You may or may not get the impression I’m getting in over my head with this one.I do, but I’m confident in my ability to tread water as long as people are waving me in to the shore (nice metaphor, there).Anyway, I said when I started these that they may be used as a means for me to formulate ideas and use them as rough outlines for future stories, which I think is what I’m doing here. What I see in my head as I formulate this is a novel.But don’t let that discourage you from voting… your choices will matter and potentially take the story in different directions.
Some of the scientific stuff in this one may be way implausible or totally impossible.I’ll ask you to bear with me and, in the future, if and when I develop this more, I’ll be sure to do more research.Other than that, I’m always interested in constructive criticism, or things you noticed or think would have made the story better.
And as always, if this is your first visit, part 1, part 2, and part 3 should be read before this.
***
You hesitate, then shuffle a bit in your seat.Unsure of what you just heard, you are dumbfounded.“Sorry, did you say… a bomb?”
“Nuclear bomb.” Channing nods but has a smug look.
“Ah,” you start to catch on.“I see.Clever, clever.Testing my unconditional loyalty, huh?Well, I suppose I’ll have to—“
“—no, this is not a test.”He grabs the bag from Beth and opens it.He reaches in, and pulls out a rectangular box about the size of his palm.He gently opens it, and a small tube filled with blue liquid falls out.He handles it carefully.“This is real.”
“Stop playing with him,” Beth says as she checks the progression of her bloody nose.“It’s not a real nuclear bomb,” she tells him.
“The reaction is nuclear, and it’s a bomb,” Channing says.“I never said it would do any damage.”
I’ve been listening to this song all morning on repeat, and it has not yet lost any of it’s creepiness. It is the Swine flu gene, somehow mapped out so that all the little oogies and whatsits that make up it’s very DNA are assigned a musical note, and this is the result. (Get more info at his blog).
I interpret this to mean that the music you are hearing is inside the Swine flu. Each note that you hear is an integral part of it, just made into sound. Granted, the composer could have used any sound to represent it, so there could be many versions of this that all sound widely different, but this is just as relevant as any other. It is amazing to me that something so oddly beautiful could come from a deadly virus.
I keep thinking that if the Swine flu really is the next “plague,” this would kind of be the Song of the Apocalypse, gently playing in the background, orchestrating millions of deaths.
Update: The more I think about this, the more I think what is creeping me out the most is that a human did not write this music. All the composer did was assign an instrument to the notes, but the notes were already there. Who, or what, wrote them?–and if they’re there, they’re in everything. Heavy.
I am endlessly fascinated by things like this, or when music becomes so… physical. There are other examples, all of which have blown my mind equally.
The first is an Alien book, called Music of the Spears. In it, a twisted composer wants to harness the sounds of a screaming alien to compose a “Symphony of Hate.” As you can imagine, with an Alien involved, death, chaos, and all around weirdness ensue.
The next is another book, a 6-issue arc in the “Umbrella Academy” series called “The Apocalypse Suite,” where the main villain–The Conductor–wants to compose a symphony that when played in the right key would unravel the fabric of reality in much the same way as a high pitched noise can unravel, or break, glass.
Lastly would be Battlestar Galactica, of course, when the music that has been in our characters heads for the past two seasons comes to a climax when Starbuck’s attempt at decoding it results in giving her the coordinates to jump the ship to the fabled Earth. (Even if you are not a BSG fan, check this out):
A coincidence here is that the next part of the ongoing story I’m posting will have a lot to do with this concept. If you read it you might think it was inspired by this post but it’s actually the other way around. The reason it’s taking so long for me to write between segments is that I’m finding writing stuff like this is extremely difficult to do well, and you kind of have to know a bit about music in order to put it into language, which I am still learning about.
@jlrabbit No, just mechanical clocks. We’d have to live by our biological clocks and the sun. I think life would be less stressfull. in reply to jlrabbit#
@jlrabbit I suppose that’s true, because even if I explain myself for all he knows I’m lying. Damn, and he has some good books, too. in reply to jlrabbit#
No better mid-day snack than a bag o’ Baked Lays. #
@Katterz77 I would have explained what happened but before I realized why he was following me he was gone and I didn’t feel like going back. in reply to Katterz77#
@Katterz77 No he said “it’s six dollars for 2,” and I didn’t hear him at first so I kept walking, he followed me for a bit then gave up. in reply to Katterz77#
If anybody knows of a locally owned place that sells high quality roller blades in Ann Arbor please let me know. #
Book guy back on corner. Bought 1 book for $3, had 1 book with me already and he thought it was his. Walked away, not sure what else to do. #
Listening to Seth McFarlane (”Family Guy”) on Howard Stern. Great interview. #
@Megadactyl I need to figure out the best store to buy them from (I’d like to buy local) but you are welcome to come! in reply to Megadactyl#
Posting schedule finalized:every other day, it is. Unless I am traumatized by a dying kitten or play soccer to the point where I can’t move my arms.Then, it’s whenever I’m healthy enough to make something.
If you just surfed in, welcome to the party—be sure to read part 1 and part 2 first.
***
There’s something alluring about the strangers waving you in, and behind them the back door on the limo pops open.You have to make up your mind quick, before the other handcuff locks your wrists together.
Am I actually contemplating running from the police? You think.You allow yourself a moment to smile at the absurdity of the situation before taking a leap of faith.In one motion, you push off with your right foot, using your body’s leverage to break away from the officer and scoop up the bag.
The officer shouts at you and yells into his radio, and you feel a swell of panic at the realization that you have just unwittingly become a criminal.Any chance of explaining the misunderstanding and getting an all clear has been wiped away.
The two strangers spring into action, and sprint toward the limo at the opposite side of the street.The man holds the door open as the female dives in, and he waves you in.You leap over the fence and run into the street, paying no attention to the traffic, which is forced to brake and honk.
You dive into the open door and are greeted with a rush of cool air.You hear the door slam behind you and feel the force of the car peeling away before you can turn around, pull yourself into a chair, and look at the strangers.
The man who held the door open for you is seated nearest the door, and across from him sits the woman.You sit on her side, but on the opposite end of the limo.There is another woman sitting beside the man, and someone else directly across from you.
“Greg Channing,” you whisper, upon recognizing the CEO you were supposed to be interviewing with.You look again at the girl next to him.
Called vet to check on cat at 11:30, they said “Adam, can we call you right back?” It’s 1:10, no word yet. #
@Megadactyl @Psx120 sounds good ta me! i’m going to dinner tho so won’t be back til around 9 #
@Megadactyl These kittens were so young, their eyes aren’t even open yet so I’m not sure they even attained ferrel status yet. in reply to Megadactyl#
@lojan718 You are prob right, but they said to bring them in if they are still there, so it puzzles me why they didn’t want them right away. in reply to lojan718#
During lunch when I read, I usually have my iPod on. Most of the time the book is more engaging and the music only serves to drown out the distractions in the room, but occasionally a song will come on that pulls me out of the book and requires my full attention. Recently, I bought “99 Essential Beethoven Songs” and so a lot of them I’m hearing for the first time.
I really like this one. It’s called “Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 73, Emperor: II. Adagio un poco mosso – III. Rondo: Allegro.” Or something. I don’t know much about classical music syntax.
The whole thing is good, but I especially like the first part, from about 0:00 to 8:00 (yeah, and… it’s a 20 minute song). You notice the song completely change at that point… is that called “the first movement?” Anyway, the sharp violins remind me of Lost at times, and the deep bassy violins remind me of BSG. And when the piano is played, that single note simple melody, that starts around 1:40, makes me picture a young Starbuck at the piano with her father (don’t judge me).
**I realize now that “What do you hear, Beethoven?” is kind of a dick thing to say, considering Beethoven was deaf. I forgot about this until after I wrote this post, which I was trying to name after “What do you hear, Starbuck?” ZOMG!**
It sounds like 2 of them are still there. I saw a giant-ass racoon around back so I know they are on the prowl. #
2 of the 3 kittens are gone. Looks like mom returned and is moving them. Or, raccoons got them. Will check again in 1 hour. #
If that happens, we will keep one and name him Apollo. #
Humane society said if the mom cat doesn’t return by sundown, to bring them in for the night and take them to Humane society in morning. #
Found 3 baby stray kittens behind bush in front of apt. Mom ran away. Waiting for mom to return. #
I’m talking about the “Gathering Storm” ad over at my blog. http://trunc.it/18q#
I’ve always reserved “ma’am” to those older than me, never my peers. Is this correct? #
@Megadactyl I was at Jimmy John’s and the cashier greeted a girl, “hi, ma’am,” then proceeded to flirt with her, which I thought was odd. #
@Megadactyl No one has hit on me, or I’m too dense to notice if they are. I never see men being hit on, always “dudes” flirting with women. in reply to Megadactyl#
Question for da ladiez: have you ever been hit on by someone who has called you “ma’am?” Question for da fellaz: have you ever been hit on? #
I thought everyone who was coming in was staring at me but I see now that I am sitting under the menu on the wall. #
I am way too big for the hoodie I am wearing. But I’m at Jimmy Johns because fatty likes sandwiches. #
This song has me hypnotized right now. If I could tap dance, I totally would. http://bit.ly/TBouo#
“If we’d known the consequences of our actions we would’ve done things diffrnt but the spirit would remain the same. It’s freedom baby yeah! #
Running ur fingertips under the water, tapping them on the sink, then rubbing them on ur shirt is a fine way to wash your hands, apparently. #
This is unintentionally funny to me, but I have to admit… though the message is simple, I’m afraid I just don’t understand the point each one of them is trying to make. On second thought, though, I suppose that only validates how pointless the argument is to begin with.
“Some who advocate for same sex marriage have taken the issue far beyond same sex couples. They want to bring the issue into my life… my freedom will be taken away.”
Nobody is trying to interfere with your life… in fact, it’s you who are interfering with theirs. And your freedom will be taken away? …? By allowing gays to marry? Wait, this is an anti-gay marriage ad, right? Let’s watch it again.
“I am a Massachusetts parent helplessly watching public schools teach my son that gay marriage is okay.”
Either they send me resumes for full time work, or they send me a run on sentence in all lowercase and ask questions I answered in the post. 19 hrs ago
I put up an add on craiglist to see if anyone can install a chain link fence for cheap, and some of the responses I've gotten are amazing. 19 hrs ago
in reply to mikeolbinski #
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