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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:01:57 GMT
I was looking around at the boards earlier and I checked out The Herald board and guess what I noticed? What? Hmm? I’ll tell you. May marks a milestone this month: The Herald has now been running successfully for a full year. In this note, I pay homage to all members of the magazine staff, both past and present. Without them, this magazine would not be here; it would not be still running. I’m proud to have been a member of this team for the last year and I’m looking forward to it continuing. A big, big thank you to the magazine team this month – particularly pandora, who wrote a whopping number of articles, ones that weren’t just her own assignments. Thanks, Max, for sticking around with us for the whole time, and thanks for being so dependable with your articles. Thank you, as a whole, to everyone. I think I better leave y’all to read the magazine now before I start rambling on for a thousand words or so. Enjoy the magazine this month!
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:02:51 GMT
I’d say it’s been a riot of a month this month. Promotions, departures and Easter bunnies are how I would describe it. Some people may say that SSD stays the same from month to month, but I beg to differ. There’s always something happening, just like your cat is always going to leave fur on the carpet, much to the vacuum cleaner’s dismay. I’ve decided to put a new layout in place here. If you don’t like it then you may wear your family pet as underwear for the next month. Arrivals and DeparturesOne of the events that I think shook the community was the departure of Urban Cinderella. She has been a member here since October 2003, worked her way to the top and has given so much to SSD. It’s really hard to put all the little things she has brought to SSD into writing, because she is better than me at them. In fact, if it weren’t for her, this amazing article would not be here. All I can really say is “Thank You” for being my piece of baked clay. Now as I’m sure most of you have seen Kari as Global Moderator and Visigoth as Interview Moderator. Both of them are doing a cracking job, which is more than can be said for the cat. Unfortunately this month, we have lost several moderators - California and Uzukami. Both will be missed. Uzukami is likely to still be around on the forums and California… well, we may not see him for a while. None of them were sacked; it was their own choice to leave. CommunicationsHear ye, hear ye. Sit down and listen up. I’m sure all of you remember the chatroom from the days in v3... so you’ll be pleased to know that it’s back up and running. It works exactly the same way as the one in v3 did, only it’s revamped to look even prettier (ie: match with the current version of the forum and website). The official time for chats will be Saturday 9PM GMT. Have a look on Google for a clock if you don’t know what that time would be in your area. The chats are bound to last for a good two to three hours, so if you’ve nothing to do on a Saturday night (Ed: or an early Sunday morning on my time...), stop by! We’d love to have you there. It doesn’t matter who you know or how long you’ve been a member – the more the merrier. The chat room will be moderated during this period. Outside of that time, we cannot guarantee this. ResourcesI’d like to give thanks to everyone in the graphics resource area; your submissions have been coming in rather rapidly. My thanks of course also extend to the lady organising it all, Eternity. The current collection now stands at: 397. Additionally the code database has exceeded 300 codes, so another round of thanks there. DevelopmentVersion six is coming along nicely. Enjoy this issue. --Oliver.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:03:14 GMT
Blue Ennui by Egbakaet is one of the old school submissions to our website. But, just because it isn't brand spanking new, it doesn't mean in any way that it isn't a great download. With some nifty coding from himself and a little help from his friends, Egbakaet has come up with a simple yet very functional web layout. Using iframes and a little javascript this template mimicks one of those funky content management systems built in PHP (SSD's website is a prime example of such a system). And it's not just the coding that's a pull for this template, oh no. The images are a veritable picnic for the eyes! The swirling brush strokes in the banner pull you into the template and the high tech but neat gradients spice up the otherwise blank tables. With instructions, the font and psd files included you can easily customise this template for use on your own projects and with all that Egbakaet requires is that you keep the tiny, hardly noticeable copyright image, there is definitely no excuse for you not to download this website template.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:04:06 GMT
I hear a loud beeping noise and look up to see a camera pivoting in the corner.
Sergei grabs a carton sitting in the pile next to him, and throws it at the camera. The camera stops moving and remains silent. After about a minute of silence, Sergei begins talking. "The creator. He's made everything here, and just about everything around here. Everyone you see around here is either a product of his imagination, or else someone to be used in a future experiment. That's what I am. I have to give myself injections periodically, to stabilize the chemicals that are in my body now."
"So why does he want me?" I ask.
This is just an excerpt from my carefully chosen “Poem or Prose” of the month, "Watch" by Nick. I enjoyed the time I spent reading the many poems and chapters submitted throughout the month of April. My attention was held. I am impressed with the heartfelt pieces gracing the SSD Literature board. It takes some people no small bit of courage to put heart and soul into a story or poem, and then allow others to freely comment and dissect the sentences and phrases that were so diligently strung together. I picked “Watch” as this month’s best effort. It is unique, Isaac Asimov-esque, and shows incredible potential. Nick’s choice of keeping the action fresh and current with the present tense, rather than the usual past tense “this already happened, I’m just telling you about it”, is an inspired and challenging choice. However, this piece is not complete. The fact that I am looking forward to more segments of the story is proof enough that Nick is doing his job as a writer. The reader is interested. The reader is entertained. Congratulations, Nick! Just don’t leave us hanging, please. Anyone like Harry Potter? David [hp] does and it has had a great effect in the Code Support board. David had taken time out of enjoying areas like Chillout and giving something back to the members of the community. Therefore, I’m pleased to announce David [hp] with Member of the Month for May. Well, Mitch certainly caught my eye this month with Peering through belief. For all of you that know me, I’m a bit of a lover of nature shots and, coming from a country of islands, I love the beach too. This photo pretty much sums up what I remember of the beach – the blue sky, the waves, the sand and the pier is a pretty cool addition. I love the reflection of the pier in the watery sand. The grain on the photo makes it look like it comes from a film camera – though I’m betting that this was digital – and all up, it’s a cool photo. Congratulations to Mitch! Avatar of the Month: Assassinator! The colors are good, it's cute, it grabs your attention. The animation is played out well, and you don't have the typical "square" look. Great job! Signature of the Month: Mitch! You got a great variety of colors here. It's got that abstract look that is looked for in a good piece of abstract work. It captures the eye, and makes you just stare at it intently. The border is well placed. Great job! "Children's books are really just short stories for short people. " pandora"I found another of Kari, look here-awaits the coming of armageddon-" "Only I can call her a sheep. " Jonny & LPF"Don't you want to step it up to, maybe, Superb Andrew, Formidable Andrew or perhaps Super Andrew?" pandora"Girls, girls, girls." "Vince Neil called.... I'm sure you know where that's going." ACoolie & James"Recently LPF has been popping up, biting at my heals like a small dog. " Oliver"Oliver stays sober so he can date-rape small animals, and rub ludely against the free samples in carpet shops." The Baron"yup, but i beat her biatch ass ^^ (she was taller than me too, i own)" Eternity"Nah...he won't resist." "The rophynol's for CM - more Oliver for me." Jonny & The Baron"Were you being serious in the "Blue" piece, Oliver ? " "Not quite, he meant slutty where it said smutty " Ovi & Jonny"Older than you." " Wishes are for those who refuse to accept the truth. <3" LPF & Kari"I find it funny that a (child) sex offender lives across the street from one of the schools in my city. Funny, indeed." "... and his name is Artos. " "I'm not below flying to Britain and stalking you from a distance." Artos & Max"You can be my buddy if you eat jesus's bread for him" " Or, you can be my buddy, if you have a webcam and can strip for me. " "Or you can be my buddy for free. " "Yeah, kay's your best bet, she's sexy " "You can be my buddy if you kill one of the others... " Beam, Ovi, Kay, Assassinator & Jonny"Boys fighting over boys, what has the world come to " Assassinator"Jonny: Such a n00b. But we all can't help but love him. I use to spam up his dA journals, but I haven't been on there in quite sometime. He's a sweet, caring guy though. Don't let him fool you into thinking otherwise." "I'm a deceitful little sadist really.....don't believe her! She's lying! I'll kill you allNo, I wouldn't have the heart really <3 " Kay & Jonny"I provide enough corruption for an entire government . No need for a senate trying to do my job." James"2) Meet Jim, Greg, Chris, and possibly Whitney in person." "*cries*" Kay & LPF“ Blow, blow, thou winter wind Thou art not so unkind, As man's ingratitude.” - William Shakespeare“ Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something.” - Henry David Thoreau“ Talking much about oneself can also be a means to conceal oneself.” - Friedrich Nietzsche“ When you appeal to force, there's one thing you must never do - lose.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower“ Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” - Thomas Jefferson“ This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.” - Dorothy Parker“ What a splendid head, yet no brain.” - Aesop“ Life... is like a grapefruit. It's orange and squishy, and has a few pips in it, and some folks have half a one for breakfast.” - Douglas Adams“ I used to wake up at 4 A.M. and start sneezing, sometimes for five hours. I tried to find out what sort of allergy I had but finally came to the conclusion that it must be an allergy to consciousness.” - James Thurber“ Every one of us gets through the tough times because somebody is there, standing in the gap to close it for us.” - Oprah Winfrey“ If I could drop dead right now, I'd be the happiest man alive.” - Samuel Goldwyn“ Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.” - Jane AustenIt’s old, but I hadn’t seen it until last night and I want to review it. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I’m bringing my thoughts on Advent Children to you. When I was talking to other people before while downloading it, it was the general consensus that it was “the pwnage” and “very cool”. Needless to say, I felt that it was time to check out what they’d all been raving over. I’ve always been quite the Final Fantasy fan and, despite never having played FFVII myself, I decided that Advent Children would be worth a look. I’ve played FFVIII and Kingdom Hearts, so I’m familiar with most of the characters – yes, yes, I know they vary from game to game, so shh. Coming from someone who had never played the game before, Advent Children was a little hard to follow in the beginning, but the movie soon cleared itself up for me and I was able to follow what was happening. The graphics are good, smooth and very nice on the eyes, the action scenes keep your attention riveted and it’s nothing short of exciting. The first half of the movie is used to establish the plot and develop the characters to give you an idea of what’s going on. After that it’s all go with action, chases, a monster fight scene... exciting stuff. Check it out. It’s worth it. 4/5 from me.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:19:00 GMT
Adam was roused at 2:43am by the phone, ringing. Quickly he flung off the blanket that he’d had over him as he rushed to answer the phone. Only two sorts of people would ring him at this time of the night: the kidnapper and the police. Whether it was the former or the latter, he didn’t care, he just wanted to have some sort of contact with his daughter. It was the police department. “Mmhmm, yeah, okay, when do you want us in?” He nodded soundlessly as he took in what they were telling him. “So you need Ranae and I to come in to confirm identification of Hollee? Okay, we’ll be right down.” He hung up the phone and went to wake up Ranae. “Ranae, sweetie,” he whispered, kneeling on the bed and shaking her shoulder gently. He kept shaking her until she groaned and opened her eyes to look at him sleepily. She blinked a few times before asking, “What’s going on?” Adam’s voice was soft to not wake the others. “The phone rang. I’ve heard from the police; they picked up a girl earlier, we have to go down to the hospital to identify her, to see if she’s Hollee.” Ranae smiled slightly. “Well, what are we waiting for then? I’ll go wake the kids, you get dressed and get the car ready.” “Precisely what I was thinking of doing,” Adam replied, nodding. “Let’s hurry.” “Give us five minutes.” “Three.” “Four.” “You have a deal.” Adam was already dressed as they were speaking. “I’ll see you guys in the car.” Ranae walked out of the room and, true to her word, four minutes later she and the kids were buckling themselves into the car to head down to Sacred Heart Hospital. Ten minutes later, at approximately 3am in the morning, they pulled into the entrance of the hospital and parked right in front of the hospital doors. “Come on, kids, let’s go see Hollee,” Ranae said to the kids in the back seat. “She’s just in the hospital somewhere not far from here. The quicker we get in there, the better, okay? So let’s hurry.” The children didn’t need any encouragement as they were already unbuckling their seatbelts and throwing themselves out of the car. They ran through the hospital entrance without hesitation and followed their father to the reception desk, where they found that Detective Sterks was waiting for them. He smiled tightly as he saw the family approach him. “Detective? You said something on the phone about having found Hollee?” Adam asked. “Yeah, where is she?” Ranae chimed in, coming in behind her husband, folding her arms, her voice anxious. “Is she okay?” Wordlessly Detective Sterk ushered them down the hallway to one of the rooms in the intensive wing. “We have armed guards guarding the door,” he explained as he gestured at the people standing outside of the fifth room on the left side of the hallway. “We know the people that did it, but we haven’t been able to find them yet.” Ranae looked back at her other children and bit her lip. “Um, Detective? Could you please get one of these guards to look after my children while Adam and I go in to see Hollee?” Detective Sterks looked confused for a second before finally acknowledging Ranae’s request. “Of course.” He motioned to one of the guards and pointed to the children. The guard understood and guided the children down the hallway to the waiting room. Adam thanked the detective and smiled gratefully at him. “Are we allowed to go in to see Hollee now?” He looked at his wife. “Or, rather, are you ready to see her?” Ranae was silent for a couple of moments before she choked out a “yes” in response. Adam rubbed his wife’s shoulder supportively and opened the door to Hollee’s room. They entered together. Ranae’s eyes widened as she saw her daughter laying on the hospital bed, motionless. It was enough to make her start crying; to even make Adam look away. He clenched his right fist and gritted his teeth as he silently made a vow to track down the people who had hurt his daughter and make them pay for what they’d done to her. He stifled back a sob and finally glanced back at his daughter. She had several bruises and lacerations on her face, hands, arms and legs. Both of her eyes were black and blue. Trembling, Ranae gently took hold of her daughter’s limp hand. Through her tears, she looked up at her husband, who was shaking with fury. “Adam,” her voice cracked on the last syllable of his name, “what are we going to do?” Adam ignored her question and, instead, looked at Detective Sterks. “Where did they find her?” The tone in Detective Sterks’ voice was flat. “We found her in an abandoned car on the freeway. They beat her so badly that she’s in a coma. The doctors think that it’s highly likely that she’ll pull through and wake up, but they’re not exactly sure when that will be. They’ve said, at this stage, only time will tell.” His voice had changed in the latter half of his explanation, the sadness becoming apparent in his tired expression on his ageing face. “I’ll leave you be,” he whispered into the silence that had fallen after his explanation and he left the room, gently shutting the door behind him. Adam moved around to the other side of Hollee’s bed. He’d just begun to sit down when a doctor came in through the door. He stopped in his tracks as he took in the two new visitors and looked at them with questioning eyes. “Are you the parents?” he asked. Adam and Ranae nodded solemnly. Relief flooded the doctor’s expression. “Well, there’s a few things I can tell you about what’s happening with her condition. I also have some news – some good and some bad. She’s in a stable condition, though she’s unfortunately in a coma, which is no surprise after everything that she’s been through. I had one of the female doctors do a rape kit on her and it’s come back positive. I’ll leave it to the both of you to decide if you want us to give her the Morning After pill so that she doesn’t have to live with this for the rest of her life.” Ranae nodded imperceptibly as she whispered, “Do it,” without looking at her husband. The doctor nodded. “Okay, and that’s about all for now. I’ll keep you updated on her progress.” Ranae gazed at her daughter for a long moment before looking back at the doctor. “Can we please stay here for a while, just to keep her company?” she asked. The doctor smiled at her. “You know what,” he suggested, “I’ll ask one of the nurses to set up a few beds in the room next door and one bed in here. That way, you all can stay in here and one person can always stay in her room.” “Thank you,” Ranae said in a whisper. “You’re welcome and it’s the least we can do. I know how traumatising this must be for all of you.” The doctor exited the room. Ranae glanced at her husband. “Do you mind if I’m the one to stay in Hollee’s room tonight and you sleep in with the kids? I just want to be close by to her to make sure that I’m here if she wakes up. In her state and after all she’s been through, I think she may need it.” “I completely understand and you don’t heave to ask. I’ll bunk down with the kids and go to tell them now what’s going on. I don’t think they’ll mind sleeping here tonight. Knowing them, they’re probably already half-asleep in the waiting room at the moment.” Adam smiled slightly. “I’ll wait around a couple of minutes and then head off to round them up again.” “Why wait?” Ranae asked. “Don’t you think it’d be best to get them off to sleep as soon as possible?” “I suppose you’re right... let me know if you need me at all. If you do anyway, I’m just down the other end of the hallway. The nurse is probably going to be in sometime with the beds. Don’t wait up too long.” Adam left the room. Ranae turned back to her daughter and gently rubbed her fingertips against Hollee’s limp hand. “I wish you’d wake up...” she whispered. “I’d give anything to be sure that you’re okay. I’m here, honey, I’ll always be here for you...”
And later that morning the phone rang for the second time. “Hello?” Adam said, picking it up. “Mr. Carlyle?” “This is he.” “We found the people who hurt your daughter.”
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:19:32 GMT
Kick back and grab your popcorn (please try to refrain from pelting it at the people in front of you as a joke, as I’d like to keep this place as clean as possible. Y’all know how anal I am about cleanliness) as I bring you into the world of what ... gaspshock ... could possibly be. I’m no seer of the future, but even I have an active imagination and, in this article, I’m proud to say that it’s going to be exercised. Prepare yourselves. Things could get very messy. Picture this scenario: SSD has fallen. The Head Office lies in ruins, smoke rising from the towers that were once Oliver’s office; the Mod Inn’s roof is crumbling in and the old members are taking refuge in the bowels of the Archives. The little things that are known as, dare I say, “n00bs” are running over the remains of what once was. Some carry torches as they search for people to interrogate with requests, some carry stakes and a large group haul a battering ram designed to knock in the doors of strongholds that still stand. Oliver, the main admin of the forum, is nowhere to be seen. After being plucked from his domineering perch on the food chain, he was shipped off to the local bonfire in his monkeycage to be hung off a stake above said bonfire. The mods’ whereabouts are unknown. James, Eternity and the one known as “Sheep” – those of the blue status – have been done away with. Sheep was dragged away kicking and screaming from her beloved Herald headquarters with tears streaming down her face as she watched all of her hard work burn to the ground. Her team, her Herald Team, were no more. Little did she know...They had escaped. Armed with their pens and with Sheep’s red editing markers, they fought their way through the rampaging n00bs. Ink was splashed, tips were broken, pens were converted into makeshift slingshots and all hell was let loose. “Go, go, go!” ACoolie shouted, waving his hand at Whitney and Kay as they ran through the city of Arrivals and Departures and hesitated at the ditch between the city and the arid plains of Chillout. “Come on, we have no time to waste! Do you want to be fried by n00bs?” “Um, I think that would probably be a bad idea,” Whitney offered. “I’ll jump when you jump, Kay.” “... well damn well jump already!” ACoolie was close to breaking point with exasperation. “I’ve already obtained a broken hand from those n00bs and you don’t see me waiting around for them to catch up with me.” Jonny and Uzukami were at the back of Whitney and Kay, fighting off the n00bs that dared to approach them. They were armed to the teeth with slingshots, red pens and even the Sheep’s Dag – a mighty editing weapon that she used on the people who turned in late articles. It was a thing to be feared and the n00bs were cowardly at heart, even if they were brave in numbers. Soon the plains of Chillout were littered in n00bs and the Herald Team stopped to take a survey of all that had happened in the short, but fiercely fought, battle. Everyone, save for ACoolie, fell onto the ground and lay back on the grass. “Guys, we need to keep on moving,” ACoolie griped, unsteady on his feet after being rucked by a reckless n00b. “Says him of the broken hand,” Max muttered under his breath, kicking his heels into the ground. “Go throw a sleeping bag over your head.” More arguing followed before pandora, ever the world-weary, told them all to be quiet as they might alert more n00bs of their whereabouts. “... possible,” nest-y reasoned. “If we keep on acting the way we are – immature and rowdy – then they’re bound to find us at some point. We’d be best to keep as inconspicuous as we can.” “And you call this” – ACoolie waved his hand around at the n00bs on Chillout – “inconspicuous?” He laughed. “Like hell, this is inconspicuous. We’d be better off heading back to the Archives with the other members.” “But what about the others? The blue people, the mods, Ollie?” Kay asked. “What about them?” “Aren’t we going to try to find them?” “And risk our necks among the n00b throngs again? I’d rather go into the monkeycage and be hung over the bonfire.” nest-y muttered under his breath, “It was only a thought...” Whitney was biting her lip. “I think it’d be best to go and look for them. At least, then, if we find them, they’ll be able to tell us what to do from there.” “We’ll look into it,” Jonny said. “For now, we’d be better off to move again and try to find them later. Let’s head for the Archives.” The group set off unaware that, mere metres behind them, a n00b slowly began to inch their way in the opposite direction towards the tall tower that loomed on the horizon.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:20:05 GMT
So, why should I believe in God? Some people say that he doesn't exist. Some say he was just made up by people long ago. Still that doesn’t deter me from what I believe in. I’m here to tell you why I believe. I believe in God because that’s all I've ever known. I grew up in a Christian family. My father and mother were not exactly Christians when they got married. However, sooner or later, God came knocking on their door and entered their lives, from then they were converted, and He gave them a whole new meaning to their lives. I don't exactly remember being saved. I believe I received Christ around five or six years of age. Nobody really knows. Except God, of course. He remembers the exact date, which he will never forget in all eternity. Do you know why? It's because he loves you and me with all of his heart; he cares for you, he knows you inside and out, he loves every bit of you no matter what you do. You can be a murderer, or even a child abuser, and he still loves you unconditionally. He looks past your sin into your true heart. He forgives all sins, no matter what you have done in the past. No matter how many times you sin, you can go to Him, asking his forgiveness over, and over, his mercy for you will still be never-ending. Why am I a Christian? There’s no other way that you can get to Heaven; none, it's impossible without Him. If you don't know God, you’ve been given a chance to know him, you turn it down, and you die the next day, you'll be on your way to Hell. What's Hell you ask? Well, use your imagination on that one, because words cannot explain its cruelty. Heaven, on the other hand, is full of joy and peace. Its streets are made of pure gold! You never go to sleep, it never gets dark, you never have to do chores, go to school, brush your teeth, or anything that you normally do here on Earth. It may sound quite stupid in your opinion, but you have to believe. I'd be safe, accept him into your life, and avoid the burning pits of Hell. And to add to that, you will be present in Heaven for all eternity, forever and ever! Can you imagine that? Words cannot explain how much God has done for you! And still has in store for you! Just accept him into your heart. Do you want God to come into your heart, and change you and so many different ways? If you do, say this simple prayer: God, I know that I need you. I thank you for sending your son to die on the cross for my sins. I know that I have been living wrong, and unfaithfully. That's going to change, right here, right now. I want you to come into my heart. Fill me with your peace and joy, enlighten me and enter my life forever. I accept you. Amen.See, that wasn't that hard. You now have God as your lord and saviour, who will guide you in your tough times, and celebrate with you in your times of good. Now talk to him, pray to him. Ask him anything you need and pray for it, and you will surely receive it. Don't give up! He is right there with you, although you can't see him, you can hear him and feel his presence all around you. Read the Bible and get into a spirit filled Christian church, and you will be on the right track with God, and on your way to Heaven in the future. I hope someone spent some time of reading this and, if you did, I believe it will change your life forever.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:20:26 GMT
I was faced with a very interesting question by a teacher today. Would a world without Religion or Government function? Would it be better than now or worse than our darkest fears of evil? I found that I could not come up with a straight answer. I've always found that it would be better not to have them, especially religion, but I have never given it very much thought. Without government, the people are entirely on their own. No benefits, no laws, no protection. But, you shouldn't really need any serious protection if there is no government or religion, because most wars are started over one of the two. Benefits. People lived without Social Security long before it was instated, they could still do it now. I could go more in depth, but you get the idea. And generally laws are made to be broken. When you are told not to do something or that you have to do something, you automatically think about not doing it. So without any laws, what would give you the idea to actually do something all that wrong? As for religion, the same old debate here. I'm not going to go in depth, but I feel that it was just created as a way to control the people, much like government had been made. But why do we need to be controlled? We are animals and animals aren't supposed to be controlled by anyone but themselves. Those were my first thoughts, but then I began to think about what would happen without these two. The obvious things that came to mind were the mass chaos that would be created. People would obviously try to abuse this freedom, as everything is abused by our species. There would be nothing to stop the use of weapons of mass destruction, but that is if they were ever created without a government. There would be no money as we know it and we would have to rely on a system of bartering, but that has been used in the past and it was very successful in some areas such as China and Rome many, many years ago. Then you have human instincts. The instinct to strive, the instinct to survive, the instinct to be in power. That is what worried me most. Someone eventually would try to gain power. Someone would try to create a government, and it would most certainly be a dictatorship. But then again, if government never existed, the idea of power and control may never exist, and how would someone ever get this idea? If religion did not exist, many would be ruthless and lawless. They would be without values that many develop because of religious teachings, but they would have different values in their place, and who is to say that this would be all that bad? Religion helps 'show the way', so to speak, but it also causes many problems. Most acts of terrorism are done today because of hatred between the religions (as well as lifestyles and government, but not as much as religion) and without religion, would these acts even happen? Would religious wars happen? Right now, the Middle East is on the brink of war. Iraq is on the edge of civil war. Iran is developing nuclear weapons and have stated that certain countries aren't worthy of this world. Battles happen on a daily basis over one single city. The illusion we have right now of peace is tearing, and there is very little that anyone can do. The Middle East is just one area of this world that is having trouble right now, but it is certainly not the only one. Religion and government certainly do cause a lot of trouble and unrest, but can you possibly imagine a world without either one? I have a hard time doing so, but I certainly see many benefits from it. So the next time you are arguing government or religion, just give a thought to what it would be like without either one.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:21:05 GMT
“Nirvana is not only a word, my friend; it is a thought.” Hermann Hesse Vesak is a holiday celebrated in many Asian countries on the day of the full moon in the month of May. Buddhists throughout Asia pay homage to the birth, enlightenment and death of Siddhartha Gautama. If I ever allow myself to belong to an organized religion, Buddhism would be the one, for it is not a religion, but a philosophy--a search for pure truth, nirvana. “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse can boast that it is the catalyst for my decision. This book opened my eyes, all three--two to view the physical world with new light, and the third to wake from its sleep and search my soul for enlightenment, clarity and peace. Though I am still searching, each time I read “Siddhartha” my hope is renewed that I may yet find the elusive nirvana of which Hesse speaks. This thin paperback, six bucks U.S., is the story of one life, one man, a prince. Sheltered until he grew to be a man, Siddhartha finally and secretly ventures into the world outside his palace. For the first time in his life he comes in contact with elderly people, sick people and poor people. His heart swells with emotion and confusion. He and his friend Govinda agree to travel far and wide to attain enlightenment in order to cope with the truths of the world. They join a group known as Samanas, ascetics denying all luxuries and most of what we would consider necessities. Enlightenment seems near, but eludes them still. Eventually, the friends part ways and Siddhartha chooses a greedy path, craving money and power, until he can stand his wretchedness no longer. He longs for death and hovers on the brink, only to be saved at the last instant by the infamous “OM”, the universal sound that binds all in harmony. Siddhartha’s journey is complete. He needed to understand many paths in order to reach his goal. He was the dutiful Prince, the devout ascetic, the villainous businessman, and finally, The Buddha. The dialogue as well as the story itself is clear, and well translated into English by Hilda Rosner. “Siddhartha” is a classic, and a mighty tale for such a quick read. Set aside a weekend this month and take this journey with Siddhartha. You have nothing to lose, and a brilliant new understanding of life to gain.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:21:31 GMT
I’m not going to lie to you. This is not your average current-to-the-last-second music artist review. In fact, after “googling” the bejeezus out of this man, I couldn’t find much beyond 2004, but that doesn’t discourage me from singing his praises to you and anyone else who will listen. I consider this more of a “Watch this man’s career” piece. I bring you a programming savant and the unsung hero of both mainstream and underground Industrial/Electronica: Chris Vrenna. Instead of just gushing like a doe-eyed little girl with a crush, I’ll let his resume impress you. By the end of this article, you’ll understand my enthusiasm. American musician Chris Vrenna (39) grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. By the mid 80’s he had found his way to Chicago and its incredible underground music scene. He’d been a member of both Die Warzau and Stabbing Westward during the last half of that decade. In 1990, he made his way back to his old stomping grounds in Cleveland, Ohio (only a hop, skip and a jump from Erie, Pa.) and reinstated an old musical friendship with Trent Reznor after almost a decade apart. The result was Nine Inch Nails and mainstream acceptance for machine and program driven music, also known as Industrial. From 1990-96, Vrenna and Reznor remained the only permanent members of NIN, and together they produced album after successful album, but like most band mates, creative differences brought an end to the partnership, and Vrenna moved forward with his own vision. As a drummer, his talents were utilized in live shows by such notable bands as KMFDM and Marilyn Manson. As a sought-after producer, re-mixer and engineer he has worked with Rob Zombie, Skinny Puppy, Pigface, Rasputina, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, U2, Weezer, P. O. D., David Bowie, Killing Joke, Cold, Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, and Green Day, among many others. It was his collaboration with Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins in 1997 that won him a Grammy and some much deserved recognition. Here comes my personal favorite part of Vrenna’s career. Under the band name Tweaker he created two impressive albums of work. The first, released in 2001 and titled “The Attraction To All Things Uncertain”, is a sincere work, with heart and soul and originality above and beyond expectations. His programming and production skills are flawless, and the effort seems so easy for him! The musicians he hand picked to work on the Tweaker project are eclectic but inspired choices. Will Oldham, an “alternative country” musician, appears on both Tweaker albums. There is no evidence of country twang, just haunting lyrics and memorable songs when he joins Vrenna. A track titled “Linoleum” was written by Vrenna along with a musician named David Sylvian, and is the only single released by the band. The follow-up album released in 2004, “2 a.m. Wake-Up Call”, is no less impressive. Robert Smith of The Cure makes an appearance, but mostly he sticks to a list of extremely talented musician’s that fly below the mainstream radar. His choices are wise, and the albums are brilliant. Most of the songs are more on the mellow side of Industrial and Electronica. I cannot easily shake the melodies after listening, and I don’t want to shake them. In 2004, Tweaker toured with Industrial legends Skinny Puppy. Of course, I had to go. It was well worth the six hour drive and sleeping in my car after the show at some random rest stop outside of Philadelphia, Pa. I am impatiently awaiting a third album and a new tour. In my opinion, NIN lost a lot of its sincerity when Chris Vrenna left. And yet, when I say, “Nine Inch Nails”, who comes to mind? Even my mother would say “Trent Reznor”. When I say Chris Vrenna’s name, the response I usually get is, “Who?” Maybe, years from now whenever NIN is mentioned, people will actually say, “You mean Chris Vrenna’s old band?” I think that would be beautiful. As for this man’s career, keep your eyes and ears open, folks. Chris Vrenna is too good to miss, but he won’t be spoon fed to you.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:21:54 GMT
Album - In Between Dreams Artist - Jack Johnson Country - Hawaii - United States Genre - Alternative Overall Rating - 4.5/5 Track Listing:- Better Together
- Never Know
- Good People
- No Other Way
- Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
- Staple It Together
- Situations
- Crying Shame
- If I Could
- Break Down
- Belle
- Do You Remember
- Constellations
Jack Johnson (born May 18, 1975) is a Hawaii-born singer-songwriter who has achieved commercial success and a dedicated following since the release of his 2001 debut album Brushfire Fairytales. He has also written On And On and In Between Dreams. His newest album is titled Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George. With a gentle and soothing opening track I sit back [in this very uncomfortable chair] and realise that I’m in for a very good 37 minutes and 52 seconds of listening. The opening track of this thirteen track album is called Better Together and has a nice beat accompanying the gentle voice of Jack Johnson; the track has some nice instruments to it. The track name Better Together already rings out as intriguing to me as it gets you thinking of what might be hiding behind the name, what story there is to the track. As I carry on listening I get to a track called Good People [Track 3] that, in my opinion, is the best track on the album. It has that distinctive beat to it which you find yourself tapping away to and Jack Johnson’s vocals add to the positives of this song. As the track plays you hear "Where'd All The Good People Go" which makes the track what it is, there’s only certain tracks in the music industry which have a distinctive line in the songs that people take away from the track – and this would be one of them. The rest of the tracks carry on the legacy of the previous two tracks that I have just mentioned and most of them will provide you will an enjoyable listening experience which you can take away and hopefully tell people about to further expand Jack Johnson's fan base. Although most things I’ve said about the album are positive, this album is not without its flaws. Some of the tracks can get very annoying as they drone on so sometimes you have to skip them but then other times you can listen right through and enjoy them. With the longest track on being 3 minutes and 33 seconds, this album isn't one of the longest albums that you’ll have to listen to. I think that a bit more content or longer track times would have helped this album be a little more interesting and enjoyable, but that’s just my opinion and there are plenty of positive things about this album that I’ve recommended to you. Overall I can only praise Jack Johnson for producing such a wonderful album and encourage him through being a fan to produce even more of this amazing sort of music. Official HomepageInformation sourced from last.fm
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:22:17 GMT
I suppose I am the most qualified to write this article. I have an awesome step-daughter named Muriel, and, on a whim, I decided to interview her. She really liked the idea when I told her, so here it goes: How old are you?Five How long have we known each other? That one I’ll have to think about. Um, about a month and a half? Is that right, Barbie? No. What would you say if I told you it’s been 3 and a half years since we first met? I think that’s correct. Do you consider us friends? Why? Yes. Because we ARE friends. Because we’re a family. I enjoy talking and hanging out. I’m going to enjoy today, too. We can play and have fun. What is your favorite part about having two mommies? My favorite part about having two mommies is because I always wanted two mommies and two daddies. I get to go to two houses. What can I do to be a better step-mommy? I don’t think there’s an answer to that question. Mother’s Day is almost here. What are you going to do for your mommy? Mother’s Day!!! Yay!!! I’m going to write her a letter. Will you help me write her a letter? Yes. What’s the letter going to be about? It’s going to be XOXOXOX, and it’s going to be…um...I know I want to tell her “I love you”. Happy Valentine’s Day is what I want to tell her. That’s interesting. Why do you want to tell her that? I forgot to give her a Valentine’s Day card. You did a very good job with these questions. What do you think of that? WOOHOO! Good. Little did I know that Muriel had a few questions for me. I told her to ask away. Part two: Interview with me What can I do to be a better step-daughter? Just keep being you. Wrong. Because the right answer is “Keep being good.” Sorry. I’ll remember that next time you ask me. What is it like to have one daughter? I think it’s beautiful. Correctamundo! (Got that from my mom.) What is it like to have a nice warm day, and have a picnic with your daughter? I think that’s like heaven on earth. It’s fun, and a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. What can you do to be a better step-mom? Good question. Lots. Take you hiking and camping more. I know you would like that. (Muriel nods her head yes.) I can’t think of anything else to ask.She is so very pleased with this article. She always sees me typing and writing away, and she wants to be a part of it. Now she is, and I feel all warm and fuzzy for making her happy. In all seriousness, having a step-daughter, even just part time, is not easy. When she was 1 ½, I met this little kitten, and she tested me every step of the way. All I could think to do was be kind, but not let her walk all over me. I showed her love. She grew to love and trust me as well. Maybe I’m not her biological mother, but our friendship is solid and true. I never tried to replace her real mom. I offer protection and friendship. Muriel knows I’m there for her. That’s a very prominent trait in my own mother as well. She is always there for me. Now that I know how much effort being a step mom requires, I can only imagine the energy, love and tireless efforts it takes to be a mother of five, like my mom. There is no end to my appreciation of her sacrifices. One day a year doesn’t quite cover it. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOM!!!
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:22:56 GMT
Without a doubt, the military life is a hard path to follow. Those in the military go through anything and nearly everything that life can throw at you and they still manage to live through everything day by day. For that very reason, the United States of America has proclaimed the last Monday of May, Memorial Day. On Memorial Day, people all around the U.S.A take their weekend off to honour those who have given up their life in battle. This holiday originally was to honour those who died in the American Civil War, but later grew to honour those who have served in World War One, and World War Two. It eventually grew larger and veterans from every war that the U.S.A has participated in are now honoured. The birthplace of Memorial Day is the city of Waterloo, New York, which has celebrated this holiday since 1868. Memorial Day was originally held on May 5th 1868 and was proposed by General John Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic. On this holiday, usually a ceremony is held and all the soldiers that gave up their lives in the line of duty are commemorated. The Indianapolis 500 has coincided with Memorial Day since 1911. Some Americans view Memorial Day as the first day of summer and celebrate by having picnics, going to the park or to the beach. Usually there is a morning church service, which is later followed by a visit to the local cemetery and the placing of flowers on the graves of the veterans. Although some Americans treat this day lightly and just enjoy the three day weekend, my feeling is that this day shouldn’t be treated so lightly. These soldiers sacrificed their life for you to have a free country, so they should be remembered and thought of. Think of that the next time Memorial Day rolls around and remember that your freedom shouldn’t just be taken for granted.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:23:22 GMT
Viva el Cinco de Mayo!When you hear these words, think Cinco de Mayo. Of course, that’s pretty much a given considering that the last three words of the statement are the exact name of the holiday that I’m going to tell you about. Now how did this holiday exactly come about? It happened when the French decided that they wanted to invade Mexico, but were thwarted by the Mexicans in the attempt. You see, that’s only the short version of the story. The long version goes a little along the lines of this... About five months prior to the actual battle, the French, the Spanish and the English had come to Mexico to collect debt from the Mexican government. The Spanish and English were finished quickly, made deals and went on their merry way, but the French, however, were another story. They decided that they wanted to stay in Mexico and Emperor Napoleon III, who happened to despise the United States, sent along a Hapsburg prince by the name of Maximilian to rule the new Mexican empire. The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz open as they moved away to attack Mexico City in the west. Mistakenly thinking that the rest of the country would surrender if the capital city fell, the French were in for a rude awakening. Long story short, the Mexicans were defeated at Mexico City, but only after Emperor Napoleon III (at the expense of a year and 30,000 troops and against the wishes of the general French population) had sent more people down to help with the invasion. Maximilian was installed as the ruler of Mexico, but his reign only lasted three years from 1864 to 1867. During that time, the Civil War in America was winding to an end and America sent troops down to Mexico to expel the French. After another few battles, Maximilian was booted from the throne, executed by the Mexicans and Mexico ruled itself once more. Cinco de Mayo honours the memory of the bravery of the soldiers in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Viva el Cinco de Mayo!Information from MEXonline and Cinco History.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:23:42 GMT
As many of you may or may not know, I have a keen interest in the military. Ever since I was a little boy I have always for some reason loved the military. I don’t know if it was for the guns, tanks, typical little boy things but for no matter what I loved my action figures! May is the National Military Appreciation Month, this month in the United States. Americans honour those who serve in the military and put their life on the line every day. The military life is full of adventure and some very tough times. Those who serve give up time with loved ones to help serve and protect their country. A man once said that “Freedom isn’t Free”, this quote is very true. We, in no way can take freedom for granted. These soldiers give up their lives to give us freedom. These soldiers in the military earn our freedom for us. Imagine where would you be right now if we didn’t have a single ounce of freedom? Would you be with the ones you love? You might not even know where your next meal would come from. Think about all the luxuries we have, and then think about all the luxuries you wouldn’t have if you didn’t have freedom. This month gives us a chance to thank those soldiers. This month take some time to think about what it would be like to be in the service. What kind of personal strength it would take to see what they see. Please do this I can promise it will change your aspect on a whole lot of things.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:24:06 GMT
In America, May is Mental Health Month, and we are a pill nation. Antidepressants in all rainbow colors, even pink Paxil for when you want to feel pretty as well as able to cope with the stress of being human in a mad world. I’m going to be serious now, because this subject deserves it. Depression and suicidal thoughts seem to be the most appropriate topics for this article. I’m willing to bet a good majority of our very own SSD members have experienced toxic doses of depression. Some have even admitted attempting to die in order to end the pain. Instead, they fueled it. If suicide is failure to succeed at life, then failing to die in the attempt is failing at failure itself, in a way. That is the moment when self esteem has forsaken you altogether, it seems. The pain strengthens, and the desire to end the pain greatly increases. The cycle continues, and eventually spins out of control. Worse than failing at suicide is succeeding. Depending on what you believe religiously, you may end the pain for good and find solace at last in death, even a forced death. Or hell may be waiting. Not to mention how selfish such an act is. Perhaps you don’t think so, but each life is connected to the world in its own unique way. Someone will be deeply cut by the loss of you. Instead of leaving this world a better place than when you entered it, you will emanate profound negativity. Your death will darken your corner of the world and cause the very pain you sought to escape to creep into the hearts of the ones you loved so much in life. There is no honor in suicide. No love. No beauty. Before you think I’m giving advice haphazardly about a very grave subject, know that I am not. I have more right to give advice about coping with depression than most professionals. Since I can remember I have viewed this world with a weary eye and a heavy heart. I allowed my depression to grow like a tumor, allowed it to cling to my thoughts and shade the rich hues of the world in a hazy gray. Six years ago I decided I was finished with living. I was tired, right down to my very core. My attempt to die was laughable. Instead of leaving the experience with a renewed and positive outlook on life, I dwelled on the failure, and grew to hate every day more than the one before it. Three months later I put forth a not so laughable effort to end my life. I nearly succeeded. Instead, I entered a personal hell for the next twenty-four hours. I couldn’t move, I had hallucinations, and I thought I had gone completely mad at last. Again, I did not pull through with a renewed outlook on life, I just felt dead in a living world. My recovery was slow. Physically, I was tip-top in two days, but my heart was jaded. The people I loved most were hurt and angry. I thought I was poison, spreading pain to everyone near. Within a month after my second try at death, I made a decision. I would go to someone who knew more than me for help. Soon, I discovered from closely observing my own mood swings and behavior that I was witnessing the results of a chemical imbalance in my brain. This could be treated. This could be balanced. I grudgingly agreed to take antidepressants. Lo and behold, my chaotic thoughts, low self esteem and general moodiness began to mellow into a clear mind. I’d achieved some balance. Not without a conscious effort, of course. What I mean is I didn’t expect the pills to do all the work. They just gave me an even playing field. Pills are not for everyone. It takes time to find out for certain if antidepressants are the answer, and if so, which one is best. Depression is an illness that needs constant attention, like asthma or diabetes. It is a threat to your life. If anyone reading this article relates to the content, I truly hope my words have offered some bit of hope that previously eluded you. I’m not embarrassed to talk about my past. In fact, the only positive part of failing is being able to help anyone like me who may benefit from my mistakes. My mistakes are just as much a part of who I am as my shining achievements. The day I forget that is the day I am doomed to repeat my ugly history. Fact is, this world is not going to change for you. It won’t wait, and it won’t offer an easy solution to depression. You are responsible for adapting. Only when you adapt and accept this chaotic world for what it is will you find any peace. Photograph "Depression" by Halldora Reynisdottir
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:24:28 GMT
Name: Jesus Christ, Jack Baur, Gilbert Arenas, Kanye East whichever one you would prefer Hobbies: Xbox Live, Graphics, writing my creation "The Bible", NBA, TV Favorite Websites: nba.com, ssdesigns.proboards17.com, bungie.net, deviantart.com, Favorite School Subjects: Math, Science, Art, just found out I will be in honors Spanish next year. What brought you to the wonderful SolidSnake Designs?I was brought here by a friend of mine. He’s known around SSD as Magwic. I’ve been around for quite a while, I was originally known as "Nitro". Do you have a favorite designer? And if so, who, and why?Let me tell you a story about my "favorite" designers. I didn't really have any when I was known back as Nitro, I just went around and did my thing. Then as Beam, I knew I would need to hone my skills to become a rising star in the battle board, so I turned to the current battle board star at that time - Insane. He and I became friends, but soon we both left. Meanwhile, at that time, a designer came and IM'd me who seemed good, but could improve. His name was Reedy. So I forgot about him soon and left at SSD. One and a half years later, I return and Reedy's work is outstanding. I got into vector art, and have seen some very good work. So back in the day: Insane. Nowadays, it’d be UC and Reedy, but every once in a while Josh and DLT come out with a great piece. SSD’s a very interesting place when it comes to past and present. How long have you been a designer and how did you get started?I’ve been designing on and off for the last two years. It’s been about one year all up. Magwic got me into designing actually. Funny thing is, now he doesn't have the time to be into it and I’m still standing right here. Do you have a specific type of designing that you like?Photomanipulations are my best genre. I am getting better at brushing, and I’m trying to work with vectors. What programs did you start off with? Do you use a different one now?Nope, Photoshop 7 all the way. Have you ever thought about making a career out of your designing?No, I really want to do something in Science, maybe go into Physics or Chemistry. Do you have 3 examples of your work that you'd like to share?Most recent: www.deviantart.com/view/31881934/My Favorite: www.deviantart.com/view/10934405/First piece as beam: www.deviantart.com/view/7904675/
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:24:55 GMT
Welcome to the Top Artists article for May 2006. Here, with some help from my dear friend LPF, I’ve compiled a list of five artists that should hopefully grab for your attention and give you reason to check out their spectacular galleries. With a little bit for everyone, you’re bound to enjoy what they have to offer. MichelCh would happen to have one of the most diverse galleries in terms of photography that I’ve stumbled across. He has a stunning array of nature shots that are simply breathtaking. I really recommend a visit to his gallery – you won’t be disappointed. This has to be one of the most simple – yet one of the cutest – galleries that I’ve ever seen. pukerainbows has a wonderful gift of being able to communicate emotion through simple line drawings. You may only think they’re stick figures, but I recommend a look-through. She has a cute gallery that’s worth thinking about. Short, sweet and simple. These words do not ring reminiscent of Cutteroz’s gallery. She’s not your run-of-the-mill manipulator either, displaying some rather unusual methods of manipulation. Check her out, her gallery’s worth a look. travsthebean has one of the coolest comic galleries ever. Integrating a cheeky style with imagination to pen and paper can be a hard task. Lucky for us, travsthebean has it down pat and we have the results to enjoy. Hi hi and welcome to kureb’s gallery. If you look to the left, you’ll see colour and a touch of animals. If you look to the right, you’ll see even more colour. That’s right, kureb has colour in droves in his gallery. Cool for him, it works just right. Check him out, it’s most definitely worth it.
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:25:17 GMT
Allow me to tell you about the virtues of Micron pens and Sharpie markers, basic tools that EVERY type of artist should get to know up close and personal. I can hear the sarcasm now. “Pens and markers?! What’s your next article going to be about, Pandora, watching grass grow? Are you going to teach us the fine art of boiling water too?” No. I’ve observed that the basics are usually glossed-over or skipped entirely when it comes to digital art. Somebody has to speak up, and it may as well be me. MICRON:This is a specific brand name that I highly recommend, professional quality Pigma ink at an extremely affordable price. It is available in six very useful point sizes, ranging from the hair-fine 005 (.2 mm) to the bold 08 (.5 mm). From my own experience, Micron brand pens do not “skip”, i.e. create a dashed line where an unbroken line is intended. Micron GLIDES, and that is important to the integrity of any piece. Also, I’ve yet to have the ink fade into a sickly dark green over time, something I’ve experienced with other brands. SHARPIE:Ah, the Sharpie marker, found in pretty much any grocery store. This company provides a wide variety of products, but my favorite is the tried and true black permanent marker, chisel tip, ideal for larger blocks of space in need of black-out, or fine tip for bold outlines. These tools are all you need to apply to paper to create professional black and white illustrations. You can make tangible the images in your mind in the form of thumbnail sketches. Add into the mix an EBONY drawing pencil, and that blank piece of paper is a field of possibilities. The digital artist can benefit from traditional tools such as these. Sketching an idea before creating a digital piece can help the artist focus, and perhaps even spark subtle but effective changes to the original idea. Jon Towers, a buddy of mine, is a published graphic novelist. “The Heart of Abracax” is his first published project, and is black and white throughout. When I first started asking him about the project I was surprised to learn that Micron pens and Sharpie markers were his chosen tools. Twenty dollars for a set of black ink pens and a two pack of black Sharpies. The end result was crisp and clean comic book drawings ripe for scanning, to be manipulated digitally if necessary. Below is a completed black and white character from “The Heart of Abracax”. The nurse is from the developmental phase of a project titled “Amniotic Shock in the Last Sacred Place”. The quick application of water color puts a new splash of life on a sketch, even if the character is a bit on the evil side. For a complete tour of Jon’s dementia, visit www.jonnyaxx.com. The possibilities are endless with the right tools. Art work by Jon Towers Published in "The Heart of Abracax the New Apocrypha Book One" Published by Wasteland Press 2004
Art work by Jon Towers Written by Jeremy Robert Johnson Published in "Amniotic Shock in the Last Sacred Place" Published by The Meat Socket in "Ordeal 4"
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Post by The Herald on May 1, 2006 21:32:28 GMT
I chose cddude229 aka Chris for this interview because he has become one of the most brilliant coders on Proboards. Though not very active on SSD, he still posted a couple of codes in the database and won the SSD Easter egg hunt. Maybe this interview will increase his activity, who knows. But it is for you people to get to know an under-rated coder, especially on SSD. Name: Chris Age: 15 Sex: Male So what do you usually like to do? Some of your hobbies?I usually like to just spend time with my friends and girlfriend, but I'll occasionally spend time playing basketball games in the gym after school, such as 21 and knockout. As for hobbies, a couple would include sports, mainly Track and Football. I also do a lot of weight lifting/endurance training, which can be fun sometimes. Finally, and most obviously, is coding and computers. I spend quite a bit of time messing with them and creating codes (mainly for ProBoards for now), but I do other stuff every once in a while. Guess the only hobby I have left is Math. Yes, I know, its weird, but it’s a hobby. Probably only cause I win math contests, but that's beside the point. Being that good in Math probably helps you a lot in coding. So how did you start with coding, where did it all begin?Well, boredom. I had a three hour car ride ahead of me back when I was in 7th grade, and my mom was going to take me to the bookstore before we left, so I grabbed "HTML 4 for Dummies" since some of the freshmen at that time had been talking about HTML and saying you could "hack websites" with it, so it got me interested. Yeah, I was an idiot then. So what? Anyways, so I learned some basics about HTML, and eventually moved on to stuff like XHTML and very VERY simple CSS. About a year later, I was over at Hatake Forum, and I noticed everyone was doing awesome stuff with JS (most notably Naruto, Eric, Uchiha Sasuke, Marty, and yes, even CJ). So, I found some nifty tutorials there and learned. And eventually CJ wanted to teach me as an apprentice sort of, so yeah, ended up me being his apprentice for a while, and I kept getting better, etc. Psh, what do you mean even me? -_-. So now you've gotten not only good at Javascript but also PHP, as far as I know. Do you plan to "expand" yourself more with the programming languages, or are you going to stay with the web languages?I mean that because you were a noob then, and I was still impressed. You're a hell of a lot better now. Well, I'm signed up to take a Visual Basic course next year, and they plan to teach us "advanced usage principles" such as "Object Orientated Programming" and "Validation using RegExp". I was laughing, but yeah, beside the point. I do plan to do something with programming languages eventually, but web languages are my thing for now. So what I know of you, I'm guessing Javascript is the language you know best, correct me if I'm wrong. Now, what do you think is your strongest point in coding Javascript? (events, dhtml etc)I don't really have a strongest point in general coding of JavaScript... I guess manipulation of HTML to get it to do what I want to do, or using abstract methods to obtain something (such as how I made my "Gradients in Popups" code for PB). Manipulation is fairly easy however, so that's not saying much. I'm starting to get more into DHTML however, and am improving rapidly in that.... But other then that, can't really say much. If you're referring to PB terms of coding, either finding ways to make the impossible possible, or splitters. So after this interview you can tell people that you've been interviewed in THE SSD coder spotlight. How will you feel with all the attention you will be getting? A speech maybe?Well, who knows. 15 minutes of fame is what you get, ya' know? Maybe I'll take advantage of it and get a mod spot on SSD? Whatever happens, hopefully it’s for the best... but hey, some groupies would be nice. There are tons of groupies in the buddy board, you can still one with the post count you have. Do you have any tips for new coders out there? Or do you still want to add anything to the interview?Any tips? Umm... don't give up. Coding can be difficult, but the more you practice and the more you learn, the easier it becomes to do and the better you become. It takes time to become good, and it takes dedication. I've only been coding JavaScript for about 13 months, and I'm still a complete novice compared to some people.... So, just practice and get better. Thanks for your time and we hope you good luck with coding.
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