Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Don Quixote (36 of 448)

CHAPTER XIII. (CONT'D)

To which our Don Quixote made answer, "Sir, one solitary swallow does not make summer; moreover, I know that knight was in secret very deeply in love; besides which, that way of falling in love with all that took his fancy was a natural propensity which he could not control. But, in short, it is very manifest that he had one alone whom he made mistress of his will, to whom he commended himself very frequently and very secretly, for he prided himself on being a reticent knight."

"Then if it be essential that every knight-errant should be in love," said the traveller, "it may be fairly supposed that your worship is so, as you are of the order; and if you do not pride yourself on being as reticent as Don Galaor, I entreat you as earnestly as I can, in the name of all this company and in my own, to inform us of the name, country, rank, and beauty of your lady, for she will esteem herself fortunate if all the world knows that she is loved and served by such a knight as your worship seems to be."

At this Don Quixote heaved a deep sigh and said, "I cannot say positively whether my sweet enemy is pleased or not that the world should know I serve her; I can only say in answer to what has been so courteously asked of me, that her name is Dulcinea, her country El Toboso, a village of La Mancha, her rank must be at least that of a princess, since she is my queen and lady, and her beauty superhuman, since all the impossible and fanciful attributes of beauty which the poets apply to their ladies are verified in her; for her hairs are gold, her forehead Elysian fields, her eyebrows rainbows, her eyes suns, her cheeks roses, her lips coral, her teeth pearls, her neck alabaster, her bosom marble, her hands ivory, her fairness snow, and what modesty conceals from sight such, I think and imagine, as rational reflection can only extol, not compare."

"We should like to know her lineage, race, and ancestry," said Vivaldo.

To which Don Quixote replied, "She is not of the ancient Roman Curtii, Caii, or Scipios, nor of the modern Colonnas or Orsini, nor of the Moncadas or Requesenes of Catalonia, nor yet of the Rebellas or Villanovas of Valencia; Palafoxes, Nuzas, Rocabertis, Corellas, Lunas, Alagones, Urreas, Foces, or Gurreas of Aragon; Cerdas, Manriques, Mendozas, or Guzmans of Castile; Alencastros, Pallas, or Meneses of Portugal; but she is of those of El Toboso of La Mancha, a lineage that though modern, may furnish a source of gentle blood for the most illustrious families of the ages that are to come, and this let none dispute with me save on the condition that Zerbino placed at the foot of the trophy of Orlando's arms, saying,

'These let none move Who dareth not his might with Roland prove.'"

"Although mine is of the Cachopins of Laredo," said the traveller, "I will not venture to compare it with that of El Toboso of La Mancha, though, to tell the truth, no such surname has until now ever reached my ears."

"What!" said Don Quixote, "has that never reached them?"

The rest of the party went along listening with great attention to the conversation of the pair, and even the very goatherds and shepherds perceived how exceedingly out of his wits our Don Quixote was. Sancho Panza alone thought that what his master said was the truth, knowing who he was and having known him from his birth; and all that he felt any difficulty in believing was that about the fair Dulcinea del Toboso, because neither any such name nor any such princess had ever come to his knowledge though he lived so close to El Toboso. They were going along conversing in this way, when they saw descending a gap between two high mountains some twenty shepherds, all clad in sheepskins of black wool, and crowned with garlands which, as afterwards appeared, were, some of them of yew, some of cypress.
Six of the number were carrying a bier covered with a great variety of flowers and branches, on seeing which one of the goatherds said, "Those who come there are the bearers of Chrysostom's body, and the foot of that mountain is the place where he ordered them to bury him." They therefore made haste to reach the spot, and did so by the time those who came had laid the bier upon the ground, and four of them with sharp pickaxes were digging a grave by the side of a hard rock. They greeted each other courteously, and then Don Quixote and those who accompanied him turned to examine the bier, and on it, covered with flowers, they saw a dead body in the dress of a shepherd, to all appearance of one thirty years of age, and showing even in death that in life he had been of comely features and gallant bearing.
Around him on the bier itself were laid some books, and several papers open and folded; and those who were looking on as well as those who were opening the grave and all the others who were there preserved a strange silence, until one of those who had borne the body said to another, "Observe carefully, Ambrosia if this is the place Chrysostom spoke of, since you are anxious that what he directed in his will should be so strictly complied with."
---------------
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Sunday, January 28, 2007

[GetAmped Fansite - KICK ASS Inc.] Logo Guild KICK ASS Inc.

Feel free to use KICK ASS Inc. Guild Logo as your guild logo!
And also feel free too make a guild using KICK ASS Inc. as name!

Logo in JPEG: 32x32 px
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Logo in BMP: 32x32 px
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Gotta kick yer ass!

--
Posted By KICK ASS Inc. - Gotta Kick Yer Ass! to GetAmped Fansite - KICK ASS Inc. at 1/28/2007 07:20:00 PM

Friday, January 26, 2007

It's a Wonderful Life

I look out and I see
It's all around me
Love is in the air
It's everywhere I look
Can you see it?
I hope you can feel it
'Cause here is where you find love
 
I look up to the sky
Clouds floating by
Cool wind on my face
This is the place for me
Can you see it?
I hope you can feel it
'Cause here is where you find love
 
It's a wonderful life
So beautiful
It's a wonderful world
So beautiful
And the smile that lights up your face like the sun
Tells me that you've found it too
 
And now that you are here
Standing beside me
You feel all that I feel
You know this love is real
Now you see it
I know you can feel it
'Cause here is where we found love
 
It's a wonderful life
So beautiful
It's a wonderful world
So beautiful
And the smile that lights up your face like the sun
Tells me that you've found it too
 
Yes, it's true. You've found love, too...!
 
 
Lyrics written by Andrew H. Dougharty
 
Submitted by:
Andry Chang
Blog Jockey (BJ Vadis)
 
Vadis Productions - Release Your Imagination!
 
Vadis Portal Site : http://vadis.tk
FireHeart NovelBlog : http://fireheart.tk
GetAmped KICK ASS Inc. : http://kickassinc.blogspot.com
Vadis Main Site : http://vadis.multiply.com
 

 

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Another Moment of Glory


I can't believe this! I actually won something this month! Man, what an uplift!
I just want to record this and share this with you all, guys. - BJ Vadis (guess my real name!)

News source: (Bahasa Indonesia)
http://www.getamped-r.web.id/berita/seragamgwc/pengumuman/
Pemenang Lomba Skin Seragam Tim Indonesia
GetAmped World Championship 2007 Korea

Setelah melalui penilaian yang sangat ketat, akhirnya TIM ACTION GAR berhasil mendapatkan skin-skin terbaik yang akan digunakan oleh para peserta Indonesia di GWC 2007 KOREA!
Inilah pemenang Lomba Seragam GWC 2007 Indonesia:

JUARA 1:
Andry Tanuwijaya, Jakarta
Nama SkinPitung Millennium
HadiahRp. 500.000,00 + 30 Hari Gratis TambahSkin
Komentar
Konsep jagoan Betawi, dengan modifikasi warna merah putih... dan logo Garuda di bagian dada... Sangat Indonesia sekali... Dengan golok besar di punggung, kami yakin para wakil Indonesia akan lebih bersemangat dalam GWC 2007 ^^


JUARA 2:
Sanriomi Sintaro, Bandar Lampung
Nama SkinFighting Dreamer
HadiahRp. 300.000,00 + 30 Hari Gratis TambahSkin
Komentar
Pendekar berjas putih, dengan motif merah putih yang keren, ditambah ikat kepala merah putih, menambah rasa nasionalis di skin ini...


JUARA 3:
Albertino Kaharap Ibrahim, Bekasi
Nama SkinGWC Girl
HadiahRp. 200.000,00 + 30 Hari Gratis TambahSkin
Komentar
Jagoan wanita, dengan konsep pakaian merah putih yang modern... Deretan gelang besi ditangan menambah kesan kuat dalam karakter ini...

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Writers' Guild and Societies Directory - Links










 

Categories: Publishers, Links, Community,
Forums

 

Andry Chang
Blog Jockey (BJ Vadis)

 

Vadis Productions - Release Your
Imagination!

 


 


 

Sunday, January 14, 2007

[GetAmped Fansite - KICK ASS Inc.] Marvin the Mad Martian - Skin


Maybe this is my last skin in this site...

Marvin the Mad Martian
From : Looney Tunes (Warner Bros.)

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Download:
http://www.geocities.com/bjvadis/marvin.zip


Chelsea FC:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
http://www.geocities.com/bjvadis/sheva.zip

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
http://www.geocities.com/bjvadis/lampard.zip

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
http://www.geocities.com/bjvadis/drogba.zip

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
http://www.geocities.com/bjvadis/ballack.zip
(Shevchenko, Lampard, Drogba, Ballack)

Make Your Own Skin! Kit:

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Marvin the Mad Martian

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting


Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Ok then! Enjoy!

--
Posted by KICK ASS Inc. - Gotta Kick Yer Ass! to GetAmped Fansite - KICK ASS Inc. at 1/14/2007 06:27:00 PM

[GetAmped Fansite - KICK ASS Inc.] My New Skins Storage!


[http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/categories.php?cat_id=53]


Dear KICK ASS Inc. GetAmped Fansite visitor,

Starting now, Jan 14 2007 I have a new (temporary) site to store my new and latest skins, so feel free to visit this specific location:

KICK ASS Inc. Gallery in www.jagoskin.com:
http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/categories.php?cat_id=53

Featuring some new stuffs for your delight:

Soccer Series: Chelsea FC
No. 11 Didier Drogba
http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=771
No. 13 Michael Ballack
http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=772
No. 7 Andriy Shevchenko
http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=773
No. 8 Frank Lampard
http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=774

And new links for some old skins (the old links in jagoskin were broken!)
Ronaldinho - Soccer Series - Brazil
http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=769
Athrun Zala - Gundam SEED
http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=768
Wayne Rooney - Manchester Utd.
http://www.jagoskin.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=737

Well, I'll still be updating this blog for my own records, but the skins are only stored in www.jagoskin.com. Please be informed as necessary. - BJ Vadis

--
Posted by KICK ASS Inc. - Gotta Kick Yer Ass! to GetAmped Fansite - KICK ASS Inc. at 1/14/2007 06:14:00 PM

Night at the Museum

Rating:★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Action & Adventure
Good-hearted dreamer Larry Daley, despite being perpetually down on his luck, thinks he's destined for something big. But even he could never have imagined how big, when he accepts what appears to be a menial job as a graveyard-shift security guard at a museum of natural history. During Larry's watch, extraordinary things begin to occur: Mayans, Roman Gladiators, and cowboys emerge from their diorama to wage epic battles; in his quest for fire, a Neanderthal burns down his own display; Attila the Hun pillages his neighboring exhibits, and a T-Rex reminds everyone why he's history's fiercest predator. Amidst the chaos, the only person Larry can turn to for advice is a wax figure of President Teddy Roosevelt , who helps our hero harness the bedlam, stop a nefarious plot, and save the museum.

Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release

Logline: A good-hearted but bumbling security guard at the Museum of Natural History accidentally trips an ancient curse which causes the animals and gigantic insects on display to come to life, causing havoc in the city.

Release Date: December 22nd, 2006 (wide)

MPAA Rating: PG for mild action, language and brief rude humor.

Distributors: 20th Century Fox Distribution, 20th Century Fox International

Production Co.: 1492 Pictures, 21 Laps Entertainment

Studios: 20th Century Fox

Filming Locations: New York, New York, USA
Vancouver, Canada

Produced in: United States

Source:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809266172/details

Rocky Balboa

Rating:★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Sports
Former heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) steps out of retirement and back into the ring, pitting himself against a new rival decades after his initial glory. When a computer simulated boxing match declares Rocky Balboa the victor over current champion Mason "The Line" Dixon, the legendary fighter's passion and spirit are reignited. But when his desire to fight in small, regional competitions is trumped by promoters calling for a rematch of the cyber-fight, Balboa must weigh the mental and physical risks of a high profile exhibition match against his need to be in the ring.

Also Known As: Rocky 6
Rocky VI (MGM)

Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release

Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Sequel and Sports

Running Time: 102 min.

Release Date: December 20th, 2006 (wide)

MPAA Rating: PG for boxing violence and some language.

Distributors: MGM Distribution Company

Studios: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Columbia Pictures, Revolution Studios

Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

Produced in: United States

Source: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809278368/details


Thursday, January 11, 2007

Celia's Poems - Links








size=3>I hope u don't mind me putting links to your poem
in my blog and among fellow FireHearters, Celia,

because personally I think your poems are very
intriguing and moving. Makes me think and wonder...

 


Poet's Name: 
Celia Widjaja

 


 

Andry Chang
Blog Jockey (BJ Vadis)

 

Vadis Productions - Release Your
Imagination!

 


 


 

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

January 2007 -- The New Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery is here


Scene of the Crime
Mystery e-Newsletter
from HarperCollins.com
January 2007
===========

Dear Reader,

New Year, New Mysteries! This January is jam packed with stellar mysteries you won’t want to miss.

New this month – A FALSE MIRROR,

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162987B69B34A21332458D50
The New Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery from Charles Todd

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162997A69B34A21332458D50 The Chicago Tribune has said of

the Ian Rutledge series “No mystery series captures the sadness and loss that swept over England after

World War I with the heartbreaking force of Charles Todd’s books about Scotland Yard Inspector Ian

Rutledge.” In a STARRED review for A FALSE MIRROR,

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162976569B34A21332458D50 Publishers Weekly a said

Todd “seamlessly melds a fair-play whodunit with psychological suspense in the tradition of P. D.

James’s best.”

Also this month, be on the look out for the 10th Anniversary hardcover edition of Laura Lippman’s debut

BALTIMORE BLUES (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162986469B34A21332458D50 and Sean

Chercover’s hard-boiled debut thriller BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162956769B34A21332458D50 which brings the

reader deep into the back alleys of Chicago, the mansions of Beverly Hills and the corridors of power

in Washington, D.C.

We’re kicking the New Year off right – and hope you agree.

Until next time,

Scene of the Crime (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162966669B34A21332458D50

======================

- Book of the Month -

A False Mirror by Charles Todd
http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162916169B34A21332458D50
A small coastal town harboring deadly secrets. An Inspector with demons of his own. Appearances can be

deceiving. A FALSE MIRROR, (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162926069B34A21332458D50
The New Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery from Charles Todd

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162996369B34A21332458D50 Also just out in paperback is

Charles Todd’s (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162906269B34A21332458D50 A LONG SHADOW

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162986D69B34A21332458D50 and a Harper re-issue of

the first Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery, A TEST OF WILLS

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162996C69B34A21332458D50 named one of the 20th

Century’s 100 Favorite Mysteries by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association and a New York

Times Notable Book of the Year. Need to get caught up on Inspector Rutledge? Click here

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162966F69B34A21332458D50 for a complete

timeline of events leading up to A FALSE MIRROR,

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162976E69B34A21332458D50

Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162936969B34A21332458D50

======================

- OUR NEW MYSTERIES -

Title 1
Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover

“Chercover delivers the good; his rapid-fire style paints every page with hardboiled authenticity.” –

G.M. Ford

Link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162946869B34A21332458D50

Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162906B69B34A21332458D50
image: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162916A69B34A21332458D50

*****************

Title 2
Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom

“[Sansom’s] fish-out-of-water dilemmas and encounters with kooky locals will resonate with Alexander

McCall Smith fans” — Publishers Weekly

Link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162919569B34A21332458D50
Image: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162929469B34A21332458D50
Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162999769B34A21332458D50

*****************

Title 3
When Darkness Falls by James Grippando

Grippando grips from the first page in a new thriller that will keep you up all night.” — Harlan Coben

Link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162909669B34A21332458D50
image: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162959169B34A21332458D50

Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162969069B34A21332458D50

======================

- And Don’t Miss … -

Title 1
Kockroach by Tyler Knox

“Roaringly entertaining...Knox’s inhuman anti-hero’s tale is told in flawless noir style...a compelling

story of greed and power.” — Publishers Weekly (STARRED review)

Link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162939369B34A21332458D50
Image: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162949269B34A21332458D50
Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162929D69B34A21332458D50

****************

Title 2
Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra

A dazzling and extraordinarily compelling novel that combines elements of The Godfather with the

suspense of a Victorian novel.

Link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162939C69B34A21332458D50
Image: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162909F69B34A21332458D50
Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162919E69B34A21332458D50
E-book link: tk

****************

Title 3
The Berlin Conspiracy by Tom Gabbay

“Add a new and adept name to the must-read list of thriller writers.” — Rocky Mountain News (Grade:

A)

http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162979969B34A21332458D50
image: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162989869B34A21332458D50
Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162949B69B34A21332458D50

======================

- Author of the Month -

Look for the paperback of the New York Times bestseller CARVED IN BONE

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162959A69B34A21332458D50 by Jefferson Bass

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162938569B34A21332458D50 out this month.
Jefferson Bass is the writing team of Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson.
Dr. Bass -- a world-renowned forensic anthropologist, founded the University of Tennessee's

Anthropology Research Facility - the Body Farm - a quarter-century ago. He is the author or coauthor of

more than two hundred scientific publications, as well as a critically acclaimed memoir about his

career, Death's Acre. Jefferson (left) is a veteran journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker. The

coauthor of Death's Acre, he is also the writer and producer of two highly rated National Geographic

documentaries about the Body Farm.
Be sure to check out FLESH AND BONE

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162948469B34A21332458D50 coming January 23 from

Jefferson Bass (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162918769B34A21332458D50

In the meantime click here (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162928669B34A21332458D50 to take a tour of the Body Farm

with Dr. Bass.

======================
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Copyright © 2007 HarperCollins Publishers. All Rights Reserved.
HarperCollins Publishers; 10 East 53rd Street; New York, NY, 10022

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special offers, new products, and free resources click here
http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162988069B34A21332458D50

January 2007 -- The New Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery is here


Scene of the Crime
Mystery e-Newsletter
from HarperCollins.com
January 2007
===========

Dear Reader,

New Year, New Mysteries! This January is jam packed with stellar mysteries you won’t want to miss.

New this month – A FALSE MIRROR,

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162987B69B34A21332458D50
The New Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery from Charles Todd

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162997A69B34A21332458D50 The Chicago Tribune has said of

the Ian Rutledge series “No mystery series captures the sadness and loss that swept over England after

World War I with the heartbreaking force of Charles Todd’s books about Scotland Yard Inspector Ian

Rutledge.” In a STARRED review for A FALSE MIRROR,

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162976569B34A21332458D50 Publishers Weekly a said

Todd “seamlessly melds a fair-play whodunit with psychological suspense in the tradition of P. D.

James’s best.”

Also this month, be on the look out for the 10th Anniversary hardcover edition of Laura Lippman’s debut

BALTIMORE BLUES (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162986469B34A21332458D50 and Sean

Chercover’s hard-boiled debut thriller BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162956769B34A21332458D50 which brings the

reader deep into the back alleys of Chicago, the mansions of Beverly Hills and the corridors of power

in Washington, D.C.

We’re kicking the New Year off right – and hope you agree.

Until next time,

Scene of the Crime (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162966669B34A21332458D50

======================

- Book of the Month -

A False Mirror by Charles Todd
http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162916169B34A21332458D50
A small coastal town harboring deadly secrets. An Inspector with demons of his own. Appearances can be

deceiving. A FALSE MIRROR, (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162926069B34A21332458D50
The New Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery from Charles Todd

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162996369B34A21332458D50 Also just out in paperback is

Charles Todd’s (http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162906269B34A21332458D50 A LONG SHADOW

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162986D69B34A21332458D50 and a Harper re-issue of

the first Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery, A TEST OF WILLS

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162996C69B34A21332458D50 named one of the 20th

Century’s 100 Favorite Mysteries by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association and a New York

Times Notable Book of the Year. Need to get caught up on Inspector Rutledge? Click here

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162966F69B34A21332458D50 for a complete

timeline of events leading up to A FALSE MIRROR,

(http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162976E69B34A21332458D50

Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162936969B34A21332458D50

======================

- OUR NEW MYSTERIES -

Title 1
Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover

“Chercover delivers the good; his rapid-fire style paints every page with hardboiled authenticity.” –

G.M. Ford

Link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162946869B34A21332458D50

Purchase link: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162906B69B34A21332458D50
image: http://newsletters.HarperCollins.com/W0RT02162916A69B34A21332458D50

*****************

Title 2
Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom

“[Sansom’s] fish-out-of-water dilemmas and encounters with kooky locals will resonate with Alexander

McCall Smith fans” — Publishers Weekly

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Paladin - A Study

Paladin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Online Research & Study
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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.Please discuss this issue on the talk page or replace this tag with a more specific message.This article has been tagged since December 2006.
For other uses, see Paladin (disambiguation).
"Paladine" redirects here. For the Dragonlance fictional deity, see Paladine (Dragonlance).
A paladin (alternatively paladine, also spelled palatine, or Latin palatinus, -i) is any of diverse officials found in numerous countries of medieval and early modern Europe.
It has existed in history first in Ancient Rome as an official of the Emperor as well as a corps of the praetorian guard (Diocletian), named after its neighboring Scholae Palatinae. In the early Middle Ages there was a papal church official or a noble close to the king (see below), in the late Middle Ages a synonym of count palatine, in Modernity it was in 19th century Hungary the supreme title given by the king or, in a broader sense especially around 1900 in Britain and the German Empire, a knight.
In fiction the paladines were twelve heroes of mediaeval poetry. In this context the term retains the meaning of “honourable knight”.
Contents[hide]
1 Derivative terms
1.1 Ancient Rome
1.2 Middle Ages: Holy Roman Empire
1.3 Middle Ages: Catholic Church
1.4 Early Modern Usage
1.5 19th and 20th century
2 Fiction
2.1 Carolingian Court
2.2 Renaissance
2.3 19th century Revival
3 Present Day and Trivia
4 Sources
//

[edit] Derivative terms
The different spellings originate from the different languages that used the title throughout the ages (a phenomenon called lenition). The word "paladin" evolved from the Latin word palatinus, meaning "belonging to the Palatine Hill", where the house of the Roman emperor was situated since Octavian. The meaning of the term changed only little, but was changed to the pronunciation of the European languages: Latin palatinus, plural palatini, English paladin and paladine, French palaisin and German Paladin. The term was also adopted to describe the residence of the Ancient Roman palatinus, the palatium. In the early Middle Ages the German “paladin” was the elector of the King, given the palatinate to have a territory as a basis to sustain him (Pfalz).
The word palace also developed from “palatium”, so that a paladin was in one sense a palace official. Other uses are the titles of "mayor of the palace" and "count palatine". The original Middle French form is palaisin. The English paladin was loaned into Early Modern English from the Italian form, paladino, because late medieval treatments of the "Matter of France" were mostly by Italian authors such as Ludovico Ariosto and Matteo Maria Boiardo.

[edit] Ancient Rome
The Scholae Palatinae, named after its location on Palatine Hill, the mythical founding place of Rome, was the older of two schools of the ancient Salii brotherhood of God of War Mars, which lent some of their symbols to the emperial, later the papal palace.

Official and ceremonial hat of the Salii used later adopted by the Catholic Church
Originally the term was applied to the chamberlains and to some troops guarding the palace of the Roman emperor. In Constantine's time, the title was also used for the most advanced field force of the army, the Praetorian Guard, that might guard the Roman Emperor on campaigns. The traditions of the two groups of 12 Salii priests and of the Praetorian Guard soon merged into one, creating an image of an influential official with nonphysical connotations.

[edit] Middle Ages: Holy Roman Empire
From the Middle Ages on, the term palatine was applied to various different officials across Europe. The most important of these was the count palatine, who in Merovingian and Carolingian times (5th through 10th century) was an official of the sovereign's household, in particular of his court of law. The count palatine was the official representative at proceedings of the court such as oath takings or judicial sentences and was in charge of the records of those developments. At first he examined cases in the king's court and was authorized to carry out the decisions, in time, these rights extended to having own judicial rights. In addition to those responsibilities, the count palatine had administrative functions, especially concerning the king's household.
After Carolingean times France was split from the Holy Roman Empire, and under the German kings of the Saxon and Salian dynasties (10th to 12th century), the function of the counts palatine corresponded to those of the missi dominici at the Carolingian Court. They had various tasks: representatives of the king in the provinces, they were responsible for the administration of the royal domain and for the protecting and guiding the legal system in certain duchies, such as Saxony and Bavaria, and, in particular, Lotharingia. Later other palatine rights were absorbed by ducal dynasties, by local families, or, in Italy, by bishops. Increasigly, the count palatine of Lotharingia, whose office had been attached to the royal palace at Aachen from the 10th century onward, became the real successor to the Carolingian count palatine. From his office grew the Countship Palatine of the Rhine, or simply the Palatinate, which became a great territorial power from the time of the emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) (d. 1190) on. The term palatine reoccurs under Charles IV, but they had only voluntary jurisdiction and some honorific functions.
The word palatinus and its derivatives also translate the titles of certain great functionaries in eastern Europe, such as the Polish wojewoda, a military governor of a province.

[edit] Middle Ages: Catholic Church
For the main article, see Palatinus (Roman Catholic Church)
In the Middle Ages, the judices palatini ('[papal] palace judges') were the highest administrative officers of the pope's household; with the growth of the temporal power of the popes they acquired great importance.

[edit] Early Modern Usage
In England the term palatinate, or county palatine, was applied to counties of lords who could exercise powers normally reserved to the crown. Likewise, there were palatine provinces among the English colonies in North America: Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore, was granted palatine rights in Maryland in 1632, as were the proprietors of the Carolinas in 1663.[1]

[edit] 19th and 20th century
In Germany and Britain, paladin was an official rank and considered an honorary title for one in service of the emperors. It was a Knight with additional honours.
During the second reinstating of a German Empire called the Third Reich, Hermann Göring was also given the title “Paladin”, referring to the tradition of a title that made the carrier second to the king.[2]

[edit] Fiction

[edit] Carolingian Court

Roland is girt with a sword by Charlemagne; from a manuscript of a chanson de geste.
Paladin as a word referring to a champion or warrior of the European Middle Ages is often used to describe Charlemagne's legendary retainers, the Twelve Peers of mediaeval chansons de geste and romances. In the original Latin version, naturally palatinus was used. These characters and their associated exploits are largely later fictional inventions, with some basis on historical Frankish retainers of the 8th century and events such as the Battle of Roncevaux Pass and the confrontation of the Frankish Empire with Umayyad Al-Andalus in the Marca Hispanica
The names of the twelve paladins vary from romance to romance, and often more than twelve paladins are named. The number is popular because it resembles the twelve Apostles – giving the king the position of Jesus not out of arrogance, but the conscience of the holy mission a king has. All Carolingian paladine stories feature paladins by the names of Roland and Oliver. Other recurring characters are Archbishop Turpin, Ogier the Dane, Huon of Bordeaux, Fierabras, Renaud de Montauban, and Ganelon. Tales of the paladins of Charlemagne once rivalled the stories of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table in popularity. Ariosto and Boiardo, whose works were once as widely read and respected as Shakespeare's, contributed most prominently to the literary/poetical reworking of the tales of the epic deeds of the paladins.

The death of Roland at the Battle of Roncevaux, from an illustrated manuscript of the 1450s.
The twelve paladins of Charlemagne are listed in the Old French Chanson de Roland as follows:
Roland — Charlemagne's nephew and the chief hero among the paladins
Oliver — Roland's friend and strongest ally
and Gérin, Gérier, Bérengier, Otton, Samson, Engelier, Ivon, Ivoire, Anséis, Girard (similar spellings are possible).

[edit] Renaissance
The Italians Ariosto and Boiardo listed the paladins quite differently, but kept the number of twelve:
OrlandoRoland, Charlemagne's nephew and the chief hero among the paladins)
Oliver — rival to Roland
Ferumbras — (Fierabras), the Saracen who became a Christian
Astolpho — descended from Charles Martel and cousin to Orlando
Ogier the Dane
Ganelon the betrayer, who appears in Canto XXXII of the Inferno by Dante Alighieri
Rinaldo — Renaud de Montauban
Malagigi — Maugris, a sorcerer
Florismart — friend to Orlando
Guy de Bourgogne
Namo — (Naimon, Aymon, or Namus), Rinaldo's father
Otuel — another converted Saracen

[edit] 19th century Revival
The Celtic revival of the 1880s benefitted the Arthurian material and encouraged its reworking and recirculation. No such aura of latter-day romance could assist the Charlemagne material, which remained strongly Christian and triumphalist in its presentation in contrast to the melancholy of the ultimate failure of the Arthurian heroes, and their ambiguous position at the transition from Celtic paganism to Christianity. As a result, contemporary readers know Arthur and his Camelot well while hearing little of the paladins of Charlemagne, who once enjoyed similar renown.

[edit] Present Day and Trivia
The official title has come out of fashion, but the meaning of a character full of virtue remains, and one called a paladin is meant to be a thoughtful, virtuous man. Given the history of the term, it would give a wrong impression, since a paladin is in a way close to a monk.
Some modern role playing games and fantasy literature make use of a "paladin" character class based on the medieval concept. For computers, board games and many more there are popular game characters listed on paladin (disambiguation). Fantasy paladins are usually holy warriors, combining both combat and healing abilities.
Also, as 19th and early 20th century politics, paladin/paladine might be a honorary title in reality or fiction.

[edit] Sources
Conradus the priest (12th century), Song of Roland. ISBN 3-920153-02-2. Frank, Grace, La Passion du Palatinus : mystère du XIVe siècle, in : Les Classiques français du moyen âge (30) Paris 1922.
^ John Krugler, English and Catholic, the Lords Baltimore in the seventeenth century, Baltimore 2004.
^ Stefan Marthens, Erster Paladin des Führers und Zweiter Mann im Reich, Paderborn 1985, ISBN 3-506-77474-3, and Wolfgang Paul, Hermann Goering: Hitler Paladin or Puppet?, London 1998, ISBN 1-85409-429-7
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paladin"
Categories: Cleanup from December 2006 All pages needing cleanup Knights Matter of France Stock characters History of Rome Lists of office-holders Titles Noble titles Ancient Roman titles Military ranks of ancient Rome

Monday, January 08, 2007

FireHeart Project Illustrations 2007 - Batch 1














Some illustration suggestions for Monstropedia
Eternia and


FireHeart - Legend of the Paladins


Book Two: Masks of the Soul


 


Created by Andry Chang
Blog Jockey (BJ
Vadis)


 


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Imagination!


 




 



 

Friday, January 05, 2007

What Critics Said About FireHeart

Recorded from DigitalWebbing Forum

My apologies for those who didn't want their comments blogged, but since I consider this very valuable I thought I'd rather keep it in my blog (before Digital Webbing erased that thread)
This is what they said. You're welcome to judge my work yourself.

Critics 1:
From reading your first chapter excerpt I can seen that you're clearly a fan of quest fantasy. Your writing is easy to read and has a style. However, you have a long, long way to go. I know that sounds harsh, but writing a novel, especially a fantasy novel, takes a lot of effort and skill that isn't easy to develop and can only be done through rewrite after rewrite.

To me the world had a stock feeling to it. I know fantasy shares common elements, but the characters, the seedy bar, setting up characters through a fight, its all things I've read a dozen times before. It’s not to say that you can't use those, you just have to find ways to make it your own.

I personally didn't like the simi-annoymous second person perspective of "The Boy," "The Man." Characters are the most important aspect of any novel and you want to give readers a reason to like them right off, and I don't think that this set up does that.

Your point of view changes at least three times during the opening setup, we go from following the boy to one line that's first person to following this man. It’s confusing and doesn't really set up anything.

First lines are important, and yours doesn't make me want to read on.

You need to set up the crux of your story in the first chapter. From the opening pages of Game of Thrones I know its going to be a succession struggle. In Harry Potter its evident the kid is special from the opening scene. Neil Gaiman wastes no time setting up American Gods. You have got to get whatever your story is about quickly and effective and from reading the first few pages of your book I'm not sure what your story is thematically about.

My overall impressions is it sounds like the beginning of a D&D quest, and while that's interesting to some people, you need to do it better than R.A. Salvatore, and that’s hard, because he's damned good at what he does. I think you need to make it more unique if you ever want to see it published in any form.

I'm always looking for more aspiring fantasy writers to correspond with, so if you want to keep chatting send me a PM.

my reply:

well, I admit that I just began my journey and I have a long, long way to go. and as I don't have enough to start with, I might just get my efforts going and enjoy the ride. I put the 'reader's curiosity-maker' part at the end of the first chapter and go on with the second and third chapters.

what I really need is a good editor I can work with, because I honestly don't have a clue at all of how to make a bigger impression in my first chapter than the one I've written already.

I really don't have a clue on how to satisfy what my readers want from a story that is so basic as mine, and I have so little time to do that because of my responsibilities (especially the financial ones).

So, please tell me, do I have to improve on my first chapter only or write this story all over again?

FYI, it took me one year and four months to finish the first book, and another six months to edit and re-edit that before I can proceed to the second part.

I really appreciate your kind comments, that's really very valuable for me.


Reply From Scribe :

I don't think that you're ready to work with an editor yet. Finding an independent editor isn't easy and its not cheap. You're probably better off finding a critic group of writings, aspiring or otherwise, and getting some good solid feedback

I'd also recommend reading some books on writing, I recommend Stephen King's On Writing and Donald Maass' Writing the Breakout Novel. These are two books that helped me a good deal.

My advice is to just do draft after draft. I've written five novels that have not, and will not, see the light of day. Then, when you feel like you're ready start going to writing conference and start meeting professional editors, agents and writers.

I know a year and a half seems like a lot of time, but to the publishing industry, especially in fantasy, its not. JK Rowling took five years to write Harry Potter and still got rejected by 23 agents and seven publishers. Its a long road, most of it is by yourself, and its important not to get discouraged. There is no such thing as your "last attempt." Writers get better with age, not worse. Don't stress the shit and just write.

My reply:

Yup, guess I'll keep researching and researching, expanding beyond my limits. Thanks for your sharing, though.

Well the 'Paladins' series is a pretty basic thing, I must admit. I wrote this just for fun, to satisfy my ideas of 'Hey, why don't someone make a basic thing for once?'

If I can't sell it just yet, at least the blog will suffice for now. Even if it takes five or ten years, I will see my writings in the light of day, not in the undergrounds anymore.

Well, I got my copy of Stephen King's On Writing, but I haven't finished reading it....



Critics 2:
Um, Thraxx? Lots of writers manage to write well fleshed out characters without writing a character synopsis, so it's only an unavoidable task if you are the kind of writer who needs to not avoid it.

Vadis --I find reading the posted exerpt very awkward, and I find the prose distancing. It is written in the present tense, which is extremely unusual and tends to draw attention to itself. And it is also written in omniscient which is slightly less unusual, but still uncommon nowadays, and which also draws attention to itself.

I would never try to tell someone that they should *not* write in present tense or omniscient, but I am wondering if you made those choices on purpose and if so, what your reasons are? Because I don't see any reasons for such unusal choices in the bit of the story that I have seen.

If you want to keep the omnscient pov, I think you need to work a bit more on giving the narrator a distinctive and interesting voice. At the moment the narrator's voice is very bland, which can work in third, where the narrator becomes essentially invisible, but omniscient narrators just aren't invisible to the average reader, no matter what.

If you don't know what I'm talking about when I start going on about present tense, omniscient narratation and pov, please do ask. Sometimes I forget that not everyone is familiar with technical writing terminology as my writer friends are.

And, um, not to be cruel, but...
The usual advice given to writers is: If you can possibly not write, then you probably shouldn't.

For me it doesn't matter how badly I write or how long it is taking me to "become a success", (It has taken me 13 years to become a "neo-pro", and I still haven't sold a book), because the stories come to me whether I want them to or not, and they demand to be told. When I stop writing, I become miserable. The sales are nice, but even without them, I would be a writer... I have no choice in the matter.


Quote:
Originally Posted by LavenderBard
Um, Thraxx? Lots of writers manage to write well fleshed out characters without writing a character synopsis, so it's only an unavoidable task if you are the kind of writer who needs to not avoid it.



I meant that it's a must if you're unsure about your characters and need to define them clearly. I found that it's the method that works for me, maybe you don't need it. I've actually set it aside once I started writing, and never go back to it for reference, but it proved a good exercise to make the characters "stick" in my mind so I know exactly how the character will act/react.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LavenderBard
For me it doesn't matter how badly I write or how long it is taking me to "become a success", (It has taken me 13 years to become a "neo-pro", and I still haven't sold a book), because the stories come to me whether I want them to or not, and they demand to be told. When I stop writing, I become miserable. The sales are nice, but even without them, I would be a writer... I have no choice in the matter.


Totally agree with you there. It's a calling. If it's not enjoyable and you can put it down, then you probably should. If it's not enjoyable but you can't help it, you're probably on the right track. It is a hard-work/low-benefit life, but if you can't help writing, eventually you'll get better even if your "talent" isn't that great.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Thraxx
I meant that it's a must if you're unsure about your characters and need to define them clearly. I found that it's the method that works for me, maybe you don't need it. I've actually set it aside once I started writing, and never go back to it for reference, but it proved a good exercise to make the characters "stick" in my mind so I know exactly how the character will act/react.


I have different character problems than lack of depth. :rueful look: Assuming the reader will understand my characters as well as I do tops the list... it can *look* like lack of depth from the other side, but its actually just sloppy writing. "Why did your character do x?" "Well that's because of [explanation], of course." "You never *told* us about [explanation]." "Oh. Oops!"


Here's another hint from the "needs to work on a character to make them rounded contingent" though. For peple who find that filling out a questionaire is too mechanical or otherwise doesn't work for them, try Zelazny's trick. He would write a scene that would *not* appear in the story... that happened, in fact, *before* the story, but that centered around some vital aspect of that character tha did appear in the story. Coming up with the vital aspect and the scene forced him to put the thinking into the character that was needed to make the character real. (And at least once the scene turned into a short story that he subsequently sold -- or so they tell me.)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thraxx
but if you can't help writing, eventually you'll get better even if your "talent" isn't that great.


10% "talent" and 90% hard work.



Quote:
Originally Posted by LAvenderBard
For people who find that filling out a questionaire is too mechanical or otherwise doesn't work for them, try Zelazny's trick. He would write a scene that would *not* appear in the story... that happened, in fact, *before* the story, but that centered around some vital aspect of that character tha did appear in the story. Coming up with the vital aspect and the scene forced him to put the thinking into the character that was needed to make the character real. (And at least once the scene turned into a short story that he subsequently sold -- or so they tell me.)



That is a good method, I guess I'll apply it and see if it works for me..

About talent, Newton (I think) said: it's 1% inspiration, 99% transpiration...


Wow, thanks guys...

Looks like since I'm the narrator of this story - actually the 'god' in this world is Vadis, and it's my nickname - I found it very appopriate to write in present tense. Although the real reason is I should've written in past tense like all professional fantasy writers do.

As I'm not quite well-informed in Professional Writing Standards and as Scribe said - never took a formal lesson, and at first I wrote FireHeart for my own pleasure and hobby and then share it with others, while coping with my own business, so please pardon the blandness and the 'unappealingness' because of my lack of vocabulary.

Honestly, I'm reading David Eddings now and his very 'grand' language is giving me headaches more than entertainment.

But above all that, I'll keep polishing this again and again while keeping my business together, and you'll hear more from me, mark my words.

May the sun shines upon you and the earth gives you life - BJ Vadis


Quote:
Originally Posted by vadis
Looks like since I'm the narrator of this story - actually the 'god' in this world is Vadis, and it's my nickname - I found it very appopriate to write in present tense. Although the real reason is I should've written in past tense like all professional fantasy writers do.


If you are trying to write as the voice of a god, you should choose what you say and how you say it so that it conveys the *personality* of that god. Right now you sound vaguely like a history professor -- because you stop the action regularly to give us a mini-digression on the political and economic background of the setting.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vadis
Sso please pardon the blandness and the 'unappealingness' because of my lack of vocabulary.



Er...
I never said that the blandness was due to a lack of vocabularly.

When I brought up the question of vocabularly, I was trying to find out if I was speaking in a way that was comprehesible to you. It had nothing to do with what you had written at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vadis
Honestly, I'm reading David Eddings now and his very 'grand' language is giving me headaches more than entertainment.


So, um... *why* are you reading Eddings?
Quote:
Originally Posted by vadis
But above all that, I'll keep polishing this again and again


If that's what you want to do, I wish you every success in the endeavor.


Quote:
Originally Posted by LavenderBard
because the stories come to me whether I want them to or not, and they demand to be told. When I stop writing, I become miserable. The sales are nice, but even without them, I would be a writer... I have no choice in the matter.


That's what happened to me too...


Well that's why I'm reading Eddings. I personally find the way he narrates things fascinating. But I just want to follow the way I narrate: "I tell what I saw and what I heard". Anything that pops out from my mind, I tell it straightaway without pondering much about "Will my readers like it?" or "How shoud I tell this thing according to the writing standards in U.K. or America?"
My style is not American, and not U.K. It's... my style or no style at all.
Just pure, simple story.

Just go with the flow and forget the turn-offs and go with the action.
ACTION!

Categories: Forum, Study, Publishers, Fireheart, Critics, Research

VadisPics January 2007 - The New Year Collections!











And you'll know the photos will be of further
use...

And I've downloaded these stuffs for a
reason.

 

Happy New Year 2007!

This is the Year of the Pig

 

Andry Chang
Blog Jockey (BJ Vadis)

 

Vadis Productions - Release Your
Imagination!

 


 


 

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