Does It Matter Who Does the Magic Trick?

The magic that you see magicians performing today is really truly amazing. It seems like every year the bar is being raised to put the challenge on the rest of the magic community to come up with the next big thing. Magic shows are getting bigger; theyre getting more elaborate; theyre getting extreme. But is bigger always better?

Think about it. What would you rather see, David Copperfield on stage performing one of his unbelievable elusions with all the lights, pretty assistants, and fire and smoke or some ordinary Joe walking up to you on the street and asking you to pick a card, any card?

Whats your first reaction? Of course, who wouldnt want to go see David Copperfield? He is the man, well known for all of his mind blowing magic that he has performed on stage and seen by millions on TV. Hey, if I was asked this question, Id be the first to admit, I would choose David Copperfield in a heartbeat.

But lets take a step back and think about this que stion, David Copperfield or Ordinary Joe. Youve got the glamour versus the struggling street performer. Why would we choose Copperfield over Ordinary Joe? Is it because we know what Mr. Copperfield can do and we know whatever he does is over the top and we will enjoy it? Most likely, but what about Ordinary Joe? Why not give him a chance?

If you really think about it, do you know what this Ordinary Joe can do? Nope. So maybe it may be more exciting to see what he can do over Copperfield. Just maybe this Ordinary Joe has something that you and the rest of the world have never seen before. He may even have the next big thing in magic.

Maybe Ordinary Joe isnt so ordinary after all. Now that I have put this perspective into your mind, Ill ask the question again, Copperfield or Ordinary Joe? Its still a tough sell, isnt it? We are still drawn to the glamour and lights of Copperfield because we know what he can do, he is a proven entertainer.

You may be asking yourself, so what is the point in all of this? My point is that David Copperfield use to be that Ordinary Joe and now look at him. He is far from ordinary. So next time, take the time to give that Ordinary Joe a chance to show you the magic he can do because he could be showing you the next big thing. In the end, magic being performed by some one on the street or on some big stage, it is still magic and thats what counts.

Dion Semeniuk is the proud owner of the popular online magic trick store that offers magic tricks for all ages. Learn free magic tricks by visiting http://www.thisismagic.com

Author:: Dion Semeniuk
Keywords:: magic trick
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Comic Books Exploring Your Imagination

A Comic book, or Comics for short, is a magazine or book containing sequential art in the form of a narrative. Since the formulation of the Comic book format in the 1930s, young and old alike have enjoyed Comics. However, the Comic industry lost some of its popularity when it came down with a crash in the mid 1990s.

To promote its popularity once again the Comic book industry is producing films based on the Comic book stories. This method proved successful for few stories like Sin City, X-men and Spiderman but it failed miserably for other titles that flopped at the box office. So far this approach seems unable to rejuvenate the Comic book industry.

Research shows that the main cause of downfall of the Comic industry is the removal of Comic books from shops and stores. But this cannot be the sole cause since Comic books are now easily available on the internet, in movies and animations.

Another question that comes to mind is why Japanese animation or manga is doing better then traditional Comic books? The answer is simple. The Japanese write a better story line and their animated movies are made for a wider audience. Often, Japanese Comic books are framed as graphic novels containing 70 to 220 pages for a mature audience. The manga holds a more important place in Japanese culture, and is both well respected as an art form and also as a form of popular literature. On the other hand, Comic books in Western countries are generally geared towards young teenagers rather than adults. This approach has made it tough for the Western Comic industry to attain its dominant position.

Common misconceptions regarding Comic books turning readers into out-of-touch delinquents have also hurt sale. Many parents fear that Comics will brainwash children into believing that supermans and batmans actually exist in the world. For this reason, many parents forbid their children from reading Comic books as in their view they carry no ethical or moral values. These attitudes have contributed to the lack of interest in Comics as well as its drop in publication.

The Comic book price guide also sheds some light on why Comics are no longer sold. The price guide reveals that the cost of Comic books has soared up with the success of movies like Batman, Spiderman, and Superman etc. making it unaffordable to many. Plus when it comes to buying storybooks parents prefer to buy their children fables or novels that will help them build up their vocabulary and learn proper English.

But these parents fail to realize that without fantasy and imagination as found in Comics, a child's creativity cannot develop. Comic books help break the monotony in children's lives and refresh these young minds to face the challenges of daily life.

For more on Comic Books, visit Comic Book Fan. Susan also enjoys writing on a wide range of topics at Internet and Communications.

Author:: Susan Jan
Keywords:: Comic,Comic books,Comic strips,Comic book movies,Comic book price guide,Comic book value
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

The Fiends of Yogyakarta

Bustling at the Market

This story takes place in Central Java [1999; the city of Yogyakarta, while visiting the archeological sites [old ruins of Borobudur and Pramanan.

I, Dennis have very little hope that you will understand, still less, believe my incredible journey, the expedition I went through some five-years ago, or is it now six, perhaps it is, time soars between writing and rewriting, and somewhere in-betweenin between, when you look at your journal, and its aging faceits a ting baffling. In any account, I wrote it all down on paper for I knew my memory would haunt me and Id distort it later, had I not. For it did fade somewhat from my jittered nervesshortly after the story took place. Some say Im quite eccentric with this story, to the point of fleeing reality, and replacing it with too much subjectivity; and when it did happen, and it did happen: I thought such myself; it was madness, for it is hard to believe this true and frightful story from any c orner of the world. In any case, to those none believers who confronted me shortly after these events, namely the media, ugliness is not imprisoned, it is free like us to roam wherever it please, and it did this one day, this day Im about to share with you.

For the sake of the story I will use my middle name, Lee: somehow it seems less out of character that way. I had gone to visit a friend in Japan, in the summer of 1999; I had met her in Istanbul, Turkey in l996. I stayed therein Japanfor about a week, seeing most of the sites, such as a tourist would do: going to the top of the Tokyo Tower, and taking a train to Kyoto where nearby there was an international sumo wrestling tournament going on, to which I attended and met some of the world famous wrestlers. And of course, going to the top of Mount Fuji thereafter; all in all it was a most wondrous trip, to say the least.

From there I went to the island of Guam, stayed a day and night there, and flew to Bali, w here I stayed another three nights, and then on to Central Java, to the city of Yogyakarta. There I visited two sites, Borobudur, which is the largest Buddhist Shrine in the world (so I was told) made of somewhere around three million dark volcanic black bricks, over a natural mound. It is a marvel of ingenuity, for the world at large. And then I visited the temples at Pramanan, another breathtaking site. After two days of visiting these sites, I had three more days left. And this is where doubtful-reality may be replaced; but the story cannot be changed, nonetheless; no not one iota, not to appease the media, or anothers speculative witty and aphoristic scientific mind; really is what I will produce, not science, and be it a mystery of mysteries or not, so it shall beeven if it leads away from the practical world to the unbelievable.

Thus, it was on the second free day in Yogyakarta I received a letter down in the lobby, at the main desk, it read:

For gods sak e, come out to this peculiar and beastly, haunting hotel [more like a motel. Another night like this, in this wilderness, will make me snarl, if not go nutty.

Frank Gunderson

That was enough for me. I was known to be a traveler of mysteries, or one looking for them, or so my reputation had preceded me often times. And Frank Gunderson also from the Midwest, was a writer like David Childress, whom I talked to once over the phone concerning some books and my house in Lima, which I was considering sellingand was considering going to Easter Island with his team, but could not, I had to wait because of business, but went the following month with just my wife, and there met the renowned Archeologist, Charlie Love, whom sat with my wife and I at a cozy outdoor caf, and had a drink with discussing the moving of the huge statues on the island. Well, Frank was like Charlie in the sense he was always looking for the unusual, and often times found it. To be honest, I didnt even know Frank was in country until I got the letter. On the back of it was where I was to go, and so I grabbed my small suitcase, some shaving gear, and took a train about one hundred miles south, there at the station was Frank with a jeep, waiting, and no sooner had I disembarked the train we were both off to this hotel, a hotel Id bestow a macabre title tosoon.

As we rode into the tropical forest, harsh it was, like a picture of a lost world: Frank, he babbled on about something: ghosts, fiendsdevils, the macabre world, I dare say. Then within forty-five minutes we were at a strange looking structure, he called, The Hotel, it looked more like a black volcanic brick low-built house, with four main rooms to it. The roof was that of wooden beams supporting some kind of jungle shrubbery and bamboo shoots covering the whole top. The stones to the building were that of the stones used at Borobudur I noticed.

I cant describe this story as Id like, the horror of it is somewhat placed deep in my mind, and not as vivid as Id like it to be. But I will write calmly, but try to believe me!

You noticed it yet? Frank said a few minutes into our walk to the motel, parking the jeep somewhat in the woods, not sure why; then he took me around to the back of the building and into each room (apartment-section that is). I had noticed two gravesites in the back of the building, but I didnt inquire about them yet, not yet anyways, they looked fresh. After the tour around the building we went back to the back of the building again. I kind of laughed with some embarrassment and mumbled something like, What kind of a rat trap did you bring me to? I mean he said it was a motel of sorts.

Frank then pointed towards the window panes, two of them on the right side of the building. They were smashed, destroyed as if something had hit them, broke them into pieces: matter of fact, it had just dawned on me, that none of the windows had glass in them, not one single one. And there were holes in the roof, as if an earthquake had taken place; and of course, I knew better.

What in gods name happened here, I began.

No, he replied, adding, it has nothing to do with god my friend. He would not tell me completely what took place as to not spoil his pleasure, and mystery I do believe. I was dumbfounded, and curious, as you could tell in my voice.

You dont know, you just wont understand, you got to stay until it happens again, he told merepeatedly. I didnt see in the least what he meant, and followed him dumbly into his motel room. There we sat for three hours in the mucky heat, just sat and waited for whatever was supposed to happen, not a word said. Sat in the hole in the wall, sort of room: dirt on the floor, walls discolored with mud and blood and all kinds of debris; glass all over the place, and the roofif you could call it that, and what was left of ithad the sun shining through it in several locat ions.

Then he jumped upit caught me off guard and shook me up a bit. Come on Lee, its starting, he grabbed my arm and somewhat pulled me over to the door, then opened it slightlyjust enough to look out, and then had me look out alongside of him, but I didnt see anything, and I was getting this endless irritation coupled with suspicion, that I wasnt going to. And out of the sky, just like that, suddenly came a rock, then several followed right in the row: small, big, medium size, all bombarding the building, one after the other. Then they came faster and faster, more and more, larger and larger. I had to duck, as he shut the door, and bolted it. I gasped.

What kind of trick is this, I asked Frank.

No tricks, he said, adding, The fiends [devils, the fiends, they are throwing them from out of the sky.

What! I replied, feeling this was a bunch of malarkey.

The Ghouls are mad at me, the devils themselves, Ive made fun of them, to get them to show their faces and this is what they do. I shook my head, but they were coming from the sky nonetheless, what could I say [?

I, I insulted them did you, he repeated; Oh yes, I was mighty good at that too.

Then all of a sudden a huge bolder came through the roof, it must had been two-hundred pounds, then half the roof caved in.

We got to get out of here, I told Frank.

What! he questioned me, out of here, why? then he cursed them loudly, calling them every name under the sun, and shaking his defiant fists at them from out of the window. He then threw his keys to the jeep at me, and told me to run for it, and hed stop for a minute his cursing and that would puzzle the fiends: thus, and I ran like the dickens out into the bombarding environment to the Jeep.

I had made it back to the train station and eventually back to the city. Alas! Frank never wrote me again, I never heard of him or seen him from that day on. No one ever heard of him again to be ex act. Pityingly the folks went out looking for him for a number of days, but could find no trace of him. And the building was almost totally demolished; the whole structure looked like they were bombarded by heavy artillery. The inhabitants of that area say it took two weeks clearing up everything.

Dennis Siluk has written two previous books of short stories, and is creating his third book, in with the story in this article will be placed. The Previous books being, Death on Demand, and Dracula's Ghost. He lives in the Midwest with his wife Rosa, and travels the world as often as he can. He has been to every location his short stories and poetry engulfs. His website is: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Author:: Dennis Siluk
Keywords:: Suspense Story
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Who is Wirly?

Wirly is the product of the meeting of ex-model Ingrid Bjerge and a former Jesuit priest. They met at a casino in Las Vegas and engaged in a frantic love affair. Exotic drinks and other intoxicating substances not disclosed to others are rumoured to have been contributing factors. Friends of the couple have revealed that this was reportedly the first touch of love her father had. The intensity of the love affair drove him over the edge mentally and caused a rather abrupt departure from the Jesuits. He later started his own post apocalyptic cult and has taken the new name of Ildefons Shyam. The cult, and thus he, is doing quite well financially by collecting donations from thousands of believers to build a temple that will stand after the destruction of the world.

When Wirlys mother realised that she was with child, she went to a rehab clinic in Switzerland to control her anorexia nervosa and withdrew from the jet set life she had lead. After Wirlys birth she left the baby with a nanny from Germany, named Helga, and moved to India and from thence to Tibet where she discovered Buddhism, yoga and new fascinating techniques of plastic surgery. She spends most of her time at the Samskaras Spa in Tibet trying to postpone the inevitable aging.

Wirlys personality is a highly explosive mix of her parents, a perfect balance between arrogance and vanity. Her age is not known as she does not disclose it to anyone she is mischievous, self-centred and most of the time mean. Wirly loves to create a stir and will make good use of any opportunity to do so. She was born a gifted child with an exceptionally high IQ. She has transcendental powers and thus she is capable of entering other people. A Vatican council has concluded with that the only way to control her powers is by permanently putting boxing gloves and sunglasses on her.

Using her charisma and charm Wirly can be very sweet and loving, though this only applies to when it is in her pe rsonal interest. Her love for things and money are as clear as the day light. Her dream is to be a Musician. She is currently single but intends to marry a rich and famous movie star that can afford to launch her training and career as a Musician. Her two favourite books are The Divine Comedy and Fausto. Her nanny used to read those two books to her at bed time and they somehow bring about good memories from her childhood. Wirly has a very obscure sense of humour with a fascination for everything that is morbid and dark In fact it would seem that quite a lot about Wirly can be depicted as dark. This does not apply to her taste for colours however, as her favourites are shades of pink and orange.

Wirly has a half-brother named Tomasito. Some time ago Tomasito was found floating on a raft in the waters near the channel island Jersey. He is a very talkative and curious young boy, but his gibberish is incomprehensible to all. His favourite toy is by coincidence a small raf t he carries where ever he goes. Attached to the raft was a note written in poor English asking for please to deliver him to his father, reverend Ildefons Shyam. Upon his reception the reverend quickly saw the potential in this situation and proclaimed for the cult that Tomasito is the sign that the End is near and turned Tomasito into a holly figure for the cult.

Tomasito follows Wirly almost all the time. The only time that he is not around his beloved half sister is when he is at the altar blessing the members of the cult Frequently after Tomasito having been in Wirlys care, the reverend has to recover his prophetic offspring from the arms of the law.

Willy is a penguin originating in the Antarctica. However Willy is not like most penguins in the sense that he does not thrive in the large numbers. For this reason he was trekking to Bouvet Island hoping to find a more secluded spot for himself. During the trek he made a navigational error and ended up in the UK where he met Wirly for the first time. Willy instantly fell in love with her and now follows her everywhere. He is very possessive and tries to keep people as far away from Wirly as possible by using all the martial training that he learned from a book while travelling to Bouvet Island.

Wirly has a blind Fly Pet. It is considered a scientific sensation as it has been with Wirly since it transformed from the larva stage 4 years ago. She took on the Fly as a Pet while learning about flies at school. She was taught that a Fly would only live for 24 hours. Due to the clear discrepancy between school teaching and practical life, Wirly decided to dro p out of school. She has currently launched a lawsuit against the educational institution she formerly attended for wrong teachings and manipulating the truth.

My name is Adriana and Im the creator and developer of Wirlyhome Label. Im jewellery and clothing Designer, Ive been working in the Fashion industry for the last 9 years of my life, I went to Fashion school in Canada, where I lived for 10 years, and 8 of those long years I worked as a Fashion Designer, illustrator and forecaster. I came back to Brazil last year to open my Label Wirlyhome, and now after almost 1 year of hard work the Label is finally picking up and we are getting some recognition.

if you are curious and want to see and read more abut this new world just go to http://www.Wirlyhome.com/

adriana

Author:: Adriana Zimbarg
Keywords:: adriana zimbarg, Wirly, Wirlyhome, Music, Fashion, Trend, Designer, History, Label, Fly, Pet
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Antiques & Collectables When Beatrix Potter & Peter Rabbit Met Fred & his Pushy Wife

Beatrix Potter Beswick Figurines.

Tales from a country Antique shop.

A long time ago . . in a galaxy far far away . .

Had a phone call from a gentleman called Fred who was cleaning out his aunt's house.The trouble was, his wife was giving him a hand!

The reason for the call was that they'd found 'some rabbits' amongst his aunt's bits and pieces. It took me a few minutes to work out if they were of the furry variety or the easier to keep Pottery sort.

Well his wife was a keen TV fan - especially of the lunchtime 'buy cheap and sell expensive' type of Antique/Collectable programmes. She was convinced that they'd stumbled on a fortune with the rabbits because they were EXACTLY the same thing that had fetched top money only the other day on TV while she was having her s oup and sandwiches. Our telephone conversation continued like this. Fred remember, was on the other end of the phone talking to me, but having to listen to his wife's advice with his spare ear.

It's a rabbit with a blue coat and there are marks on its bottom

A few further questions ascertained that the marks were on the base of the Pottery figure.

Are the marks in brown or gold? I asked

Yes replied Fred. I could tell it was going to be an uphill struggle!

I really need to know just which colour I continued Well it's difficult to tell in this light - it's sort of a browny gold

Next sound I could just hear was Fred's wife saying, tell her it's like the one on the telly on Tuesday lunchtime.

It's OK Fred, I heard that, but it doesn't really help. Any possibility of slipping them into the shop so we can pinpoint the date accurately

Yes I'll bring them in tomorrow, but could you just let me know what they're worth today

Bless him, he wasn't giving in!! This happens all the time and sometimes it's fairly easy to give a rough estimate over the phone, but in this case, almost impossible.

As you've guessed, the rabbits were Beswick's Beatrix Potter range and the one in question was Peter Rabbit

So now we've got the make and the specific item, but still a few problems.

So how can individual figures be identified and valued quickly?

Well . . . .

Beatrix Potter published several books about animals her first being The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902.

Royal Doulton was founded in 1815 and already specialising in figurative sculpture.

Miss Potter approached the Lambeth studio in 1908 with a view to having her own animals produced in ceramic. An earlier contract with another company made any arrangement with Doulton impossible and it was not until 1948, sadly after Miss Potter's death, that the Beatrix Potter figures were finally produced by the John Beswick factory.

This arrangement continued successfully until the late 1960's when Ewart Beswick was ready to retire but had no heir.

The Royal Doulton group acquired the Beswick factory in 1969 and when the modeller Albert Hallam retired in 1975, Graham Tongue became the head modeller at the Beswick studio and added many new characters to the range in the 1980's.

Beatrix Potter figures have become highly Collectable and so far, the 1990's has seen Graham Tongue develop the Beatrix Potter collection for the 100th birthday of Peter Rabbit in 1994. 1997 saw yet more celebrations as Beatrix Potter figures had been in continuous production for Beswick for 50 years.

19 figures were withdrawn in 1997 making more than 60 retired figures for collectors to find.

Quite a task and getting more difficult each year so how does one handle this situation . . . . .

The quick and dirty way is to visit: http://www.architus.com/beatrixpotterfigurines.html There you will find the rest of this article with the associated photos and graphics explaining the various marks used by Beswick. Happy Collecting.

We run a small but beautifully formed General Antiques Shop which is situated in Kirkby Lonsdale In the Yorkshire Dales/Cumbria Border. Lots of Collectables, Antiques and witty banter.

Author:: Joy Pearson
Keywords:: beatrix potter,Beswick,Antique,Pottery,peter rabbit,Collectible,Collectable
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Arcade Cards The First Game Images From Machines

The origins of penny arcades date back into the 19th Century and originally referred to the machines themselves. Machines with arm mechanisms collected pennies from players and paid out in wooden nickels good for more plays or carnie prizes. The pennies from players quickly compensated the arcades for the $10 to $20 the machines cost the owners. These were the original one-armed bandits. (Decades later, slot machines made their appearance. Later still, penny arcade came to refer to a specified area where customers could play the machines.)

Early in the Twentieth Century, a different kind of machine made its appearance. It vended cartoon Postcards printed on cardboard. These cards generally had poor printing quality and had suggestive themes. One I own shows a man at a table with a young woman he is plying with wine. I'll have the stewed chicken, the diner says to the waiter. In this case he was referring to the young woman, not the fowl. In the 1910s the French postcard nudies appeared on the market using large-grain screens and often printed in blue ink. Some have suggested that these cards were the origin of the term blue to describe pornography. The nudies lasted well into the 1930s when the publishers returned to suggestive cartoons. During the Second World War, the young women reappeared as pin-up girls in scimpy clothing drawn by well-known artists such as Gillette A. Elvgren.

In addition to the suggestive cards, many early ones poked fun at fraternal organizations such as the Elks and the Masons. One card I have shows a man dreaming and is titled The Prospective Elk. It lampoons the organization and makes membership sound uappealing. A skeleton says Best People on Earth, referring to the initials BPOE, which stands for the Benevolent and Protective O rder of Elks. Another section shows the prospective member being boiled in a pot to pass the heat test. A clock grabs him, He's got you, Steve. Devils poke him in his rear, We promised you a warm reception. Another shows him being set down on a bed of nails. You will be inclined to remember this. Not being an Elk, I'm not familiar with the allusions. But I do understand the ones associated with the Masons.

The one I have shows a prospective Entered Apprentice in bed dreaming the night before he enters the fraternity. A goat stretches across his bed, Brother I'm waiting for you. Two of the major images show the poor candidate bent over a square and another strapped to a compass. We'll put him on the square, all right. This is a labor of love. Another mason with a hammer says: We've got him dead to rights. The candidate is strapped to a compass and a brother says: Put your arms around me, Honey. Another brother is about to kick one of the legs of the compass out from und er him. Let's get on with the Good Work.

Yet another image shows the candidate with his mouth open and a brother about to fill it with mortar. The Lime will strengthen the joints.

I remember the trepidation I felt the night of my entry into Masonry and would not have appreciated the heavy-handed humor of the card. The cartoonist was obviously familiar with the Order and undoubtedly provided a good laugh to some of the brothers who saw it and offense to others.

In fine, the history of arcade cards is interesting from a historical and collectible standpoint. Let's hope they will be well taken care of or they will soon be gone.

John Anderson is a Mason and a dealer in collectibles. He is also an author and has written the thriller entitled The Cellini Masterpiece under the pen-name of Raymond John. He invites you to visit his website http://www.cmasterpiece.com

Author:: John Anderson
Keywords:: Masons, Elks, Postcards, penny arcades.
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

5 Theatrical Productions You Must See

If you're in a big city like New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, or Chicago (to name a few), you should the the time to see a live theatrical performance. If you choose a good one, it will be an experience you'll never forget. Here are a few of the most popular, highly acclaimed theater shows you can see.

Phantom Of The Opera

This musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber is the longest running show in Broadway history, as well as the highest grossing entertainment event in history! There's good reason for that, too. Phantom Of The Opera combines beautiful music and aesthetics with exciting drama and romance.

Wicked

This musical takes place before the Wizard Of Oz, giving viewers the history of the Wicked Witch Of The West. Great entertainment for the entire family.

Cats

This is another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, second only to Phantom Of The Opera in popularity. As it's name suggests, it's a production about, you guessed it...cats! While sometimes criticized for being to superficial, viewers love Cats for its humor and fun.

RiverDance / Lord Of The Dance / Feet Of Flames / Celtic Tiger

While not technically theatrical productions, these dance shows created Michael Flatley are shows you don't want to miss. Each show features rousing Irish music (albeit modernized), amazing costumes and effects, and Michael Flatley's signature dance style part flamenco, part Irish dancing, but mostly tap dancing.

Romeo and Juliet

This Shakespeare play actually has The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet as its full name. It is considered to be Shakespeare's most famous work, and likely the most well known love story in the world. Romeo & Juliet is the story of two young lovers who are caught in and inter-family feud. The eventually die for love (actually, they died because of various errors and mis-communications) and the feud is ended.

Visit our online ticket broker site for ticket s to all your favorite events!

Author:: James Adams
Keywords:: article submission, Articles, Writers, Writing, Publishing, Ezine, Email marketing, Email newsletter, Email
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Too Young to Survive?

Eight oclock on a beautiful June morning in southern Wisconsin. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. And I was on my way to the stable where I boarded my two horses. Little did I know that in just a few minutes I would become a momma kitty.

As I slid open the barn door I saw the calico cat. The previous evening she had been plump with kittens, but now she was suspiciously thin, so I knew she had given birth during the night.

After I feed the horses, youll have to show me where you hid your babies, I said to her, scooping dry cat food into the dish.

The calico settled down for a snack and I began measuring out grain. There were six horses pastured together with stalls in this barn. I was going to let my horses in, so I figured I might as well feed all of them.

As I walked to the other end of the barn so I could open the door, the calico sat on the floor near one of the stalls to watch the horses come in just like she did most mornings.

One by one, the horses clip-clopped to their stalls. I followed behind, closing their doors. But before I could close one door, the horse inside lunged at another who was just passing by. The mare jumped sideways to avoid being bitten and trampled the calico cat.

Almost before I could draw breath to scream, the calico cat was dead. I knelt beside her, stroking the soft fur. Your kittens, I whispered. What am I going to do about your kittens? I dont even know where they are.

I had grown up on a dairy farm in west central Wisconsin with many barn cats. I knew cats liked to keep their kittens hidden until theyre old enough to move around. And I knew young kittens depended upon their mothers for survival until they were about eight weeks old.

I also knew the stable cats usually made nests for their kittens in the haymow above me. But because it was summer and new hay was being put in the mow every day, I didnt know where to begin to look for those kittens. The thought of orphaned kittens waiting for a mother who would never return brought tears to my eyes. How could I ever find them? Unless. . .

Every morning for the past week when I let the horses inside, I had seen the calico cat coming out of an unused dog kennel near the end of the barn. Was it possible she'd made a nest in the dog house?

I went out to the kennel, peered into the dog house and sure enough, there were the kittens. A black, a gray and a tabby, curled up together for warmth.

I got hold of the kittens. All three fit in the palm of my hand.

After putting the kittens in a box , I went to the stable office so I could call my veterinarian for advice. The year before I had adopted four two-week old kittens who had been orphaned at this same stable (which leads me to believe stables are exceptionally dangerous places for mother cats). But two-week old kittens were very different from the kittens I had just settled into a box. I wasn't sure the newborns had even had a chance to nurse their mother. And they were so incredibly, impossibly tiny.

Because it was a weekend, my regular vet turned out not to be on call at the clinic. I really wanted to talk to him because he was so knowledgeable and helpful, but this was an emergency and I knew I couldn't wait until Monday morning. The on-call vet I reached, however, was not at all helpful. Dont even bother, he said. Theyll never make it.

When I hung up the phone, I had a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. Don't bother? How could I not bother? I simply couldn't accept just sitting back an d doing nothing. If I did everything I could and the kittens died, that would be one thing. But just leaving them to starve to death, their little bodies growing weak and cold especially after I had witnessed their mother's death and felt, somehow, sort of responsible because I hadn't gotten that door shut quickly enough no, I just couldn't do it. I knew if I didn't try, I would have trouble sleeping at night for weeks to come. So, I searched the yellow pages for another vet clinic.

The next veterinarian I called was much more optimistic about the situation. Bring them into the office, he said. Well weigh them and Ill tell you what you need to do.

The kittens only weighed three ounces each and at first, they consumed a half an eyedropper of canned milk replacer three times a day. The vet told me their mother would normally feed them every two hours but that I shouldn't try feeding them that often. They won't be really hungry, and then you'll get frustrated and theyll get frustrated. Feed them three times a day, he explained.

In a few days the kittens started to put on weight. At ten days old they opened their eyes. At four weeks old they began to use a litter box. Not a regular one, but an aluminum pie plate that was just their size. . .

All these years later (12 to be exact!), Im happy to say the kittens grew up to be healthy, lively cats. Two of them, a 7-pound black female, Nightshade, and a 13-pound tabby male, Sebastian, became as much a part of the Family as my other four cats. The gray kitten was adopted by a woman who desperately wanted another cat. Her faithful companion of many years had died recently and when she heard about the orphaned kittens I was raising, well she just knew she had to adopt one of them. As far as I can tell, Nightshade and Sebastian are not suffering any problems from being orphaned as newborns. Except, perhaps, for the fact that Sebastian becomes uneasy when the kitty food dishes ar e empty. He'll come to find me, talking, chirping and purring non-stop while running a few feet ahead to lead me to the dishes. All I have to do is put out a handful of dry food and he's satisfied. Most of the time he's not even hungry just worried, I think, because the dishes are empty.

As for Nightshade, she has turned my six-foot-two-inch tall husband from a man who swore he didn't like cats into a person who holds her, cuddles her and tells her she has itty-bitty kitty fitties (feet) which he will deny vehemently if anyone mentions it to him. I do NOT, he says, drawing himself up to his full height, talk to my cat that way.

Although I now live 250 miles from the veterinarian who told me not to bother I have been tempted to send him pictures of Nightshade and Sebastian. They are living proof of what can happen when you ignore the advice of experts and follow your heart, adding just a little bit of bother and a whole lot of love.

*****************

< p> LeAnn R. Ralph 2004

About The Author

LeAnn R. Ralph is the author of the Books: *Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm)* (trade paperback) and *Preserve Your Family History (A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Oral Histories)* (e-book; 66 pages). To read sample chapters and to sign up for the FREE! monthly newsletter, Rural Route 2 News & Updates, visit http://ruralroute2.com

bigpines@ruralroute2.com

Author:: LeAnn R. Ralph
Keywords:: Youth,Family,Nostalgia,Books,Novels,Fiction,Entertainment,Wisconsin
Post by History of the Computer | C omputer safety tips

At The Casbah Tanger 1997 a poem

I was walking through the gates of the Casbah in Tanger, and I told the guy in the tunic, the Moroccan, to take a picture of me, and he did

I sat back on the steps, leaning back towards a building, it was adjacent to the gate entrance, and the camera snapped, the picture taken

And during this simple process many things went through my mind

smells of dustempty boxesthe dead, the surplus

Here is your camera, said the Moroccan (with the long tunic). He extended his hand out (camera in it), but I was immobilized for the moment, couldnt, and wouldnt take it.

A harrowing cry pierced the darkness, I blinked my eyes, and anti-Jews waved their banners

Flight to Denmark, I hadnt been there yet.

The judges had forgotten to read (just sentenced them, one after the other)

The Lion in a Zoo, (The prince is caged).

Take your camera, the man in the tunic said. I tired to speak (and hurry up my mind processing, but it was only ten-secon ds, he could wait, my mind said).

Happiness Bastard

Mad mind Rocket accelerated (why does he look at me like that?)

hell with it.

Oh yeah, I said, meaning I know youre holding the camera, with a smile

515 Madison Ave, come to mind.

Door to heaven? Portal, also.

A Negro driver tells me about $120 apartment (years ago in Frisco)

He thinks Im having withdrawals, I bet. Get up and take the camera, idiot. Casbah smells, dusty, boxes, the dead, I was once in Mexico City; in a coffeehouse someplace in Honduras.

The search for ecstasy is a natural thirst

(I want to) lie around like a lizard.

I bet that guy has a blade of steel under those cloths: robes, tunicwhatever!

Now everyone is acting

HAHA

They look Trojan.

They sound like A Laughing record; talking about mewhy Im slow in taking my camera back (I believe), one by one they disembark, (I say to myselfmy camera is going; he has two friends) .

I dont know, Gods in His Heaven creating Earthwhen He gets down here Hes going to raise Hell. He drops my camera on the ground, doesnt even turn about to look at my expression, but hes walking, talking, saying something.

I smell coffee, but I want a coke, Im at a caf with two Spanish Doctors, a few other folks from a tour in Spain: I snuck away (they followed me) five of my friends from the tour bus, and we navigated over to Tanger.

I think Ill buy the rug, the little one, I said to the owner.

Someone just asked, now sitting down cozy all five of us, asked, as Im drinking my coke, asked:

What are you thinking?

About buying the rug, I say, adding, and a man I met at the gate an hour ago, we only met for a few seconds, but he left a lasting impression, on me.

Poetic Prose #1258 3/2/06

See Dennis' web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Author:: Dennis Siluk
Keywords:: Poetry
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Television's Mysteries: The Twilight Zone of other Television Programs

You unlock this door with the key of imagination. That's what Rod Serling would say. It appears to me that the Twilight Zone may have affected more than the 30 minutes it controlled every week those many years ago. So with the keys of your imagination lets journey farther into the Outer Limits of Television and discover that the weird and the bizarre were not just limited to the great classic sci-fi hits like the Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits. Nor is the Unexplained always presented on Ripley's Believe it or Not.

The Mysterious changing Andy Taylor

What happened to Andy Griffith from the black and white days of the Andy Griffith Show to the days of color? It is common knowledge the black and white episodes with Barney were more funny and entertaining, but why did Andy suddenly change from a loveable country bumpkin, who was always wise but never serious, to a almost bitter man that seemed to even lose his country accent?

Is the original answer for th is something that belongs in the Twilight Zone? Did the writers of the show have an intriguing plot to reveal that just never came to be? What could make a man change so drastically from the changing of black and white to color? Is there a scientific explanation? Could the answer be as bizarre as a UFO kidnapping? Was Andy Taylor replaced with a clone? Were we watching two different dimensions of time and space?

I have some more reasonable explanations, but you be the judge. Perhaps Andy had attempted to quit smoking which made him grumpy in real life. Perhaps he was trying to impress the equally grumpy Miss Crump or should we say Miss Grump. Why, oh why, didn't he marry the lady druggist? Perhaps none of this would have happened.

The changed Andy happened about the time Barney Fife left town. Did the antics of Don Knotts keep Andy in a good ol' home town mood? Or did the emergence of the Jughead hat wearing Goober affect Andy in a way that can't be explained. Af ter all, just before the show turned color, Andy threatened the life of Goober, after he put a car together right inside the court house.

So what do you think? Was it aliens, a lack of nicotine, Goober, Gomer, Miss Crump, or no Barney? You be the judge, I just present the facts as I know them.

The Disappearing Son on Happy Days

What about Chuck on Happy Days? How could a mother and father completely forget they ever had a son? But if you watched the recent Happy Days reunion if then there was no reasonable explanation given as to why Chuck just disappeared. In the final episode of Happy Days, Mr. C even relates to the audience how he was happy to have raised two children, not three as we know really happened. Is this another case of alien abduction? There is precedence for this strange phenomenon. If you have seen the recent movie The Forgotten, you can see how aliens can put the mind whammy on parents, making them completely forget their kids for purposes of evil alien experiments on parental mindsets. Surely the explanation cannot be as simple as the writers were just too lazy to keep up with the fact that the Cunninghams had another son beside Richie. Perhaps the strange powers of the Fonz were not simply from his cool as we were told. Maybe the Fonz himself was an alien with the power of mind control over other humans, including the power to snap his fingers to bring herds of screaming girls to his side. Now that I think of it, no wonder people think Elvis is still alive. Maybe he too was from another world. Could it be Elvis and the Fonz were part of a rival gang from Ork preparing for the arrival Mork from Ork?

More Unexplained Phenomenon

There are many more strange and bizarre unexplainable phenomenon on Television.

1.Where did all the deputies go after the first episode of the Dukes of Hazzard? Clearly there were more than Enos and Rosco in the pilot episode.

2. On the last episode of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, a baby arrives just for the closing moments of the show, just because the Kents want a child. No explanation is ever given. Is it then just coincidence that Dean Cain would soon host the new Ripley's Believe It or Not?

3. How can Metropolis be in Kansas as it is only a couple of hours away from Smallville on the popular WB hit Smallville? On one episode Clark climbed a water tower with a friend and they could actually see Metropolis without X-ray vision. In the past it has always been accepted that Metropolis represented New York City.

4. After 9 years of episodes, can anyone truly say that any of the bizarre happenings on the X-files were ever explained. What mind control did they use to force us to watch year after year with no answers? I beg of you Chris Carter make a movie or something that can explain all of this Unexplained phenomenon.

5. On The Greatest American Hero, a 1980's tv show about a teacher who gains S uperman like powers by wearing a super suit from aliens, there was one strange occurrence. The Greatest American Hero's main character Ralph Hinkley inexplicably becomes Ralph Hanley. What happened? Well even though Ralph got his super suit from aliens this was no alien conspiracy. After the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan by John Hinkley, they decided to rename the main character to avoid any association with the John Hinkley.

I'm sure there are many more Unexplained events on Television throughout the years, but was it all by Television writers, or did Rod Serling's Twilight Zone infect the rest of TV history as well?

http://tvcrazy.net - Find Trivia, t-shirts, videos, books, cds, tapes, games, toys, and lots more about your favorite tv shows, comic book superheroes, cartoo ns, and Saturday morning favorites.

Author:: T Frady
Keywords:: Television,Television shows,Unexplained,Unexplained events,andy griffith,happy days,X-files,Trivia
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

For Better Gas Mileage Have a Better Car

In today's world of contemporary society, we have many cartels and monopolies, but the one, which stands out for being the most profitable, most effective, and most powerful is the one involving oil.

This is the main reason why oil prices continues to escalate in the market area. On a global basis, this high-pricing of oil is considered as a worldwide dilemma.

Hence, in order to cut down extra cost in gas or fuel consumption and have a better gas mileage, it is a must for every driver to understand and employ the different ways on how to maximize their fuel consumption with a lower cost so as to achieve a better gas mileage. Here's how:

1. Check your filter.

One of the most important factors that affects your chance of getting a better gas mileage is your car's air filter. In order to have a better gas mileage, it is important to know and maintain you car's performance by checking on its air filters. Clean air filters gives the machine's performance a considerable boost enabling it to travel farther with a lesser fuel consumption and a better gas mileage.

2. Inspect your tires regularly.

Tires in good condition can also contribute to a better gas mileage. The tires condition directly affects your car's gas mileage when the tire is under-inflated. It tends to make your car run relatively slower than its usual pace but increases your probability of getting a better gas mileage.

3. Remove excess weight.

Based on the common belief of many, light cars do travel faster. And so, in order to have a better gas mileage, be sure to always check on things in your compartment that are no longer needed.

4. Change oil regularly.

It is very important to have a regular oil change. Usually, a car has to exert more effort if it has to wrestle with a dirty oil, thus, it consumes more gas. So, a regular oil change will enable you car to run smoothly and, therefore, acquire a better gas mileage.

5. Check your carburetor.

Carburetors can also affect your car's fuel consumption simply because car's exert more effort when grappling with a dirty carburetor. In this instance, your car is consuming more gas than you can imagine. And so, it's better to have a cleaner carburetor in order to have a better gas mileage.

6. Cut air conditioner usage.

Air conditioners can also increase fuel consumption and lessen the possibility of getting a better gas mileage because it uses extra strength to power up the compressor that boost the air conditioner's performance. If this is the case, then it will be impossible for you to have a better gas mileage. So, in order to cut down additional fuel consumption, do not use air conditioner especially when you are driving in a highway. After all, natural air is still the best for your health.

7. Slow down.

Do you believe in the old saying, Slowly but surely? It is highly applicable to driving. Normally, when you driv e faster, you tend to put more stress on the gas pedals, right? And because you increase your speed by hitting hard on your gas pedals, you are also increasing your car's consumption on fuel. In doing so, you will have a difficulty in achieving a better gas mileage.

All of these conservation tips boils down to one common point, the better car you have and the slower you drive your car, the better gas mileage you have.

About The Author
Ken Reno is the owner of http://www.CheapGasIsGone.com

Author:: Ken Reno
Keywords:: better gas, gas mileage, more gas
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

The Brutes of Planet Moiromma Episode #6 "The Australopithecine Experiment"

(Under Planet Moiromma)

On top of the mountain, Git his eyes full of an ancient wonder, one perhaps only his father had seen. He was looking forward to the moment hed find the vaults, and book, but the giant monument of stone, seeming over 20,000 tons of stone, heaped in a number of circles, with two entrances, he marveled at it. It was 250-feet in diameter, and seven feet tall, each right, it had many tombs on it, perhaps five hundred or more. In the center was a giant alter of sorts, like a grand tomb.

Git went directly to the center tomb; there he found an entrance, and a lower section, there in one of the rooms he found the book, in a small stone coffin. He opened it, and what he read, and he only read the first scroll, was:

Scroll One: Historical Data on the Giants and Monument: (In those far off days) there were giants here, whom came from Earth of old, the Old Ones, they called them, they with their angelic fathers had built this shrine, tomb or what have you here, it is beyond me. They had run from God, escaping Earth, and in the this time, the underworld was the only place that could contain them, that they new of, they felt safe. It as a time before king Moir, and for the most part, the inhabitants didnt know much of who they were; a primitive breed they were deed, and the planet was plush with all sorts of foods and animals, and population was ten fold, in comparison to now; the underworld was not frozen but beautiful rivers, this mountain you climbed, was called Mount Nomreh. They had taken earth women, and felt they were able-bodied, and fit for them, in and in spirit and flesh produced a hybrid being, and many grew ugly as sin, and others were giants. Here is where they lived

The hides and the paper was old, and (hides from the devil rats).

Scroll Two: Historical Data on Moiromma (The Great Secret of Moiromma): When the inhabitants of Moiromma, had to abandon the planet because of a tilt in it s orbit, causing the whole planet to become an arctic region (for the most part), they were biologically reconstructed, to produced offspring as well as building into their systems a form of resurrection upon death, that was merely a transformation process (something learned from the Comet Beings or the Old Ones), and regeneration, thus giving them as many as one hundred lives to live, within a period of 500 to 900 years; but this deadened the reproduction system to the females, as we knew it would, and wanted it to, in fear of overpopulating a planet that was almost dead.

The residue part of her soul would appear on anther planet (upon death), and like vapor transforming into a flesh, one would reappear as a mature creature, in full form on some selected planet, with perhaps a few modifications from the process.

Scroll Three: Australopithecine Experiment/or: The Comet People: The original primitives of Moiromma, the first life on this planet of any intelligence (other than the beings that brought them here), came from another planet, as was the source of Earths first primates of any form of reasoning (excluding the Jewish Adam and Eve; prior to them); this group called the Comet People, took the primates from earth, The Australopithecine Experiment they called it, (Cavemen)) ape like beings, of the Pleistocene epoch)), from Earth, and planted them on Moiromma (known to them as the: Primitives of Moiromma). These people or beings came from one of the moons ((from Jupiter perhaps)), they were a universal force, with no DNA (the basic component of life on earth) make up in their biological cells. They also populated Planet SSARG (but with animalistic physical make up, and a scanty formal reasoning capabilityperhaps more an experiment). In addition, they perhaps planted seeds liken to these on other planets. This race, extraterrestrial whom seem to go around populating planets, have this mysterious cell structure, and can add and su btract according to planet and environment, living conditions needed, that is perhaps where the DNA comes into play on earth (it was God given)) for they had none, but once given they used it)) perhaps angelic in form)); as all scientists know Moiromma, has a different cell structure, as it has two hearts, and thicker blood, all needed as a kind of antifreeze for its climate.

Letter: The forth scroll, is hidden in another rat skin, and I have not told anyone where it is and it tells of the race that once lived on this beautiful planet, that was more luscious than earth, should I die without telling anyone, it will be of no harm to the seeker of this information (it is the race that was in-between the Giants and the King Moir)): let me explain: first there was the 1) primitives, 2) then the Giants came 3) and somehow there came a third group who mingled with the primitives, I shall call them the Old Ones, or Shinning Ones, they did the zoological transplants 4) and now it is us, the new breed, we are the mixture of them all: Moirommalits, for the most part. Of course we are a crossbreed now of our nearby planets, as is Siren the Great, and a few others.

Authored by Tig the Wise Taken from the original scrolls of Planet Moiromma.

Note: Written at home, 11/14,2006, Lima, Peru (San Juan, Miraflores)

See Dennis' web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Author:: Dennis Siluk
Keywords:: Chapter Story
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

What Is On The Other Side Of The Stars?

The Most Absurd Truth Or Is It?

Little did I know what my endless quest for Truth and knowledge would lead me to. It is true what one Japanese Buddhist monk once said, We must always be disturbed by the Truth. Why is that I wonder? Well, looking from my own experience throughout my life, I would have to say it is because of the conditioned Mind frame we are born into through different cultures, traditions, or religion in their diverse versions of Truth. Later when faced with a Truth that has come only when one has aligned or attuned themselves to a point of further comprehension, Truth can be very different than what one once believed was true. In my journey thus far, I have realized that Truth seems to be like a puzzle of dimensions. In the expanding process of individual growth, the pieces seem t o fit together and layer themselves into deeper and deeper levels.

So what then is Truth and where does it begin? Is Truth something that humanity creates for itself to run a conducive and obedient society by means of consequence and fear? I do believe in the law of cause and effect, dont get me wrong, but at what cost are we learning our lessons to become better individuals? What lessons are we teaching our children? Are we teaching them to be afraid, obey the laws, or else? Perhaps in the line of Evolution such a practice has some value for the process of growth, but can we as humanity move beyond this? Is world peace yet a dream, or is it a deeper level to our existence? Why not teach our children that they are the magnificent creators of their lives? Why not show them the powerful and amazing beings they really are by allowing them to have experience without judgment? What world would we live in if we all took responsibility for the effects of our own acti ons without putting superiors above ourselves to judge and punish us when we have stepped outside of the boundaries of the established way that things are said to be done? Whose laws are these anyway? Are these the laws of men or God? Perhaps this process is one of the many layers of Truth, but what lies beneath? What if we allowed ourselves to realize the possibility that there is more?

What if there is one of you who would wish to reason with your own Mind? Reason is the one thing which allows man to act as God unto himself with an inward conscious knowing. Blasphemy! you say. What? Did you say we are not to look to God, but to our own selves for wisdom? How absurd! you say. Yet what if in looking to ourselves, we are in fact looking to God?

I hear your voices, for they have been my own as w ell. Yet still I could not ignore the call of my inner voice, and the reasoning power of my Mind to urge me to ask the question, Is there more? The ability to reason raises us above our automated reaction we often project from our emotions, which when deliberately applied, forces us to think before we act, therefore guiding ourselves in a conscious and deliberate way. Reason is the only aspect of man which separates our intelligence from the intelligence of an animal. Therefore God, it would seem has a reasonable nature, and we cutting ourselves off from our own reasoning capability, in turn are cutting ourselves off from God.

Perhaps you are one who wishes to step outside of these illusionary boundaries to experience the causes and effects of your life in a conscious and deliberate manner. What if you, taking your deliberate and courageous step forward, dare to think a different thought than you have ever thought before, expanding the possibilities and wonders of life? Do you think this is what would happen, or do you feel your being shrink back in fear? Can you consciously hear the voice that is chattering endlessly from a programmed perception as it immediately warns you to get back into the place where you belong? Is the fear that is bred from your ever protective ego so engrained that you obediently close off once again to a yet unknown flow of intelligence of which you are a part of?

Why is it that every time you attempt to think a new unpracticed thought of something different than you have ever known, that this voice of fear seems to always interfere? What does it have to hide from you? What is it afraid that you will find out? Perhaps the voice of fear is only your programmed ego who is afraid of the extinction of its existence within you once you have r ealized your true being of power. Yet it is not for us to banish our ego from our beings. Instead, we follow the universal law of inclusion by soothing our emotion with our reasoning Mind, joining it one with us, thus creating our feeling of wholeness instead of separation. If you listen carefully, you will hear two voices, one voice emanates from fear, and one comes from a source we all inherently know but have yet to remember. Are you the person that follows along, or do you reason for yourself? Do you dare to challenge the voice of fear, or do you think it is the voice of God that warns you to stop thinking for yourself and go along as you have always been told in blind faith? Jesus said What doth it profit a man say he hath faith, and not works? (James 2:14)

From personal experience I know that it was not an easy path to trust in my own guidance that came from within after the many years of structured and cultural conditioning from society and religion. Attempting to make a connection to that God for ones own self is seemingly admonished by our so called leaders, yet when one does so it is only accepted if it is done in the structured and said manner of the Superior belief system which appears to govern our actions and even our thoughts. When will our thoughts be our own again? What will it be like when we know our every thought is an actual thing being projected, beginning a creation? When will we know that we do not know everything about our world? What will it be like when we find out we are not the most evolved beings which have existed here upon the earth or that there are mysteries within our world that would rifle even the best science fiction story? When will our cynical beliefs we have thought of over and over again be opened up to allow more? Does n ot all expand? Even in our daily lives do we not see evidence that after time and time again with the same unwanted experience that we evolve into a greater knowledge and understanding from this actual personal experience?

What if you were to have an experience, that you could not imagine or deny, an experience directly between you, God and beings yet unseen or acknowledged by most of the whole of humanity? Would it not seem reasonable to think with our own God given and capable Minds that such a thing could be possible if the courage could be summoned by the will of our being to open, expand, and allow ourselves such an thing? Yet warning bells go off immediately to shut the Mind from thinking anything which will require a change in our comfortable places. We seem content to live in the miserable beliefs of a world where we are victims of chance and horrible possibilities of disease, fear and death, all of which we are susceptible to if we do not abide by the laws given by man. In this, we have given up our powerful selves. We give it to those that lead us, never daring to question, nor having the slightest inclination to question anything specified. I have found that exact Truth is found within ones own being, propelled by a knowing one must come to remember.

We are forewarned of the great danger which lies in unknown places, and counseled to keep our Minds protected from such follies that could possibly lead us astray. Such are the cattle which blindly go along in fear of straying from the path, and in their repetition of thought they have brought such things to show evidence that their way is Truth, not knowing that they are their own creator of cause and effect. In their conviction they defend and oppress others from walking their own path, admonishing them to think as they think, condemning any that would dare look to their own guidance within as they ask the daring question, Is there more? Scoffed are those who have ventured into the unknown world bringing back new wisdom and knowledge. Life replicates life and one day of course like we do now we will look back and understand through our trial and error the Truth of what was given. Mostly unknown they walk among us aligning with others who are like them, their Truth kept deep and hidden yet free for any who would venture on the quest.

Can you ask yourself if it could be possible to take that first trusting step inward and know that you hav e a powerful God given power within you to discern and know the light from the dark? Whether you call this power within you the Holy Ghost, your Inner Being,or your Emotional Guidance System, there can be many names. But in knowing that this power is within and a part of who you are is a key to knowing the mysteries and wisdom of the Cosmos. Is it not reasonable to think that the path to greatness must be experienced and achieved by ascending oneself through individual experience? There is not only one path, but many paths that can lead to the goal when one is guided from within, judging and weighing ones own being through the focal point of our connection to that which we are at our deepest core. It is said that one can know all things and be perfect even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matt 5: 48) Jesus did not tell us this to stress us out or make us think that we had to live a difficult life filled with guilt and shame in our continual strife to achi eve something that one might feel is an impossible goal. He told us this to help us realize who we are, where we came from, why we are here. He wanted to show us our possibility of expansion.

There is only life emanating life, consciousness expanding into further consciousness, all things done in wisdom and order playing its unique part in creation. Thus, life can be the greatest Joy and adventure one could ever dream, due only to the way one might choose to view, or think of their world, thus creating a vibrational flow, drawing to themselves that which their focus is upon.

There are symbols and clues all around us that help to crack away at the hard shell of our present perception. We have life to experience and observe as we watch nature and the creatures of the earth. Are we so unlike the caterpillar who transforms seemingly magically into a beautiful butterfly? What promoted this transformation? What desire, intention, projection of focus, created a b utterfly from a slowly crawling caterpillar? How long did the caterpillar think it had to stay there on the ground because it was just a caterpillar after all, and to dream of someday flying above the plants and flowers, was only yet a dream? Surely if the other insects had had the ability to use a reasoning Mind, they would have laughed and scoffed at such a thing. Yet perhaps it is because there was no one there to tell the caterpillar that it could never fly, that it set its powerful intent and went on to create the miracle that we trivially accept without wonder or thought. Are we just seeing with our eyes, yet not truly seeing? What level of Truth do we allow ourselves to ponder here?

Perhaps we are like the baby chick who in its shell pushes and strives to break free of its increasingly confinin g space. How is it the chick senses that there is something more, outside the comfort of all that it has ever known? Yet surely it would wither and die without further nourishment once its small home had served the purpose it had provided in the cycle of the chicks creation. Even in embryo the small pulsing life was connected to its source of nourishment, instinctively expanding, evolving to point after point of growth where it eventually uses its expanded strength to break free into a world yet unknown.

We standing on the outside know of the newborns Evolution and watch for its arrival. We see its struggle, its moments of rest, and then its relentless quest, which finally brings it forth into a new plane of existence. Does one dare to ask the question, What then is observing us, and our Evolution? We know if we were to pull the shell away from the chick, to help ease its struggle, that it would then be too weak and unprepared for what new experience this new worl d would bring. We know that even when the little bird has conquered the shell of its previous perception of life, gaining much strength, that yet someday it must also realize its expanded potential and fly.

Do you think the baby bird ever questions its earthly Evolution, or does it just know deep within who he is? Does it doubt his ability or compare itself to the other birds? There is no one there to say he cannot do it. There is no one to laugh or condemn, and so never giving up, the little bird tries until it has achieved the thing he knows it is. Expansion seems to be the way of all creation, even the Universe, perhaps even God. What? You say again. Another challenging thought perhaps. Most of humanity upon hearing this thought will immediately recoil and pronounce this to be truly absurdbut a reasoning M ind will think again and ask the questionIs it possible?

Would it not seem reasonable to think with our own God given and capable Minds to reason for ourselves that all things begin with a thought? We do not seem to use the imagination of which we are capable of to enlighten ourselves any further than our present state. We can only know this inner wisdom through our own experience, also receiving validation of it by observing the evidence which comes into material form from the effects which we set up every time we think a thought. Thus is creation brought from the immaterial to the material form. This is our own personal Evolution.

It has been said that a belief is just a thought one thinks over and over again until truly it becomes manifest in material reality and from the observation of it by those who witness the effect from a cause created by the thought. And so it seems all things come back again to the original thought. A wondrous thing this is to unravel for it seems to be the key of wisdom to the Truth of all creation. We then are creators are we not? For we are beings capable of deliberate and focused thought. We are told in many places in the Bible that we are Gods. Ye are Gods; and all of you are children of the most High. (Psalms 82:6)

I do not think it is blasphemy to allow ourselves to rise up from our graveling place like unto the caterpillar, to step forth from the veil of darkness into the light of Truth. Was this not how all things were created from the beginning? It has been said in the Bible that we are the offspring of God. For in Him we live and move and have our being, as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:28) Jesus told us, At that day ye shall know that I am in the F ather, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14:20) Therefore is it so strange to think that we too are as God, even extensions of God? Would it be so preposterous to think that as we evolve, so does God?

Are we so unlike the caterpillar or the baby chick? Even in our own observation of everything in our physical world, do we not see the similes that reflect the harmonious laws of God? If God is a being of order, would it not be reasonable to think that the Cosmic laws would be inclusive and expanding, not man made laws that exclude and shut out, coming from a basis of fear? Do we not see the symbol of our journey through our own physical birth, moving from the womb, to the struggle through the birth canal, to our carefully prepared emergence into the physical plane? Do we see our own cycle of creation through our continual expansion in life? Just because some have not yet remembered our life before this experience here on the material plane, does not mean there was no preparation or expanding that brought us up to this point. Upon pondering this point, it raises the question, So why should life stop expanding now? Has life ever just stopped expanding? Is there an end to progression? I think not. The questions that come after these realizations come naturally, leading us to open ourselves to new and wondrous thoughts, for we begin to sense that there is truly more to the story of heaven, earth, and death.

We are like the leaf of the tree, drawing our expansion through the earth in a continuous cycle, being a part of everything, yet focused in a specific purpose of our choice from thought. Reaching upward the tree acts as an extension of the earth, that great being from which it came, and the leaf is the extension of the tree, yet all are a part of the same being, extending itself in oneness, for further expansion through the Joyous cycle of life. Even in death the fallen leaf returns to the whole, which in Truth it was ne ver separated from, and again begins a new expansive cycle of life.

Have we not yet to fly and continue our expansion as well? I see no end, no finality. I see expansion in our mighty beings, potential yet untapped, spaces unexplored, thoughts yet unimagined, possibilities yet to attain. I see the quivering nucleus of a single thought that I deliberately think as it builds in crescendo through the Cosmos, reasoning, creating through order and harmony in waves of living light that resonate in harmonious vibration, expanding and Joyously dancing through the songs of colors yet unknown.

Every day I try to think a thought I have not yet thought before. Looking back in my present life cycle I can see my personal Evolution and see with expanding clarity the experiences I have lived and the role that each life drama has played in my life to create the powerful desires which have burst from my being. I see my connection to my true self, and in knowing who I am, I un lock treasures untold from within. Mystery is only hidden knowledge attainable to any who keeps their eye on the goal. Long have I sought for wisdom, knowing no place of ending, for I know that before me is the ever receding goal that I seek to attain. Truth is expansion and it seems that even infinity is moving onto some unthinkable end. Therefore, I AM, forever and ever, expanding, creating, and I am here in this eternal now moment, loving the feeling that fulfills me as I bask in the sweet appreciation that I know this. I believe I will ever aspire in the delicious yearning for that something out there that is yet unknown to me, yet somewhere inside I will know that it is out there somewhere, even if I create it myself. Knowing this, I feel the eternal spark in my being that whispers that I am yet something more.

It is given unto you to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but unto them it is not given. Therefore, speak I to them in parables; because t hey seeing, see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. (Mathew 13: 11,13,16)

Marlee Rosenhan was born August 16, 1967. She grew up in a small town in Utah and has explored the mysteries and beauty of her world with a sense of adventure and Joy. Not without her own hardships, her journey and search for more has brought her to many places of growth and learning in which she finds her bliss in sharing it with those of like Minds. Adventurous in spirit she enJoys almost any outdoor sport from skiing, snowboarding, hiking, skateboarding, to a quiet walk, reading, meditating,playing with her two girls. This list can never be completed, for in her world there is never completion, but ever evolving into expansion of an ything which brings her Joy.

Author:: Marlee Rosenhan
Keywords:: Law of Attraction,Happiness,Truth,Evolution,Power of Thought,Empowerment,Joy, Dreams, Jesus,Mind
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Day Dylan: The Acker Street Bouncer (Episode #1: Trouble at Bram's)

[1971 He wasnt what Id call a big man, when I saw him at the Acker Street bar, in St. Paul, Minnesota, off Sycamore Street the first time; matter-of-fact, he was perhaps regular size, five foot eight inches tall, about 172 pounds, not the normal size for a bouncer.

I first met him, or rather saw him, when he came into the bar one evening, I was sitting on a stool drinking a tap beer (Brams Bar). He had stopped in, it wasnt even his day to work, a Thursday, he usually worked only on the weekends, they didnt bother with a bouncer on weekdays, so he felt hed not have to work. As I was saying, he came in not sure what for, to speak to someone about something I suppose, I never got around to asking him, when Paul asked him to work the night, it was Monday Night Football and things were a bit rowdy. Ah, he didnt want to work, I could tell by his facial expressions, but I guess he agreed to, because he sat on a stood, tied his shoes tight, and I heard he was a karate exper t, and that was his calling card, tight shows, tight fists, and a straight face you could not read, and he was mentally preparing for the night.

So he tied his shoes, and no sooner had he let his fingers off the strings of the shoes, a tall man, perhaps six foot three came in, broad shoulders, a big head, about 220-pounds, an elder man, perhaps 40ish, Day was, I heard, back from Vietnam, twenty-four years old, rock iron face, and arms and chest, an Irish redhead. The big man looked at Day Dylan, and that look turned into a stern squinting of the eyes, and the big man grabbed Day by the shoulders as if to turn him upside down, and whip his ass, but quicker than a snake bite, Day pulled back with his head, grabbed the man by his shirt, and pulled him in to an inch of his face and crashed his forehead into his noserock hard was his forehead, you could hear the crunch of bones in his nose, and the mans head bobbed backwards, his arms releasing Day.

A lucky twist, sai d the big man, and he took his long legs and went to kick Day in his head, it was a high kick, a powerful one, and Day stood his ground, just moved his chest to the side, pivoted a ting, and grabbed his leg high. The man now limped like a camel with three legs. I looked about, the whole bar started to laugh, and the man, the big browbeating bruiser got madder. As I was saying, here is Day holding this big mans leg with one hand under his foot, high, his groin area wide open, and the big man trying to reach to Day but losing his balance in the processes. Thus, Day did what I think we all expected, he took the curved part of his foothis shoe, and swiftly drove it up between his thighs, like a slug hammer and into his item, his groin area, you could hear the thrust of his pants as it whipped its way in and out of the area, and the man bolted back and front wards: tears of agony came to his eyes, as Day let go of his foot bringing it back to a stance area, the man fell to his needs gasping for air from the throbbing, he was as if he was melting into the woodwork of the floor, he put one hand onto the floor to catch his breath, but Day was not through with him. A swift kick went into the big mans ribs, drove his whole body upwards, then the man collapsed onto the floor. Less than a moment passed, and the man tried to get up on his feet, still in pain, hesitantly tried I should say, and a second kick went into his chest area, and as he dropped for the second time, an elbow in the back part of his upper spine, just below the neck, which made the man see everything in a fog.

Ive had enough, the man said, as Day was preparing for another kick I do believe; Call the police the man said, and everyone just stood stone-still, and Day let the man rise slowly. Then as Day turned about, the man made a movement as if to grab a chair, but instead he pulled out a 38 Special revolver and aimed it at Day (and a bullet was released from its chamber), at the same time Day was turning about, his right leg flew in the air, hit the mans wrist, and Day quickly pivoted his chest to its side, as the bullet left the gun, and the gun flew out of his hands. The bullet had missed Day by two inches of his chest, as the big fellow ran out of the bar.

Everyone tried to catch their breath in the bar as this moment soaked into their intoxicated brains, and Day simply said, Im going, not sure where, just going, Im not working tonight. And he left. He walked across the street, another bar was there, and Day got second thoughts (I could see him from the window of Brams): why not have some beers. Three guys were standing by the door, Whats all the commotion over there, asked one of them, Day knew the fellow, and gave a smiled, I need a beer, he said as he nodded his head and shoulders as if nothing worth talking about, and walked into the bar.

7/13/06

See Dennis' web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Author:: Denni s Siluk
Keywords:: Short Story
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Old Josh: Picnic Along the River Part I 1849 Eposide #9

[Josh and his son just arrived back from a picnic down along the River, he lives on the Hightower plantation, outside Ozark, Alabama; this sketch is Josh at his youngest of all the authors previous episodes on Josh, several of them; he was picked up by the Hightower family in New Orleans, many years ago. This is when Josh was not as bullheaded as he came to be, when his son was around ten years old; as when you read the other several episodes the author has written on him. Now he is back on the plantation, and talking to his friend Bessie, he calls her Aunt Bessie because she helps Josh with many of his need for his two children, Silas is Joshs oldest boy. They are now in the back area by his little shanty, his hut, by the fenced-in carrel talking and Bessie, asking questions. Joe is walking over to see Josh, he works in the plantation alongside the Hightower plantation, hes Bessies brother.

Back from the Picnic

Josh: We been down de river fishin,
Aunt Bes sie: Who?
Josh: Me an Silas an de boss Hightower annudder white folks, an we sho had a big time ketchin fish and turkle; an I had more liquor dan we could drink.
Aunt Bessie: Is dey gee you anything?
Josh: Dey mighty good to we. De white folks gee me one dollar.
Aunt Bessie: Why kind er people de white folks?
Josh: Wuh kind er answer yous wants?
Aunt: You ain gee me straight answer Josh!
Joe: Gee that nigger Josh a question, and he so ceitful he likes dat white folks cus he can go fishin and gee da dollar.

Allen joins the group [Hightowers Butler

Allen: Wuh is all dis I hear about Josh an dey white foks
Joe: It must er been a white man gives him a dollar, he no more nigger
Allen: Dat ain oughter make no difference. Nothin done wid em kill niggers, but dey oughter try em.
Joe: Who de judge?
Allen: No nigger killed toda, I reckon godam white folks a-while back
Bessie: De name er de Lord n vain, yous tak dhe na me er de Lord n vain!
Joe: about dat judge, wuh judge?
Josh: Wuh you reckon Hightower in de mind Hightower a bad man when he ack dat er way?
Bessie: I hears a judge talkin bout dem niggers escape.
Allen: Dat why Hightower giv Josh a dollar, sos he don escape.
Bessie: Several on em.
Joe: I know dat, kaze me an de boss man talk right dere in de back room and drinks dey liquor, and he tells me.
Bessie: Silas hears all des, I done, boy let go, we leaves da niggers here, cus we aint no niggers.

Written 5/19/2006

See Dennis' web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Author:: Dennis Siluk
Keywords:: Short Story
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

A Fairy Island

Now I have been spoilt like a king at a banquet, my next priority is to find water and shelter. My outstanding luck carries on, I can see a dry and inviting cave on the shore of this picturesque beach. Growing less suspicious of this Island most people only dream of, I proceed into the cave and place down my only belongings: one day's water supply and a blanket. At the end of a long and exhausting day, my only thought is to sit down and rest my weary legs. In the distance there is the sound of light, tingling flowing water. As I move closer, the noise becomes louder until eventually, straight ahead of me is a beautiful sight, a waterfall of blue sky descending over a huge orange rock and crashing into a massive pit of frothy water, giving off a spray of white mist, which feels wonderfully cool against my hot skin. All around the waterfall there are intricately coloured birds and insects. A lime green bird unlike a parrot in appearance gives the most beautiful tune as if be ing played on a flute by a master musician. Now I have the three main means of survival in a plentiful source and I am surrounded by total Beauty, I feel unsure if I would ever want to leave this Island, which very much reminds me of one out of a fairy tale book I had begged my loving mother to read to me every night. As night time falls and the bright stars in the jet black sky become more distinct, I am afraid to close my eyes as I fear this miraculous Island is a deception of my tired imagination.

Eventually, I drift off to sleep, but soon I am woken by the most sweet and wonderful singing. Excitedly I crawl out from underneath my blanket and clamber to my tired feet. I travel in the direction of where the music seems to be coming from. As I approach nearer to the sound, it stops and I fear my tire d mind has deceived my senses. My decision to return to my blanket is interrupted by the gentle sound of a guitar. This time I proceed forward with haste and through the glimmer of the waterfall, I see a beautiful woman. Like the lady in my story book she has rosy red cheeks and long, fair hair. As well as her Beauty she has something I envy tremendously, a tail of metallic green and blue. As I stare in amazement she speaks in a voice as sweet as sugar. She invites me to sit by her, once we have exchanged greetings, she asks me if I have ever seen a blue lizard. She receives my negative reply with interest. From behind her rock she produces a large and intricately shaped shell. She blows into it and within seconds a stunning electric blue lizard appears and invites me to shake its front claw. Once I have do ne so it scurries away.

After talking to this remarkable, fantasy creature, who I guessed must be a Mermaid, I realize that I am longing for human contact and to see my family once more; eternity without them seems unbearable. I ask my friend, the Mermaid, if there is any way of mending my skeleton of a boat. She turns towards me with her deep blue eyes and says my farewell will be one I would always remember. Again she blows into her shell; a smooth-skinned grey dolphin appears by the side of me. The Mermaid tells me to hold the fin tight and to never forget her. The feeling of the cool Sea breeze in my hair will be one I will always treasure.

Back on the shoreline where my unforgettable adventure first began I thank the dolphin, he turns away and soars into the distance. I will never speak of my friends on the Island, as its tranquil Beauty will be destroyed if humans begin to colonize it.

The article was produced by the member of masterpapers.com. Sharon White has many years of a vast experience in freelance writing, custom essays writing and term papers consulting. Feel free to send her your inquiries at Thesis Writing Service.

Author:: Sharon White
Keywords:: Island,fairy stories,Mermaid,Sea,Nature,Beauty
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips