There is Always a Reason (1832 hits)
Category: UberMadness!Rating: 0.37 on 83 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by UberMadness! (View user info) at 2005-08-02 12:00:03 EDT
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Entry 1
New York Times 4/29/88DEMOCRAT DEAD
Police last night confirmed the identity of the "Dumpster John Doe" as Sean O'Neill, the Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives. A Police spokesman confirmed that the body had been identified after numerous tests.
The delay in finding the identity of the victim was due to the severity of the injuries suffered. The death was caused by a shot from a heavy duty weapon to the head making regular techniques difficult to apply in this case.
A source close to the candidates camp expressed his shock and dismay at the news. "We can't understand this. Sean had no enemies except in the political sense. There is no reason for this attack."
Detective Kaminski, leading the investigation, told reporters that the investigation will continue along the same lines. He repeated his earlier request for information from the public. He admitted that they were still searching for a motive and possible suspects............
New York Times 4/17/88
---------------------
MURDER MYSTERY
The hunt is on for the identity of a man found in a Brooklyn dumpster. The body, discovered yesterday, is thought to have been badly disfigured, making identification difficult. It has so far been confirmed that the body had been stripped of all clothes and personal possessions, before being dumped. It is believed that the body has been mutilated in some way, making identification difficult, but this is yet to be confirmed.
Initial reports suggest that the victim had lain undiscovered for some time, due to the state of decomposition although Police sources are keen to point out that this could be incorrect. Nothing is being officially reported until an autopsy has taken place..........
New York Times 4/2/88
--------------------
CONCERN GROWS OVER MISSING CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE
Police and campaign staff today made a fresh appeal for help in tracing the missing Democrat.
Sean O'Neill was last seen on March 17 at his camps headquarters before heading off for a three day break from campaigning.........
New York Times 3/21/88
---------------------
O'NEILL FAILS TO ATTEND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Campaign staff were left red faced today when Sean O'Neill, the recently selected Democrat candidate was absent from a public appearance at an orphanage within the district.
Andrew Schmidt, the sitting congressman and Peter Newman, the Republican challenger were left to field questions from the press alone.
No explanation was given for O'Neill's absence.............
"Pop's" Bar W55th St. Clinton NY
-----------------------------
The old man looked up from the newspaper and gave a toothless smile.
"I'm glad you decided to come, but I knew you would. Curiosity has always been a curse of the Irish. Take a seat son, we don't stand on ceremony here."
The old man pulled a pouch from his pocket and began slowly rolling a cigarette.
"You'll have to excuse me my bad habits son, I'm too old to go changing my ways now. I got some things to tell you but my mind wanders sometimes, so forgive me if I ramble. But where are my manners. Can I get you a drink? Coffee, Beer, Guinness?"
The younger man nodded his accord at the Guinness.
"Mikey", the old man called to the bartender, "Bring us over two glasses of the good stuff. Another of my weaknesses Mr. O'Neill. You can't deny yourself the simple pleasures in life"
He paused and lit the cigarette, inhaling deeply and closing his eyes momentarily before exhaling a cloud of blue-grey smoke.
"Now what I have to tell you Sean, do you mind me calling you that? It's a true story but it's also a parable, or is it an allegory, I can never remember. It will help you understand the attitudes of some of the people here, after you have been away all these years.
Before I can get to the story you need to know some things about the past.
I lived here all my life son, I've had this bar for over fifty years and it wasn't always like this. This neighbourhood has changed a lot, as my place in it has and what went on is important."
He took a long draught from his glass and continued.
"When I was growing up, this was a safe neighbourhood. I'm not going to tell you that nothing ever went on because that would be a flat out lie, but you could walk the streets at night without fear. That was the time of the gangs.
The gangs weren't what you see now, running around killing each other, they looked after the neighbourhood. They cleaned up the hoods that tried to move in on our turf. Make no mistake son, Hells Kitchen was Irish. People will try and tell you different but they are wrong.
The gangs protected their areas, they didn't get into arguments with people unless they needed to. Sure there would be fights with the Guineas or the Jews when they wandered into our part of town and attempted to get in on the act. They would usually end up walking with a limp or with a nice scar to show off to their friends. Same thing if one of our boys went onto their turf.
This bar was one of their hang outs. It was a good time for me. The place didn't look as good as it does today but I new every customer by name. Never had any trouble in here, the boys made sure of that.
All that changed when the Niggers and the Spics started trying to move in."
He stopped and relit his crumbling cigarette.
"Tension had been building for some time and it all came to a head on St. Pats. A night that those who will talk about it, not that many will son, call "The Saint Patrick's day massacre".
It was a special night, not only because of the obvious reasons, but my grandson Patrick was celebrating his twenty-fifth birthday. He was becoming a man in gang terms. The party had been planned for months.
I had started having some of the boys work the door because of the trouble and on that night I had set four of them on watch. No-one could get through that door if they weren't known.
Fortunately it was early. There weren't many people here, about forty. Only four people left this place alive, myself and Mikey included.
There was maybe ten of them, a mix of Blacks and Hispanics, they came in guns blazing, shooting anything that moved, even the women. We never stood a chance son.
The last thing I saw was Patrick shove his brother Mikey off his stool and then going down himself. It was all over in a matter of minutes. When I looked up from behind the bar they were gone."
He sniffed back a tear.
"Besides me and Mike, there was Old Stevie, he had passed out in the restroom. The only other survivor was one of my doormen. He had run when they burst in.
The police came and went through the motions, but basically they swept it under the carpet. They lost a lot of good officers over that situation. The Irish cops couldn't deal with it. Some of them transferred to different cities, some of them gave it up altogether. These were people they had grown up with you see?
I kept away from the gangs after that. Things had gone too far, too many people were dying, it wasn't what I had got involved in. Some of the boys still came into the bar, but not many. The Kitchen became a war zone, you couldn't go out after dark alone.
I was told that the doorman had fled the city, it seemed that he had sold us out to the Blacks. Taken the money and ran.
Things went on like this for a long time. Eventually the politicians decided to throw some money into the area. The yuppies started moving in and that brings us to where we are today."
The old man drained his glass.
"Well son, that's the story, anyone who will talk about it will tell you the same. I have taken enough of your time. Do you get my point though, that is the important thing?"
O'Neill spoke for almost the first time.
"I guess you are saying to know your enemies."
"Partly son,", said Pop, "but you also have to watch your so called friends. Never forget that. There are some people around here with very long memories."
Sean O'Neill rose to leave but paused as Pop began to speak again.
"At my age you have outlived most, if not all of your enemies, but you never forget them son. Not their faces, not their names. I think it is the names that mean the most, they stay in my head all the time. I will never forget the man who sold out my friends, Eugene O'Neill."
The old man had enough time to register the look of surprise on the man's face before the twin clicks of the shotgun triggers ripped apart the silence.
3/3/88
------
Dear Sir,
As a lifelong resident of Clinton and a registered Democrat, let me tell you how pleased I am with your selection as the candidate for the forthcoming election.
As a business owner in the district for fifty years I have seen many things and would love to share some thoughts with you. As you have been away from the area for some time, I believe that some of this information may be of value to you in the forthcoming campaign.
If it would be possible to meet with you at a time of your choosing, I would be extremely grateful.
Some things which I would like to discuss may not be what others would want you to hear, so I would appreciate if we could keep any meeting "Off the Record".
Yours sincerely,
Michael "Pop" Kyle.
New York Times 2/8/88
---------------------
LOCAL MAN SELECTED FOR CONGRESS FIGHT
Following the announcement that he would no longer be standing for re-election, Andrew Schmidt (67) welcomed the appointment of his successor Sean O'Neill (47).
"It will be great for the district to have a local born man representing them", said Schmidt of the selection.
O'Neill was born in Clinton, but moved away as a child.
"My father moved away from the district some time ago to start a new life for his family after receiving a small inheritance, but his heart always remained in New York", the candidate said yesterday, "I wish he could have been here to see me standing for election in the district where we were both born. It would have made him very proud."
O'Neill's father Eugene, passed away last year following a long fight with cancer...........
- VS -
Entry 2
Amadi Jones sat in a wheelchair looking out over the city of Manhattan from the window of his hospital room.It was snowing, the sort of weather one might see when overturning a child's snow-globe, flakes moving seemingly in every direction of their own accord. From on high where he sat, the effect was not unlike poor television reception, the static nearly blurring out the picture below.
It suited his mood just fine. He hadn't moved from the window for hours... after all, where was there to go?
The heater by the window clicked on, washing him with hot air. He looked down, his eyes focusing on the newspaper again unwillingly. The headline read:
Football star saves child, winds up paralyzed.
Amadi's memory drifted to his junior year in college, playing for Nebraska. One of his teammates had been horse collar tackled in front of the bench. The guy's leg had gotten caught underneath him, but his forward momentum had carried his femur onward, ripping it right out of his leg. His career was done, finished, cut short on a three yard gain in the fourth quarter of a game his team was winning 42-7.
Later, when the guys had gone out after the game, the mood was somber despite the win. He remembered telling a friend, "That could have been me. That could have been any of us."
Only now, it was him. He was the one his teammates were shaking their heads over, and quietly thanking God that they were still able to walk.
A knock at the door brought him out of his reverie. The door opened, spilling bright, sterile hospital hallway light into his darkened room. His mother walked in.
"How's my hero today?" she smiled.
"Ma, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm not a hero. All I did was react."
His mother chuckled. "What do you think heros do, boy? It ain't like in the movies. A real hero finds himself in a situation, and reacts. And he does what someone else in his situation might not have done."
"Why did it have to be me? I had everything, and now it's gone."
"Nobody asks for it. You think Jesus Christ asked to be put up on that cross?"
"I don't wanna hear this."
"Mind your mother, boy." Her voice grew sharp. "I changed your diapers. I washed your mouth out with soap when you were a little boy and you cussed. Don't go thinking just because you signed a professional football contract that you're too good to listen to your momma, and don't go thinking that just because you got hurt you don't have to mind God."
She glared at him, and he sighed and looked down.
"Now, Jesus Christ wanted a normal life just like anybody else. But God needed him to go up on that cross so that he could die for everyone's sins. It was part of God's plan. There's always a reason for things, and the sooner you realize that, the sooner you will come to terms with your life."
"But I only got to play in six games."
"Do you know how many people there are out there in this world that would give anything they had to play six games as a football star? Think about it, boy. And don't be thinking your life is over just because you can't walk anymore. Why, you got more money with your signing bonus than most hardworking folks see in their entire lives."
"I don't care." Amadi turned back to the window, looking out, wishing his mother would go away so he could return to the static.
"I brought you a present."
Amadi looked back. "I don't need any presents."
"It's a letter from the little girl you saved."
"She wrote me a letter? She was in here two days ago visiting me. Why did she write me a letter?"
"I don't know, boy, why don't you open it and find out for yourself?"
"Leave it on the bed. I'll read it later."
"How's about I hand it to you, and I leave, and you read it now? And then tuck yourself up and get some sleep. You ain't helpin' yourself staring out that window."
"I'm just trying to figure out who I am."
"Well, if you ask me, you already found out. A moment of pressure is worth a month of silent reflection, son. Now give me a kiss and get some sleep."
After his mother left, Amadi resumed staring out the window, clutching the letter in his hand. He tried to tune out again, but the letter wouldn't let him. Finally, he gave up and ripped open the envelope. The handwriting was that of an eight year old girl, flowery yet precise.
--
November 3, 1992
Dear Mister Jones,
My mommy said that I have to write you a letter to say thank you for saving my life, but she promised that she wouldn't read what I said in the letter because she said a letter is an outpouring of the soul meant only for the resipyent. I do not know what a resipyent is, but I think she was talking about you.
Anyway, I am supposed to say thank you, so THANK YOU!!!!! I didn't mean to walk in front of that truck. I feel bad because your legs do not work anymore and I think that is my fault because my mom said I am always supposed to look both ways and hold her hand before I cross the street, but I forgot and now your legs don't work any more.
OK, I have to go now. Bye.
Miranda Roberts
P.S. My daddy says he is selling his Jets tickets and that we are going to be Giants fans now. He says he hopes nobody minds if Joe Namath is still his favorite quarterback ever. I don't know if I was supposed to tell you the part about Joe Namath, though.
--
For the first time since he lost the ability to walk, Amadi began to cry.
* * *
--
November 4, 1993
Dear Miranda,
Thank you for sending me your letter. Your mother sounds like a very wise woman. Mine is too.
Do you know what she told me? Everything in this life happens for a reason, even the things that seem bad that we don't understand.
I do not want you to feel bad about what happened with the truck. One time, when I was a kid, I fell into a swimming pool before I knew how to swim. My older brother jumped in and saved me.
I have been going to church a lot lately to try and find my way. Stay well with God, and in time we will both come to understand why he wanted me to be there to save you.
Yours,
Amadi Jones
--
July 16, 1995
Dear Mister Jones,
I'm sorry that I haven't written to you in a month, my family was on vacation in the Pokeanose, and I forgot. Isn't that a silly name? Poke a nose! My daddy got a promotion, he is an investment banker now! Well, he was an investment banker before, but I think he is a more important one now.
I got a promotion too! I finished elementary school, and now I get to go to middle school next year. I decided when I grow up I am going to be a doctor who fixes people with broken legs.
Miranda Roberts
--
September 22, 1995
Hi Miranda!
I hope that you are enjoying the start of middle school, and I hope you go out for sports.
My business ventures have been going very well. Who would have thought that I would become a businessman? I always thought that I was meant to play football, but it turns out that I am pretty good at this too. I remember when I told my mother I didn't need good grades because I was going to play football, and she told me that not everybody who thought they were good got to be a star. She made me study hard in school, and thank goodness she did!
I hope you are studying hard in school. It takes very good grades to be a doctor!
Yours,
AJ
--
October 1, 1995
Dear Mister Jones,
I am trying to study hard in school, but Bobby Thompson is always picking on me. He knocks books off my desk and passes me notes that make fun of my hair.
I hope someone beats him up. He's such a jerk.
Miranda Roberts
--
October 8, 1995
Miranda,
It's not nice to wish harm on others. Boys that age have trouble explaining to girls how they feel sometimes. It may be that he wants your attention and doesn't know how else to get it.
--
October 15, 1995
Dear Mister Jones,
I'm sorry about what I said about Bobby Thompson. He's my boyfriend now.
Miranda Roberts
--
January 6, 1998
Amadi,
High school sucks, the people here are such jerks. They don't understand anything, everyone acts like there is nothing to care about in the world, when they don't know how many important things are going on all the time. But I am going to perservere... I know I need really good grades to get into a pre-med program after high school, and don't think for a second I've forgotten about becoming a doctor.
My father said your company is making an initial public offering, I think that's absolutely fantastic. You're going to become really rich. I mean, I guess you've always been rich, but wow! My dad says that taking a company to an IPO before you're thirty years old is amazing, and I think he's planning on investing in it. I guess you were right about the internet taking off.
Miranda
--
August 3, 1998
Miranda,
I'm so sorry that I haven't written to you lately. It's been completely crazy taking the company public, and I've been getting around four hours of sleep a night for the past year. But, I'm taking a vacation soon, and I want to bring your family with me on the yacht. I'm thinking maybe about boating down to South America.
Talk to your parents about it, and I'll make arrangements.
Amadi
--
May 6, 2000
I can't believe the car! It's absolutely amazing. My parents say you're spoiling me, but what do they know? I'm on track for a 4.0 this year, and I'm gonna be taking some college classes my senior year. I'm really interested in biology, and I'm hoping to make it into Johns Hopkins so I can go to their medical school.
Randa-Panda
--
* * *
Amadi sat at his desk, working frantically. Everything was a mess, nobody below him seemed to know what to do, and he could hardly blame him. He was frantically typing an email when his phone rang. He was tempted not to pick it up, it was probably another fire to put out.
"Make it quick."
"Amadi? It's Miranda..." The voice on the other end was tearful and hesitant.
Amadi looked away from his computer.
"Hey honey."
"Amadi, my parents were both in the Trade Center yesterday, and neither of them have come home. I think they're both... both..." She broke down into sobs.
"I'll have a car pick you up immediately."
* * *
--
December 10, 2002
My dearest Amadi,
Thank you for helping me get settled in school. You've been my guardian angel my entire life, and I don't know how to express to you the love I feel.
I'm doing okay in college so far, but I'm not sleeping very well at nights.
I can't help but spend my time thinking about how the world is so fucked up. What kind of people are so twisted that they would kill thousands of innocent civilians? There's something seriously wrong here.
--
December 18, 2002
Miranda,
In times like these, it is best to turn to your faith in God. There are answers to be found in the Bible for those who are willing to look.
After the accident, I was sitting in my room and refusing to speak to anyone. My mother reminded me that there is always a reason that things happen. I lost my ability to play football twelve years ago, and I couldn't see the reason at the time. But I gained a business, and I employ thousands of people. We also gained your life, and look at you! You're at one of the premier colleges in the country, and you will be a wonderful doctor, I'm sure of it.
Amadi
--
March 5, 2004
Amadi,
You know, I don't so much blame the suicide bombers that killed my parents any more. I mean, if you really look at the world, if you REALLY look, you see how fucked up everything is. The Bush administration is nothing but a bunch of corrupt monkeys focused on world domination, and America has been at the root of so many of the problems in the world.
They twist everything to their benefit, and they push down so many people that it's no wonder they fight back with any means they can afford.
I've been turning to the Bible more and more the past few years to try to find the answers you said were in there, and the more I read, the more I realize how corrupt this society has become.
Miranda
--
May 17, 2006
My dearest Miranda,
Congratulations on getting into graduate school. You continue to astound me with your achievements, and I miss my legs less with every accomplishment. Do you realize I wouldn't be playing football right now anyway? I'd be a retired jock with no direction.
Amadi
P.S. Don't worry about switching to microbiology. There are plenty of doctors studying the spine.
--
February 14, 2009
Amadi,
I hope you have been doing well. I have been so absorbed in my post doctoral work lately that I haven't found time to write. I'm going to be sending you a birthday present, but you have to promise not to open it until your birthday NO MATTER WHAT.
Miranda Roberts
---
* * *
Amadi smiled as he unwrapped the package that had been sitting in his home for a week. Written all over the present were the words "Do not open until your birthday" and he had honored that.
He was startled to discover that inside the package was nothing but a letter and a syringe filled with clear liquid.
April 1, 2009
My dearest Amadi,
As you asked, I have spent my years looking for answers in the Bible. I have been particularly drawn to the stories in the Old Testament of Noah's flood, and the destruction of Sodom and Gommorrah.
As I have looked at the corruption and decadence of this world we live in, I have come to the conclusion that evil abounds everywhere, and that there is no-one left to save.
You said that everything happens for a reason, and that my life had a purpose.
You were right.
I have engineered a virus that is going to cleanse the world of its evil and corruption. Soon, there will be no-one left except those that I have chosen to help start the world anew. If you turn on your televsion, you will see over the next few days that the plague will have begun.
The syringe in your hands is the anti-virus.
I'll be on the way to your house soon.
With love,
Miranda
Entry 1:
BLITZKREIG_BOB
CaptainThorns
ConorJS
doctorj24
DonkeyOnTheEdge
ess-arr
indoninja
Jack_McCallum
kimmy02721
krissi
LadyPlural
loki
Natsukau
ParlorTrick
rad1101
Razor
Slovin
Snark
stevie_says
ThineJericho
thorpe
18 eligible votes (21 total) *
Entry 2:
absolutes
Adamdidit2u
badassmofo
bigbabylons
blondee03
bob
Circe
comicbookguy
d_prime
darko
dasteve
Davros
DonovanMD
firefly
HadToBeDone
i_walk_alone
jack11058
jgreening
JMG114
JonnyX
kabeem
Kre8rix
littledan
Magicaddict
MANICMOTHER
munkeypants
OnEdge
Pentameter
rushtawin
RyuFu
satchel
sparkle_pink
Spuds002
supadupapupa
thecaes
tlovess
Viciousriffs
William_Q_Percy
zakalwe
34 eligible votes (39 total) *
* Eligible votes are those made by users who had either (A) posted 3+ messages OR (B) written 100+ [lowered from 750+] reviews as of the beginning of the UberMadness! competition.
User Reviews
Submitted by Captain_Cool (user info) at 2005-08-06 12:57:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Serious_Melvin (user info) at 2005-08-06 01:53:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2005-08-05 12:05:18 (#)
Ranking: 0
Well, I don't want you to see it coming, but I would like you to be able to go back and look and say "I should have seen it coming."
---
I think you pulled this off. The letters show Miranda trying to come to terms with her parents' death, which she is finally able to do by forgiving and understanding the terrorists' acts. Her whole life began to revolve around this forgiveness and understanding, and when she read about Noah's Arc in the bible she kind of found what she believed to be her calling. Very chilling ending.
Submitted by Serious_Melvin (user info) at 2005-08-05 15:41:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Entry 2 was just amazing.
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2005-08-05 12:05:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Well, I don't want you to see it coming, but I would like you to be able to go back and look and say "I should have seen it coming."
Submitted by Wrightcopy (user info) at 2005-08-05 09:14:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Had I been quick enough to vote, I would've voted for #2. I liked #1, but it just needed... more. It happened too fast, and I could kinda see where it was going. #2 was great. At first it seemed like it was going to be this sweet story of this guy that saved a girl that'll end up doing real good in the future and believed this up until the very end. You said that you wanted to eventually edit this to put "a little more hinting about what was due to go wrong..." I think it's awesome without the hints, the surprise is what really made this story great to me.
Submitted by TheUn-PlacidPrincess (user info) at 2005-08-05 03:14:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.ubersite.com/m/72517
I'm new.
MM
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-08-04 23:21:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dave, you can see the reviews after the match has ended.
Submitted by doctorj24 (user info) at 2005-08-04 18:36:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Well, thanks for the great response, Razor. I wasn't expecting that.
If you do write it again, I'm really interested in reading the finished product. I'll be first in line to review it. Or, 4th or 5th because I seem to never get a virgin review.
Good luck in the next round.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2005-08-04 18:09:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
(This is from Razor)
It's not that I can't take criticism, it was just that the criticism seemed to come from someone who hadn't bothered to read carefully enough to know what they were talking about.
Sorry for being so harsh.
This is actually one of my two or three favorite stories I've ever written, idea-wise, but the entire thing was done in an hour and forty five minutes because I had no time (The writing itself, anyway... the story I worked on in my head over a few days).
And, the first and second letters were supposed to be eight days apart, not a year and eight days apart, so that was a legitimate error.
This is one of the few stories I've ever written that I really want to put some effort into re-writing. Hopefully the final version will be more polished, with a little more hinting about what was due to go wrong and more clarity that the letters were only a selection.
Submitted by doctorj24 (user info) at 2005-08-04 17:13:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hey Razor! That was me who criticized your material. Give me some credit.
You wrote: [In fact, if you were actually, you know, reading carefully, you would have noticed that there was a point where there was a gap of over a year and the letter opens with "Sorry I haven't written in a month."]
In fact, you know, I did read that, and I thought it was yet another careless error by an UberEntrant. I thought it was an error of "month" versus "year." You, Razor, UberGod and UberElite that you are, failed to convey that it was a selection of letters. Can you see that I was criticizing your failure, or is your head to high up in the Uber clouds to take criticism?
Really, though, your entry wasn't the best (relative to your own writing). Of course, you can't get to be UberElite without being good, and I know you are. Lighten up, take some criticism, stop being so arrogant.
In the spirit, I'm sorry about the e-mail thing. Obviously they could have been e-mails. I was in the wrong there. But nevertheless, I was disappointed by your entry.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-08-04 16:17:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks Razor.
The better tale won.
I was a little pissed off this round as I managed to get the best title I had been given to work with and no time to work on it. Still I liked my idea, could have used fleshing out a little, which I may do at some future point.
Thanks for the votes people.
Good luck next round Razor.
-Dave
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-08-04 16:10:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Geez, Razor, lighten up man.
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2005-08-04 15:57:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh, and by the way...
Who said the later correspondence wasn't email? I believe only twice do I ever specifically mention someone sending a paper letter, one of which was in a package. Maybe next time I'll include a kicker at the bottom that says "This message was scanned by Norton Antivirus"
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2005-08-04 15:55:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Good match, Davros.
In response to the person who criticized me about the length of time between letters, it should be obvious to anyone who can read above a third grade level that only a selection of the correspondence between Amadi and Miranda was included in the story. In fact, if you were actually, you know, reading carefully, you would have noticed that there was a point where there was a gap of over a year and the letter opens with "Sorry I haven't written in a month." Next time, perhaps I'll include 500 letters over a 17 year period and turn it into a novel. Dumbass.
To those of you who complained about someone writing letters or someone engineering a virus, I challenge you to find anything written in the last ten years by any author anywhere that did not to some extent rehash a subject already discussed somewhere else. It's called a "genre" you sphincters. You know, a comedy about two people who fall in love, it's been done many times. That doesn't mean "While you were sleeping" ripped off "When harry met sally", it just means that they were both romantic comedies. Cunts.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-08-04 14:34:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-08-04 14:01:23 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-08-03 21:25:58 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-08-03 18:19:43 (#)
Ranking: 1
Hey, a 'kill off the entire world' entry, that hasn't been done since, oh, I did it, in Round One.
Jack McCallum, maybe you should host an UberGenocideMadness, to have a contest with nothing but apocolypse stories!
--
Sounds good to me.
-----------------------
Yea, I have 2 UM apocalypse stories under my belt so far, one from UM2 and one from UM3. I won with both of them.
-------------------------
Just curious, but you don't appear to have voted (Unless with an alter) but you can obviosly see the reviews. How does that happen?
-Dave
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-08-04 14:01:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-08-03 21:25:58 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-08-03 18:19:43 (#)
Ranking: 1
Hey, a 'kill off the entire world' entry, that hasn't been done since, oh, I did it, in Round One.
Jack McCallum, maybe you should host an UberGenocideMadness, to have a contest with nothing but apocolypse stories!
--
Sounds good to me.
-----------------------
Yea, I have 2 UM apocalypse stories under my belt so far, one from UM2 and one from UM3. I won with both of them.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2005-08-04 11:34:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2005-08-04 11:25:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I saw "Democrat Dead" and had to vote for Number 1.
No, I just liked it better. Killer virus stories are getting a little old in this competition, sorry, author 2.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-08-04 10:22:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by DonkeyOnTheEdge (user info) at 2005-08-04 10:03:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I liked the idea of number two, but I found myself drifting between letters. Maybe because Sportscenter is on.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-08-04 09:25:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2005-08-04 09:02:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oooh, timeline story! I *love* this format!
Submitted by bigbabylons (user info) at 2005-08-04 06:23:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Magicaddict (user info) at 2005-08-04 05:32:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by sparkle_pink (user info) at 2005-08-04 04:56:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Entry 2 was wonderful, and I liked the ending a lot. Here I was all 'She's so going to find a cure for busted legs!' and bam! Destroyed!
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-08-04 02:22:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy Christ, two absolutely excellent pieces. I chose #2 for the twist at the end, otherwise it would have been a near impossibility to decide.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-08-03 22:06:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
how is this too close to call? there's over a dozen votes in it. no way author 1 can win now.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-08-03 22:04:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
already had a plague entry. but I didn't like #1 at all.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-08-03 21:47:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
whoa, this one has just shifted to "too close to call" on the scoreboard. better vote carefully.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-08-03 21:45:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I am voting for Entry one, but Author one: you have exceeded your monthly allotment of periods. Please return some of them to our offices. kthxbye.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-08-03 21:25:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-08-03 18:19:43 (#)
Ranking: 1
Hey, a 'kill off the entire world' entry, that hasn't been done since, oh, I did it, in Round One.
Jack McCallum, maybe you should host an UberGenocideMadness, to have a contest with nothing but apocolypse stories!
--
Sounds good to me.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-08-03 21:23:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry authors. Neither really gripped me, but you both had balls to take a different approach.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-08-03 18:19:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Hey, a 'kill off the entire world' entry, that hasn't been done since, oh, I did it, in Round One.
Jack McCallum, maybe you should host an UberGenocideMadness, to have a contest with nothing but apocolypse stories!
Submitted by kimmy02721 (user info) at 2005-08-03 16:52:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
these were both great.
Submitted by Spuds002 (user info) at 2005-08-03 16:20:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by comicbookguy (user info) at 2005-08-03 16:00:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
entry two was so good until the crappy ending. I still voted for it though.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-08-03 15:03:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2005-08-03 14:33:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2005-08-02 15:02:35 (#)
Ranking: -1
cripes
1) eugene o'neill? eugene o'fucking neill? http://www.eoneill.com/
who were the other doormen, ee cummings, john updike and tennessee williams?
---------------------------------
HAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!UNO!!!!UN!1!1!!!!!UNUM!!
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2005-08-03 14:28:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
What the...? I--I mean........HUH??!?!
#2, I read your story with small tears welling in my eyes and saw it going one of two ways: Amadi marries Miranda and/or she saves his legs. I guess if either of those happened, you would have been bombarded with the now-clichéd UM phrase "that was cliché." That seems to be the most logical explanation for the sucker-punch of an ending that you had there. Hoooly shit. Perhaps what's more amazing is that the longer I think about it, the more I like it. Like a good Tales From the Crypt episode...
#1, yours was well done but suffers the unfortunate fate of being paired up against a post that absolutely grabbed me and only let go to bitch-slap my senses at the end.
Advantage #2.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-08-03 14:09:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Slovin (user info) at 2005-08-03 11:13:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by blondee03 (user info) at 2005-08-03 10:59:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by kabeem (user info) at 2005-08-03 10:40:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Talk about a curve ball...Didn't see that one coming! Very nice and twisted.
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2005-08-03 10:40:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by tlovess (user info) at 2005-08-03 10:34:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
HOLY FUCKING DATES BATMAN
__________________________
Why am I laughing at this? Hahahahahaha
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-08-03 07:20:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Entry 1 was an okay story...the dialogue was a little sloppy in its presentation, and I found myself not really caring much about the mystery behind the guy's death. But I liked the little history bit about gangs in Hell's Kitchen -- I think you should have gone over that more.
Entry 2 -- what the hell kind of ending was that?? It was kind of a cool twist, but it just came out of nowhere, man. "La la la I'm doing really well at school la la la oh by the way I've wiped out everyone on earth."
C'mon!! There's nothing in the story that suggests little Miranda would be emotionally or psychologically capable of something like that...you don't show her slipping off the deep end, or becoming unstable. In fact, quite the opposite. She acts very maturely and rationally during the whole thing. Pffft.
That being said I like the idea of sacrificing one's health to save a life that eventually turns out to be a big mistake, and your story was written better than entry 1.
Submitted by ThineJericho (user info) at 2005-08-03 06:16:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
This was one of the more semi-difficult choices, but I'm happy with mine.
Submitted by ParlorTrick (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:11:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Tough. Both were well done.
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-08-03 01:57:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Those were both great, but it's kind of funny the way they were in the same "style." I had to vote for number 2 (but remember that my vote doesn't count) because of the character development and the ending. The more I think about it, the more I like. Thanks authors, this was a great mano a mano.
Submitted by rushtawin (user info) at 2005-08-03 00:38:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2005-08-02 23:04:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
#1 by a long shot. Could be my Irish pride talking. Kind of reminds me of home (that is to say, Boston.) Goddam niggers and spics.
Submitted by d_prime (user info) at 2005-08-02 22:52:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Are you one of these morons who not only have horrible English, which isn't a big deal, but gets mad at people who have good English and calls them stupid?
Submitted by satchel (user info) at 2005-08-02 22:34:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by littledan (user info) at 2005-08-02 21:24:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I enjoyed entry 2 more, but she turned into exactly what she hated...
Submitted by i_walk_alone (user info) at 2005-08-02 20:51:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
both are good ...
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-08-02 20:06:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-08-02 18:00:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-08-02 13:07:49 (#)
Ranking: 0
My vote is for the dead Democrat.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-08-02 18:00:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
HOLY FUCKING DATES BATMAN
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-08-02 17:39:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I am voting for entry two for absolutely no reason.
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2005-08-02 17:35:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hate the format on both, will not vote.
Submitted by doctorj24 (user info) at 2005-08-02 17:29:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
These were both utter crap! Total crap! It's stuff like this that makes me happy my vote doesn't count. I can't believe this is round 3.
#1 - Your "news stories" seem to be written by a 6th grader. Could you put some effort into it? Details! Not just a Democrat running for Congress - where at, what district! There was logical flaws, and why the heck did you pick 88 for the year? Is that for HH, Heil Hitler? YOU NAZI SCUM.
#2 - Letter writing, and a virus to kill off the whole world! HOW ORIGINAL! Let's throw in some Bush-bashing and some Biblical nonsense and make a quesadilla out of it. Your dates are all screwed up. Have you ever written letters? People don't wait 2 years to write back. They would forget by then. Or, what about E-MAIL? And when they did write back, I would expect much more than three sentences, or one sentence letters. HOW DID YOU MAKE IT TO ROUND 3?
Submitted by absolutes (user info) at 2005-08-02 16:34:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by William_Q_Percy (user info) at 2005-08-02 16:22:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The format of Entry 1 was interesting. I felt like the author was really trying to develop a sense of mystery and tension by doing this, but it came out sort of flat. It was a good story, though.
Entry 2 did a fine job of showing the young girl growing mentally, I thought. Well played.
Submitted by Natsukau (user info) at 2005-08-02 16:04:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
DEMOCRAT DEAD
----------
Woohoo!
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-08-02 15:48:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for both, I hate that I had to pick one.
Submitted by ess-arr (user info) at 2005-08-02 15:40:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by stevie_says (user info) at 2005-08-02 15:09:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by jack11058 (user info) at 2005-08-02 15:02:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
cripes
1) eugene o'neill? eugene o'fucking neill? http://www.eoneill.com/
who were the other doormen, ee cummings, john updike and tennessee williams?
2) you had my vote from the beginning, but why the hell would you go off the deep end and write such a stupid fucking ending? i'm sorry to be so curmudgeonly, but you really killed it for me. i'm going to ignore the end and vote for you anyway, but reluctantly.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2005-08-02 14:00:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2005-08-02 13:51:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2005-08-02 13:42:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I thought #2 was going to be super cheesy after the WTC, but it reedemed itself wonderfully
Submitted by dasteve (user info) at 2005-08-02 13:27:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hard decision.
Submitted by krissi (user info) at 2005-08-02 13:15:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by tlovess (user info) at 2005-08-02 13:13:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Again, both of these were really great. But the end of #2 was really chilling, and the character development was more clear. Number 2 it is for me.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-08-02 13:07:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
My vote is for the dead Democrat.
Submitted by indoninja (user info) at 2005-08-02 12:59:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Entry 2 was a little too cheesy.
And I am getting sick the dates on the top of everything.
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2005-08-02 12:56:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hmmm...
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2005-08-02 12:49:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2005-08-02 12:41:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WELL DONE
Submitted by OnEdge (user info) at 2005-08-02 12:40:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2005-08-02 12:23:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2005-08-02 12:15:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Now THAT is a twist.
#2, thankyasomuch.
Submitted by badassmofo (user info) at 2005-08-02 12:09:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment