The Herald: April 2007 Edition

[The Herald]

It's April. Another 31 days has been here and passed. Meaning I get paid in the morning, woooo for me. *grins, cough, clears throat* Anyhow, to business we go!

This month the cover image is brought to us by none other than Urban.cinderella herself. I love it. Trust me, I don't think I would've come up with that. *frowns* Which is why I'm ecstatic she put up with my minor OCD for having things in order. Ha. Thanks much, deary!

Jonny has left the barracks of the Herald as a writer. More than likely he may return when he can, but his life is just so hectic he had to step down. But no worries! Our current search for writers is almost over and we've already narrowed it down to the ones that will be accepted and not. But remember you still have until about 9AM PST, of April 2nd to get your applications in. Be sure to PM them to the Herald account not mine. Simple directions, my readers.

There's something that's happened with the Herald lately that so far only UC, Ollie, and I have known about. But here's Arty to fill you in.

Yup, Arty here again, in one of my rare Editor Notes. My last, as well. For the last few months, I've felt really out of place as an editor for the Herald. I just... wasn't needed. Kay does a fabulous job of organizing and running the whole thing, and I basically copy-edit it. So, rather than keep up the pretenses, we're changing my job to reflect just that: no longer will I be a Herald Editor.

From now on, if you have anything that requires editorial okay, send it to Kay. And only Kay. I will retain a position as a writer, and will continue to copy-edit as a "Herald Supervisor", but I won't be choosing new writers, or have any more say in the direction of the magazine than any of the other writers. I've had fun editing for you all, but I'm done now. Thank you, and goodnight.

I'm going to miss Arty bunches. He was my partner in crime, but I'm respecting his decision. (;_;) Thank you, a lot hun. For putting up with me, for editing some horrible writing (no names will be named) and for just being a great Editor, whether you believe that or not. You better keep to being a writer, otherwise I'll hunt you down.

Also, look out sometime within the next week for a Herald hosted chat in the new chatroom. A date and time will be announced soon.

That's it from me. I know, boring, eh? Anyways. Go off and flounder in the articles, and comment in the comment thread. Gracias.

[The Herald]

   This may be a bit familiar, but the person for this month is someone that's being recognized...twice. Now, before you bite my head off, Oliver approved it, so neener. This person has been knee deep with the Herald, especially when they first joined the rankings. They're well known around the boards, especially in Chillout, and tied with for out Best Member award. So yet again, congratulate Pandora as our member of the month.




   Wooo. New month, new birthdays. So here's the list for this month. (I wish more people would post in these things, for crying out loud.)

Rinai Jade Kenshin	2nd
Pandora	5th
AI	6th
Anselm	12th

   Well there you have it. Happy birthday you four. I hope your days are wonderful.




Whee, everyone's favorite article. Right? Right?! Right!?

Too bad. I'm changing things up this month. And all future months.

You see, the Lit board was originally designed to allow you to receive critiques on your piece. Here's the thing though: there's no incentive to crit. It's a completely selfless activity. So, we're changing the rules.

Now instead of just Literature of the Month, we're having Critter of the Month included in the article. The Critter of the Month is whoever makes a large impression on the LotM judge (generally me) with their crit activity. Somebody who tries to respond constructively to as many pieces as possible.

We all know that the LotM winner gets their piece stickied for the month. So now the CotM will also get a sticky. A thread, created by the judge, linking to the works of the CotM. As the CotM posts more works, they can PM links to the judge, and get the thread updated, at the convenience of the judge.

So, get off your bums and crit, people!

Now on to the fun part.

Literature of the Month

Wow. This month, I chose a piece of writing that did not get a single comment when it was originally posted. Not one. I guess.. nobody knew what to do with it. For the one who knows how it feels... by the lovely pandora, whose work we've seen featured before, takes the cake on sadness. It took me five minutes with my head down, weeping silently, before I could move on to write this article. It's just... beautiful. Simple and sweet, it's an honest and good piece. Magic at its finest. Lovely job, Barbie.

For the one who knows how it feels... by pandora

This is something I wrote almost a year and a half ago. A friend of mine is going through the same thing right now, so I thought I'd post if for him here to help ease his heartache. Or at least show what a difference time makes.

For the one who knows how it feels...

What makes a love story tragic? When great pain is present but nothing can be done to ease it, and there is no solution except waiting for time to do...what it does.
Not all tragic love stories end like Romeo and Juliet, in death's embrace. Some tales fester for years before the full horror of it is realized. To me, nothing is more tragic than two long lost lovers missing, wanting, craving, caged by honesty, promises made during the years of ignorance, and a desperate hope to not destroy the love that still remains pure and innocent.

This poem stands for the one who knows how it feels, the one who secretly owns my heart and probably always will, (broken as it is). These words are for the one whose heart I keep in a pretty glass box, only because he seems to like it there.

---

Critiquer of the Month

This month, Silver Wings really caught my eye. She commented on almost every post on the entire first page, and only had one thread of her own that I could find. Obviously a community player. Congratulations, Silver Wings, and keep up the good work!




Unfortunately Mr. Paperboy (Jonny to others) is off being busy still. So this month I'm back to writing this god-awful article. ...kidding. Roaming through the Photo board again this month, I stumbled upon one picture that really captured my attention. Nameless #1 by Mitch is this month's pick. I love the angle of the shot, the blackness of the buildings at the bottom, and the lovely colors from the sun setting. Great job, deary.




I chose Sig Pack #1 by Exultance/Josh this month because of the unusual size and good use of texture. For those who like something a little different in their signature the almost stretched look of this set is just enough to make it unique.

There is a faint border in use here but it is very effective, just visible enough to provide a frame for the image.

This image has a very techy-feel to it; with a combination of tech brushes and some faint pixel work. The banner is perfect for the fans of technical looking images.




   So yes, it's another month, and here I am, again. I won't be doing this next month unless no one claims it. Which they darn well better.

Avatar of the Month: iniquitous™



I actually had no choice here. You were the only one who entered. But I really liked the av anyways. The background is lovely, and the smoothness is great. The only thing here that could've been improved was the text. I feel it could've stood out more.


Signature of the Month: elpeef



Yes, the winner is you, again. Though there's a lot of white, the color you did use on the render, and the text is great. Your placement and use of text is nice as well. I see nothing wrong with it at all.


Short, and sweet. Congrats you two. Bug Ollie, UC, E, or Jonny for your custom titles.

"Teachers Car keys
Toys from classroom "Prize box"
Money

I was actually confronted by the cops when I was younger for stealing.

*edit*
I borrow from the internet community. "
- Dishwasher Safe

"the question is like dave chappelle said when R. Kelly pee'd on the girl.

"how old is fifteen really?"."
- Brandon

"Wow, you really are a geek. I thought it was just an act.. =/"


"He's on to me! Wand of Deception! Wand of Deception!"
- Ryan/Psionic & Artemis

"There are rumours circulating (from JOSH) that the staff have an Orgies category.

I'd like to prove these rumours false, as of now:

Shut down!

... oh snap.

Wrong link.

Oops. >.<"

"Oh crap, they're on to us!

-runs-"
- Artemis & Jonny

"Don't get pregnant! "

"o.O"
- Ovi & AI

"Jack, you're hot. Almost hot enough to be forgiven for not talking to me in... oh I dunno... forever?"

"I sent you a PM telling you to talk to me on MSN to which I RECEIVED NO REPLY CONSPIRACY

<3

"
- urban.cinderella & Jack

"JACK! Oh how I've missed you.

...you're almost good looking enough to turn me gay."
- Mitch

"Click for hotness."


"I feel so mislead"


"Ouch."
- Shadow & Jack




"I can think of nothing more boring for the American people than to have to sit in their living rooms for a whole half hour looking at my face on their television screens."
-Dwight D. Eisenhower

"I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top."
-An Ohio University English Professor

"Cynics regarded everybody as equally corrupt... Idealists regarded everybody as equally corrupt, except themselves."
-Robert Anton Wilson

"Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery."
-Malcom X

"Storms make oaks take deeper root."
-George Herbert

"It's all right letting yourself go as long as you can let yourself back."
-Mick Jagger

"The human mind treats a new idea the same way the body treats a strange protein; it rejects it."
-P.B. Medawar

"Life is something that everyone should try at least once."
-Henry J. Tillman

"I like weights. You know where you stand with them. Well, sometimes you're lying under them, trying not to let them crush you, but you see, you KNOW they'd crush you if they could. There's honesty."
-T. Campbell and Gisele Lagace

"First secure an independent income, then practice virtue."
-Greek Proverb

"A fellow who is always declaring he's no fool usually has his suspicions."
-Wilson Mizner

"He who hesitates is a damned fool."
-Mae West

You walk down the halls, you hear the whispers. You turn on the TV, you see the previews. You log onto MySpace, you’re swarmed with ads. You go to the theater, you’re filled with amazement. And yet it’s just a number, 300.

Yes, it’s another Warner Bros. movie that’s based on a comic. But it’s more than just a comic book thought up in the dreams of some comic book junkie. 300 is directly tied to the Battle of Thermopylae, during which an alliance of 300 Spartans and a small number of Greek city-states take on the forces of the God, King Xerxes and his armada with numbers in the millions.

It occurs in 480 B.C, amidst the beginning of the Greco-Persian War. The main sequence depicted during the movie is before the Persians try to make their march on Greek territory.

In accordance with their valiant heritage, King Leonidas of Sparta rejects submission to Persian rule. With the help of 300 of the best Spartan warriors, he marches towards the sea to intercept the Persian forces and defend his homeland.

As we fought through the swarms of people to reach the concessions counter, we began to wonder if everyone was here for our movie. As we walked into the IMAX Theater, we learned that sure enough, they were. We would definitely recommend ordering your tickets online ahead of time. The hassle it will spare you is worth the extra 50 cents.

The movie began with a mind-blowing sequence depicting the life of a young Spartan boy. A kind of awe hushed every member of the audience. Scene by scene, we were overcome with the look and feel of this film. Executive producer Frank Miller, the author and creator of the graphic novel 300, took a route that Sin City fans might recognize. He shot the movie so it would feel more like you were watching his comics come to life and less like your run-of-the-mill war flick. And in this, he was astonishingly successful.

While 300 is not without its moments of gore (this is war after all), the unique cinematics minimized the impact of blood and transformed it into something even the queasiest of folk could handle.

The fighting sequences were full of unparalleled beauty. With the feel of the hand-to-hand combat of The Matrix trilogy and the look of Gladiator, 300 weaves slow motion flawlessly into the battle scenes. Time seems to slow down for the noble Spartan forces.

For those who expect so see a movie about mindless killing, this film may let you down. While it is battle heavy, the plot doesn’t get buried and left behind, like in many other movies of the genre. The movie covers two struggles, the struggle for life and protecting of the Spartan way of life, and the power struggle back in Sparta.

The array of characters and their costumes is unlike that of any other movie, from the beautiful queen with her simple linen dresses, to the hordes of Persians in all their multitudes of shapes and sizes, almost always covered in gold jewelry.

During these battle scenes where Persians were slaughtered and their limbs removed, the blood was missing. The graphically added blood came in good amounts, but after the blood has splattered, sprouting from every single cut, the blood didn’t appear to soak the ground where these Persians fought under their king.

There also could have been a few more battle scenes sprinkled in it to give it some more depth. There’s a scene where the back lines are ambushed, but the only thing that acknowledges it is a man riding up to the front lines to let them know what has happened. It was one of those scenes that must have been lost in the editing, but even a couple minutes wouldn’t have hurt.

We came, we saw, and 300 conquered all our expectations. With the breathtaking definition of the IMAX, 300 broke a barrier and was the first truly great movie of 2007, if not the century so far. While it did have its shortcomings, the stunning cinematography and outstanding characters made this movie more than worthwhile. 300 gets a 5 out of 5.

[The Herald]

Welcome to April’s edition of the SSD News, bringing you up to date with the latest goings on around SSD.

First of all I must apologise for the lack of news with the last edition, with my busy schedule and other issues occurring, it just wasn’t completed. If I had something to give you as a form of compensation, I would, but I don’t. Oh well.

Staff Changes

Josh – One of our Global Moderators decided to leave his position to allow him to concentrate on other events in his life. I’m sure that many previous staff members reading this can sympathise with him here. He’ll be a difficult act to follow and we wish him all the best. Nonetheless you can still catch him around posting.

Virtuoso and Jongos – Coding and Critique moderators respectively also left for similar reasons to Josh. I’d like to thank them for the work they did in the months that they were on our team. Best of luck to them too.

Moderators for the coding boards are expected to be selected shortly.

Hosting Problems

Early March has been a nightmare for me as an administrator. With parts of the forum and website unavailable for up to two weeks, transferring hosts has been rather eventful and made me concerned for the stability of the community. However, we are now over that, there are still a few bugs being ironed out but everyone should be able to view everything they need now. For those interested, a company with a rather amusing name now hosts us. www.bigwetfish.com

What’s New Pussycat?

Awful song, awful title for a news bulletin too. I’m pleased to announce several new features to SSD.

Chat Room – After talking to my SSD Wife/Co-Admin it was decided to improve our chat software. What we had was about 5 years old and had various little bugs in it, which made it rather disliked by some members of our community, staff included. It was the best we could find, everything else just wasn’t good enough for us. So our hope was running out. That was until last Tuesday when I stumbled across something rather good, which you can now see working in shiny SSD livery at www.solidsnakedesigns.com/chat

We will hold organised frequent chats in these rooms, usually nearer the weekend. Sometimes there will be special guests who can ask questions to and other times it will just be to have a nice time amongst a whole mix of people.

SSD Wiki – I’m sure many of you have heard the name Wikipedia crop up over the past few years. Its popular, easy to edit pages are making their way towards the shores of SSD. So why bother? Nobody is going to actually use this surely?

Not so, I am aiming to phase out the need for our current old website, instead everything shall be on here. However, we are going to try it with coding first, to try and build up a collection of pages that will be useful to everyone. Anybody will be able to edit and create pages using this software, so you are very much controlling our content.

If this first stage goes well, we shall aim to develop it further to replace other parts of our website.

View Discussion on our Wiki

Do you feel like writing for The Herald?

I know that many of our members have a little passion for their writing, everyone has their own individual styles. If you’re a member here, you’ll probably find that there is something you could write about, if there isn’t, suggest it!

We are looking for more writers to join our friendly little team. With the responsibility of producing and checking your own articles, you’ll get to work with others who share the same kind of passion for writing too.

Applications are open until the 2nd of April.

Click here for more details on how to apply!

[The Herald]

At the end of every month I will tally the current statistics displayed in the Info Center. Come the end of the month I will again tally the current SSD statistics and the ending balance of each. This is nothing more than a fun little article to keep you up-to-date on exactly how well SSD has improved month to month.

End of February Statistics:
Total Threads: 45,205
Total Posts: 328,295
Total Members: 14,976

End of March Statistics:
Total Topics: 45,609
Total Posts: 332,800
Total Members: 15,061

The Results:
Total Threads: 404
Total Posts: 4,505
Total Members: 85

[The Herald]

April was the second month in the Roman calendar, possible named after the Greek god of love: Aphrodite. The name could however have come from the word aperire, which means to open, possibly in reference to the flowers that begin to bud during this month.

Originally, it was referred to as Aprilis, not April. As with many names, it changed over time and become shortened to April. April became the fourth month in the calendar once the Romans started using January as the first.

April still remains the fourth month, however, it did change how many days it had twice; initially having 30 before it was cut to 29 under the rule of Numa and then having the other day restored when Julius eventually came into power.

During April the ice and snow die away and the grass and leaves come back into view in the Northern hemisphere. The winds of March die down also. In the Southern Hemisphere they have a mild autumn instead.

The stone associated with this month is the diamond. If you were born in April, this is your birthstone. The flowers of this month are the sweet pea and daisy.

[The Herald]

The following is a story I'm working on. But since I've had a lack of inspiration, I want and need your help. So, I'll type up what I have so far, then you can send me a PM with your decision of what'll happen next in the main character's life. Your choices will be at the end.

__________________________________

Disposing herself of the phone, Claire stood still with her arms crossed and her face twisted into a look of hate. She couldn't understand why her dead beat, alcoholic father couldn't be there for her. Sure, he wouldn't be much of a father, but at least she could say he was there. She plopped herself onto her bed and sat there staring at the walls.

After all these years I find him, and find out I have a little brother? That he willingly supports. Where the hell was he for me? Oh yeah...that's right. Drinking his life away, while traumatizing me.

Reminiscing on the life that she had as a child. Fatherless, and even at times homeless. It wasn't the best, and she had to raise herself for the most part. And to think all of it could've been avoided if it wasn't for her so-called father. All he had to do was get his act together, and he could've been a part of his only daughter's and first born's life. But of course, alcohol placed number one. Always had. At least until recently. Claire realized that all men failed her. They always did at some point. The only one that hadn't was her brother. He kept her close and made sure she was safe. She'd had a few boyfriends that she'd fallen for, but they all had stomped on her heart like it was a leaf on the ground in the midst of fall.

Laying, sprawled out on her bed for a while, Claire stared at the ceiling trying to clear her mind. But the continuous questions kept haunting her.

Why couldn't he take pride in me too? Why didn't he give up alcohol for me? Why didn't he stick to his word? Why, why, why?!

Dragging her carcass off her bed and downstairs, Claire entered the kitchen, sighed and decided to start dinner. Producing pots and pans from the cupboards she clanged and banged them down on the stove hard. Leaning forward with her elbows planted firmly on the stove, she covered her face with her hands. Her shoulders were shaking, but no tears would trickle down her cheeks. Five minutes passed, finding little strength she stood back up and took a deep breath. But she couldn't handle it all. It was even more heart wrenching than having her father still be out of her life as an alcoholic. Claire backed up until she stopped abruptly against the fridge, leaning against it Claire crumbled to the floor finally releasing tears.

* * * * *

Strolling through the front door, Jane set her purse and keys on the side table just by the door. She peered around the corner into the living room; empty. Frowning, she made her way to the kitchen; also empty, except the pot and pan on the stove.

Dinner abandoned? That's not like Claire.

Curiosity grew within her a great amount. Trudging up the stairs to Claire's room, she pushed open the door. Laptop was off, and shut. Claire's bathroom door was wide open also empty.

No note. Something's wrong. Where is she?

These thoughts ran through her mind as she made her way back down the stairs. What Jane failed to see was that Claire's car keys were missing. Jane had pulled up and parked in the front and didn't even think about checking the garage.

Sighing, and shaking her head, she picked up the downstairs phone and read through the calls from the day. Bill collector, ex-husband, daughter, daughter, son, Eddie's sister, another bill collector, telemarketer....wait a damn minute, Eddie's sister? What the hell did she want? Claire. That's it.

Slamming the phone down to the counter, she ran to the garage. Throwing the door open and flipping the light switch, her gaze fell upon a empty garage. The 2005 Honda Del Sol that Claire had thanks to her brother and oldest sister was gone. Shit...

Jane slammed the door shut, grabbed the phone and started dialing numbers, leaving Eddie's sister for last.

__________________________________

This is the first excerpt of this story. Now this is where the you guys come in. I want some interaction, and inspiration. So there will be four choices that you can choose from of how this can continue on. I'll add my own twists in it, but you get to choose something that'll happen. Here are your choices:

A) Jane will continue to search for her daughter (Claire) but turn up empty. Forced to call Eddie's sister and find out the same information Claire did.

B) Jane will turn up empty until she calls Eddie's sister, learns the same information, and go out looking for Claire and find her.

C) Claire will remain missing, Jane will blame Eddie's sister and Eddie, and Eddie somewhere, somehow steps into their lives again.

D) Other. But give me what you're thinking of.

(side note: If the information is revealed, what Claire learned, and the details, will be exposed to you as well.)

Now, to continue this on, I need your guys' help. All you need to do is send me a PM, click here to do so. Label it, 'Abandoned at Birth, My Choice'. Then the one that I either like the most, or is demanded the most will be the one chosen for the next excerpt. There will be 3-5 excerpt's in all. All will appear in the Herald, so you'll have to wait for the next edition of the Herald to see what I come up, of course with the help of your choice. So go on, send that PM.

[The Herald]

People judge me a lot. I know because they tell me. Judging isn’t enough for most folks. They must share their thoughts on what I’m doing wrong or what I can stand to improve. Without sharing the thoughts their imagined superiority could not be known. So advice inevitably follows judgment.

I’m not the only one being judged. People have this idea in their head that they can improve and teach everyone around them if only each person they judged would just listen to what they say and follow the advice blindly. Sometimes the advice is even good, bordering on wise. What the advice giver doesn’t seem to understand is that people don’t change overnight. Improvements come with time. Each positive change is very personal, and if someone isn’t ready to absorb one of life’s important lessons then they simply aren’t ready for it.

My job has been testing me on this particular front. I was promoted very soon after being hired at my current job, and the more experienced staff have lots of advice to give. They forget that I take my orders directly from my managers and the Director of Sales. They seem to not care that I still have a lot to learn, but I’m actually ahead of the curve. They forget that I’ve been nothing but patient and sweet and their judgments have at times been harsh and even hypocritical.

That leads me to believe that their motives are selfish ones. Follow me on this. When people stick their nose where it doesn’t belong and make their judgments heard, it is usually for one of a few reasons. One is an honest attempt to impart wisdom. Another is to make them appear intelligent and important without really caring if the advice is taken. The reason I loathe the most is when someone else is afraid of change and they are trying to bend to their will the person most likely to change their comfortable, predictable world.

What judgment really breeds is resentment. I resent constant judgment. I love learning and improving myself and my immediate world, but sometimes I really just want to say, “Shut the f*** up. Let me be.”

I don’t necessarily agree with all the advice that’s been thrown at me lately. I know myself a lot better than some of these very opinionated women think I do, but getting a word in edgewise is next to impossible. Their judgments are true to them, and unless I bend and become who they want me to be, their judgments will stay true to them. Somehow, I have to help them to understand it is their problem if they dislike my methods, not mine.

This I do know: My intentions are good. If I’m met with harsh judgment, I must not take it to heart immediately. One person can only grow and learn so much in a short period of time. This is a lesson for anyone. Instead of flying off the handle and pummeling the one placing judgment, file it away. It may be that you are just not ready to hear what they have to say.

Lucky for me, I get along very well with each eclectic, stubborn employee on staff. On a personal level, I adore the whole crew. They are interesting, creative, smart, independent and caring. I also have a theory that, since most did not speak English as a first language, that the translation can sometimes seem blunt and not carefully worded. I just wish they would think first before passing judgment, or maybe even wait for me to ask for an opinion.

[The Herald]

Indeed. I'm only seventeen. Sometimes, I look behind, and see a long path behind me. Then I look in front, and see a path even longer than the one behind. I feel exhausted. Out of energy, out of drive, out of strength, to continue on my way.

Why am I feeling this way? I'm only seventeen! Aren't I supposed to be energetic, full of drive? Instead, I see only the burdens of the world. I look at my brothers, and see myself in them - once so full of drive, so full of dreams, yet as time works its magic, we lost sight of our goals, our drive. Why am I feeling this way?

I'm only seventeen!

Yet I feel like a seventy year old. Tired of waking up each day. Losing hope in the world, losing hope in things, losing sight of my goals, losing sight of my life. I wasn't like this. Yet as time passes by, as the chaotic vibes of the society hit, wave after wave, I feel myself getting molded into what I so hated - mindless zombies, slaving themselves over work.

Sometimes, I question the purpose of life. We spend around twenty years of our lives in the school, fifty years of our lives slaving in work. Do we exist just for this? A life of slavery? Puppets controlled by the strings of fate, bending to the social norm?

No!

I swore to break away from the norm, to cut the strings of fate, to curve a world of my own!

But can I succeed? I'm only seventeen.

Perhaps one day I'll make it. After all, I still have a long path before me. It might be filled with unknowns, with ever changing variables, but I know I can make it.

After all, I'm only seventeen.

[The Herald]

I’m turning 30 this month. 30! Not old, not even middle age, but 30. Do I feel any different, you ask? Not really. Should I? Why the hell should I feel different? Because there is a certain stigma attached to no longer being in my 20’s? Conventional, conformist bullshit, I say. Would I go back to being a teenager or to my early 20’s if I could? Not on your life. I survived youth once. I have no desire to go back and subject myself to that particular brand of roller coaster ride again. I earned being 30, and nobody can take that away from me.

I guess the harder life is at a young age, the more you feel like a triumphant warrior when 30 finally arrives, that is, if you don’t allow yourself to wallow in a perpetual state of immaturity for the duration of three complete decades. My battle scars are badges of honor. My past ignorance remains in the past. My thick skull has at last been saturated with enough hard-won truth that I may finally gain some real ground in the wisdom department. I’ve sliced through demons, but I’ve also begged demons for my life as I teetered on the edge of insanity. Humility, patience and strength are mine. Not because I ran away from danger, but because I faced it in fair battle. No matter how much blood I lost, or how many blades I dulled, I lived. I am alive.

The most remarkable change in me since high school is that I am now happy to be alive. No longer is life an intolerable burden, but the gift it was meant to be from the start. I still have burdens to bear, but I do bear them instead of running away. I still feel pain and frustration and anger. Now I know that those draining emotions will always pass. Of course I still make stupid mistakes, but I carry important lessons away from those experiences.

Though youth isn’t always concentrated hell on earth, sometimes it felt that way. High School was a gauntlet. Judgment was passed and the “freaks” were cast aside or fed to the wolves. I was jealous of all the pretty girls with boyfriends. I had friends, great ones at that, and even had a couple of boyfriends myself, but the off-hand comments and cruel nature of bullies made me question my worth. I fell into a deep hole and stayed there.

Life after school was worse at first. The pressure to suddenly be an adult was overwhelming, to say the least. I let my soul wander as I was stuck, chained to demeaning and mindless jobs so I could try and afford an apartment. My safety net seemed so far away. I thought to myself, ‘I cannot live like this forever. If life hurts this much always I won’t make it.’

I was wrong. I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. That doesn’t make me weak. It makes me human. I’m right about a lot of things too. That doesn’t make me superior; it makes me just as human as my embarrassing and damaging mistakes do.

We can’t hit rewind or reset the program. We all must accept our pasts as a part of us. I can already tell that 30 will be a good year for me. Not a perfect year, but a good one. I have hope, ideas, and enthusiasm. Whatever art and stories I create I still plan to share with SSD. Will you still love me when I’m 30?

And now that I think about it, I do feel different in the most beautiful way. I can even put a name on the difference: Gratitude. I am grateful for this complex, chaotically organized whirlwind called life.

[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.

Africa and Europe set for tunnel link



With work hopefully starting in 2008, a tunnel, which is to carry freight and passengers, will be built under the Straight of Gibraltar Strait between Spain and Morocco. The tunnel, designed by Swiss engineer Giovanni Lombardi, is estimated to cost somewhere £4.1 - £6.7 billion ($8 and $13 billion).

Click here to read a full article.

Dying can be charged for using marijuana

A California woman with scoliosis, a tumor in the brain, was told she could be pressed with breaking federal drug laws because she uses marijuana every few hours to help ease her suffering.

"I'm sure not going to let them kill me," she said. "Oh my God."

Click here to read a full article.

Airbus A380 gives first American appearance



The jetliner now claiming the title of world's largest passenger aircraft finished its maiden voyage to the United States, landing at Kennedy International Airport at 12:20pm EDT on March 19. The 239-foot-long jet is designed to hold 550 passengers and 81,890 gallons of fuel. It cruises at 560mph and is capable of flying some 8,000 nautical miles.

166 orders by 15 airline companies have been placed for the jets, which cost between $296 – $316 million.

Click here to read a full article.
Click here to read extra information on this article.

Taiwanese street showered in whale goo

Residents of Taiwan were surprised when a 60-ton, 56-foot-long sperm whale exploded in the middle of a downtown street.

The whale, being transferred to a lab for a necropsy, exploded due to gases from internal decay. The whale was found dead January 17 after it beached itself on the southwest coast of the island.

City residents gathered around the large whale to "experience," as they say, to view its large penis, measuring roughly five feet long.

Click here to read a full article.

[The Herald]

Janet Evanovich. A spectacular novelist. Trust me, I've become addicted to her books. The first in a 13 book series, One For the Money: The First Stephanie Plum Novel is the first in the series. Her descriptive writing and knack for details pulls you in like a vacuum pulls in dust bunnies. First you heard me rant about her greatness for the book, Metro Girl, and then I stumbled upon this wonderful series. What is it all about?

Meet Stephanie Plum. A 30 year old divorced woman living on her own in "the burg". A vaguely residential area near Trenton, New Jersey. Working as a discount lingerie buyer, she was laid off. Out of a job, money, food, and patience, Stephanie takes action. She calls on her cousin Vinny Plum, Bails-Bondsmen. For her new profession she gets cards made up. What's the title under her name? Bounty hunter.

Her first case; Joseph Morelli. The guy she's known since she was 6 years old. The guy that she lost her virginity to, and the guy that she tried to run down when she was 18 years old. Now she's in charge of finding him because he's an FTA. Failure to appear for a court date. Joe is charged with murder. Though he seems guilty by splitting, there's more than that to the story. But Stephanie is in way over her head. Joe Morelli is one of Trenton's finest. He's always one step ahead of her, and she learns quickly that she's not exactly the best bounty hunter.

This is when she meets Ranger. Ranger is the bad-ass of the bounty hunter world. He doesn't take any crap, and he's got cars up the yang. He officially holds the title as Stephanie's mentor. Trains her, tries to give her tips, and although she's smart, she still goes about her own way. But in the end, Stephanie usually always gets her man. Whether that is professionally, or personally.

Filled with twists, details, bits and pieces of conflicted relationships, old woman that think they're still teens, hookers, and plenty of other things, One For the Money is one of thirteen of these fantastic books. With each book, Stephanie's life tends to become more complicated, more exciting, and more ravishing. I suggest you pick up the first and make your way through the rest. I'm already on number 9, To The Nines.

Rating: 5/5


The list of books in the Series - All are HIGHLY suggested

One For the Money
Two For the Dough
Three to Get Deadly
Four To Score
High Five
Hot Six
Seven Up
Hard Eight
To The Nines
Ten Big Ones
Eleven On Top
Twelve Sharp
Lean Mean Thirteen

[The Herald]

1991 saw a second album from Mick Jones, formerly of The Clash, under the project name of Big Audio Dynamite. The first album was an interesting effort. Big Audio Dynamite II launched an album worthy of being on my “must have” list. “The Globe” has great dance beats, social conscience, humor and that elusive yet undeniable Clash sound. It is charming and clever and proves why Mick Jones could hold his own while he and Joe Strummer drove a steel rail tie right through both punk and reggae, altering the genres forever.

BAD II is closely related to techno. The Clash boys never seemed to mind venturing into any genre in existence. Sometimes this led to a mediocre hodge podge-esque collection of songs, for example the double disc release, “Sandanista”. With “The Globe”, Mick Jones and his new cohorts stayed true to mellow yet infectious dance beats. The album as a whole is coherent. I don’t advise bouncing back and forth between songs. It plays beautifully, beginning to end.

Oh, the end. It could do without the last track, “The Tea Party”, which is an overture of the album sung by a lone female accompanied by a string section. It’s interesting, I suppose, but I find myself stopping the disc before that track. If “The Tea Party” were in the middle or, God forbid, at the beginning, I might have reconsidered putting the album on my list of modern legends.

Highlights include “Rush”, a song very different from the emerging Seattle scene’s rock chart dominating singles, but reaching number one on US charts regardless. My personal favorite is track three, “I Don’t Know”. It borders on goth, but is way too fun to dance to. “Innocent Child” is sweet. Mick effectively describes his desire to know his love back when they were both children and life was simple.

Synths and Mick’s vocals are both staples of the album. They give it its unique and distinct flavor, setting it apart from any of his earlier efforts, with or without The Clash.

[The Herald]

Yup, time for the gauntlet to be cast. That's right, I'm reviewing Panic! At The Disco. A semi-sorta-not-really-recent band, PatD is a new style of music. Or a fusion of old styles of music. Or something else. Bugger off, genres were never my strong point.

PatD does two things right: it has a beat, and it has kickass lyrics.

The beat is important. If it weren't for the beat, I would have nothing to shake my ass to. A nice mix of instrumental and dance, PatD creates a club-like feeling, one that makes it difficult not to dance.

The lyrics are what bring me back. "The weather today is slightly sarcastic". Classic. "I've got more wit, a better kiss, a hotter touch, a better fuck, than any boy you'll ever meet, sweetie you have me." The clever play on words, the mutations of our common sayings... these are what make me actually pay attention to what they're saying.

Also, PatD has a knack for working a story into their songs. "Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" (the typical length for a PatD title) tells the story of a virgin who goes to work for a lawyer who cheats on his wife with the virgin, taking advantage of her. "There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought Of It Yet" tells the story of a girl that goes to a dance, but is under dressed and out of her element, surrounded by people who think she is trashy.

Panic! At The Disco is, all in all, a very good band, and one I would recommend listening to. Even if you think you already hate them. Buggers.

[The Herald]

Azumanga Daioh is possibly one of the few anime out there where the ending is actually a happy one. And yet it will still make tears come to your eyes, simply due to the fact that it’s over. It’s hilariously sweet, and every second you spend watching it is well worth it.

This is an anime about six girls attending high school in Japan, and how their career with education went. Whether it’s the sports fest, culture fest, or their insane teacher; every day is made interesting some how. And each day is fairly believable as well. Granted, the anime does stretch the facts pretty far in some places, but if it didn’t we probably wouldn’t have much of an interest in watching it. Still, it’s not hard to get drawn into, to the point where you plot to make similar events happen in your school, or even workplace, just because they’re that enjoyable on the screen.

The art isn’t too great though, being that some of it can seem flat. Yet this is also one of the anime’s charms. The animation is, on the other hand, gorgeous. There is nothing jumpy about it, and it all flows together smoothly. The voices for the English version are dubbed in nicely, and they picked the perfect voice actors for each part.

It’s average in length as well, with a total of twenty-six episodes total and no known OVAs to date. The DVDs do come with the option of Japanese with or without subtitles, English with or without subtitles, and a version in which subtitles only appear to translate the Japanese writing. This was fairly nifty, being that most DVDs don’t offer such a feature.

Overall though, it’s an excellent anime. Great for almost all ages as well, probably none younger than twelve though. There is some more risqué content in it, such as alcohol and sexual innuendos. Don’t let that scare you away though!

Rating: 5/5

[The Herald]

Here are some randomly fun facts that will make you feel just that little bit smarter. So here we are, getting you one step closer to knowing everything there is to know! Curiosity has been satisfied for the day, and thankfully, no cats had to die. Enjoy!

-A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.
-A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
-A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue.
-A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours.
-A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.
-A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
-A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.
-A snail can sleep for three years.
-Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.
-All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill.
-Almonds are a member of the peach family.
-Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.
-"Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".
-February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.
-In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.
-If the population of China walked past you, in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.
-If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.
-It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
-Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.
-Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
-"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand and "lollipop" with your right.
-The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
-The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.
-The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
-The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
-The words 'racecar,' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes).
-There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
-There are more chickens than people in the world.
-There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous
-There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: "abstemious" and "facetious."
-There's no Betty Rubble in the Flintstones Chewable Vitamins.
-Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
-TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
-Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance.
-Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
-Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.

[The Herald]

Welcome to the Herald game of the Mystery Persons! You are about to read three different interviews, and each is from a different person. Two of them you know here on SSD, and one of them is a person who has become world-renowned. It’s your job to be a sleuth, and figure out whom each is. If you think you’ve figured it out, trot yourself over the thread designated for guessing, and post! For each one you guess correctly, you get a sleuth point. And those who were interviewed automatically get a sleuth point, so no guessing yourself.

In the next issue, the names of the interviewees will be revealed, and the statistics on the points updated. Come the end of the year, the one with the most sleuth points will be the Master Sleuth of SSD. Quite an honour, and who wouldn’t want to be the first? So start reading, and start unraveling the mystery! You have one month, go!

Current Point Standings:
Bryanic- 2 points
AI- 2 points
Pandora- 2 points
.:.Darien- 2 points
Kay- 1 point
Artos- 1 point
Kai- 1 point

Previous Interviewees:
In the last issue, your world-renowned person was Robert Boyle, the first mystery person was Artos, and the second mystery person was Kay. Congratulations to all who guessed correctly, and good luck on this month!

The Interviews:

World-renowned person:
Age (Upon Death): 56
Date of Birth: April 20, 1889
Date of Death: April 30, 1945
Gender: Male
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Three Words that Describe Them: Fanatic, Controling, Genious
Hobbies and Interests: Art
A Few Interesting Facts About Them: Failed his first year of High School, Dropped out of school at the age of 16, Rejected twice by the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Career: Politics
A Few Loved Things: Art, Architecture, Germany
A Few Hated Things: Jewish followers, Homosexuals, His father
Country of Birth: Austria
Immigration: Very minimal, from Austria to Germany
Major Accomplishments: Sold some artwork, Good at mass negotiations, Scientific and Medical advancements

Mystery Person 1:
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Sexual Orientation: Gay
Three Words that Describe You: Shibby, Random, Elite
Staff or Non-staff: Staff
Favourite Colour: BLUE
Hobbies and Interests: Reading, writing, coding, gaming, Final Fantasy, musicals, theatre
A Few Interesting Facts About Yourself: I can put my foot in my stomach, and it will stay there
What You Want To Be When You Grow Up/
What Your Career Is: An English teacher
Favourite Food: Meatballs
A Few Loved Things: love, soda, and pixels
A Few Hated Things: hate, flat soda, and loss of pixels
Favourite Movie: V for Vendetta
Favourite Book: Ender's Game
What Country You Live In: Etopia

Mystery Person 2:
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Bi
Three Words that Describe You: moody, high-pitched, and friendly I guess XD
Staff or Non-staff: Staff
Favourite Colour: Purple
Hobbies and Interests: airsoft, design, warhammer 40k, computer games
A Few Interesting Facts About Yourself: i have a very visible scar on the left side of my nose, i have a tatoo, my fourth toe on my left foot is bent so it tucks under the third
What You Want To Be When You Grow Up/
What Your Career Is: I'd like to help with the websites for the games
Favourite Food: Hotpot
A Few Loved Things: hmmm, veging out in front of the computer/tv in my pj's, going to the cinema, my other half (of course) and making people happy (at work, online where ever)
ooo and singing badly at the top of my voice XD
A Few Hated Things: not being able to help someone, tomatoes, not having enough time to do everything I want or have volunteered for
Favourite Movie: Stargate
Favourite Book: The Hobbit
What Country You Live In: England

[The Herald]

Been wondering about those elite members wearing the "Official Art Group" member tags in their profiles? Didn't make it to our featured chat, but would still like to know a few random facts about them? If so, you're in luck! I sent this little questionnaire around to the members for a bit of fun, but decided to share them with everyone. Read on... you might find out more than you want to know about that crazy group!

Mitch

1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
As are most artists, I am highly critical of my own work, so it's rare to like one of my own pieces. But, if I had to choose one, it would be Stale City. I think it defines me best.

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
Though I did not contribute to it, the Abstract collection would have to be my favorite.

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
I'm not much of a movie person. I'm usually always behind on the latest new hits. But, from the movies I have seen, I think I would have to choose "Holes". It, to me, never gets old, although it is a Disney movie.

4. Favorite TV series?
I'm torn between three; That 70's Show, Family Guy, and Robot Chicken.

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
Ireland. We would wage war on Germany...for the beer.

6. What is your dream job?
Interactive Media Designer

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
The friendships I've had with loads of members here have somewhat died down, sadly, as my activity isn't what it used to be. It's hard to choose one. Oliver's great to chat with, as is Josh, Kay, and, going way way back, Combo/Nick. But, my favorite person would have to be Jonny.

8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
Haha, what? Jonny, of course.

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
Ethan.

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know about you.
Both my right arm and left arm look like they belong to two different people. (They look completely different than each other.)

Oliver

1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
Mechanical - It's one of the stranger pieces I have created and it all just came together nicely when I was making it.

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
Abstract

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Amélie or something pornographic.

4. Favorite TV series?
Skins!

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
UK against the USA. [I'll take that challenge, mofo - UC]

6. What is your dream job?
I'm not sure, I'd like to own my own business or manage people.

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
Oh it has to be Car

8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
Jonny without a doubt

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
Britt

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know about you.
I own two Madonna albums.

Britt

1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
For Personal Reasons: My Love

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
I would have to say it was the fairytale collection. Mostly because I am a little girl at heart and love my fairy tales.

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Ummm. Oh hard one. I would have to say The Shawshank Redemption. Its a wonderful movie. Sad, but I love it all the same.

4. Favorite TV series?
Grey's Anatomy Forever and Always! I think Kari would agree with me.

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
Oh gosh. I don't know. I'm not the violent type. Can't the world just get along? [No, it can't. But because I love you, you hippy hobo, I'll let you live in my palace in Russia. -UC] lol.

6. What is your dream job?
Currently.. I am torn. The Medical Field or The Art Scene. I don't know as of this moment. But with how much I enjoy Art... I would love to manip and get tons of money for it. lol.

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
I have to say Car. Because, well, she would kill me if I didn't. Haha. (But with every new person I meet, the more I love this community. Hehe.)

8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
I'm already hooked up. Lets see. Car is my hot lover. Jonny is my hubby. And I am pretty sure Kari has hot, steamy, secret feelings for me. Orgy anyone?

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
Sadly... A lot of people. But that'll change soon.

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know about you.
My phone is my life. Yet I hate talking on it. I only text message. lol.

DLT

1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
Well, I'm quite fond of Kontrapunkt becuase of the candy-like feel it has: Clicky
But according to 89 fav'ers HealingWound is by far the best piece I've ever made: Clicky
Yet I feel my personal favourite art piece has yet to come. Currently I'm working on one that might just be the one I've been looking for, so far it's looking good and so think my mates! Can't wait to finish it and publish it on the internet!

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
There's been a few rather mediocre ones and not really a fantastic pack but I'm quite fond of the one with James' contribution in it: The Conflict one. I'm sure the fantastic one will come soon.

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Definitely an Arnold movie. He's THE man. The ultimate super hero! Go him! Just not sure which one to choose. So many good ones!! I'm sorry, I can't just choose one. You choose!

4. Favorite TV series?
Ooh.. so very glad for Futurama! But also the Simpsons.. and I shall never miss an episode of Prison Break.. nor 24!! Argh! Also Stargate SG-1 is fantastic! God damn, there are so many good shows nowadays!

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
Only one country? Why not the world! And then take over the entire UNIVERSE!! MUHAHAHHA!!

But perhaps USA, they have a lot of bombs and some such. Then I'll take over the WORLD AND THEN THE UNIVERSE!! MUHAHAH!

6. What is your dream job?
My dream job would be with no doubt in my mind..... *drumrole*... McD cleaner. o.O
Ok, guitarist! Is there anything better to do than playing the guitar (watching Arnold movies and fav. shows on tv come close though + playing CSS. XD). I want a band and get famous, get better. But it's really fun to play. Stone Roses rule!

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
Assi is nice. Don't talk so much with people over the net. More interested in making art and high school is taking over my life. Mmm with the boringness of homework-ness!

8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
Myself! Cause I'm so nice. I love me. "I'm just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off me" + "I'm too sexy for my...".

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
Britt, the new artist girl! Don't know who she is. Not on so much as I wish to be. -> once again the homework.

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know about you.
Oh f**k, this is the hard one. Is it a trick question? Well.. I dunno. I rule!

All I do every week is play guitar, play computer, read books, watch telly, sleep, eat, drink, bath, do homework, hang out with friends, partying, listening to music, doing art, playing/watching (but mostly watching) football (Spanish primarily (GO VALENCIA) and.. more guitar. You choose which one is most random for you! Whatever suits you.

Jonny

1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
So far I really like my "Time Slips By" series, mostly because it's my first well thought through, planned shoot. Although they're not quite what I wanted, I still like them.

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
I really quite like storybook, lots of lovely ideas in that one.

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
I couldn't possibly decide...Apocalypse Now?

4. Favorite TV series?
Top Gear, Family guy, Never mind the Buzzcocks.

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
I'd wage war against no one, we'd be a loving country...with lots of hippies and prog rock.

6. What is your dream job?
To be a military pilot, or a pro photographer.

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
I refuse to play favourites, you're all so cool. [That's code for Car -UC]

8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
Car, Britt and Kari....I can't live with them, I can't live without them.

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
Probably Band!t, I should get to know him sometime!

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know about you:
Well, I'm a fiend of toasted fruit scones, I love them....just.....mmmmmm.

Brandon

1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
hmm probably "and hearts semicolon"

it was made for the girl i love. and has so much meaning. to her to me. and just the story the piece tells between us..

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
probably abstract. im getting more into each collection so i cant say.. that i like this one more than the other. but of course ill just go with abstract cause.. im an abstract artist of course. =]

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
the movie sleepers.

4. Favorite TV series?
house or dexter.

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
me. run a country. haha. run it into the ground. #1
id go to war with Canada cause.. just cause yo.
i never hear anything about Canada.
thats why.
so...
yeah im a loser.


6. What is your dream job?
making big bucks just creating art son!

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
mann you cannot do this to me!
there is to many!
i think.. artistically wise. nexxia. he pretty much was the closest to me in style of art.
but ollie is great to talk serious with.
car and kari are great to lunch out around.
and then just like mitch, jonny.. maybe josh as well. are cool
i pretty much think im in love with jonny
just don't tell him. /no homo


8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
what the fu-
this is getting intense.. is car trying to like. .. =P
car.. course baby,
xD [Good answer, jerk -UC]

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
uhm. dunno. prolly uh. edd.

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know
i have a life outside of the computer!
LOL.
fah real i do...
=]

Band!t

1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
It's a close tie between "Hope Leaves" and "Redneck"

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
It'll have to be Conflict.

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
The Thirteenth Warrior, I don't care what anyone says... it's a classic and it still kicks ass.

4. Favorite TV series?
That 70s Show and Scrubs.

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
Russia... I'd wage war on every corrupt institution within the country, so I guess I'd wage war on my own people . Thank god I don't live there anymore.

6. What is your dream job?
Illustrating for bands and promotional illustration work.

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
I'm not too well know around here... and I come off as a bit of an outsider, but honestly I don't bite. So, in that case, I really don't know since I haven't had a full experience of interacting with the majority of SSD.

8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
I'd make love to my own work if it was magically alive... aaaaand I have a very fulfilling love life of my own

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
Ummm most of SSD, haha.

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know about you.
I'm a singer in a melodic death metal band, and I really like cheese....

Urbancinderella


1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
UPON THE FORBIDDEN HILLS mostly for conceptual reasons. Aesthetically, it seems to be missing something... I really like the poem that goes with The Jester's World though.

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
Storybook is my favorite theme, but out of all the pieces, I like all the pieces in both Abstract and Conflict.

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
V for Vendetta. I love V.

4. Favorite TV series?
America's Next Top Model, haha. I'm starting to like House a lot and 24 as well...

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
Russia. Then I'd kick China's ass... because I know Mr. Tos would take China.

6. What is your dream job?
I'd like to be an advertising creative in a nice firm- and then retire out west on a ton of land, running a ranch for families to spend their vacations at.

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
I really like a lot of people... Oliver is one of my closest friends now, James (WebWorldX), Alan, Ash, Peter, InvaderJello, Shadow, and Eternity are all people I actually met here and have known for a while... love them all. (My Scribbles girlies may just come to visit usually, but I love them all dearly as well.)

8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
Um. Britt. Duh.

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
Band!t... but I hope to get to know him better. In a non-kinky way.

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know about you.
I listen to both Sarah McLachlan and System of a Down. In one sitting.
I also might be studying at Oxford next semester. -crossfingers-

Kari

1. What is your favorite art piece of your own?
I don’t have any particular favourites in my gallery... but one that reflects part of my personality is escape of the sandman. A lot of the time I feel like I’m running from life and responsibility as I just can’t seem to commit to it... but, yea...

2. What’s your favorite Collection we’ve done so far?
Surrealism forever.

3. If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Hmm. Step Up. I’m nuts about that movie and I love the dance at the end of it.

4. Favorite TV series?
Oh god. No idea. I’m a Grey’s Anatomy nut (yes, Britt, you were right), but I’ve also gotten hooked onto Bones, Men in Trees and Heroes lately.

5. Pick a country to take over and run. Who would you first wage war against?
New Zealand. We’re isolated from the rest of you lot and I’m quite attached to my hobbity homeland.

6. What is your dream job?
Interpreter, working somewhere with languages... travelling. I’m not sure, to be honest. I’m thinking of going into diplomacy though.

7. Play favorites: who’s your favorite person that you’ve met on SSD?
Jonny’s the one I’ve known the longest because I met most of the other people I’m nuts about on Scribbles. Other people that I love on here are Whit, Kay, Barbie and a couple other unmentionables who know who they are.

8. Of all the people in this art group, if you could have one random and steamy hookup, who would you choose?
I’d choose a bed full of them over one any day of the week, m’friends.

9. Who of the members do you feel you know the least about?
Band!t I think is the only one that I don’t know very well... but I remember talking to him on MSN once or twice...

10. One absolutely random fact that you don’t think anyone else would know about you:
I’m allergic to lactose and citrus.

[The Herald]

Name: Britt
Age: 19
Hobbies: Manipulating, Dance, Shopping, Eating (I love food.), Painting...
Website (if any): windcharmer.deviantart.com

Well, well, well, it's our newest addition to the Art Group. So tell us, how'd you start and how long have you been designing?

Ohhh, I believe I started Spring of 2005. I started manipulating mostly out of curiosity. I had seen Car (Urbancinderella) and Kari manipulate tons of times and they were a big part of my inspiration to even start. With a kind gesture from Crazy_J (Giving me PS), I was able to begin manipulating my own stuff. I guess fall of last year was when I really started getting serious about it though.

What about a favored technique? And what type, like sigs, avatars, big pieces, etc.

Oh big pieces definitely. I have a hard time with signatures and avatars (probably because they don't convey enough of a message). I really like working with conceptual work. Occasionally Surreal.. But conceptual is my thing.

Other than Photoshop, what have you used, or do you use anything besides it?

Nope. Only photoshop. Tried imageready.. but I always go back to Photoshop.

Was there anyone that inspired you, or you looked up to?

Car definitely, she made me want to create art in a surreal form. Kari has inspired me for years. Adam because he has good signatures and I can't make a signature worth crap. Pretty much I gather inspiration from a whole lot of different people. It's hard to just point out one person because of how many have greatly affected me.

What about turning it into a career? Ever though about that?

Well, I think every artist in some form has. At this stage, I don't think I could make what I have as my hobby into a career. If I got better, maybe. But doubtful.

Any words of wisdom for those beginning to design, or those that are looking for some advice?

And you can surprise yourself. I know I certainly have surprised myself.

Do you have 3 pieces of yours that are your favorite that you can share with us.

Number One
Number Two
Number Three

Well thank you for your time Britt! It sure was a pleasure interviewing you today.

Thanks Kay! This was fun.

___________________________

I'd like to just state that I applaud Britt for putting up with me when I conducted this interview. I'll admit I was half asleep. I actually had passed out. That's what I get for being sleep deprived. Haha. Anyways, if there's something that doesn't make sense, blame me, and send a PM to me stating so. Ciao.

[The Herald]

Mark Ramstead is my first choice for this month's five top artists. His gallery is full of beautiful nature shots. The vibrant colors are enough to make even the most avid nature-lover drool. Full of scenes that'll make you want to pack up a backpack and go hiking, you're in for a treat when you view this talent-filled gallery.



One of the most well known artists on deviantART, Eireen has certainly earned her fame through hard work and great use of talent. Her creations use a unique mix of manipulation and airbrushing techniques which give the artist her very own style. With thought-provoking concepts and lots of digital eye-candy, Eireen's gallery is definitely worth a look-through.



KLE is a perfect example of the combination of imagination and talent. One of the first traditional artists to be featured within this article, KLE is certainly setting the bar high. His illustrations often pick on thoughtful topics that are sure to get your mind spinning while others provide a surreal vacation for your brain. If you like Escher's stuff, be sure to check out this artist's detailed images.



Another well-known artist on DA, WB-Skinner is someone I've been wanting to feature for a while now. His prints are some of the most popular prints on the website, and when you view his photography up close, it's easy to see why. With his use of dark moods and complex style of lighting, WB-Skinner's photographs often seem too good to be real. If you're looking to see what a camera can do, these high quality photographs are sure to get you as hooked on the medium as Jonny is.



Alexander Jansson is the last featured artist this month- and he's definitely case to prove the last-but-not-least concept. His manipulations really appeal to the fantasy-lover in me. He has a wonderful use of color that when paired with his imagination give the viewer their very own fantasy world. Don't be afraid to take a look- or two.

[The Herald]

“New Adobe® Photoshop® Lightroom™ software is the professional photographer's essential toolbox, providing one easy application for managing, adjusting, and presenting large volumes of digital photographs so you can spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens.” -Adobe

It basically says it all. Adobe has come out with a new product sure to revolutionize the lives of photographers everywhere. With a smoother layout conducive to the editing of photos, and the ability to work with more kinds of raw files and file types; Lightroom may just put Photoshop off the map when it comes to pictures.

Editing in Lightroom will be much smoother than in Photoshop. It accepts more than 150 raw formats, plus your regular photo file formats. And you have no need to worry, because while you’re editing your images the original data will not be altered. Definitely a good safeguard for those who are wishy-washy about photo manipulation of any kind. Everything you need for editing is also easily organized and findable. All modules are task-oriented just for that purpose.

Speaking of editing, there are even more tools in here for your use than with Photoshop. Just like on your camera, you can now edit things like the white balance and exposure. This takes some of the guesswork out of what you do in the field, but it can also be thought of as nothing more than a safe guard. So these options and more will help to keep every photographer out there very happy. And of course, since there are all these new options, your tools have also become more fine-tuned, allowing you to work in more select areas of the image. A huge plus!

This program can be used on trial for 30 days, or bought at an introductory price of $199.00 USD. After that, it’ll be $299.00 USD. Of course, this is much cheaper than Photoshop. Just one more of the perks to the product.

Check it out at: Adobe Lightroom.