite Surrealism fading as an organized movement, its influence remained seen in many fields, in years to come. In the latter half of the 20th century, though, in a period known as the Postmodern era, there was a general consensus that many methods, themes and techniques were nearly identical to that of Surrealism.

Hence, its influence on visual arts community can be clearly seen even today.

[The Herald]

I have been browsing the Critique board lately and have noticed many flat images. This is usually due to the lack of texture. Not having any texture often leads to a plain looking piece of art, provided it's not a minimalistic style. However, even then you can and should still include some type of texture. Just set the opacity of that layer to something low so you can still see it, but so that it isn't the main focus.

I know PSP has countless texture effects. A very common one used on signatures is called scanlines, or blinds. These add a stunning effect to the work and can make it look more neat and professional.

In addition, texture can alter the shape of images. It can make them look 3-D. Basically, texture exerts a more realistic look on the signature. You can add rocks to the peak of a mountain, or add waves to an ocean instead of leaving it a plain blue.

Just try fooling around with the different textures. See which ones you like and can use on one of your art pieces!