Your mortality is a thing with which you must accept, become accustomed to and intimately familiar with until it becomes a part of you, but you must also learn not to dwell upon it.
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PROLOGUE
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."
-Lord Acton, British Historian
Originally part of a letter written to Bishop Mandell Creighton by British Lord Acton in 1887, the above and widely known quotation highlights a tragic aspect of human rule: the pursuit of absolute power. The insatiable desire for absolute power by various political rulers has known few bounds. Centuries of human rule by some of the world’s great empires such as Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Greece (Macedonia) and Rome attest to this indisputably grim reality. Hans Morgenthau, considered by various leading authorities to be among the world’s most renowned political scientists, expounded in his critically acclaimed book Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace: “At the bottom of disputes that entail the risk of war, there is a tension between the desire to preserve the existing distribution of power and the desire to overthrow it.”
Throughout human history, many among the world’s powerful elite have employed nefarious and brutally repressive methods-in addition to political, economic and military action-in their attempts to achieve absolute power, as well as to remain in power. Sadly, the vanquished in many of these military conflicts, which at times comprised entire populations, were afforded only two choices: obedience or death. Often, those who were in positions of great power had adamantly claimed that such actions-despite the insidious brutality of these actions-were ultimately for the “good” of these vanquished people. Evidently, those who were at great risk of losing their freedoms, land and ultimately their very lives for this so-called goodness concluded otherwise. As history has often attested, oppressed people, with fierce zeal, fought back against their brutal and merciless oppressors. This unfortunate situation is just as pervasive in other inhabited regions of the galaxy. Deadly Artifact, a time-progressive novel, confronts this troubling issue at various social and political levels. In essence, the actions of two individuals will form the underlying basis for this unfolding and highly emotional drama. Slovas Theamas Larian is this first of these two individuals. Eminently skilled, Slovas is employed by the most powerful corporation on his home world.
Strikingly handsome, highly educated, exceedingly articulate and fiercely aggressive, he is considered by many people within the scientific community to be the most brilliant physicist in his field. Slovas’ in-depth knowledge of quantum physics has made him highly esteemed among his colleagues, as well as the absolute envy among other physicists throughout the world. Presently, he is heading one of the most revolutionary and highly perilous experimental projects that the scientific world has ever known. The successful implementation of this experimental project, via Slovas’ expert direction, will enable the military to become the most powerful force in the galaxy. Interestingly, the second individual, a female exoplanetary archaeologist, is determined to stop Slovas. In time, a fiercely contentious struggle between Slovas and this young female will trigger worldwide social-political turmoil.
The root cause of this bizarre situation gives us a compelling reason to step back, as it were, and examine closely some of the key historical events that gave rise to this present situation; a situation that will inevitably become one of the most devastating conflicts in this planet’s entire history. As such, Deadly Artifact involves numerous multinational, multilingual, multicultural and multiethnic planetary civilizations located throughout the galaxy. As you progress in this story, you will encounter unusual situations. During certain scenes, you will be transported into the distant past while in other scenes; you will be transported into the distant future before being brought back into the present. Yet, these past, present and future scenes are all part of the very same story. Bold-lettered date markers will indicate where and when you will be in the stream of time. Thus, you will “engage” in conflict with the akerians of planet Mewau. You will “establish” diplomatic relations with Surăvian government officials of the People’s Union of Surăvia, one of 160 nations located on planet Akrosia. Be aware that some officials within the Venquost United Delegations Complex have given dire warnings about the Surăvian military.
Located on the planet Harcon, Akrosia’s interplanetary neighbor, the Venquost United Delegations Complex is a government agency created to maintain interplanetary peace, a most difficult venture to say the very least. Speaking in behalf of these concerned individuals, Arrak Naluras, the Pratovian or supreme ruler of the Harconian nation of Eusoria, have warned that unsuspecting individuals who had chosen to become close associates of Surăvian military officials had somehow “disappeared.” Continuing tensions between planets Akrosia and Harcon, due to a previous interplanetary military conflict, are decidedly major factors in Pratovian Naluras’ warning.
Therefore, good prudence is highly suggested when “dealing” with Anapov Grugor Morvanyic, the Tasurian (supreme ruler) of the Akrosian nation of Surăvia. Fortunately, not all political rulers, whether located on or off world, are malevolent individuals. Thus, if you are into interstellar trade and commerce, feel free to “shake hands” with the ilari, the indigenous biological species of planet Xendira. A socially progressive and very friendly people, the ilari, under the benevolent leadership of Kwame Namumsa, are always in search of new technology and other goods. At times though, the ilari have had to prove-militarily speaking-that friendliness is not necessarily a sign of weakness. Namumsa’s supreme ruling position as the Kaaria becomes a critical factor in future interstellar commerce. In stark contrast, though, you may want to be extremely cautious around Ashumu Saguto.
Saguto, of planet Tibrak, is of the indigenous biological species called rabanian. Born in Yashani, a country located on the continent of Temir, Ashumu Saguto is one ambitiously proud and fierce individual. She is also her government’s imperial warlord. At length, you will come across the technologically proficient and highly militaristic thaons of the planet Meiros. At times, thaon high military officials offer their interstellar neighbors an “interesting” trade deal. Thaon officials will offer you your life in exchange for your planet. Obviously, many people would scoff at such a seemingly ludicrous trade proposal. Be aware, though, that the thaon high military possesses exotic weaponry to “persuade” potential clients of this once-in-a-lifetime offer. Moreover, thaon military high officials do mean once. Along with this, many people are concerned over a rumored and ominous threat that is causing considerable fear and apprehension to spread among the inhabitants of numerous planets located throughout the galaxy: the emergence of a central galactic empire. Many others, however, regard the notion of a single military power subjugating the entire galaxy as the very height of absurdity. Despite persistent rumors to the contrary, various military analysts contend that the success of such an enormous endeavor would be impossible.
Most likely, many people would favor this consensus in lieu of various published estimates regarding the galactic population. According to the most conservative of published estimates, the number of known inhabited planets within the galaxy range approximately from three to four million, while inhabited planets orbiting stars outside the galactic periphery are deemed as far too scattered and insignificant. Regardless, two diametrically opposing concepts, the fight for justice and the so-called right of conquest, will form the first of several major aspects of this story.
Deadly Artifact will present this first aspect from various social, ethnic and cultural perspectives. The central location of this burgeoning conflict between Slovas Larian and the female archaeological student is Dabenar, a planet orbiting Abraleon-Sul. One of many typical medium-sized stars, Abraleon-Sul is located within the galactic habitable zone. Ranging approximately 23,000 to 29,000 light-years from the galactic center, the galactic habitable zone is where all the necessary chemical elements for supporting complex biological life forms are found. In addition, supernova explosions play a considerable role in enriching the interstellar medium with higher mass elements, particularly carbon, oxygen and iron. With its eight continental landmasses, Dabenar is the planetary home of a technologically and highly advanced and ethnically diverse race of over 7.2 billion people whose indigenous biological species is selothian.
Like many other worlds within the galaxy, Dabenar possesses sufficient gravity, abundant life-sustaining water and a breathable atmosphere. This includes beautiful land areas, lush forest, prodigious amounts of plant, animal and marine life, huge oceans, tall mountains, majestic cities and one inhabited moon, Oberion. With its multinational, multiethnic and multilingual civilization, Dabenar comprises a number of highly diverse cultures dating back to antiquity. In addition, this industry-rich world has long been a major center of interstellar trade and commerce throughout various inhabited regions of the galaxy. Among the various languages and dialects spoken by Dabenar’s diverse inhabitants, Ethrosian, Lacocian, Eucosian and Umanjii are among the principal languages. This language situation was primarily brought about due to a series of major events that dramatically altered this planet’s history. As indicated earlier, a brief and concise summary of these devastating historical events can thus shed significant illumination on the present day situation. To begin, let us travel just over 4,200 years into the past. At this time in history, Dabenar’s entire civilization comprises two hundred nations. A considerable number of these nations are fighting among each other.
Nearly unimaginable worldwide change, however, is on the horizon. The year 2027 U.E. (Udician Era) will mark the beginning of a period of social-political upheaval the likes of which Dabenar’s inhabitants have never seen before. The catalysts for this upheaval are two very powerful rulers, Emperor Teranus Accasior of the nation of Perasia and Emperor Omarus Clasian of the nation of Udicia. These two emperors are the very best of friends. On the hot summer evening of 23 Ithar 2027 U.E. during the course of a stately dinner, Emperor Accasior makes a stunning proposal to Emperor Clasian.
“My fine and wonderful friend,” Emperor Accasior begins, “many nations are in a state of severe crisis. Come! Let us join our forces and together we will bring peace, security and prosperity to all. We will unite the world! Our world!” A few seemingly long seconds pass before Udician Emperor Clasian fully understands Perasian Emperor Accasior’s unique proposal. “My fine and very wonderful friend,” Emperor Clasian replies with a profuse smile and enthusiastic laugh, “let us do just so.” Emperor Accasior is ecstatic with his best friend’s reply. The foundation for vast worldwide change has been laid. Militarily, Perasia and Udicia, located on the southern continent of Coradias, are the two most powerful nations on Dabenar. In addition, Coradias and Prosias are among several continents that are located in Dabenar’s western hemisphere. By the early autumn of the year 2027 U.E., Emperor Accasior and Emperor Clasian have formed a powerful military alliance.
Nearly four years later in the spring of 2023 U.E., the Perasians, led by Supreme Commander Belshacian Nazzar, and the Udicians, led by Supreme Commander Zucabien Sulaceas III, embark on a military campaign of world conquest that would last for thirty-two years. The first to fall to Perasian-Udician forces are four smaller nations located in western Coradias; Macedia, Thessonia, Stolitica and Corathias. Within one year, all four nations are subjugated. Knowing that resistance is futile, a few other national rulers sue for peace and relinquish control of their national sovereignty. The Perasian-Udician military campaign comes to a near completion twenty years later in the late summer of 2003 U.E. Thus, one hundred and ninety-three nations have been brought under Perasian-Udician rule. For Emperors Accasior and Clasian, total world domination is within reach. Only one obstacle remains.
Enter the Sarcatian Empire. Comprising seven nations, this mighty empire is this last remaining and highly defiant obstacle to Perasian-Udician world domination. Unbelievably distressing reports from distant nations around the world regarding Perasian-Udician military conquests had been reaching the Sarcatian people many years earlier. However, only within the past several years have Sarcatian military rulers come to learn of the devastating extent of the Perasian-Udician military campaign. Subsequently, Sarcatian military rulers had long begun preparing for what they knew was going to be the largest military invasion that they would ever face. Respectively, Perasia and Udicia are the first and second most powerful nations on Dabenar. Sarcatia is Dabenar’s third most powerful nation, a fact that quite a few Perasian-Udician military commanders have known for quite some time. Still, this fact does not deter Perasian-Udician military commanders from completing their goal.
When the enormous Perasian-Udician naval armada enter the territorial waters of the Sarcatian Empire, Perasian-Udician naval commanders dispatch three highly courageous representatives to Sarcatian naval commanders. The Perasian-Udician ultimatum to Sarcatian military and government officials is unmistakably clear: surrender peacefully or face the alternative. Enraged by this ultimatum, Sarcatian government officials have two of the Perasian-Udician representatives put to death. One surviving, yet wounded Perasian-Udician representative is allowed to return to deliver the Sarcatian response: prepare to die. Sarcatia, Sohay, Unasia, Swahea, Uguma, Monomo and Akumu, the seven nations that make up the Sarcatian Empire, are located on the eastern continent of Afarika. Together, these seven nations make up North Afarika. Sarcatia is the undisputed ruling center of this centuries-long mighty empire.
Among the many languages spoken among the Afarikan people, Kutu, Xitsonga, Swati, Setswana and Umanjii are the dominant languages. Warrior Queen Asantewaa is Sarcatia’s sovereign ruler. Queen Asantewaa and her people have vowed to fight, to the very death, the invading Perasian-Udician armed forces. A brilliant military strategist in her own right, Asantewaa takes the lead in battle against the one million-strong Perasian-Udician army. For the next twelve years, Queen Asantewaa leads her military forces in this offensive and defensive battle. The fighting between Sarcatian forces and Perasian-Udician forces is on a level unseen in Dabenar’s entire history. Like streams of water, blood flows freely. Employing the most deadly and sophisticated weaponry of that historical period, Sarcatian warriors deal a humiliatingly crushing first blow to Perasian-Udician military forces. In the first few days of this battle, 60,898 Perasian soldiers and 35,689 Udician soldiers suffer an ignominious death at the hands of these highly skilled and fierce Sarcatian warriors. The number of Sarcatian deaths amounts to 5,654.
Initially, Perasian-Udician military commanders were confident of a quick and easy victory over an entire people whom they had ostensibly labeled as primitive and uneducated savages. Such overconfidence, however, had in time proven seriously flawed. Perasian-Udician military commanders came to the hard realization that they had wholly underestimated the sheer resolve and determination of the Sarcatian people to resist subjugation. In the face of these devastatingly bloody losses, Perasian-Udician military commanders had come to despise Queen Asantewaa, as well as respect her. Still, Perasian-Udician military commanders are highly adept in adapting their battle strategies in the face of these difficult challenges.
Despite suffering further bloody losses in subsequent years, Perasian-Udician military commanders continue to refine their battle strategies, which enables them to eventually to gain the upper hand in this war. The turning point comes in the year 1993 U.E. during Andar, the first summer month of the lunar calendar year. Near the base of Mount Atieno located in Northwestern Sarcatia, Queen Asantewaa’s warriors suffer their first major defeat. Afterward, the tide of battle begins to turn in favor of Perasian-Udician armed forces. Regrettably, Sarcatian warrior losses continue to mount. Thus, the Sarcatian Empire has entered its last days. Despite her fierce resolve, Queen Asantewaa finally suffers defeat in 1991 U.E. in Nithra, the first of the three autumn months. Although losing a substantial number of her own people, her forces had slain 340,890 enemy soldiers, just over one-third of the Perasian-Udician army.
No other foreign ruler, a female one especially, had given the Perasian-Udician forces such unusually fierce and bloodied resistance. Nevertheless, by 1990 U.E., Dabenar’s entire civilization is under total dominion of the Perasian-Udician World Empire. More than any other major historical event, the fall of the Sarcatian Empire will dramatically impact international politics for many centuries to come. The enduring legacy of this historical event will have a profound effect on the social attitudes of many cultures. “Peace and security for all!” Emperor Accasior and Emperor Clasian shout in grand unison before a throng of 25,000 Perasian and Udician subjects. “The Perasian-Udician World Empire,” Perasian Emperor Accasior proudly boasts, “will unite all nations and peoples under a single world government and thus usher in an era of peace, security and prosperity never before seen in this planet’s entire history.” In agreement with their beloved emperors, the crowd shouts in grand approval. The passing of time, though, reveals a far different outcome than what either emperor had originally predicted.
Internal strife, bitter contention, power struggles, numerous social-political and armed military conflicts between succeeding Perasian and Udician emperors, as well as their subject nations, wreck continual havoc, ruin and destruction throughout the Perasian-Udician World Empire. This turbulent situation comes to a devastating head 1,451 years later on 12 Vophar 539 U.E. In a nighttime surprise attack, Udician General Cybrus and his 50,000-member attack force descends upon the Perasian capital city of Barsathius during the Perasian holiday of Harmagdon; a day of grand festivity accompanied by wild revelry, live music, heavy drinking and licentious behavior.
Obviously, inebriated Perasian soldiers are not particularly well prepared to fend off a major military invasion. In just one night, Barsathius, the mighty Perasian capital falls to her former military ally. In compliance with Emperor Ahasuerus’ direct command, Udician military commanders hang Perasian Emperor Azian Belshasus III from a fifty-foot pole. Due to many other well-coordinated attacks by various Udician military commanders, Perasian fortified strongholds located throughout the world suffer a similar downfall. Nearly three years later on Thuan, 15 Vagien 536 U.E., this devastating military conflict between Perasia and Udicia ends. The Perasian death toll is truly horrific: 8,365,654 soldiers. The Udician death toll comes in second at 6,276,432 soldiers. Even more disheartening is that over 4,200,000 civilians had perished horribly in this cataclysmic worldwide war. “Brutal war,” as one historian later lamented, “respects no one.”
By the autumn of 535 U.E., the Udician capital city of Carsathia reigns as the supreme capital of Dabenar’s newest world power: the Udician World Empire. This time, though, no one dares to utter any promises of peace, security and unity. Socially and politically, the legacy of this devastating military conflict will have a major and lasting impact on world history. From 535 U.E., we fast-forward 2,862 years to the present day Betracian Era (B.E.). The year is 2226. Dabenar’s modern day government is vastly different from her ancient form of rulership. The selothian military is among the most powerful military forces in the galactic region. The former and ancient capital of Carsathia is now merely one of many popular tourist attractions. Lethasius is Dabenar’s present day planetary capital. A major metropolitan city, Lethasius is located in Gothian, a country situated on the west coast of the continent of Prosias. Alonias Lesamius Gandrien is the Aprincior, in essence Dabenar’s supreme ruler. He is also the commander-in-chief of all land-based, sea-based and space-based armed forces. Although Aprincior Gandrien wields great power and authority, his executive powers is by no means absolute. Aprincior Gandrien shares his power with two other agencies of the government, the Ahira Legislative Body and the Kijorian Judiciary Assembly.
Various other alien planetary governments, such as the aforementioned akerian government of planet Mewau and the Iotian government of planet Valasus, are highly distrustful of the selothian government. Selothian political and economical influence has become a pivotal factor in interstellar relations, as well as tensions. Unfortunately, the people of Dabenar are undergoing a major crisis. The aforementioned female exoplanetary archaeologist, whose name is Quafeira Ta’ahnn Sibekk, has become the central focus of this crisis.
Born on the spring date of 21 Naru 2113 B.E., Quafeira attends the Brasdean Educational Center in Pelepos, a large city located in Gothian. At 5’11”, the taller-than-average female has a slight medium build. Her dark amber-color skin accentuates her dark indigo hair. She had originally set her sights on traveling throughout the galaxy in search of ancient ruins located on different planets. By the time she reaches age twenty-five, dire circumstances compel her to put her archaeological career on hold. She becomes locked in a legal battle against Slovas Larian’s employer: Tavus-Alverand Corporation. This legal battle brings upon her physical, mental and emotional trauma that few females have ever experienced. In addition, this legal battle is triggering major social unrest among large segments of Dabenar’s civilian population. Law enforcement, government and military officials are also being drawn into this burgeoning crisis. Two major events have spawned this crisis.
First, the creation of a gravitic weapon of nearly inconceivable and planet-pulverizing power has raised profound fear among various other planetary governments. Second, the creator of this fearsome device, Daljik Ra’as, another brilliant research physicist employed by Travus-Alverand Corporation, had mysteriously disappeared while en route to a business meeting. Sadly, Daljik has never been seen or heard from again. Yet, there is an unusual twist to this second event. Daljik’s disappearance occurred six months before Quafeira was born. Thus, her deep interest in Daljik began to grow only after she became old enough to fully understand many of the turbulent events that surrounded his disappearance. At the tender age of nine, Quafeira became troubled over the fact that no one within her family would answer any of her questions regarding Daljik Ra’as. Unable to gather the answers she wanted, she began her own investigation to discover the truth about Daljik Ra’as. She began her investigative efforts on 21 Naru 2129, her sixteenth birthday; a day that would prove to be anything except sweet. In her quest to uncover the facts, the days turn into months. The months turn into years. The more facts she uncovered, the angrier she became. Many people who know Quafeira are bewildered by her acute interest, as well as her profound anxiety over the disappearance of this long-missing research physicist, that is until they learn a shocking revelation: Daljik Ra’as is her father.
Astonishingly, the missing, yet critical element to this crisis is located on a distant planet called Earth. Brothers Vernon and Ronald Clark and their best friend, Victor Williams, are residents of Anonwood, a coastal metropolitan city located in Northern California’s Humboldt County. These teenagers were coming up as younger children during the turbulent decade of the 1960s.
During that decade and later on, tens of thousands of young American men and women were protesting against various events such as the Vietnam War and the “secret war” in Cambodia. In their battle against racial discrimination and segregation, black Americans were fighting to obtain equal rights, better employment opportunities and decent housing. Along with their fight for equal status and equal pay in a male-dominated work environment, many thousands of women of all races were protesting against sexism and rampant sexual harassment. Fierce rioting, especially during the summer, would break out. Yet, despite the hardships and hostilities that these teenagers endure, they are ill prepared for the one encounter that will thrust them into the midst of the aforementioned alien conflict; a conflict that nearly tears their lives apart and plunges them into multiple life-threatening situations.
Their roles in this alien conflict begin shortly after they make a gruesome discovery: three skeletal remains in a long-abandoned cave. Two of the skeletal remains are of human origin; the third are the skeletal remains of an extraterrestrial being. In addition, these teenagers discover two alien devices of unknown functions. By meticulous research, the teenagers uncover a troubling link to their macabre discovery, a man by the name of Silas Jeremiah Baldwin. Born on 18 June 1812 at the start of what was called the Second Revolutionary War between the United States and Great Britain, Silas was a staunch southern loyalist who witnessed firsthand many of the violent and devastating events that ignited the bloodiest conflict in U.S. history: the American Civil War. Sadly, tragedy befell Silas nearly seven months before the 12 April 1861 Southern Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. In the early morning hours of Monday, 17 September 1860, Silas, after a brief encounter with a strange individual, is killed by an unearthly weapon. Silas’ untimely death initiates a series of unusually bizarre events that will last well into the latter part of the 20th century.
In essence, numerous human and alien individuals of various ages, nationalities, languages, ethnic cultures, professions and historical periods will become principal factors in this situation; a situation that will intensify the teenagers’ burgeoning role in this intergalactic conflict. Two processions of dark and tumultuous events running concurrently on Earth and Dabenar, two planets spaced over 13,000 light-years apart, will merge at a critical point in the distant future. The culmination of these events will be the catalyst for what could potentially become the galaxy’s deadliest conflict. Now, in part one of a triple trilogy spanning four hundred years-beginning in 1860-and involving numerous and diverse alien civilizations, an epic journey begins.
Why Should You Become An Affiliate?
- Entertainers do not directly make money from their work.
What is an Affiliate Marketer?
An affiliate Marketer is an individual who promotes and sells corporation products for a certain commission without being employed by the said establishment.
How would I use affiliate programs with my talent?
1st, It’s never about the product but what the product can do for the customer.
2nd, Create a work of art, a story, a song, a video, a comedy skit. (Click here to learn how to properly promote a product within your content without turning it into a commercial)
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4th, If yes, find out where one can purchase that product online. (Click here to learn some of the best products to promote)
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6th, Go back to your content, place the link in the content or below it. If it is below it, say, dress like, character’s name. Or, feeling said character’s style or behavior you can get something similar.
7th, Place a one or two sentence call to action at the bottom of your post. (Click here to see an example of this.)
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An updatable site, also known as a blog. (Learn why indie entertainers need to have a blog or website)
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It is an educational company that teaches small-business owners, entrepreneurs,and opportunist how to maneuver the internet in order to acquire more customers/fans/followers through a series of products.
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This one comes with an affiliate program.
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WILL YOU JOIN ME AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION?
This is a serious matter needing close attention. There are many things going on in our society that are very wrong these days as we well know. Will you be part of the problem or part of the solution? There is a saying by Edmund Burke, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Our communities have been doing allot of nothing in some respects and I want to challenge you to stand up and be the change we seek and do something.
I am sure you are aware this is hard for me to do. It’s hard for me to ask for help on anything. I’ve always been a self-reliant, do it yourself type of guy. In this case I will make an exception because that is just how much I believe in this project. As you may or may not know after over 20 years of working on multimedia projects for others I finally decided to make one of my dreams a reality. I have always dreamt of the day when we can have heroes and sheroes that look like us and are the stars of the show rather than just stereotypes in movies, TV, comics and books. We all know the damage that has been done by the constant repetition of negative images in the media. This is your chance to be part of a positive change in toward rectifying this injustice.
I need your help with developing our digital production facility pipeline to make this first 3D animated feature length Sci-Fi action film, “Earth Squadron” a reality. Earth Squadron is a film about what happens when planet Earth's rejects are the only ones that can save them from an unknown alien foe bent on world domination. The short story was originally published in Genesis Anthology Book I in 2010. This full-length film showcases a positive and uplifting multicultural cast of characters.
I am asking for your support by making a donation of what you can afford toward getting this movie done. Our team is fired up and ready to make this film a reality! Our community and children in particularly deserved more positive images and role models to emulate. Be a part of making that happen now. Click here for more info and to support today:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/earth-squadron-movie-project
Sincerely,
Jarvis Sheffield, M.Ed.
Administrator
I came across this note from you in an incredibly over-packed memorabilia album. Mom managed to cram K-12 report cards as well as my undergraduate physics transcripts! Thankfully, my graduate ones are in PDF form...Sadly, she's no longer here to hoard them. The unique spelling of your married name (you insisted upon, and now I see why) is the Old English word for "stream."
I found this note from you Mrs. Flynt, your last encouragement to me before I embarked on the journey to the big unknown: middle school, which at this time in most of the country was after the 6th grade. I only regret that I never in this life thanked you for your support and encouragement; encouraging my curiosity with our school science experiments - in and outside of the classroom; correcting my writing, grammar and spelling; making sure I was OK as I faded in-and-out of consciousness after a bully head-butted me "for a place in line" ahead of me, as I recall. I also clearly remember waking up in the school nurse's office - ice pack on face; you by my side as my parents came to school to see about the matter.
I think of you now as education "reform" in this Internet age you never lived to see is taking the shape of computer-delivered lessons replacing teachers; drill-baby-drill to standardized tests that didn't exist in your time. The human species has always best learned via the format of craftsman: journeymen; teacher: students; master: disciples. There is a dearth of critical thinking skills that used to be expected and encouraged. It is instead becoming germane and replaced with national reflection only on the superficial. When I briefly taught high school math and physics, I saw teachers that are just like you were: passionate about their subjects and dedicated to their students. I hope in my tenure I measured up to that as well. The teachers now are blamed for the problems in education by those who can't teach (won't ever teach), but make laws adversely affecting teaching, and ultimately this democratic republic. Another important role of teachers is to prepare the citizens to be informed, and critical of authority and holding it accountable when it wields the reins of power to adverse effects. Some things I wish had not so modernized. Human interaction is in our DNA, and this "reform" is making us more distant, more...cold towards one another.
You along with my parents have exited this stage. I'd like to think, though it be wishful, that you are still reading over my shoulder; correcting my syntax and grammatical errors; and hope you still think I have some talent at writing.
Sincerely,
Your "little scientist" (...humbly, thanks you)
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John Pendry wishes J.K Rowling had written about superlenses. Photo by Cirone-Musi/Festival della Scienza/Flickr Creative Common |
John Pendry is a physicist at Imperial College London who laid the theoretical foundations for the invisibility cloak and superlenses capable of producing the sharpest ever images. He talks about the profound physics obscured by his invisibility cloak and how metamaterials could help realize the perfect lens.
John Pendry: It's when I give talks, particularly popular ones. Of all the things I am interested in, I am always asked about invisibility cloaks. I think, "Oh God, not another invisibility cloak lecture." I still enjoy giving them, but there are many other things I'm working on that are more profound; they just don't have that fertile soil which J. K. Rowling prepared for us.
VJ: What topics do you wish were better-known?
JP: The concept of a perfect lens is profound. A lens is a complicated thing that takes every point in an object and reconstructs it in the image—with no loss of detail in the case of a perfect lens.
It is ironically, National Nothing Day (some science teachers hate me right now).
New Scientist/Slate: The Physics Hidden by the Invisibility Cloak
A discussion between Lawrence M. Krauss and Richard Dawkins. Admittedly, both are enthusiasts of scientific, critical thinking and, ahem..."not friendly" to theistic viewpoints, to say the least.
I personally don't think there is a Venn diagram intersection between science and faith. I think both have helped society - Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Civil and Voting Rights - and both have contributed to errors and wrongs, e.g.: The Inquisition; Salem Witch Trials; Eugenics; the atomic bomb. I don't think either professor is willing or able to absorb the intrinsic needs of society into the halls of science. I think both pursuits should endeavor to "stay in their lanes" and not intervene with/demean the other.
Meanwhile: enjoy their discussion. It is enlightening.
Genesis (2013) Short Film from CJ Johnson on Vimeo.
Set in an alternate present day, people with super abilities known as "genesis subjects" are hunted down by the government as a larger political debate is happening worldwide. When a "hunter" comes face to face with an old friend who refuses to go quietly into the night, he's faced with his toughest mission yet. Discovering that he may just be a pawn in a much larger game. This is a gritty take on a world filled with people with super abilities. No costumes. No capes. Just a simple question… if someone you knew had special powers, does that mean that they still have the same rights as everyone else?
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| Image Credit: Huffington Post |
Similar to "Flat Earth Society" conspiracy theorists (they ironically have a web site and a Facebook "info" page, go figure), I hear a lot of "young Earth" enthusiasts that confuse, or blatantly obfuscate the distinct differences between Carbon 14 dating and Radiometric dating. Both are related to the decay of isotopes over time as measured by the half lives of the materials read to date it. However, the difference is where the elements are found, how they occur in nature, and what they tell us. This short primer hopefully, clears up any misconceptions and clarifies the inaccuracy of holding onto the notion - sometime propagated by our elected officials - of an Earth only a few thousand years old. Or, for that matter after the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle and International Space Station is flat or an oblong Frisbee-like disk (though it's not "round," it's not a flying saucer).
Carbon 14 dating
Essentially called so because it involves us "carbon-based life forms," to use a Trek techno-babble phrase. It has a limit of around 50,000 years and uses things like wood, bone, cloth, hair, plant fibers. (1) Page 2 of the "How Stuff Works" link has an excellent graphic on the natural manufacture of the phenomena. Cosmic rays collide with energetic neutrons creating Nitrogen-14, eventually turning into Carbon-14 that is absorbed by plants, that are then consumed/used by animals or humans. Following death and burial as the link implies, word and bones change from Carbon-14 to Nitrogen-14 by Beta particle decay. The key to understanding this is Carbon-12 is considered a stable, i.e. non-decaying isotope, whereas Carbon-14 is unstable. (2) C-14 decays over time, and tells us how long ago an organism died and stopped producing it. This rate, or knowledge of how long this process should take, is how scientists date something using this method. However, it is not without some controversy as decay rates may have been accelerated, or at least different in the distant past. More info at "The Straight Dope" link below, discussing some assumptions in the process and thereby limits to the accuracy. (3) However, the key to this method is what's measured originates from living things.
Radiometric dating
This is on the order of larger and longer time scales, billions of years, starting with the destruction of a distant star by supernova, which gave us the elements in our own bodies ("We are made of 'star stuff' - Carl Sagan) as well as what I'm about to discuss next. The death of distant stars gave us for better or worse: uranium, as such a heavy metal has to be manufactured in an atomic fusion process. (4) Some of that expended material finds its way to forming accretion disks, proto-solar systems of dust and rock that attract one another. The center will eventually become hot enough to become a sun itself and the outer, less thermally energized rings will coalesce into eventual planets. The Earth was initially in a molten state; uranium, silicon and zirconium form ZrSiO4 (Zircon). A faux diamond popularly sold is based on Zirconium (non-radioactive, I might add to alleviate any worries). Once locked into the lead-free crystal, 238U can decay in a similar fashion to C-14 dating, with a half-life of 4.46 x 109 years. The decay eventually leads to 210Pb (Lead). Moon rocks brought back from the Apollo missions are even older, and used as a comparison to the oldest rocks found on Earth, thus 4.54 billion years is the usual time scale given for the age of the globe, give-or-take a few million years (4). Geologic time is admittedly an approximation, and not as precise as any notion of "exactness" (5), but it is the best estimate of how old the planet is that's reported. Dr. Roger C. Wiens gives a primer on radiometric dating "from a Christian Perspective," his concern stated here:
Radiometric dating--the process of determining the age of rocks from the decay of their radioactive elements--has been in widespread use for over half a century. There are over forty such techniques, each using a different radioactive element or a different way of measuring them. It has become increasingly clear that these radiometric dating techniques agree with each other and as a whole, present a coherent picture in which the Earth was created a very long time ago. Further evidence comes from the complete agreement between radiometric dates and other dating methods such as counting tree rings or glacier ice core layers. Many Christians have been led to distrust radiometric dating and are completely unaware of the great number of laboratory measurements that have shown these methods to be consistent. Many are also unaware that Bible-believing Christians are among those actively involved in radiometric dating. (6)
That is an admittance that may disturb some on both sides of a politically contrived "debate." However, this Tweet from Bill Nye (a bit off-color, I will admit), says the point succinctly in less than 140 characters:
Adherence to the Scientific Method produces tangible, often profitable results - for the theist or skeptic alike - and it doesn't discriminate.
Sources:
Ingredients
2 lbs. 80% lean ground beef
4 slices multi-grain bread
One pound black beans
One medium onion
One Green pepper
One Red pepper
adobo
pepper
garlic powder
cumin
2 to 3 tablespoons of melted butter
A dozen Kaiser rolls
Directions:
Prepare beans according to directions on package. When drained, mash into a paste or use food processor. Season meat and mix well, set aside. Toast multigrain bread and drizzle with butter, garlic powder and cumin mixture. Cut each slice into sixteens. Finely dice onion, and peppers. Combine bread and onion and peppers with meat and mix well, folding over itself repeatedly. Use same large spoon to form into patties and cook on medium high heat for five minutes a side. Then place on Kaiser roll. Should make twelve patties. Serve with Russian or Thousand Island dressing.
Bon Appetit
Hello BSFS! The team Incus Interactive Productions are proud to present "Fated By Chain" coming soon for the Nintendo Wii U. This is a brand new action-adventure/RPG that pushes the Wii U technology to the limit, while going through locations that go beyond the boundaries of time and space. This game application is being made by William P. Smith Jr. "Technical Artist" and David M. Smith "Graphic Designer". This game is also a Wii U exclusive, and will be lunched on Nintendo's eShop for sale on Wii U. Be cool BSFS!
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| Image Source: B&N |
My first B&N link, like...ever! I saw a lot of this image on the way to work in Winter Storm Hercules (that was ahem: after digging my car out). NOTHING in New York, or should I say nothing rarely, stops for snow.
I sincerely hope we're over it.
I earlier posted a widget from 4hiroshimas.com (see original link at "we're over it" above). You can see it below my Facebook badge. It's quite impressive.
Like I said, I'm sincerely hopeful we're over it. It snows in the northeast regularly enough. That cold was biting! My Labrador gained 10 pounds according to the vet. "She's not walking very far," I replied. To put it bluntly, she became...extremely efficient in very short distances. As I personify her: "...1!...2! OK, let's go back in!" (She's a Texas gal, after all.)
This is a good link on it with a very humorous title:
What Is The Polar Vortex And Why Is It Doing This To Us? So personal I know, but that's how one feels at -8 degrees Fahrenheit (reread the Lab's personification).
CNN gives a primer on it as well, walking the delicate line of whether it's global warming or not - can't upset the armchair experts too much, or Donald Trump. [Personally, I tend not to trust billionaires tied to reality shows that can't purchase a decent toupee or hair implants from "Hair Club for Men."]
I'm not holding my breath that my widget nor the fluctuating temperatures will change anyone's mind. The irrational, made-up mind is beyond logical discussion. Besides, climate denial makes for good ratings when preaching to the convinced choir.
Related links from Science blog:
Yes, it was a remarkable cold snap, but in what way? posted by Coby
Go home Arctic, You're Drunk, Greg Laden
More on weather whiplash and the Polar Vortex, Greg Laden
Check out the latest installment
Marie Antoinette never said it, but cake nonetheless, its stratification, its 99% base and crowning glory of 1% sugar and lard personification of our inequitable "education" system:
Is American Culture to Blame for Failing Schools? NY Times Mobile
By DAVID FIRESTONE
December 18, 2013
“Americans do not support an egalitarian society.”
That was the response of one reader, Jay David of New Mexico, to the final editorial in our series on science and math education, and in many ways it summed up the bitterness that many others expressed when the American school system was compared to those of other countries.
The editorial looked at some of the reasons students in Finland, Canada and Shanghai do much better in science and math than American students, and concluded that those places care more about preparing teachers and elevating the cultural position of education, while ensuring that more resources go to the neediest schools. In this country, teachers are poorly paid, poorly prepared and generally disdained, while the richest schools and students get by far the most money.
Scores of readers blamed that disparity on this country’s more libertarian culture, and on an outlook toward learning that if not overtly anti-intellectual is at least non-intellectual.
“Canadians’ acceptance and indeed pride in their more egalitarian society contrast with Americans’ acceptance of having an underclass,” wrote Blair P., of Palm Desert, Calif. “It’s an Ayn Rand philosophy.”
We are allowing sociopaths to abuse our intellect and common sense; we're dumbing down our curriculum to fit a dogma best left in constitutionally separated voluntary places of worship for Sunday school lessons:
This lunacy is confirmed on Snopes (its made its rounds on the web); what we do to ourselves is child abuse and cultural psychopathy. Our elected officials encourage this for the electorate to vote for them against their own interests. WHAT OTHER COUNTRY ON THE PLANET DOES THIS TO THEMSELVES?
We are non-intellectual. We attack nerds-cum-intellectuals-cum-engineers-cum-teachers-cum-professors and expect to advance as a nation. We celebrate replaceable athletes and "reality shows'" family dysfunction exacerbating a writ large dysfunction of a democratic republic originally designed for its citizens to be educated, involved, curious; questioning. CRITICAL THINKING skills, not magical thinking is what our competitors excel in:
America’s stature as an economic power is being threatened by societies above us and below us on the achievement scale. Wealthy nations with high-performing schools are consolidating their advantages and working hard to improve. At the same time, less-wealthy countries like Chile, Brazil, Indonesia and Peru, have made what the O.E.C.D. describes as “impressive gains catching up from very low levels of performance.” In other words, if things remain as they are, countries that lag behind us will one day overtake us.
The United States can either learn from its competitors abroad — and finally summon the will to make necessary policy changes — or fall further and further behind.
The link for the 2nd excerpt is below. We're headed for the "Hunger Games."
NY Times: Three Reasons Students Do Better Overseas
I have created a short six minute video featuring the Alien Ambassador aka Nathan Turner. This is the beginning of my effort to raise last minute funds to complete my movie which will be released in the summer of 2014. I wanted everyone to see that we can have a black superhero on the TV, internet and big screens. I have the actors, screenplay, location sets, but what I need is last minute funds to put everything together. We as black people have been complaining about the lack of black characters in comic books and movies for a long time. Nothing is going to change unless WE do something about it. I'm not producing a blockbuster Hollywood event like The Amazing Spiderman, Man of Steel or the The Dark Knight. What I'm doing is producing a good sci-fi movie for 90 minutes that features a black superhero. I got a bunch of nerds to help me with editing and special effects because we want to see that a black man and woman can save the day like any one else. All I'm looking to raise is at least $500.00 dollars. It's relatively small amount of money compared to other budgets. I have put in my own money and time so you don't have too. I can use additional funds to carry me over to the finish line. Tell others about my project. Watch the short video and pass it along to see what my vision is. See if my project is worth helping. My project is on kickstarter.com at THIS ADDRESS. I have some cool reward prizes, but 5 bucks and can start it off.
Enjoy the short video and help me put a black superhero on the screen this summer.
Thank you
...and why it's important to our democracy.
As we get closer, I'll post more...you can COUNT on it!
FROM: ANALOG SCIENCE FICTION AND FACT
REVIEW: Mothership: Tales From Afrofuturism and Beyond
BY: DON SAKERS
This article was originally published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Edited by Bill Campbell & Edward Austin Hall
Rosarium Publishing, 350 pages, $19.95 (trade paperback)
ISBN: 978-0-9891411-4-7
Genre: Original Anthology
Mothership is billed as presenting “just a part of the changing face of speculative fiction,” and features thirty-nine stories by forty writers of color. Some are familiar names (Tobias Buckell, S.P. Somtow), while others are up-and-comers.
As you might expect from the term “speculative fiction,” not all of these stories are science fiction—there’s fantasy, steampunk, and horror as well. And despite the term “Afrofuturism,” these stories aren’t limited to the concerns of Africa or African-Americans. Frankly, what we have here is simply an anthology of good stories.
Market realities dictate that it’s not enough to have good stories by relatively unfamiliar writers—there has to be a gimmick. In this case, readers need to look past the gimmick at the stories themselves.
Mothership’s keyword is “diversity.” If these stories share anything, it’s that they spring more from the tradition of literary SF than from the Campbell era. To put it in magazine terms, you’d see most of these stories in Asimov’s or Fantasy & Science Fiction before you’d see them in Analog. Not surprising, really—the editors come from academia. Don’t let that deter you.
Among the standouts in this volume are Thaddeus Howze’s “Bludgeon,” a Twilight Zone-ish tale of alien invasion with a surprise ending; Carlos Hernandez’s “The Aphotic Ghost,” in which a father comes to terms with his talented son’s death on Mount Everest; and Nisi Shawl’s “Good Boy,” a parable of virtual reality.
If there’s anything missing from this volume, it’s background on the contributors. Yes, one can always turn to the Internet—but I kept wishing there was an “about the authors” section.
For readers who want to see more diversity in SF, Mothership is definitely worth the price.
Open Letter to Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel
To Whom It May Concern:
Even though it's an old story, I see you chose to run your faux documentary on Mermaids, replete with interviews from faux oceanographic scientists, faux CGI representations of evolved-from-Africa mermaid-hominids with a fake "discovery" by children at a beach, and the ubiquitous claims of a "government cover-up." The NOAA made an official statement on its web site the last time this was attempted. The off-hand scripted involvement of children got my attention.
Here is a video of a whale sighting I participated in last summer:
Yes, it's amateurish and not shot with CGI as your hominid tribe of mer-men. The jiggles are from my breathless sprinting back and forth to each side of the boat with my mobile phone where the sightings happened. I'm quoting my You Tube page for this blog:
"Sighting 1 of 2 Finback whales, a Minke and an Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola). More videos to follow of 2nd and rest of sightings. All in all, a good day!"
That was FOUR non-mythologized sea creatures. There was no need for fake effects for the thrill of adventure. It was a good day, and a good time enjoyed by all, young and old and a diversity representing many countries that launched into the deep from Nantucket. I assure you, if a mermaid had been sighted off the bow, stern, port or starboard of our boat, there would have been even more excitement, and a lot of interviews by major networks like yourselves.
On other channels, we get schlock, crap, faux news and faux "reality shows," and as a nation we're rapidly losing our grip on critical thinking skills, healthy skepticism, scientific reasoning and the thrill of adventure for young people to seriously think about exploring a career in the sciences. In my opinion, we're just making our young people "good consumers" and not good thinkers or producers. Other nations are not doing this to themselves.
TLC: it stands for "The Learning Channel," yet hosts "Honey-Boo-Boo," and its current lineup is not too far removed. The competition for viewership in the universe of hundreds of options for consumers must be fierce, and I appreciate the struggle for viewership in a sea of options. However, we will not be a functional democracy for much longer if the only thing you can produce does not inform the citizenry, but instead dumbs down our most vulnerable via manipulation - of the very young and the very old - propagates "magical thinking" and its hand-in-hand cousin conspiracy theories.
I grew up watching Mr. Wizard (Bill Nye in the 90's thankfully carried on this tradition); the Apollo Moon Landing; Marlin Perkins' "Wild Kingdom"; "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" and as a young adult in college, Carl Sagan's "Cosmos." THESE shows of actual events ignited the thrill of discovery in me, as I spent many a Saturday hunched around test tubes, testing electrical circuits, viewing human hairs and amoeba or peering through a refractor telescope. With respect to Cosmos, it spurred me to complete an undergraduate degree in Engineering Physics; it thrills me to go further. Surely your discourse could rise to this level, and elevate rather than insult the intelligence of and debase our nation's youth.
What you practice in these faux schlock-umentaries is frankly on the level of national child abuse. As a former high school math and physics teacher, I formally protest your actions, and ask you to reconsider broadcasting this pseudoscience ever again. I usually reserve these types of posts for Sunday, but it is a new school year, and impressionable minds should be guided in the correct way to view science: as an attempt to get at deeper truths; not propagate fiction.
Both official retractions and apologies are in order if you are mature enough to make them.
For branding yourselves under the name "Discovery Channel," ratings should not be your only criteria. Thank you.
One of the goals of Moorsgate Media is to provide tools for content creators. In addition to blogging and writing about interesting sci-fi topics, we strive to develop simple apps and programs that hopefully help creators and dreamers to get their ideas down in a concise, readable form. To that end, today we released a small Text Analysis WebApp called Kaizen (found here Kaizen Text App). The App can also be found at the top of our blog banner. It is a client based JavaScript program, so it should work on most desktops and advanced feature portables. The App is a straight forward readability / grade level analysis tool using the FOG Index as a base. Additionally, we have included word complexity / uniqueness metrics, to help you identify if you are overusing (or under using) your dictionary.
The Kaizen Text App is a part of a larger Kaizen Scripter Program we are developing that incorporates the Kaizen Text technology and provides a more full featured word processor and text analysis tool. Hopefully, people find it useful and provide feedback if they don't.
Twitter @moorsgate
Moorsgate Media (c)2014
Moorsgate Media (c)2014
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| Image: NASA/JPL and article link |
Exoplanets are almost old hat to astronomers, who by now have found more than 1,000 such worlds beyond the solar system. The next frontier is exomoons—moons orbiting alien planets—which are much smaller, fainter and harder to find. Now astronomers say they may have found an oddball system of a planet and a moon floating free in the galaxy rather than orbiting a star.
The system showed up in a study using micro lensing, which looks for the bending of starlight due to the gravitational pull of an unseen object between a star and Earth. In this case the massive object might well be a planet and a moon. But the signal is not very clear, the researchers acknowledge, and could instead represent a dim star and a lightweight planet. “An alternate star-plus-planet model fits the data almost as well” as the planet-plus-moon explanation, the scientists reported in a paper that was posted this week on the preprint site arXiv. The study has not yet been peer-reviewed.
The thrill is obvious, but tampered with skeptical caution: a moon discovered circling an exoplanet with the presence of comet-carried water in the planet's early stage could give rise to the conditions similar to ours for intelligent life. I expect peer-review will be necessarily rigorous as the Scientific Method is about illuminating truth from fiction; facts from error to corroborate this finding.
Scientific American: First Exomoon Possibly Glimpsed
