Category: Story

A Project Worth Backing – Pink Moon

“Pink Moon” by Sal Bardo

‘Two teens are forced to hide an unintended pregnancy in a society where heterosexuals are persecuted and abortion is forbidden.’

Pink Moon

You can learn more about the film, hear the creator, and learn how to contribute on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/355574023/pink-moon

 

You can also find it on Facebook, on Twitter

Sal Bardo’s Website: http://www.salbardo.com/bio.php

You can also read more on the Huffington Post.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE: One of Aesop’s Fables

The Tortoise and the Hare Project Gutenberg etext 19994

 

A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.

“Do you ever get anywhere?” he asked with a mocking laugh.

“Yes,” replied the Tortoise, “and I get there sooner than you think. I’ll run you a race and prove it.”

The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.

The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.

The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.

Sometimes we need the reminder of a simple lesson.


Source: Project Gutenberg

News Of Interest

Ex-governor of Virginia indicted after corruption probe

Jan 21 (Reuters) – Former Virginia governor Robert McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges including fraud and false statements after an investigation into loans and gifts from a supporter, court papers filed on Tuesday said.

Source: Reuters

 

1 Dead in Purdue Shooting; Suspect in Custody

A man opened fire Tuesday inside a basement classroom at Purdue University, killing one person and prompting officials to send a text alert to students telling them to seek shelter, police and the university said.

The suspect, who is believed to have targeted the man who was shot, surrendered to a police officer within minutes of the attack at the Electrical Engineering Building, Purdue Police Chief John Cox said.

Source: ABC News

 

Nearly 3,000 US Flights Cancelled As Snow Hits Northeast

More than 2,900 flights into, out of, and within the U.S. have been cancelled today, as the Northeast braces for another wave of freezing weather and heavy snow.

Source: SFGate

 

$1 Billion for a Perfect N.C.A.A. Bracket, Courtesy of Warren Buffett

Each March, tens of millions of brackets are filled out in the hopes of predicting the outcome of the N.C.A.A.’s men’s basketball tournament. But the odds that a bracket will be perfect, that is, every game guessed correctly, are long — to the tune of 9.2 quintillion to one.

Source: NYTimes

 

Pope to global elite: Do more for poor

n an address read by Cardinal Peter Turkson at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics said it was intolerable that thousands die each day from hunger.The pope urged leaders to adopt a new “political and business mentality” and to put their skills to work for the benefit of those living in dire poverty.

Source: CNN

 

HOW SECURE IS MY PASSWORD? IF IT’S ON THIS ‘MOST COMMON PASSWORDS’ LIST, NOT VERY

If your password is “123456” or ”Password,” you’re doing Internet security wrong — and you’re not alone. According to password-management firm SplashData, which analyzed passwords that hackers posted online last year, the top two most common passwords are “123456,” and “Password.” Good job, people. 

Source: Bustle

Bella (Pt. 2)

Winter princess 1501314

 

Bella awoke to find her window frost covered, hard white light poured through the lace curtains telling her it had snowed during the night. Not as if she needed such a sign, she could almost feel the crystalline kisses of dancing snow flakes on her skin. With a smile, she slipped out of bed, dressed, then went downstairs.

Her desire to be outside was almost a physical force driving her toward the door, but she made herself detour into the kitchen for breakfast. She almost laughed at herself then, remembering the times her mother had to drag her back into the house on a snowy December morning, trying not to laugh at her daughters protests as she was herded to the table for hot oatmeal, toast, and juice.

“Every young lady must eat a good breakfast,” Mother would say, “even snow princesses.”

Every time she would sit and pout while she ate, never willing to admit she was indeed hungry or the fact she loved oatmeal on a cold morning.
She stopped at the front door, being careful to put on her coat, hat, and gloves. She didn’t really need them but others seemed to get upset when they saw her outside without them, telling her such things as;

“You’ll catch your death out here,” as Mrs. Periwinkle would call to her from the house next door.

Or, “You’ll get pneumonia, being out here like that,” would snarl Mr. Witherspoon, who lived on their street but was also the post man, though most people agreed he only did it so he could see Miss. Norma in her sleeping gown each morning.

Now it was “Dear, what would your Mother say?” 

Bella would smile and call herself forgetful or a silly ninny, but she knew exactly what her Mother would have said;

“Sweetheart, your going to set the neighbors to talking again.” 

Coffee Break – A Short Story

Gabby looked through the steam rising from her coffee. The liquid so hot it threatened to burn her through the styrofoam.

 Somewhere behind her came a voice thick with disgust,

“Filthy beggars, all they want is money to buy more booze.”

She did’t have to look to see who had spoken, she had heard the same thing or a variation countless times and sometimes they were accurate, she couldn’t deny such a sad truth, yet she saw it as no reason not to be kind when given the chance. She didn’t know someones story. There could be countless reasons why a person found themselves down and out, living on the unforgiving streets and none of them mattered, really. A person in need was a person in need regardless of the cause. 

“Here you go, Miss,” the vendor gave her a gap toothed smile as he handed her a cardboard container with four more steaming drinks.

She returned the smile with a “Thank you” along with a ten and a wave, “Keep the change.”

She crossed the street with the light and headed to the far corner where four  men stood huddled around a steam vent in the sidewalk.

One, his coat two sizes too big and shabby from long use turned as she approached. He was wearing a ‘Bud Lite’ ball cap on top of a overflowing mane of silver hair which fell into his tired grey eyes. His mouth, barely seen through a thick mustache and grizzled beard, curved into a smile as his eyes caught what she was holding.

“Here dad, something to warm you and the boys.”

Sunday Update: Sever Weather Strikes MidWest

Latest Update: 1 man confirmed dead, dozens injured in Sunday’s storms.

 

Until this point in time I have felt it was important to not disclose any information regarding where I live, just in the off chance someone who knows me or a member of my family happen upon this blog. Today I found it is no longer as important, not just because I have become more open about who I am but because of what happened near to where I live and to people I know.

A has spoken to some of her family who live out of state so we know what happened has made the national news.

This morning into the early afternoon saw our area ponded by sever storms which included a number of tornados. Thankfully the closest one got to us was several miles, but those miles are covered by neighborhoods. There was damage, but it seems no loss of life but other nearby towns were not as fortunate.

Wasahington Ill

This is a picture of Washington Ill. A town I lived in for several years as a child. At the time this subdivision didn’t exist and now, all these years later it is gone again… There were hundreds of homes and businesses  damaged or destroyed.

Here are some additional pictures from Washington which took a direct hit from the storm.

Washington Ill2

Washington Ill3

There are many more photos online but I think you get an idea of the incredible devastation. At last report, there were at least 30 people taken to local hospitals with 8 of those in critical condition. There has also been 2 deaths reported though I haven’t seen any information to confirm this.

There are thousands of people without power tonight and many of the damaged areas have been evacuated. There is also local curfews and people have been advised to stay away due to down power lines and water main breaks.

I’ll be sure to do updates as more information becomes available.

A Little More

It isn’t much, but I have been so busy today I didn’t get the chance to write a proper post, so here is a little more from “Bella”

Oh, and below is an idea for the cover. Unfortunately, it’s too big to use in my novel information for NaNoWriMo.

 

Bella Cover

 

Bella sat at the kitchen table, her breakfast ignored as she watched the first soft, white flakes drift past the window. She smiled and a soft gasp escaped her lips. She wanted to run outside, to feel each flake on her finger tips, her cheeks and nose. To let them create an lacy veil of crystal upon her hair. She wanted to dance and sing to the wonder of the new Winter. To greet the biting winds with open arms.Such was not to be she knew. Today would be spent inside a classroom even though her heart would be out there, swirling in glittering patterns.
Stepping out the door she breathed deeply of the crisp air. Snowflakes swirled about her as if joyous ballet and she couldn’t help but laugh.  She moved in slow circles, arms outstretched, letting them dace across her hands. Her head fell back, they landed with cold butterfly kisses to tickle her cheeks. For a moment she was able to forget the world and just dance.

“Your going to miss your bus if you keep fooling around, girl!” 

Her Mother’s voice cut across the silence and brought her back to reality with jarring clarity. Yes, the bus. She couldn’t afford to miss it. Letting a mask of indifference settle across her features, she turned and made her way to her stop but not before a whispered, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She thought she heard gentle laughter on the wind in answer.