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Baxter Moneypenny
Tag: short story
Posted on February 12, 2019 February 12, 2019 by baxtermoneypenny
The Red Hat
The little boy with the red hat stood in wonder, or hesitation (depending on who you asked). A quick look couldn't hurt no one, so he made sure to get a couple.
It was mindless, of course, or it wouldn't have come here. But it was also plain and simple, the creature that crouched before him. It wasn't trying to impress him.
It might not even be aware of the little boy with the red hat.
Yet it was remarkable.
And as some wise man or woman might've said:
"Trust in those that don't belong, for they must know something."
Surely, that was a saying somewhere.
But it could've just been the illogical circumstance, a fish out of water, of sorts. And it seemed to the little boy with the red hat that this "fish" would be staying for years and years.
So he kept staring?
Imagine a fish—a rare fish—the one with the light that dangles over its head and a homely face (again, depending on who you asked). And the little boy with the red hat had no idea that this was an anglerfish, with it living in the deepest depths of the ocean and all.
Imagine this anglerfish, instead of staying in the deepest depths and darkest dark where it belonged, decided it wanted to turn its light off for a moment or two, and explore the whole wide world and all its natural light. It wanted to try something different for a bit, and maybe it would even do some good.
Perhaps an anglerfish had the kahunas to show itself to those that never saw it before.
And that's what the little boy with the red hat saw. Not kahunas or barracudas or even an anglerfish, but something figuratively resembling an anglerfish.
But the creature crouched before him came from the very top, and not the very bottom.
While he was as hardened and experienced as anyone else his age, especially compared to those whose only worry was making it home to Fortnite, this encounter was completely new and unusual.
He'd fished along the river many times in the past, and had caught many odd looking fish, and seen many odd looking animals in the thickets beyond, but had never come across anything so foreign.
He knew looking too long may ruin him, but he had to know, to understand, why the creature chose to come to his land. He never wanted any trouble.
All he wished for, all he knew, was fishing this bank until he caught enough to take home and make his dad and mom and papa and mama proud.
He never caught any fish with a light dangling over its head.
And never would.
He caught mostly trout, which lacked the fabled light.
Figuratively speaking, of course.
And he looked and looked until the creature finally noticed his gaze, and stared into the eyes of the little boy with the red hat. The boy knew he'd been caught in the act, but refused to flinch, hoping the creature would act first.
He wanted the creature to acknowledge him, somehow.
But, at the very moment the boy couldn't contain his curiosity any longer, the creature was gone. He watched it leap from the stump and fly away through the wood, leaving leaves and fallen twigs in its wake.
The most unusual and wonderful creature he'd ever met left him without saying goodbye. He wished it would return, to explain itself, but he knew it was gone forever, easily led astray by its own light.
So he waved and waved, lost in the wonder of the magnificent stranger.
But the fat dragon flew away, without looking back, and disappeared beyond the mountains that lay beyond the sea of tree trunks and sand.
The little boy with the red hat never saw the fat dragon again.
But the fat dragon saw the odd little boy again, along with his peculiar red hat. He was flying home from an unsuccessful hunt, and spotted the boy fishing from the shore near the spot they had first met.
The fat dragon noticed the peculiar red hat from miles and miles away. The fat dragon stared at the colorful hat, instinctively flapping his wings faster, as he flew closer to the boy along the shore.
He was now captivated by the unknown and the unusual. He was trapped in a state of wonder, or hesitation.
The fat dragon remembered nothing of their original encounter. It was as forgettable to him as it was unforgettable to the little boy.
The fat dragon couldn't afford to remember many things.
To the fat dragon, it was just another day amongst the humans and their buildings and their wheels and their guns. He had traveled far, and had seen many of them. He had seen many little boys, and old men, and daughters, and mothers, and on and on. He had seen them curse and thank, steal and give, hate and love.
But he recognized the red hat—the peculiar red hat.
He drifted amongst the clouds, engrossed by a memory almost completely forgotten, drawing closer and closer to the shore below. And as if by instinct, he had to have the hat.
And all he truly had was instinct, right? It had helped him many times before, along with many other fat dragons on countless occasions.
If he ignored it now, his basest form of action and reason, he'd have to account for responsibility. And after his flight, there'd be no return, no return, no return…
He would've made his choice.
Instead, he'll pick the simpler path.
No matter the cost, he'll let it control him, in a refusal to face the shame and regret.
But that shame and regret might be hidden beneath, forever beneath, somewhere deep inside. He might face it one day, but not today.
Today, the fat dragon swooped down from the sky and snatched the red hat from the shore, and with it went the little boy down into a belly of darkness.
While he never wanted to, the fat dragon got a little fatter.
Posted on January 31, 2019 February 1, 2019 by baxtermoneypenny
The Death-Moment (Part One)
All I ever wanted was the comfort and simplicity I rightly deserved. I'd grown accustomed to my habits and personal preferences, and I wanted everything to stay the same. Perhaps my placid satisfaction was my undoing.
Perhaps not.
Nevertheless, I was kept out of the loop of my future endeavors. And it was quite a big loop, most would agree, even all the kids who played everyday on their Hot Wheels track.
After I would settle down for bed, after I stopped watching re-runs of Ancient Aliens, and closed my eyes to sleep, I would dream of aging. I know, it'd be easy to label me unusual for dreaming of coming closer to death.
But most people dream of death in their own way.
I wanted to be an ornery man complaining about the latest generation's gall to be a little different. I wanted to give customer service an unreasonably hard time.
I've done my time, and all I wanted was a little respect.
Yet, as I answered my front door on the morning of Christmas Eve's eve, I was greeted by an animatronic Jeffrey Dahmer. And as I stared into the cold, empty eyes of the electronically resurrected killer, I crossed my fingers and toes, desperately hoping I would fare alright. I was a middle-aged man and middle-aged men usually weren't killed serially.
They often inclined on doing the serial killing themselves.
I won't bore you with all the numerous, minute details about the surreal encounter, because it's actually not important how I died. At least, in regard to the gruesome details and such. I'd rather forget them myself.
What's more important is what happened after.
But I can give you a little more:
The animatronic Jeffrey Dahmer, who showed up on my doorstep in Louisville, Kentucky, was part of Bud's Famous Killers. Bud Gibbly was the owner of an extravagant collection of the world's most famous serial killers, which traveled from town to town during the summer months. Bud was actually an extremely, insignificant man, and he might've known it, too.
It's not far-fetched to say that creating a gang of robotic serial killers was the only noteworthy act Bud ever did.
But that single, noteworthy act was a doozy.
So, the animatronic Jeffrey Dahmer escaped from Bud's gang, and, after wandering Frankfurt Avenue and Bardstown Road for hours and possibly attaining some slight sense of consciousness and freedom, found his way to my home.
We peered into each other's eyes.
And then he killed me.
And then he ate me.
Officially, Leland Lewis was declared deceased at 9:34 AM, dead under unusual circumstances. All the police found were a couple organs that didn't interest the killer, a few of my ugliest fingers, and half an ear in the flowerless pot next to the front door. The killer was probably a little upset, or as upset as a robot can get, that he wasn't able to keep two intact ears.
My ears, I've been told, were the best feature about me.
But the pieces of me that remained at the scene of the crime were enough to confirm my death, since it's pretty difficult to live without a brain—no matter if it's right or left.
There are some things we all tend to agree upon, after all.
And since he was an animatronic Jeffrey Dahmer, it's possible that my bits and pieces could still be around, jangling around inside of his metallic shell, wherever the killer robot might happen to be.
Because no one knows.
So, if what's left of my family wants to have a proper burial, and honor the man they both despised and loathed, they might want to hire an investigator. Or at least watch a lot of Forensic Files and give it a go themselves.
But that's a lot of effort.
They'll settle on cremating what they retrieved at the scene of the crime, instead of risking getting eaten alive, too. And I don't blame them.
Jeffrey Dahmer is, once again, at large.
Leland died but wasn't gone for long. He took a moment to cool down (he got quite sweaty in his death-moment), and was carried out of the sleeping den and into the office of Dr. Wise-Man with relative ease.
Sometimes the sacks twist and turn when you touch them for the first time. It's always an inconvenience to the endlessly busy schedules of the Reckoners, as they're informally called, and all too often an unruly sack is sent back indefinitely if it's too unruly.
But Leland didn't have a bit of unimportance on his flesh anymore, and an ordinary Reckoner would overlook a bit of his unruliness, all because of the odd animatronic Jeffrey Dahmer incident.
The odds of another Jeffrey Dahmer attack after he had his death-moment decades before, were incalculable.
Anomalies, like in Leland's case, require an incident report. Usually the reports are bland and stale, but every once in a while there's a fresh, wide-eyed Reckoner that likes to spice them up a bit—shoot for creative non-fiction and such.
Leland's incident report was summarized by Helen Sleep-No-More:
The deceased, Leland Lewis, came to a tragic, and unusual, end on the morning of December 23rd, 2018. Jeffrey Dahmer showed up on his doorstep. Yes, the same Jeffrey Dahmer that tested the people years and years ago. But this Jeffrey Dahmer was an even colder, calculated killer.
And I write this not in evaluation of the ethical deterioration of a twisted man's soul! Our old Jeffrey indeed was a little warmer and had a few less 0's and 1's than the one that visited Leland. He was animatronic, and for some odd reason my fellow Reckoners and I are unable to find out how he found his way to Leland's doorstep, or why he was around at all!
Something odd is afoot.
—Helen Sleep-No-More, Reckoner 3621
Helen's father was a historian and mother was a cartoonist.
But, as Leland slouched in the cushioned chair in front of the desk of Dr. Wise-Man, he twitched and moaned, as most of the fresh sacks do after their death-moment. He opened his eyes slowly, and then suddenly, after a wad of the morning newspaper thudded against his brow in an attempt by Dr. Wise-Man to accelerate the process.
Leland never noticed the article describing his death-moment on the front page of the wad of newspaper. The public was quite interested in an otherwise uninteresting process.
"Leland," a voice said. It was faint, as if far, far away. "Leland, I am Dr. Wise-Man. Wake up, son."
I opened my eyes and gazed at the man sitting across from me. He was clean-shaven, and wore a black suit. Obviously he wasn't God—or a god—he was too boring. Or maybe he wasn't boring enough?
He wasn't old, either. He couldn't even have his AARP card yet.
And everyone knows God is an old man and has a big beard, and He definitely doesn't work in an office. Maybe from home, but never in a bland office building.
Hmph.
And as I was about to open my mouth to respond to this strange man claiming to be some sort of doctor, he held up his finger, and said, "Before you ask me, 'Where am I?', or, 'Wasn't I killed by an animatronic Jeffrey Dahmer?', let me speak for a moment, please."
His speech bordered on the monotone, with brief interruptions of pitch fluctuations, as if purposely breaking his unstrained speech in conscience recognition of its monotony.
"You're sitting in an office on the 177th floor, Leland," he said, pointing to the window. "Do you not want to hear what a man, who occupies a floor as high off the ground as this, would have to say?"
"You're obviously confused. Your last moment on Earth, your death-moment as we call it, you found yourself being stabbed and eaten—alive, at first—by a robot killer. It was quite painful, I know. We hope that the pain is at least partially forgotten. Not everyone is unlucky enough to go through that, so we're especially sorry about it. But we, sadly, can't take all the pain away. Memories are easy to tinker with, but exceptionally strong emotions prove more difficult. But we do our best."
He wasn't making much sense. I wondered who he meant by "we", and I was getting progressively sweatier the more confused I got.
But he went on as if he read my thoughts.
"We are the Reckoners. We take the fresh sacks, like yourself, and acclimate them to society. It's odd and frightening for a while, but in time they get used to it. We all have to get used to it," he said. "Go ahead, speak, ask me your question."
"But where am I?" I asked.
I was proud of myself for even getting those four measly words out.
"Well, Leland," Dr. Wise-Man responded, "you're on Earth. Not the one you're used to, but the real one. You're finally out of our simulation."
And that's when I fainted.
Perhaps Dr. Wise-Man was too blunt when he dropped the simulated bomb on Leland, but fainting was common for fresh sacks, and almost expected with those that had undergone a death-moment as unusual and startling as Leland's.
So, as the black curtain closed over Leland's eyes, Dr. Wise-Man buzzed for the receptionist to come retrieve him and take him to the cooling-off zone a hundred floors down. It was all procedure, and Leland wouldn't be of much use in explaining his death-moment anomaly, anyhow.
That was the doctor's job. At least it was up to him to relegate the work to his underlings.
He had read Helen Sleep-No-More's brief report, but since his first meeting with Leland had ended so abruptly, he'd need her for a more substantial discussion. And no doubt Helen had been continuously at work, determined to discover the cause of the abnormal death-moment.
She was top of her class, after all. Her life, before she died and woke again, was that of a workaholic, always pursuing a career that would lead her nowhere. But she always maintained an everlasting passion for her tedious work.
Helen was an auditor, and a good one, too.
"Dr. Wise-Man," said Deborah.
"Ah, Deborah, I was about to tell you to call Helen for me. I need to speak to her."
"Actually, doctor," Deborah said, "that's why I called. Helen's out here waiting for you. She said you need to come with her. She has something to show you."
"Well, alright," answered Dr. Wise-Man.
He rose out of his seat to meet Helen in the lobby. Usually, his underlings came to him, and he would decide if he were to leave his office on the 177th floor or not. But he appreciated Helen's initiative, so long as it brings about results and doesn't waste valuable time. That's what the first life was for.
The second life is for getting things done.
"Ah, Helen," he said, shaking her hand, "have you gotten any closer to solving this little riddle?"
"Actually, I have, sir," said Helen.
"It might be easier if I just show you. All my work is down in the Maintenance Room."
Dr. Wise-Man was particularly frustrated he had to leave his office. Again, he was on the 177th floor. But he agreed to accompany Helen down to the Maintenance Room in order to see what she'd discovered about Leland's mysterious incident.
He turned to Deborah, and said, "Make sure Leland gets to cooling safely. He'll likely be out for awhile."
Deborah smile and nodded, and Dr. Wise-Man followed Helen to the Maintenance Room, eagerly awaiting her results.
I opened my eyes and saw a lot of people who looked as messed up as myself. We were all laying in chambers, and, as far as I could tell, I was the only one conscience.
The room was large, and we faced each other in the form of a circle, with some sort of elaborate console in the middle.
I remembered the look on the doctor's face as he said "simulation", and I remembered the loss of blood to my head, and I remembered the darkness.
Apparently I wasn't in Heaven, or Hell, or a dream. Apparently I was finally in the real world. And I knew it had to be true, and couldn't be a ridiculous dream, because all I ever dreamed about was getting older.
Now I'm wondering if that will ever happen.
But then I heard a door swing open, and listened quietly as the footsteps came closer. I remained still and closed my eyes, and the footsteps ceased.
I heard someone fumbling with buttons on the elaborate console, and then I started to move.
The chamber I was restrained in lifted completely out of the ground and glided towards the middle of the room, towards the mysterious figure operating the controls.
And then I opened my eyes to see a woman undoing the straps that restrained my arms and legs. She jumped, obviously not expecting my quick recovery.
"You're awake," she said, still undoing my straps.
"Too awake," I said, still drowsy.
"You'll get used to it. But you have to come with me now."
"Why the hurry?"
"Because they'll be after you," she said. "And they'll be after me."
"All I did was die," I said, as she finished undoing the straps.
I tried to stand, but my legs collapsed, and she caught me before I fell.
"You did much more than that, Leland," she responded.
"Helen Sleep-No-More. Reckoner 3621," said Helen. She held out her hand and I shook it. "Now we better get out of here before the doctor wakes up."
"Doctor Wise-Man?" I asked.
"The same—are you coming?"
She held out her hand, and I took it, and we ran out the door. We ran far away from the Cooling-Off Zone, and the Maintenance Room, and the 177th floor, and all the fresh sacks, and Doctor Wise-Man.
For now.
Posted on January 31, 2019 January 31, 2019 by baxtermoneypenny
I cannot seem to wrap my mind around the possibility of being born with six toes. Are there just a couple miniature toes, or is the sixth toe a completely separate appendage? Nonetheless, I don't believe I'll ever get my answer.
Unless one of these guards happen to have six toes, or know someone who might.
"Mr. Guard," I said, "How many toes do you have?"
But Mr. Guard didn't care about what I had to say, because he didn't even bother to look at me.
Maybe he didn't have any ears. I can't tell, after all, on account of his helmet.
I can't wrap my mind around that possibility either. Would there be useless holes where his ears used to be, or would excess skin cover the holes and the delicate little ear drums hiding inside?
I'll likely never learn about extra toes and missing ears.
The only items my captors allow me to have is pen and paper. I can't read any books because they're afraid I might learn something. I've decided to just write the books myself, and maybe I'll learn something that way.
That'll show them.
So, future reader, you're subject to me and I'm subject to you. Don't pity me too much. There's a lot of people worth pitying, and I shouldn't be labeled as one. But why should you care about what I got to say, if I'm not worth your pity?
Because my name is Jeremiah, and I used to be a prophet.
I wasn't a very good prophet. I wasn't able to keep myself from getting captured, after all. The moment they came and took me, and told me I knew too much, I knew I was done.
And no matter what anybody tries to tell you, even if it comes from a zealot, the most important responsibility of a prophet is to keep prophetizing.
It does no good to be locked up in a nine foot by twelve foot cell, especially when all your prophetizing will go unnoticed. Not even Mr. Guard and Mr. Other Guard care about my prophetizing. I tried it on them when I first came here, but they refused to look at me, as always.
Nothing can be done about men with no ears.
But do you think people will care about me?
Remember, I wasn't a very good prophet. They can find a better one to latch onto, and I honestly hope they do. I'm rooting for them, for everyone. I might be a little too biased in my prophetizing, now.
And what is a prophet if he is no longer unbiased?
So I give up the title of prophet. I'm not going to try to predict anything else. I'm just going to sit back and tell a story, an interesting story, and let you do the prophetizing for yourself.
I'm out of the game.
Goodbye to everyone, even the zealots.
Hello, again, even the zealots.
This tale, straight from the mind of Jeremiah, begins with a bang.
More specifically, a big bang.
But not the big bang (scientific theory or television show).
The bang was the sound of a cannon, and I happened to shoot out of that same cannon in front of a crowd of all my wildest zealots. I was shot out of the cannon because I claimed that only the chosen few could perform the feat.
My wildest zealots believed me because I showed them videos of people dying by canon balls. And an ordinary man, like myself, was obviously not as hard as a cannon ball. I let them all feel an authentic cannon ball to prove it, and then I let them feel me. If I were to be blasted out of a cannon, I would explode upon impact, because an ordinary man, like myself, was soft and breakable, which was quite the opposite of a cannon ball.
And they believed it.
It was important that I convinced my zealots that I was one of the chosen few. I wanted money, and lots of it. They were willing to give it to me for letting them in on a few secrets, so who's really to blame here?
After I successfully landed, and dusted myself off somewhat theatrically, I went to collect donations from my most devoted zealots. The craziest ones always had the most to give. Perhaps that's what made them crazy in the first place, or maybe they gave because they were crazy.
I'll never know, I guess.
But I earned a lot for the cannon blast, enough to cover my expenses and give me a healthy cut three times over. After I got done thanking all my zealots, and wishing them luck in the second coming, and all that jazz, I was taken aside by an older gentlewoman wanting to take me out for brunch. Judging by her appearance, I assumed it wouldn't be anything fast-casual either. Maybe a little more upscale.
A brunch worthy of a prophet.
I couldn't say no, a prophet must indulge his most devout zealots, after all. So I agreed that I'd meet her tomorrow for omelets and mimosas.
She was most delighted, I remember.
The place we met was indeed upscale. It was in the city, far away from where I shot out of a cannon only the day before. I was relieved no one seemed to recognize me, perhaps because I traded my famous brown shawl for a blue bowtie.
There's nothing worse than being forced to prophetize when you don't feel like prophetizing.
And all I wanted was omelets and mimosas, after all.
The gentlewoman had already arrived, and had chosen a small table in the far corner of the fine establishment. I walked over to her and smiled, shaking her hand softly.
"Good day," I said.
"Thank you so much for coming, Jeremiah," said the gentlewoman, with a little added warmness to my name.
"A fine morning to contemplate the divine," I said, lifting my hands in praise. "It is known that when two lorcas meet, the clouds fear to conceal them. The Sun must shine to show the world that there is still beauty. And I see no clouds today."
I folded my arms and nodded my head in reverence, but the gentlewoman waved me off.
"You can cut the act around me, Jeremiah. I'm not one of your zealots. And I'm not one of your lorcas," she said.
She motioned for the waitress to take our drink order.
"I'd like a Bloody Mary," she said. "And you, Jeremiah?"
The waitress looked at me waiting for my order. I was still in shock of the gentlewoman's lack of faith, as true as it might be.
"Mimosa," I said.
The waitress walked away and the gentlewoman turned her attention back to me.
"I'll get to the point, now, Jeremiah. I've asked you to come to brunch in order to get your advice."
"Advice on what?"
"On how you convince people that you know what you're talking about."
"It's because I do," I said, lying. "It's because I speak the word of our lords—the Mind, the Body, the Spirit. The three bring unity, and when united, allow those who believe to survive the second coming."
"I heard all that yesterday, Jeremiah. But how do you do it? How can you convince your followers that what you say is the word of your lord? They're not stupid—not all of them, at least. They're rich and poor, comfortable and desperate. I want to be able to do that, too. For more practical means, of course."
Remember, I'm not a very good prophet, and I never thought of myself as a very good prophet. I would've been a very good prophet if I was able to know what I was doing right and wrong.
I, honestly, was just doing, and some people seemed to like it.
But that wouldn't satisfy the gentlewoman, so I said, "Everyone is desperate, whether they're provided for or not. Even you."
She looked at me curiously, likely trying to figure out if this was more prophetizing, or if I was actually giving her advice on the tricks of my trade. I couldn't even tell you want I meant by it, because I wanted to move past the subject altogether.
I just wanted my damn mimosa.
"Jeremiah," said the gentlewoman, as the waitress finally brought us our drinks, "I'll let you in on a little secret. I work for a little group made up of all kinds of people—rich and poor, black and white, smart and dumb. It's called the United States of America. Don't act so surprised, I'm not that important. Just a lowly government servant. But I've asked you here for brunch because I believe, along with some of my closest associates, that we could use all the advice we could get.
"We could use a prophet. We could use you, Jeremiah."
The waitress came again and I asked for my omelet. I was surprised I was even able to get that one word out, but I did.
I was very confused, and when a not very good prophet is very confused it can cause problems.
So I said, "Is this a joke?"
"Honestly, I'm not even a very good prophet. Surely there are better prophets out there."
"None so gifted as you. Truly," she said, waving me off before I could interrupt her. "You put on the act without believing what you're saying is true. But there's no malfeasance behind it. You just want people to listen to you, and make a living."
"It is a humble living," I admitted.
"We've been following your congregation and stunts for awhile now. As far as we can tell, you give them what they want, and what you give them doesn't end up doing any harm. You reassure people without painstaking effort. So how do you do it?"
"Well, why should I tell you?"
"Because fuck the Russians," said the gentlewoman.
She smirked, "I'm just messing with you, Jeremiah. I don't know, do you care about patriotism?"
"What use are patriots in the After?"
I perked up then, and not just because I finally got my omelet. I always found ways to make more money, which was perhaps the best part of being a prophet.
That and meeting new faces, each and everyday.
But I wasn't one for material pleasures, honestly, which was perhaps the closest I got to following my own prophetizing.
I just liked to look at all the faces.
"Perhaps that would do. What do you want to know?" I asked, before I took a bite into my perfectly cooked omelet.
I told her all kinds of things. I told her about what people really wanted to hear. I told her about what kinds of people would listen the best. I told her about what kinds of people would act on what they heard the best.
I told her many, many things.
Everything a not very good prophet could ever hope of knowing. The tricks of my trade were tricky no more, not to her.
And she took it all in while sipping on her Bloody Mary. She let me have the olive, which was nice of her. I added it to my omelet for a little extra zest.
"Thank you again, Jeremiah," she said.
We shook hands one final time and left the fine establishment, going on our separate paths. I would go back to following the lords, and preparing for the second coming and the After, and looking for more members of my lorca.
At least I would act as if I was.
I would not know what path she went back to for some time.
But then one night, after I got back home from a rousing sermon on the possibility of entering the After by adhering to a purely ketogenic diet, I noticed a familiar face on my television.
It was the gentlewoman, and she was arguing with other gentlemen and gentlewomen.
She seemed to know what she was saying, and people seemed to believe what she was arguing.
Then, a month later, I saw her name on the back of bumpers of some of my wildest zealots. I was mostly upset because I had never gotten the money she promised, but apparently she had the money to make bumper stickers.
Another month later, she was the President of the United States of America.
And then I stopped being a prophet anymore.
Posted on September 6, 2017 January 31, 2019 by baxtermoneypenny
The Incredibly Impressive Skill
Ronald always hit bull's-eyes. It didn't matter how much grub he gobbled, or how many stouts he downed. He always hit the little red circle in the center of the dart board. Everyone loved him at Chester's Grub & Pub.
Most nights, some of the regulars would challenge Ronald and try to get him to slip. They'd give him shots of tequila (without lime & salt), cover his eyes with a blindfold, move the dartboard across the room, but he always hit his mark. One time someone called him out for having loaded darts, as if that was even possible. Ronald got Jean, one of the bartenders, to kick the naysayer out of the pub.
They all truly loved Ronald for his improbably accurate darts.
But on a summer night, the longest day of the year, in fact, Ronald wasn't the only one in the pub with an incredibly impressive skill. Over in a corner booth, Damon sat, and finished off a tall glass of the bar's cheapest IPA, which really wasn't all too cheap. He asked Jean for another.
Jean placed another glass in front of him, and Damon gave her cash for the drink, plus another dollar for a tip. He only ever paid in cash, claiming the best bank was under his ass at night.
"Say, who's that guy in the other corner playing darts?" Damon asked Jean.
"Oh, that's Ronald," she answered.
"Don't think I've seen him miss the center."
"Yeah, he never does. It's fucking crazy."
Damon leaned back in his booth, sipping on his IPA, as Jean walked back behind the bar. Foam covered his upper-lip, and for some odd reason he refused to wipe it off until all the beer was gone. It would have been quite hilarious if he wasn't so big and burly.
He slammed the empty glass onto the table, and left his booth. A regular was shooting pool at the pool table opposite where Ronald was throwing darts. Damon walked over to join him.
"Hey, buddy, mind if I join?" asked Damon. The regular nodded, holding out his hand to shake.
"Willis."
"Let's play, Willis."
Minutes later, it was apparent to everyone in the pub that Ronald was no longer the only one with an incredibly impressive skill. See, Damon never missed a shot in pool. Like Ronald, he could drink and drink, or eat and eat, but would never miss a shot.
Sometimes he was humble and only made one ball at a time. Often, though, he enjoyed knocking a few in on the same shot. It was his incredibly impressive skill and he liked to show it off from time to time.
Obviously, Willis lost the game, and the next one, and so did everybody else that challenged Damon. They all regretted having wasted four quarters.
Ronald soon noticed nobody in the pub was paying attention to him anymore. He thought he wasn't the jealous type, but the fellow playing pool taking his spotlight was making him feel funny.
He never felt this feeling before. It was rage—no, hatred. How could there be another as skilled as him at Chester's Grub & Pub? Of all the places in the city, it had to be Chester's! He had been coming here for years, showing off his dart throwing, getting laid from time to time because of it, and never had there been anyone else as impressive as him.
But now there was.
He had to confront him. He had to hear him speak—to see if he truly was as impressive as himself.
Ronald walked over to the pool table and pushed his way through the crowd. Everyone cheered as Damon defeated his latest opponent, Arnold. An old lady went crazy, lifting her pint up as the eight-ball fell into the corner pocket, splashing the beer on Ronald as he passed.
"Ay—who do you think you are?" yelled Ronald.
"Damon. And you?"
"Ronald—what of it?"
"Well you asked for my name it'd be rude not to reciprocate."
Ronald didn't appreciate Damon hurling fancy words like "reciprocate" back at him. Maybe he really was more impressive than him?
No, he couldn't be, Ronald thought, nobody could be.
"You want to cut out the pool? You're causing quite the commotion," said Ronald.
"Not particularly," Damon responded.
Ronald couldn't take it anymore. He looked Damon in the eyes and he understood. He was impressive, and he knew it, and there was nothing Ronald could do about it. He couldn't be more impressive than he already was. He'd tried before but concluded that his impressiveness was maxed out.
"You need to leave—leave now," Ronald ordered.
Then, Damon responded with the vilest, most demeaning phrase that could ever be uttered in Chester's Grub & Pub that summer night, on the longest day of the year:
"Am I just too impressive for you, Ronald?"
Nobody actually saw what happened next.
Many claim they did, but it would have been impossible because of Ronald's dart throwing abilities.
All the patrons in the pub saw, after Damon uttered his terrible insult, was two metal darts stuck into Damon's eyes, and then Damon on the ground jostling in pain like a dying beast, and Ronald walking slowly over to him, and Ronald pulling the darts out of his eye sockets, and Ronald walking out of the pub one last time, dropping the darts behind him as he left the room.
You see, Ronald always hit a bull's-eye, and this time he got his chance to hit two. Ronald, the dart-throwing bull, might possibly be more impressive now than Damon, the pool-shooting bull.
They probably shouldn't have ever let Ronald into the pub.


text:
Fill the "islands".

[Live view ! => http://bios21.github.io/MarcoPolo/](http://bios21.github.io/MarcoPolo/ "Live view !")

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


LCfit, a harmonic-function fitting programJun 01 2012In this note I announce and introduce the program LCfit developed for fitting harmonic functions to a data set, particularly to time-series data. LCfit stands for Linear Combination fitting.
Colliding spherically symmetric null dust in equilibriumNov 17 1998We present two recently obtained solutions of the Einstein equations with spherical symmetry and one additional Killing vector, describing colliding null dust streams.
Variable tension brane-worldsFeb 26 2010I present recent work on codimension one brane-world models containing a 3+1 dimensional curved brane with time-dependent brane tension.
Packing points into a unit cube in higher spaceOct 06 2009In this paper using the concept of the extended Hamming code we give a construction for dense packing of points at distance at least one in such unit cubes which dimension are a power of two.
3+1+1 dimensional covariant gravitational dynamics on an asymmetrically embedded braneNov 12 2009We give the evolution and constraint equations on an asymmetrically embedded brane in the form of average and difference equations.
Solution of the vacuum Kerr-Schild problemMar 26 2002The complete solution of the vacuum Kerr-Schild equations in general relativity is presented, including the space-times with a curved background metric. The corresponding result for a flat background has been obtained by Kerr.


While it is very hard to determine how many jobs there will be for marine biologists in the future, from my understanding the current job market is very competitive. Many people are getting degrees in marine biology but there aren't that many job openings. You can get jobs with the government, in academia, or with private companies. The more education you get the better your chances of getting a good job are. You probably want to get your college degree in biology and then get a Master's or Ph. D in marine biology to improve your chances of getting a good job. Follow your interests, and if marine biology is what you are passionate about, study it!
That depends. Most marine biological research is paid for directly or indirectly by the government, and the the amount of money that the government has to spend or is willing to spend on marine biology is subject to change, and may change unpredictably.


text:
Q: jQuery Append and Refresh DOM I append a button which shows an alert but I can't see alert when I click the button. How Can I fix this?
<!doctype html>

<title>test</title>
<meta charset="UTF-8">

    <input type="button" value="Tıkla" id="myButton" />

A: You are adding a listener and then adding the input to the DOM. Click event must be binded after the append, to be able to link it to input.
$(document).ready(function() {
    $("#myButton").on('click', function() {
          $("
Hello
<input id=\"but\" type=\"button\">Click").appendTo("#main_body");
          $( "#but" ).on( "click", function() {
            alert( "bla bla" );
          });
    });

});

A: You can't do that! You have to delegate
$(document).ready(function() {
    $("#myButton").on('click', function() {
          $("
Hello
<input id=\"but\" type=\"button\">Click").appendTo("#main_body");
    });
});
$(document).on( "click", "#but", function() {
        alert( "bla bla" );
});

A: Call the second onclick function within the same function you created the second button. That will work my good sir.

$(document).ready(function() {
    $("#myButton").on('click', function() {
          $("
Hello
<input id=\"but\" type=\"button\" value=\"But\">Click").appendTo("#main_body");
            $( "#but" ).on( 'click', function() {
                alert( "bla bla" );
            });
    });
});

<!doctype html>

<title>test</title>
<meta charset="UTF-8">

    <input type="button" value="Tıkla" id="myButton" />

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Are you infatuated with those delightfully cute chusky puppies? Perhaps you're wondering if a chusky pup could be the right breed for you. Welcome to your complete guide to the chow chow husky mix.
Also referred to as a chowski, the chusky is made up of a chow chow and a Siberian husky.
In this piece, we will examine these breeds individually to help you decide if a chow chow x husky will make a good pet.
Firstly though, let us look at the controversy surrounding designed breeds.
A puppy whose parents are two different purebred dogs is known as a first generation mix.
There is much debate over whether the breeding of designer dogs is ethical or not.
Some claim that the gene pools of purebred dogs have become so small that it is almost impossible to breed without passing on inherited illnesses and disease to the next generation.
Others vehemently oppose this view and maintain that pedigree lines must remain pure.
Whatever you feel about the subject, crossbreeding has been around for a long time and shows no sign of abating.
The debates and arguments continue. But in order to see if this specific first generation mix might suit your lifestyle, we will now look at the parent breeds of the chusky in turn.
The chow chow, which originates from China, has a fascinating history. Dating back over 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty, the chow chow can be clearly seen in sculptures and pottery of the period.
It is said that they may go back even further having ancestral links to other spitz-type dogs from East Asia and the Arctic.
Rumor has it that in the 7th century, a Chinese emperor kept several thousand chow chow dogs for his 10,000 workers.
Also thought to provide food and clothes for Chinese peasants in ancient times, other roles have included guard dogs and hunters.
The first chow chows seen in the west came into the U.K. in the late 18th century and were exhibits at London Zoo in the 1820s.
It was not until Queen Victoria, a renowned dog lover, procured a chow chow that they became popular on western shores.
The breed was recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1894 and later by the American Kennel Club in 1903.
Originating from the Northeast of Siberia, the husky was known locally as the Chukchi, named after the Eskimo people who bred them.
They were used as endurance sled dogs but were also valued family members living freely amongst their masters.
Due to their remote location, the Siberian husky remained a purebred for hundreds of years.
The husky is the fastest and most agile of the sled dogs and was adept at hauling loads over frozen ice fields in polar conditions.
It was in 1925 that the Siberian husky caused a stir when the remote Alaskan village of Nome suffered from a diphtheria epidemic. Teams of dogs hauled life-saving medicine to the isolated village, preventing numerous inhabitants from perishing.
The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1930.
In common with the majority of mix breeds, the origin of the chusky dog is unknown. The only way that we may gain insight into a hybrid breed is by discussing its parents.
Considered to be medium in size, the adult chow chow will typically weigh between 45 to 70 pounds. Height-wise, anything between 17 to 20 inches at the withers is standard.
Also of a medium size, the height of the husky is usually between 20 to 23.5 inches with a weight range of about 35 to 60 pounds. A full-grown chusky is likely to be a medium-size dog, ranging somewhere around these variables.
Known for his lion-like mane and frowning impression, the chow chow is certainly striking.
Although he has a somewhat stilted gait, his muscular and sturdy body moves rapidly and with ease for long periods.
There are two types of coat, rough or long-haired and smooth. The rough coat is seen the most.
Colors can be red, black, blue, cinnamon and cream, with a number of shades possible in the reds and cinnamons.
Remarkably, the chow chow has a black tongue and mouth, which he shares with few other creatures.
The tail is another devilishly handsome feature of the chow chow. It should be high-set, broad at the base and tapered toward its end.
Light-footed and lean, the Siberian husky is a powerful yet graceful breed. The expression is responsive and bright if mischievous. His well-furred body has a double coat, with a straight top, smooth and medium length.
All colors from pure white to black are accepted in the show ring. The patterns or markings on the head of a Siberian husky are said to be as individual as a fingerprint and are often visually stunning.
The fox-like tail should be cheerfully arched over the back when at attention and trailing when working or at rest.
It is important to remember that, being a hybrid, a chow chow and husky mix could take after either of its parents or look like a combination of both.
It is pretty safe to say that he will have a beautiful fluffy coat.
The chow chow's personality is sometimes compared to that of a cat.
He is independent, dignified, stubborn and can be aloof. He is devoted to his owners and has guarding tendencies if a stranger enters his territory unexpectedly.
The breed is happy to meet visitors, however, if introduced by his owners.
Early socialization is crucial to form a well-rounded adult. The Siberian husky has a friendly temperament. He is gentle and affectionate without being submissive.
As a pack animal, he likes to be with his family group but is not a one-person dog.
He is unconcerned by strangers, and his sociability makes for a hopeless guard dog. This breed generally gets on well with other well-adjusted dogs.
Do note that a chow chow cross husky may take on the personality of one of its parents or a bit of each.
The chow chow has an abundant double coat so regular grooming is a must. He should be brushed a minimum of twice weekly, more if at all possible.
This will keep the coat in good condition to avoid become matted, as well as completely minimizing any dog odor.
The chow chow sheds heavily but seasonally so extra attention should be given to grooming at this time.
Huskies are relatively easy to keep and are by nature very clean with little odor.
Clipping is not necessary, but weekly brushing is a good idea to keep the coat and skin healthy. Shedding seasonally, the husky molts surprisingly heavily during this time.
Dental and nail care are important for both breeds, and the same will be true for a chow chow husky. Ideally, teeth should be brushed at least twice each week and nails trimmed as necessary.
If you can hear the nails tapping on the floor when walking, they almost certainly need cutting. It's a good idea to start grooming puppies at a young age so that they become accustomed to being handled and brushed.
The chow chow is largely healthy but, as with all breeds, there are some issues to be aware of.
The chow chow has a predisposition for entropion, which causes the eyelid to roll inward leading to irritation or even damage.
If your pup's eyes water excessively or are irritated, contact your vet as surgery is often required to treat the condition. Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia whilst relatively uncommon are known to affect the chow chow.
These genetic conditions occur when the bones do not fit into the joint correctly.
A young dog may or may not show signs of discomfort, but arthritis may develop with age.
Another to be aware of is autoimmune thyroiditis, which is inflammation of the thyroid gland.
The disorder can usually be treated with medication.
Health screening is recommended for breeding chow chows because all of the above ailments can be detected by testing. Thankfully, the Siberian husky is typically a very healthy breed.
The main health issues concern the joints and eyes, which we will look at below. Hip dysplasia can also occur in the husky, generally within the first two years of a dog's life.
As with the chow chow, a juvenile dog might experience symptoms or these may show with arthritis later in life.
There are three eye conditions known to affect huskies: hereditary cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).
Health screening is available for these conditions, and both parents of breeding huskies should be tested yearly.
The chow chow needs daily walks, but moderate exercise is usually sufficient for this breed.
Notably, the chow chow does not do well in heat and should be kept inside as much as possible when the weather is hot.
Said to be one of the easiest breeds to house train, the chow chow adapts well to obedience training too.
Having said that, their independence will keep them from being a perfect pupil. So it is recommended that owners attend puppy classes.
The husky is an athletic dog and needs to be exercised regularly for at least an hour or more each day.
As he can be difficult and stubborn in obedience training classes, practicing positive reinforcement training is recommended for this breed.
With a high prey drive and an unusually strong desire to run, it is advisable to keep him on a leash when out and about and in an unfenced area.
Will a Chusky be a Good Choice for Me?
As the exercise needs of the two parent breeds differ, you will need to be prepared for either. The chow chow is by no means a lazy dog, but the husky is undoubtedly more energetic.
The chow chow and the husky both do well with children although it's never wise to leave a child alone with any dog.
An older child that knows how to treat animals respectfully would undoubtedly become the best of friends with a chusky.
Remember that both breeds shed and require brushing yet generate little if any dog odor.
Neither of these breeds likes to be left alone for long periods, and both crave the company of their humans.
All dogs can easily become destructive in the house and garden when bored. If you are not at home much through the day, a chusky is probably not a good idea.
However, if you enjoy a healthy lifestyle, including outdoor activities, then a chow chow Siberian husky mix could be your perfect companion.
How to get hold of a chow chow husky mix puppy is a very good question. They are not recognized by the American or UK Kennel Clubs so you will need to be extremely careful when searching for a puppy.
Puppy mills are very real, and devious breeders can appear to be very credible. Always make sure that you see the mother and ideally the father of a litter.
The chusky price is difficult to predict. In the U.K., you would probably be looking to pay between £1,000 and £2,000. In the U.S., that would be approximately $1,200 to $3,000.
With a chusky puppy, make sure that the breeding parents have good eye and hip scores and insist on seeing paperwork to prove it. We know that it's hard if you've seen a beautiful fluffy baby, but be strong and ready to move on if anything at all feels wrong.
That decision could save you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.


text:
Writing for Screen & Television
Masters of Fine Arts
Minor in Screenwriting
Minor in Comedy
Courses of Interest
Writers and Their Work
BFA in Writing for Screen and Television
Understanding of the core fundamentals in writing visually for a screen including character, world, theme, tone, atmosphere, subtext, and plot.
Proficient in the creation of compelling characters that have a strong emotional core that universally speaks to the human condition. Specialization in the development of characters and inter-personal relationships within the story.
Proficient in the creation and development of unique and original worlds that function within the working structure of the screenplay with thematic unity.
In-depth understanding and confidence in their creative voice.
Understanding the many formats of television as well as how to create an original television pilot in half-hour or hour-long formats with strict adherence to engine, characters, and world.
Ability to use analytical and critical thinking to deconstruct the elements of successful story in a contained episode or motion picture screenplay.
A broad knowledge of the history of cinema including a canon of work in both film and television that students can reference in their writing. In addition, students will have a specialized knowledge in one sub-genre of the students' choosing.
A broad knowledge in physical production including camera work, set design, lighting, editing, directing, and producing.
Understanding the business of motion pictures, television, and online industry as it relates to the student's portfolio of work.
Application of what is learned – for example, writing feature length screenplays, a thesis project, completing internships, shooting an independent film or short, webisodes and/or presenting a "pitch" of completed material.
MFA in Writing for Screen and Television
Advanced emphasis of economy of words and efficiency in developing compelling characters, inter-personal relationships within the story, and multiple storylines in a concise format.
Knowledge of how to access the student's emotional core to better understand the world of performance as they learn to inhabit the roles of created characters.
Knowledge of the production aspect of an original half-hour or hour-long television show including working with actors, rewrites, collaboration, physical production, editing, set design, and conflict resolution.
Understanding the business of motion pictures, television, and online industry as it relates to the student's portfolio of work.
Application of what is learned – for example, writing feature length screenplays, a thesis project, completing internships, shooting an independent film or short, webisodes and/or presenting a "pitch" of completed material.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How can I replace the text in an  from a CSS file without using a  tag? Here's what happening:
For my computer science class we're working on a project where we can only modify the CSS. I think it'd be super cool to change the content of the elements when you plug in my CSS file. Since I can't add a  tag, I dont know how else can I do this.
Here's what I have:

Is the makerspace door open?

Checking...

I've tried using ::before and ::after pseudo selectors but these selectors can't place elements in the content property. Any advice would be much appreciated.

A: It's possible to change your content, but it's actually not the common way to do it through CSS. I think the goal was just to style up your HTML with some CSS. But here is a Snippet which adds Question: before your text in
 tag.

.container h1:before {
  content: "Question: ";
}

Is the makerspace door open?

A: The pseudo element is a good approach to visually replace text or insert an image.
text-indent can be useful added to a float context for the pseudo element to hide any dom inline or inline-block content(such as text or image).
Example:
HTML test

show me something else

CSS test
h1 {
  text-indent:-9999px;
}
h1:before {
  text-indent:0;
  content:'Here is something else !';
  float:left;
}

A: Did i get it right, that you want to replace the text in the h1?
Try this approach.
HTML:

Is the makerspace door open?

CSS:
h1:after {
  content: "test";
  left: -95px;
  position: absolute;
  top: 5px;
}
h1 {
  height: 20px;
  line-height: 25px;
  margin: 0;
  overflow: hidden;
  padding: 0;
  text-indent: 105px;
  width: 100px;
}

A: How about this

Is the makerspace door open?

Checking...

CSS
* {
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}
h1 {
    content:"";
    position: absolute;
    visibility: hidden;
    left: 0;
    top:0;
}
h1:after {
    float: left;
    content:"Ultra Cool";
    visibility: visible;
}
#switch_txt {
    position: relative;
    top: 50px;
}

FIDDLE