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Bill — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:12:02 +0000

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Guardian Angels Continue to Hit the Streets in Response to DC Crime Wave: MyFoxDC.com

The Darkening - Ch. 4

data66 — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:56:25 +0000

Billy, Jean and David, completely oblivious to their friend's warning screams, continued on into the cave. Enthralled and mesmerized by thoughts of some long forgotten treasure. They excitedly raced each other through the passageway. Dim lights bobbed left and right as their flashlights tried to break through the darkness. They eventually came to the end of the passage – a large, damp cavern that was filled with a mist that curled and twisted in the flashlight's narrow beams of light.

They explored the cavern but found nothing. Absolutely nothing. Disgusted, they sat in the center of the cavern, angry and disappointed.

“It's not fair!,” shouted Billy.

“Yeah! What a total waste of time!! I can't believe we wasted the whole day on this shit!,” yelled David as he threw a small stone he had picked up.

“Well, I could have been babysitting and making some money so I lost money coming on this wild goose chase!,” Jean said angrily.

None of the children noticed that their voices went no further than their immediate space. A cavern this large should have echoed, but it didn't. Blinded by their anger and disappointment at their dreams of wealth slipping away, none of them noticed the tendrils of mist getting closer to them. The mist that seemed to thicken with each passing moment, swallowing their voices and the light from their flashlights.

In their anger, they could not feel the chill that touched their skin as the tendrils of mist swirled at their feet and wrapped around their ankles. They were oblivious to the mist and that which lived within it – Curakan. Too late would they notice the danger that surrounded them.

Curakan waited for the humans to enter the chamber. Watched the lights bobb back and forth as they approached. When they entered, he did not immediately attack. Instead, he waited and savored the moment.

They were angry. They shouted and screamed in their anger. This exhilerated Curakan, empowered him. He fed on the anger, felt it course through him. It had been so many years since he had fed on human anger and he savored every moment.

Slowly, he moved toward them. His hunger would not be satiated with simple human anger, that is but a snack.

Bills cartoon career

Bill — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:56:54 +0000

I have worked on an on-line newspaper as a political satirist / editorial illustrator. I'll still do some drawings periodically, but rarely. Here are two of them. This paper dealt strictly with the immediate area, north east N.C. and south east Virginia.

Mandolins

Bill — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:17:56 +0000

I love playing mandolin. The A-Style accoustic is what I learned on, like this one. Even with thin fingers, I found it very difficult to get certain chords to sound clear. Being an 8 string, the courses are very close to each other. Figured I'd experiment and bought a Kentucky solid body 4 string electric. I find it much easier to not only form clear chords, but, even noting is easier, faster, and it has a great sound for doing rock music. I use a chorus box right now, but plan on experimenting with other effects. Who knows, I may be the next Jimi Hendrix!

Tony the Truckstop Tiger

data66 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:06:40 +0000

Tony the truck stop tiger-photo by Mark of the Beast at thebeastmark.blogspot.com

Tony is a tiger living in a cage at a truck stop in Grosse Tete, Louisianna. He has lived in that cage for over ten years. This is a fictional account of what I imagine his life to be and is written from his point of view. If you are moved by Tony’s plight, please sign his petitions which can be found here http://freetonythetiger.wordpress.com/

Day 1

The feel of the grass as I quietly stalk my prey, its scent coursing through my body, sending shivers down my spine. I watch as it lingers within my site, unaware of my presence. The timing is right! I start the chase, keeping the fleeing animal in my sights as we bound through the tall grass. Its within striking distance and I make my leap…..

VROOOMMMM!!! HONK!!! GRRRRRRRRR!!!

I am awakened by the sound of these creatures that are always present. They make loud rumbling noises and emit scents that burn my eyes and throat. Getting up, I wander over to look at my surroundings and at the creatures that so offend my senses. They are much bigger than I, and they carry humans that sometimes come look at me. These creatures sit within striking distance and rumble and growl at me.

I walk on this hard surface, pacing back and forth, watching. Watching for a way out. Watching for these creatures to leave. Watching for something, anything, to get within striking distance so that I can have something to play with. Just watching.

And then I sleep. Dreams. Dreams come from someplace deep within me. Dreams of things I have never known but are a part of me. These are the primal essence of what I was meant to be. Roaming free, with the sweet wind filling my lungs, mixed with the scents of prey and preditor alike. Free, with the grass beneath my feet and the taste of pure, cool water from a pond or lake. Free to play, free to run, just free. Dreams.

Days 2 through 365 …see Day 1

Stella the Baby Dolphin

data66 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:56:15 +0000

*Orginally published in my WordPress blog.

Dolphin drive hunting, also called dolphin drive fishing, is a method of hunting dolphins and occasionally other small cetaceans by driving them together with boats and then usually into a bay or onto a beach. Their escape is prevented by closing off the route to the open sea or ocean with boats and nets. The Japanese town of Taiji on the Kii peninsula is, as of now, the only town in Japan where drive hunting still takes place on a large scale.

This is a work of fiction to bring awareness to the plight of the dolphins.

Stella is a 2 year old Bottlenose Dolphin. Though she is starting to assert some independence, she is still close to her mother and relies on her guidance and the close bond they share. Her pod lives off the coast of Japan, near the town of Taiji.

On this day, Stella wanders off from her mother Still within sight of the pod, she feels safe while she explores her surroundings. She playfully chases a fish. She’s not hungry at the moment but just seeking amusement. She’s blissfully unaware of the imminent danger that lurks near her pod.

She bounds to the surface, jumps out of the water and splashes back down in. Spiraling, she speeds to lower depths, enjoying the feel of the water rushing over her skin. She doesn’t see the shadow of the boats on the water.

On the surface, the fishermen watch their prey. They see a young dolphin jump up out of the water but are not concerned with one small dolphin. Their attention lies elsewhere. They get into position to drive the dolphins into the cove.

Once in position, they start their hunt. They insert metal rods into the water and start banging on them to confuse the dolphins. Using this method, they force the dolphins into the cove. Once all of the dolphins are cornered, they close off the escape route with nets so the dolphins can’t escape.

Below the surface, Stella is alarmed by a loud noise that permeates her body and confuses her. She panics and makes a sound that will alert her mother to her dilemma. The noise that’s filling the water is blocking her from receiving a signal from her mother and her mother is unaware of Stella’s distress.

The pod, in a panic, moves into the cove. Stella’s mother searches for her and calls to her but is unable to locate her. Just as she turns to go find her, nets appear before her and block her. It is then that the noises stop and she hears the call of her baby. Frantically, she tries to escape and reach Stella but is blocked by the nets. She sends out a distress call to Stella, warning her of danger and to stay away.

The fishermen above see one lone dolphin trying to escape. If the dolphin continues in its assault on the net, it could dislodge and free the dolphins. This can’t be allowed, the harvest is too important. They usually wait until the next day to kill the dolphins but this one needs to be taken care of now.

Expertly, they hook the troublesome dolphin and pull it aboard. In an instant, they drive a metal pin into its neck and it dies within seconds.

Stella moves closer to her mother’s location, but still stays far enough away from the danger to be safe. She watches as her mother struggles to be free and hears her clicks as she tries to find a way out. Suddenly, her mother is pulled from sight and Stella hears her no more. Soon, the taste of blood fills the water and she knows that her mother will never again be at her side and she is alone.

She slowly swims away. Away from her pod, away from her home and away from her mother.

In the days and weeks that follow, Stella roams the ocean, looking for another pod. She has no way of knowing that she is the last of her kind. That her pod was the last of the Bottlenose dolphins. One young dolphin alone cannot survive.

On a dark day in October, 2010, the last of the Bottlenose dolphins is killed by a great white shark, ending her struggle to survive alone and sending another species into extinction.

Female Musicians

data66 — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:47:32 +0000

We can all look back, thanks to places like Youtube, and see some really great female singers/musicians. If you look, you notice that their popularity was tied to their talent. Some really great songs came from a time when the talent was the main focal point. It did not matter if they were rail thin, drop-dead gorgeous or doing outlandish antics for attention. They simply had talent and damn did they ever! The below examples are in our Video section. Yes, some are more colorful and flamboyant than others, but none had to resort to wearing meat clothes for attention.

The question to ask is, "If some of these singers were trying to break into the industry today, would they be able to?" Today, it seems that the "total package" includes a certain look and if you don't have it, it is much harder to achieve one's goals in this industry. There are some exceptions, Susan Boyle for instance. She had help with Britain's Got Talent. Had it not been for that show, she would never had made it into the spotlight. It would have been a shame too because she has a wonderful voice.

Please see this article, http://shareranks.com/6584,Best-Female-Singers-1910-1960, for more amazing female musicians as I only put a few in this blog.

Gimp

data66 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:01:50 +0000

I use http://www.gimp.org/ for making whatever digital art, photo edits, etc that I want to make. It works well and is similar to Photoshop but it's free. There are a lot of tutorials for how to use it and for making some pretty cool art, icons, avatars, photo edits and improvements. My version is the Mac version but it works in other OS as well.

Gimp comes with a good selection of brushes and effects, filters, photo enhancements and other tools. If it does not have what you need “out of the box” you can find brushes, textures, filters and just about anything extra you need by searching online. It even uses Photoshop brushes so that makes it even more customizable.

Gimp also has an animation feature so if you're looking to do that, there are some tools for it though I've not done much with the animation aspect of Gimp.

I hope to add some Gimp tutorials in the future.

Fairyland

data66 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:12:19 +0000

I wrote this in high school. Its my favorite. Its done in old style poetry.

Fairyland

Think of wild imaginings,

Fairies fly on silver wings.

Dream your dreams without remorse,

the white steed, that flying horse.

Find yourself sinking, so far away,

to the dreamland not many find today.

A place without war, hunger or pain,

a place where the only teardrops are rain.

Dream on my young friend, til the light touches dawn

when the cow's made his last jump and the moon's wandered on.

My Mom

data66 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:02:48 +0000

My mom has cancer. Cancer. That's my boogeyman. The monster hiding under the bed, my nightmare. Cancer. When my doctors found precancerous polyps a few years ago, I ended up having to face the boogeyman. To know that he might be waiting for me some day. That's hard. Then I found out about mom's cancer. I just can't make sense of it. She has Lung and Pancreatic Cancer.

She doesn't deserve it.

I have a special relationship with both of my parents, each different from the other and each one equally important to me. Now one of the most important people in my life is being attacked by an internal monster that I can do nothing about or to help defeat. Cancer is torturous not only to the person with it, but to everyone that cares about that person.

My mom. It's so bittersweet to sit here and write this. Partly smiling with memories and partly tearing up with the knowledge of what she's going through and what she might face for treatments.

But, here's to my mom. Let me introduce you to her some, as much as I can describe how she is.

She's mom in every sense of the word. From baking cookies to playing games, reading stories (Little Red Riding Hood about a thousand times. You know after hearing it just a few you are about insane but she read it over and over for me as it was my favorite). She would bandage my "boo boos" and comfort me when I was sick like only mom can (no offense to dad). I could talk to her about everything.

She didn't yell and scream at me when I messed up. Like the time she came upstairs, opened my door and found the room covered in powder. (well, I had discovered that when I set down the powder, it poofed like a powder volcano, which was cool. So I Poofed the hell out of that powder. Not trying to make a mess and not even noticing that it was, just a kid thing to do.)

My mom is cooky, must be where I get it, and fun. She'll dance the Can-Can with her sisters, play practical jokes, laugh til she tears up while playing the old ET or Joust and just enjoy life. She gets a kick out of Animal Crossing too, I love to hear her laugh when we play.

And oh boy does she have some stories to tell about her and her sisters and their mishaps. One that comes to mind was when they were teens and my grandfather was asleep on the couch taking a nap. They took the opportunity to put his leg hairs in bobby pins. lol.

Mom is my best friend. She's beautiful (though she doesn't believe it), witty, smart, creative, a great cook, fun and fun-loving, and just a great woman.

I can't lose her. I just can't.

Mom:

"Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you." ~Wind Beneath My Wings

I love you so much.

Your Daughter,
punkin

The Darkening - Ch. 3

data66 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:19:59 +0000

The kids worked quickly to remove the rocks and branches that had hidden the cave all these years. It was Billy who removed the branch that caused the rocks to fall and open the cave. Billy, who's great-grandmother, Katherine, was the one who put the final touch that sealed Curakan in his chamber. Billy, who's only thought was of hidden treasure. Soon, Billy's thoughts would be on other things...

Freedom was within Curakan's grasp, he could feel it. The opening of the cave sent a stream of fresh air into the chamber, stirring the mist surrounding him. He now knew for certain that these humans were connected to those that sealed him in. Rage coursed throughout his essence. The mist thickened and the earth trembled slightly as Curakan rose and stretched.

Billy rushed forward, in his mind running toward his treasure. David & Jean were not far behind. Jeremy was having second thoughts. Somewhere within him, certain abilities were coming to the surface - but slowly. Whether it would be in time to save him, would remain to be seen. Kara was all but glued in place. She could hardly breathe and she felt as though their impending doom was a reality that could not be thwarted.

As Billy reached the chamber, Kara snapped to her senses, grabbed Jeremy's hand and ran, screaming for the rest of the kids to follow them out of the cave. Unfortunately, her friends were too enthralled in their treasure quest to hear her.

The Darkening - Ch. 2

data66 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:17:09 +0000

It could sense their approach. With every step they took closer to the cave, it's awareness of them sharpened. It could hear the branches and twigs crackle under their feet, could feel the essence of the human's auras, could smell the distinct scent of human souls that only IT knew and could feel the power of the two (one female that was vaguely aware of her unique abilities and with whom it had shared a brief encounter; and the male that was unaware of his hidden capabilities). It would have to be careful with them, very careful but they would still belong to it in the end. Of that it was certain.

It opened it's eyes as it sensed the humans reach the mouth of the cave. It could hear them shuffling stones and branches to gain entrance to it's prison. As it became more awake and aware, the mist that had been forming at it's feet grew thicker until it rose around it, it's shroud.

It remembered. Remembered the past, the essence of human terror as it tracked them and fed, and later, the humans that imprisoned it. It had a name. A name that humans had given it long ago. Curakan. It knew that the mention of it's name, Curakan, instilled fear in the humans and it embraced the name given it. Curakan.

And now, fully aware, Curakan awaits.

The Darkening - Explanation and Disclaimer

data66 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:16:12 +0000

I kind of did this a little backwards but what the heck, I am the I Love Lucy of the internet so get used to it. lol. A little explanation before I continue exploring The Darkening with you.

It's a work of fiction - thank God. I am not googling any definitions for this as I am making a completely fictitious work. The characters in the story are not based on any real people.

The thing lurking in the mist is fictitious - or is it? Is it possible that perhaps it is something that lurks in the darkness - under the bed, or in a dark corner of a closet, in the cellar's shadowy interior - or perhaps, just perhaps it lurks at the edge of your dreams. As you sleep, in the darkness of your room, perhaps it lingers near your bed, watching you sleep...reaching, barely touching your skin. Just a slight touch that barely registers in your sleep. As you open your eyes, still sleepy, your mind sees what you do not register...

Have fun with that.

The Darkening - Ch. 1

data66 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:14:51 +0000

Jeremy met his friends along the path that led to some once popular hiking trails. They all had backpacks with supplies and the eager expectancy of treasure hunters. Jeremy had drawn a map of where he thought the cave should be located based on the descriptions in Sophie's diary. He brought it with him too, just in case.

Time had taken it's toll on the old hiking trail, and the forest had reclaimed all but the vaguest remnants of a path. The kids left their bikes at the foot of the path and started weaving their way through the branches, brambles and vines.

The forest was thick and did not allow any movement to the air, which made it seem hotter than it actually was. The air seemed to get thicker and laced with a scent that bespoke of decaying leaves or perhaps something else as they slowly made their way to their destination.

Jeremy stopped to look at his map, certain that they were nearing the cave when Kara screamed. They all turned to look at her and she was pale as a ghost and shivering though it had to be at least 80 degrees.

"What! What is it Kara!" ~Jean screeched as she ran to Kara's side.

Kara had been "sensitive" from the time she was 3. Some people called her gifted, others a freak and some just avoided her. Kara had days when she thought it was a curse and others when it was a blessing. Today she wished she had stayed home because she could sense something, something really, really bad. Then again, it could just be the atmosphere of the crowded, overgrown forest.

She didn't want to scare her friends so she said, "I saw a spider! It was hanging from a branch right in front of me!"

The others groaned, turned and headed toward their imagined treasure. Kara followed, still feeling the icy tendrils that seemed to be wrapping around her and trying to pull her down - down to some place she didn't want to see. But, she could see it: her mind could see caverns, huge caverns in the darkness with small trickles of light from above that weakly illuminated a section of the cavern. In the darkness, she could barely make out a shape lying in the corner asleep - but aware. Whatever it is, it's aware of them and in it's sleep is reaching out to her.

It stirs. Still sleeping, it can sense something approaching. Something that it reaches out for and it knows. It knows that these are humans. Humans, like the ones that imprisoned it here. It starts to awaken, it's hunger building and it's anger rising.

The Darkening - Introduction

data66 — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:13:30 +0000

In the old days it was known as The Darkening. It has existed longer than man. The Darkening. A swirling, mass of misty clouds that hug the ground, not unlike a fog will enshroud anything that falls within it's grasp. Something lies within the shifting clouds, something that stretches it's tendrils throughout it's misty shroud...reaching, searching,....hungry...The Darkening...

It has been 100 years since it last fed. 100 years asleep in it's cavern deep within the caves that had remained forgotten and hidden from view until Jeremy Bloom discovered the diary of his great-grandmother, Sophie. Jeremy is an adventurer. As soon as he read Sophie's account of the cave he was intrigued. He was made more so by the last part of the diary:

"We have sealed it deep within the caverns. There's no way anyone will find it. We also hid the entrance with branches and rocks so that only someone that knows the cave is there will ever find it. God forbid anyone should ever stumble upon it. I shudder to think of the consequences."

Well, he just had to know what they sealed in that cave. It could be a treasure! Though her words chilled him. He started imagining cursed treasures guarded by zombies. Or magic medallions that call forth demons if taken. Maybe it's a vampire! Whatever it is, he has to know. So, he and his friends David, Kara, Billy and Jean are all going to look for the cave tomorrow morning. Whatever is in there, they'll be prepared and they'll share it if it's worth money.

Inside the cavern, it sleeps. Undisturbed all these years. Peaceful and tranquil...for now.