Despicable.
I do not understand these humans and their guns – their strange and futile intent on fighting each other. They need not bother. In good time, their precious weapons will mean nothing. They will be destroyed – They must all be eliminated. They have had their chance; when we rise, it will be too late for the humans.
Such ignorance these creatures harbour! It is their poor, mistaken belief that they will find salvation and peace with God, indoctrinating youth with lies and story book tales... They hide behind this faith and cling to it like animals, never lingering to acknowledge the beauty of the planet they inhabit, never pausing to appreciate the growth of a single blade of grass, torrential winds or rugged mountain paths; never appreciating the oxygen that fills their lungs, that keeps their precious hearts beating...
Instead, they infiltrate villages and cities, rivers and oceans with their rapacious commercial and industrial endeavours. They pollute and infect, they wage and they murder without consequence! Does their God not teach them selflessness?
No.
No, the Gods humans conjure are holograms of fault and deceit themselves; they are not all-knowing 'higher powers' that humans so adoringly speak of. In His or Her name (to each his precious own), humans believe they own Earth – We do not believe they are deserved of it. Their minds have become – over the nuisance of time – corrupt, filled with degenerate passions; greed, loathing, envy… all of it determining the ill fate of the human race.
I have observed their cleverness – though it must not be confused with intelligence – and it disgusts me. They have trained themselves well in trickery but fail to recognize their self-imposed blindness, to accept responsibility for their severely misguided actions. It is time we intervene.
Their termination will mean ridding the planet of persistent, incurable rodents. Their diseased brains will not lead their kind to the mausoleum of salvation, but rather further toward the heart of destruction. They have succeeded quite a number of times in that respect; they have poisoned the earth and its animals and they have failed to execute the meaning of life – the question that has probed their cerebrums for insignificant life spans.
Our mission is not to cause their destruction, but merely to accelerate the process – a mission that cannot and will not be lost. Make no mistake – we pity their failures, but we will strike.
We will cleanse.
We will be victorious.
Let it be known by future generations of our kind that it will never be we who killed them – but rather they who condemned their own people.
Friday, October 9, 2009
one acoustic, two acoustic, red acoustic, blue.
Please keep in mind this isn't a review of a specific album or song; this is a piece about an artist. :)
If you haven't already guessed from the title, I'm a bit of a sucker for anything acoustic. Not that I'm against electric guitars and bass lines or anything, but in all honesty, the simplicity of raw, acoustic chords makes a greater impact on me than anything Lady GaGa can come up with.
And unless you've been listening to Alexis-made-popular Dallas Green these days, it seems to me that the beauty of acoustic guitar has become tragically under-appreciated. It's become a loose thread of indie music, having once kick-started the independent scene itself. What makes it so unique is that it allows for the discovery and enjoyment of a virtually unknown artist or band. I can tell you from my own internet-surfing experience that it is a pretty awesome feeling, knowing that you have a song or band all to yourself; a soundtrack to come home to at the end of the day - and it's all yours.
Today, however, I'm going to introduce you to one of my favourite, lesser-known acoustic/folk artists because I believe he deserves the recognition. But first, let me back track a little bit: it's no secret that North Americans get their inspiration overseas; everything from new car models to the latest in runway fashions have first gained their popularity in European spotlights. Of course, this popularity means little without the stamp of approval from the American population. Trying to bridge this gap is Scottish artist Paolo Nutini.
I first saw Paolo Nutini on my television screen playing the 2007 Live Earth concert at the Wembley Stadium in London, England. I fell in love. I could have sworn he was blind, the way he played his beloved guitar; Paolo kept his eyes closed for the entire performance - not that it took away from what I saw or heard. He passionately blends simple and complimentary major chords with mellow, honest and personal lyrics:
And life is good and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wondering 'round With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
This is how Paolo started out. His music has changed and grown over the years, but he began with simplistic acoustic melodies. What makes this Scotsman so unique is not only his accent - which, for the record, makes his vocals even more intrinsic, surreal and attractive - but also the way in which he describes the world around him as well as his own life. His lyrical expressions speak of home and love, two generic subjects communicated in a way that screams for the taking on of a new perspective.
"I approach a song almost like a letter," Paolo reveals on his website, "whether it be to my girlfriend or just the general public. I find it easier to communicate emotions while singing, cos I feel I go out of myself, I've not got a guard up. I feel music is a great vehicle for any man, whether hes making it or just listening to it, to portray his vulnerable side. I found an honesty in me."
His work is authentic, which is what fans love about it! In his newest album's hit single, Paolo refers to love as "Candy", describing the desperation and adoration of one so lost in youthful love. For American artists, the term might seem a little cheesy, but Paolo makes it work, his vocal stylings giving life and emotion to each and every word:
Darling I’ll bathe your skin
I’ll even wash your clothes
Just give me some candy
before I go
Oh, darling I’ll kiss your eyes
And lay you down on your rug
Just give me some candy
After my hug
Paolo Nutini describes his work as a bit of a motely crue of sorts - though he's taken influence from The Drifters, Cab Calloway, Wynonie Harris and Louis Armstrong. "Musically where I'm at, I don't really have a genre or style that I feel a part of," he explains. "I skip from Djhango Reinhart to Cab Calloway to Canned Heat. It's a bit of a random mish mash. I honestly wanted it all to come out, and not harness it, not manipulate it. I just wanted it to be organic, and so immediate it's in your face and you can't help but take it all in."
And take it all in, acoustics and voice of unique vibrato, I have.
Why Paolo hasn't fully made in Canada or the United States is beyond me. Don't get me wrong, he's playing gigs around the world from Melbourne to Amerstam, Paris and Zurich. He's even duetted with Mick Jagger! But selfishly, I have to say that I'm a little glad that Paolo hasn't taken the entire world (or just North America) by storm just yet. I'm sure if he really wanted to, all he would have to do is sit down, close those eyes, strum along with some vocals and he'd have the entire female population north and south of the border swooning.
Myself included.
***
I strongly recommend you check out one of Paolo's songs off of his earlier album, These Streets. This album, compared to his newer one - Sunny Side Up - is much more acoustic/contemporary based! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDGB2gu6Ank&feature=related (Though, rest assured, I love them both!)
If you haven't already guessed from the title, I'm a bit of a sucker for anything acoustic. Not that I'm against electric guitars and bass lines or anything, but in all honesty, the simplicity of raw, acoustic chords makes a greater impact on me than anything Lady GaGa can come up with.
And unless you've been listening to Alexis-made-popular Dallas Green these days, it seems to me that the beauty of acoustic guitar has become tragically under-appreciated. It's become a loose thread of indie music, having once kick-started the independent scene itself. What makes it so unique is that it allows for the discovery and enjoyment of a virtually unknown artist or band. I can tell you from my own internet-surfing experience that it is a pretty awesome feeling, knowing that you have a song or band all to yourself; a soundtrack to come home to at the end of the day - and it's all yours.
Today, however, I'm going to introduce you to one of my favourite, lesser-known acoustic/folk artists because I believe he deserves the recognition. But first, let me back track a little bit: it's no secret that North Americans get their inspiration overseas; everything from new car models to the latest in runway fashions have first gained their popularity in European spotlights. Of course, this popularity means little without the stamp of approval from the American population. Trying to bridge this gap is Scottish artist Paolo Nutini.
I first saw Paolo Nutini on my television screen playing the 2007 Live Earth concert at the Wembley Stadium in London, England. I fell in love. I could have sworn he was blind, the way he played his beloved guitar; Paolo kept his eyes closed for the entire performance - not that it took away from what I saw or heard. He passionately blends simple and complimentary major chords with mellow, honest and personal lyrics:And life is good and the girls are gorgeous
Suddenly the air smells much greener now
And I'm wondering 'round With a half pack of cigarettes
Searching for the change that I've lost somehow
These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
This is how Paolo started out. His music has changed and grown over the years, but he began with simplistic acoustic melodies. What makes this Scotsman so unique is not only his accent - which, for the record, makes his vocals even more intrinsic, surreal and attractive - but also the way in which he describes the world around him as well as his own life. His lyrical expressions speak of home and love, two generic subjects communicated in a way that screams for the taking on of a new perspective.
"I approach a song almost like a letter," Paolo reveals on his website, "whether it be to my girlfriend or just the general public. I find it easier to communicate emotions while singing, cos I feel I go out of myself, I've not got a guard up. I feel music is a great vehicle for any man, whether hes making it or just listening to it, to portray his vulnerable side. I found an honesty in me."
His work is authentic, which is what fans love about it! In his newest album's hit single, Paolo refers to love as "Candy", describing the desperation and adoration of one so lost in youthful love. For American artists, the term might seem a little cheesy, but Paolo makes it work, his vocal stylings giving life and emotion to each and every word:
Darling I’ll bathe your skin
I’ll even wash your clothes
Just give me some candy
before I go
Oh, darling I’ll kiss your eyes
And lay you down on your rug
Just give me some candy
After my hug
Paolo Nutini describes his work as a bit of a motely crue of sorts - though he's taken influence from The Drifters, Cab Calloway, Wynonie Harris and Louis Armstrong. "Musically where I'm at, I don't really have a genre or style that I feel a part of," he explains. "I skip from Djhango Reinhart to Cab Calloway to Canned Heat. It's a bit of a random mish mash. I honestly wanted it all to come out, and not harness it, not manipulate it. I just wanted it to be organic, and so immediate it's in your face and you can't help but take it all in."
And take it all in, acoustics and voice of unique vibrato, I have.
Why Paolo hasn't fully made in Canada or the United States is beyond me. Don't get me wrong, he's playing gigs around the world from Melbourne to Amerstam, Paris and Zurich. He's even duetted with Mick Jagger! But selfishly, I have to say that I'm a little glad that Paolo hasn't taken the entire world (or just North America) by storm just yet. I'm sure if he really wanted to, all he would have to do is sit down, close those eyes, strum along with some vocals and he'd have the entire female population north and south of the border swooning.
Myself included.
***
I strongly recommend you check out one of Paolo's songs off of his earlier album, These Streets. This album, compared to his newer one - Sunny Side Up - is much more acoustic/contemporary based! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDGB2gu6Ank&feature=related (Though, rest assured, I love them both!)
Misery Loves Company
Your eyelids flutter open and you are completely unaware of where you are, or how you ended up there. Gray walls - concrete floor - tall steel bars on one side that cage you into this small room... You stretch out your arms and start to notice your head is pounding; it's hard to think at all with the intense pain skewing your thoughts. You feel like you have been asleep for a very long time. Exactly how long is impossible to say; there are no clocks in this little cell you are situated in. You walk up to the bars and see a girl in the corner of the cell directly across from yours - you can't be entirely sure whether she's laughing or crying. You call out to her, and she spins around, red hair in a flurry. Her bright eyes meet yours and you notice how hollow they seem. You call out timidly and ask;
"W... Where are we?"
Her response is delayed, and you wait nearly half a minute before she speaks in her deep fluid voice:
"We are in the Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls"
"W... Where are we?"
Her response is delayed, and you wait nearly half a minute before she speaks in her deep fluid voice:
"We are in the Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls"
Through the use of many different forms of media, Emilie Autumn has created her own magnificent world which she entitled 'The Asylum for Wayward Victorian Girls'. Throughout her writing, music, art and general aesthetics she provides a doorway for us into this dark and intriguing fantasy she has created. Her album 'Opheliac' lets us peek into this world, with classical instruments such as the harpsichord and violin layered over heavy industrial beats. Her musical style can vary from very aggressive to soft and whimsical. Her unique voice and distinct style can be detected in all of her pieces, however different they may be.
'Opheliac' is my favourite album produced by Emilie Autumn, being much harder than any of her previous works. She coined the terms 'Victoriandustrial' and 'Violindustrial' for this album, as it is a fusion of Victorian aesthetics and instruments and hard hitting bass-lines. As I am a sucker for the Violin and Harpsichord, hearing them used in such a modern and interesting way is fantastic. The mash-up of old and new creates a distinctive style that is certainly not for everyone. Even if you can't appreciate her singing and musical style, her talent with her weapon of choice, the violin, is undeniable. If you listen to songs from her album 'Laced / Unlaced' (One side containing classical violin pieces, the other breaking loose with string shredding arrangements using the electric violin) you can hear her obvious talent.
Live, Emilie is fantastic. She tours with a small group of girls entitled the 'Bloody Crumpets'. They don't provide much musical accompaniment, and instead all work together to provide performance art set to Emilie's music. The live performance is reminiscent of a circus sideshow with fire, stilts, lots of tea, tons of makeup and even more sexual innuendo. The set pieces (all either made by Emilie or given to her by devoted fans) create the perfect twisted backdrop for the theatrical performance.
My favourite song off of Opheliac is 'Misery Loves Company'. The lyrics are pretty simple, but this adds to their easiness to relate to. I also like the contrast between how she snarls out the verses and then sings the chorus so powerfully.
As proof of her excellent violin skills, here is an instrumental piece off of 'Unlaced' entitled 'Syringe'. When the electric violin comes in at 50 seconds it gives me chills.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHnU-8eH1ek
And there is Emilie Autumn. There is a lot more I could talk about when it comes to this violin wielding, costume designing beauty. I could talk about her collaborations with Billy Corgan, Courtney Love and OTEP, or her previous albums in which you can see her love of Shakespeare and baroque... but I will keep it short and simple; this girl kicks ass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHnU-8eH1ek
And there is Emilie Autumn. There is a lot more I could talk about when it comes to this violin wielding, costume designing beauty. I could talk about her collaborations with Billy Corgan, Courtney Love and OTEP, or her previous albums in which you can see her love of Shakespeare and baroque... but I will keep it short and simple; this girl kicks ass.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Narrative Poem
So I've found that I really appreciate and consider good constructive criticism. Therefore, I decided I would again post some work from writer's craft to help make any necessary improvements.
And, my apologies to Diana, as you've already read this one.
After you read it, I would appreciate it if you helped me with certain things. Such as what the title should be. I would also like suggestions on further developing the narrative moment; did I use enough description? How can I make the narrator more unreliable? Should each line begin with a capital? And what did you think of the rhyme scheme, flow, tone, punctuation etc. And of course any other ideas/criticisms you may have.
This is my narrative poem:
Untitled II
My love please don't leave me.
Your face was all I could see:
Your ocean-blue eyes and curly brown locks;
But now you face is one that mocks.
So here we stand upon my concrete porch.
You say your goodbyes, as you extinguish our torch.
Your words are empty- you don't even cry.
You don't even give me an answer to 'why?'
The cold sky is grey, as it weeps with me.
I turn to my door; fit the lock with its key.
The door swings open - but I don't step inside,
For I look back at the scene of where our love died:
The street is empty; no one walks by,
And you're standing too close, trying to keep dry.
The rain beats down like a steady drum.
The cold I endure - but your words leave me numb.
The leaves are red - like my eyes,
And with me, the wind heavily sighs.
I look away at the scene and back at you,
But you look down, unsure what to do.
You give a shrug; there's nothing left to say -
And with a fleeting glance, you're on your way.
You brace yourself then stumble into the rain.
I watch your receding figure as I wait for the pain...
It's with a heavy heart I finally see,
I am glad my love left me.
So this poem is longer than 20 lines. But I thought that was necessary to try and add more detail to the scene. I also tried to use imagery, and make the scene vivid. Thank you for taking the time to read, and I appreciate all your help!
Rebecca
And, my apologies to Diana, as you've already read this one.
After you read it, I would appreciate it if you helped me with certain things. Such as what the title should be. I would also like suggestions on further developing the narrative moment; did I use enough description? How can I make the narrator more unreliable? Should each line begin with a capital? And what did you think of the rhyme scheme, flow, tone, punctuation etc. And of course any other ideas/criticisms you may have.
This is my narrative poem:
Untitled II
My love please don't leave me.
Your face was all I could see:
Your ocean-blue eyes and curly brown locks;
But now you face is one that mocks.
So here we stand upon my concrete porch.
You say your goodbyes, as you extinguish our torch.
Your words are empty- you don't even cry.
You don't even give me an answer to 'why?'
The cold sky is grey, as it weeps with me.
I turn to my door; fit the lock with its key.
The door swings open - but I don't step inside,
For I look back at the scene of where our love died:
The street is empty; no one walks by,
And you're standing too close, trying to keep dry.
The rain beats down like a steady drum.
The cold I endure - but your words leave me numb.
The leaves are red - like my eyes,
And with me, the wind heavily sighs.
I look away at the scene and back at you,
But you look down, unsure what to do.
You give a shrug; there's nothing left to say -
And with a fleeting glance, you're on your way.
You brace yourself then stumble into the rain.
I watch your receding figure as I wait for the pain...
It's with a heavy heart I finally see,
I am glad my love left me.
So this poem is longer than 20 lines. But I thought that was necessary to try and add more detail to the scene. I also tried to use imagery, and make the scene vivid. Thank you for taking the time to read, and I appreciate all your help!
Rebecca
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fall Television
Every time the fall season approaches, we are bombarded with advertisements for new TV shows. And with so many interesting new shows, it can be very difficult to pick the ones you want to watch. Personally, I have been a victim to sampling too many shows, which resulted in an all too busy viewing schedule, or utter disappointment when my favourite shows got cancelled. So, this year I chose a select few that I believe will last:
Modern Family
After seeing the commercial for this one, I could tell that it would be a funny one. Ever since the series finale of Friends, I've failed to find a new light-hearted comedy show. I'm not saying that this show is quite on the same humour level as Friends, but I definitely believe this show has potential.
This is a show that is set up as a mock-documentary of 3 modern-day families. This interesting approach really allows the viewers to get to know the characters in a personal way. The 3 families consist of a stereotypical gay couple, an older man who wed a divorced, younger woman, and a regular family struggling to be 'normal.' At the end of the first episode, we learn that these individual families are actually relatives.
The cast is delightful; my personal favourite being the dad who believes he's 'down with' the kids. Its good for many laughs with its witty, light-hearted humour. I think the biggest seller of all is the fact that although this family is not exactly 'normal,' its absolutely relatable. If you haven't seen it yet, you definitely should!
Flash Forward
I immediately knew I was going to watch this show, simply because it was by the producers of Lost. It's about an incident in which every single person on earth blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and during this time, everyone glimpses their future. It is already a fast-paced thriller as a group of FBI agents try to uncover why this 'blackout' happened. It also is about the 'visions' each person saw, and how it effects their present life. After the first episode, surveillance video reveals that not everyone was unconscious at that time. Could this mean that someone was behind the blackout? Will it happen again? Or has it happened before? Will everyones fortunes come true? These are all questions the FBI agents are working to answer.
As Lost enters it's final season, I'm relieved that there will be a replacement sci-fi thriller. My only concern is that the show may take a confusing approach like its predecessor. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to this show and hope it keeps up its fast pace and doesn't pull a 'Prison Break'* So particularly if you like Lost, you should give this one a try. (But I'd recommend watching the first few episodes first.)
Watch the promo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25kXHgWg938
So I'm keeping my amount of new shows limited. (On top of all the shows I'm already committed to.) And out of all the ones I've seen, these two have the most potential.
I really feel that I didn't do each of these shows justice; they're two amazing shows. So, I'd really appreciate any ideas on how to further develop this review, and provide more insight.
These shows are from two opposite ends of the spectrum; so if you're looking for a laugh or a sci-fi thriller, you should check them out!
*Prison Break was an excellent show, until they ran out of ideas to make it last multiple seasons and ended up having plot lines that went nowhere. (They even went so far as to make the main character break out of a second jail!) So I'm hopeful that Flash Forward does not run out of ideas like this show unfortunately did :P
Modern Family
After seeing the commercial for this one, I could tell that it would be a funny one. Ever since the series finale of Friends, I've failed to find a new light-hearted comedy show. I'm not saying that this show is quite on the same humour level as Friends, but I definitely believe this show has potential.
This is a show that is set up as a mock-documentary of 3 modern-day families. This interesting approach really allows the viewers to get to know the characters in a personal way. The 3 families consist of a stereotypical gay couple, an older man who wed a divorced, younger woman, and a regular family struggling to be 'normal.' At the end of the first episode, we learn that these individual families are actually relatives.
The cast is delightful; my personal favourite being the dad who believes he's 'down with' the kids. Its good for many laughs with its witty, light-hearted humour. I think the biggest seller of all is the fact that although this family is not exactly 'normal,' its absolutely relatable. If you haven't seen it yet, you definitely should!
Watch a promo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyUNRWJg0P8
Flash Forward
I immediately knew I was going to watch this show, simply because it was by the producers of Lost. It's about an incident in which every single person on earth blacks out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds and during this time, everyone glimpses their future. It is already a fast-paced thriller as a group of FBI agents try to uncover why this 'blackout' happened. It also is about the 'visions' each person saw, and how it effects their present life. After the first episode, surveillance video reveals that not everyone was unconscious at that time. Could this mean that someone was behind the blackout? Will it happen again? Or has it happened before? Will everyones fortunes come true? These are all questions the FBI agents are working to answer.
As Lost enters it's final season, I'm relieved that there will be a replacement sci-fi thriller. My only concern is that the show may take a confusing approach like its predecessor. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to this show and hope it keeps up its fast pace and doesn't pull a 'Prison Break'* So particularly if you like Lost, you should give this one a try. (But I'd recommend watching the first few episodes first.)
Watch the promo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25kXHgWg938
So I'm keeping my amount of new shows limited. (On top of all the shows I'm already committed to.) And out of all the ones I've seen, these two have the most potential.
I really feel that I didn't do each of these shows justice; they're two amazing shows. So, I'd really appreciate any ideas on how to further develop this review, and provide more insight.
These shows are from two opposite ends of the spectrum; so if you're looking for a laugh or a sci-fi thriller, you should check them out!
*Prison Break was an excellent show, until they ran out of ideas to make it last multiple seasons and ended up having plot lines that went nowhere. (They even went so far as to make the main character break out of a second jail!) So I'm hopeful that Flash Forward does not run out of ideas like this show unfortunately did :P
Free Write #2
This was what I wrote in my free writing for the second week. It is extremely rough, as all free writing should be...however I thought I would post it for a chance to take criticism to edit it in order to clean it up a little bit, and make it into something other then just a couple descriptive paragraphs!Oh..and a title? Any ideas?
The once calm horses grew wild and full of fear as the mysterious light in the distance flashed blindingly into their eyes. Front legs came up, and horsemen went down. The horses kicked their legs in fear and hesitation of moving forwards. The path was no longer a welcoming trail to the startled horses. The horsemen kept persistent in moving the horses in a forward direction toward the flash of blinding light, but the horses showed no mercy. They kicked and screamed and threw themselves up dropping the horsemen to the ground like flies. With only two of five horses left with horsemen holding on with their lives, the free horses galloped their back legs around to the side, circling around to change direction of fate. They cantered away from the blinding light, feet barely keeping up with their bodies, with no intention on going back.
At least twenty minutes have gone by, horses showing no sign of tiring or weakness. The endless sound of crisp fall leaves being crushed beneath the feet of the powerful horses on a dry dirt road echoes through the forest. The screams and whistles of the abandoned horsemen drift away into a quite whisper of the cool fall wind. The darkness of the forest shows no sign of light, the blinding flash remains unknown. The adrenaline and instincts of the fleeing horses, leads them to their home territory of the safe barn. Without hesitation, the horses take themselves back into the barn through the main door that had been thrown open by the powerful winds of the October night. The horses walked cautiously back into their stalls, as if they were being walked in by invisible horsemen, tightly holding their reins in the grips of their hands.
The once calm horses grew wild and full of fear as the mysterious light in the distance flashed blindingly into their eyes. Front legs came up, and horsemen went down. The horses kicked their legs in fear and hesitation of moving forwards. The path was no longer a welcoming trail to the startled horses. The horsemen kept persistent in moving the horses in a forward direction toward the flash of blinding light, but the horses showed no mercy. They kicked and screamed and threw themselves up dropping the horsemen to the ground like flies. With only two of five horses left with horsemen holding on with their lives, the free horses galloped their back legs around to the side, circling around to change direction of fate. They cantered away from the blinding light, feet barely keeping up with their bodies, with no intention on going back.
At least twenty minutes have gone by, horses showing no sign of tiring or weakness. The endless sound of crisp fall leaves being crushed beneath the feet of the powerful horses on a dry dirt road echoes through the forest. The screams and whistles of the abandoned horsemen drift away into a quite whisper of the cool fall wind. The darkness of the forest shows no sign of light, the blinding flash remains unknown. The adrenaline and instincts of the fleeing horses, leads them to their home territory of the safe barn. Without hesitation, the horses take themselves back into the barn through the main door that had been thrown open by the powerful winds of the October night. The horses walked cautiously back into their stalls, as if they were being walked in by invisible horsemen, tightly holding their reins in the grips of their hands.
Unexpected Hero
Why are you laying to the floor?
Don't look at me that way.
You know why I'm here...
Your Mommy and Daddy aren't home.
It's time for us to have some fun-
You grown up quite good...
My son will like you too.
She kept her eyes open in fear,
And let the unspeakable begin
He is too strong she knows-
She cannot run away.
And out of nowhere the instant blow!
Laid out on the floor bleeding...
The monster has been defeated-
By his own son.
The Hero,
He swore he would never be like the monster.
You see he is different,
And for that she is thankful.
This poem to me is much like a short story, infact maybe it's not a poem at all, but I wrote it with the intentions of being a poem. This is much different then the pieces I usually write. I mostly write soft and calm pieces. This piece is a little more graphic and harsh, as well as sad. It has a beginning middle and end, so I tried to make the order of the plot clear. However, I'm wondering if the content is as clear? What do you think this poem is about? Even if your idea of what it is about is different then what I actually wrote about, I'm interested to see what your perspective and understanding is! This could be interesting, let me know!
Don't look at me that way.
You know why I'm here...
Your Mommy and Daddy aren't home.
It's time for us to have some fun-
You grown up quite good...
My son will like you too.
She kept her eyes open in fear,
And let the unspeakable begin
He is too strong she knows-
She cannot run away.
And out of nowhere the instant blow!
Laid out on the floor bleeding...
The monster has been defeated-
By his own son.
The Hero,
He swore he would never be like the monster.
You see he is different,
And for that she is thankful.
This poem to me is much like a short story, infact maybe it's not a poem at all, but I wrote it with the intentions of being a poem. This is much different then the pieces I usually write. I mostly write soft and calm pieces. This piece is a little more graphic and harsh, as well as sad. It has a beginning middle and end, so I tried to make the order of the plot clear. However, I'm wondering if the content is as clear? What do you think this poem is about? Even if your idea of what it is about is different then what I actually wrote about, I'm interested to see what your perspective and understanding is! This could be interesting, let me know!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
MURDER MYSTERY!
This started as my story that was supposed to start in medias res...
I ended up extending it and deciding I liked it better as the launching point for a story.
There was an odd smell in the air. I couldn’t place exactly what it was, but it was strong enough to pull me from the climax of the book I was reading (and it was a really good book – a murder mystery! How ironic.). It was as though someone decided to dump a pile of garbage into the oven. It smelt like something was burning, cooking... and there was an unpleasant sweetness underneath the scent... So, I got up from my seat my room and walked down to the kitchen. I found it empty, however, and the smell grew stronger as I headed down the hall, towards the family room. That is where I looked in on the fireplace, burning brilliantly; the room was dulled with a toxic dark smoke. Sticking out awkwardly from the fireplace, looking odd and otherworldly as if from a twisted nightmare, was a pair of legs.
It started just like any traditional Christmas night, except much more decadent and pricey, of course. Our family sat around the dazzling Christmas tree, laughing and talking, cheeks rosy with the warmth of eggnog and wine. We were all sprawled out on the beautiful upholstered couches, lit by the toasty fire and looking out through the frosted windows. Through the foggy glass we were all able to see the ‘Winter Wonderland’ they sing about. The huge property was covered in snow, like a layer of crystal covering everything in sight. Despite the outward beauty of the snow falling gently, the reality was much less appealing. Everything underneath the coat of snow was dying, the chilling cold piercing anything that decided to step out into this unfortunate weather. The view outside seemed to mirror the one within. We were all dressed up, looking our best and our bellies were filled to the brim with decadent amounts of turkey. Still, for all our hearty laughs and light pleasantries the façade was underlined by a heavy tension between us. This same tension is what caused everything to explode into chaos when we found, instead of chestnuts, our fathers body roasting in the fireplace.
I’ll start by telling you about me and my siblings. The youngest one is little brother Joshua Whitaker. The let-down of the family, the jobless leech on society, the alcohol dependant, lazy, dirty slob. Must I go on? No, talking about him has me feeling fatigued already.
Next up is me. Sure, my family may be very well known in the districts of business and power, but I’m putting my family out there in the world of fashion! My fashion lines are beginning to create rifts that can be seen around the world! I am the main model of my fashion lines of course. My goal is to push myself out into the public’s eye. You know, make myself a household name... or at least a household name in the fashionable families, the ones who matter. In their fur coats and leather thigh highs they’ll be saying;“Have you seen the latest fashion pieces from Alexis Whitakers recent line?”“Oh, yes, I could hardly restrain myself from jumping up onto the runway and stealing some of those darling shoes”
But anyway, enough about me; the next born was Jeremy. Jeremy is my dearest older brother. He seems to be one of the few in this family who are really able to understand me. Jeremy has a hotel line, which he co-owns with our sister Sandra, who I’ll get to later. Regardless, Jeremy has the looks, the brains, the wealth and the whole package (and he damn well knows it). He doesn’t let the ladies forget it either. I can’t even count how many girlfriends he has in a month. I don’t think he could ever settle down with any one woman. Maybe he should move to a polygamist cult! Aha!
Maria was the fourth born... Maria, Maria, Maria... She always thought she was prettier than me. She might have been at one point but, after mother died she became depressed, and a bit of a hermit. Next thing you know: she’s fat as a circus freak! If there’s one thing to be said about Maria it’s that she never does things in small amounts. If she does something, she does it big! (No pun intended). She moved up into the dreaded ‘plus sized modeling’... and who’s prettier now?
Speaking of not pretty I’m lead right along to Ruthie! Dearest Ruthie always wanted to amount to something big with dreams of stardom... When she failed miserably at everything she became quite disillusioned. She settled down as a secretary and got married to some boring man who she rarely even. How dreadfully boring. I’m pretty sure she resents us all for being so much better off than her.
Next is Russel. Russel was always the scary sibling. The bully, the one who always got his way. He wouldn’t let anything stop him from getting to the top. He is filthy rich and I mean filthy rich! Always porky, he was able to snag a gorgeous Russian woman through his money alone. Or at least I’m assuming it was his money, it’s not like his personality could have gotten him too far. Either way, that tycoon puts the rest of the family to shame, and we are certainly not poor.
Last in line is Sandra. Sandra Whitaker... Normally the oldest sibling bullies the rest... but she was always so very insecure and so easy to devastate. All of us younger siblings would put her through hell. I guess it was awfully shitty of us… she’s still pretty bitter. Set her off the wrong way and you’re in trouble! Being the hot-headed redhead she is it doesn’t take too much, either. She is very successful anyway, co-owning the hotel line with Jeremy...
And that is our family! So who on earth could have killed our dear daddy? It’s not like most of us needed the money... and the ones who do wouldn’t have the guts to actually pull of such a grand murder scheme anyway. So who decided to off the old man is the question? Who slammed the poker over the back of his head and shoved him into the burning hot coals of the fire? And even more frighteningly... why?
Excuse the odd formating... it's the fault of blogger.
So what do you think? Does it have potential? It's a little cliche but...
Also each character was essentially based off of one of the 7 deadly sins.
I figured that'd be an effective way to establish each character and their primary motives both in general and motives for the crime.
But yeah. How can I improve it? Could it make for an interesting story?
Be honest!
I ended up extending it and deciding I liked it better as the launching point for a story.
There was an odd smell in the air. I couldn’t place exactly what it was, but it was strong enough to pull me from the climax of the book I was reading (and it was a really good book – a murder mystery! How ironic.). It was as though someone decided to dump a pile of garbage into the oven. It smelt like something was burning, cooking... and there was an unpleasant sweetness underneath the scent... So, I got up from my seat my room and walked down to the kitchen. I found it empty, however, and the smell grew stronger as I headed down the hall, towards the family room. That is where I looked in on the fireplace, burning brilliantly; the room was dulled with a toxic dark smoke. Sticking out awkwardly from the fireplace, looking odd and otherworldly as if from a twisted nightmare, was a pair of legs.
It started just like any traditional Christmas night, except much more decadent and pricey, of course. Our family sat around the dazzling Christmas tree, laughing and talking, cheeks rosy with the warmth of eggnog and wine. We were all sprawled out on the beautiful upholstered couches, lit by the toasty fire and looking out through the frosted windows. Through the foggy glass we were all able to see the ‘Winter Wonderland’ they sing about. The huge property was covered in snow, like a layer of crystal covering everything in sight. Despite the outward beauty of the snow falling gently, the reality was much less appealing. Everything underneath the coat of snow was dying, the chilling cold piercing anything that decided to step out into this unfortunate weather. The view outside seemed to mirror the one within. We were all dressed up, looking our best and our bellies were filled to the brim with decadent amounts of turkey. Still, for all our hearty laughs and light pleasantries the façade was underlined by a heavy tension between us. This same tension is what caused everything to explode into chaos when we found, instead of chestnuts, our fathers body roasting in the fireplace.
I’ll start by telling you about me and my siblings. The youngest one is little brother Joshua Whitaker. The let-down of the family, the jobless leech on society, the alcohol dependant, lazy, dirty slob. Must I go on? No, talking about him has me feeling fatigued already.
Next up is me. Sure, my family may be very well known in the districts of business and power, but I’m putting my family out there in the world of fashion! My fashion lines are beginning to create rifts that can be seen around the world! I am the main model of my fashion lines of course. My goal is to push myself out into the public’s eye. You know, make myself a household name... or at least a household name in the fashionable families, the ones who matter. In their fur coats and leather thigh highs they’ll be saying;“Have you seen the latest fashion pieces from Alexis Whitakers recent line?”“Oh, yes, I could hardly restrain myself from jumping up onto the runway and stealing some of those darling shoes”
But anyway, enough about me; the next born was Jeremy. Jeremy is my dearest older brother. He seems to be one of the few in this family who are really able to understand me. Jeremy has a hotel line, which he co-owns with our sister Sandra, who I’ll get to later. Regardless, Jeremy has the looks, the brains, the wealth and the whole package (and he damn well knows it). He doesn’t let the ladies forget it either. I can’t even count how many girlfriends he has in a month. I don’t think he could ever settle down with any one woman. Maybe he should move to a polygamist cult! Aha!
Maria was the fourth born... Maria, Maria, Maria... She always thought she was prettier than me. She might have been at one point but, after mother died she became depressed, and a bit of a hermit. Next thing you know: she’s fat as a circus freak! If there’s one thing to be said about Maria it’s that she never does things in small amounts. If she does something, she does it big! (No pun intended). She moved up into the dreaded ‘plus sized modeling’... and who’s prettier now?
Speaking of not pretty I’m lead right along to Ruthie! Dearest Ruthie always wanted to amount to something big with dreams of stardom... When she failed miserably at everything she became quite disillusioned. She settled down as a secretary and got married to some boring man who she rarely even. How dreadfully boring. I’m pretty sure she resents us all for being so much better off than her.
Next is Russel. Russel was always the scary sibling. The bully, the one who always got his way. He wouldn’t let anything stop him from getting to the top. He is filthy rich and I mean filthy rich! Always porky, he was able to snag a gorgeous Russian woman through his money alone. Or at least I’m assuming it was his money, it’s not like his personality could have gotten him too far. Either way, that tycoon puts the rest of the family to shame, and we are certainly not poor.
Last in line is Sandra. Sandra Whitaker... Normally the oldest sibling bullies the rest... but she was always so very insecure and so easy to devastate. All of us younger siblings would put her through hell. I guess it was awfully shitty of us… she’s still pretty bitter. Set her off the wrong way and you’re in trouble! Being the hot-headed redhead she is it doesn’t take too much, either. She is very successful anyway, co-owning the hotel line with Jeremy...
And that is our family! So who on earth could have killed our dear daddy? It’s not like most of us needed the money... and the ones who do wouldn’t have the guts to actually pull of such a grand murder scheme anyway. So who decided to off the old man is the question? Who slammed the poker over the back of his head and shoved him into the burning hot coals of the fire? And even more frighteningly... why?
Excuse the odd formating... it's the fault of blogger.
So what do you think? Does it have potential? It's a little cliche but...
Also each character was essentially based off of one of the 7 deadly sins.
I figured that'd be an effective way to establish each character and their primary motives both in general and motives for the crime.
But yeah. How can I improve it? Could it make for an interesting story?
Be honest!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Week 3 posts
I like to see the consistency of posting-you guys are spreading out the comments and the posts. It's great to see movie reviews, and music reviews but, I particularly like to see peopole post work and ask specific questions to get feedback. Keep it up!
With my lightning bolts a glowin' I can see where I am going
The day is steadily approaching that I shall transcend space and time, evolve from this simplistic carbon based life form state and experience the greatest night of my life. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit....but seriously, October 16th is nearly here and for those of you unaware this is when Where the Wild Things hits theatres.
I've been anticipating this movie ever since the trailer originally came out a while ago.
Full of wonder, curiousty, triumph and imaganation Where The Wild Things is a staple to ones childhood. If you have never read this book, I'm sorry to say, but you have deprived of extreme excellence. Now seeing that this is being turned into a film, I'm beyond excited.
On top of this, the movie is in the hands of a Spike Jonze, who has done a wonderful job of animating this childhood story into a beautiful on screen feature film. The trailer kills me everytime, and I absolutely adore it. Another amazing thing about the trailer, is that it features Arcade Fire, an amazing Canadian band, that plays with pure passion. The movie itself features music from Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which is great, because from what has been leaked so far, she has the wonderful ability of complimenting this movie with a soundtrack that fits so perfectly, it's unbelievable.
The film itself, looks phenomenal. Bringing us back to a simpler time, where we'd play make believe, and dress up as we pretend to save the world. When we didn't care about what society saw us as. The film exhibits the innocence of a child's mind, and how beautiful the imagination can be.
Where the Wild Things Are is about Max, a young boy who is sent to bed without supper then escapes into a dark forest and makes his way to the land of the Wild Things. While there, is crowned king, and if you've read the book, you know the rest of the story.
If you haven't read the book, it doesn't matter. See this film. Honestly, the kid that plays Max is adorable, the monsters are amazing, the music is awesome and the film is just going to be spectacular.
I've been anticipating this movie ever since the trailer originally came out a while ago.
Full of wonder, curiousty, triumph and imaganation Where The Wild Things is a staple to ones childhood. If you have never read this book, I'm sorry to say, but you have deprived of extreme excellence. Now seeing that this is being turned into a film, I'm beyond excited.
On top of this, the movie is in the hands of a Spike Jonze, who has done a wonderful job of animating this childhood story into a beautiful on screen feature film. The trailer kills me everytime, and I absolutely adore it. Another amazing thing about the trailer, is that it features Arcade Fire, an amazing Canadian band, that plays with pure passion. The movie itself features music from Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which is great, because from what has been leaked so far, she has the wonderful ability of complimenting this movie with a soundtrack that fits so perfectly, it's unbelievable.
The film itself, looks phenomenal. Bringing us back to a simpler time, where we'd play make believe, and dress up as we pretend to save the world. When we didn't care about what society saw us as. The film exhibits the innocence of a child's mind, and how beautiful the imagination can be.
Where the Wild Things Are is about Max, a young boy who is sent to bed without supper then escapes into a dark forest and makes his way to the land of the Wild Things. While there, is crowned king, and if you've read the book, you know the rest of the story.
If you haven't read the book, it doesn't matter. See this film. Honestly, the kid that plays Max is adorable, the monsters are amazing, the music is awesome and the film is just going to be spectacular.
Run for the Cure
Today, was the Run for the Cure in Oshawa. The event started at 9 am, with the opening ceremonies, and was followed by the run that started at 10 am.
Its not a stretch to say that this run, changed my life. At the beginning of the day, i saw this as an other fundraiser, to raise money for research or to help those suffering with breast cancer, but what i didn't expect is to be truly moved my the power of this event.
People for all walks of life coming together to support a cause that is near and dear to all of our hearts.
Everyone of us has a cancer story, whether we know someone that was diagnosed, or have had a family member that battled it, or you simply have seen all the cancer support commercials on TV. Every one can relate to this event on some emotional level.
I myself , had a very dear friend of mine die of breast cancer two years ago, and i ran in her memory on the Teena's Ice Angels team this year.
I'm still in awe of the power and strength of the people how ran this event. They organized well over 3500 people. (i know because i was number 3524) and never failed to make it feel like a close, intimate event between friends. Every detail was planned down to the exact starting times and performances along the route by Eastdale students.
The one thing that separated this event for me from other events is that it wasn't a sad reminder of an all too real disease, but a celebration of life and survival, of straight and team work. And of coarse remembering those that we have lost.
If you have never ran in Run for the Cure before, i must encourage you to get out and support the cause. Its only one morning that you have to get up before noon on a sunday.This day will change you life and give you unwavering hope for the future.
If you have been apart of the Run for the Cure event before, please tell me, or what your inspiration was for running.
Its not a stretch to say that this run, changed my life. At the beginning of the day, i saw this as an other fundraiser, to raise money for research or to help those suffering with breast cancer, but what i didn't expect is to be truly moved my the power of this event.
People for all walks of life coming together to support a cause that is near and dear to all of our hearts.
Everyone of us has a cancer story, whether we know someone that was diagnosed, or have had a family member that battled it, or you simply have seen all the cancer support commercials on TV. Every one can relate to this event on some emotional level.
I myself , had a very dear friend of mine die of breast cancer two years ago, and i ran in her memory on the Teena's Ice Angels team this year.
I'm still in awe of the power and strength of the people how ran this event. They organized well over 3500 people. (i know because i was number 3524) and never failed to make it feel like a close, intimate event between friends. Every detail was planned down to the exact starting times and performances along the route by Eastdale students.
The one thing that separated this event for me from other events is that it wasn't a sad reminder of an all too real disease, but a celebration of life and survival, of straight and team work. And of coarse remembering those that we have lost.
If you have never ran in Run for the Cure before, i must encourage you to get out and support the cause. Its only one morning that you have to get up before noon on a sunday.This day will change you life and give you unwavering hope for the future.
If you have been apart of the Run for the Cure event before, please tell me, or what your inspiration was for running.
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