Now reading Mary Shelley's Frakenstein. Never read it before but have enjoyed the mythos over the years. And because, by now, you know I'm going to ask it:

What are you reading?

Everyone knows I am a big fan of Mortal Kombat. I was disappointed with the last installment. Neat graphics but nothing else. That's all about to change. Mortal Kombat: Deception adds a real quest mode, hidden weapons, multi-level arenas, death traps, interactive environments and Kombat Chess--a true warrior's game. Check out the preview on this month's X-Box Magazine Demo Disk.

FIGHT!

Rented and just watched for the second time: The Chronicles or Riddick: Dark Fury. Wow...it's spectacular....animation for adults. Brought to you by the same people who brought you Aeon Flux and The Animatrix. The latter of which, I also enjoyed. I've not yet seen either of the theatrical movies or read any of the books. That is about to change.

Rob Halford fills in for Ozzy. And it was his birthday. Happy Birthday Rob. I'd love to have been there.

Just added to the Misery Signal music feed: Krist Novosellic's Sweet 75 and Eyes Adrift. Thanks Steve for finding the names of those bands for me.

The Misery Signal: Get it before it gets you!

Radio's wounded business model. Archived this one for future thoughts of my own on the topic.

Nobius is the way.

Because it only feels like paranoia.

Great BLOG. The conspiracy is out there.

Apparat unveiled. Warren Ellis's "imaginary" comic line. Looks very good indeed.

From the Neil Gaiman website/blog: A Study in Emerald.

Damage Plan and Shadows Fall to embark on new tour. Better start saving my pennies, these are two of my favorite new acts.

Nirvana's Krist Novosellic to go on a book signing tour. Definitely, I'll have to check that out. I still need to buy Kurt Cobain's Journals.

What if you saw your future...
But you weren't in it!

That's the tagline for a story I'm working on called Teenage Seer.

More later.

What would you do?

"Military intelligence. Two words combined that can't make sense." -Megadeth

The U.S Army's professional reading list.

"The Professional Reading List is a way for leaders at all levels to increase their understanding of our Army’s history, the global strategic context, and the enduring lessons of war. The topics and time periods included in the books on this list are expansive and are intended to broaden each leader’s knowledge and confidence. I challenge all leaders to make a focused, personal commitment to read, reflect, and learn about our profession and our world. Through the exercise of our minds, our Army will grow stronger."

-Peter J. Schoomaker, Chief of Staff, Army

"I can't hold on enough. I can't stay down enough. I can't take pain enough. I can't breathe fast enough. I can't die dead enough!" --Megadeth

Die Puny Humans has posted this great link. Forty six thousand voters are registered to vote in New York City and Florida.

Can you say potential voter fraud?

I knew you could.

Will this election be a replay of the 2000 election?

You bet it will.

On Septemeber 14th the system will fail. Check out the e-card/preview at: Megadeth.com.

The System has Failed.

New overtime rules are going into effect. But just what are they? Labor says it will strip workers of over time. Business claims it's to avoid needless litigation. But again I say what exactly are the new rules? I've looked high and low and can't find the rules spelled out in "plain" English.

"I spent the last night screaming!" -- Filter

And though you can't see it. Now I can. I've added Quick Edit Links so I can fix those multitude of posting mistakes that I make easily! And again, I inserted the HTML manually. There is hope for me after all.

From a conversation earlier tonight:

"...I do like having an alterego.

Nobius is me.

But only sometimes.

Sometimes he is someone else."

And I have installed BLOGGER comments all by my little lonesome.

Goodbye Haloscan, hello emails notifications that I have posts!

Maybe I'm not so stupid.

It even allows me to turn commenting off and on by post.

The only downside I see is sometimes it takes a minute for the comments a user leaves to appear on the BLOG. Not yet sure, if I can delete individual comments.

And now, I will Vulcan neck pinch you all!

I'm trying out ICQ...nice interface but I rarely chat online. However, you might catch me occassionally. ID number is: 326820181.

Shadow's Fall has a new album coming out! These guys are the rightful inheritors to the legacy of bands like Slayer and Megadeth.

Online schools clicking with students.

When the time is right, this is how I'll return to college.

Looks like I may have found some help for my template blues. Stolen Rabbit and I have a few things in common too.

*Successful people take the attitude that there are no failures, just temporary setbacks. If you truly desire something, learn to stand up to any obstacle that may appear. Sometimes you must put 'Plan B' into operation when 'Plan A' isn't paying the rent."-- Mary Kay Ash (founder of May Kay Cosmetics)

Tried to email blog this from work when I ran across it this afternoon but that didn't work. Like this quote, as I evaluate how I can make more money in my life but still keep balanced. I've done a good job of being balanced for the first time in my life. I need to keep that but I have to do what I have to do as well. I need Plan B. Something will come together, I know it. And I did get that spiffy new position at work. I'll tell you more about that once it's "official".

And I did three audio blog posts last night that still haven't shown up. I wonder why?

UPDATE: I'll leave it all up so you can see. Amazingly, nearly everything appears except for two of my audio posts. Weird. And I have no idea why the one post ended up staying in purple. I think it's time to research and write The Idiot's guide to BLOGGER.

I am thinking of cool ideas that could be used with email blogging especially once images can be added.

*Successful people take the attitude that there are no failures, just temporary setbacks. If you truly desire something, learn to stand up to any obstacle that may appear. Sometimes you must put 'Plan B' into operation when 'Plan A' isn't paying the rent." --Mary Kay Ash (founder of May Kay Cosmetics)

This is a blog by email from work.  I won't be able to see it until I get home, but this is the thought that is on my mind.  This is the situation I am in.

Me reading my poem Light.

Light

Under water
A man cannot live
Especially while being held down.

You, my love, are the Light
At the end of the tunnel.
Flesh and bones melt
Until all that is left is the Dark.

And in these beautiful last days
The walk to the grave
Is the most beautiful march.

Behold,
All of my friends.

...And flowers.

This is a blog by email test:

"Baby, it's not the love you give. It's the bullet you take."

Now I got blog by email to work, but it seems to be causing problems with Audio Blogger because I had to change my user name. ARRGGHH! Unless Audio Blogger is down?

Okay, my BLOG by Email doesn't work. It appears to me because there is a space between my name.

I'm now going to go kick something.

Or someone.

Hmm...well I emailed my first attempt at blogging via email sometime ago. And it's not here...

Still...

However, I didn't get the email returned.

So, the question is, where did it go?

I need some BLOGGER template changes, and though I can do simple ones I've not been successful with major changes. I'm willing to barter/pay for someone to do them for me. This is what I need:

1) Get rid of Haloscan and add BLOGGER commenting.
2) Add a text box for my BLOG description: 'Thoughts fall out before the head explodes.'
3) All links in the link boxes open in new session of Explorer.
4) Add the new quick edit links.

That's really about it. They're not life changing. The real key piece is the BLOGGER commenting which I tried to install last night and nearly destroyed my template. Good thing for back ups!

If you're interested email: nobius at gmail.com.

Thanks

BTW...I did check out this site that may be just what I'm looking for: http://embellished.org/beautify.

Gonna cruise Amazon for some used HTML books or something here shortly. I can't memorize this stuff, I need a good reference. I'm HTML impaired.

Got the template fixed now if I could just figure out how to add those quick edit links and I'm still debating on whether or not to add BLOGGER commenting and trash the Haloscan.

Love the new Navbar accross the top of the screen. Those Pyra guys are finally up to something that works...with built in site search. The only things I don't like are that it's covering up the top part of my template and the still doesn't take you to the individual entry...only to the page. But hey, it's still cool. Now to see if I can fix that template.

I love The Misery Signal. Listening to Alice Cooper's Poison--one of the greatest songs ever. I mean it. Just heard Incubus's Talk Shows On Mute. This is too cool.

I had this thought in my head. In a few years, your cell phone will have the processing power of your computer. Someday, you may be able to use a cell to create the way Industrial, Light, and Magic creates Star Wars special effects today. The possibilities are endless.

I'd just be happy with streaming audio hardwired into my brain. A little something to drown out the screaming.

Blogging this one for my wife and oldest daughters who are huge Harry Potter fans. I like Harry but it thus far hasn't inspired me to go beyond reading the first book and watching the first two movies. I am considering rereading the first book and reading all of the rest. It would definitely give my kids and I something else to talk about. Especially since Harry is their Luke Skywalker.

The ultimate Jason Newsted fan appreciation site: Jasonizer. Former Metallica member, Newsted is the ultimate metal bassist on a quest to promote quality metal music. Rumor has it the guy even played a free show for a twelve year old neighbor's birthday party. I love this guy! Rock on Jason, we're with you brother.

I'm reading another one of the kid's book's A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was adapted into a very touching movie in the mid 90's.

I love the author introduction: Frances Hodgson Burnett was born a story teller. Even as a young child, her greatest pleasure was in making up stories and acting them out, using her dolls as characters. She wrote over forty books, including the classic The Secret Garden.

I did something similar as a child myself and am working on letting the muse out.

Again I ask all of you, "What are you reading?"

These are my kids. You got a problem with that! :)

Now that all the APA members have had time to read this. A contribution from the APA Centauri by myself and Central Mailer Andrew Lane:

INSPIRED: A COLLABORATION
Andrew Lane meets Nobius Black Book I

In my pursuit to learn how to write poetry, I once read a book called, Talking Back to Poetry. The book's premise was simply this: To learn to write, study the poetry of your favorite authors and then attempt to rewrite inspirational works in your own voice. At the time, I never tried it.

A few weeks ago, that idea wandered back into my mind while reading Andrew's work in a recent APA. It was at that point, I approached him with the idea of trading and rewriting each other's poetry.

The collection you are about to read is much like a good record of cover tunes. Something borrowed, something new, something inspired. Andrew and I have created works evocative of the old yet different with lives of their own...a new journey in each piece... two head trips for the price of one.

We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did writing it.

Part One: Andrew Writes, Nobius Responds.

EMERGENCY

I look like an extraction from a slice of unnamed lore
You say one caress overturned your world
Well the look that I'm puttin' out
Would overturn and then some

I shall indeed keep force-feeding you my words - you'll choke
Like one young lover doling out amour on another
Trying to out-love the competition
Dangling that carrot innocently

This life on the road squeezes the pulp out of me
The fantasy's fine for now but what about the near future
The perfect discords of my jazz radio sing out a thought -
I shall simply have to run faster.

EMERGENCY II

I from an unmarked grave
An un-named story book
A fairy tale gone wrong.
My Eyes - The Freeze Warning
Will stop you cold or trance you "just" my way.
A look of love and coiling snakes.
Hang on my every word
Beautiful Noose
Speak. Choke.
A horse and carrot
Love at arm's length.

Road life squeezes the pulp out of me
Town to town drinking my orange juice and vodka
Fine for now until you plea, "What about the future?"

What about it?
My stratocaster screams
She asks, she knows
Baby, can't fall in love this gig ain't over yet.
I shall simply run faster.

__________

WORDS ON BUILDINGS

Cold air hurts my head as I walk
A warmer breath escapes from my nostril
'Blood for oil' black on cold cement
Another death means fuel for the fossils

Bitten nails over senseless panic
As I try to make sense of the world's ways
A return to mixing state and religion
Makes me drop to my knees and pray for aid

'No peace in capitalism'
'No War'
'Stop the bleeding'
It goes on and on.
It rambles on and on.
Words on buildings.
In the business district.
Of a capitalist nation.
Doesn't get much accomplished.
Someone gets to show off.
That's all.

The cold air keeps hurting my head as I walk
And the warm breath escapes my lips when I talk
And the buildings just stand there and listen.
Unfortunately they can't talk back.

WORDS ON BUILDINGS II: "Rally"

No War.
No peace in capitalism.
No blood for oil.
Stop the Bleeding.
Signs at the peace rally-
Reflecting Pool tears.
The only sign I wait for:
Angels to bring him back.
My dead son.
And a nation named Iraq.

No sense to be made
Of this world's wicked ways.
Or saints who fly planes into buildings
And Presidents who talk to God.
Holy Father-- killing in the name of.

No War
No peace in capitalism.
No blood for oil.
Stop the bleeding.
Heal my heart.

__________


THE WATERSHED

Last night I was downed in a hotel bed
Rolling around trying to cushion my head
When the heat came on a tad too strong
And I decided to move to the watershed

So now I'm sitting in an office chair
Exploring how life's a wee bit unfair
When I get food delivered to me
That the boys in white won't even let me share

One big city's just another big city
With its bells and whistles, its ugly and pretty
The little town's got a little character
Which isn't for sale to a planning committee

Well I say hooray for the middleman
Pushing papers 'neath the sun on the sand
He may just be a tad smarter than me
Working the system to his own commands

I can't help but be the grinding type
Being alone and avoiding the hype
I find it easier to suffer
At the drainage end of the pipe.

THE WATERSHED II: "Bottom"

It always flows down hill
When you sit at the drainage end
Of the pipe. (Of life).
Comes from above.
Faceless leaders,
Company men with no names.

He is smarter than me.
(College educated with
that fine blue pressed suit.)
She is better than me.
Company eyes force self-esteem low.
Performance review sway our own images.
We are our careers,
Even when we don't want to be.

Life unfair.
While those frat boys were partying.
While my boss was a spoiled rich kid.
I was burying my Dad.

And then myself.
__________

FREE RENT

Tripped up over and falling all around
Insane world got me bent to the ground
Seedling bloom come darkness of night
Lives looking across the ocean in fright
Ramble down up top to both of the sides
Shaking up order on the popsicle rides

No matter if you're over here or over there
You're gonna fall down tumblin'
The same set of stairs

Time to check in on the barstool crew
Same old faces in the same old brew
Up to the top might happen one daytime
Insulin blasts to help out those enzymes
Scooting along down the middle of a road
Squashing lilypads ladybugs lizards and toads

No matter if you're over here or over there
You're gonna fall down tumblin'
The same set of stairs

Run-around girls making boys look bad
Sniffle a bit then pout and look sad
Take another peak at the barstool boys
Wearing silly grins to cover their joys
Take the mask off show the pumpkin's face
Shine jack-o-lantern orange from outer space

No matter if you're over here or over there
You're gonna fall down tumblin'
The same set of stairs

In time to learn from pupils of life
Climbs shallow mountains boots with spikes
I've got a thought I'd like to share
Maybe you've a life you'd like to spare
Take the mask off showing signs of age
And feeling beneath the feathers to rage

No matter if you're over here or over there
You're gonna fall down tumblin'
The same set of stairs

Down below in the cellar chasing rats
One can hear the sound of contented cats
Rose bush sprawled out bumble bees
Young man drops down on to his knees
The stairs are steep but the bar is grooved
I don’t know how these people can move

No matter if you're over here or over there
You're gonna fall down tumblin'
The same set of stairs

Well I fell asleep too late last night
My front and my back locked up in a fight
Either way I was bound to lose
Unless one won and I had to choose
It's time like this when I wish I could fly
Way on up in the innocent sky

No matter if you're over here or over there
You're gonna fall down tumblin'
The same set of stairs.

FREE RENT II: "Genie"

Just one more potion
One more spell.
My lover said,
"Just one more drink"
Before she fell.

Night after night.
Same set of stairs.
I was picking you up.
Can't live with out.
This life isn't fair.

My baby rubbed the wrong bottle.
Too many years.
NoGenie inside
Jeanie on the pavement.
It's where she drank herself to death.

Night after night.
Same set of stairs.
I was picking you up.
Can't live without you.
This life isn't fair.

What about me?
Enabler.
Disabler.
Who will pick me up?
And my many pieces of heart.
__________

HUG

We're like old friends who've never met
We're like twin embryos in different wounds
We're like blood brothers in a cryogenic state
We're like birds of a feather flying miles apart

We really aren't that much different
You're in your space, I'm in mine
Let's join spaces - dare to overlap
Venture into that common sliver on a Ven diagram

And hug

HUG II: "V" (Inspired by Alan Moore and Andrew Lane)

I love you dear.
I love you true.
Even though we've never met.
Man or woman -- matters not.
Only your flesh
And your blood.

Can't hold you hand.
Don't know your face.
This wall that separates.
This space between.
No prison can hold our humanity down.

Someday, I dream it will all fall.
A victory in Berlin.
Brick my brick,
Piece by piece my love.
We-no different
They can take our freedom
But they'll never take our hearts.
__________

Part Two: Nobius Writes, Andrew Responds

TASER GiRL

--Oh my walking wounded
living zombie
prozak super woman.

Be strong,
suck it up bitch.

It's all just in your head.

TASER GiRL II: "Shelved"

Oh you show only your good side
As you roam around blind
You're dark on the inside
We've all known your kind

As you feed your brain
You lose sight of yourself
And your eyes ever strain
At your life on a shelf

__________


WORD'S WORTH

Word's Worth seems small--
If I can not tell you,
If I can not say how I feel inside.

The price to open my heart
Is one not easy to pay.
The high cost of feeling,
Stealing all of me again.
Why pour it all out--so it can suck me dry?
I am not...am I?
The many faces of me.
Set the sun, I want to sleep now.

Word's worth seems small,
Doesn't matter at all.
If I can not tell you,
If I can not say,
How I feel inside.

WORD'S WORTH II: "Communication Breakdown"

I wish I could stop
Slow down
Stop thinking
Find a way to really communicate
I'll tell you once I've almost made it
And I'll tell you in words
Spoken
And you'll finally see
How the inside feels to me

Sadly it's a man size world
And the pressure hits me hard

__________


JUST SOUTH OF POOR

just south of poor
is can't meet the needs
and making ends meet
Main Street's dreams broken
something missing from the dinner table (bread of life)
when we are not able
shirt off backs worn thin
in our America
can't take a nation back
can't look in the mirror
can't be what I wanna be
or who I should be/could be
scratching for pennies
there's not enough
the price tag too high.
You sir, are worth nothing.
in my crumpled best suit, with fading blue tie
'pole' bearer for the casket that carries middle class
a funeral for the masses
to the others
I do say, "I think we've arrived.
We're just south of poor."

JUST SOUTH OF POOR II: "Gather ’Round The Barrel"

'Short life of trouble'
Plunging through poverty

When there's no money to spend
You finally have people to spend it on

Got to look past the dollar
And hold your best friend's hand

Gather round the burning barrel
Pass around what you've got
And reach a point where you no longer care
And you're ready to fade

Maybe fall asleep tonight
But who really cares?

Maybe wake up tomorrow
But who really cares?

The soup kitchen's open
But the liquor store's closed
So the soup kitchen stays empty
Yet the wealthy feel fulfilled
Like they've done their duty
"to feed the poor"
A few flaunt in cashmere
Many hold hands 'round the barrel

__________


I WASHED AWAY

I washed away,
From the sand-sin beach
Into an ocean-of-killers.
The time that distracts me.

And through the slowly opening
doors-of-our-life-together.
I call out.
No, I scream,
"Let my angel live!"
Religion doesn't do me.

I WASHED AWAY II: "Life After Life"

Prayers for help
As I cry to be accepted
By one who accepts all
In a world of non acceptance
Trying to find the magic cure
In a world of realism

As I exist on I near the end
A beginning becomes possible

When my airwaves close
I take the first breath
When I die
I am born
And I live

__________

TIDAL PAST

The past is creeping up on me--
An ocean tide grown high.
Memories once receded,
Come back.
Flowing over my sand mind--
My shore--
Bringing back all the things that were out to sea.

TIDAL PAST II: "New Life"

Looking back is no longer a choice
Straight up ahead I hear a child's voice.
A new me?
An infant's infinite reflection
Shadowing a father's perfection
'Bringing back all the things that were out to sea'

-FIN-

"There is no suit of armor that can protect you from the dark. Just let your guard down and the sword will hit the mark." --Metal Church

My Comments are no longer showing on my archives. Anyone have any idea why? I tried republishing the entire BLOG and the Index...both to no avail.

More original writing soon, I promise. Finishing my current issue of The Blue Rabbit Chronicles.

My first audio post. BTW, audioblogger is now free.

And it occured to me, that I've never posted this small poem though it's appeared elsewhere.

Dark

We are all dark.
In this world--
Turn on the light, like vampires melt.
Shine the moon, suck your dry.
Emotion -- the hardest thing.
Rationality and truth are a lie of the mind.
God help me...
It's dark in here.

Just added War Babies and Asphault Ballet to the Misery Signal.

"I can't make you love me. No matter how hard I try." --Quiet Riot

"Out of my way. I'm comin' like a freight train right on through you...Don't kill yourself to live." --Pro-Pain

And still further proof that no matter where I go, no matter what I do, the black cloud follows me.

In the middle of the night, a pipe on the upstairs bathroom sink exploded filling most of my living room ceiling with water. Of course, we were asleep, so Lord only knows how long this went on. My oldest daughter discovered this little gem about four something this morning and yours truly has been up ever since. Not sure if the TV or X-box is ruined, looks like the DVD player is toast. Funny thing is my Landlord was just over to fix it on Friday.

I hate clouds.

The Misery Signal is on.

Call it Nobius Radio if you will. This is what my head sounds like.

I'm interested to see what you think of it. From metal standards to nu metal...hard rock to grunge...Tori and Alanis. Listen to the sound feed of my emotion, my work, my life. You may be pleasantly surpised at some of the artists I've included in it.

If you have a link to your own station ...send it along and I'll let you know what I think.

And when I die the words on my grave will be quite apt:

He Lived. He was. He rocked!

"Step Down. Step Down." -- Incubus

Patch Management 101 ....yeah right. For some reason, sometime ago the automatic update for Windows XP vanished off my system, and though I've reset it several times it doesn't work. Tried having the Windows update site scan my system for what I don't have and it gives me loads and loads of updates, many of which I know are installed. Help! Someone! All this tech's got my head spinning.

I need to get my computer skills updated including learning some HTML and Visual BASIC but I don't even know where to start. Does anyone have some good advice?

On vacation, next week so I'll be taking some time to write. I have a number of things that need to go up here still, and two APA contributions I want to finish and mail in.

Looks like I'll be getting a new position at work soon. I'm very excited. More on that later.

My Internet Radio addiction grows as I'm cuing up Md.45 and S.O.D. as well as loads of other bands I haven't even gotten a chance to hear yet. Working on my music review skills and I have some ideas to use them. You know what they say about all things tech: You love it, you hate it, you shoot it.

And now, I have found the joy of music vidoes on the Internet. I just watched Iced Earth's two latest videos on Launch! Wow! They were really good. And to MTV, I give you the big one finger salute. Even Headbangers Ball can't compare to this.

"Our days are never coming back" --System of a Down

"All are gone. All but one." --Megadeth

I've been a bit light on the BLOGGING lately. But, don't worry I haven't forgotten about it. In fact, I'm trying to block up some free time to work only on my creative writing...so many vampires...so little time.

Right now however, I'm using most of my free time to catch up on my reading. I literally have stacks of books that I'm trying to finish.

Been working on some stuff for the APA including my Warren Ellis Special.

I've also been fooling with my 'own' Yahoo: Launchcast internet radio station. Very, very cool sh*t indeed. This is one of the promises of the internet. I'll put the link up to it as soon as I've got my play list decided. But let me give you some hints, artists playing include A Perfect Circle, Tool, ProPain, Tori Amos, Slayer, Megadeth, System of a Down, Budgie, and Seether. Now how cool is that? I mean Tori playing between cuts by Sepultura and Misfits? Haaah...I luv this stuff! Something else, if you don't like the song that's playing you can skip right to the next one.

By the way, the station even has a name: The Misery Signal. And a slogan: The sound of pain...the soundtrack of a lifetime.

And no, I never smile.

Well, almost never. :)

I just updated my profile. Thinking of changing over to BLOGGER's commenting system.