Melissa

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Posts by Melissa 1951 results

Short Story Contest Submission: ShindaHotaru – Time Will Tell

VOTING IS OPEN NOW!

Time will tell

It was supposed to be a quiet evening, husband out with the boys and the house empty and silent for once. You wanted to relax for once, just for once, even though you wouldn't have minded your husband's company. But the kids wanted to watch a movie you can't even recall the name of and he suggested to take them out, probably the only way to get your oldest son out of the house.

Things have gotten out of order the past weeks, or months or so, you can't remember when family life has stopped being only about weekend trips, movie nights and playing hide and seek in the garden. Someday your oldest son stopped coming downstairs for a play of hanafuda, the next he took his lunch upstairs into his bedroom. Logically, a fifteen-year-old boy needs privacy, some time on his own. But you can't find an excuse nor explanation why your son wouldn't want to eat with you anymore. What, upstairs in his room, was more interesting than familiar company?

You shake your head, nuzzle your back more into the sofa cushion and sigh your thoughts away. This is your evening, no need to have your family problems on your mind while they are out of the house. So you lie there on the champagne couch, your gaze wandering through the living-room, a mixture of crème and brown-colored furniture, the little nostalgic lamp on, sitting in her beauty on the table on the other side of the sofa.

Now that you are home alone, you have no clue what to do with the time given. Your husband and kids only left half an hour ago and they won't be back in the next three hours. Maybe even in four hours, when your husband comes up with the idea to treat them all with some fast food. He spoils the kids too much, you figure, he would grant them a wish when you didn't even allow them to make one. Or perhaps he has a better idea of raising kids than you have, and after all you're just too strict in most of the cases. And maybe that was why your oldest likes to stay up in his room instead of jamming on the guitar with you.

Maybe not? Well, you could use the time to find out, now that your son is far away, physically, and mentally even farther away. You get up, climb the marble staircase and walk over to your son's bedroom door, determined to enter and look for any evidence. Somewhere in the depths of your mind, your husband's voice echoes, that having trust in your children was essential, but you have no trouble to ignore your inner voice and walk into your son's bedroom.

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Short Story Contest Submission: Tensh_iie – I’ll Try Not To Destroy You

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I’ll try not to destroy you“

Warm rays of sun wavered through the window, bathing the room in golden lightening. Birds were tweeting on the outside, talking and singing almost as if they wanted to greet the new day that was rising from the ground. Another warm and sunny day in Los Angeles. Another day full of chances, dreams and opportunities. Another chance to make things right.

Standing on the back porch of his house, a young man took in a deep breath, letting the fresh air rush through his body and fill his lungs with oxygen, as he stood there and greeted the new day himself. He did that every morning, no matter how the weather was outside. No matter if the sun was shining, or rain came crashing down from the sky. It didn't matter. Every morning at six-thirty A.M. he stood in the same spot, in the same position – taking in the first deep breath of the day. It was a ritual, something that meant a lot in Jon's world – the world he lived in.

Looking up from the ground, he watched a pair of blackbirds jumping over the green grass of the back yard. They were probably searching for some worms or seeds, which they could fill their growling stomachs with. Or maybe they were on the hunt for little branches they could use to build a nest somewhere. Who knew – Jon most certainly did not and yet he enjoyed watching them.

Smiling gently he finished the cup of coffee he was holding, another ritual that he fullfilled every morning, and turned around to step back inside the house, closing the sliding door behind himself. Every morning started the same; a routine that never got old.

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Complex Music Interview: Mike Shinoda Talks New Linkin Park Album And Ranks His Top 5 Rappers

No kidding, this is one of the best interviews ever! Great questions and Shinoda namedrops so ...

New M.I.A: Come Walk With Me

M.I.A was a bit restless in the studio yesterday, cause she tweeted how she wanted to just upload her whole album just now. Okaaay...bring it on!!! XD https://twitter.com/#!/MIAuniverse/status/196655614997446656 Eventually she just uploaded a snippet of a new track called "Come walk with me" and I really like it! Check it out after the jump! ...

TwitArt #5 or When Art is Hidden in the Timeline

The last TwitArt post was in September 2011, so it's about time for a new one! Enjoy! https://twitter.com/#!/seaking/status/196521979132649474
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Linkin Park Female Merchandise Design Contest

My friend Rossi is doing a "Linkin Park Female Merchandise Design Contest" and you can win some ...

Short Story Contest Submission: Alison Bour – Hero

VOTING IS OPEN NOW!

Hero

By Alison Bour

  Honestly I wasn’t all that scared until the bigger dude told us to hit the floor face down and put our arms out to the side. I felt like I was hanging on a cross that fell forward. I initially didn’t remember feeling that way. It’s interesting what surfaces now that I’ve moved on. A few people started to panic. Someone yelled, “My husband’s sick; I have to get home, please!” One woman started to whimper, and a man next to me sounded like he was hyperventilating. “Shut the hell up, everyone!” The guy’s voice roared like he was announcing a bullfight. Everyone got quiet, but I could sense fear building in the room like the moment just before a pot boils over. There was a smaller guy, too. Both were dressed in black and wore ski masks with slits for the eyes and mouth. I noticed that before I went down on command. I wanted to sneak another peek but it wasn’t worth it. Not with my wife, Jenna and little Nathan at home. “You,” the big dude said to someone behind the teller windows. “Fill this! Do it now!” I heard the sound of something hitting the counter. The guy next to me started to say, “Oh, God. Oh, God.” I clenched my mouth like a ventriloquist and told him to stop. At first I thought the robbery wouldn’t last long—they just wanted in and out with their cash—and we’d be OK. But for some reason the hyperventilator seemed like an omen. I thought maybe he would draw attention to himself and the robbers might snap. Someone behind me—there were about 14 of us in all—started reciting the Lord’s Prayer. I was afraid if I told her to lower her voice they would hear, so I silently joined in and hoped for the best. I’m not very religious so you might think praying during a crisis is hypocritical. I never know how people will judge the things I did that day. I’ve learned to forget all that, and let the chips fall where they will. That’s one of the biggest lessons I can pass on....

Trailer: Cosmopolis With Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Paul Giamatti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5V2SmGd0Q-c#t=121s What a strange ...

Alex Band News Roundup: New Band, Album News, EP Release Date

Alex Band, who is struggling to build a career as an independent artist after his huge success with The Calling, has had a few problems last year. Some concerts in Germany had to be cancelled because Alex had some health issues and he took a little social media time out to get better. The time out is over now, because Alex posted this message a few days ago:
Hey everyone! Long time no talk!!! It truly warms my heart to know that my absence has weighed just as heavy on all of you as it has on me. I want you to all know, that each and every one of you have been in my heart and on my mind every single day over these last few crazy months that were filled with some of the most difficult and greatest experiences of my life. I’m so happy to say that I’m truly now 100% back in business, feeling better than ever, and at the most exciting point in my career thus far. I’m VERY ready to give you guys a taste of what’s in-store from my insanely talented new band and I: Sean Kipe (Lead Guitar), Art Pacheco (Drums) and Simon Huber (Bass/Strings). We have been working day and night writing and recording my awesome brand new album, right here in my newly-built, unbelievably beautiful, and fully-functioning recording studio of my dreams (check out some pictures I just took here: http://on.fb.me/HB7pKm . My cats and I were literally living inside the new recording studio (aptly called “Studio A”) for over 3 months, while I was building it from the ground up; all while I was also finishing the 5 song Killer Tracks half album, which by the way will be out soon. WORLDWIDE, on iTunes for you all to purchase....