http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php A writing forum, dedicated to creative writing, where writers can post short stories and poetry, enter writing contests, read author interviews, and discuss writing. en Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:01:54 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.writingforums.org/images/wf/misc/rss.jpg http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2999 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:52:31 GMT It's as if tears heat themselves
evaporating before scolding cheeks;
peach pink and bloodied red.
I can still feel, the tug of your fingertips
against my unlady like hair ; tangled, and split at the ends.
You sigh, you are tired. Routine leaves you no hours, to sleep well,
for others to have your nightmares for you.
You worry you can't change yourself-
I know how you feel, we're the same.

Some, if not, most of the time,
I just wish fortune would twist her sail,
so the gale would marry the breeze ;
and turn water from the hail.
Perhaps then we'd both have time, space,
to breathe without having to think-
who, what, when,
where and how,
to do it again. ]]> Eoz Eanj http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2999 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2987 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:12:12 GMT I’ve lost everything when your footsteps abandon the room. When the door closes, and the shadows still and fade. Like pumpice; glittering... I’ve lost everything
when your footsteps abandon the room.
When the door closes,
and the shadows still and fade.

Like pumpice; glittering concrete,
seeping out as red-water.
This heart has always been
like stone in solitude;
but now, I feel it cracking.

It breathes.

You’ve left your body
as a scent in my sheets,
and happiness, within dissipating syllables;
I hold onto them, but I am still not with you.

So,
like temporary heart-break,
like a half broken
porcelain doll, as the glue dries ;
I wait for your voice, across the other line -

‘Please don’t hurt me, like the rest.
Nothing tires me more than worry' ;
‘You are a worrier,’
‘I know. I am sorry.’ ]]> Eoz Eanj http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2987 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2984 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:56:36 GMT Alright, so my friends finaly talked me into going public with some of my writings because they tell me have a talent. Now its time I took this so... Alright, so my friends finaly talked me into going public with some of my writings because they tell me have a talent. Now its time I took this so called "talent" to the next level, and get bashed around by some strangers to see if I really have what it takes :P.
When I was younger I started writing short stories, and slowly went from short stories to poetry. When I first started writing in general I was quite young, considering I'm only 17 now. But I love to write, always have and hopefully always will. I look forward to what I can gain from this experience :) ]]> rfriesen http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2984 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2967 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:27:56 GMT Just something I wrote on the train back home today. I'm currently taking poetry at uni- it seems to have pushed me to write more.

Polyester high-beams, taste,
something of fire-retardant,
and feel as if dried-mucus,
crackled like a jaundiced boil.
Voices, jittering, political complaints,
superficial critique of the economy-
Monotonous, monotone, like a phone call.
If only they were more like a mirror,
shattered and twinkling brightly-
that would capture my attention.
Earphones nestled, close to eardrums,
fingertips rolling, over and over,
but I can still hear, the booming,
of disenchanted single-mothers
and the mutterings of the medicated.
It seems, they only speak to themselves,
their lips fumbling over syllables,
hands opened with stressed-contractions-
I know, I know, what you're saying is important,
but I, do not want to listen. ]]> Eoz Eanj http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2967 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2962 Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:31:26 GMT I feel certain that, with just a little thought and careful planning, you too could create such a blogroll. Find others who share your particular... I feel certain that, with just a little thought and careful planning, you too could create such a blogroll. Find others who share your particular blogging interest, hobby, or craft. Politics, anyone? Cooks love recipes, especially those of other cooks that can be shared, tried, and reviewed. How about a reference to all your fellow band members at school? It's a great place to keep the URL's for blogs of fellow family members, and a great way to put that Holiday Letter on the internet!

Perhaps you would like to post a resume, or chaps from your latest spec fic WIP for potential agents, editors, or even *gasp!* publishers to have available to read when considering your talents.

The list is endless, but you should narrow the possibilities to YOUR blog's function, purpose and design. It's not what gets included that should jump out at you here; it's what you choose NOT to include that will help create your blog's personality.

Every blog is different, but not every blog is unique. I would just ask you to consider that for a moment, okay?

For some writers/bloggers (those who create, maintain and grow a web log) it is not so much a wish to be unique, but to be able to vent! They speak a problem, and along comes someone else who says they have the same problem. (Look at this site!) Sports, entertainment, politics, families, hobbies, work...these are but a very few of the possibilities for creating a blog.

Your Blog roll should reflect the unique attributes of yourself, others, and your subject. Today, there is a real movement afoot to equate bloggers with "journalists".

We should be cautious about that. Journalists have a very high standard for truth, and non-biased reportage which requires a very strict set of rules for every word under their name or banner (Mast Head). If you wish your blog to be of that quality, and you are willing to do the work (for free) for the long-term, that's perfectly alright. There are many useful tools we can discuss here that cover Journalism, and Journalists. It can be a very painful, excruciating, and thankless job, and the pay is very low. I simply wish to caution you to use the greatest care when setting out to blog in a truly Journalistic manner.

Prayer Journals, corporate blogs, specialty or industry blogs, hobby or special interest blogs, or personal interest blogs are all fully legitimate types of blogs. Let your blogroll help define the scope and purpose of your blog. Your friends and readers will deeply appreciate it. It's something to think about as we begin the process of creating your new blog, or enhancing your current blog(s).


For now, try setting up your own Blogroll by your new blog. I put mine on a custom page. My blogroll is that important to me, and yours will become that important to you. I don't want my primary tool lost down the side of a navbar or menu set. So I put it at the very top, with instant access to use or change. My blogroll changes regularly, as we will see.

You can do that, or create a blogroll on the side of your blog (if your blog is posted here. I suggest that you do that, for our sharing and learning purposes.) If you wish (and I hope you do), post a comment linking to your blogroll. I'd love to see what you've done with it. Ask questions, make comments, and share what you already know!

I'll see you next time. Until then, ]]> kybudman http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2962 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2916 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:52:06 GMT (Taking a break between play throughs so excuse the brevity:)) Ever since it was first announced i have been waiting for this game with a most... (Taking a break between play throughs so excuse the brevity:))

Ever since it was first announced i have been waiting for this game with a most euphoric anticipation. After playing the first Mass Effect (ME:p) i was totally psyched about this game and what direction Shepard's story would take. This space opera takes everything that made the first game awesome and added alot of new stuff, but more on that later.

Story
The story begins not long after the events of Mass Effect take place. While on patrol the Normandy, and its commanding officer, Commander Shepard, comes under attack by an unknown assailant. The ship is destroyed in the assault and Shepard's lifeless body floats on through space.

Commander Shepard's body is located and retrieved by Cerberus who implement what they call the "lazarus" project bringing the once dead commander back to life and active duty. The process has taken two years and a new threat has emerged in the galaxy. The Collectors are attacking human colonies and harvesting the colonists for what ever reason and it is up to you as the protagonist to find out what they are up to.

[N.B. for spoiler reasons and the fact that the experience is subtly unique for each individual i will not elaborate on this:cool:]

Gameplay
Mass Effect has recieved a gameplay overhaul in this installment. Since this is an RPG your character will level up after attaining enough skill points. Each level you attain gives you more health, improved shields and access to new and more efficient weapons (Special mention for the the new M-920 Cain:D It's awesome). A big part of leveling up is the use of your skill points which you use to upgrade your character's particular skill and add new abilities to the already existing ones. While this is all standard fair in RPGs, Bioware has stripped away the cluttered inventory system used in the first game, opting for a more streamlined approach which is easy to access and never clutters. Your ammunition and powers are all available for use at the touch of a button whilst in battle and removes the previous cumbersome duty of opening the inventory screen to adapt yopur weapons and ammo. Hardcore RPG fans may feel a little disappointed by the amount of items removed from the skills and leveling up portions.

Battles in ME2 are a joy to play and can sometimes turn into brutal firefights. Shooting in ME2 is notably more exhilarating than before and squad commands are given on the fly for immediate tactical changes and precision. A cover system has been implemented into the game as well as rebounding health and you no longer have limitless amounts of ammunition which is now strewn across battle set pieces for you to pick up and utilize. Aside from that a few new powers have been added to the game which will make some people squirm with glee as they pummel their enemies into oblivion. The onscreen HUD is notably less distracting with only essential information such as your squad and quick slots for abilities showing their faces here.

The conversation system is pretty much the same with only one new feature to talk about. The interrupt. This enables you to interrupt someone who is speaking, not speaking, in action, about to do an action etc. with interesting results. It is especially useful for prying information out of reluctant witnesses:D. The system works with both the paragon and renegade values enabling good and bad interrupts.

Exploration in ME2 has changed too. No more will you rove around worlds in the physics challenged Mako, instead you will spend a great deal of time scanning planets for resources to implement upgrades. It must be noted though that this task is excessively boring and time consuming, slowing down the pace of the game considerably. It is a necessary evil because no resources=no upgrades.

A few other things; for those that played the first ME you can import your character's saves and start off with a bonus in a number of areas as well as enjoying the reactions of your decisions of the first game. Character creation is pretty much the same with few new changes that will stun you. Load screens have become much faster with some segments even showing you where you're going and how long before you re-enter the game.

Graphics
ME2 immediately feels better and the looking part is up to the standard. One can immediately see the darker colour palette used for this game and understand that this is a darker storyline where alot of bad things could happen. Texture popping is a rarity and there has been massive improvements for character models with the somewhat incomplete removal of the putty textures all humans seem to have. A big revelation is the actual animations and how smoothly they seem to come about. Your character will experience an array of emotions throughout the game which are adequately and sometimes shockingly portrayed with lovely realism. Overall the game looks and plays much better than it's predecessor.

Bioware have delivered a game that is no doubt entertaining and worth the $60 and the 20-35 hours invested in each play through. You will be surprised, shocked, angered and sadned by the impact your Shepard will make in this game. The varied endings will have you on your seat till the last moment of triumph or in the case of ME2, Commander Shepard's death which would be reflected in the following installment. If you get the chance to buy this game i highly recommend it.

Souji's Score: 9.5\10 ]]> soujiroseta http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2916 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2911 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:51:14 GMT "Invitation of the Queen" has been accepted by prozine Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

The brutal resistance of an occupied nation, a beautiful woman, a friend's jealousy, a book that should have been burned--these things will change Ander Leuhovesen's life forever.

I don't think any summary of mine could really do this story justice. Among other things, it was very interesting to write because its narrator, Leuhovesen's friend Hary, is...well, 'jerk' isn't nearly strong enough, 'racist bigot' doesn't cover all of it, an any word that does cover all of it would be a spoiler. And yet he can be surprisingly good-hearted to the right people. To say I enjoyed writing about him would sound awful, but I'm glad that I managed to pull it off, and more than a little proud. ]]> MumblingSage http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2911 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2910 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:12:52 GMT I don't know about you, but I've always viewed slush piles as evil places that wanted to eat my manuscript and spit out a rejection.

But, after reading the below article I have found out that slush pile readers aren't really my enemy and there are editors that do want me to succeed.

Also noted is how you will be told if the editor would like to see the same story again. She basically says, unless she asks you to resubmit something, don't do it.

Link to article:
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/blog/...aggie-jamison/

Hope this helps answer some misconceptions for you as well. ]]> becca http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2910 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2905 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:01:43 GMT . . . Or if you prefer a more blunt metaphor . . . The Double-Edged Sword. I heard a man say on the radio one day that “hope is the denial of... . . . Or if you prefer a more blunt metaphor . . . The Double-Edged Sword.

I heard a man say on the radio one day that “hope is the denial of reality.” A quick google search revealed Margaret Weis’ fantasy character, Raistlin, the evil magi, as the original author of the quote. Regardless of the source, the words struck a chord with me as soon as I heard them. A thousand fragments of perception merged into a classic “big picture” in my teenage mind as I sat there in my arm chair, cradling a cup of cold coffee in both hands, stunned by the epiphany bullet.

It’s a great example of hearing the right thing at the right time and being forever changed. I was ready for the revelation, you see.

Two years prior, I had believed in the mythology of crystals. I could pass my hand over a crystal and feel the energy emanating from it—it felt like a minor electric shock, consistent and unrelenting until I moved my hand away. I could “program” a crystal for dream recall and remember a dozen dreams in vivid detail upon waking, whereas I would normally recall only one or two at most and with a fraction of the clarity. I could even ease the mind of a stressed-out friend by secretly placing a crystal, programmed for the task, within his bedroom.

But crystal manipulation was the least of my powers. I could see the future in my dreams, telepathically influence the actions of those around me, read minds, travel out of my body, speak to the dead. . . Yes, I was quite the psychic fraud. I fooled many people—myself especially.

Eventually, I came to realise (I’ll not bore you with the how) that my seemingly profound feats and experiences were, in fact, dreadfully mundane. I familiarised myself with the relevant sciences, and I have to say, the understanding I achieved was very empowering.

I discovered the awesome potential of placebo, along with its limitations, and dumped the crystals. I can now recall my dreams with the same clarity, but without the crutches. I can even cause myself to experience that electric sensation I once felt from the crystals, at any time, and anywhere on my body.

I learned about mentalism (telepathy, talking to the dead, etc.) and refined my manipulative skills.

I came to the obvious conclusion that my few dreams that seemed prophetic were no more than a demonstration of statistical probability. I had thousands of dreams that meant nothing and caused no feeling of déjà vu. What would have been really strange is if I had no “prophetic” dreams at all. If you were to be subjected to a rapid slideshow consisting of ten thousand common images, and then witnessed a few of them the following day in your normal routine, it would not be a fantastic coincidence. Dreams are much the same.

As one with an appreciation for science, I am now ten times the psychic I was before—because that’s what good psychics are. I have come to realise there are two kinds of mystics in the world—those who are deluded (usually less skilled, because they don’t understand what they’re doing) and those who deliberately scam the gullible with good science and psychological manipulation.

But what is the danger of hope? Hard-nosed critic that I am, people sometimes ask me why I would want to deprive others of their comforts.

Hope/delusion nearly always comes with a hidden price. And hope is a vital first step toward delusion, so I tend to consider the two to be one and the same. You can’t have delusion without hope, and so rather than writing about delusions directly, which most of us can understand the potential danger of, I’m homing in on the source here.

My stepfather also walked the spiritual path, much as I did. Unfortunately, he invested a great deal more money into it than I did. He is a “certified” Inca shaman, a master of the Malkeizadek (sp?) Method and a reiki healer. From the many classes and workshops he has paid to attend, he could tell you everything you could possibly want to know about chakras and the mysterious higher power that manipulates space and time to show him many licence plates with three numbers in sequence.

I asked him if he had ever bothered to investigate the relevant statistics to determine whether or not his experiences were even unusual. He said that stats don’t mean anything to him. I told him that was a blatant lie. If every licence plate in the world had three numbers in sequence, he wouldn’t think it in any way significant to see those plates everywhere. He assumes divine intervention simply because he doesn’t think there are very many such plates around, and therefore it’s unusual beyond coincidence that he would see them all the time.

Logic is the bane of mutated hopes . . . and the best friend you’ll ever have. To demonstrate the real danger of hope/delusion, I’ll use my stepfather again.

Three years ago, he and my mother invested $300,000 into a business venture. It was a lot more money than they had to spend and they put up their house as collateral. Now they are barely surviving. What seemed like a sure thing, their ticket to a life of luxury as multimillionaires, has turned out to be the worst scam they could ever have fallen for.

This happened because they have a weakness for gambing. They are aware of this, and they keep a leash on it. They would never go out and buy enough lottery tickets to bankrupt themselves. But a business venture . . . Well, now, that's different. Or is it?

Back when they were still basking in the glow of fantasy, I knew they had been scammed. I knew the **** would hit the fan long before it ever did. The scam was obvious. I don’t say this to stroke my own ego—I’m aware of the fact that even I, cynical sceptic that I am, (well, that's what people call me, anyway) inevitably have my own seedling hopes and full-blown delusions. I say this to make a point. Had they been thinking clearly, had they been standing with both feet planted on the ground, they would never have been taken in. I wouldn’t have fallen for a scam like that, because I’m always suspicious of things that seem too good to be true. Rest assured, I’ll fall victim to different hopes, and then you can laugh.;)

The scammers knew their type, knew exactly what to show them and exactly what to tell them. You should know that my parents are far from stupid. It all comes down to psychology. It is unreasonable to assume that every person who falls for what you recognise as an obvious scam, is simply stupid. You stab yourself in the foot that way. To make mock and laugh at the seeming foolishness of others is to sentence one’s self to a similar fate. Instead, it’s essential to understand the truth of this, because in doing so, maybe you can identify the knife (or knives) at your own back. We all have at least one. It seems to be a universal human failing. I think I’ve found my vulnerability—or at least one—and that is what inspired me to write this blog.

But the most critical danger isn’t external. When it comes to our fondest hopes, we’re all just drunks stumbling in the dark, easy targets for any of a million potential predators, but more apt to stumble and break our own necks before anyone else has the chance to do it for us. Picture the cancer victim who rejects chemotherapy, thinking he can cure himself with his mind, only to die a very slow and painful death.

Such a delusion presents a different kind of danger as well. The man bases his conclusion on reports of others who claim to have done it. He ignores the millions of people who have tried to cure themselves of various ailments in similar ways and failed. He somehow equates an abysmal success rate with absolute proof. That’s the kind of absurd logical failure that unrestrained hope can lead us to.

The only reason we make any progress at all is because there are people who are sceptical. For all we know, those who seemed to cure themselves may have been eating the cure. For all we know, the universal cure for cancer could be as simple as a change of diet. But we never will know unless someone takes a realistic approach—the scientific approach—to exposing the truth of the matter.

I’m sure the message here must seem depressing and pessimistic to some, but it really shouldn’t be. Hope stems from a lack of appreciation for what we have. It is typically nothing more than the manifestation of avarice and greed. We want more. Why do we want more? If you’re reading this, I’ll assume that you probably live in a country where freedom of choice and equal opportunity is valued. You probably have friends and/or family who care about you more than you realise. You probably live a life that many less fortunate people would kill for. Owning a computer automatically puts you in that category.

So, why do we always want more? Why can’t we just be happy with what we have and the way things are? The basis for hope strikes me as more disturbing and depressing than my seeming pessimism. Those who are ever hopeful are ever wanting, and those who are ever wanting are never fully satisfied or content. My (illogical) sense of morality, combined with a bit of critical thinking, tells me that hope can very well be labelled evil. After all, isn’t greed one of the seven deadly? ]]> Kas http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2905 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2901 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:45:27 GMT Mrs. Stone Spotted a Puma Mrs. Stone had spent a whole morning plucking blackberries from the tree. It was nearly lunch time. Feeling a little... Mrs. Stone Spotted a Puma

Mrs. Stone had spent a whole morning plucking blackberries from the
tree. It was nearly lunch time. Feeling a little hungry, she decided to
go home and eat something.

Just at the time she was about to get off, she heard a cat like noisy in
the bushes . Following the sound, she found a big cat crawling and
looking right at her five yards away. She knew that it wasn't a cat,
it's MORE THAN a cat -- a puma. The animal suddenly moved. Fearing that
the puma would be able to attack her, Mrs. Stone dropped her basket and
shouted for help. Seemingly frightened by the shout, the animal ran away
and disappeared in the bushes.

Mrs. Stone picked up her basket and ran all the way home. She told her
neighbours that she had just come across a puma, but nobody believed
her. She also telephoned the police but they thought the woman was
crazy.

====================
Any comments are appreciated.
Thank you for your time. ]]> Dasn http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2901 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2900 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:43:17 GMT A Sticky Business Our vicar is always raising money for one reason or another, but it seems he has never managed to get enough to have the church... A Sticky Business

Our vicar is always raising money for one reason or another, but it
seems he has never managed to get enough to have the church clock
repaired. The clock has stopped working for years and no one could
explain why.

One day, the vicar climbed up into the clock tower wanting fixing the
clock by himself. To his surprise, the clock had been invaded by bees
and was full of honey and wax. As the vicar was scared of bees, he got
back to the ground and hired a beekeeper to help him. When the queen bee
was removed, the other bees followed it flying out of the clock tower.
Then the vicar clean the things off.

Although it has been years since the clock got stuck, it starts working
now.

====================
Any comments are appreciated.
Thank you for your time. ]]> Dasn http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2900 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2899 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:58:39 GMT The snow crunched under her feet as she walked. Why was it that every evil group, organization or species had to place their bases in the most... The snow crunched under her feet as she walked. Why was it that every evil group, organization or species had to place their bases in the most inhospitable environments? Couldn’t they, just for once, put them in the middle of a paradise?

“Skipper,” Loving asked. “Have you ever wondered what you’ll do once the Bio’s are gone?”

It was a good question, Kate realized. Just what did she want to do with her life? Was there a place in Intelligence for someone who just didn’t have the desire to kill or do the dirty work necessary? Furthermore, would Reyes even allow her to leave if she wanted?

Kate shrugged. “Honestly, Lieutenant, I haven’t thought about it much.”

“I don’t see you staying in Intelligence,” Loving said. “I see how you feel about killing and death.”

Am I that transparent? Kate found herself shaking her head.

She cocked an eyebrow. “You’re quite perceptive.”

“If one keeps there eyes open,” Loving explained, “You can learn a lot about a person. Skipper, you’re the most dangerous person I have ever met but deep down you wish you weren’t.”

“On Necko, there’s many things you wish you weren’t,” Kate murmured.

“Permission to speak candidly, Skipper?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“You should leave the Fleet, Skipper,” Loving said. “Just retire and disappear. If we stop the Bio’s from coming through the Gate, then it will be many years before they return. When that happens, let someone else deal with them; you’ve given all that you have for too long.”

Kate chuckled without mirth. “You are wise and perceptive, Lieutenant. Is there anything you aren’t?”

“I can’t cook for ****,”

“Don’t feel bad, Lieutenant,” Kate said. “I can’t either.”

They crested a hill and Kate came to a stop. At the edge of her vision was a squat structure. The building was almost invisible, its roof barely above the snow drifts. However, despite the near whiteout conditions, flying devices burned bright in her enhanced vision.

“Get down!” Kate hissed as they dropped to their stomachs in the snow.

A buzzing sound passed by overhead and moved away. Kate rolled onto her back, rifle at the ready, her eyes tracking the source of the noise. What the hell was that, she wondered, an aerial drone of some sort or another cybernetic killing machine?

The device flew off into the snow and Kate started to let her breath back out when it turned back around. With a curse, she lifted the rifle into a firing position. Buzzing filled the air as it grew closer, and this time it was closer to the ground. As it emerged from a snow squall, twin whirling laser blades were visible-and it was heading straight for Loving!

“Don’t move!” Kate snapped as she pulled the trigger.

Even the sound of the wind couldn’t contain the roar of the combat rifle. It kicked back against Kate’s arms as it discharged several 20-millimeter phosphor rounds. Each of the bullets tore into the device and it exploded, covering the snow in flaming wreckage.

Loving rolled over and looked at her. “Jesus! What the hell was that thing?”

“Some kind of hunter-killer device,” Kate said as she got onto her knees and scanned the area around them. “And there are more around.”

Another hunter-killer appeared in her vision and drew a bead on them. Kate locked in on it with the rifle and blew it from the sky. Burning debris landing in the snow and a gust of wind blew the hood of her parka back.

Raven hair blew everywhere as she scanned the area for more droids. Three more had targeted them and Kate cursed under her breath. Didn’t the Bio’s ever give up? Overkill definitely seemed to be the word for them and it was starting to get very annoying!

“These things don’t give up do they?” Loving asked as she got up onto her knees.

“No, they don’t,” Kate said, “Get down!”

Another hunter-killed emerged from behind a snow bank. Kate let loose a volley of phosphor rounds and the droid exploded as the rifle clicked empty. With a snarl, she removed the empty clip and slammed a loaded one into the gun. Moments later, the other two were destroyed as well.

“And they’re annoying as hell,” She muttered. “That’s the last of them.”

“You really are a dangerous person, Skipper,” Loving said as she got back to her feet.

Kate stood up and ran a gloved hand through her sodden hair. “Never claimed otherwise,”

Loving reached over and pulled the hood of Kate’s parka back over her head. “You forgot something,”

Kate gave the security officer a half-smile. “Too many other things to worry about.”

“I can understand,”

Kate looked at the building again and narrowed her eyes. Inside that structure was their goal. If the two of them were successful, then the Bio’s would be dealt at the very least a crippling blow. However, if things were done correctly and the Gate was destroyed, then that would be a blow that would take the mechanical monstrosities years to recover from.

And fighting them can become someone else’s problem, Kate thought with a sigh.

The storm continued without end as the two women approached. Much to Kate’s surprise, there weren’t other welcoming committee’s waiting for them. Not that the one they had encountered wasn’t enough to stop most people because it was. ]]> captain kate http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2899 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2889 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 23:54:10 GMT In British Columbia (Canada) we have a minimum of three stages to get your drivers license... So the first step is getting your learners permit... In British Columbia (Canada) we have a minimum of three stages to get your drivers license...

So the first step is getting your learners permit (written test)

next you take a driving test with a instructor and when passed you are a new driver.

You must have your New driver status for two years (I believe?)

Well today I got rid of my new driver status. I took a driving test (the second one) and even though I am huge with baby and had crazy nerves....I passed!

Yay me.
Also I took another big step and finally changed my last name to my new married name!!!

It was a very big day for me, and I am just finally glad that it is over and done with.

Now all I have to be nervous about is that pesky child birth.... ]]> wordwizard http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2889 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2888 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:26:06 GMT Rescue A monk took two dogs out for exercise. Suddenly the monk received an emergency that a traveler got lost in the St. Bernard Pass when the... Rescue

A monk took two dogs out for exercise. Suddenly the monk received an
emergency that a traveler got lost in the St. Bernard Pass when the
dogs were playing with each restlessly. A search party was quickly
organized and the monks set out immediately to search for the lost
traveler.

The dogs led the monks through the snow. The weather was extremely
bad: there had been high winds previous night; then the heavy fog came
around now; and the temperature was 20 degrees centigrade below. After
having searched for few hours, they heard cries and knew that they had
got near. A few minutes later, they found a man was trapped under snow.
After having been dragged out by the dogs, he was taken back to the
monastery on a sledge.

At that time, the man was almost unconscious. Having recovered
later, he told the monks what had happened the previous night.

====================
Any comments are appreciated.
Thank you for your time. ]]> Dasn http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2888 http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2887 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:39:29 GMT Is alone
Isn't whole
Can't handle little misfortune
Breaks down every day
Needs attention constantly
Craves attention constantly
Isn't loved
Doesn't love
Is scared to love
Lets people down
Gets let down
Gets ditched for cooler people
Isn't 'cool'
Doesn't know how to act
Is laughed at
Is made fun of
Is ignored
Is 'weird'
Wants more
Isn't happy
Wants to cry forever
Cries at school
Is loved by only my stuffed animals
Plays video games to feel better
Is isolated
Is yelled at
Is nagged on
Locks herself in her room
Is losing everyone she loves
Is losing her independence
Needs people
Needs reassurance
Is unloved by her brother
Needs love
Is lacking social ability
Is in pain
Can't heal
Is afraid
Procrastinates
Isn't motivated
Is losing interest in everything
Occasionally wants to die
Is always stressed out
Can't talk about things
Can't open up
Is vulnerable
Puts on a mask every morning
Puts armor on every morning
Has to convince herself that today will be better
Is disappointed when it isn't ]]> Un-substantial http://www.writingforums.org/blog.php?b=2887