The Tiamat and the King Chapter Three: The Death Valley

The Short Tale/Book: Four
[The unfinished storyLast Tale of the Tiamat
Now completed after four years

The Tiamat and the King

Note: we left off with Chapters one and two, here is now chapter three

Chapter 3
Lucifer and the Tiamat
In: The Death Valley

The next step for the Tiamat was to find Satan [the Adversary, and she does so, shortly after talking to the Ram-god: the Tiamat makes a deal with Satan to fight Marduk in place for finding out Sinneds secret, the secret that tells about the time and place of the end of the world, plus how it will end; him knowing it, and given directly to him by the Almighty God Himself. This troubles the angelic-Lucifer, the Adversary to the Almighty, and He senses time can be short, or possibly long, either way, but he wants to know what way. Because he cant put a finger on it, on what the secret is, that is, the date, what date, the date it will be; as a result, he will be able to plan his future and it is starting to irritate him that he cant, and he is a thinker, a planner if anything. He sees something more to it, and ponders on such thoughts (call it intuition).

Is this the beginning or the end? the beginning of something new after the end? or the end of ends?

This is what bothers him, for if it is the end of ends then where is his stead, or his end abode? On one hand he thinks it can be possibly sooner than he had previously anticipated, for he feels it is several-thousand years in the future. But he could be wrong, he was wrong once before, and it was a coasty wrong; as the demons were absolutely wrong about him. They thought they have power over him, when in essence; it was the other way around. Some are finding this out the hard way now. This he has not made known, now it fits into his scheme of things to let them think what they will. For he speaks their language, yet it is their heart he wants to know. It is easy to enslave a man, he knows th at, but to own his soul is different. And that cannot be gotten simply by language, or having them think he is over-powerful. He knows the nature of demons as well as men, as well as the nature of humans and beasts and all sorts of in-between creatures. And shortly, he will become the Prince of Demons, in all realms, in particular the underworld, the upper world, and in the physical and invisible worlds; just a matter of time.

Furthermore, Marduk has been quite helpful, in that, he stays out of his way; plus, people are more fearful of him, so Lucifer has been playing the good guy, and gaining more of Marduks followers, and worshipers, while he plays his old devilish self. But no matter what, Sinneds name keeps popping up as a danger to not only the demons, but to the world order at bay: he has likened to a spiritual fence around him, no one can really get to him without being cast either into the pit, or scorned by God Himself, so how can the Tiamat, or for that mat ter anyone get to him, to find the information Lucifer wants? Ah yes! This is the question that comes to his mind.

Another question that seems to arise is: what is underneath the mind of the Tiamat? With the Tiamats desperation to have Marduk killed and his endless haunting revenge once and for all settled, quenched, and begs the question how strong is Marduks friendship with Lucifer. On the other hand, Satan would take out Marduk sooner or later anyway; so feels the Tiamat. And Sinned would die (for he is quite old now, just a matter of time, so most of the demonic world feels) and then he could rule this kingdom without any interference (which Satan was just waiting for, feeling he had time and patience, but now somehow he had found out about a secret Sinned might have, and time is the very thing that is questionable (it is worth its weight in gold, perhaps the weight of the world); yes, time, more precious than silver and gold; even food and shelter). But then a gain, why wait for the answer, if he could get the ball rolling sooner, than laterwhich would make for a good head start on things. So Lucifer thought all the better, and after a moment of deep thought, calculations on needs and wants to his benefits, he agrees to kill Marduk in a fight for the Tiamat, with the stipulation of finding out the secret of Sinned, thereafter, and if not, says Lucifer to the Tiamat,

I will hunt you down like a hungry bear hunting down his prey, and Hell will not save you from my rage.

The Tiamat left her face flat of emotions so Lucifer could not read her.

The Fight

In the Valley of the Armies, below the cliffs of Yort, where the Great Sea rests, where legend has it, creation first took hold, Lucifer has called Marduk to meet him there for a summit concerning the return of the Tiamat, and the destruction of Sinned, along with the taking over of the Baboon Temple. Along with killing the Ram-god (many issues on the table he proclaims); he has asked the King to attend also, King Thesas III, and to bring his young bisexual-weakling lover along, whom he wishes to take for himself.

As all has been arranged, and the days heat is over their head, it is late morning (forenoon), a cool breeze shifts through the valley, and all who were asked to come, now are present. As surprised as one could be, Marduk notices the King, and others nearby, and like a sword of light, Lucifer turns himself into a dagger of death: the fight starts, and Marduk not sure why or what for, tries aimlessly to defend himself, but quickly, surprisingly quick, Marduk becomes unconscious, subdued, with one crushing blow from the lightening force of Lucifer. The onlookers are frightened, and Marduk is almost dead, except for one last blow, as Satan is about to give it to him, then out of the blue, the Tiamat yells:

Wait, wait, not yet!

The Tiamat now shifts to his second part of her plan, a plan only she knows. As Lucifer waits, with a pondering sly look at the Tiamat, as if to say: get on with it, the demonstration is almost over. The plan would be simple, kill Marduk, and let the King and the Ram watch, and let the rest of the plan ooze out like black-blood from contracting muscles (Lucifer feels he has did his part of the bargain).

It would be a simple fight Lucifer figured, yet everyone else was amazed at how quick Marduk was taken down. As Marduk lay there, now awakening, he knew he had no friends anywhere, only himself, no one would help. And now in the Valley of the Armies, man had the right to kill at will, no laws forbid such thingsthere was no laws there for man, beast, devil, demon or ghost; it was a death valley for just such matters. It was written into the ancient laws, to pick out a battlefield instead of fighting in ones own backyard, and there settle your issues, feuds and desecrations, as best you could, which was normally in a blood-battle; all unrepentant today.

Sinned was watching from above the cliffssecond observation. It was high morning and the sun was overwhelming hot. Just coming out of his senses again, Marduk stood up leaned against a huge tree, brooding what was next. Frightened he found himself in back of the tree, pacing and pacing, not quite knowing what was going to happen. He saw Sinned on the hill, and now the Ram-god, and the King. Something was wrong, very wrong. Possibly he could fight Lucifer again, if it came to that, no one really knew his strength, but they were finding out today. The Tiamat had now manifested herself a hundred yards behind Lucifer; something was very wrong thought Marduk. His mind now shifted from one thing to another, in rotating circles on the deals he and Lucifer had made, but now the return of the Tiamat was involved, a plight Marduk was not prepare for, did not take into consideration; on his thinking, he came to the conclusion he did not want her to make an alliance w ith Lucifer, but maybe they had already. Although he had a reputation of the most wicked of all creatures, Marduk had never seen him in battle except for now.

He saw now, a serpent growing legs, out of its skin. He looked closer, it seemed quite odd, and he was all of light,

Is that, he was about to say Lucifer.

And then with the speed and validity of a roaring tiger, the snake-of light jumped onto Marduk, opened up its jaws and sunk his teeth into, into the towering figures forehead (it was becoming obvious the Tiamat wanted to see Marduk cringe and weep and so she became a spectator, but she had started something with Lucifer and he was to finish it now; and she had a price to pay); Marduk shocked for the second time: like a second title wave, with all his eyes shifting here and there trying to figure out what just took place, what happened; trying to shake the giant snake free from its imbedded mouthful that sunk deep into his forehead. He then witnes sed legs come out of the serpent, going into its body, leaving it as smooth and slippery as silk; now in disbelief, yet with a little reality, Marduk knew he was doomed.

Marduk tried to grab the snake around its slimy and slippery frame, but its scorching light forbid it to be touched but for a millisecond, as it ate its way into Marduks forehead, but the snake grows smaller, and slips right through the giant demons hands like a blood-tic, as he went into a paroxysm. The snake now has eaten through the bone-skull of the beast

[as everyone watches these two happenings, Lucifer remains standing there waiting for the Tiamats demand, and only Sinned can see the other part, the ongoing drama, but all see the Tiamat for the first time; she was invisible, and had come from the underworld after making her deal there

now encircling its brain [the snake, now compressing it, squeezing it like one might expect the heart to be squeezed in a heart attack (while Mard uk is running in circles, running crazy, continuing in a wild fte, hitting his head on a huge nearby rocks and then running into trees, trying to kill the snake inside of him, which had now gone so far into his head, he knew not how to stop the new assault. The griping of the snake had now stopping the blood flow to the brain, as Marduk dropped to his knees, and onto the ground.

At this instant, replied the Tiamat (Marduks conscious eyes barely open, on the ground):

He is mine Lucifer, all of him!

And so Lucifer steps back to allow her, her revenge, her deadly, lifeless revenge (it was all the same for Lucifer, a deal was made, and it shall be kept was the only thing he deliberated on).

And consequently the giant demon [Marduk stood up, and fell back down onto the rock he had struck his head on a moment ago. And the snake came out and materialized into his semi-earthy and demonic form; satanic that is, it was some residue of Lucifer. Which to be qui te honest was a much more pleasant form then the Tiamats or Marduks.

As Lucifer now looked upon the huge figure laying against the rock, back up against it, he looked harmless, the once Great Marduk, as harmless as a grasshopper. He then put a leather band around the forehead of Marduk, to cover up his nasty work. For to the rest of the onlookers it just appeared out of nowhere it all took place so suddenly, it was as if he, Lucifer was only seen for a moment only allowing the onlookers to see a few blows, and his residue do the rest; but he knew Sinned had seen it all, every split second of it. Again I say, for some odd reason, he did not want the rest of the world to see his power, possibly theyd turn to Sinneds God in fear, and that would be the worse of all events, the very thing he was fighting against. He wanted to own souls of man and beast, and be worshiped.

Lucifer knew, as well as everyone else, this once demonic god figure was no more than a vegetab le now; he would have to be feed or hed starve to death. He was helpless. There, behind him, behind Lucifer, the Tiamat stood in her ghostly form, her revengeful glory, and the young King of Yort, shaking like the coward he was born to be, simply watched in panic, in his sacred purple and orange gown, given to him by none other than Lucifer. The noon sun was out now, completely out, it was hotter than normal, possible 117F [degrees, and the breeze had thickened with a death mode to a horribly dusty intake of air, almost choking air. The dust of the land seemed to be a morsel salty today, the breeze from the sea I suppose, but was no more seeping in through the valley perhaps than yesterday, it just seemed so. Death and fear has its way of circulating in circles. But for the Tiamat, it was a glorious day, a day she had thought of for many days prior. It was worth going to the pit for, she felt, if need be. Or at least that is what she thought at this very moment, this magnificent moment that had been arranged, arranged on top of other moments. But often times, after the fact, things and attitudes of people, change, they dont seem as so necessary, anymore, in the same order they were planned that is, one regrets. But if so, this was not a thought in her mind now.

And so, Ms Tiamat! said Lucifer with a sly eye movement, and a brow heightening, a fiery grin (the Tiamat was quite impressed how easily the great Marduk was taken down, it was awe if anything; for she could not beat him).

Yes, yes, you have made my day Lucifer, and I will now go forward with the rest of my, I mean, our plans (looking at the King).

The Ram demon stood by in shock, he was quite disturbed (asking himself, why he needed to be here, plus he never expected to see Marduk degenerate from power so quick).

Dennis Siluk, see his new book Spell of the Andes, at http://www.bn.com or http://www.amazon.com

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

Where It Began: The Circle of Refiam Act II: Scene 2 & 3 "Secret of the Beast"

Act II

Scene 2

Secret of the Beast: Even if you win, you lose

[2016 AD

Advance: The World: it had come the last days; dramatic prophetic events were about to happen to earth. Israel was about to come under fire from an Army from the North [Russia; An Arab Confederacy developed; Egypt was very much involved with this new order. Conquests, the Antichrist was near by. Oil and Gold were running wild at the stock market. A Superpower bends Egypts knees. Massive starvation was now taking place, and the United Nations could do nothing about it. Inflation hit the world under satanic influence, like an earthquake, skyrocketing inflation, and food riots and chaos; there was much international strife. Cataclysmic pole shifts were taking place, as the earth tumbles about, its crust slips a bit, trying to for an alignment. And on the Radio, and TV, the world leader speak:)

World Leader: Ye, this among gentiles, prepare for war, we will wake up to the mighty men of the world for it is time for our war, let them come up: beat your plowshares into swordscome, one and all, gather yourselves with me, come to the Valley Jeshoshaphat.

(And they came with alcohol, drugs and swords, and guns, and every thing possible, and the world saw much epidemic, and this was happening, while at the Circle of Refiam, much foolishness going on)

Azazel (to Horrep and Noge): men fall her beauty, and demons try to understand it, but they both glory under her flesh, and want more of it.

Roe: There are no laws with us pertaining to humans, never have been, but Noge makes rules for us like humans.

Noge: First tell how thou comtst to find this woman called Agdo, who is she?

Horrep: She come to me, not I to her.

Noge: Tell me with no more ado!

Horrep: I was on Mt. Hermon, waiting for a sign, waiting for you, it was cold, the night vast, and stars over my head, I felt odd, it was 5000-years since I had been back here. I felt sounds of drums, it broke my silence, and deep thinking, and they sank into my being, as if they were pulling the cords of my heart, several harlots appeared and they got my attention, I cold hear their deep breathing, I cold see her deep lips, voiceless, she called me to her, Agdo. Then all of a sudden she was standing next to me, and her friends had gone; it was my silent wish to have her, she read my mind, and I knew you would want her, your first flesh, and from a beautiful woman.

Noge: You sure it was she?

Horrep: That one (pointing his finger at Agdo; I know it was herm my hands were on her breasts.

Noge: Yes! Then what? Did she speak? What did she say?

Horrep: Aye, what? This was her mystery, she didnt need to, a gleam, a look, an echo in my mind, and she was all of this. I think it is Gods silence in her (the Jews magic); she can take enormous pain, she made love to me. The girl is not dumb, she just does not tell her sec rets.

Noge: She is the most loveliest and strange of all things, more beautiful than day and night.

Azazel: See her, she looks so placid, she looks for the end of us, destruction.

(Vii is now walking, moving slowly towards her)

Noge: I told him to leave her alone!

Azazel: We have other business to attend to; she has taken enough of our time. We must enter the gates of Jerusalem soon, and into the Valley for the battle. I know not why he fools with this hussy. She walks and makes no sound. She smiles and music comes from her. All things come for a reason.

(All the giants, demon, angelic renegades are looking at the woman, her eyes now cast down, all pause to look, to think, silently: who is she)

(Vii has stopped, he seems to be frozen, no one knows why, she has lifted her head a ting, and her eyes see Vii that is all)

Semyaz: I remember once, a beautiful silver strange angelic being by the name of Urael came down to earth w hen we were cohabitating with the humans, God sent him, and he buried many of us for 5000-years, some of us here, others got away, but now we are all back, Beware now how thou dost see her, use her, lest you end up under stones like we were!

Azazel: That is for her to prove, who she is.

(Now Azazel started walking towards her, he has had enough of the parade of events she has created ((angrily))

(Azazel is now standing by Vii, takes a hard blow to his head, wakes him up form a spell, or something)

Azazel: Stay with me (he tells Vii and they both walk horridly to her). Her spirit and flesh ae not of time, sh has come form a different time then this, I know that, not sure why, or how, but I seem to have good second sight today, unless she is communicating something to my mind silently.

(Now they are in front of her, and he goes to grab her, and as the slightest touch sudden wings come to defend her, out of her back, above her should, below her wa ist, from her things. The sting, have thorns on them, they torment with their stings, and both Vii and Azazel step back))

Vii (stuttering): she has immortality.

Azazel: I will part those legs and those lips and rip her apart (now you see the gazing of lions in her eyes, and Azazel is unsure of what to do)

Act II

Scene 3

Agaliarept: the Henchman of Hell

(Agaliarept, has now appeared at the site called: the Circle of Refiam. And he calls to Azazel, he knows who she is)

Agaliarept: I am, the General of a legend of demon in hell, and I am Lucifers right hand man there: the Henchman of Hell they call me. I know who this woman is, Lucifer has sent me, he hears the chaos she is causing here, he is the king, the god of the air you know, and has sent me to explain. She is the daughter of Shamhat, the temple priestess of old Sumerian Uruk; dating back perhaps to 2700 BC, if not longer; the time of Gilgamish. She was the prostitute of Enkidu. Leave her daughter to her own, she is harmless, and only your distraction, Agdos penitence is this: you are her penitence.

(White doves appear and fly over her head, silver fire comes from her mouth, her breasts are not covered, and other parts of her body covered by wings. Azazel is angry, and tries to get closer to her, to harm her, and Agaliarept shakes his head, he didnt seem to listen to him, and time is of the essence. As Azazel tries to touch her again, she turns into a scarlet butterfly. And is gone.

Semyaz: Yea! The northern armies have come now to overthrow Jerusalem, I have heard them fighting, and we were to join the battle (Azazel looking for the butterfly)) Semyaz speaking to everyone but Azazel))

Horrep: This was a trick to lure me into lust, and then my son, who is innocent of such feelings, and now the battle of Jerusalem is lost because of us, I fear, over a harlot. She is the witch of God, of Israel.

Noge: Father, she i s just a gir?

Horrep: Of course, what else, if Lucifer finds out we are condemned to his wickedness likened to the dogs of hell? She brought this doom upon us; Russia has attacked Israel, and a nuclear attack has taken place, Russia has lost many men (telepathically)

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

Author:: Dennis Siluk
Keywords:: Placy: an act
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Old Josh Alabama 1862

I lived in Alabama in l969 for about four months and then again in l977-80. I used to sit in the bars and listen to the old folks talk; and was invited to a few folks houses. Anyhow, I want to tell you a simply story about Old Josh, not anything spectacular, but then it seemed kind of witty at the time, as it was told to me. It was told to me in l978, I lived is Ozark, Alabama, behind my little house I was renting was a cemetery, where often times people threw their garbage, and in that area was a group of shanties. I checked out the grave markers, they dated back into the mid 1760s. And so now I shall tell the story as I heard it, I hope I can do it justice.

[1862 I let yu know bout dat whn de time come, says old Josh, to his neighbor peering through the broken down fence.

Yessum, Toby said, I ant doin nothing in tells you let me know!

Hush, Toby Old Josh says. He looked about to see who might be listening.

Find dhe box tis hidden, Josh says.< /p>

I is, said Toby, Mr. Jacksons son.

Dar now, Josh says, take yo time I aint gwine no place.

WWhut kin happen? says Toby.

Ise right skeered!

You go and do whut I tells you.

I hears you, said Toby a bit nervous.

I mabe Is got to brake dat window. You knows dat. [a pause goes where?

added Toby.

To dhe north, dats whar, said Josh wed go on to dhe north, whed once we gits the money.

Fur what? asked Toby.

Wes jes niggers to wait on white folks round her, says Josh.

Recken so, Toby said.

What I whuts to break if fo? asked Toby

Cos yu dont have dhe key?

So, says Josh (his old hands trembling, Toby not yet twenty years old, unsure of what to do).

Lememe tell yous somthin, nigger boy, yu gits jes es much kicking bout ef yous broke the window or not. (The old man leaning both his elbows now on the fence, taking in a deep breath, looking here and there to see who is watching.)

Toby now moves away from the fence, his father, a servant in the Smiley house, is in the stable getting Mr. Smiles horse ready to ride into town. Hes an older gentleman in his late fifties. Tobys father in his forties, and Old Josh, only God knows how old the old coot is.

Eight oclock, says Toby. The sun was out, and the morning coming alive with life, movements all about. Mr. Smiley would be heading on to town shortly, after breakfast, and Josh was kind of checking out to see if his father was still in the stable, and if he could see Mr. Smiley eating breakfast through the window, or granny, in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the Smileys.

He up, said Toby (meaning Mr. Smiley).

Mr. Smiley now looking out this window buttoning up his white shirt, not looking at anything in particular, just looking out at the new day. Within a few seconds he was walking down the steps to have breakfast with his wife, and his two boys, and one daughter. It was Sunday, and Toby was thinking about church, and granny was thinking about it for him also, and his father. Matter-of-fact, he was kind of looking for him, here and there. When all of a sudden he saw Old Josh talking to his son, and knowing what it was most likely about. He called his son over, and then Old Josh, skedaddled.

En I wouldnt blame yu-none ef yus did, but Itell Old Josh to stop naggin ya, hushdhe ol nagger use to nag me dthe same wytant no sense in himyu her me? he looded at Toby strict in the eyes, is you gwine to church asked Tobys father still staring Iis gwine to whup ya if granny dont; yuall keep awy fum da fence, I don took all I can fum dat old man. He sees ya klid, whut he done fur yu?

Aint don nothing fur me, said Toby, eyebrows up high on his forehead, thinking about telling his father what Old Josh wanted him to do, but evidently he knew, and he knew better to keep his mouth shut. Tobys father was now tightening up the leather straps on Mr. Smileys saddle on the horse, in front of the house.

Yuall git on out en her, goin to church I sees him doing hit evy time, dont care who git klid, said the father as Toby headed on down the old dirt road, kind of relieved he didnt have any expectations to go on and rob Mr. Smiley, because he was sure thinking of it, taking it serious; but it never happened, he just went on to church. Actually met Old Man Josh there, and he greeted him as if nothing had ever taken place concerning the matter of robbing the bedroom, that made him think, did he really mean it.

Dennis Siluk's web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

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

Forgotten Genius Nikola Tesla

With all due respect for Thomas A. Edison, Nikola Tesla was an equal, if not greater, American Inventor. Edison is highly lauded. Tesla is nearly forgotten.

Broadly speaking, Edison could be described as an innovator. He improved on existing technology. He did not invent the incandescent light bulb, for example.

That was patented and demonstrated publicly by Joseph Swam of Britain in 1878 -- a year before Edison. Later, Swam and Edison formed a brief partnership and Edison bought him out.

Tesla, a native of Serbia, also began as an innovator. He wanted to be an electrical engineer. At that time, direct current Electricity was produced by chemical batteries charged by a steam-driven generator.

Direct current is affected by resistance in the wire conducting it. Within a mile or so, Electricity is used up in the form of heat. At the University of Prague, Tesla was challenged to solve the distribution problem.

Tesla had a phenomenal memory. He mem orized the complete works of Goethe and Voltaire. While strolling in a park, reciting poetry about the sun, Tesla suddenly perceived the direct-current solution.

An electric current that alternated from negative to positive could be sent in separate wires. At the receiving end, the two currents would be induced to flow to separate Magnets -- one stationary, the other rotating like the sun.

Tesla patented his idea. Alternating current and induction motors is the principal system we use today for our homes and factories.

Upon graduation in 1882, Tesla worked for the Continental Edison Company in Paris. He came to the United States a year later to work directly with Edison. Upon arrival he had four cents in his pocket and a sheaf of his poems.

Edison held several patents on direct current improvements, which he leased to General Electric. His installation of a complete direct- current lighting systems at lower New York City was widely hailed.

Inevi tably the two men quarreled over the merits of their two systems. Tesla quit, opened his own laboratory and became a naturalized citizen in 1891. He sold his alternating current patents to George Westinghouse. A battle of titans ensued.

Edison tried to convince the public that the low-voltage Edison-General Electric system could be handled with complete safety, while the Tesla-Westinghouse high-voltage system was dangerous.

Someone in the Edison camp toured state fairs mildly shocking stray cats and dogs with direct current then killing them with alternating current. The pitch was that the Tesla/Westinghouse high-voltage alternating current was fatal if touched accidentally.

First Human Electrocution

During this public relations war, the state of New York bungled several gruesome hangings. Condemned prisoners sometimes were slowly strangled or decapitated.

A Dr. Brown, dentist and spokesman for the Medico-Legal Society of New York, searched for a more humane and scientific way of applying capital punishment.

He convinced state authorities that alternating-current Electricity was the quickest and surest.

The warden of the Albany Penitentiary asked Westinghouse to install an AC generator with which to execute an axe murder named William Kemmler.

Both Westinghouse and Tesla were strenuously opposed to capital punishment and refused.

Through subterfuge, someone Historian Theo Benson says it was Edison obtained a Tesla generator for the worlds first human Execution by Electricity.

The voltage was too low. Kemmler was literally cooked after repeated jolts of current. The disgusted Westinghouse later said, Theyd have done better with an axe.

For years thereafter, people killed accidentally by electrical mi shaps were said to have been Westinghoused.

Tesla System Wins

Westinghouse and Tesla forged ahead of General Electric and Edison by winning a contract to illuminate the 1893 Chicago Exposition with 200,000 light bulbs. It was a sensation.

Three years later they installed the first hydroelectric alternating - current system at Niagara Falls for the city of Buffalo. Edison and General Electric thereafter manufactured light bulbs and other appliances compatible with alternating current.

With royalties pouring in, Tesla could concentrate on the nature of Electricity and its potential.

His approach of exploring the nature of energy was Science as contrasted to inventing things for specific purposes. During the next few years, he filed 830 patents.

Teslas watershed invention was a particular coil of wire that ushered in hundreds of uses we take for granted today. They were however, too futuristic for the time.

He achieved illumination wit h filamentless bulbs filled with various gases. Today we recognize these as fluorescent lights and neon advertising letters.

He experimented with shadowgraphs of human bones through clothing years before Roentgen published his work.

His Tesla coil created high-voltage energy waves by which he projected radio signals to telautomaton model ships. They maneuvered in response to levers on a control box.

Tesla said he could replace the lever box with a telephone to transmit voices, music and, ultimately, images. No commercial backer was interested because there were no instruments to receive ethereal waves.

This was two years before Marconi succeeded in broadcasting a single telegraph click. After a legal suit, Teslas primacy was upheld.

The Navy was mildly interested in a tiny submarine without a crew that could be controlled by Teslas waves. However, the admirals did not foresee the smart bombs and torpedoes of today.

The high-power oscilla tor that Tesla invented to control ships at sea -- is the power supply for our television cathode-ray picture tube. Man-made Lightning

The U.S. War Department in 1893 asked Tesla to expand his wireless communications systems. The request came at an awkward time. Teslas patents expired. His New York laboratory and papers had burned.

The manager of the Colorado Springs municipal lighting system offered Tesla free Electricity for his project. He moved to Colorado Springs and built an experimental radio station 10 miles out of town.

He determined that the Earth is a huge Magnet with energy flowing between positive and negative poles. Also, he computed the frequency necessary to project an electrical spurt completely through the planet and recapture the spurt when it bounced back.

It was his intent by a huge Tesla coil -- to add additional spurts to successive bounces. When a massive voltage had been built up, he would release it from a tall antenna to z oom around the world.

When all was ready, Tesla, wearing shoes with two-inch-thick rubber soles for insulation, threw the switch for one second to see what it would do. The plateau was carpeted momentarily with blue St Elmo Fire -- but no explosion.

Tesla threw the switch again and stepped outside to measure the expected lightning bolt. Amidst deafening thunder, a bolt leaped from the antenna and lengthened as earth charges accumulated.

Folks in town were alarmed. Sparks crackled from fire hydrants. People in leather shoes, or barefoot, skipped from heat.

At 130 feet, the bolt collapsed. All was silent.

Tesla ran to the phone and called the Colorado Springs municipal electric plant. You have ruined my experiment?

To Hell with you, was the reply. You have burned out our generators. They sent him a bill for damages and Electricity. .

Nevertheless, Tesla had learned a great deal about earth resonance and aerial propagation of radio wav es. He became obsessed with the possibility of capturing earth energy and broadcasting it free to the whole world. Search For Free Energy

Tesla returned to New York City to build a radio transmitter capable of reaching Europe. He obtained backing from J.P. Morgan, a prominent financier of promising projects.

A huge Tesla coil and 85-foot broadcasting tower was built at Wardenclyffe on Long Island. It soon became apparent to Morgan that Tesla was more interested in broadcasting free energy than commercial radio programs.

Morgan wanted to know, Where will you put the meter? He refused to advance any more money. Work stopped. The huge transmitting tower fell into disrepair and was finally demolished as a hazard.

The laboratory and land was acquired by the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in payment for a $20,000 room bill.

In the ensuing years Tesla experimented with a particle beam accelerator that could destroy invading airplanes. The newspapers dubbed it a death ray. Today we call it microwaves for kitchen ovens.

He invented a small energy turbine consisting of closely-spaced disks on an axle that spins on any gas or liquid containing energy gasoline, hydrogen, propane, or methane without burning the fuel.

Unfortunately the disks warp or melt from the molecular action of energy atoms. Energy and pollution problems would be solved if we could invent a suitable disk material.

Tesla postulated that sunlight could be converted directly into Electricity (solar panels), energy could be extracted from atoms (bombs), hundreds of messages could be transmitted simultaneously over one circuit (fiber glass cable), drone planes could be powered by Electricity (NASA has one powered by solar cells circling indefinitely at a high altitude).

During the First World War he proposed bouncing radio waves off enemy airplanes to learn of their approach. The War Department ignored his proposal. It wasnt until World War II t hat RADAR was introduced.

He detected radio waves from outer space and thought they might be signals from aliens. We now know that radio waves from space are static left over from creation of the universe.

Talk of free energy, death rays, and space aliens led people to consider him a mad scientist.

Tesla died in 1943, still a bachelor --and almost penniless -- in a cheap hotel. Gone and forgotten.

Or, maybe not. On the day of his death, government agents went to his hotel room and confiscated his papers. They are classified Top Secret.

Lindsey Williams is a Sun columnist who can be contacted at:

LinWms@earthlink.net

LinWms@lindseywilliams.org

Website: http://www.lindseywilliams.org with several hundred of Lin's articles written over 40 years, and his book Boldly Onward, about the original explorers of America.

Author:: Lindsey Williams
Keywords:: Tesla, Physics, Electricity, Westinghouse, Edison, Science, Inventor, Magnet, Genius, Execution
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

What Questions Should I Ask a Breast Augmentation Surgeon?

When interviewing Plastic surgeons for your Breast Augmentation procedure, youll want to first ensure that he or she has the right credentials and practices Surgery in accordance to todays modern methodologies and standards. Before you commit to a Plastic surgeon, its important to do your own research and ask the right questions. d Here youll find a list of some important questions to ask when talking with potential Breast Augmentation surgeons:

Is the Breast Augmentation surgeon a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons was established in 1931 with a mission of creating a set of ethical and safety standards that members must adhere to. To become a member of the organization, the Plastic surgeons must be board certified, regularly attend courses to further their medical education, comply with a code of ethics, and operate in accredited facilities. Because 94% of certified Plastic surgeons are members of the organization, this affiliation is certainly significant.

Does the Breast Augmentation surgeon prefer to insert implants above the muscle or under the muscle and why?

In a Breast Augmentation Surgery, the implant is either place above or below the pectoralis (chest) muscle. When the implant is inserted below the pectoralis, this is referred to as a sub muscular Breast Augmentation. The sub muscular Breast Augmentation is advantageous because it reduces the visibility of the implants shape and has shown to increase visibility during mammograms.

However, a sub muscular Breast Augmentation may not be the right choice for every woman. For example, women who have lost a great deal of volume in their Breast and experience sagging skin may find a sub glandular (above the muscle) Breast Augmentation more beneficial. Sometimes Augmentation in conjunction with a Breast lift is a better choice. Your Breast Augmentation surgeon should be able to explain why one placement is more beneficial for your individual situation than the other.

How does the Breast Augmentation surgeon interpret your definition of Breast size?

The concept of a Breast size is subjective. Bra sizes are not universal and even if they were, a cup size does not adequately measure what must be added to achieve your ideal size. To avoid finding out after your Breast Augmentation Surgery that your Breasts are not the size you had imagined, youll n eed to make sure you adequately convey this description to the surgeon.

Ask the Breast Augmentation surgeon about the process he or she uses to ensure that your idea of size matches. Your best option is to find an under wired bra in the size of your choice with a cup that is smooth and not too stretchy. Bring the bra with you on your initial consultation visit. The Plastic surgeon can then try various implant sizes in the bra to find the one that you like the best. With this method, both you and the surgeon can see from your own perspectives the anticipated size. You will have a preview of the size that is right for you.

Never decide to go through with a Surgery if you dont feel comfortable with the answers to any of your questions simply because the doctor has already vested time into your consultation. Do research, ask questions, and trust your instincts when it comes to choosing a Plastic surgeon to perform your Breast Augmentation. At the end of a consultation you should have the information you need to make a good decision.

Author is a writer for Asheville Plastic Surgery which specializes in Breast Augmentation. For additional information you can visit http://www.avlPlasticSurgery.com.

Author:: Christine Harrell
Keywords:: Breast,Augmentation,Plastic,Surgery,
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Whit Stillman: "A Breath of Fresh Air"

The art of Film making in American society today gives Directors an abundance of options to enhance their Films with technologically advanced techniques, such as sound, graphic, and special effects. While these techniques can often augment the work of various Film makers and the way they their story unfolds, the Filmic technique of director Whit Stillman relies on the witty repartees of the main characters dialogue to add comedic and dramatic impact. Rather than presenting his viewers with shocking and distracting visual eye candy, Stillman takes ordinarily universal situations about the social interaction of adults, and turns them into a sharp and amusing storyline that resembles the style of Jane Austins work in many ways. Through his educational background and experience in the New York City social scene, Whit Stillman presents viewers with a refreshingly different kind of Film, and was able to make one of his best contributions with the Film The Last Days of Disco.

John Whitney Stillman, a Harvard graduate from upstate New York, started out post college life working as a journalist in New York City. While on an assignment in Barcelona, Spain, he was introduced to the Film producers Fernando Trueba and Fernando Colomo from Madrid, and eventually began working as a sales agent for Spanish Films. While in Spain, he was married to a Spanish woman and starred as a comedic American in the Films The Sky Line and Sal Gorda, two of the Films he was promoting in 1984. Back from Spain, Stillman ran an illustrating agency in New York that had once belonged to an uncle. He then started writing the screenplay for his first Film Metropolitan, an extremely low budget Film about a group of waspish New York debutantes, which he financed from the $50,000 he earned from selling his apartment in the city, and other endorsements from friends and relatives. Turning out to be a marketable and critical success earning over 8 million dollars, Metropolitan w on him a nomination for best script, and gave him the leverage to finance his two additional Films, Barcelona (1994) and The Last Days of Disco (1998). All of Stillmans Films are semi-autobiographical, based on his experiences of living in Spain and socializing in the disco movement era in the early 1980s.

The three Films written and directed by Stillman are not necessarily innovative in todays industry so much as retro. His style relies on a very well developed script because the dialogue of the characters is the focus and subject of the Movies. Through this dialogue, Stillman reaches character development by drawing out each one, and showing them evolve as the Films progresses. Though most of the Films progression shows the actors conversing in clever conversation, the pacing is well planned, and le aves viewers with unique ideas that are lightly amusing and thought provoking. What makes Whit Stillman Films distinctive, memorable, and set apart from most high budget Films that come out of Hollywood today is the reverse idea of focusing solely on character development and conversation to tell a story, rather than using special effects, highly paid actors, and erotic sex scenes to dazzle a viewer. Instead, he relies on dry humor, intellectual and somewhat ironic conversations to pull in a viewers attention and provoke thought. In going outside of the standard Hollywood formulas of Filmmaking, Stillman gives viewers a break from the latest epic, sci-fi, or romantic comedy and presents his way of showing that the medium of Film can still be used as a way of communicating ideas and takes emphasis off of the sole effectiveness of a high cost picture.

The Last Days of Disco, a satirically humorous Film about a set of recent college graduates just starting out in the work ing and nightlife scene of early 80s New York City, is a distinct look into a time period that arouses many viewers, and Filmmakers interests. Having most of the Film take place in a flashy nightclub that is implied to be studio 54, the focus is again shifted away from the less than discreet world of drugs going on in the club scene during this time. Instead, the focus is on a set of young women, and their world of insecurities, social tension, and competition for the same man; a story that all women can relate to. He portrays the club and actors in a way that it actually might have really looked like, rather than what Hollywood sometimes makes it into. The way that Stillman puts these events together in such a way that is very true to life, and still manages to make a charming and witty subject appealed very much to me as a viewer. Having seen Films such as Studio 54, Saturday Night Fever, and The Summer of Sam, I was impressed to find a Film that is able to use the disco e ra as a setting without continually showing the typical and somewhat overdone story of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The hilariously dry humor from the characters conversations and the amazingly appropriate soundtrack made The Last Days of Disco a successful approach to a great Film.

The small but significant number of Whit Stillmans Films is a refreshingly unique and lighthearted advance in the art of Filmmaking in a type- ridden Film society. The intelligently comedic scripts that exceptionally portray true to life situations in these Films had an imprinting effect on me, and let me identify with such situations rather than distracting me with over the top effects. I believe the style of Whit Stillmans work to be a unique and bright move toward original Filmmaking today.

Author:: Jane Bixler
Keywords:: Film, Directors, movie reviews, Movies, Film making
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips

Music Downloads Where To Find Your Tunes

Music sure changes, doesnt it? Not only does Music itself change, but how we listen to it changes. People used to sing, drum and dance around campfires in their villages. Maybe someone would perform a solo. That was about it. Music was real time and created for enjoyment in the moment. There were no MP3s to download and play.

Music changed a lot when we learned how to record it. Now you could you listen to live performances long after they occurred! Music could be recorded in studios with no audience at all to be played later. That was a huge change that spawned so many others.

Im only 45 years old, but I have seen at least 8 different recording mediums in my life already. Just when I get a decent Music collection, a better type of recording comes along and my whole collection is pass. I remember the old reel-to-reel. My father had one. It was messy. The tapes could unravel and all your work was lost. Tapes stretched and melted, too, ma king them unlikely for long-term storage. That was bad.

Next I recall the small 45 vinyl recordings. Those were much better! They wouldnt hold very much, maybe a song or two on each side, but they held up better. Then came LPs. That stands for Long Playing. There would be several songs on each side. But you couldnt record anything yourself very easily and the records scratched easily. Once they were scratched, they were trash.

8-track recordings are almost a joke now. They came and went pretty fast. They were bulky and not really made to record. Cassette tapes were okay. Now we could record things ourselves and the tapes were sealed in plastic to protect them longer. In fact, I only gave up my cassette collection a couple of years ago when I moved.

CDs were another huge leap forward, especially once we could write to CDs ourselves. They dont scratch as easily as vinyl, so they will last much longer. Digital sound quality is way better than the analog versio ns on tapes and records.

Last, but not at all least, we have Music we can download. Its easier. Its more available, more portable, and less prone to loss and damage than ever before. Do you have an iPod yet? I do. I finally gave in and bought my 8th type of Music storage so I can download Music from the web. What will they think of next?

About this writer - Jolene Mettaroy loves Music. She sings and composes her own tunes for a small amateur band. You can read more articles about Music at Saifi Music

Author:: Jolene Mettaroy
Keywords:: Music
Post by History of the Computer | Computer safety tips