DEATH OF A SCIENTIST

He adored physics and math
When he started at college
All his professors had faith
He wouldn't misuse his knowledge

Theirs was a sacred trust
A tunnel without light
The world would someday end
Because of their hindsight

He played with bright chemicals
They were a source of seduction
He studied Bohr and Einstein
And weapons of mass destruction

He found some plutonium
To build a nuclear bomb
He hid most of his secrets
In an old CD-ROM

He worked day and night
To fulfill his sinister plan
But his plot was foiled
By a mysterious gentleman

He headed to the mountains
To gather fuel for his lab
He packed his leather briefcase
Then he phoned for a taxicab

His ride was rather tardy
The cab was an hour late
He worried for the driver
And wondered about his fate

He paced the concrete pavement
And looked at his watch constantly
His head was filled with tension
When his ride arrived finally

The scientist saw his cab
It swayed wildly on the road
There was no driver inside
Suddenly did it explode

His comrades built a mausoleum
Their purpose was intensified
They later resumed his work for him
A month after the day he died
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

POWERHOUSE

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the most powerful woman in the world. A scientist with a doctorate in chemistry, she is a pragmatic woman whose fearless leadership is helping Germany to propel itself through its current economic challenges. She is the first chancellor from the former east and is married to Joachim Sauer, a chemistry professor from Berlin. Regardless of her background, she has developed an image as a progressive woman with stylish haircuts and tailored suits. Merkel is anything but a dowdy scientist.

In spite of Europe's recent credit downgrade by Standard & Poor, Germany was able to maintain its status as the only European country with a stable AAA credit rating. Meanwhile, France, Austria, and Italy were relegated to positions of uncertainty. It was a wake-up call that demanded a comprehensive, coordinated plan of fiscal restraint and debt management.

There are several reasons why Germany has managed to weather the storm better than the other nations in the European Union. The German economy thrives on exports such as engineering, vehicles, chemicals, electronics, and textiles. Secondly, German households have the second lowest debt levels out of all the G7 countries. Over the past century, Germans have learned the importance of thrift and preparedness. The country's GDP continues to grow despite the global economic downturn. General business confidence and a low unemployment rate of 7% have also contributed to the country's strong performance. In addition, wage restraint by Germany's labor unions has helped the country to remain competitive.

Chancellor Merkel is determined to implement a plan known as the "fiscal compact" in order to deal with the current crisis in Europe. This strategy will involve the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), which is a permanent funding rescue program that is expected to be ratified in July 2012.

For the time being, the euro zone's European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) bailout fund will operate until June 30. The German government has collectively agreed to discontinue capital injections into the EFSF because it is only a temporary solution. Although Merkel has been described as intransigent at the best of times, she remains confident that Europe will be able to steer through its current challenges. After all, the continent is renowned for its ability to bounce back after economic hardship.


German Chancellor Angela Merkel
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

FAST TIMES AT REPUBLICAN HIGH

It had been an excruciating gym class. The boys of 12-B were tired, sweaty, and ready to expire. Mr. Wilson, their middle-aged Phys.Ed. teacher, had been quite severe that day, barking orders at the teens like a drill sergeant as they ran up and down the basketball court. The more he yelled and blew his whistle at them, the more they wanted to quit, or just throw the damn basketball at his head.

After class, Wilson told the boys to do fifty push-ups each as a punishment for their belligerence. Once they completed their required exercises, he dismissed them to the locker room. Then the old man retired to a tattered old couch in the staff room and watched Australian rugby on the big-screen TV.

Meanwhile, the teens hit the showers aggressively and cursed Wilson as they lathered up. The boys wanted revenge. Wilson was a cruel despot who showed them no mercy. They thought of poisoning his coffee or slashing the tires on his blue Saturn when he wasn't looking. This was amusing for a while until the tallest boy, whose name was Newton, was struck by an excellent idea.

"Ya know, we shouldn't have to take shit like that from our teachers," he said.

"Yeah, that Wilson needs to be stopped, or fired," said Mittens, who was the devout Christian boy.

"But how do we do that?" wondered the bespectacled Ricky.

"We need some way of voicing our grievances to the admin," said Ronnie, who was the skinny one.

"Hey, I should run for the President of the Student Council," Newton said.

"You just think you're smart 'cause your parents named you after that scientist guy," Mittens said.

"Well, I am. I got the highest score on the SATs of anyone at this school."

"Oh, quit bragging, you dork," said Ronnie.

"You're just jealous of my IQ, you dimwit. But I'm still gonna run for class prez."

"If you're gonna run, then I'm gonna run against you," Mittens said.

"Mittens, the only one who would vote for you is Mr. Hand. I know you guys are tight. That man is like ice. Does he keep you after class to warm up his fingers?"

"Well, if you must know, I've been giving him investment advice. He took a beating on the stock market last year."

"Oh, I forgot. Mittens is supposed to be the financial genius here 'cause of his big daddy who schooled him from the cradle."

Newton, Ricky, and Ronnie burst into uncontrollable laughter. Then Ricky grabbed a white towel and threw it at Mittens. It hit him in the chest before it landed on the grey rubber tiles that lined the locker room floor.

"Laugh all you want, you losers. Someday I'm gonna be a multi-millionaire, and all you assholes are gonna be sweeping floors or waiting tables."

"Wow, Church Boy said a bad word," said Newton. "I didn't think he had it in him."

"If you two are running for prez, then I wanna run, too," Ronnie said. "I don't wanna miss out on all the fun. There's a lotta shit around here that I'd like to change, like the fucking cafeteria food. Damn, that spaghetti is disgusting. It gives me the runs every single time."

"Why do you keep ordering it if it always gives you diarrhea?" Ricky asked.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're like a trapped audience here. We can't be picky when the nearest mall is ten miles away."

"Good point," agreed Newton. "I'm gonna put that in my campaign, too. Better food in the cafeteria."

"Hey, that school nurse is another thing," Ricky said. "She must be at least 60, and she's only here 2 days a week. I wanna run for prez too so I can get us a younger, hotter nurse who's here every fucking day!"

"Well, if we're all running for prez, then we should get started on our campaigns," said Mittens.

"I have calculus now," said Newton. "But I can work on it tomorrow."

"I'm so excited about the election!" Ronnie exclaimed.

"Has anyone seen Jeff Spicoli?" Ricky asked. "I haven't heard from him in a week."

"He's at a surfing competition in Malibu," Mittens said.

"What else is new? That dude is fucking crazy."

"So who's going to the football game tomorrow?" Ronnie asked.

"Not me," said Ricky. "Our team sucks. I don't bother with them anymore."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. We don't stand a chance against Demolition High. They're gonna kick our butts."

"I ain't goin' to the game either," said Newton. "I've got a date with Jess Whedon."

"I thought you were going steady with Candy Kane," said Mittens.

"I am, but we have an open relationship. We're probably gonna go to different colleges, so what's the point of being exclusive?"

"Dude, you are my hero!"

Then the boys changed into their regular street clothes and headed out of the locker room. The election gave them something to be excited about. They were determined to change the world, or at least their high school.
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

RECKLESS

She worried about him always
Since the day of their introduction
His wild life was like a time bomb
He was headed for self-destruction

There was no stopping him
Once he started on that path
He was failing college
English, chemistry and math

He smoked homegrown marijuana
Then graduated to cocaine
She told him to go to rehab
But her pleading was all in vain

Then he started gambling
And shooting up at the bar
Soon he was arrested
For driving a stolen car

He was a petulant youth
A rebel without a cause
His wounds were self-inflicted
He created his own flaws

So one day she decided
She finally had enough
And cut him out of her life
She knew she had to be tough

They broke up the same day
While they watched Lord of the Rings
It was the final straw
A culmination of things

He packed all his belongings
In his tattered old suitcase
He slapped her across the cheek
And left a bruise on her face

Then he returned to the bar
To forget his sad plight
He chased a dozen women
And drank away the night

He left at closing time
And drove to his parents' place
He shouldn't have been driving
He was such a hopeless case

He crashed his car into a tree
And he died immediately
Then his reckless life was ended
He left a morbid legacy
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

Last edited by Starchild on Thu Feb 23, 2012 7:17 am; edited 1 time in total

NECROPOLIS

He wandered long and disconsolately
Through the fabled City of the Dead
It was a dark valley of dust and bones
A bleak atmosphere of fear and dread

The gray sky was dull and eerie
No sign of life could be found
No wild creatures moved among him
Nothing that could make a sound

The river of doom flowed slowly
Slivers of clay floated on top
He was hypnotized by the motion
Before he felt his stomach drop

He fell into a deep abyss
And he landed in a dirty pool
Skulls and femurs swirled around him
The air above him was dry and cool

Frantically he treaded water
He felt he would soon drown
There was no one around to help
No heroes in this town

His hope dwindled to nothing
And he began to despair
Then he discovered something
That would rescue him from there

He heard a low and raspy voice
Then beheld a ghastly phantasm
It told him of the sharp object
Hidden within the wall of the chasm

With one hand on the cavern wall
And the other groping quite madly
He loosened a hook from a stone
While his fingers were bleeding badly

He fastened the hook to a rope
Then swung it over his shoulder
The contraption wavered in the air
And it caught a marble boulder

As he grasped the twisted rope
He climbed the wall of the abyss
An hour after his descent
He emerged free from his near miss

He never saw the specter again
Though he wondered where it had gone
The city was still dark and dreary
There was no light to look upon

Then he reached a tiny oasis
It was the only flicker of hope
He drank from its clear freshwater
And cast aside the hook and the rope

As he neared the point of starvation
He crawled out of the necropolis
Though he tried not to think of hunger
Or his wild ordeal in the abyss

The day after he found a town
Where an innkeeper took pity
He told her about his journey
Through the horrific dead city

She gave him lodging and work
He'd never known a lady like this
They didn't speak about his past
Or those days in the necropolis
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

Please keep the Carter family in your thoughts and prayers:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/sns-mc-hyper-leslie-carter-dead,0,200512.story
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

THE LAKE

The children saw it that summer
When they waded through the lake
It was over seven feet tall
With teeth as long as a rake

Its body was covered with slime
Dark and slippery as the mud
Its eyes were bright green and glowing
And its tongue the color of blood

They told their parents of the beast
It was a fantastic revelation
But of course no one believed them
They blamed it on their imagination

A day after the discovery
The youngest child disappeared
His parents worried to no end
And the worst was what they feared

The other children were grounded
It was safer to stay inside
They picked up their toy cars and dolls
In their playroom they went to hide

Their mother patrolled the cabin
As the day turned into night
Her husband had gone into town
It was a careless oversight

The firewood burned steadily
It crackled and it roared
She watched the flames dance wildly
Their movement struck a chord

Her head throbbed so relentlessly
As she kept her midnight watch
She took her analgesic pills
And she chased them down with scotch

She fell asleep shortly after three
But her husband never returned
Her children woke her in the morning
After all the kindling had burned

They decided to search the entire grounds
Around the cabin and the lake
Determined to find the missing ones
Their grief and fear kept them awake

As the group reached the pier
They saw the monster again
It raised its ugly head
And scared the little children

Their mother tried hard to protect them
She brandished a hatchet at the thing
She hit the creature on its shoulder
Before it dourly began sinking

Blood poured from the gaping wound
As the monster howled in pain
It lunged forward clumsily
And looked at them with disdain

After the beast sank below the surface
They searched for the rest of the day
They encountered their father and brother
And carried their bodies away

They drove home the morning after
And held a funeral service
There was an investigation
Into the monster that caused this

The lake was swept completely
This lasted till the end of autumn
The police found the creature
The beast was lying at the bottom

The family never recovered
From the pain of their heartache
No one could forget the horror
Of the creature from the lake
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

DIVA

You were a pioneer and a true queen
When you were still in your prime
Your influence was unmistakable
It withstood the test of time

You took someone else's song
And you made it your own
The demons were inside you
They wouldn't leave you alone

At one time you were on top
You accomplished so much in life
The whole world was your oyster
You were a mother and a wife

You could have done anything
Where did it all go wrong?
The earth is a sadder place
Without your divine song

Your talent was very unique
It won't be easy to replace
You were lost many years ago
I hope you're in a better place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9nPf7w7pDI
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

THE SEEDS OF DISCONTENT

Canada is a large and ethnically diverse country. It is impossible to please everyone all the time. There will always be areas of prosperity and regions of stagnation or unemployment. Regional discontent is often the stimulus for change, or even separatism.

The separatist movement is still alive and well in Quebec. It is also gaining steam in Alberta. Hence the rise of the Bloc Quebecois and the Wildrose Alliance parties. While Quebec fights for recognition as a distinct society, Alberta aims to achieve economic freedom from Ottawa. Is it working? Probably not. The separatists often have more bark than bite. Their policies are usually just scare tactics and threats which attempt to gain special concessions from the federal government.

Although the West has never voted to separate from the rest of Canada, Quebec has done so twice. In the 1980 referendum, close to 60% of the Quebecois decided against separation. Fifteen years later, slightly more than half the population voted to stay in Canada in a second referendum. This narrow margin indicated that a wave of discontent was sweeping the province and was unlikely to dissipate in the near future.

Sometimes the separatist movement stems from a hatred of the policies set forth by the party in power. There are several reasons why people are dissatisfied or disillusioned with the present government. It fails to endorse abortion and same-sex marriage, which are the two of the most important issues for Canadians. In addition, cuts to social programs and the long-gun registry have also been controversial. Other policies such as the purchase of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and the use of information obtained through torture tactics have also created tension. Changes to the OAS pension plan were proposed, but not yet enacted. If that were not enough, feminists are still outraged with the government because it cut funding to 35 different women's organizations and closed 12 out of 16 Status of Women offices. Grants have been a sore spot, too, with the majority of them being handed out to male researchers and academics. The list of grievances is endless and could probably be the subject for a book.

Separation might be an easy way out, but it is not the only way. The right solution is probably a change in policy or even a complete overhaul of the entire regime. In other words, a different government is needed. In order to change the government, people must exercise their right to vote in the next election. Considering the massive changes being made or proposed, Canadians cannot afford to be apathetic. While the alternatives may be equally frightening to some people, they are just that. Alternatives.

Dissatisfaction with the available alternatives is what causes the formation of radical parties. It seems likely that there will always be separatists or extremists of some kind in Canada. Although separatists might loathe the country they live in now, can they really imagine what it would be like to have a republic of their own? Would it be economically feasible? How would trade be affected? Would it be recognized by the United Nations? What happens when the primary industry that keeps the economy rolling falls apart?

Every group has its ups and downs. Federalism mitigates the peaks and valleys so that no one has to suffer unduly for circumstances beyond his or her control. It also aims to provide peace, order and good government for its population. The ideal federation provides social programs to assist all people regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity. It also provides a strong defense to ensure the security of its citizens. Small republics would have difficulty organizing these programs effectively. Larger countries can benefit from economies of scale that are achieved from their greater purchasing power. These would probably not be possible when regions are too small and their bases of taxation are limited.

There is strength in numbers. This is why North America is composed of united states, provinces and territories. As the Three Musketeers said, "all for one and one for all." United we stand, divided we fall.
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

AFTERMATH

The diplomat took a fall
His pride needed to be swallowed
There was a cloak of silence
In the aftermath that followed

He was a dangerous man
A wolf dressed in sheep's clothes
Pretentious son of a bitch
Fiend who cast dark shadows

He abused their trust
He was evil inside
He smelled of sulfur
The devil was his guide

His colleagues were deluded
They believed he could do no wrong
Unable to face the truth
He was disloyal for so long

He was a traitor to their cause
And an enemy of the state
He sided with the radicals
He was treachery incarnate

He opened up old wounds
When he went on his tirade
Then he just brushed it off
Like it was all a charade

In the heat of the moment
He unleashed his savage dismay
He wanted to let it die
But it would never go away

He thought that he could say
Whatever came into his mind
Because of who he was
And the oath of office he signed

His words came back to haunt him
His foes put him in his place
He was the target of jokes
He became a huge disgrace

Things could never be
The same way they were before
One thing was certain
They didn't know him anymore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK04Q6AFQTE
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

FALL FROM GRACE

He was once a man of promise
They saw a bright future in his eyes
He would have made a great leader
His entire career was on the rise

Then he was involved in a scandal
There was no end in sight
It was impossible to amend
No way to make it right

He exercised poor judgment
It was obvious he crossed the line
He violated the code
Eventually he had to resign

Everyone shunned him far and wide
And his life became more grim
His woes got progressively worse
His wife and children left him

People ridiculed him on the street
Children threw garbage at his head
One day he began to wonder
If he would be better off dead

His situation became hopeless
There was just nothing he could do
He couldn't run away from his past
His unsuccessful little coup

The postman always came to visit
Before noon almost everyday
He saw the mail accumulating
And he smelled the scent of decay

Then he called up the authorities
They appeared rapidly on the scene
They opened the door with a crow bar
In their most authoritative mien

They were overcome by the stench
Their canines led them to the source
They found many prescription drugs
And a petition for divorce

The dogs ran up the staircase
Attracted by the smell of flesh
They stopped beside the bathtub
The death was relatively fresh

His bloody cadaver dangled from the shower
They found his note on a shelf
But he committed political suicide
Long before he hung himself

There was no funeral for him
He was cremated in a secret place
They never forgave his misdeeds
The catastrophic day he fell from grace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgrl9S6HtK8
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

UNFORGETTABLE

The people who inspire us
To do more with our lives
They are unforgettable
They send us their high fives

Even if we never meet
They're with us in our hearts
The medals that they won
Their strong and early starts

Some legends never die
They bring us out of our shell
Then give us hope and strength
The tools we need to excel

What matters most in life
Is not success at any cost
It's the thrill of the game
It's not who won it or who lost




"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." ~ Michael Jordan
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

LES ANGES PARMI NOUS

Elles nous entourent tout le temps
Jamais vraiment oubliées
Leur mémoire demeure toujours
Elles nous inspirent être des personnes plus fortes
Pour faire quelque chose davantage avec nos vies
Pour faire au monde un meilleur endroit
Pour être quelque chose extraordinaire
Elles ne sont pas de ce monde
Elles sont des anges parmi nous
Elles volent jusqu'aux nuages
Elles enrichissent nos vies
Sur leur chemin au ciel


_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

WILD WORLD

We live in a wild world
Of war criminals and tyrants
Election fraud and deer
Knocking over fire hydrants
The lunatics advance in the polls
The inflation rate climbs
And the only paper I can trust
Is still the New York Times
Sex, lies, and scandalous politicians
Resigning their posts in disgrace
Space shuttles flying through the galaxy
Beaming up the human race
Snipers cause civilian deaths
They tarnish the whole military
Folks hate to discuss Iran
The idea of it is too scary
Peter and Julian meet together
To review their defense strategy
Eventually they fall in love although
They are sworn to total secrecy
Stephen is becoming nervous
Like he has something to hide
First Nations are growing restless
They are just dying inside
The man with the ponytail
Will show them who is boss
He will reclaim his land
And it will be their loss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hNIkTrzzhE&feature=related
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost

WOLVES IN PERIL

Officials sought to manage wolves
Those animals were always feared
They were hunted so intensely
Until most of them disappeared

Many years after the slaughter
They returned from the brink
Their extinction was avoided
And there was blood to drink

They swelled to seven thousand
Then they outnumbered the caribou
They fed off the deer and moose
And they preyed on the bighorn sheep too

They were sly and adept at hunting
Cousins of the domestic dog
They could run faster than any man
And could see through the densest fog

They were often stereotyped
As killers with no conscience
Farmers had their names for the wolves
To them the culling made sense

Many wolves were misunderstood
They were very social creatures
Who loved their parents and siblings
And had slightly human features

No one saw the good in wolves
Whether they were gray or white
They were hated and hunted
An attempt to makes things right

When the petroleum was discovered
The wolves were poisoned with lead
It was an unending, vicious cycle
Till the last of them was dead
_________________
"Nature's first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; but only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf, so Eden sank to grief, so dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay." ~ Robert Frost