(Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction)
I feel like I'm in a completely another world from the last. It looks like a dome, well-lit and so large I can't see the other end of it, just the slowly curving walls on my sides. Something black flows upwards the seemingly blue walls, it forms smoke-like clouds in the air. Their smell is pungent and my eyes get irritated from standing in them. I don't feel so well. All of that black matter seems to stream towards the center of the ceiling, which I can't see either. I feel like I'm imprisoned in a dream, but it feels too real - all too real.
I take a deep breath and as a result I throw up. My body is not accustomed to inhaling tar, at least that's what the smoke entering your body feels like. I cover my face with my right arm and breathe with caution, since the fumes seem to be hazardous. They only seem to be lingering near the black liquid on the walls, so I sprint forward and hold my breath. I want to get through this sickening haze, maybe the center of this place holds some answers. I'm driven by something - a will to survive.
(one minute sprint)
My heart is racing but I think I'm past the smoke now. I allow myself to breathe again, the air feels clean - a sign of comfort. I ran so far that I can't distinguish the walls anymore. I'm certain I'm heading towards the center, in any case I have to trust my instincts on that, for this place makes very little sense to begin with.
(wandering in the blue)
I stop as I see a ladder, it looks like it's hanging down from nothingness. I'm convinced that this is the center, it has to be the center. The azure blue ladder rungs are carved in the shape of arms, they hang on to the sides, which in return are carved to resemble snakes. The arms alternate their direction on each step, this metal ladder is a mystery in its own right. I guess I have to climb up the ladder squirming down from the nothingness. It seems like the right way, but I'm tired. As dangerous as it might be I decide to sleep on the ground near the ladder, I need all the energy I can get to be able to climb up there. I'm starving and I'm thirsty but I have to get through this trial. Where does it end? Will I ever reach home? Am I dreaming? I fall asleep with these questions swirling in my mind.
(some hours pass by)
I rise up and rub my eyes. The sleep has regenerated most of my strength, I guess I'm set then. A glimpse towards the ladder and a nod of my head. I wish I will find something to eat up there.
Despite some of my bodily needs I start the climb.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Hydra Cure
I came across an article about a peculiar animal making its way into medicine. We are talking about Hydra, not the mythology creature, but a tiny fresh-water predator. This only few millimeters long being is truly interesting and it's no wonder it has been put under the scientific scope.
Hydras have spectacular regenerative powers, you can cut a Hydra into pieces and those pieces will continue living. They can reproduce asexually or through sexual reproduction. They also age slowly, if at all, they are claimed to be immortal in the light of some evidence.
On the subject of medicine I'm quoting the article found in Journal of Biological Chemistry:
"A new antimicrobial compound has been isolated from the freshwater animal Hydra. The compound, called hydramacin-1, shares virtually no similarity with any other known antibacterial proteins except for two other antimicrobials found in leech, and has been shown in laboratory studies to be highly potent."
"In a series of laboratory experiments, this protein could kill a wide range of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria."
"Hydramacin works by sticking to the bacterial surface, promoting the clumping of nearby bacteria, then disrupting the bacterial membrane."
"it most closely resembled a superfamily of proteins found in scorpion venom."
Truly amazing information, it just shows how little we have figured out of our world and the possibilities residing in it.
Even tiny things can hold a great meaning.
Hydras have spectacular regenerative powers, you can cut a Hydra into pieces and those pieces will continue living. They can reproduce asexually or through sexual reproduction. They also age slowly, if at all, they are claimed to be immortal in the light of some evidence.
On the subject of medicine I'm quoting the article found in Journal of Biological Chemistry:
"A new antimicrobial compound has been isolated from the freshwater animal Hydra. The compound, called hydramacin-1, shares virtually no similarity with any other known antibacterial proteins except for two other antimicrobials found in leech, and has been shown in laboratory studies to be highly potent."
"In a series of laboratory experiments, this protein could kill a wide range of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria."
"Hydramacin works by sticking to the bacterial surface, promoting the clumping of nearby bacteria, then disrupting the bacterial membrane."
"it most closely resembled a superfamily of proteins found in scorpion venom."
Truly amazing information, it just shows how little we have figured out of our world and the possibilities residing in it.
Even tiny things can hold a great meaning.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Mood Swings
There are times when you act like an ass towards someone for no apparent reason or for a silly reason. We can act in so many different ways for no reason (must be another complexity feature of the human race). Being a jerk against your own will is not fun but it happens.
From happy to sad, from loving to loathing, mood swings. Some days feel like they are dedicated for a certain mood. You get up and you instantly feel like something. Thousands of moods zigzagging back and forth, plain one mood, or anything in the between - that's how it goes.
You often have a reason to act the way you do, but you could also keep everything to yourself. This motive, whatever it is, can be disregarded by your conscious awareness but your subconscious might think different. Sometimes you really want to gun out your mind against someone, but decide not to, yet after a while you do it anyway. Are we hiding from the things we want to feel? Are we in control of the things we do feel? Questions - they just like to crawl to the surface.
Mood swings can happen due to many things, like hormonal changes and mood disorders, but in my opinion they are also things that just happen, call it a "natural tendency" if you will. A bad day at work makes you feel like shit, nothing surprising about that, if only it was always so straightforward.
Sometimes I feel like a passenger instead of the driver.
From happy to sad, from loving to loathing, mood swings. Some days feel like they are dedicated for a certain mood. You get up and you instantly feel like something. Thousands of moods zigzagging back and forth, plain one mood, or anything in the between - that's how it goes.
You often have a reason to act the way you do, but you could also keep everything to yourself. This motive, whatever it is, can be disregarded by your conscious awareness but your subconscious might think different. Sometimes you really want to gun out your mind against someone, but decide not to, yet after a while you do it anyway. Are we hiding from the things we want to feel? Are we in control of the things we do feel? Questions - they just like to crawl to the surface.
Mood swings can happen due to many things, like hormonal changes and mood disorders, but in my opinion they are also things that just happen, call it a "natural tendency" if you will. A bad day at work makes you feel like shit, nothing surprising about that, if only it was always so straightforward.
Sometimes I feel like a passenger instead of the driver.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Technological Failures
In the morning your electric device is in top shape, you expect it to stay that way - that's not always the case. In the evening you fire up your electric device, it doesn't start - after fiddling around with it you bitterly accept it's broken.
Electronic engineering is not a trade we all specialize in, so finding the root of a problem on your own can be tedious. Two options; get the broken device fixed somehow or buy a new one. In some cases, however, taking your broken device to maintenance might end up costing more than actually buying a new piece instead.
Plain aging can destroy a component or a connection in an electronic circuit. Before completely breaking down, the device can get less responsive at the very least. No matter how well-preserved your equipment is, time takes its toll. It's either that or bad luck.
You can accidentally break something but it rarely happens to me, things just stop working and they must get replaced or revived.
The modern civilization relies way too much on electricity altogether, most of our everyday life gadgets run on electricity - get a power outage and you're stranded with no luxury in sight. The world would tremble if electricity just ceased to exist. No more TV, internet or mobile phones - amongst endless amount of other things.
Such is the cycle of power-induced junk.
Electronic engineering is not a trade we all specialize in, so finding the root of a problem on your own can be tedious. Two options; get the broken device fixed somehow or buy a new one. In some cases, however, taking your broken device to maintenance might end up costing more than actually buying a new piece instead.
Plain aging can destroy a component or a connection in an electronic circuit. Before completely breaking down, the device can get less responsive at the very least. No matter how well-preserved your equipment is, time takes its toll. It's either that or bad luck.
You can accidentally break something but it rarely happens to me, things just stop working and they must get replaced or revived.
The modern civilization relies way too much on electricity altogether, most of our everyday life gadgets run on electricity - get a power outage and you're stranded with no luxury in sight. The world would tremble if electricity just ceased to exist. No more TV, internet or mobile phones - amongst endless amount of other things.
Such is the cycle of power-induced junk.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
[Poem] Marked
A walk in the park - I bear a mark.
What happened to the park? - grey mist and dark.
Curse this mark - branded by soil.
Pain becomes too stark - makes my blood boil.
I vomit black oil - is there no God?
My body is in turmoil - world around turned odd.
Aliens and a pod - the air is cold.
From the earth rose a rod - nothing good it told.
Colony in gold - infiltrates my brain.
View most grim and old - was not made in vain.
What is the gain? - otherworld train.
I'm now a child in chain - servant to mother brain.
What happened to the park? - grey mist and dark.
Curse this mark - branded by soil.
Pain becomes too stark - makes my blood boil.
I vomit black oil - is there no God?
My body is in turmoil - world around turned odd.
Aliens and a pod - the air is cold.
From the earth rose a rod - nothing good it told.
Colony in gold - infiltrates my brain.
View most grim and old - was not made in vain.
What is the gain? - otherworld train.
I'm now a child in chain - servant to mother brain.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Faces, Reflections And Masks
All of us have two faces; what we feel in the inside and what we show to the outside. The outside can be a mere reflection - a disguise. We act different depending on who we are dealing with and it's often a mask, not an indication of how we truly feel. With some people you can throw away that mask and show the face inside - the freedom of being yourself.
In most people you can see your own reflection, that doesn't mean they are exactly like you, but parts of them are similar, parts that make you feel a connection. We all belong to the same race after all, a complex one at that, and it's gratifying to know that.
Some people can also see through masks and some people are possessed by them. We use masks because we aren't simple, we can't live by following mere instincts, we take too many things into consideration before acting - so we are fake, fake because we don't want to get in trouble.
That leads us to a question: "Do we ever truly know a person?" I have come to a conclusion that we are naturally sick as a race, we like to fantasize, without morals we would be ruthless, but how many of us accept that. It's ironic when the "sick" people get mouthed at: "you're not human", maybe they are nothing but "human", the vile creature lurking beneath the skin. Have you ever told anyone about the natural darkness in you? Would you have the courage? Would they mark you as a madman? Are you just reflecting what they want to see or can you show them your true face? All these questions - sometimes it's better to settle in being a mirror, but sometimes you want to take chances.
Luckily we are also understanding of our many faces.
In most people you can see your own reflection, that doesn't mean they are exactly like you, but parts of them are similar, parts that make you feel a connection. We all belong to the same race after all, a complex one at that, and it's gratifying to know that.
Some people can also see through masks and some people are possessed by them. We use masks because we aren't simple, we can't live by following mere instincts, we take too many things into consideration before acting - so we are fake, fake because we don't want to get in trouble.
That leads us to a question: "Do we ever truly know a person?" I have come to a conclusion that we are naturally sick as a race, we like to fantasize, without morals we would be ruthless, but how many of us accept that. It's ironic when the "sick" people get mouthed at: "you're not human", maybe they are nothing but "human", the vile creature lurking beneath the skin. Have you ever told anyone about the natural darkness in you? Would you have the courage? Would they mark you as a madman? Are you just reflecting what they want to see or can you show them your true face? All these questions - sometimes it's better to settle in being a mirror, but sometimes you want to take chances.
Luckily we are also understanding of our many faces.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Surreal Surroundings pt.2
(Disclaimer: this is a work of fiction)
I open my eyes just to realize it's still as dark as before. I'm naked and kneeling. My kneecaps, hands and toes take no comfort from what feels like cold concrete floor. Just kneeling there - confused, lost and most of all too afraid to produce any sound.
Slowly coming back to my senses I see a hint of red forming a clean line, just few feet in front of me. I stare at it and I ponder what might be the origin of such. Suddenly the place starts to shake violently. I'm surrounded by thundering sounds, as if a gargantuan mechanical device was put in motion. Stone screeches against stone, it hurts my ears, I wish it would stop. The red line expands with every passing second. I'm not sure if the floor I'm on is descenting or if some obstructing wall in front of me is ascending - tremors and confusion. Feels like I'm a trapped in an earthquake.
(moments of despair)
The quakes stop and I shiver. I behold a great door made out of stone. The stones seem to be the source for all of the red glow. The door has strong pillar-like frames surrounding it, that are made like exquisite sculptures in detail. Even the door is filled with ancient carvings, that somehow pull you in, like they were telling a tale from the past. Some kind of miniature statue is overlooking the door - it looks like an angel, angel of death.
I must have spent a small eternity looking at that door, at all that red glow. Where will it lead? Do I want to find out? I guess I have no other choice. At one point, in the process of getting back up on my feet, I find myself in a genuflecting pose - like a prayer sent to hell - I'm standing vigilant now.
The door is heavy like all the weight of the world was backing it up from the other side. It has to be my imagination. I give it another push - it doesn't even budge. I sit on the cold floor and hold my head.
(moments of hopelessness)
The earthquake is back, grim orchestral of stone gnawing against stone. The door is slowly moving, slowly sliding open. Is this real?
I swallow my fear and walk through.
I open my eyes just to realize it's still as dark as before. I'm naked and kneeling. My kneecaps, hands and toes take no comfort from what feels like cold concrete floor. Just kneeling there - confused, lost and most of all too afraid to produce any sound.
Slowly coming back to my senses I see a hint of red forming a clean line, just few feet in front of me. I stare at it and I ponder what might be the origin of such. Suddenly the place starts to shake violently. I'm surrounded by thundering sounds, as if a gargantuan mechanical device was put in motion. Stone screeches against stone, it hurts my ears, I wish it would stop. The red line expands with every passing second. I'm not sure if the floor I'm on is descenting or if some obstructing wall in front of me is ascending - tremors and confusion. Feels like I'm a trapped in an earthquake.
(moments of despair)
The quakes stop and I shiver. I behold a great door made out of stone. The stones seem to be the source for all of the red glow. The door has strong pillar-like frames surrounding it, that are made like exquisite sculptures in detail. Even the door is filled with ancient carvings, that somehow pull you in, like they were telling a tale from the past. Some kind of miniature statue is overlooking the door - it looks like an angel, angel of death.
I must have spent a small eternity looking at that door, at all that red glow. Where will it lead? Do I want to find out? I guess I have no other choice. At one point, in the process of getting back up on my feet, I find myself in a genuflecting pose - like a prayer sent to hell - I'm standing vigilant now.
The door is heavy like all the weight of the world was backing it up from the other side. It has to be my imagination. I give it another push - it doesn't even budge. I sit on the cold floor and hold my head.
(moments of hopelessness)
The earthquake is back, grim orchestral of stone gnawing against stone. The door is slowly moving, slowly sliding open. Is this real?
I swallow my fear and walk through.
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