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Quandaries of childhood

06.17.04 (9:11 pm) [edit]

For me life has always been a quest, a quest for understanding, and a quest for truth. The things that have stuck with and I carry with pride, is not always what I find, but rather the process. Children in my opinion are the most liberated of us all, because the lack paradigms imposed upon them. There understanding of the world around them is so fresh and new it seems to them that almost anything is possible. I cherished my childhood, because of these freedoms. Now I haft to fight for the same right to express my self and challenge the general accepted view that I inherently possessed as a child.
When I was little, maybe five, I denounced the existence of an afterlife. I did this for a simple reason; my grandmother one night while rocking me to sleep in her lap asked if I remembered a time from before I was born. Searching far back in my memory I found a point where there was only darkness and the earliest memory I had from before that was of my self crying, but separated from my self wondering how it was I had ended up as an infant, and pondering why I was crying. This was the first time I had an epiphany, there was a time before me, and in that time I existed only in a void. My reasoning went if there was nothing before I was here then there will probable be nothing when I’m gone. This of course did not go over well with any of the adults in my life, “how could someone so young come up with such a radical idea?” being so young a part of me asked the same question. After a few years I was not as convinced of this as I had once been. The question that I asked my self was simple but devastating to my former philosophy, “How does something come from nothing?” I could not answer this and I was stumped. I finally decided that there most be some higher mechanism at work weather it be god or not, that was simple beyond my present comprehension.
A phrase that I heard when I was young that once I thought of its implications alarmed me was, “when you become a teenager you’ll become a completely different person.” This scared me because if I became a different person doesn’t that mean the person who is me here and now will die in the transfer? And if I died were would I go? Reflecting back on it now, I have to say that I am not that same child who pondered these things, but he still lives deep with in my sub-continence immerging infrequently.
In the fourth grade, while walking out to my schools courtyard, something struck me. It’s something that I still struggle with, and try to grapple with the implications this revolution had. I realized at that moment that not only did I associate colors with my emotions, but with memories, places, people, and things. This wasn’t something new; this was a sub-conscious act that I had been doing for as long as I could remember. Doing some surveying I discovered that I was not alone in this but many of my peers to one extent or another did the same. I soon began to believe that I had finally discovered something that could help to answer my earlier question. It seemed to resonate with truth. My feeling was at the time that this was only a scratch in the surface but it was still a good start.
When I was in the seventh grade I expanded on the fear of dyeing, asking the question, “If I forget a moment then did it ever really exist? If this is so then when I die and all my memories are lost did they exist as well or will they fade to nothing? This prompted me to start a short-lived journal in some hope of preserving my self.
The eighth grade was a time of great growth for me personally, it was the begging of the end for me childhood, and I am who I am now as a result of making it through this part of my life. At this time I had an explosion of interest in philosophy and literature. I read everything that I could get my hands on. I often benchmark my life based upon this time period. I was no longer bounded by the same constraints of thought that I had once been, I found a new level of truth. However I soon was inhabited by new constraints that came externally as opposed to internally.
Life should not be measured in whether you win or not, because in the end we all die. Besides what is winning life? It is very subjective question. Life is meant to be lived. The experience is what counts, this was a very different way of looking at life for me, and it once more drastically changed me. What was it then in life that I desired? What would make it worth living? To be held? To be heard? To know truth and beauty? I concluded that to be heard was not the answer and my fear of death was unfounded because it can be argued that I will exist in every possible combination, and no matter what things will change, and soon I will not be here. Then what am I? I am the experience of the here and now. A record is static if not experienced. Information is a living force that can only exist if it is continual motion. So memories that I forget still happened because I experience them, even if they fade. Nothing will be remembered forever.
Is to know truth and beauty an answer? The pursuit of raising my self to higher moral standards, and having a deeper understanding of truth became a goal I created for myself. I quickly found this to be challenging because I lacked stability in myself. There are very few infallible truths. Perception is reality, a true piece of truth.
As a child I relentless pondered my existence, but I have now accepted it and my focus has changed. What has marked the passing of my childhood for me is my passion changing from finding out why; “I am I here” too finding out, “who I am”.

never forget

06.17.04 (9:07 pm) [edit]

Never forget to reflect,
It helps to keep things in perspective.

Never forget to say I love you,
To the people you love.

Never forget doing nothing is sometimes the most you can do,
And is the right thing to do.

Never forget pleasing yourself is a lot easer then those you care about,
But it’s not nearly as rewarding.

Never forget a skinny torso cant warm your heart,
But words of wisdom can.

Never forget to listen,
You don’t know how much it might mean to someone else.

Never forget tell the day you die you always have another chance,
Don’t give up.

Never forget to stand with what you feel is right,
And be willing to admit when you’re wrong.

Never forget no one knows you better then you do,
So don’t be afraid to be you.

Never forget nothing can up left you more then love,
But few will want to give it if your not willing to return it.

The Gloom of Brave New World’s Ideals

06.17.04 (9:03 pm) [edit]

In the future there is no room for truth and beauty, only comfort and stability.
“Knowledge was the highest good, truth the supreme value; all the rest was secondary and subordinate. True, ideas were beginning to change even then. Our [Hennery] Ford himself did a great deal to shift the emphasis from truth and beauty to comfort and happiness. Mass production demanded the shift. Universal Happiness keeps the wheels steadily turning; truth and beauty can’t. And, of course, whenever the masses seized political power, then it was happiness rather than truth and beauty that mattered.” P. 155

The system that Brave New World created worked and not only did it work well, it could be the most efficient social system ever devised or executed. For the social goals of Brave New World there is no other system that could be as efficient at achieving comfort and stability. However, I see some chief flaws in this system that are the result of inescapable human conduct.
Throughout the book we are presented with many individuals. At first glance these people seem happy and content with their lives. Every time we get a more in-depth look at a character, we slowly learn that they are neither happy nor content with their lives to one extent or another. Both Bernard and Linda are unhappy because they are different. Physically Bernard is smaller then those of his own caste. Linda is overweight, and has had a viviparous relationship. This creates self-esteem issues that the society in which they live is not capable of coping with and they end up feeling alienated. Alienation isn’t comfort, and it’s not only those who are physically different that don’t fit. When an individual enjoys free thought, they are plagued with the same dilemmas.
”I feel,” he said, after a silence, “as though I were just beginning to be able to use that power I feel I’ve got inside me-that extra, latent power. Something seems to be coming to me.” P. 123

Some like Helmholtz just desire something more; something more then what the Brave New World can give them. It’s amazing that so many people can be, at least surface level happy, and at that Brave New World is working splendidly. The world controller said it best himself,
“Happiness is a hard master-particularly other peoples happiness. A much harder master, if one isn’t conditioned to accept it unquestioningly, than truth.” P. 154

Pulling from historical material, Communism and Marxism in theory or on paper is the perfect society. There is no poverty, no social classes, or any worries to the individual at all. Much like in Brave New World a communist society embraces the philosophies of comfort and stability. Everyone now knows of the terrible failures of communism in countries like Russia. But why did communism fail? Is something inherently wrong with these values? What can we learn about Brave New World from these failures?
Much debate can be made on what caused the failure of communism, but two things can be attributed to its failure in practice rather than in theory. Both of these two things are present in the society of Brave New World. Governments that exist with absolute control usually are not very stable. People run them without any checks and balances to prevent them from perverting the system. Without monitoring and with absolute power people become corrupted by their position. Dictators don’t usually run their societies in the best interest of the population. Both Communist Russia and the society in Brave New World had leaders, in whom absolute power was invested. The second thing, and the larger thing that contributed to the Soviet Union’s failure, was a serious lack of motivation in the society. In Brave New World everything is done for the populace, there is nothing for the society, or the individual to strive for, which begs the question, what’s the point? What’s the point, should I go to work? What’s the point, should I go to school? What’s the point, should I play obstacle golf with my friends? The human animal must have a reason to exist, that reason motivates there continued strive for survival. For people to feel fulfilled they need a reason for their existence. No amount of hypnopedeia can remove this from the human psyche; only dull it. This lack of individual motivation breeds a society that can no longer be an efficient system, but a progressively less and less capable one. Stability is stagnant and humans cannot stand being stagnate.
“Technically, it would be perfectly simple to reduce all lower-caste working hours to three or four a day. But would they be happier for that? No, they wouldn’t the experiment was tried, more than a century and a half ago. The whole of Ireland was put on to the four-hour day. What was the result? Unrest and a large increase in the consumption of soma; that is all” P. 152

Once a society of this nature is struck by a disaster or any grave challenge, it is fated to failure. It is not dynamic enough to overcome any great obstacles. It is a society full of incompetence that will prove to be its downfall. All the great societies of time have only survived if they were flexible enough to evolve and adapt to change. There is no room for change in Brave New World, because change does not lend to stability.
But wait, if the values of Brave New World’s society are so flawed, why is it that it works so efficiently? There are severely reasons for this gap. For one, no one is ever given the chance to think. They are constantly barraged with stimulation, to occupy the brain, so it doesn’t get the chance to analyze it’s self or anything else for that matter. Some even lack the ability to properly operate their brain, because of the pre-birth conditioning, “The lower the caste,” said Mr. Foster, “the shorter the oxygen” The first organ affected was the brain.” P. 9 It gets to the point where individuals feel uncomfortable with being alone or not accepting this existence. This prevents anyone from realizing they are unfulfilled with their lives and the rare few who do recognize an inadequacy in their lives are shunned by the masses. Technology’s hold on the individual and the mass creates a sense of stability that is very hard to break. Any sizeable resistance that might occur is easily neutralized by technology and the overwhelming power it gives to the government.
In the words of Albert Einstein;
“The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, and truth. To make a goal of comfort or happiness has never appealed to me; a system of ethics built on this basis would be sufficient only for a herd of cattle.”

Brave New World has abandoned the values of truth and beauty, for something more obtainable. Will it or can it last, though? Probably not, there is no functional or fulfilled person who could survive a system based on comfort and stability. Such a world can only sustain a society of mindless apparatus.

“Lack of motive”

06.17.04 (9:02 pm) [edit]

There’s so much I’ve seen,
But there’s nothing worth sharing,
There’s much worth saying,
But there’s nothing I can retrieve,
A feeling not quite felt,
Not quite articulated,
Helps to keep me searching,
For what, I do not know,
But I hope to one-day find,
That which seeks me as I seek it,
Apathy takes control of so many,
But I must fight it off,
For all my strife for all my,
Struggle,
Nothing will be gained,
All will be lost,
But at least I’ve seen it.

random

06.17.04 (9:00 pm) [edit]

Color

Epiphany’s are odd, and have lasting consequences. I can still remember being in the fourth grade and walking out to my schools courtyard, well talking to my friend Galen when it struck me. It’s something that I still struggle with, and try to grapple with the implications this revolution had. I realized at that moment that not only did I associate colors with my emotions, but with memories, places, people, and things. This wasn’t something new; this was a sub-conscious act that I had been doing for as long as I could remember. Doing some surveying I discovered that I was not alone in this but many of my peers to one extant or another did the same, there’s even a branch of psychology devoted to the significant of color to the mind.

Door Knob

Last week I came a knocking, but you did not answer. I knocked again but no one stirred. I knocked a third, more loudly then before; I said sorry. But still no one came too. I know what I did was wrong, so lent this be my way back into you.

Why

When the road came to a “y” I knew what direction I had to take. The two roads that lay in front of me looked relatively the same. They where both grey and stretched off into the distance. They both had the same strips and autonomies look. True they went to different places, but where they really that different? The same there beginnings where, and ultimately they both ended with relative similarity. So indistinguishable but yet I knew which I was going to take. Which I had to take and it is probable not the one you think. It’s the one I stood upon. The one I came to this “y” upon. I had been heading in the wrong direction all along. So I turned around and headed back from which I came. Because I know that was the only place from which the love would come. Which I would never be find in those distant, anonymous, alien lands from which only isolation can be

Exchanging Baron Avarice

04.21.04 (2:24 pm) [edit]

�Mago!� two small children ran up to the tall elderly man. �Mago, tell us a story, please?�
�Ness I thought we were goanna play bed�ogg!�
�Don�t you think you could have more fun doing something else Ness? Your brother wants to play bed�ogg. Besides my stories usually don�t interest you.�
�No, Mago please, I love your stories so much please tell us another� Ness pleaded.
�But Ness,� wined Jake.
�No I don�t want to,� yelled Ness who stomped his foot
�But why,� Jake began to sob.
�Don�t cry Jake. How about I tell a story, then you two play bed�ogg?� Mago suggested. After some deliberation Mago finally got them both to agree.
�I think I know just the story that you two should hear,� Mago told his nephews. �It�s the tale of our baron, and how he came to be.� He continued.
�But everyone knows that, Mago, that�s not an interesting story at all,� Jake spoke out.
�Oh, but I mean the real story, and if I tell you this story you mustn�t tell a soul, do you two understand?�
�A secret, hurray! Oh yes tell us that story!�
Mago stroked his beard in concentration, trying to remember the details of the story. �Hmm� ah right, a long time ago, in the year two hundred and eighty seven of the third age was born to the king�s sister a son. The child was shown a great welcome into the world and was named Coeplan� by his mother, meaning roughly �equalizer� or �bringer of new� in the elfish tongue of the Fronest Kingdom. However Coeplan� was not alone, he had an older brother, a brother of particular cruelty. Coeplan�s older brother, Avarice was only five but had already been ruined by many years of being spoiled by his father. Avarice slowly built resentment for his new brother; over the expressive love Coeplan� received from his mother. Avarice began to treat Coeplan� with more and more disrespect and was protected by his father without repute. This trend would seemingly continue indefinitely.
These transgressions would not truly solidify until the passing of Coeplan�s twelfth birthday. While traveling through the lands of Exlange in route to the Elfish Kingdom of Aze�ta, Coeplan� and Avarice�s father disappeared. When the Court of Man sent a letter to the Protestictor Clan of Exlange enquiring about the disappearance of a member of the Royal family that had gone missing while in route through their territories, they replied that the body of a man had been found in a tractor wheel and that he probable had been accidentally killed by it. Two wizard counselors that had known the man were dispatched to the region to identify the body. When they returned they reported to the court that it was in fact the body of Coeplan� and Avarice�s father. Despite the courts feelings of foul play the wizards guild persuaded the court not to act upon it. Spouseless, Coeplan�s mother was left alone to raise her two sons.
In the year three hundred and twelve of the third age, the King of Men and his court gathered in the province of Sun�tarrece for the naming of the next baron of Sun�tarrece. The man who was chosen was the king�s nephew Avarice; his nephew had great influence on his uncle (the king) and immediately used his new position in the court to bring to vote a declaration of war on the Protestictor clan of Exlange. He also saw to it that his mother and brother whose love for one another he resented so greatly were put to the hardest of labors. So began the chapters of the Exlange conspiracy. Poor Coeplan�; his brother treated him so poorly; he had such irrational demands, up to his last days. I can still remember the fight they had the day before I revealed the conspiracy to Coeplan�.
�Coeplan�! Where�s my soup, I want it now!�
�My lord, you must show patience. The water has to boil before I can make the soup.�
�Well hurry it up, or your head will be on display in my game chest with the others.�
Coeplan� hurried back into the royal kitchen, �Oh he�s really upset this time. What did Mago tell me to do to make water boil faster?� Coeplan� scrambled about the cabinets, causing havoc on their contents. �Oh, where�s the salt,� Coeplan� agonized. �Thank the creators, the salt.� Coeplan� exasperated poured a handful of salt into the royal cauldron that was reluctant to boil.
�Coeplan�! Where�s my soup!� another bellow came from the royal chamber.
Coeplan� rushed back into the room panting, �My lord, the water still does not boil.�
The baron snickered �You incompetent fool, surely you could have made the soup by now� I had a servant do it in forty seconds once, and you�re better than any old servant, you are my brother, and not only that but the brother of the Baron Avarice of the Sun�tarrece province. Now bring me my soup!� Coeplan� once more ran out of the room. Coeplan� was pleasantly surprised to find the water boiling to the brim. Coeplan� poured the contents of a bowl of freshly cut greens into the boiling cauldron.
�My lord, your soup is almost ready,� Coeplan� yelled out.
�Finally, you wretch for a brother,� the baron bellowed. Coeplan� poured a bowl of soup from the cauldron and carefully carried it into the royal throne room. As Coeplan� got closer to the king he climbed a small flight of stairs that presided towards the baron�s throne. Coeplan� placed the bowl down on the armrest of the king�s chair, and while doing so; the king flayed his arms out into the air.
�Oops,� the baron mumbled as he watched the result, which was an awful mess upon Coeplan� and the red carpet.
The Baron began to chuckle, which degraded to a full out roar, through which he tried to say, �Look at the mess you made, ha, ha, I should have known you were incapable of such a simple task.�
�But, my lord, you did that on purpose, it was no folly of mine.�
�Ha, that as it may be you are still going to take responsibility for it, ha, and clean it, clean it tell its crimson shin glows as it did before you made wreck upon it. First bring me another bowl of soup, though.� Coeplan� frustrated with what he was being told stamped back into the kitchen to do as he had been told. Little did Coeplan� know but his luck was about to change, for he was unaware of what conspiracies even at this moment were being devised, and what was about to transpire.
Late in the night I crept into Coeplan�s corridors, and woke the abused brother of the baron, to tell him of the fate that most come of him and his brother to seek an end to a soon to pass war.
�Coeplan� wake up�
�Mago, is that you?�
�Yes my boy�
�Why are you visiting so late?� Coeplan� asked me.
�Because, this is the only time where you wont be busy, so I can tell you all that I need to tell you with out interruption� I replied.
�Not busy? What are you talking about, of course I�m busy; I�m busy sleeping, did that occur to you!� he scolded.
�I apologize for the interruption, but still I persist we must get to what I�ve come to tell you, for it is of the utmost importance.� I handed Coeplan� a book, �Here read this, it contains some valuable information�
�I�m confused� Coeplan� confessed.
�I know, but it will all become clear in due time, read.� I told Coeplan�
The title read �A brief Record of Man and the Days of the Ol�dros Wars.� Coeplan� opened the volume to its first page and began to read, �Section I.1; In the days when gods walk upon the grounds of the second realm of Sol, before men or elves, there only existed but one race in the world, the Ol�ones. The Ol�ones were a people of great science and wizardry�� Mago what�s science?� asked Coeplan�.
�Science, hmm... It�s hard to explain with out a viable reference that you would comprehend. It could be considered as an ancient form of magery that was practiced by the Ol�ones, most of it was lost in Ol�dros wars. Read, ask me questions when you�ve finished the section.�
Coeplan� continued reading, ��They spread their empire and influences across the realms. In the peak of their empire the Ol�ones monarchy divided their rule amongst the Protestictor Clans that governed and policed their endless provinces. At the dawn of the second age a new infant race emerged in the realm of Mandros. The Mandroneans could sustain only short lives despite their greatest efforts and grew increasingly envious of the old ones. In the dark pact of el�shinard the leaders of the Mandroneans allied themselves with the Shinards, the ancient ghost gods from before time that thirsted for and endless supply of souls. In exchange for carrying out the will of the Shinards, they would provide the Mandroneans with bodies that could sustain eternal life and youth, however the Mandroneans remanded mortal. The Mandroneans soon began to realize that they had been given the short end of the deal, as they lost more and more of their free will. The Shinards lead the Mandroneans into endless wars with Protestictor Clan, after Protestictor Clan. At this time the central monarchy of the Ol�ones had grown very weak and most of the power and governing of the Ol�ones was determined by individual clans. This made it extremely difficult for the Ol�ones to organize an efficient counter to the growing threat of the Shinards. These times were known as the Ol�dros wars (reference sections I.2 and IV.6 for further detail on the Ol�dros wars), and the conclusion marked the end of the second age. In the end the Ol�ones vanquished the Mandroneans, and they are now all but extinct. Only a few Protestictor Clans survived the Ol�dros wars, and those that did were only a shattered vision of their former selves. In the wake of the power vacuum created by the fall of the Ol�ones arose the societies of man and the elves. Three elfish kingdoms and seven human provinces formed in the second realm of Sol. The seven provinces of man eventual formed a feudalist nation under the first king of man, Angelo Del Q`av�. �I finished the section,� Coeplan� announced.
�Good now read section IX.4,� I instructed Coeplan�.
Coeplan� groaned and flipped through the heavy volume until he found the section, �In the times after the Ol�dros wars, the Protestictor Clan of Exlange, the only remaining in the third realm of Sol, started an academy of wizardry. Those who could survive the regress courses, and graduated were few. Those who did would be kept in Exlange till an advisor was needed in one of the kingdoms outside Exlange. The wizards were highly sought after, and this created a level of checks and balances that sustained peace in the realm...�
�I�m still confused Mago, what does any of this have to do with me?�
�As you know Coeplan�, I am the counselor for Baron Avarice, and as a wizard it is against my principles to allow a war ever. Your brother is blind with hatred for Exlange, because of what happened to your father, and he will not listen to me. His influence is too great in the court; he�s gotten the war passed in vote, passed in vote. The war at this point is imminent, I know that, it will be the first war in the third age, dark times these are, but we need a leader with compassion, a clear mind, one who will do all they can to stop this war. Tomorrow the Baron is traveling to the capital in Moto Bay for the final signing of the declaration that is to be sent to Exlange Core, and we must travel there too.�
�What am I to do? I have no authority, no one will listen to us!�
�Oh but they will, if they think you are the baron.�
�Think I am the baron? But how absurd, I look nothing like him.�
�You are his brother, you look more like him then any other, and you have a pure soul, I can think of no other who could do it, besides you forget Coeplan�, I am a wizard.�
Coeplan� packed up his things, and we set of for Moto Bay that very same night. We traveled for two weeks by horseback, sleeping in fields, or wherever anyone would take us in. The most difficult part of the journey for Coeplan� was the crossing of the pass between Korảce and Moto Bay. He had to pack an extra layer of fur around his feet to keep them from getting frostbite. After crossing the pass, we descended down into the Moto Bay delta. The Capital City is a glorious city, larger than another built by man. It claims all of the territory making up Justque Island, but before we could reach the capital we had to cross the Morrow Strait. We found a man who owned a small fishing vessel who said he would help us across, for a price. We made our negotiations and set sail. It was a stormy season and the crossing was treacherous. We battled storms for three days before we finally made it to the docks of the Capital. Once in the capital we scavenged for an inn. We ended up making stay at a place called �Capital Inn,� very imaginative name indeed.
We made it to the capital two days before the scheduled date for the signing of the declaration of war. This gave me two days to prepare Coeplan�, and execute my plan. I trained him in royal conduct, proper language, and etiquette, so he could pass himself as his brother. I used a masterful hand and applied many cosmetics to Coeplan�s face until his appearance was indistinguishable from that of his brother�s. Even Coeplan� was impressed. There remained but only one task to be completed: we had to get ride of the actual baron as not to cause confusion amongst the court when two barons of Sun�tarrece appeared. This part of my plan I most admit I had not thought out very clearly and it started to prove one of the most challenging tasks presented to me.
At last I decided after a long deliberation to pay a young man to send a notice to the baron, which I wrote. It stated that the signing of the declaration of war would be postponed till the morning following the previously scheduled date, that would at least buy us time till I could think of a better plan.
On the morning of the date of the signing I led Coeplan� to the central Court building where the Court of Man convened. I took him as far as the great doors to the Royal Court Hall but no further. I told Coeplan� that this was where our paths must suppurate, for this meeting was to be held in complete secrecy and none of the guild was to know of it. He took a deep breath and entered the great hall leaving me behind. I waited outside the corridor for about an hour for Coeplan�s return when something rather unexpected happened.
�Mago! What are you doing here?� screamed the baron as he noticed me coming done the hall.
Startled, I made a quick bluff, �Uh, well I was called here on err, a business matter involving the Guild, apparently the court wanted my advice on the matter and called me here, I�m, err... waiting for them to call me in, what are you doing hear Avarice?�
�I too was called hear for a very prudent matter, till I was very rudely blown off last night by the court, don�t they know who I am? I came to ask the meaning of such an insult.� He snorted.
�I�m sure they had their reasons and did not mean any disrespect to you, Avarice.� I told him as calmly I could. It was of no help though, before I could stop the baron, he flung open the doors to the court hall. A court of elderly men greeted him with shocked expressions upon their faces, and a duplicate of himself who had just been explaining to the court as to why he was changing his stance on the war, and was refusing to sign the declaration.
I quickly ran into the room after the baron and yelled in a booming voice, �I can explain, if you give me a moment.�
But then Coeplan� stood up and said, �I too can explain this. Mago, my own counselor, I trusted you. Nobles of the Court, that man who stands there before you is an imposter; it is my brother working against me with the help of the guild. My brother should be punished dearly for this act of treason. His punishment will be mandated service in the arms of Sun�tarrece, and you Mago, I will decide your punishment when we return to Sun�tarrec, but you should consider yourself lucky if you get anything less expulsion, and are banished from my providence.�
�Mago, did he really expel you� Ness interrupted.
�Oh no of course not, he was only try to present himself as the real baron... now where was I? Oh right, he then pointed at a guard and said, �Take my brother to the armory so that he can be placed with an escort back to Sun�tarrece, where he can began his service in arms.� Still in shock and not quite sure what was happening, the baron was quickly seized by the guard and pacified with rope. The guard then escorted the baron out of the room.
Coeplan� then addressed the court with a statement that forever marks him, it eats away at his soul, and he was given this one chance to prove himself. It was what I had estimated in him, what was for the safety of all. But he was blinded by is sunken hatred for his brother, and he condemned countless lives with what he said, �Nobles, I have, in light of recent events decided to change my stance on the war. I will sign the declaration of war, if sending my brother to war will make him understand the suffering my father death has brought to me; he has no compassion.�
I couldn�t take such an insult, I bursted out, �Avarice, think of your brother, show him now compassion otherwise you degrade yourself to his unspeakable level, you will be forever ruined by your hate.�
�Mago, after suffering the insults that I have suffered how can I do any less?� The first war of the third age began, and over three hundred years of peace were broken. Once back in Sun�tarrece, Coeplan� freed his mother from servitude and they were happy together. Many men died in the war, but Coeplan� did not petition for the end of the war till he had received the notice from one of his field generals reporting his brother�s death. Great pressure existed in the court after the deaths of many solders to end the war, and with Coeplan�s support it wasn�t difficult for the kingdoms of man and Exlange to began peace negotiations. The war lasted only a year but the damage had been done, not on the land but on his brother and the anger he had created. That is the true story of our baron and how he came to be, but remember Ness and Jake it�s our little secret, no one should ever know�
�You can trust me Uncle Mago,� Ness, and Jake smiled at their uncle, before the run back outside to continue in their fun.

spent

03.22.04 (6:34 pm) [edit]

I�m in love and I don�t know how I got here. In this place, so far away from you and me, so far away from you and me, its been spent so many times before, and I�m pretty scared, that I�m goanna lose in the end, but when it comes ill be there with you, cause I�m in love, I�m in life, with the children and the world and sometimes I fell like sleeping forever and never wakening, but then I remember its just a dream, like you and me, its time to leave, time to leave, cause well be here forever if we don�t go, and I don�t want to be here, and I don�t want to be here, its like cotton candy�. I�m spent

"My Release"

03.22.04 (6:22 pm) [edit]

Juley you�re the only one,
The only thing that�s real,
I want to be with you for all my time,
You�re the sweetest thing of all,
If I leave this place, I want to leave with you.

Oh please, oh please, don�t you understand?
There�s so much more to this then what meets the eye,
Not just pain, love is joy,
Not just desire, desire is warmth,
Not just Golden, Golden is binding
This is what so many words can�t describe,
Because this pain is not bad,
But instead makes me glad,
Makes me strong,
Makes you and me real, most of all.

I care for my love,
As my love cares for me.

These are all the things that I want of me
Of my want, I want with you,
This is because,
Of my joy, love with pain,
Of my warmth, warmth is desire,
Of my binding, binding is golden,
But most of all, all the freedom,
Freedom to see with you all the colors, eyes can�t see.

All is good, all is right,
There�s no other way,
No other way I�d like to be,
I want to share all my time,
My time of you, with all that matters,
That way our times will come together, and last forever,
There is no beginning; there is no end.

Oh please, oh please lent this be,
I�ll make it worth it, worth it because,
There�s nothing else,
Nothing worth dieing for,
Nothing worth living for,
If there�s no you.

Argos�s first day of school

03.17.04 (10:35 am) [edit]

�...as the eighteen day Helot revolt continued in lower San Francisco today, twenty nine new Spartiate causalities have been reported. Despite the mayors comments yesterday, the federal government has yet to make official commentary on what has been declared a police action in the region.� My Nanny, and my families house Perioeci, Willow, turned off the radio on my alarm clock.
�Argos, wake up sleepy, it�s time to get up, you don�t want to be late do you?�
As the morning comes upon me, I rise from my slumber, excited for the coming day.
�Is it morning already, Willow?� I asked.
�I�m afraid it is; go take a shower, and get dressed. When you�re done come downstairs and get your breakfast.�
�Ok�, I told her, as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. Willow smiled at me and rubbed my hair with her hand.
�I�m really proud of you Argos,� she whispered in my ear. She got up from my bedside and walked over to my door. She stopped, blowing me a kiss, before she continued down the hallway. Fumbling with the sheets for a while I was rather reluctant to get out of bed. After a few minutes, though, I arose from my bed knowing that it might anger my mother and father if I was too late getting to the table. Getting up I walked over to my door and walked across the hallway over to the bathroom. Trying to buy back the time I lost from sleeping in my bed longer then I should have, I dunked my head in the sink and rinsed my hair with water, making sure all of it got wet. While walking back to my room drops of water escape off my head and leave a wet trail behind me. Opening my closet door I discover (after some rummaging around) the school uniform that Willow had bought for me last week. It was rather plain, and gray� with a little accent. It still excited me though, and I changed in to it rather quickly. Slowly I crept out of my room and walked down the length of the hallway. As I made my way down the stairs each step creaked under my weight and groaned with agony. In the kitchen below me, a television was placed on the kitchen table that obscured my mother and father. My father was wearing his green uniform as always. (Don�t think I�ve ever seen him without it). Next to the television there was a half eaten grapefruit with a spoon dug into the side of it, and two cups of coffee, with warm white steam rising above them.
�Oh, Argos, you look so handsome in your uniform. Stay there while I go get the camera to take a picture of you.�

Willow left the room for a minute to go get the family camera, it was one of those new ones you could plug into the computer. Willow was obsessed with it and took pictures every chance she got. My Father and Mother however didn�t look up from the glowing monitor that they were so attached too, not even to take a glimpse at me. My mother just simply reached out from behind the obscuring television and grabbed her cup of coffee and retreated once more behind the screen. Willow returned holding the camera far out in front of herself so she could see the image in the screen on the backside of the camera. Placing her index finger on the camera trigger, she pulled down. A quick blinding flash flickered and momentarily disoriented me. �Oh, you blinked, I�ll have to take another one. This time try not to blink.� She pressed down on the trigger again and once more the flash bolted forth, all the while I strained to keep my eyes open. �That one came out much better. Go into the kitchen and greet your mother and father.�
Mumbling I walked down the remaining portion of the staircase and entered the kitchen, walking over to the table on the other side.
My father glanced over the screen at me, and said, �You�re seven already? Hard to believe. Hmm, you already look like a soldier. Remember to be tough, and don�t let anyone pick on you. Your brothers there too, I�m sure he can show you the ropes.�
With that said he turned away and once more submerged with his television. Pulling out a chair from the table I sat down eager for my breakfast. Willow walked over carrying three plates of eggs she put two down in front of my mother and father and another in front of me.
�Argos, your hairs greasy, did you really take a shower this morning or did you just stick your head in the sink and rinse it off?� Willow scolded.
�No, of course I took a shower, my hair just looks greasy sometimes,� I told Willow pretending to act insulted by her accusation.
�Argos, what have I told you about lying?�
�I�m not lying, really, I took my shower,� I pleaded
�Well you don�t really have enough time to take a shower now, anyway, hurry up and finish your eggs. The bus is going to be here in ten minutes�.
Focusing on the eggs, I ate to my heart�s� content. Willow always gave me more food then I could really eat, and there was still a small portion of egg left on my plate as I got up from the table. Willow was waiting for me at the front door as I came out of the kitchen, she held up my jacket and my bag.
�Don�t forget to write to us, and its chilly outside, so put your jacket on.� A look of joy came over Willow�s face, �Next time I see you, you won�t be a dear little child anymore, you�ll be a man. Now hurry up or you�ll miss the bus�.
She helped me into my oversized jacket, It had always been too big for me, but Willow kept insisting I would grow into it. Willow hugged me goodbye. I walked out the front door and up our driveway, that curved up towards the top of the hill. Looking back at the house below me, I saw Willow waving at me, with her hand high in the air. Waving back I turned and continued up the hill. Once at the top of the hill I saw two other boys sitting by a row of mailboxes. I had seen them before, but didn�t really know them too well though. One of them was sitting on his bag and looked kind of grumpy, while the other one was running around him in circles making airplane noises. Dropping my bag on the ground, I sat down on the curb next to the grumpy boy. He turned and looked at my, staring at me with scornful eyes It was somewhat unsettling.
�Are you all right?� I asked him with a level of concern.
�What you care?� he grumbled, turning to look away from me.

Shrugging it off I stared off into space, wonder what school would be like and if all the other boys would be as grumpy as the one sitting next to me or would they be more like the kid running in circles. A long orange bus turned around the corner of the street coming up the other side of the hill. The kid making airplane noises stopped and grabbed his bag. Following suit I did the same and got up from the side of the curb. The three of us lined up and boarded the bus. The bus driver was an elderly bald man. The bus was crowed with young boys, they were yelling, throwing things around and just being alltogether as disrupt full as it seemed possible. The boy who had been making airplane noises runs towards the back of the bus to join in the rowdiness of the other boys, and in doing so pushed me and the grumpy kid to one side. The grumpy kid took the only remaining bench near the front of the bus. Not wanting to join the other kids in the front I sat down next to the grumpy kid.
�You still want to know what was upsetting me?� he asked as I sat down.
�Sure,� I answered.
�Kids. Kids like them. They�ve got no self-control, not like you, you�re cool,� he said with a whisper of irritation in his voice. �I�m Draco, what�s your name?�
�I�m Argos,� I replied.
The side of his mouth curled upwards in a half smile, �I hope we become good friends, Argos.�
He gave out a breath of sarcasm and looked out the window. Placing my head back on the seat I closed my eyes and fell asleep. When I woke up we had arrived at the school and Draco was poking me to get up.
�Oh, are we there already?�, I groaned.
�Yep, you�ve been out for almost two hours. Now get a move on or we�ll be late and wont know where to go.� Draco hissed at me. Draco, about a dozen other kids, and I clambered off the bus. A man in a green uniform and four older boys greeted us. My brother Hector was among them.
The man in the green uniform stepped forward, �I�m the Head-master here at Zeus Academy. I will be your Mother and Father for the next nine years of your lives. My job is to prepare you to be soldiers, loyal and obedient to your state. There are to be no problems. Am I understood? These four boys will be your brothers from this point on; they will go over the school rules with you and then show you to your bunks. You are to do everything they tell you to�. The man in the green uniform took a step backwards and marched off of the paved courtyard of the school and up a staircase leading to a distant building.
One of the four older boys then stepped forward, �rules, um right. Rule one, don�t speak unless spoken two, rule two do what you�re told, and do it fast, rule three don�t steal anything that belongs to another student, rule four if you do steal something, don�t get caught� the boy laughed �and rule four um five err what was the last rule again? Oh, right don�t flinch�, and with that the boy struck the airplane boy on the wrist with a stick that he had held earlier to his side. The boy gave out a screech of pain. The older boys pointed and laughed at him, slapping their knees in amusement at there own cruel joke.
Still chuckling one of the older boys pointed to an old building at the top of a hill adjacent to the one the headmaster had climbed, �that�s where you kids are bunking, follow us. We�ll let you in�. As the now spooked group of kids and myself followed the older boys up the winding paths and staircases to our bunks, I pulled my brother over.
�Hector, what�s wrong with you, do you think that�s funny? Don�t you think you hurt that boys feelings?�

�Woo, woo, woo... what�s in to me? What�s in to you I hurt his feelings? He�s a Spartiate, he�s a worrier like his father, and his father before him, if he can�t handle that then he�s weak, and we don�t need that,� my brother argued. Hector then sped up his pace and left me behind with the other kids as he caught back up with the older boys. Why was Hector acting like that, he was always nice when he was younger, had he really changed that much in the past four years since I had seen him last? As we approached the old wooden building one of the older boys unlocked the door. As he did so a fox scampered out from behind the door and darted for the woods. �Darn foxes, they get into everything� Hector mumbled. One of the other boys led us into the building, it was poorly lit, and smelled strongly of urine. I held my hand over my noise to help reduce the potency of the smell.
�Go ahead and pick out your own beds, You got fifteen minutes to settle in until you�ll be expected at the mess hall for lunch, it�s the first building on your left as you walk down the path, and don�t be late.� Hector and the other older boys left and shutting the door behind them. Most of the boys by this point had already claimed a bed; I walked over to one of the few remaining ones. It had a large dark gray stain that sank into the striped mattress; it made me kind of sick looking at it. I unzipped my bag and pulled out the blue sleeping bag my mother had packed for me. Once I had laid it over the mattress, I started to feel a lot less green. Jumping on the bed I stretched my arms out, and gave out a bellowing yawn. Leaning over I reached into my bag and pulled out my book. After skipping to the section I had left off in I managed to get in a few more pages before I noticed some of the others leaving to go to lunch. Dropping the book on the bed, I got up and head towards the mess hall.
It was a large room; it had at least twelve rows of tables. The line for food was very long. As I walked over to get in line, an older boy pushed me and said, �hey this was my spot in line, you shouldn�t take things that aren�t yours,� he laughed.
I stood back letting him take my place in line. After some time as I made my way further towards the front of the line, I noticed three older boys pushing an older man with tan skin and long black greasy hair, who was carrying a trash can. The boys continued their harassment of the man unaware of my observing them. One of the boys then knocked the man over onto the ground as another poured the contents of the trash can on his head. They then laughed as they walked off. The old man stumbled back to his feet as he tried to clean up the mess that the boys had created.
�Why isn�t anyone helping that man?� I thought to my self. Knowing full well that if I lost my place that I might not get any lunch, I stepped out of line so as that I could help the man. As I walked over to the man he hid his face. Reaching down I picked up a peace of trash and handed it to the man, he then relaxed and smiled taking the piece of trash from my hand.
�Hey, you, what are you doing?� shouted a man in a green uniform like the one the headmaster was wearing earlier. The man walked over to us and pushed the old man back down onto the ground and then grabbing my arm and heaving me back onto my feet. �What do you think you were doing, that�s his job, his purpose, you don�t want to take that away from him do you?�
�Um eh, I was just trying to help,� I stumbled.

�Well a lot of good you did, he�s a helot, don�t you know that spartiate�s shouldn�t mingle with helots, he�s not worthy of your pity, now get back to your lunch.� I quickly ran back to the line and reentered at the end. By the time I made it back up to the front of the line lunch was almost over. I picked up a tray and put a loaf of bread on it. A man behind the counter poured me a bowl of soup. The soup was scarlet in color, and had large pieces off beef floating in it. It smelled bad as well, as I went to go sit down at the table a boy run by and stole my bread. All I was left with was my undersized bowl of soup. Delicately I toke a sip of the soup, it tasted awful, like copper. Pushing the soup away, I search for some water to drown out the stagnate taste of copper in my mouth. There was none, but it was too late now, many of the kids were lining up with their teachers to leave. Searching around for a little bit I find the other first year students.
�Class, I am the first year teacher, and I will be leading you in your physical education course today, follow me outside and we will begin�.
We marched single file after the teacher out onto the paved courtyard. �Today we will be playing a game. You kids like games right? This game you could call grab the cheese, I guess,� the teacher smirked �I�ll break the class into two teams by counting you off, if you�re given a one go over to my right, if your given a two go over to my left by the box.�
The teacher walked around numbering us off, I was given a one. �Now, I�m going to place several blocks of cheese over hear on this pedestal. Everyone numbered as a one, your going to be the attackers, you�ll attempt to steal the blocks of cheese from the other team and get it back across your team line, which will be that soccer line over there. Whereas, team two your job will be to defend the blocks of cheese, armed with the leather whips in that box next you.� The kids who had been placed on team two scrambled over to the box exited by being given real whips. The teacher placed the cheese on the pedestal and blows his whistle signaling the beginning of the game. Tensing up I charged forth from my team�s starting line, adrenalin pulsing through my body. Smack! A kid strikes me on the shoulder, the pain was piercing, and clutching the wound in my hand I surge forth with greater speed towards the cheese. Smack! Another kid strikes me this time across the back. Stumbling I fall over onto the pavement below. My skin now tattered to ribbons, two other kids start whipping my back with unrelenting furry. A screech of pain pushes it�s self forth from within my lungs. The two kids then retreat in pursuit of another lowly attacker. Now in a catatonic like state on the ground, scraped and bruised, a familiar person emerges.
�Oh, Draco, good, can you help me up? they bruised me pretty good.�
Draco held his hands behind his back and leaned over towards me, giving me a cold smile, �Sure, Argos what are friends for?� He then lifted up into the air a whip that he had been concealing behind his back, now realizing his malaises intent, I quickly reacted by kicking Draco in the knee. Draco stumbled, I struck again this time tripping him, as he fell onto the asphalt scraping his face, and losing control of his whip. Over taken with a rage, no a blood furry I grab hold of the stray whip, and bring it down onto Draco with unscrupulous force. He screams in torment as his flesh tares from his bones. The crake of the whip falls and falls again. When my furry subsides and I stride back from Draco, he no longer cries, or even whimpers. A cold chill rides down my spine. A pool of blood begins to form and sprawl out from beneath his head. His eyes looked more sunken then ever.
�Draco, are you all right. Draco?� I cried. I shake him, but he does not stir. I shake him again, more vigorously, with no avail. what have I done?

Rei�s Unearthing

03.17.04 (10:31 am) [edit]

Many seasons ago, in a province far from our own, was born a child, to a father and mother, who named her Rei. Both of Rei�s parents lacked any nobility in their blood. Rei�s father was but a simple woods crafter, and as such, lived with his family deep in their nation�s mountainous forests. Rei�s father had built an adequately sized house for his wife in preparation for their expected child. Rei�s mother was a medicine woman and many came from afar to seek her help, however her foremost concern was to care for Rei�s health and spirit.
Rei lived a happy childhood, sheltered from the hardships of the spoiled world outside the restrictions of her home. By the time she had grown to the age of about sixty moon cycles, or five seasons she had grown accustomed to spending many hours of her day exploring the woods around her house. She looked forward each and every night to being told fantastic stories of beasts and noble heroes saving maidens in distress by her father. She greatly enjoyed hearing these stories, as most who heard them would. Rei�s father was an excellent storyteller, and much like Rei, had an over active imagination.
The night before the sixty-seventh moon cycle anniversary of Rei�s birth; her father told Rei an ancient story that had been passed down from generation to generation. He started this story as he starts all his stories�
�A long time ago, there lived in the land an order of lords. These lords were not born however of our people. They were decedents of the creators. They came with decree to our lands to better our people. And as such, these lords were good lords, and they were good to our people. Our people returned our love for them, by bestowing them with many gifts and Labors. Nevertheless many of their subjects feared them, not because they were cruel tempered, but rather because they looked so very different. The order ruled over us for many generations and all was fine, but then there came a plague upon the land. Most of the lords died in the first few hours of the horrific outbreak. What caused the plague and why it only affected the lords remains unknown to us. However one of the lords did not die in the plague. To protect himself he wore a mask upon his face at all times to ward away the evil demons of the plague. He became the first great king of our people. He led us from the metropolis of the old lords and helped us to learn how to build our own homes and costumes. However, the great king began to grow very lonesome in his solitude with none of his own kind left. He began spending many nights alone, atop his castle, watching the night sky, longing to return to his people. Every night as he watched the stars so distant in the night sky, he would wish for them to send him a friend, to console him in his isolation. As the king grew older he grew more tired and lonesome. He spent many years of his life watching the night sky, calling to it, but his wish was never answered. One night when the king had grown to be exceptionally old and sick, our people were preparing themselves for his passing. To our beloved king who taught us to be self sufficient, the stars of the night sent; a star creature. As it came closer and closer to the king�s castle, it lit up the sky with a golden glow. As it came even closer, the stars true form became much more visible. It was a serpent, aflame, with a golden hue, and a very long tail. Upon landing on the rooftop of the castle, the magnificent star creature opened his mouth and exited three men. They slowly approached the dying monarch. They told him that his people had been listening to his wishes every night and had been watching how well he had been treating our people. They were sorry that they had not answered his calls before, and did not want to take such a great king from our people, but now that the king was in his last days, they wanted to take him to their realm where he would live forever as their friend. So it was then that the star creator took the great king back with him to the night sky and the people rejoiced that the king who gave them so much would finally be at peace, with his own kin again. It is said that star creatures can be seen from time to time checking on the progression of the old king�s domain. Sometimes making new friends and bringing them back with them to live among the stars.�
This story captured little Rei�s imagination and she very much wanted to meet one of these star creatures. Rei went to sleep that night more peacefully than most. The following morning her father left shortly after the family had a healthy breakfast. Before he could leave, Rei and her mother caught him on the front steps of their home. He turned and did as he always did, he kissed Rei and her mother on the forehead while telling Rei, �Do what your mother tells you, and don�t cause her too much trouble.�
He then proceeded down the winding dirt path that exited their home and ventured deep into the dark woods. Rei watched her father walk away as long as she could still manage a glimpse of him through the bare patches in the forest.
Rei�s mother went back into the house to brew a medicine made from roots for a women dying of a rare ailment in the village. Rei now left to be by herself, wandered a short distance into the surrounding woods and approached the trunk of an extraordinarily large tree. The trunk was cracked and dry, as if it were a thousand cycles old.
�You�re looking sad today,� Rei told the old tree.
Rei�s father had built Rei a sturdy platform on the lower levels of the tree, after noticing what a good climber she was. It had become quickly one of Rei�s favorite places to play. He had also fashioned a very firm rope ladder, by precisely weaving together a very common, but strong red moss that grows on the roots of many of the trees in the woods around their house, for her to climb up in order to reach the platform. Rei took a hold of one of the rungs of this ladder and pulled her-self up onto it. It left a rusty colored residue on her hands as she made her way up to the platform with great concentration. After some effort she made her way to the peak of the ladder and heaved her-self onto the platform. This platform seemed extremely high to little Rei, but in fact Rei�s father had purposely built it lower then his eye level to help ensure Rei would not in the unlikely event she should fall injure herself too badly. Despite the low elevation of the platform, Rei still could get a good view of the valley beyond and the sky above her due to the positioning of the tree. The tree was chosen because it was located atop a bare hill which Rei�s father had cleared when building their house. This resulted in there being little to obstruct Rei�s view.
�Mr. Tree, will you help me look for a star creature to be our friend today? I would awfully much like to meet one,� Rei asked the old tree.
Of course the tree gave no verbal response to Rei, as trees seldom do. But Rei felt quite confident that day that the old tree had heard and understood her and would notify her if the tree did notice a star creature. She would probably dispute it too, if you told her otherwise.
Rei spent the first few hours of that day talking to her old friend the tree, watching the sky for the expected star creature, until shortly before midday. Rei was about to climb back down to the ground and go home for her lunch, when she first witnessed it.
�Look Mr. Tree, do you see it, too? We�re so lucky,� exclaimed Rei, pointing her finger in the direction of the light in the sky, while carelessly hanging from the side of the platform in an attempt to get closer to it. The scorching orb streaked across the sky, trailed by a long almost indigo tail.
�It�s a star creature,� Rei proclaimed.
The star creature continued to soar through the air quickly getting closer and closer to the forest below until it descended behind the trees into the valley below, gracefully with out a sound. It was shortly there after followed by a blast of wind that�s effect could be seen on the forest landscape below her.
�Rei, you better come in for lunch now� Rei�s mother called out.
Rei decided while climbing down the rope ladder, making her way toward her house, that after lunch she would walk down into the valley and try to find and befriend the star creature. For poor excited Rei, her lunch seemingly lasted forever. Her mother had made pea soup for lunch, which didn�t help her cause of getting lunch over quickly so she could return to the woods. She procrastinated instead, spooning around her food in an attempt to make it seem as though she had eaten a portion of it.
�Rei if you don�t finish your soup you�re going to have to stay indoors until your father gets home, and have a word with him�, warned Rei�s mother. The thought of upsetting her father motivated Rei to demolish the soup in several large gulps. The soup tasted like grass to young Rei and she did not understand her mother�s determination that she eat such a thing. Finally, after an agonizing hour of procrastination, Rei returned to the outdoors. She started walking down the winding dirt path that her father had previously walked down that morning. She took discretion to be quiet as she did this, knowing her mother would get very cross if she found out about her plans to go wandering deep into the woods alone. Rei knew from day walks into town with her mother and father in the past, that it took around an hour going down the hill before the first valley would be reached.
Once Rei had made her way into the valley where she observed the star creature touch the earth she daringly made her way off the path and ventured into the looming woods. Of course, it wasn�t long before Rei had become hopelessly lost. She began to grow very hungry after what seemed a very long time and presumed that she must be missing her supper. By this point both her parents would have notice her missing and would be frantically searching the woods, very cross with her indeed. Because she was lost anyway, Rei had little choice but to continue her search for the star creature.
As yet more time passed day began to pass into night and Rei became fearful that she would never find either the star creature or her way back home again. She fell onto the moist ground below her and began to cry. She cried for a very heartfelt duration of time, until she noticed a very faint and distant light shrouded in the trees. Rei held back her tears with delight as her hopes of finding the star creature were rekindled. Rei lifted herself back onto her feet and now eagerly made her way through the forest towards the adored light.
As she got closer to the light she began to have more difficulty making her way, as many broken trees littered the forest floor and created obstacles for her. The light was sawing back and forth through the woods, casting the most fascinating of shadows throughout the woods. As the light came even closer to her its brightness began to blind her. Rei stopped walking towards the light, her eyes now being rendered useless, yet radiance continued getting closer to her. This began to frighten her and she gave out a cry of fear. The light was lowered to the ground and two very large and equally strange creatures emerged.
�Hello there, little one, didn�t mean to give you a fright!� Spoke the first of the two creatures.
�What�s a little girl like you doing all the way out here, all by her self?� asked the other. The two creatures came closer to startled Rei. They did this with caution though, as not to make her anymore alarmed. Rei could now get a much closer look at the two figures. They appeared to have very smooth gray skin with white feet and finger tips. On closer inspection Rei noticed a window on their faces, reveling a strange pink face within and what looked like a very dirty mop atop it. It occurred to Rei that what she had previously perceived to be skin was a garment actually.
�My name is Joe, what�s yours?� asked the first creature. Rei said nothing, only giving the two creatures a blank stare.
�And I�m Tom�, uncomfortably chimed in the second one, after a long pause.
�I�m Rei� she so quietly answered that the two creatures had to ask her to repeat her self. �I�m Rei� Rei repeated a little bit louder and more confidently than before.
�Rei, where are your parents?� Joe asked.
�I was looking for the star creature that I think I saw, and err� um, I came here, and ah� are you star people?� Rei mumbled.
�Where are you�re parents?� Joe calmly interrupted.
�Oh, I don�t know, I think they�re at home, but they might be in the woods looking for me by now�, Rei said with tears now starting to form in her eyes.
�Don�t worry Rei, we�ll help you find your way home�, Tom insisted. Joe and Tom beckoned Rei to follow them through the woods with hand motions. Rei reluctantly began to follow them through the gloomy forest. After a short while of walking Tom and Joe lead Rei into a large clearing in the center of the forest. The clearing glowed and a magnificent amber shine resonated from the most elegant of beasts. Rei rubbed her large lustrous eyes with her coarse palms in disbelief. It could only be what she had been so passionate for since the telling of her father�s story, but the night before. It was a star creature. It had a long smooth body and an even longer blue tail. Its eyes loomed dark and black above its gaping mouth. A long tong protruded out of its mouth that reached the same cold soil that it�s four legs firmly stood upon.
�That�s our ship Rei, we can fly you home in it, you�ll have to wait here though, well we get you a suit, so you won�t contaminate the air. You�ll also have to go through the air lock alone, � Tom informed Rei. Most of it fell on deaf ears though; Rei only understood that she would need to wait out side the creature for a while. Tom and Joe left, passing into the star creatures mouth. A sort while later, Joe reemerged from the belly of the creature carrying in hand a folded garment resembling the one that Joe was wearing.
�I�m sorry if this doesn�t fit too well, this suit is really designed for a human child, not a little laborite, like yourself, it was the smallest one we could find though�. Rei looked at it blankly.
�I�m afraid you will have to change into it before we can let you on our ship and take you home� Joe paused for a moment and then continued to hold out the garment waiting for Rei to take it and change. �What you waiting for? I assure you there�s no other way�. Rei, frustrated, stamped her foot and instructed Joe to leave momentarily so that she could change alone. Joe realizing his folly tossed the garment on the ground and hid himself from view. Rei changed into the grossly over sized outfight with difficultly, but eventually conquered it and called out to Joe to return.
Joe led an exasperated Rei to the mouth and up the tongue of the star creature. At the end of the tongue there was a door. Joe showed Rei in, the door closed behind her. Now Rei was all by herself, in a strange white room. A grinding and creaking noise vibrated in the walls of the room. Rei was having difficulty seeing what was going on around her due to the awkwardness of her hood that sagged over her head, with only a small window for her to peer out of. A thick white steam suddenly burst into the room with a piercing hissing noise, but it quickly subsided and Rei was comforted when she discovered the steam wasn�t searing, but luke warm. The second door opened and revealed Tom now with his face, arms, and hands exposed.
�Come with me, Rei to the observation deck and point out your home to me so we can drop you off�, Tom beaconed. Rei and Tom walked down many illuminated corridors until they finally came upon the observation deck. It had two large windows, several chairs and pictures all a round that glowed. Rei walked over to the window and peered out. She gazed as she saw the ground below her grow smaller, and then smaller.
�Tom, look over there, I can see my house from here�.
�That�s great�, Tom said, �I�ll place us right beside your house, over there�; Rei felt a shutter through out the ship as it began to accelerate and within moments they had tracked the distance it had taken Rei more then an hour to cover earlier.
�We�re landing now, go back to the air lock Rei, Joe will meet you down there?� Rei hurried back down the corridors, trying desperately to remember the way she had come previously. Before too long Rei found her way to the funny door that let her enter the star creature. As Tom had said, Joe was they�re waiting for little Rei. Joe motioned for Rei to go first and she passed once more through the unpleasant mouth of the star creature.
As Rei walked down the tongue of the star creature, she distinguished first her mother, then her father emerging from the woods ecstatic at the site of their previously missing one. Rei met them at the bottom of the tongue, and embraced her father and mother.
�Rei we saw the star creature in the sky heading towards our home, and we came running as fast as we could. I was so worried, but everything�s all right now.� Rei�s frantic father sobbed. Joe stepped forward from behind the reunited family.
�Oh, mother, father this is the star man, who saved me�, announced Rei.
Joe cheerfully introduced himself �my name is Joe�.
�We are forever grateful to you, Joe.� Rei�s father replied to Joe �So the story really is true, are your people the same as those who saved our first great king� Rei�s father asked.
Joe tried to explain his connection to the ancient story, but it was unfortunately beyond the comprehension of the small laborite family. He tried to explain that the virus had only affected those living on earth, and the planet had been placed on quarantine to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. This was all in vain though, as Rei�s family had no place of reference to understand what had really happened so long ago.
�Hm... well err... once again I must thank you for the return of our only child, it is a blessing.� Rei�s confused father responded. Rei�s father bowed, and began to lead his family towards their home.
Joe hesitated, and then said �you shouldn�t thank me for that, we just needed her to guide us to her parents so we could capture them and study their physiology to find out why the virus doesn�t affect laborite�s�. Now paralyzed with terror Rei and her family froze as they in unison noticed Tom crouching behind a tree aiming a weapon at them. Tom pulled a triggering device on the weapon and a streak of blue light bolted forth and struck Rei and her family. They fell with out effort to the ground from the blast of the stun ray; and in her final moments Rei looked up at the ominous craft above her, and thought quietly to her self that it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Lyrics

12.18.03 (5:37 pm) [edit]

These are the words to two songs I wrote about a year ago, I doubt anyone will find them too interesting, but here they are anyway.

[b]Rember[/b]

Intro-
Tomorrow�
Is always a day away 3x times

Chores-
Why got lost in the summer time,
We could see long time,
But we never lent it happen,
But everything is wrong,

Second Verse-
Remember this� 5x times
Remember this sometimes,
Remember this� 3x times
Remember this sometimes,
We got lost in the time
Such a beautiful place
Such a beautiful place to spend with you
Such a waste of space
I�m getting away

[b]For Juley[/b]

When I found you how could I have known?
That you might be
Juley, Juley, Juley.

Juley in the morning,
On my window sill,
Makes my awaking a thrill.
As the early sun,
Opens my emotion,
My mind turns to our devotion.
Juley, Juley, Juley.

Juley in the morning,
On my window sill,
Makes my awaking a thrill.
As the early sun,
Opens my emotion,
My mind turns to our devotion.

Juley, You fill my life with meaning.
Juley, You give me hope and inspiration.
Juley, Your every thing I�ve dreamed of.
Juley, Juley, Juley.

How can there be so many love songs,
When they don�t know you?

Tolerance

12.18.03 (4:47 pm) [edit]

If humans have existed for 50,000 years and you divided this into life spans lasting about 62 years each, 800 life times have passed in all of human history. Only in the past 150 of these life spans have societies and villages existed, and only in the last one have we had globalization. Today, in our world with so much diversity and rapid change, are we transitioning the way we think and act to coincide with this change? With all our accomplishments that have been made through technologies and understanding, do those living in modern society reflect this level of growth in their way of thinking towards the other cultures of the world and people that live differently from them? Or do we only believe that we have evolved understanding, by giving labels and groupings to others, to help us with our fear of that of which we cannot perceive? As time passes culture and technology grow at an ever-increasing speed and complexity, new technologies always producing more technologies. Some of the simplest advances can dramatically change everyday life. Only through willingness in the society and in a level of security can change be brought about.
When I was much younger, do to the fact I am dyslexic and needed extra help learning, I tended to be moved around the district from one program to another. When I entered the second grade I was placed in a first and second grade multi-age class, at Lake Forest Park Elementary. This was as close to a mainstream class I had been in and was my first experience at Lake Forest Park. I was very excited and so very much wanted to be accepted by my peers. I began to make friends with a group of boys in my class that seemed to accept me. They were all involved in cub scouts at the school, and met at LFP on Wednesday nights. I wanted to become better friends with these boys, so I begged my mother to take me to one of their meetings. It is a known fact by many people that scouts have had a very turbulent past with excluding gays and other groups (like non-Christians). My father is gay and my mother and him have been on good terms and friends for as long as I can remember. Therefore my mother�s reaction to my asking her if I could join cub scouts was rather negative, and at my point of social innocence I couldn�t understand why. Finally I convinced my mother to take me to one of the meetings. She was so horrified by the experience because of her own intolerance and perceptions of conservative Christians. She never allowed me to return. When I was in the fifth grade my mother found an all boys Camp Fire group for me to join. Camp Fire has a reputation for being a more liberal organization and has an all-inclusive non-discriminatory police that includes sexual orientation. I made many friends, and made up for the experiences I lost by not joining cub scouts, and developed many life long skills. Now being 16 and able to look back I know that I never became good friends with the group of boys I desired too in the second grade. At the time, I was upset by this missed opportunity, but now realize that I have little in common with this group of people at Shorecrest. I also know that a lot of my younger childhood would be considered a difficult one by many. Did my mother make the right decision? Is there ever a �right� answer? Or rather in life are there only better choices.
History has a way of repeating itself. My younger brother Tristan, who is in first grade at Brier Elementary, now too desires to join a Cub Scout group. He is new to the school and this would be a good opportunity for him and my parents to get involved with others in their community. Tristan is currently in a mixed boy/girl Camp Fire group out of Lake Forest Park. Tristan is the one of only two boys in his group. My mother is now faced with the dilemma of letting Tristan go to a cub scouts group. Was she too hasty by not letting me go? Does the policies of a national organization necessarily reflect the values of those involved in the program in our community? Does the benefit of being �in the group� outweigh the negative of being part of a group that allows intolerance?
I feel of all places, living in Western Washington which is populated by so many people of different backgrounds and histories, gives me a unique chance to use personal experiences with people and understand what tolerance is. There is no black and white, right or wrong, and intolerance can be created by the human desire to create a black and white definition of right and wrong. I believe that the only thing tolerant people can�t tolerate is intolerance.

European Expansion Clashes with Ancient Central American Cultures

12.18.03 (4:42 pm) [edit]

Abstract

What happens when two isolated cultures meet for the first time? When Christopher Columbus landed in the New World, instead of Asia, he made presumptions about the people he met. He exposed these people to the western world, and named them Indians (as we still refer to them Today). It is such a rare opportunity when two new cultures meet to share and learn. But instead the Europeans blinded by greed did not see the value in the friendship the natives bestowed upon them. Instead European culture would lead Christopher Columbus and those who followed him to repay them by kidnapping and classify these unfamiliar people as savages. Did Spaniard disappointment in not finding a new passage to the East Indies lead to their brutal treatment of the people who had greeted them with friendship and compassion? Or once again should one argue that European treatment of the Native Americans was caused by cultural differences and misunderstandings. There may not be an easy answer, but an excuse, no matter how good cannot rise above itself to become something more.

European Expansion Clashes
with
Ancient Central American Cultures:

The Renaissance period in Europe saw great advancements as the Europeans began to expand and explore. The European world came in contact with many new societies that had been previously unknown to them. The Europeans often mistreated the people they met in Africa, North America, and Asia. Few times in history has there been two cultures so isolated by their geography meeting in a fashion that would forever change both their destinies. Instead of embracing these moments, why would Europeans turn to greed and thus causing us to lose many of these great and mysterious civilizations to time?
On October 12, 1492, such an incident occurred. After a two-month voyage across the Atlantic Ocean Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Caribbean Sea. Consequently, he was the first European explorer of his time to reach the Americas. Unfortunately he didn�t know it, and thought he had landed on a chain of islands somewhere not far off the coastline of the main Asian body mass. Why would he think anything different? He had never been anywhere outside of Europe before. In correlation with thinking he was geographically in India, and their culture being the most closely resembling that of the stories he had heard of the Indian people in India; this resulted in him naming the natives he met Indians.
The people he met were actually the Arawaks, a sophisticated people located on modern day Hispaniola. Upon arriving, the Arawaks came to marvel at the people they believed had traveled to their island in ships from the sky. News of these strange new visitors spread quickly and people from nearby villages came to great Columbus and his crew.
This first encounter of two cultures would lead to be both unique and tragic result. The European mentality was not only foreign but nothing less than alien to the natives. Arawaks saw the world around them as giving and nurturing, where as the Europeans saw the natural world as a beast to be exploited and tamed. The Arawaks trusting and generous nature would leave them vulnerable to European exploitation.
Columbus wrote in his log of these people, �Artless and generous with what they have, to such a degree as no one would believe but he who had seen it. Of anything they have, if it be asked for, they never say no, but do rather invite the person to accept it, and show as much lovingness as though they would give their hearts. � Then as a sick twist, he added �these people are very unskilled in arms� with fifty men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished,� later he wrote �in the first island that I found, I took some of them [Indians] by force, to intent that they should learn and give me information of what there was in those parts. � Christopher Columbus not being able to understand the native�s culture assumed that they had no religion, and further they wouldn�t resist being taken as slaves. This would prove to be only a precursor for what was to come.
On Christmas Eve, while making its way along the coast of Hispaniola, the Santa Maria (Columbus�s flag ship) ran aground on a coral reef. The ship was destroyed, but with the help of the friendly Arawak chief Guacanagari and his people of the local province, (as the Arawaks society was separated into) the crew and most of the supplies on board were saved. As a token of gratitude, Columbus gave Guacangari a red cape. Guacangari saw this as the opening of trade between leaders and gave Columbus a mask plates and several other objects made of gold. Guacangari thought this to be a fair trade. One of these objects was a gold headdress that Columbus thought was a crown. This led Columbus to the misunderstanding that the Arawaks were passing right to rule to him and gifting authority of their land to Spain.
Because of the destruction of the Santa Maria, Columbus now lacked enough room aboard his ship to bring all of his men back with him. Columbus was forced to leave a good number of his men behind to establish a fort he named La Navidad until he could return. However, it is speculated that he may have wanted to set up a permanent colony even before he left. On his way back he wrote a letter to the Spanish monarchs telling them of the natives he had captured and was bringing back to them as gifts. �They are fit to be ordered about and made to work, to sow and do aught else that may be needed �.
Even though Christopher Columbus was of Italian birth he could only convince Spain to finance his voyage. When his voyage was successful it positioned Spain to become the most powerful nation in the world.
This started the Spanish Conquest of the Caribbean. Upon Columbus�s return in 1493 he found to his anguish that La Navidad had been destroyed. The Arawaks claimed that the men left behind had destroyed La Navidad and killed each other through drunkenness and unruly behavior. Many of Columbus�s crew wanted to attack the Arawaks for this atrocity, but Columbus decided to believe Guacangari�s story and to leave him and his people there in peace. He moved further down the coast and established a new fort called La Isabela. He immediately began to put many of the Arawaks to work panning for gold or working in mines. The brutal working conditions and harsh treatment of the Arawaks by the Spainards lead to many revolts, which the Spaniards quickly and violently put down. Many people were rounded up by the Spaniards and were either killed or shipped of to the slave markets in Spain. The Arawaks were also exposed to many diseases by the Europeans that they had never had contact with before, which also killed a great number of people. Eventually Enrique (the rightful heir of the Arawaks) would lead a successful rebellion against the Spaniards and win the freedom of his people. The remaining four thousand Arawaks of the original estimated seven to eight million settled at the base of the Cibao Mountains; and gained amrest through the efforts of a Spanish priest and Enrique in the Spanish court. They lived unmolested until 1552 (only sixty years after Columbus�s first arrival) when the Arawak people became extinct.
This tragic story of betrayal and genocide was not the only one being perpetrated by the Spaniards at this time. After establishing themselves on Hispaniola they began to explore the nearby coastlines.
In 1519 a Spanish explorer named Hern�n Cort�s was sent by the governor of Hispaniola, with more than five hundred Spaniards to eastern Mexico in search of more land and gold. At the advice of Malinche, Cort�ses Native American mistress, Cort�s formed an alliance with one of the rivals of the Aztec, the Tlaxcalans, and set out for the center of the Aztec empire. The Aztec ruler Montezuma II allowed Cort�s to enter the city in order to learn more about him and his intentions. The Aztecs believing the Spaniards were gods returning to them from over the ocean gave them the greatest of hospitality. The Spaniards couldn�t help but marvel at the splendor and greatness of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitl�n. The Spaniards had found their way into the world�s largest and richest city.
The Spaniards seized much of the city�s gold. Fearful that the Aztec would attack their outnumbered Spanish force, Cort�s seized Montezuma as a hostage. The Spaniards melted down the gold ornaments that the Aztec had either gifted to them or they had stolen for shipment to Spain. They then forced Montezuma against his will to swear allegiance to the king of Spain. The Spaniards were able to remain in the city without opposition until about six months later. When Cort�s was away from the city, a Spanish officer named Pedro de Alvarado, of whom he had left in command massacred 200 Aztec nobles who had gathered for a religious ceremony. When Cort�s returned to Tenochtitl�n, the Aztec rebelled, fighting to drive the Spaniards out of Tenochtitl�n. The Aztec warriors destroyed the city�s bridges and chased the Spaniards into the canals, where three-fourths of them, weighted down with stolen gold, quickly drowned. Unfortunately Montezuma was killed during this revolt.
Cort�s retreated to Tlaxcala and gathered what Native American allies he could for a siege of Tenochtitl�n. The Aztecs� crude and specialized weapons proved ineffective to the steel and gunpowder of the Spaniards. After three months of seige the city Tenochtitl�n surrendered in August 1521. The Spaniards conquered the remaining Aztec peoples and took over their lands, forcing them to work in gold mines and on Spanish estates.
The fall of Tenochtitl�n marked the end of the native civilizations that had existed in Central America since the first human settlement of the region. What started out as cultural differences and misunderstandings turned into a battle of survival for the natives and a conquest to glory for the Europeans. History will always remember these events as one of human�s darkest and inhumane chapters. The knowledge and cultural history that we lost as a result of the European arrogance and greed is a tragedy that cycles throughout human history, even today.

Ironic

12.17.03 (10:49 am) [edit]

Shaking Hands: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of President Ronald Reagan, in Baghdad on December 20, 1983 [image]Gitoni_1390514527.jpg[/image]

“Relativity”

12.16.03 (10:35 am) [edit]

A tall, fair skinned man named Greg F. Hayes, who was having a particularly bad day, was intently staring through a small eyepiece in a towering telescope elegantly drifting into the endless heavens exposed through a small breach in the wall paneling of the room, when it all began. “It’s been eight years now, eight years I’ve been watching the sky. You know I only took this job for the money.”
I responded surprisingly optimistically to Greg’s meaningless comment. “Anyone who has a job these days only takes it for the money, if you’re not saving for the journey off-world, you’re one of those savage people living outside of the cities who claims to disbelieve in the promises of off-world. If you ask me they’re just a bunch of idle fools.”
I was Greg’s assistant, he interpreted the images displayed by the telescope, and well, I oversaw the machines. It was really a worthless job, but so were all the other jobs in the city by this point, the machines had replaced any need for anyone to do anything really, but our government required that people still worked, so here we are, watching a machine do what were paid to do.
“No, I don’t think you understand what I mean. I loath this work, it seems unfair that I should be made to sit here, slowly dying every moment, while someone else just as intelligent as me gets to live off-world traveling near the speed of light, traveling in a worm hole heading towards the center of the galaxy, not even ageing a day. My job is done by a machine, your job is done by a machine everyone living in this city’s job is done by a machine, we only check what we already know they’ve done, will do and always have done. We had the resources to send everyone who wanted to leave eight years ago with the others. We should have been allowed to, instead of being forced into indentured slavery, so we could “pay” our way off-world…” stammered Greg.
“Injustice or not you should know that tonight is a very special night, and that you and I are very lucky to be here. Tonight is the night forecasted for the Longevity to reach its final orbit around the center of the galaxy, the nearest super massive black hole. We are going to be the first two people on Terra to see if the mission was successful,” I consoled him
“Don’t act like it’s some big privilege, we were the only people who couldn’t afford to go on the Longevity that even know a little bit about astronomy. Besides two minutes after we see it it’s going to be broadcasted on the television for everyone else to see,” he retorted.
Somewhere in the background on an anonymous TV, the “Longevity Half Hour Special” started, the moment of truth was coming, what we had all been waiting for, news of the Longevity, and they were planning on putting it on just a few minutes delayed, so “Greg and I” (but really the machines) could polish the images, before being sent on the air waves.
I could hear the mechanical announcer in his usual monotone voice emanating from the background, “…According to Einstein’s theory of Relativity, the faster one travels through space, and the more gravity they are exposed to, the slower time will take effect on the person in question. It wasn’t until the mid-22nd century with the advent of high velocity and interstellar travel that this had any practical meaning. At this time an amateur physicist named Patrick R. Clearfield came up with a brilliant Idea. If everyone traveled to the center of the galaxy, a place where time and space were so warped that time moves little to none at all, people would seemingly never age! He reported his idea in Science Network Magazine. The National Terra Union, a Government so to speak that formed near the end of the 21st Century, that ruled over all of human kind, took an interest in the idea, and assembled a team to assess the plausibility of Clearfield’s idea. The team determined that not only was Patrick’s idea plausible but also should be implemented immediately. The National Terra Union set its armies of droid laborers instantly to work on the construction of a ship that could send those who would pay for it to the center of the universe. The ship built by our droids was christened the Longevity. Those who could not afford it were left behind until they could make enough money to buy tickets for the launch of the second ship that was planned for eight years after the first, despite the manufacturing time of only six months. Others decided that they much preferred the quality of life to the length and have made very clear there intentions to never go off-world….”
A history lesson, how wonderful, I decided to tune the TV out. “You see anything interesting yet, Greg?” I asked.
“Let me look, not as of… wait I think the computer, yes it did. It’s the Longevity, come see, it only looks like a little white dot right now, but give it a few minutes and the computer should contrast and cross reference it using the satellite images and enhance the it over there on that screen.” Excitedly announced Greg
I impatiently knocked Greg to one side, so as to get a slight glimpse of the Longevity in the telescope. Actually I was unimpressed; it wasn’t much to look at through the telescope. I wondered back over to my seat, and sat down.
“…The information network at the observatory has just given use word that they have spotted the Longevity and it should be only another ten minutes until they can send images, and as everyone knows, determine the success of the mission. When word of the mission’s success arrives, all those holding seats aboard the Preservation will have approximately 28 hours to claim their seat and check on board before launch...” proclaimed the TV in a booming voice.
This was the real reason why Greg was so sore today, after saving for the last eight years he still hadn’t saved enough money to go off-world on the Preservation. I didn’t tell him, but I had actually had managed to obtain a seat. I had to sell all my possessions, and swindle some money, but I figured I wouldn’t need much when I’m off-world anyway.
“No!” Screamed Greg, skeptically pointing at the monitor that he had previously told me would display the images of the Longevity after the computer enhanced it. I turned and looked at the screen, expecting to see the great ship initiating orbit of the black hole. I was horrified by what I saw on the screen, first it showed the Longevity being crushed and destroyed, then it showed nothing, absolutely nothing.
“What could have possibly gone wrong Greg? It was suppose to make them live forever, it… it can’t be,” I sobbed.
“We always knew this was a possibility. I mean we just don’t understand everything that’s involved in black holes, the dynamics of quantum mechanics and general relativity colliding are mind boggling, they had machines check it though, I never would have believed, that it would all just… be gone. What will happen when it goes on air in a few seconds?” Still in disbelief, Greg quivered.
“…The images of the Longevity have just arrived, and by the looks of it the mission was a complete success, that means the 28 hour countdown to launch begins now…” I couldn’t believe it, they had censored the images, but that would mean that they were just going to let everyone board the Preservation. They would have the same fate as those on Longevity.
“Greg how are we going to let those people know what really happened?”
These are the events of the last twenty minutes that lead to this moment, what could very well be the end of my life. This is what led to that gun barrel pointing at my face.
“We’re not going to do anything, this goes way over you’re head kid, you understand me?” instructed Greg.
“But we… I don’t understand… all those people! Greg… and you, who are you?”
“Didn’t want to do this kid, but you’re not leaving me much choice.”
Time seems to retard to a near stand still as I slowly watch the bullet travel past the shaft and in to me. Now there is nothing.

“The Realm of Mr. Spontaneous Creation Man*”

12.15.03 (10:55 am) [edit]

I suddenly stand on the beginning of creation, I don’t quite remember
creation having mercury rivers, but then again I don’t remember anything of
creation, I wasn’t there. Come to think of it I don’t remember anything at
all, but I can speak in Klingon, however. Hmmmm... rivers of mercury...
something tells me that this is something special... nuqDaq’oH puchpa’’eR 17;
Maybe I should follow it!
What an idea!
And so, I followed the streams of mercury (please note for the reader’s
sake this is NOT a metaphor)
So I followed the river, and I walked along the river, and I walked in the
river, and I drank from the river (tastes like burning!) After a dreadful5
five minutes of doing this in cycles, I finally came upon a very very very
very large city that could be seen from thousands of miles away.
Fortunately, I didn’t notice it until it was right on top of me, so I got
the full effect.
Now if you ever saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, not only will you be
disturbed for life, but you will be familiar with some strange little
creatures known as "Oompa Loompas." Imagine these with blue skin and hair
as well as silver squares on their foreheads. Now you have one of the funky
little things walking around the city with the humans. Or actually, instead
of humans. They didn't happen to notice me there.
"Hello! Can you direct me to the nearest bathroom? I really need to go;
I've been holding it since I was created."
The little blue guy look at me like I had a sign that said "Wha 'tchoo
talkin’ 'bout Willis?" on my chest. Then I realized I did. I walked away.
Well, I'd better get to the center of the city. If there's anything
important, it would be there.
Well... that looked about 50 miles away. I looked around for anything that
might get me there in less than a week (I was a slow walker ,) I saw...a
truck...a miniature car... and a giant battle mecha.
I made my choice and don't regret it!
"Hello, weary traveler. How may my convenient transportation and battle
modes service you?"
"Get me over to the center of this city!"
"Yes, sir! It should only take ... HEY! You don't own me."
"Aww.. c'mon! I've got to get over there. There's something important over
there," I whined.
"No. I don't like you."
"Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.
Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.
Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.
Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.
Please. Please. Please. Please. Please...."
"OKAY OKAY! I'll take you to the city. Wanna blow some stuff up on the
way, though, I'm kinda bored. How about that fine education
establishment!"
“Ah… maybe latter right now I really want to get to the center of the city,
maybe there’s a bathroom there.”
“Fine have it your way but because you don’t wont to blow up any than right
now I’m afraid I'm not going to lent you bake in me again. Oh and if you see
the leader say hi to him for me, that leader is a great guy.”
I tried to think about the idea of this “leader” but ever time I did
all that came to mind was, “The leader he’s a fendi guy.” Okay? Lets try
again, “The leader he’s a fendi guy.” Oh well,
At the center of the city there was a very large and very pyramid shaped
building. As I came to the front of the building there some kind of freakish
looking short, bald, fat ogre like person. I resisted the urge to
mecha-stomp on him. He approached. I felt offended from just this.
“Hello. We have been expecting you.”
We? Expecting? What was up with this guy? “Umm… you have?” Intercom. I
powered down the mecha and jumped out. It REALY hurt. I made a note not to
jump from over ten stories again.
“You’ve been monitored since you were created. My name is Luke. My job is
to answer any questions you have, see that you get to know everything, and
umm… general rent-a-cop. First I’m going explain the Whistle Fadders, what
you call ‘Oompa Loompas,’ to you. There’s no real reason we call them
Whistle Fadders; we just do. You see the Whistle Fadders are genetically
altered humans who are superior to you in ever way but one, they have no
freewill. It actually hasn’t been a problem for us at all. But we don’t
just kill the few that grow free will, no we only do that to the one’s who
don’t think like we want them to. As a matter of fact did you notice all
those little silver things on their foreheads? We gave them those so that
if they had an idea that the leader could run things better, had a bad
thought about the leader, or just plain and simple act stupid we blow them
up. It’s fun! But I’ve been talking for a painfully long time. I’ve
noticed five uncomfortable shifts in you position. Maybe it’s that I’ve
only been saying 17 words a minute. In fact, me talking about talking
slow, and it being incredibly boring you, is still boring. Seeeeeeeeee…you
just shifted again. But anyways, come with me, you must meet the leader.
This was a promising enough sounding idea
Once I was in the palace, Luke led me down a long hallway to a room that
said in big gold letters on the door “The Leader.” They were shiny! Luke
pushed open the door to reveal a tall man in a dark black coat, with a fell
head of midnight blue hair (and how!), he’s head was facing the ground ,he
slowly lifted it as he said in a deep voice, “I am the leader ask me any
thing I, I mean you want to know, and after you may ask but one question.”
His voice boomed, unnecessarily.
“Sounds fair enough,” our hero replied.
“To start off, this is my world; I am god here. Everyone is under me and
under my leadership. I am all powerful. Have you noticed how this story
keeps switching between first person and third?
“Ummm…” I started.
“I’m doing that. Fendi, huh? Now I’ll let Luke explain to you our system
of improvement, and how.”
“Come with me,” the funky little fat guy said. I followed, walking
awkwardly, being crippled from severe toilet withdrawal.
Ho opened a door to my right, which led outside. There was a wall standing
about thirty feet wide that looked like it stretched into the heavens.
Man, that leader is sure a fendy guy!
Why did I just think that?
Trust me! That leader is a pretty fendi guy!
The wall had writing on it.
“This is the record of all of the civilians that had an idea or criticism of
the way the world was. Although they must die for thinking unsavory
thoughts, the world is changed in that way in which they wanted. Their name
and contribution is put up here as to give them credit.
I went up and read a few;
Bob
Gravity is now decreased to bearable standards.

Rob
People are no longer eaten regularly by a giant teal penguin.

Kob
The word ‘the” has been reduced to three letters from 19,867.

Yob
Purple is now officially a color.

“Hmmmm… seams like some important stuff.”
“Yes. There are a few who gain free will, but without any specific purpose,
those ones just die. In fact, there have been an unusual amount of these
since you have showed up. The one you approached actually seams to be
declaring himself king right behind you.”
As he stepped behind himself to see, all that was in front of him was a
group of Whistle Fadders looking horrified at his feat. Then he realized he
was standing on their king.
“You’re standing on my king!”
“Am I?”
“DIE!!!” A member of the crowd pulled a pitchfork from the ground, and fell
down dead. Then all the others did as well in the crowd did as well and I
realized I was standing in a pile of dead Whistle Fadder.
“This is a perfect example. Come now, back to the leader. You have your
question to ask.”
I didn’t even wait for Luke; I just ran in and shrieked, “WHERE’S THE
BATHROOM?”
“Well that’s a very good question were should I began, well you know how I’m
god hear right?”
He calmed down a little, “Yes I understand, but…”
“So there’s only one bathroom: mine, down the hall, three doors down, on the
left.”
He was in full-throttled, high-geared hysteria by the time he discovered the
door had an access pad.
“USER NAME??? WHY DO I NEAD A USER NAME?!?!?!?!”
After leader, Luke, and Mr. Spontaneous creation man didn’t work he ran back
into the leader’s room.
“I need to know your name!”
“Sorry, you get but one question.” Fortunately, at this time, he noticed
something he hadn’t before: a “Hello my name is tag” on the leaders coat.
Don’t say it…
“WHAT KIND OF NAME IS THA-*”

There is now a secondary toilet.
Luke dies a slow and painful death.
The leader’s name changes from Tony to “The Euphoric Angel Gitoni delQav.”

-By Luke Hutchinson, & Tony Leslie
A Creation of Gitoni Co. & Captain Funkies Whistle Fadder Inc.
In Association with Mia Hamm studios.

Tony Leslie
Period 7-8
Fiction Writing
MSCM� Vol. 2.1
“The Great Search for Tokyo”
I. Prelude:
The purpose and focal point of what you are about to subject your self to is for the reader to “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out” The following is a thought experiment of my own devising, some of the images my induce any of the following symptoms, confusing, mind altering or expanding, and boredom, Reader discursion is advised.

II. Introduction:
“Oh, so your still here, interesting… Or is it rather that you just arrived? Non-linear time I guess can be fun; it takes a little getting use to though. That aside, I guess I should explain how you and I came to be here. To be truthful I’m not exactly sure. Actually I only remember a little of the later, only about enough to fill 2 –3 pages. Well I guess I’ll start with the beginning, or at least what I think is the begging. Maybe if I go over the line of events with you they’ll make more sense, the key concept being maybe.”

III. Creation:
At first there was a twist and turning that much left me felling as though I were a chocolate covered ant being eaten alive by a rather large entity, weather that entity were physical or abstract is to your concern. After what seemed to be an eternally long amount of time, but I believe to have been in fact a mire nanosecond, I arrived at the edge of the universe. How odd, I don’t remember the edge of the universe to have rivers of solid glacier formed Uranium, then again I don’t really know what the edge of the universe is like I’ve never been there. At this point I decided to follow these “Uranium Rivers” sense they most lead somewhere, and I was having treble making sense of anything else of sustains in my surroundings. This might not have been my first choice though had I known for how many miles this river had eroded itself along the nonexistent soil, or had I known that there was metro route near by.
After an excoriating five-minute walk, that must have taken me like a million miles, I arrived at a forest of ladders. At least at first I thought it was a forest until I noticed that about six hundred feet above me there was a sizable fleet a zeppelins, or rather a very large armada of them. There were wooden structures connecting them together and there were clustered in such a way that it resembled the Ewoke cities of Endour. Only instead of trees there were zeppelins with all sorts of latter’s connecting them to the plan that I believed my self to be standing on. I climbed one of the more awkward looking ones, just for the sheer thrill of it. Upon entering the zeppelin metropolis, I was greeted to my disappointment, not a fuzzy cute Ewoke (I rather do like Ewaks) but instead a creature that I can only describe as a cross between a deformed eagle and some kind of hideous hobbit Muppet, spawned from the nightmarish children’s programming of the early nineteen eighties. This lacking visual image is cruel tribute to the simple ugliness of the creature that stood before me. Hmm… I wonder why they call it “programming” . I shirked in horror when suddenly in a metallic voice the thing quaked out of its right nostril “You are presently committing 70-4-208, Unlawful importation of skunks”. At this time I found it hard to believe but as it would seem it was indeed possible for such a simple ugly thing to augment itself and become something even uglier then what I before thought even comprehendible. “It is unlawful for any person to import, possess, or cause to be imported into this state any type of live skunk, or to sell, barter, exchange or otherwise transfer any live skunk, except that the prohibitions of this section shall not apply to bona fide zoological parks and research institutions.” shrieked the thing. “Immediate incarceration is required of subject in question”. I really wished I hadn’t ignored what it was saying, it wasn’t until after the thing stung me with a neural disruption beam that I realized that he had in fact been referring to the sunk that had curiously perched itself upon my head.

IV. Integration:
“Welcome detainee number 10-00110-010-110 to ECCO, this is where you will be hold until incept date, and hearing for penalty of crime can be obtained” whispered a voice belonging to whom at this point I was unsure.
“Where I am I?” I asked rather impatiently.
“ECCO” repeated the voice.
“How did I get here?”
“There are two answers to that question, the first is easer, but will probable not fully satisfy you, the second is much more difficult, and you may very likely not comprehend it”
“I don’t really care anymore” I spat out, “just give me both explanations, and ill pick and choice for my self.”
“Very well, you were cited by unite 45-98-65 breaking the law recorded as 70-4-208, after which you were apprehended and Integrated into ECCO until further punishment for your crime can be determined by “The Party”. I believe though that you already know this and it is not exactly what you meant by “where am I”.
“No, not at all, what was the other answer, and who is The Party?”
“To answer that I might have to reiterate a brief history of our society.”
“It doesn’t seem as though I have anywhere to go, so you might as well”

V. History:
“A long time ago this place was inhabited by a people known as the Whistle Fadders, the origin of these people is beyond our records. There first Civilization was feed by the grate Madeleine River, and soon grow mighty and powerful. It seemed that under the guidance of their mighty leader that the Whistle Fadders would contain to thrive. Then came the visitor, not much is known after this point, other then the great Whistle Fadder Empire collapsed, and the survivors created new claims far and wide along the Madeleine River. One of these formed into the Zeppelin Nation. The people of this nation were fearful of their neighboring nations, and through propaganda the party was able to use this to take political control. They were ruthless in this take over often “removing” all those who opposed them. The party’s first agenda after gaining full control was to gain military supremacy over all the other nations that had formed after the great collapse. To do this they turned to technology, and discovered many wonders of the universe, including me, eventual though the party perfected there greatest secret, the weapon. The party at this time was lead by a flame as dumb as a shrub. He used the weapon with out understanding its power; it was the end of Whistle Fadders kind besides those living in the now Zeppelin Metropolis. The party no longer having an external agenda turned on its own people, creating law after law. A special robotic race using a sleek hybrid of genetic and robotic technology was used to enforce these laws. After a time almost everyone one was arrested, for one ridicules reason or another. This lead to overcrowding in the prison system, many solutions to this problem were devised, and many overlapping procedures were created. Such as were to place a detainee well awaiting the very long process to determine punishment. Eventually it was agreed that to save space and money convicts brains would be integrated into the ECCO, and the rest of their body would be broken down and converted back into energy. This is what has happened to you.”
“So what happened to all the Whistle Fadders?”
“Eventually ever Whistle Fadder ended up here or somewhere worse. The brainless units, in probable there only moment of sentient thought, realized their position of power and shut down the power grid that was supporting the remaining Whistle Fadders brains. Unfortunately they returned to the mindless selves once more, after completing their device task. You are the first sentient creature to come to the city in a very long time.”

VI. Punishment:
“We the party do sentence, he who has been convicted by us, the Party, of knowingly engaging in the punishable crime recorded as 70-4-208, Unlawful importation of skunks, is here by sentenced to an eternity in the void of the thoughts of ECCO.”

IIV. Conclusion:
“Hmm… I guess you already new most of that, and to be truthful I’m no more sure now then I was 2 –3 pages ago what is going on. I guess we got all eternity to figure it out though.”