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Madame Choi's -- a safe place for your heart

Posted by NyKing on March 13, 2010 at 8:47pm
"When you cannot make up your mind which of two evenly balanced courses of action you should take – choose the bolder."
– W.J. Slim

Lying in my bed tossing and turning, trying to find that sweet spot to fall into a deep and fulfilling rem. Then I got to it, right there, and off i fell. My mind took me to it's favorite place, a nice recurring dream, where I am in the arms of a lovely woman, her curly locs entwined within my fingers, our legs locked in place and our mouths doing a dance of the tongue. mmmmm i just love it here, no issues no worries just non stop love making and it just keeps getting better and better. Im oblivious to anything and anyone, especially the young korean girl who has just entered my home. She is looking for me and yelling my name as loud as she possibly can.

"Mr James..Mr James.."

I am still deep in this sleep yet I can distinctly hear my name being called over and over, and then a tug ...
"mr James, wake up , you got to come quick come quick , shop burning"

I awoke ..well sort of with a thick hard on and wondering how the hell she got in my house and the dogs didnt bark?...
"Ok Ok im awake Im awake.. call 911 it will be alright"

"no ..911 already called we need your help mr james please come hurry now..."

She bolted down the stairs and out the house.. I put on some jeans, sneakers and my leather coat and ran behind her.. as I rounded the corner i could smell the fire, the smoke, and see the girl.. The store, Ms Choi's Needful things and pawn shop, is where my heart was housed, amongst the many other odds and ends.

As i looked upon the firemen fighting the blaze I started to wonder , what will become of me now?
"mr James mr james I cant find my Oma"

we walked over to the man in charge at the scene to see if Ms Choi had been found or might have been on a stretcher..or something!!
"a woman ran back into the building, I have my men searching for her now"
just then two firemen arrived with Ms Choi, she was wearing an oxygen mask, and immediately grabbed her grand daughter.. I was happy to see her small frail frame.. and overcome with emotions.. this little hard woman had been caretaker to my most precious gift, and now she was in our arms but still defiant..

"lemme go lemme go.. Mr james .. "
"Ms Choi please sit down and rest, dont worry about the shop"

"shop?" she looked up at me with those warm wrinkled brown eyes, "mr james I am insured.. i can recoup all of my investments, plus i managed to save most of my more treasured pieces over there on the corner, policeman watching over it for me..I no trust him tho so Sung Ye next door neighbor is watching him too....I not worried for me.. I worry for you"

"Ok dont stop your babbling now, out with it"
"Mr James, you know of love and happiness, they usually go together, just like joy and pain. people often forget that when you decide to love to also prepare for the pain, you hid your heart away in hopes to spare you of the pain, but what of it now Mr James? Do you not have joy, do you not have happiness, you have love for the things you want to love, these loves are unconditional, they require little to no work on your part except that you be you..hmmmm but the passion of a lover and the need for a companion requires work and it also comes with pain.."

"Ok im not liking this.. where is my heart .. what are you saying?

"mr james " Every great leap forward in your life comes after you have made a clear decision of some kind"
Your heart is in there.. the fire...do you want it? Go get it"

I had a decision to make, right then right now, I didnt know what to do, so i just ran into the store ......

"Mr James Mr james ..to the left in the wardrobe.." was what the young korean girl shouted...

"oma you sent him back into those flames ..he could die"
Ms Choi looked up at her grand daughter .."hmmm he could die that is a possibility .. "Man is only truly great when he acts from his passions."

I made it past the firemen who yelled obscenities at me and gave chase... I got through the door way and headed left, the smoke was burning my lungs, but i saw the wardrobe .. it was a flame but one door had fell off its hinges and I was able to reach in and grab the box just as the firemen reached and grabbed my ass!!

"you are one dumb mutha fuka.. you could have died in here"

"yes but if I hadn't gone in I might have died anyway"

I made it back over to the ladies and really had not looked into the box. It felt different and I just assumed that it was the same one. The building was now fully engulfed and was burning out of control.. It would be only a matter of time before it was all over.

I turned to Ms Choi, and said "here you go,..at least I was able to salvage this"

"Was it worth the pain Mr James? the fear of loss? the realization and the passion to fight for something you wanted that badly? "

"it was worth it, damn worth it"

"good ..cause this is not the box that holds your heart, and now it appears it has burned up in the flames Mr James.. gone is your heart that you hid here to protect it from pain and hurt.. what will you do now?

I stood there, stammering for the next 10 minutes.. I had this deep emptiness and feeling of woe, yet I had this hope from where I do not know.. but hope rings eternal they say..and just when a tear fell from my cheek to my chest , Ms Choi gave me a thick sterling bracelett.. enscribed

There are seldom.If ever, any hopeless situations, but there are many people who lose hope in the face of some situations.

I thought about those words and smiled..
"im going to be all right Ms Choi.. I will go speak to the policeman and see how we can move the rest of your things"

As i walked over to the cop, i noticed that a lovely lady with long flowing curly locs walked over to the ladies and sat with them for a minute .. I wondered what they were talking about and really wondered who she was..

"ms choi, I just came by to thank you for my purchase yesterday and low and behold the store is on fire, are you ok ?

"ah yes i am quite ok my love.. and how are you enjoying the nice velvet box ?

"Oh it is so lovely I have yet to open it and deposit my things inside but I am quite sure it will be ok.thank you again.. by the way , who is that over there with the policeman? He seems to be quite interested in us it seems"

"Oh him, nice man. he is the former owner of that box..you should thank him one day"

"well bless him, I will do just that right now..hmmm hope my hair is holding up"

as she walked up to me, I looked over her shoulder and saw the little girl nudging Ms choi something fierce..

"oma how could you.. you sold his heart to the lady"

"shhhhhhh let us watch my plan in action..."

and so it goes.......I shook my head and rolled over , damn had I been asleep all this time? was I still dreaming? the shower was running, I guess I would soon find out

do you have a safe place for your heart and your love?
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Madame Choi's Emporium

Posted by NyKing on March 13, 2010 at 8:44pm
Written in Feb 07..

~~ Today I am writing about my most recent journey to "Madame Sung Choi's house of Needful things and Pawn Shop emporium" Quite a place..


I walked in, bounding and so ready ..so dam ready to pick up my heart for which I pawned some 13 years ago. As I walked throughout the shop, some new and old oddities struck my attention as things in this shop always do.

Hmmmm the worn and tattered band of leather, simply called the "humility bracelet" always catches my eye. I usually try it on just so that some of that essence can rub off on me.

I avoid like the plague, the mirror "of self indulgence" most don't notice the plaque above it until they have fully gazed into it.. and then its a bit too late..

aaahhhh here we are, the loves lost and found section...you know you are here when you see the sign above your head that reads

"If we deny love that is given to us, if we refuse to give love because we fear pain or loss, then our lives will be empty, our loss greater."

As i move through the section, I see that the good madame has added more thoughtful sayings to adorn the "Needful things" that people covet...

I picked up one, a very nice and un assuming pen. Light to the touch, but was inscribed "He who tries to forget a woman, never loved her."

hmmm I thought, and pondered those words for a moment...

"aaahhhh mr james, you have picked up a pen that weighs an easy 60lbs, the weight is of a heavy heart, but you have no heart for love of a woman so it weighs nothing to you now does it?

I turned to see what little troll was bothering me again, and but of course it was the madame.

"So mR James ...you do know I totally enjoy ..how does my grand daughter say..Play with your head hehehe"

"ahhh Ms Choi u do play with it well, so tell me, any takers for my heart as of yet?

"Nope..yours is a bitter one Mr james, not many women want bitter these days, not even the ones that are confident they can change such"

I was a bit taken a back with the comments but moved on.."So can I see it?

"but of Course MR James, it is yours after all"

and with that she removed a medium sized Romeo y Julieta; cased in black velvet, cigar box. It was magnetic and seemed to pull me even closer to it, as I gazed upon the gold seal that secured it ""I am a lover and have not found my thing to love."

Everything in my body ached as took the box into my grasp, and held it close to my chest; the fears and tears streamed down my cheeks and onto the box as i pulled it away.

"hmmm it still has the same affect on you Mr James, even after so many years gone by. So why are you here again Mr James?

"I just wanted to hold it, to see...."

"To see what!

She came closer to me, and all at once as I recoiled back this little ol korean woman had my throat in her hands and was lifting me off the floor!

"You are here for what? To claim or just to amuse yourself? You remember what the deal was and what you must tender in order to obtain it Mr james ..don't you remember Mr James..you do know what I speak so speak..speak !!

"I will if you let go of my fucking throat..I managed to pull away from her grip..I know who I am, I am a man, who knows what love is and what it is not; who has learned the hard way to love without fear and most of all to acknowledge it and not dismiss it."

"So you have grown since we last met..hmmm do you still break hearts mR james?

"I am no heart breaker, but I have broken hearts not intentionally mind you and I have made amends for such, I cannot help who loves me even though I may make it quite clear that I am not ready for such. yet it happens none the less"

"Many lessons u seem to have learned since the last time, but also many women Mr James..many women too"

"Ms Choi, i am a man, and a single man at that. I do have needs, and even given into the temptation of the flesh, I still know enough not to promise women all that I cannot give; not to say the things they want to hear,I just put me out there and let them decide for their selves"

"hmm well then are you ready to tender mr james?

"The words you want to hear, i will not say, but I know them cause they are etched into my soul "Lonely is a man without love."

and with that I turned away and marched out of the door, I was glad that i could stand the strain of holding my heart again, and at the same time the utter dis belief that no one wanted such a heart.

I walked down the lonely alley, and turned to wave at Ms Choi and her granddaughter, as i turned i heard something that gave me hope...

'Grandma you lie so bad, you know that many women come in and inquire about the heart of Mr James, yet none know or have the correct tender for it. Even the one woman just yesterday had the correct tender but you denied her. Why why grandma do you protect this more than any other collectable?

the old woman paused as she watched me walk away, and then uttered some prophetic word indeed "The best proof of love is trust."
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Waterbury CT native re-releases books via own publishing firm

Posted by Malcolm Dylan Petteway on March 13, 2010 at 7:26pm

----Below is an article that appeared in my hometown newspaper----

A Waterbury native who re­cently started a small publish­ing company with friends and family has re-released two sci­ence fiction chronicles he wrote as part of a series as its first two projects. The Virginia-based Rage Books LLC was founded by Wa­terbury native Malcolm Dylan Petteway. Petteway grew up in Waterbury before going on to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy and California State University. A 20-year veteran of the Air Force, Petteway flew B-52s, log­ging more than 3,000 flight hours and 300 combat hours. A military analyst who re­ceived a Meritorious Service Medal and other awards including some for Operation En­during Freedom, Petteway's, new company released "Home­coming" and "Revelations" ($14.50 each, Rage Books), from his science fiction series "Osguards: Guardians of the Universe." "Homecoming" tells the story of the battle between the planets of Kulusk and Chaktun and two Chaktun princesses who fled Earth to lead a universal peace­keeping organization. “Revelations" also delves into related plots of interplane­tary war and conflict unfolding across planets and eras that en­tangles characters from FBI agents to inhabitants of other worlds.

— Brynn Mande -- Waterbury American-Republican

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Redemption for Adanna- Excerpt

Posted by Djeli on March 11, 2010 at 10:59pm

A burst of cackling laughter caught Adanna’s ears, pulling her eyes from the burning pyre. Beyond the Isat there were a few other women and men that served the Witch Priest, kingdoms and peoples who by coercion or choice had given their allegiance. But among his vast army they were but a small number. Most that called the Witch Priest master may have walked on two legs, but they were not men and women--they were something else.

She stared at the still laughing forms in the distance. Hyena men. Golden and spotted hair covered their human-like bodies, which were adorned with little more than ragged pelts that hung from their waists. Most held short crude swords and spears, jagged edged shields or other weapons. Red tongues lolled between sharp teeth fitted into long black muzzles on their bestial faces.

How Hyena men had come to be, none truly knew. Some said they were from the scorched northern plains, on the edges of the Desert Sea--the progeny of women seduced by sorcerers who could take the shape of hyenas. Others claimed they were once a beautiful people, struck down and cursed for their selfish vanity by the gods. Yet, still, some said the Hyena men were creations of the Witch Priest himself--willful men reduced to half-beasts by his power, now forever bound to his service.

Whatever the truth of it, Hyena men now swelled the ranks of the Witch Priest’s armies--mindless, vicious, perversions. Even now, as Adanna watched, a pack of them bickered amongst themselves. Growls and barking mingled between their maniacal laughter, as they seemed to fight over a bit of meat--that looked suspiciously human. As ill-fortune had it, the man-beasts now stood in her way.

Drawing up to full height, Adanna walked towards the pack. She set her face into a scowl, a hand resting casually on her fire knife. As she stopped before the Hyena men they ceased their bickering, looking up to her and emitting a series of low snarls, baring teeth in warning, their sharp ears laid flat. Adanna did not back down, instead fixing them with a look of her own, the flames in her eyes rising high to give them a fierce glow. The show of force was enough. As one the Hyena men broke apart, whimpering and moving off, but never taking their baleful gazes from her.

Walking past them, Adanna did not release the grip upon her knife. One had to be careful to show strength among these man-beasts. Cowards they may have been, but as a pack they would attack anything that looked weak--even one another. Keeping her stern demeanor she made her way carefully across the burned-out village. More than mere Hyena men marched beneath the Witch Priest’s banner, and not all were so easily cowed....

--Excerpt, Redemption for Adanna, a short prequel/character sketch

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When Does the Artist End and the Businessman Begin?

Posted by Malcolm Dylan Petteway on March 10, 2010 at 11:17am

Writing in today's fast pace world has lost the art of the science or should I say the science of the art. When I began writing, I did so because I had a story I needed to tell. The story was a part of my imagination that I opened up for the world to see, touch and feel. I bore my soul and heart to strangers in hopes that something I wrote stirred them…moved them…provoked them…or just plain entertained them. But somewhere along the way, the artist that put words to paper has to become someone else in order to get the story out.
The artist must decipher demographics, marketing strategies and business plans. The artist must learn how to promote, sale and spin words and ideas into 30 second sound bites. The artist must tailor the work for another purpose. In short, the artist must stop being an artist and become a businessman.
Becoming something other than an artist is something that most artists cannot do without pain. Under a traditional publishing arrangement, the artist gives up control to the businessman. That businessman changes, edits and reshapes the artist project…normally after much consternation; but now the project sells. The artist may lose part of his or her voice in the process, but royalty checks can soothe the hurt somewhat of a lost voice.
What about the self-publisher? Can the lack of another person running the business end of your project hurt your chances to push your project? There are people cut out to sale and there are people cut out to create. Self-publishers must do both, and they must do both extraordinarily well.
For the self-publishers out there…how is your journey from artist to businessman?


Malcolm Dylan Petteway
Rage Books LLC
WWW.RAGEBOOKS.NET

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RENPET CHAPTER 3 ENDURANCE

Posted by Djadja N Medjay on March 8, 2010 at 10:16pm


ENDURANCE CHAPTER SHMT


.....Kenitha’s jaw hung loosely from being strained by her
voiceless screams. From her chest up, her body smoldered
in brownish smoke and then finally she keeled over.
Michelle stopped her attack. The moonbeam gradual-
ly dissipated and the dust particles that could be seen from
it’s light slowly hide from vision.
"I always liked bunny rabbits," snickered Michelle.
Mike remained silent taking everything in, uncon-
sciously licking the beads of sweat that rolled down to his
lips.
He could tell that Michelle had mental issues like
many youths his age. Michelle walked toward Mike and
he jerked back. She abruptly grabbed his hand and started
to run. Although confused about what just happened,
Mike willingly followed her.
After a while Mike recognized that they were going in
the direction of his house, he wondered how she knew
where he lived. He squeezed her hand tight and then took
the lead. No words went between the two as they were
running. Just glances. Their hands began to perspire and
they could both feel their hearts beat rapidly. Mike took
the scenic route to avoid any conflict with his neighbors.
When they finally got to his home he fiddled nerv-
ously with his key trying to get it into the keyhole.
Michelle smirked, as though the difficulty Mike was hav-
ing meant something else. Before pushing the door open
he gave Michelle a quizzical look. As soon as they got
inside, Michelle grabbed him by the waist and pulled him
close to her. She wrapped her arms around him and
squeezed him hard.
He did the same. Their cheeks touched and the feeling
was warm. This was the kind of warmth he almost forgot-
ten. Michelle started to cry and shake uncontrollably. His
face became wet with her tears and he held her tighter.
They rubbed their faces together and finally looked into
each other’s eyes.
Now he knew that she never meant him any harm and
that she held a passion for him that was both wild and
earnest. She closed her eyes slowly as if she was offering
him her life.
She kissed him softer and deeper than she did before..............


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RENPET CHAPTER 1 AWAKENING

Posted by Djadja N Medjay on March 8, 2010 at 5:00am


'AWAKENING' CHAPTER WA

My mother’s garb caressed my figure well, much to my
surprise. The metallic black material hugged all the feminine
proportions of my body like a long lost lover. Only if
I had one to speak of, my Ka yearns for the touch of a
Nefer Aha.
"Serqet, you look radiant! You are becoming more like
the woman our mother is with each passing moment,”
said Gebsennuf.
Even though our mother transitioned into the higher
plane some time ago, Gebsennuf never referred to her as
in the past tense. I guess he was right. After all, our kind
has existed for what other life forms may consider an eternity.
My rambling thoughts were interrupted when
Gebsennuf took my hand and led me through the corridor
to Eb N Ma‘at, the counsel of elders’ chamber. I spent
a lot of time in the many passageways of our craft, just gazing
into the vastness through the portals. I stared for
moments on end at the nothingness holding everything in
place.
Although I have seen this cosmic beauty throughout
the duration of this lifetime, I am still captivated by what
my eyes behold. Now I will use those same eyes to hold
something else in captivation––my ancestors and without
their knowing. I am to take an active role in shaping their
future, my future, hmmm. We are coming closer to the
chamber, I can smell the sweet scent of Netcher permeating
from its walls.
Gebsunnef stopped in front of its doors, letting his
hand slip gently out of mine––farewell my brother. He
initiated the ritual necessary to raise our vibrations in order
to enter.
Upon entering the Eb N Ma’at, my eyes were struck
by the brilliance of its interior, I could not help covering
them with my hand. Through the shielding of my fingers,
my vision slowly adjusted to the light and the seated figures
became visible.
A total of nine members were present, all of whom
were focused on me intensely. Although their eyes reflected
peaceful intent, I could feel pure Enkhet Sekhem
emmanating from them. As they began their evaluation I
remembered what my mother taught me about centering
myself and remaining unattached to things.
During my early years her teachings were drilled
methodically into my consciousness, nevertheless my eyes
still raced around the chamber frantically. My mouth grew
increasingly dry along with my rising anxiety.
The next moments were to severely test my mental
fortitude. My entire life experience was to be literally
weighed against a feather.
As a child I thought the stories were just fantasy used
to direct children towards the right actions. Now that I
stood on a levitating disc opposite another disc holding an
actual feather on it, my mind longed to wipe away the
childish feelings of that memory. All my deeds and
thoughts ranging from honorable to unprincipled were to
be taken into account.
I nervously looked towards Gebsennuf ’s direction
searching for some type of consolement. He abruptly
turned his head in my direction and a stoic look grew on
his face––showing not even the slightest sign of support.
For a moment I shuddered about the deeds I was not
so proud of before realizing that I had nothing to fear. I
am Sat N Netcher and nothing can hide within Netcher
nor escape from it. Slowly my confidence returned to me
as the scale holding the feather teetered a little, before
coming into balance with my experiences.
A low hush fell on the counsel followed by what
seemed like never ending silence echoing throughout the
chamber.
“Serqet is worthy to carry on the work of her ascendants,”
announced Elder Djehuti in his quiet yet thundering
voice.
“As of today, she will begin her assignment,” he added.
“Dear Serqet, you have been chosen to help nurture
the growth of your ancestors. We will not tell you exactly
how to do that, that will be up to your discretion,” proclaimed
Elder Aset.
“ANKH UDJA SENEB. SHEM TCH EM HOTEP,”
they all exclaimed in unison.
As I was lead to the center of the chamber by Elder
HetHeru, her long locks brushed across my forearm as we
walked. Her scent was invigorating to the senses yet calming
to the heart.
This brief encounter with her helped to settle my
nerves and reminded me of my mother. Before Elder
HetHeru parted from me, she opened my palm then suddenly
scratched me across the top of it––it burns.
She smiled, purred, then took her leave to join the
others. She must be trying to tell me something but can’t
say it directly.
Once in the center of the chamber, I eased my body
into the Ma‘at posture. As I spread my arms a finely knit
web of energy draped down from the underside of my
arms. I see that my diligent practice of this posture has
served me well.
The counsel formed a circle around me with their
hands outstretched in the Ka pose. They began chanting
the words of power, getting lower and lower in tone as
they continued. Their voices fluctuated all about my body,
entering my cells and filling them with sweet words of
Hekau.
In my mind’s eye, the image of a young man gradually
became visible, along with a group of youths his age
pursuing him. Without warning, all my senses were bombarded
by his anxiety, causing my body to jerk violently
trying to maintain the posture.
Everything he experienced I received three-fold due to
our difference in sensory perception. My muscles tightened
in my legs and arms, steadily increasing with tension
beyond my immediate control.
Ahhh. I now see how to distance myself enough to
receive information without extreme empathy. Suddenly, a
thin sheet of energy formed between myself and this individual,
allowing me to see the events that were taking
place without experiencing the anguish.
In an instant I became aware of all the major events
that took place on the earth during the last few centuries.
The collage of events that swept through my mind carried
an underlying feeling of despair.
In addition to this, I became acquainted with all their
customs and cultural colloquialisms. Strange. This is the
first time I laid eyes on him yet, I know him the way I’ve
known my brother. This person, called Mike, is my ancestor,
along with the ones pursuing him.
Amazing. I…I know everything about them. It is as
though all their life’s information is being pumped directly
into my memories. Hmmmm. Something else I am
coming to realize, at some point I lost consciousness of my
body and was placed back in my chamber.
I can not recall when it happened or who moved me,
I am only aware of the link between this collective of individuals
and myself. I do not know when the ceremony
ended, but it left me with the awareness of a fine thread of
vibrance attached to the base of my skull.
At the other end of this thread were the five individu-
als. Their thought patterns are so garbled its making me
feel a bit uneasy. Wait....I am unable to move…I am paralyzed.
ARRRGH!!! Trying to move my body brings about
an adverse effect drawing me physically and mentally closer
to their realm. This uneasiness of my vibration diminishing
and my form becoming gross in composition is
stressful. However, the sudden strain on my spirit allowed
me to regain balance but much of my sekhem is spent.
As much as I want to help Mike, all I can do is observe
and wait. I feel helpless. I do not know what to expect to
happen or what exactly I need to do. No one explained
anything to me other than that I am responsible for the
future of my generation.
My only option now is to settle my emotions and
reluctantly watch Mike take a vicious beating from those
who he would eventually call family. This must be what is
referred to as irony.

End Chapter
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IN LIKE FLYNN - 9:30 CST INTERVIEW WITH GAYLE "DELICIOUS" JOHNSON, AUTHOR OF "YOU MIGHT GET LUCKY"

Posted by Penelope on March 6, 2010 at 8:03am


Listen to In Like Flynn on internet talk radio

Join us on the 100% grown folks weekly update by Penelope & Otto telling you all you need to know in news, entertainment politics, current events and finance.

This episode enjoy our can't miss interview with Gayle "Delicious" Johnson, author of the recently released, sexually charged novella of revenge and redemption, "You Might Get Lucky."

Lucky's name seems 100% spot on accurate. Married to a beautiful woman, a father and successful businessman it seems that everything in his life has turned out right. Orphaned at and early age then taken in by loving adoptive parents as a young teen, Lucky really looks to be an appropriate name. But under the smooth surface of success there's trouble brewing as dark secrets of sexual terror and manipulation seek to control and manipulate him and somehow...the name Lucky doesn't seem to fit too well anymore.

Listen as Gayle "Delicious" tells us how she created these shocking and all too real characters!!

Saturday 3/06/2010 9:30pm CST 90 Minutes CLICK ON THE LINK AND JOIN US TONIGHT AT 9:30pm CST and call 718/508-9683 and TELL US WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND!

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Why Science Fiction

Posted by Malcolm Dylan Petteway on March 4, 2010 at 8:43pm
In life we all need role models, someone that shines the light of inspiration to fuel our aspirations. The entertainment media, like books, usually provide that inspiration through strong characters doing the right thing during difficult situations. I am using science fiction to interject positive African American role models into an entertainment media that is bombarded with negative characters that somehow have become role models.

As a child I watched many action adventures, read comic books of superheroes and was captivated by science fiction television shows. However in the seventies, as I entered my teen years I noticed that the role models on television shows and in movies as well as in books were white. Upon further review, I concluded that in the entertainment media African Americans were portrayed as comic relief characters, sidekicks, pimps, hustlers or thieves. I remember having an argument with my friends over who was better, "Shaft" or "Superfly." Needless to say, I was in the minority. Then I noticed most of my peers who feared they would not go to college aspired...actually aspired...to become pimps, hustlers and drug dealers. Unfortunately, about ninety percent succeeded. I attribute this to the lack of role models and the bombardment of negative stereotyping in the entertainment media. So as a teenager, I created my own role models through story form.

In my English and Creative Writing classes, I wrote police dramas, adventure and science fiction stories, with African American protagonists. The story of the Osguards is my science fiction creation that began as an honors English class writing assignment in 1978. It garnered laughs from both white and black students in the class because they could not fathom African Americans as leaders, especially commanders of complex and intricate spaceships. But I received praise from the teacher for a bold effort.
Several years ago, due to a professional setback in my career, I resolved to focus my frustration in a positive manner. So I decided to write. I chose science fiction because of the freedom of imagination the genre allows. It also allows me to inject other genres like mystery, crime, love or adventure stories into it.

My question to you...why do you read science fiction?

Malcolm "Rage" Petteway
http://osguards.com/
http://ragebooks.net/
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IN LIKE FLYNN 9:30PM CST - THE BOOK OF ELI REVIEW!

Posted by Penelope on February 27, 2010 at 9:11pm


Listen to In Like Flynn on internet talk radio

Tonight Penelope & Otto review "The Book of Eli" where all the black women at?! We discuss the Obama Healthcare summit, wonder what's with Atlanta and these ant-abortion 'endangered species' billboards, *Spoiler Alert!* - When is it okay to reveal the big reveal? We give you The In Like Flynn weekly giveaway and bring you the phrase of the week. as well as discussing ways to get you back to work. Come join us on the 100% grown folks weekly update where Penelope & Otto will deliver all you need to know in news, entertainment politics, current events and finance. This and more on this installment of In Like Flynn!

Saturday 2/27/2010 9:30pm CST 90 Minutes CLICK ON THE LINK AND JOIN US TONIGHT AT 9:30pm CST and call 718/508-9683 and TELL US WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND!

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BLACK SUPERHEROES EPISODE -CAPT. BLACK SUPER SHOW.

Posted by CAP BLACK RLSH on February 26, 2010 at 3:00am

TODAY, FEB. 27TH, 2010; NOON Eastern/11AM Central @ www.blogtalkradio.com/nadraenzi to hear or call (347) 426-3902:
Are Dr. King and Malcolm X similar to real life superheroes? What about President Obama?
Do Black "real life superheroes" differ from their peers? Tune in to the Capt. Black Super Show's Black History Month episode www.blogtalkradio.com/nadraenzi where heroism and all forms of creative concerned citizenship are explored.
-NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK
www.captblack.info
Safety Rights Activist/Urban Security Consultant.
(912) 272-2898






















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My take on the killer orca goes a little like this:

Posted by Diane on February 25, 2010 at 11:00pm
Orca1: I'm through with this gig. I want out.
Orca2: Yeah, this is getting old . . .
Orca3: But they give us food.

Orca1: As if that were enough. I've been eyeing some of those
seals in the morning show . . . they look damned tasty. I'm outta here.
I'm not doing a thing they say for the next week. That will make them
think about releasing me.

Orca2: Yeah, no whale games. I'm not bouncing any more balls. Do
I look like Flipper to you? I'm a Killer Whale, dammit! Uh huh. Next
one of them come up to me with that damn whistle and I'm going all
National Geographic on 'em.

Orca3:But . . .

Orca2:Nah, don't get soft! Work stoppage - tomorrow - first show. WHO'S WITH ME?

Orca1: You know I'm in. Got a little sumpthin' for 'em tomorrow.

Orca3: I don't know . . .

Orca1: Shut up before I eat you!

Orca2:Damn, that's harsh. BTW, trainers taste like chicken.
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Black Author wins The Matrix Copyright Infringement Case

Posted by JaeMe Bereal on February 24, 2010 at 10:41am


Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 12:44 AM

Black Author wins The Matrix Copyright Infringement Case
http://webmail.earthlink.net/wam/MsgAttachment?msgid=1008209297&attachno=1">This little known story has met a just conclusion, as Sophia Stewart, African American author of The Matrix will finally receive her just due from the copyright infringement of her original work!!!
A six-year dispute has ended involving Sophia Stewart, the Wachowski Brothers, Joel Silver and Warner Brothers. Stewart's allegations, involving copyright infringement and racketeering, were received and acknowledged by the Central District of California, Judge Margaret Morrow presiding.
Stewart, a New Yorker who has resided in Salt Lake City for the past five years, will recover damages from the films, The Matrix I, II and III, as well as The Terminator and its sequels. She will soon receive one of the biggest payoffs in the history of Hollywood , as the gross receipts of both films and their sequels total over 2.5 billion dollars.
Stewart filed her case in 1999, after viewing the Matrix, which she felt had been based on her manuscript, 'The Third Eye,' copyrighted in 1981. In the mid-eighties Stewart had submitted her manuscript to an ad placed by the Wachowski Brothers, requesting new sci-fi works..
According to court documentation, an FBI investigation discovered that more than thirty minutes had been edited from the original film, in an attempt to avoid penalties for copyright infringement. The investigation also stated that 'credible witnesses employed at Warner Brothers came forward, claiming that the executives and lawyers had full knowledge that the work in question did not belong to the Wachowski Brothers.' These witnesses claimed to have seen Stewart's original work and that it had been 'often used during preparation of the motion pictures.' The defendants tried, on several occasions, to have Stewart's case dismissed, without success.
Stewart has confronted skepticism on all sides, much of which comes from Matrix fans, who are strangely loyal to the Wachowski Brothers. One on-line forum, entitled Matrix Explained has an entire section devoted to Stewart. Some who have researched her history and writings are open to her story.
Others are suspicious and mocking. 'It doesn't bother me,' said Stewart in a phone interview last week, 'I always knew what was true.'
Some fans, are unaware of the case or they question its legitimacy, due to the fact that it has received little to no media coverage. Though the case was not made public until October of 2003, Stewart has her own explanation, as quoted at aghettotymz.com:
'The reason you have not seen any of this in the media is because Warner Brothers parent company is AOL-Time Warner.... this GIANT owns 95 percent of the media... let me give you a clue as to what they own in the media business... New York Times papers/magazines, LA Times papers/magazines, People Magazine, CNN news, Extra, Celebrity Justice, Entertainment Tonight, HBO, New Line Cinema, DreamWorks, Newsweek, Village Roadshow and many, many more! They are not going to report on themselves. They have been suppressing my case for years.'
Fans who have taken Stewart's allegations seriously, have found eerie mythological parallels, which seem significant in a case that revolves around the highly metaphorical and symbolic Matrix series. Sophia, the Greek goddess of wisdom has been referenced many times in speculation about Stewart. In one book about the Goddess Sophia, it reads, 'The black goddess is the mistress of web creation spun in her divine matrix.'
Although there have been outside implications as to racial injustice (Stewart is African American), she does not feel that this is the case. 'This is all about the Benjamins,' said Stewart. 'It's not about money with me. It's about justice.'
Stewart's future plans involve a record label, entitled Popsilk Records, and a motion picture production company, All Eyez On Me, in reference to God. 'I wrote The Third Eye to wake people up, to remind them why God put them here. There's more to life than money,' said Stewart. 'My whole to the world is about God and good and about choice, about spirituality over 'technocracy'.'
If Stewart represents spirituality, then she truly has prevailed over the 'technocracy' represented in both the Terminator and the Matrix, and now, ironically, by their supposed creators.
Stewart is currently having discussions with CBS about a possible exclusive story and has several media engagements in the near future to nationally publicize her victory. June 13th 2004. Sophia Stewart's press release read: 'The Matrix & Terminator movie franchises have made world history and have ultimately changed the way people view movies and how Hollywood does business, yet the real truth about the creator and creation of these films continue to elude the masses because the hidden secret of the matter is that these films were created and written by a Black woman...a Black woman named Sophia Stewart. But Hollywood does not want you to know this fact simply because it would change history. Also it would encourage our Black children to realize a dream and that is...nothing is impossible for them to achieve!'
Greg Thomas, Editor
Please circulate!

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Reconcilliation Please!!!

Posted by Valjeanne Jeffers on February 23, 2010 at 8:30pm

Lord knows I love me some Brother President. But I have lost patience with him when it comes to his trying to negotiate with Republicans.
Facts:

#1 290 bills passed by the house are sitting in the Senate because Republican Senators refuse to vote on them
#2 The Gop is misusing filibusters to hold up legislations (they have "spiked") since Obama took office
#3 Democrats have allowed the GOP to chip away at Obama's health care plan (killing the public option) and haven't gotten a damn thing for it.</p>
#4 Obama's health care would save billions over a ten year period and create jobs.

Its time for President Obama to scrap bi-partisanship and the Democrats to call for up or down (majority) votes. In other words reconcilliation.
Sisters and Brothers what say you?

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Matrix Controversy...What's the deal?

Posted by Yolanda Hollingsworth on February 21, 2010 at 3:46pm
Can anyone fill me in on the deal concerning true ownership of the script (or charged "theft" of it) by a black woman sci fi writer? What is the scoop? Most importantly, what are the opinions and facts by some of our members on this site. Last I read, the author filing for the charge did not show in court and the case was dismissed contrary to other reports saying she won the case. What is the deal? Thanks
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Gems of Memory (Revisited)

Posted by Antony Kamau on February 21, 2010 at 6:30am

It was not so long ago that I posted this poem, but I wish to revisit it because it represents something special.

Loss of a loved one can be sorely devastating, and it may take years to come to terms with it. Someone once told me that the pain of a loss doesn't diminish, but rather someone develops the strength and endurance tobear it. Jewelery can sometimes seem to possess a part of a loved one;a little piece of their soul. The wedding band, engagement ring, familyheirloom; these hold such significance to our lives in relation tothose who have gone before us.

Theevents in this poem are based on truth, something that happened. Ittells of the journey of two loved ones who experience an incrediblebond, as the life of one of them nears the end. The other has to musterall the courage they can to watch the one they love pass on. It is truesome bonds can never be broken, their substance undiluted even untodeath.




upon six gems we struck a covenant,
to be as one among the chaos of our youth
to bond our hearts of jade and azure,
to an unlikely perfect graft

a mystic of sentiment you were
a chestful of gold-lings and shinies
the sparkle at the summit of passion found
the gentle whisper of a diamond brook

but your brilliance hid the crack in your refraction
a weakness you hid to preserve my integrity
and as you slowly splintered,
I motioned you make house with me

you slowly lost your luster
and I shuddered in silence
as deep down I knew,
the Gem Maker was calling you home

at the failing of shines,
we made our vows
the imprint of our eternal memory,
and the band of six jewels a testament to our union

you were broken and I could not mend you
and I tried to shine brighter for the both of us
but I could not fix your center
and you gave up your last light in mine hands

image created by Antony Kamau

Originally posted at:

http://gladysmoore.blogspot.com/2009/11/gems-of-memory-revisited.html
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Book Review on Shadow Valley

Posted by Malcolm Dylan Petteway on February 14, 2010 at 7:10pm

By Steven Barnes

Del Rey Books

Hardcover: 272 pages

Publisher: Del Rey (May 5, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0345459032

ISBN-13: 978-0345459039

Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.6 x 1 inches

Steven Barnes is probably one of the best science fiction writers of our time. His poetic mastery of the written word paints a beautiful worlds and characters that charge a story for the reader into a fantastic fantasy. Mr. Barnes has ignited African folklore with his Great Sky Woman, into the main stream and continued the explosion with his book Shadow Valley.

Shadow Valley picks up where Great Sky Woman left off. A majority of the Ibandi people wander north from Mount Kilimanjaro, hoping to escape the mighty spear of the Mk*tk. They are led by Great Sky Woman and Frog Hopping, the two people who survived the climb up the mountain to speak with their god. The trek is trek is long, perilous and very arduous. Many turn back, and some of those that remain, are full of doubt. Meanwhile, a new leader rises from those who remained in the shadow of the Great Mountain…a leader full of anger and power, just the right potent mixture for revenge. What he believes he brings to the Mk*tk is death, but in reality, he brings the devastation to what is left of the Ibandi people left at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Eventually, the two strands of Ibandi survivors meet and a struggle for power consumes them, while their enemy the Mk*tk approach. The survival of their people rests on their decisions and actions. Do they fight amongst themselves and let the victor lead, or do they band together to fight a common foe?

Mr. Barnes writes with such vivid realistic detail that the reader feels they are there, witnessing history unfold in front of their eyes. Mr. Barnes makes the Ibandi become family, pushing buttons of fear, love and hate. I have become a fan of African folklore science fiction.

I recommend Shadow Valley as a must read. But you must start with Great Sky Woman to really appreciate this read.


Malcolm “RAGE” Petteway
Rage Books LLC

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