text:
	The Time I Found Love In A Senior Citizen –By Aaron Brooks

	Her Tinged Ciggerate’s heat radiated off into the back of my neck. I could feel her Presence. I couldn’t help but stare. Both me and my mother’s eyes were fixed on the slow burning Marlboro in her hand and the smoke that spit up her wrist.
“I’m A Libertarian, I don’t like to be told what to do.”
She observed my mom, down to the heartbeat. As did I. We both hated everything my mom did. We both hated being told what to do by my mothers all seeing eyes.
	She wasn’t the type of Libertarian who complains about Guantanamo Bay. She’s The Kind Of Libertarian who fucking drops Acid and goes to musical festivals. The epitimy of cool. Everything boring old me needed. Not only did she not have an opinion on Free trade economics SHE DIDN’T GIVE A FLYING FUCK ABOUT FREE TRADE ECONOMICS. She smoked weed on the hood of homeland security vehicals.
	The 14 in me wanted to end my conversation with her. Drugs, fun and freedom had taken there sweet toll on her body. Her hair was frizzed her clothes slightly tattered.  For being at the Jewish religious ceremony centered around death her shoeless feet dancing was quite the practice of someone celebrating life.  She was what a 65 year old women should be physically yet somehow she had redefined sexy for me in thirty seconds. We didn’t say much after that except small talk about “The fucking Bastard” known as Mayor Bloomberg. Everything she Said held so much weight. After our conversation came to a sad conclusion I mulled over her words like a priest reading the book of Mathew. I spent the rest of the night eating salled debating wether to go talk to her or not. I knew I would once have these debates with myself I didn’t know they’d would be about talking to someone who probably spent her morning opening social security checks. At a Shiva for all places! As if my pedophilic fantasies couldn’t get any worse, they had to be during a week that’s supposed to be filled with depression and tears.
	I looked all around the party for her, I curled around all the corners of the house. Elevating myself above tables scanning across the circles of people looking for her. Sometimes I saw her, but than she would be gone and disappear into another women. Some moments I would see her twice, at other times it seemed she never existed.
	Well fuck. She’s gone. I had my chance; I could have gone back to her house and talked into the morning. We could have drank, laughed and loved.
			KIDS THESE DAYS- Muriel Frumberg
	I had to get out of that shiva. My brother died for fucks sake, I can’t have one night of griping and smoking. This boy and his mother whom I had never met before came up to me wish me good luck or some shit. And they both stay fixated on the cigerates I was lighting back to back. People say they don’t care how you look, that’s bullshit. His mom looked so scared that I was talking to her son. Turns out this kid is some kind of Libertarian as well, he tried talking drones with me. Pathetic. I was minding my business my brother had just died. It was not the appropriate time for foreign policy discussion for fucks sake.
	You should have seen this kid. He was fucking weird. His eyes constantly were shifting around. He didn’t let people walk behind him. If you left the fucking boy alone for a second he would start mumbling to himself.
	I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. This kid’s definitely got something fucking wrong with him, probably have to do with something with his shitty bitch of a mother.
	THE NEXT IS A TEXT CONVERSATION AARON’S MOM AND DAD
DAVID: How was Shiva.
SARAH: It was good. Jean says “hi”.
Aaron was acting a little weird.
I think he was talking to voices again.
DAVID: What exactly was he doing
Or saying?
SARAH: He was talking about an old woman
He was talking to “her” about drones and
Mayor Bloomberg. He introduced me to her.
It was all very eerie.
DAVID: What else is there to do?
More therapy? More meds? What?
SARAH: Part of me says yes. However,
This is the first time I’ve seen Aaron
Happy in a long time.
DAVID: Are you suggesting we just
Let him live in his own little universe?
SARAH: Maybe just until the school
Year starts up again?
DAVID: Are you fucking insane? I think
We should send him back to the psych ward.
He’s obviously depressed.

title: I'm 14 with the beginning stages of schizophrenia. I feel free to answer any questions about Jewish terminalogy

question: Has Aaron been taken off his meds?

answer: It would appear that Aaron has been taken off his meds and is hallucinating.

question: Was Aaron aware of anything that happened at the Shiva?

answer: It appears as though he did not. Since his mother describes most of what he told her as hallucinations.

question: Why does he think that his brother has died?

answer: It could not have been a shiva for his brother since his father wasn't at the Shiva. This is just another hallucination.

question: Why does Aaron's father think he is depressed?

answer: Hallucinations are not a sign of depression, so David's father appears not to understand his condition very well.

question: Write a ~13 sentence summary.

answer:
The narrator is 14 and has schizophrenia. He imagines he’s with a woman of 65. The woman does acid and smokes weed. Despite her age and dishevelled and tattered appearance, this woman epitomises sexy to him. They’re at a Shiva and he knows that his thoughts are inappropriate. He believes the Shiva follows the death of his brother.

After their discussions end the narrator continues to mull them over in his head.

After the funeral Aaron’s mom and dad talk about his strange behaviour. Mom, Sarah says that Aaron had introduced her to an old woman who didn’t exist. It seems that everyone that Aaron describes speaking to at the Shiva existed only in his imagination. Dad, David, suggests more meds or therapy. Sarah says it’s a long time since she’s seen Aaron happy and she’d like to leave him be. David says that she’s fucking insane and that Aaron must go back to the psych ward.


split: train

text:
LORENZO TREJO VALENCIA (born 15 June 1977),[1] known as LORENZO TREJO, is a Mexican boxer.

World title fights

In 2003, he lost to Iván Calderón for the World Boxing Organization minimumweight world title.[2]

In 2006, Trejo lost to Eagle Kyowa for the World Boxing Council minimumweight world title.[3]

In 2007, Trejo lost to Édgar Sosa for the World Boxing Council light flyweight world title.[4]

Other notable opponents

Trejo lost to Antonio Nieves in 2015.[5]

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

title: Lorenzo Trejo

question: Who is Lorenzo Trejo Valencia?

answer: A Mexican boxer

question: What nationality is Trejo?

answer: Mexican

question: Describe Trejo's 2007 world title fight.

answer: He lost to Édgar Sosa for the World Boxing Council light flyweight world title.

question: How many World title fights has Trejo won?

answer: He has not won any World title fights.

question: When was Trejo born?

answer: June 15, 1977

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Lorenzo Trejo Valencia is a Mexican boxer. Despite competing in three World title fights, he has yet to win any.


text:
The farmer examined his apple trees. They were withered. Rain that never came teased him now, dabbling his face. But the growing season was over. The crop had failed. Knobby little apples hung from limp branches, the acuity of their thirst long since passed as they had shriveled into hardened corpuscles of seeds, preserving their contents in resignation. Worthless fruit. It was harvest time, and there was nothing to reap.

The farmer looked towards his dilapidated house. His wife watched from the doorway, holding a dirty child. Another clung to her knees. Small voices could be heard from deeper within the sagging, musky hovel. There would be no crop this year. There was nothing to sell. There was nothing to save. His wife's face was empty. She knew. Her arms bounced the baby on her hip, but her eyes betrayed her soul. She held his gaze, and their eyes communicated what they could not say. There was neither a question nor an answer to be had. They simply knew.

The farmer turned back towards the sun-baked, dusty orchard. The sky continued to mock him, sprinkling bits of water over his impotent crop, insolently offering hints of life months past due. The farmer turned his head towards the sky and its wispy clouds. Drops moistened his lips. Even still it did not rain. This was an insincere offering, a sadistic intimation of life and happiness when there was already no hope for that. Like asking a dying man to attend a festival as his last breaths rattle through his chest.

The farmer again turned back towards his house. His wife was no longer standing in the doorway. The wind began to pick up, and the sky's final insult was not enough to keep the dust from whipping apart from the ground and stinging his eyes. He covered his face with his collar and walked stiffly towards his home. His bones ached. They had all been rationing as well as they could. They were all skinny. The children cried too much. The baby was sick. There wasn't enough milk for it.

And there was nothing to harvest. There had been no miracle. They had not been saved. He couldn't sell this withered fruit. Nor could they consume it themselves. His mind felt dead. He felt as if he were already gone. He felt so weary. He wondered if there was anything to be done. Anything at all.

He stepped inside, and his family looked at him expectantly. They knew he would provide for them. He was a father. A husband. It was his duty. He was an honorable man. He would do his duty. He looked at each of the small, grimy faces and then to his wife. Her eyes held the same tired pain as his own, he knew. There was no blame in them, no reproach. Just an aching weariness, the final expression of one who is passing beyond their capacity to endure. The look of defeat.

He sat at their table. It was a leaning artifact, an heirloom no one else had wanted. He put his head in his hands for a moment. But he straightened up. He looked again at the faces that surrounded him, looking upon him for their salvation. He told them of the rain outside. It had come at last, he said. There was still some time. In only a little while the fruit would absorb the water, the long-awaited water. They would have fresh apples, and applesauce, and fritters, and pies, and they would sell their surplus and they would eat fresh bread, and would buy a roast from the butcher and display their harvest at festival time. The rain had come, he said. Everything will be alright.

He got up from the table and walked back outside. The rain had stopped, and the wispy clouds were growing thinner as the sun returned, shining down with the warmth of Hell.

He gazed out over his orchard. There was one thing he could do, he thought. He could talk to the Seer. He picked a piece of withered fruit from the nearest tree and put it in his pocket. After pausing for another moment to look once more upon his little dried-up orchard and house, he began to walk purposefully. He walked for hours.

Dusk had begun to fall. He was walking up a hill. There was a crumbling stone tower at the top, and even in the twilight the grass around it was slightly greener than one might consider natural in the midst of such a devastating drought. Or so he supposed. It was hard to tell. He reached the top of the hill, and faced a heavy, oaken door deep-set in the masonry.

He raised the heavy brass knocker and let it fall. The impact boomed through the tower and into the air around him. There was not an immediate answer, so he lifted it again. The second impact rang like the first, and a few bats careened out of the highest portions of the tower, where stones had fallen away and left spaces for them to reside. The door swung open, but no one was there. A steep, winding stairwell led down into the bowels of the hill. The farmer peered into the gloom, and seeing nothing, began making his way down the steps.

The tower went deep. Far more of it existed beneath the earth than above it. As he descended, he thought about his family. His home. His orchard. All was lost. He imagined being the last of them to die. How he would have to bury them all, because he was the strongest. Because that would be his duty. Husband. Father. Mortician. Grave-digger. Priest.

The stairs ended. He could see nothing in the dark, save a bluish glow a short distance ahead of him. A reflecting pool. A small, robed figure hunched over it, silhouetted. The farmer approached the Seer. When he stood at his side, the Seer turned his gaze toward the farmer and faced him with white, marbled eyes which did not see light.

“Give me the apple.”

The farmer was startled, but reached his hand into his pocket. His fingers closed around the gnarled, inedible fruit. He withdrew his hand and presented it into the Seer. The Seer examined it for a moment, then threw it into the pool. The water swirled. The farmer's eyes grew wide as he beheld his house, his orchard, his family. His sagging house. His dry, dead, dust-covered orchard. His starving family. He felt the Seer's gaze upon him.

“What do you want to see?”

The farmer wanted to know if there was a way out. If there was anything to be done. If the orchard could be saved. If there was food anywhere to be found. If there was a way to avoid burying the ones he loved. The Seer reached inside his robes and pulled out a handful of indiscernible matter, which he deposited into the swirling pool.

“Here is the future.”

The scene remained the same for a moment. And then clouds began to roll in. A peal of thunder. The farmer saw his family come out of the house to watch the sky. His wife, still holding the baby, lifted her free arm towards the heavens in rapturous anticipation. The other children ran into the orchard excitedly. The sky turned dark and vital, rich and grey with moisture. The clouds swelled and burst above them. Torrents of life-giving rain drenched them and the orchard. Rivulets of water ran between the parched roots, more than enough. The apples took new shape. The orchard became heavy with ripe fruit, abundant with good apples. They had all been saved.

The farmer continued watching the pool. He watched his family pick the apples. There were so many. They were all laughing in the rain. They were happy. The rain, the rain... His wife turned and looked out of the pool into his eyes. Her face was radiant. She was again the woman he had fallen in love with. Their children danced and played in the puddles, and the fear was gone.

The farmer thanked the Seer. He had been wrong to despair. The rain would come. The rain always came. He should have known. The rain always came. He began running towards the stairs, but the Seer's voice stopped him dead.

“You mustn't go back.”

The farmer slowly turned around. He looked at the Seer with disbelieving eyes. His elation had turned to dread in an instant. He didn't move. His shoulders sagged, and he only waited for the Seer to speak again. The Seer beckoned towards the pool.

“They will only live so long as you watch them from here. If you go back, they will die. They will shrivel into dust. And then you will bury them with your own wasting hands.”

title: "Apples" - A short story I wrote a couple of years ago while in the depths of personal grief. I just re-read it and was surprised at how allegorical it was, because I hadn't really intended it to be. I'm curious how it strikes other people.

question: What is the hovel like?

answer: Sagging and musky.

question: Why does the farmer remain with the seer?

answer: Because if he returns his family will die.

question: What is the farmer afraid of?

answer: That he will have to bury his family because he is the strongest one.

question: What does the Seer show him in the pool?

answer: His family prospering and his orchard in full bloom.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: A farmer worries about his family because a drought has destroyed his crop. He goes to a Seer who asks him what to do. The Seer shows him a vision of the crops returning and his family prospering, but says it will only come to pass if the farmer stays with her, watching them through the vision and making it real.


text:
Google has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a copyright infringement case that some developers think could have a big impact on their ability to innovate in software.

The case was brought by Oracle four years ago and accuses Google of infringing patents and copyrights related to Java in its Android mobile OS.

Google emerged largely victorious from a lower court trial but an appeals court overturned that ruling in May. Google now wants the highest court in the U.S. to hear its case.

Android has become the most widely used mobile operating system, but Oracle says Google copied basic elements of Java to develop the OS. It filed its lawsuit against Google four years ago and was seeking US$1 billion in damages for its copyright claims.

Specifically, Oracle says Google copied the structure and organization of the Java APIs (application programming interfaces), in part so that developers already familiar with Java would find it easier to write programs for Android.

Google argued that the APIs shouldn't be protected by copyright because they're required to write compatible programs. The lower court agreed, but the appeals court sided with Oracle and said APIs are creative works that deserve protection like any other.

The search and advertising giant filed its request for the Supreme Court to hear the case earlier this week. The court doesn't accept all cases and it might well decline its request.

Google's filing wasn't immediately available on the Supreme Court's website. Oracle has until Nov. 7 to file its response.

"Early computer companies could have blocked vast amounts of technological development by claiming 95-year copyright monopolies over the basic building blocks of computer design and programming," Google said in its filing, according to a Reuters report.

_James Niccolai covers data centers and general technology news for IDG News Service. Follow James on Twitter at @jniccolai. James's e-mail address is james_niccolai@idg.com_

Copyright © 2014 IDG Communications, Inc.

question: What has Google requested that the U.S. Supreme Court hear?

answer: A copyright infringement case.

question: Why did they ask this?

answer: Oracle accused Google of infringing patents and copyrights related to Java in its Android mobile OS.

question: What exactly did Google do?

answer: They  copied the structure and organization of the Java APIs (application programming interfaces), in part so that developers already familiar with Java would find it easier to write programs for Android.

question: What is Google's response?

answer: Google is arguing that the APIs shouldn't be protected by copyright laws because they are required in order to write any program compatible with Android.

question: Write a ~4 sentence summary.

answer: In 2014, Google asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case on the matter of copyright infringement. While Android is the most widely-used platform, a company called Oracle had accused Google of infringing patents and copyrights related to Java in its Android mobile OS. Google's counterpoint has been that the APIs shouldn't be protected by copyright laws because they are required in order to write any program compatible with Android. According to Reuters, in their filing, Google pointed out that "early computer companies could have blocked vast amounts of technological development by claiming 95-year copyright monopolies over the basic building blocks of computer design and programming," .


text:
_THE WOMAN WHO COULDN'T SAY NO_ (German: _DIE FRAU DIE NICHT NEIN SAGEN KANN_) is a 1927 German silent film directed by Fred Sauer and starring Lee Parry, Gustav Fröhlich and Hans Albers.[1]

The film's sets were designed by the art directors Otto Erdmann and Hans Sohnle. It premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin.

Cast

-   Lee Parry
-   Gustav Fröhlich as Edgar Jefferson
-   Hans Albers
-   Jean Dehelly
-   Francine Mussey
-   Sophie Pagay
-   Hermann Picha

[1] Grange p.247

title: The Woman Who Couldn't Say No

question: Describe the genre of the film, The Woman Who Couldn't Say No?

answer: This film is a 1927 German silent film.

question: Who designed the film's sets?

answer: The film's sets were designed by art directors, Otto Erdmann and Hans Sohnle.

question: Where did this film premiere?

answer: This film premiered at the Marmorhaus in Berlin.

question: How many people are casted in this film?

answer: There are 7 people who were casted for this film.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: This article discusses the 1927 silent German film, The Woman Who Couldn't Say no.


text:
Dear Julius ,

After many months of research and exploration, I have found the flower of your request. The purple Xavier is a difficult beast to conquer, and its indigenous name is forbidden to be written on paper. I feel it necessary to respect the tribe that has hosted me these long three months, when we meet again I will delightfully tell you it's beautiful name. The tribe leader Caucunau allowed me to enter their sacred nest of the flower. they had raised the flower for 5 years and the shaman had estimated that its potency was at a near lethal dose. When the flower dies the shaman consumes it and speaks to the elders of times passed. Believe me Julius , if I was the type of man to steal the flower and run off into the night , my journey would have ended soon after my arrival. So I had to spend all these months looking for one in the wild.

This flower is a peculiar one, its stubborn,resourceful and quite random with its grow rates and habitation. My crew and I cut through 6 miles of jungle before we found it in the moon light, it had attached itself to the bottom of a fallen tree, and if it was not for its purple glow we would not have found it in that black void . We could not take its seeds and the shaman cut the flower in such a way that it could possibly survive while leaving me a lot to send to you. The tribe members assisting us confiscated our maps and blindfolded me and my two Mexican assistants and led us back to the village. This flower is so sacred to them that I believe they would burn the forrest down to protect it.

Julius this flower is my hearts gift to you. If I wasn't sure of its qualities I would not have trekked so far for so long. I know losing you brother took a toll on you unbearable to most men. How you are able to function is beyond me. I know the nights haunt you, I believe that things correlate with each other and it is only fitting that in order to cure your terror of the night is to trek far into the blackest depths of the Amazonian night. Your brother felt the same way about things, that's how we connected at first. It was my favorite quality of his, although later in life I came to love him for his sophisticated passion for life and knowledge, as well as his never ending sense of hope and kindness.

I spoke with the shaman many nights, and we discussed your brother and his untimely death that caused your unrelenting depression. He wrote you a guide for when the flower consumes you and become one. It is ensribed in this letter below the indigestion instructions.

The last night I was in the village , I was offered to smoke a small portion of the flower, but I went with my better judgement to avoid its mystic powers. Below is the shamans guide for consumption.

 1 Take the flower and let it soak in cold water for 3 hours, save the water the flower was sitting in

 2  mash and chop the flower into a finely cut mush.

 3 let it sun dry till complete dry

 4 Soak and redry for about 4 times

 5 Once dried , separate into 3 even sections.

 6 On a full stomach consume the water

 7 Over the periode of one hour smoke all three piles.

 8 Expect results within the second hour.

The shaman said to expect extreme colors and visions for an indefinite periode of time , he said to expect to see the elders, Gaint beings of light that speak like the rumblings of mountains. He said to expect to be transported into another dimension and to be carried throughout the universe and to be taught great and powerful things. They will teach you how to overcome the loss of your brother and to help others in life. The most important thing he told me was to stay strong, the visions will sense your fears and you could spend a life time in the land of the dead. Then wake up a few hours later.

As you are reading this letter I am already on my way back to the states. I expect to hear all about your cosmic voyage once I return.

Your true friend, Till.

title: Dear Julius.

question: Why did the author go to the jungle?

answer: To find the purple Xavier, a flower for his friend Julius.

question: Why is the flower special?

answer: It has mystic powers.

question: Why did the tribe members blindfold the author?

answer: The tribe members blindfolded him to prevent him to remember where they found the flower.

question: Why did the tribe members help the author to find the flower?

answer: Probably because they knew Julius' late brother.


text:
[]

Bob Wakelin with his children.

ROBERT "BOB" WAKELIN was a freelance professional artist and illustrator who was predominantly recognised for his memorable cover artwork used by Ocean and Imagine games.

Prior to working for Ocean, Bob also had a short career with the British post-punk/new wave band Modern Eon, performing strings, vocals and percussion.

Bob created some of the artwork for Modern Eon's vinyl single sleeve covers and also for artists such as Holly Johnson. But his real passion was the style of artwork used in American comics from DC and Marvel. His main inspiration for his choice of vocation.

Bob began his 11-year freelance career with Ocean Software in 1983 (when the company was originally known as Spectrum Games), and created almost a hundred pieces of artwork for both Ocean and Imagine games. Ironically, Bob had no interest in video games whatsoever and considered them antisocial!

“

A couple of times the guys at Ocean said to me '_Look Bob, this game really isn't very good so we need an extra special cover._'

I suppose I should feel guilty for it.

”

Sometime during the 1990s, Ocean moved from their location on Central Street, Manchester to a more modern office complex in Castlefield, Manchester. During the move, Bob was contacted by Ocean's Art Director who warned him that, due to the move, all his original artwork was about to be trashed! Fortunately, Bob was able to rescue most of it, otherwise this page would be severely lacking in colour!

Bob's last Ocean-commissioned work "Central Intelligence" was in 1994. Since then, Bob has continued to create artwork for books.

Sadly, Bob passed away on January 20, 2018, due to health problems.

Ice Breaker

Around late 2006/early 2007, we contacted Bob to see if he would like to have his own page on the (at the time) new ExoticA wiki. So tricky was it to track him down that our e-mail almost went unread, having gone to an older unused account and branded as spam, but within a month Bob responded with, "Thanks for the appreciation, knowing there are people out there who give a shit means a lot to me."

Bob didn't have his own web site and any other on-line references to his artwork consisted of box scans on retro sites including ExoticA. With regards to having his own web site, Bob mentioned, "A website is one of those things I keep meaning to do but then get too busy to actually follow up.... maybe this year!"

Whilst Bob didn't design the original Ocean logo, he was responsible for painting the full colour version used on nearly all releases since then. He didn't have the original logo artwork anymore, as this would have had pride of place in the gallery.

Bob kindly provided a steady flow of scans and comments to ExoticA for the next 4 years, typically requiring several reminder e-mails! Then Social Media got in the way!

Due to sites like Facebook making it easier to locate people and crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter making it easier to create a product, Bob became bombarded with all sorts of retro-related commercial projects, from books to videos to merchandise. It was about time Bob received due recognition for the part he played during the golden age of home video games.

It's just a shame that updates to this gallery fizzled out. Curse you Facebook!

That said, we are eternally grateful that Bob took the initial plunge and actually conversed with us nerds! As you read through his gallery comments, you'll hopefully appreciate how talented and witty and colourful he was on canvas and in person.

RiP Bob. You will be missed.

Gallery

Athena

[]

Athena - Original Artwork

“

Fun to do. Caused a little controversy in those Politically Correct times. One sad fellow complained to Ocean that the Minotaur's midriff armour looked like a large phallus. Maybe he had a point.

Athena was based on Lisa Lyon, an eighties pioneering bodybuilder. The Minotaur and tree were sketched out for me to finish by my mate Floyd Hughes.

” - Bob Wakelin

Batman The Caped Crusader

[]

Batman The Caped Crusader - Original Artwork

[]

Box scan of the Amiga version of Batman The Caped Crusader

“

All I really remember about this one was Joe Orlando - DC's Editor in Chief at the time - loving it, (after I shortened Bat's ears.) I think it was the first illo I sold on to a collector.

” - Bob Wakelin

Billy The Kid

[]

Billy The Kid - Original Artwork

“

I think this was one of my best, spoiled by the incongruous 'BILLY' lettering and dripping blood - designed by Ocean's art director (he insisted I use his design) and illustrated by me. The 'KID' lettering works well, though.

” - Bob Wakelin

Cabal

[]

“

Another good 'un. The main character was modelled by Carl Pugh, Ocean's assistant AD. The guy in the background is Mr. Operation Wolf - I used a photo from the same bunch I took for that game cover (Ocean's version.) Everyone thought it was a great in-joke, but I used it purely for convenience.

” - Bob Wakelin

Central Intelligence

[]

Central Intelligence - Original Artwork

“

My last Ocean job. It was a large piece. The hand-drawn logo took me forever.

I was told to try and make this one of the best illo's they'd ever had 'cos this was going to be hugely important for the new direction Ocean was taking. Spent a loooong time painting it, gave 'em the bill, and got knocked back. I negotiated a lower fee, but I can tell you I was severely miffed getting slapped in the face after all the years I'd spent meeting stupid deadlines for 'em.

The game went down the toilet.

Mr. 'Operation Wolf' makes another appearance here. Isn't he cute? Hope you're well, Baz.

I think it was '95. I remember seeing it printed on a box maybe a year later, but really small with a load of extraneous crap all around the design. Then it disappeared, (just like Ocean.)

The world map was a digitised photo that I cut around the lettering and then pasted in. What a nightmare idea that was, just flopping around, stretching out of shape and getting spraymount all over the art. I should have just shot myself in the head. Thank god for Photoshop!

” - Bob Wakelin

Chinese Juggler

[]

Chinese Juggler - Original Artwork

“

An early one. I seemed to be doing around three covers a week for Ocean in '84, and it shows. I think the logo is quite nice but the rest sucks.

This was the second attempt - my first was a Chinese prop-art style pastiche. It was more interesting but not what Ocean needed in their early days.

I gave the first one away without scanning it. Bummer.

” - Bob Wakelin

Choplifter III

[]

Choplifter III - Original Artwork

“

Spent a lot of time on this one. Really enjoyed getting into the detail on the choppers. In fact, I seem to remember having a generally great time on this.... must have been good ganja.

I used to love doing explosions, mist and dust with the old airbrush and bog paper, ya can't quite get the same effect with Photoshop.

” - Bob Wakelin

Comic Bakery

[]

Comic Bakery - Original Artwork

“

My mate Floyd drew the raccoons, I coloured 'em in. I think they were his DM's I drew on the baker's feet.

I would never have drawn raccoons like that - they're pretty f***in' weird.

That's all I remember about this pretty unmemorable illustration.

” - Bob Wakelin

Daley Thompson's Decathlon

[]

Daley Thompson's Decathlon - Original Artwork

“

Famous game. Not a great illo, although a lot of people seem to like it. Ah, nostalgia eh? Makes rubbish appear to be gold.

I probably spent around two days on it. Daley looks okay, the lettering and background are crap.

” - Bob Wakelin

Elf

[]

[]

Box scan of the Amiga version of Elf

“

I enjoyed doing this one, just to see if I could do all that fairy hippy shit in the background and make it work.

Steve Blower stuck some kind of plastic butterfly on it for the final box art.

Feckin' bizarre! He didn't even do drugs.

” - Bob Wakelin

Epic

[]

Epic - Original Artwork (cropped)

[]

Box scan of the Amiga version of Epic.

“

For some reason I cropped the logo off this one and accidentally saved it. Bugger.

I can't remember the name of the guy I met up with from the team that developed this, but we had a long meeting discussing exactly what kind of illo he envisaged in his stoned brain for the box. So, I spent a long time getting this one together, and thought I did a pretty decent job getting what he wanted.

I delivered the art to Ocean, it was shown to the chappie, and he didn't like it. Nothing like what he wanted. A perfect example of why one should not engage in creative discussions when one's mind is addled.

Dave Ward liked it, so his 'opinion' was rendered irrelevant.

The pilot was the mongrel offspring of Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson.

” - Bob Wakelin

FA Soccer

[]

FA Soccer - Original Artwork

“

I've no idea what this game was going to be called, although it was going to be officially sponsored by the FA.

To do the art, I was given a load of photos to choose from. Much to my chagrin, as Ocean was based in Manchester, it was thought that one of the shots involving a Scum player would be appropriate. As a Liverpool Red, this was akin to asking me to perform oral sex on Margaret Thatcher!

However, I like money. I did what I was asked.

Ocean went ahead and printed up a bunch of stuff. Then, apparently, someone at the FA went apeshit that Ocean had gone ahead without their completing the deal. Game Off.

I still got paid though. Prostitute that I am.

” - Bob Wakelin

Flashpoint

[]

Flashpoint - Original Artwork

“

Got a few screenshots. Geometric shapes. What the F**K was I supposed to do with that?

Did some quite nice lettering to compensate for my extreme lack of imagination re the rest of the illo.

” - Bob Wakelin

Flyer Fox

[]

Flyer Fox - Original Artwork

“

Another warplane game. _Great_. What shall I do?

Hmmm...... A-ha!

Another picture of a warplane.

_That's it_.

” - Bob Wakelin

Galivan

[]

Galivan - Original Artwork

“

This was a struggle.

All I got for reference was a couple of screen shots. Never saw a demo. I remember avoiding the problem by going to the pub and playing pool every afternoon for a couple of weeks, and every time I got back to my studio the damn thing was there, taunting me.

Not a great illo.

” - Bob Wakelin

Gilligan's Gold

[]

Gilligan's Gold - Original Artwork

“

An early one.

In those less sophisticated times, the box art usually got done in a day. They were fun to do, because one didn't have to sweat over them - it was get an idea and bang it out. I think this one is fun, and has a spontaneous energy about it.

The wheelbarrow was drawn by Blair, who introduced me to Dave Ward and shared my studio for a time... until his insanity became too much for me to bear and I had to kill him!

(_Or was that just a dream?_)

” - Bob Wakelin

Gryzor

[]

Gryzor - Original Artwork

“

A Predator/Alien rip-off is what the game appeared to be, so I supplied a Predator/Alien style pic - with ripped Arnie Predator poses. The white areas were left for screen shots to be dropped in.

A thoroughly boring job to do, although a couple of my survivalist, body-building, 'Nam-obsessed mates thought it was cool.

” - Bob Wakelin

Gutz

[]

“

This was done cheaply - as was 'Striker' - for Paul 'Mr. Nice Guy' Finnegan, (Special FX), on the understanding I would be 'sorted out' with lots of work and extra cash when success rained down on him from above.

Ha.

I did a crap illo for him (Rage) years later in two days flat on a piece of old mounting board I had lying around. I convinced him it was the emperor's new clothes and got paid ten times what it was worth.
A small victory, but it cheered me up for a few days..... sad, I know, but I'm easily pleased.

” - Bob Wakelin

High Noon

[]

High Noon - Original Artwork

“

This gave me an opportunity to do an homage to the old western comics of the 50's. It was fun to do and turned around in a day.

I think they deleted the splash of blood from the packaging - in true 1950's style!

” - Bob Wakelin

Highlander

[]

Highlander - Original Artwork

“

I thoroughly enjoyed doing this one. I tried out some new techniques, using Caran D'ache pencils along with the airbrush, and was really pleased with the results.

Apparently the game was cack, but lots of people bought it 'cos they liked the box.

That's my job, suckah!

” - Bob Wakelin

Hunch Back II - Quasimodo's Revenge

[]

Hunch Back II - Quasimodo's Revenge - Original Artwork

“

Can't stand it. I had to imitate a style I friggin' hated.

Dave Ward loved the cartoon breasts.

Seriously.

” - Bob Wakelin

Hyper Sports

[]

Hyper Sports - Original Artwork

“

I found most sports illustration jobs tedious in the extreme. This one was even more boring than usual because I had to use an existing logo and also adapt the archer from a previous illustration.

Staying awake was the most difficult aspect of the job.

” - Bob Wakelin

International Open Golf Championship

[]

International Open Golf Championship - Original Artwork

“

'We've got a new GOLF game coming out, Bob. We'd like you to do the Illustration.'

_Aargh!_

The guy in the sweater was my photographer and skateboarder mate, Meanie. His mum made him the sweater.

All the other characters were lifted from golf magazines. Surprise!

I hate golf.

” - Bob Wakelin

Island Of Death

[]

Island Of Death - Original Artwork

“

Looking back, I can't believe what you could get away with - and get paid for - in the early years of this industry.

” - Bob Wakelin

Ivanhoe

[]

Ivanhoe - Original Artwork

[]

“

Lots of fun to do. It was nice when I was given a decent deadline, allowing time to get some detail into the job.

Swords/guns/violence of any kind was always more interesting to my childlike mind than any other subject (with the possible exception of bounteous curves.)

” - Bob Wakelin

Kid Vicious

[]

Kid Vicious - Original Artwork

[]

“

This was the original illo for what became KID CHAOS.

Apparently, both the name of the game and the image I painted were too violent for someone's delicate nature. Probably the Germans.

IT'S A FRIGGIN' CARTOON FOR GOD'S SAKE! LOOK, THE BUNNY IS LAUGHING AT THE FLAT-TOPPED MORON! THEY'RE HAVING FUN!

I really liked this piece of work - shame it was never published.

” - Bob Wakelin

Mag Max

[]

Mag Max - Original Artwork

“

I know I did this, but I can't remember anything about it.

I was either bored sh*tless or under the influence of something much more fun than illustrating a box for another stupid game.

” - Bob Wakelin

Martians

[]

Martians - Original Artwork

“

God knows what this game was going to be called, or even if it ever got published in some form or other.

This was one of a couple of pieces I did for Ocean Software close to the end. I can remember having a general bad feeling about what was happening at Ocean around this time, even though I was kept in the dark about the situation. There were fewer games, I was being squeezed on budgets and it was becoming increasingly difficult to get to see bossman Dave Ward. The red glow of the apocalypse had appeared on the horizon.

Ahem.

So I found other clients and got on with my life.

_Footnote:_
A few months later, I got a call from a good guy at Ocean - _'THEY'RE CLEARING OUT THE WAREHOUSE AND ALL YOUR ARTWORK IS GOING IN THE SKIP!'_

I got a van, got over there, and got my artwork. Some was missing but I probably got around 80% of it.

I was seriously pissed off that my artwork had been treated that way, and if I'd have got my hands on ANY of the motherf*ckers still in charge on that day, I'd have probably only recently been paroled for my crime.

” - Bob Wakelin

Matchday

[]

Matchday - Original Artwork

“

A pretty crap scribbling, I would say.

These early-ish Ocean jobs are not the finest examples of my art.

Copied a load of photos out of a football book and changed the kit (badly) and faces (badly) and hair (badly) then went to the pub.

” - Bob Wakelin

Miami Vice

[]

Miami Vice - Original Artwork

“

Another example of putting the cart before the horse.

A lot of time, effort and money went into printing this as posters, ads and inlays before Don Johnson's agent (apparently) informed Ocean that Mr. Johnson did not take kindly to artistic interpretations of his beautiful mug, and Ocean must immediately dump this appalling scribbling and replace it with a photograph that fairly represented his luminous handsomeness!

You'd have thought that Ocean would have always checked the acceptability of the images they were about to use on licensed properties.

Not that I cared - 'cos I still got paid - and was by this time getting accustomed to the frequent cock-ups.

” - Bob Wakelin

Mikie

[]

“

A generic cartoon banged out as quickly as possible.

My mate Floyd was visiting again, so I got him to draw the background characters for me to paint, thus enabling us to spend more time in the pub.

” - Bob Wakelin

Movie

[]

“

All I can really remember about this one is it being a rush job, and my life going through some seriously bad shit at the time. I wonder sometimes how I got anything done, being surrounded as I was by miscreants, psychopaths, the 'misunderstood', and just plain NAUGHTY people!

It was my choice, though, and often jolly good fun!

I'm OK now, for those of you who may be concerned.

” - Bob Wakelin

Mr. Nutz

[]

Mr. Nutz - Original Artwork

“

This was the original preliminary character illustration, I don't have a copy of the game box art, it went on a trip somewhere.

Ocean were obviously trying to do a 'Sonic' with this game, and there was definately a feeling of nervousness and uncertainty in the air when discussing the right approach to take with the artwork.

Dave Ward wanted Nutzy's footwear changed from 'converse' style to a 'streetwise' style with the laces undone and the tongue hanging out. I opined that that fashion was already fading away at the time, and that the more classic 'baseball' style was a timeless look, and would be a better choice.

What happened next was that he got a guy in their studio to do alternative footwear versions of the character and suddenly we had different footwear on different packages.

There was also a lot of screwing with the box art background, but I almost lose the will to live when I try to remember the convolutions that went on at the time.

Frankly, the whole saga got on my tits and was only redeemed when I got paid. And that wasn't enough!

” - Bob Wakelin

Mr. Wimpy

[]

Mr. Wimpy - Original Artwork

“

Dave Ward loved it but it was never used. Wimpy were worried that it was too realistic and scary, so they went for a much simpler cartoon style.

Obviously, being chased by a cannibal egg and a psychotic sausage is a very realistic and scary scenario if you're a corporate moron or a young-ish person.

The colour has faded somewhat due to it being left on the floor of a warehouse for several years.

” - Bob Wakelin

External Links

-   Modern Eon @ Discogs
-   Bob's MobyGames biography
-   Retrogamer's Tribute to Bob Wakelin
-   Crash interview with Bob Wakelin
-   Pelle's Bob Wakelin page
-   BBC interview with Bob Wakelin
-   Buy official merchandise featuring Bob's artwork (Down since 2013)

question: Which post punk band did Bob Wakelin perform with?

answer: Modern Eon.

question: When did Bob begin his eleven year freelance career?

answer: 1983.

question: What company did Bob work with?

answer: Ocean Software.

question: What did Bob think of videogames?

answer: He considered them antiscoial.

question: Write a ~1 sentence summary.

answer: The article is an obituary and a gallery of memories dedicated to Bob Wakelin and discusses his life as a band member and freelancer for the video game company Ocean Software - despite the fact that Bob did not believe in video games.


text:
Awakening
There is this slight beeping noise every few seconds…..beep…….beep, it comes and goes every now and then. The first time I could feel a large quake and at the time it felt like the area around me was being torn apart, but after a few minutes the feeling went away. Noises could be slightly heard all around me, they sounded like voices, but doing what exactly I couldn’t tell. Then my surroundings faded and so did I.  …….beep……beep…….beep…….beep….. Again I could sense my environment, but I was not granted sight. What was this place that I was in? I could not tell, it was dark and my thoughts were disoriented, where am I, what am I, what is my purpose (faded away, yet again)? Beep……beep….beep……beeeeeeeeep….. I could feel this pain as if I was dying then there was a noise close, but muffled and then I could see! The first figure I saw was blurred and augmented in a way that its figure wasn’t what it seemed to be. The figure had what seemed to be its face pressed up again whatever I was contained in.
 There was this faded color of green that blurred my images, but in the distance I could see more blurred figures walking about, they were doing something. There were many of these creatures walking about my surrounding, but I was still lost in this place and didn’t know where or what I was (faded again). The next time awoke there was no beeping noise I just came to, and there the creature was again, over and over every time I slipped away into darkness and saw the light again there was that figure identical to the rest pressed against my space looking at me. What it wanted I could not tell, I tried to ask but couldn’t get my words out, it sounded like I was trapped in a bubble with everyone looking in on me. For time on end I tried to figure out where or what I was without prevail, except one time the creature lifted me up. Confused with the feeling of falling I started to panic and I felt this rush of energy within me, and a new feeling of feeling trapped or about to come to an end of my unidentified existence. The creature moved my container and me to another location within the space around me. I was placed near a large piece of plated glass perhaps a window of sorts and in the distance I could see this bright burning light that hurt my sight even though the veil of green.
As I stared into the abyss I could see faded spheres and ovals out the widow just floating around. I began to wonder is this what my existence is to be, just like those spheres to float endlessly in this place for no purpose at all. The creature turned me around and then an appendage appeared and it pointed out into the abyss then it turned me back around. There was this large quake that shook the surrounding and this time it was so massive that I too shook. Then there was the cacophony that took place then I could see a fast moving shiny sphere that shined as the light from the burning sphere reflected off of its surface. The object kept traveling into it came to a stop then a bright light enveloped it and then there was the shaking again. The light began to dull and all the masses in the abyss began to be pulled into the light. All the object were being sucked towards that one position and I watched for what seemed to be a lifetime whatever mine was to be as the masses were sucked in as I faded away again. When I came to, there were no multiple objects floating about, but yet one giant dark mass that seemed to have streaks of bright colors all over it. Again I began to slowly fade as I sat their watching the blurred, but shiny sphere.
When I had awoken the sphere was no longer there and I had been moved. There was this bright light shining through my container and the color was clear, it was a peaceful light that filled my container with warmth, and then a sharp pain surged through me. It felt so painful then it stopped, then it came again. As my mind screamed with pain it continued on and off for a few minutes then finally it stopped. I could hear something within me going lub dub, lub dub. I couldn’t understand what it was, but my sight was clear, my green film that shrouded my surrounding was gone and I could see clearly.
Rebirth
The sights were strange and baffling, the sounds clear, and the feelings that surged through me were exhausting. I was always curious what had happened, and finally I found out. The creature had moved my container to another larger container and I could see the creatures more clearly than before, but their shape was undefined. I spent minutes trying to see what they were, but my attention was drawn to the green blurred reflection in the glass. There was this small blob like creature and within it was a red beating thing. It’s what you call a heart I do believe and the creature in the reflection moved when I did. It was making it hard to see outside the container and I moved trying to avoid it and it followed me all over the container. Finally I started yelling and trying to bash it to get it to move, even though I couldn’t be heard the creature in the container with me did everything I did. When I rushed towards it I hit the container wall, the creature made a flinching motion as if it took a blow, but so did I. Ramming the creature was doing nothing for me, I began to hurt and started to feel exhausted, but the other creature seemed to be feeling it too. After a few hours had passed of trying to remove it from my view I began to ponder as the beings began to crowd around my container and watch. As I moved to the left so did the other creature, when I moved to the right it followed in suit. I began to think “hmm when I move it does too, when I’m tired it looks tired too, but what is it?” After a few minutes of pondering on it I began to think to myself perhaps it’s just ….. A large wall began to lower from the top of the container making everything dark and the other creature was gone. The lights in the container turned and began to fill it with some sort of goop. It was a light blue goop and the feeling was splendid. Then there was that pain again as it surged through my container sometimes striking at me, and that had continued for hours. It was torture and it hurt so badly.  I finally passed out and when I awoke it seemed as if I was asleep for a really long time. There was this cold that remained in the glass container and there were these crystal stars formed on the inside of my container and I couldn’t move. I sat frozen still in that container for a really long time as my mind wandered into a place where the warmth of the light filled me up and kept me from becoming still like the crystals. I began to imagine that large bright shiny sphere just floating amongst the eternal blackness.

title: Coming Into Existance

question: How does the narrator describe their surroundings in the beginning?

answer: The narrator could sense their environment but could not see it. The narrator felt confused as to where they were.

question: When does the narrator first see the creatures?

answer: The narrator first sees the creatures when they could see after being disoriented.

question: What feeling is the narrator mostly trying to describe in the text?

answer: The feelings of pain and confusion and panic.

question: What did the narrator imagine that would bring them warmth?

answer: The narrator's mind took them to a place where the warmth of the light filled the place and looked like crystals.

question: Write a ~3 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator is in a distressful state, in and out of consciousness. In this state, the narrator sees creatures and is put into a container. While trying to make sense of the environment, the narrator tries to place what is happening but is confused and in pain.


text:
There has been an outpouring of public support for Saudi Arabia’s newly minted crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in the days since he was appointed, although some has come from more unlikely corners.

The 31-year-old replaced his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef as next in line to the throne after a royal decree was issued by his father, King Salman, on Tuesday.

Advertisements and proclamations have been churned out by public figures such as clerics and royals and businessmen in their thousands in a country where dissent against the absolute monarchy is almost non-existent - but a full page advertisement taken out in a Saudi newspaper by McDonald’s, wishing the promoted prince “peace and prosperity”, has perplexed many people both inside the kingdom and internationally.

"We renew our allegiance and obedience for his royal highness, the servant of the two holy mosques, King Salman the son of Abdul Aziz Al Saud," the ad published on Wednesday read.

“And we support Amir Mohammed bin Salman, his son, to become Minister of Defence and Prime Minister and to be nominated as successor. God give him wisdom and equip him to rule his kingdom. With peace and prosperity, McDonald's.”

McDonalds KSA is owned by Mishaal Bin Khalid al Saud, another prince in the huge House of Saud.

The newspaper ad, dubbed “weird” and “surprisingly not a parody” by social media users, was followed up by a tweet.

“We pledge allegiance to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and swear loyalty and obedience on the Quran and the Sunnah of his Prophet, praying for Allah to safeguard our beloved kingdom's safety and security," the fast food chain’s account posted.

Many Twitter users jokingly tagged other outlets such as Pizza Hut, KFC, Domino’s and Burger King - only to be bewildered when the latter two followed suit by tweeting supportive messages.

What happened when US officials were asked why they criticised Iran but not Saudi Arabia

Prince Mohammed bin Salman is widely seen as the face of modern Saudi Arabia, and his promotion was expected - if not quite this soon.

His alleged impulsiveness and hawkish stance on Riyadh’s regional rival Iran has alarmed some; considering his youthful age, upon the death of his 81-year-old father, Prince bin Salman is expected to sit on the throne and thus mould Saudi Arabia for decades.

In celebration of the appointment, King Salman ordered the reinstatement of all benefits and allowances for government employees that have been curbed by austerity measures, and granted additional days off for the upcoming Eid holiday at the end of Ramadan.

question: What is the political system in Saudi Arabia?

answer: Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy.

question: Is there political freedom in Saudi Arabia?

answer: It is stated that dissent against Saudi Arabia's absolute monarchy is almost non-existent, so it seems there is no political freedom.

question: Why does McDonald's support the prince?

answer: It is not stated. Maybe because McDonald's KSA is owned by Mishaal Bin Khalid al Saud, another prince in the huge House of Saud.

question: Will prince Mohammed bin Salman be a better ruler than his father King Salman?

answer: It is not stated. It is said that Prince Mohammed bin Salman is widely seen as the face of modern Saudi Arabia.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: The 31-year-old Prince Mohammed bin Salman replaced his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef as next in line to the throne after a royal decree was issued by his father, King Salman. McDonald’s KSA, owned by Mishaal Bin Khalid al Saud, another prince in the House of Saud, wished the promoted prince peace and prosperity and swore loyalty and obedience on the Quran and the Sunnah of his Prophet.


text:
A man snaps his fingers at me. *Impatient prick.* **Break his fingers, he doesn’t deserve them.** My hand quivers at the thought, spilling some of the man’s cappuccino. *Shut up, you know I can’t do that!* I shake my head as I walk over; the urge is gone.

“Boy, I’ve been waiting for ten minutes for someone to bring me my coffee. Other people have gotten their coffees already!” The words tumble from his jowl like partially digested food; his crumpled, cheap suit gives him away, he has had a rough morning.

“Sir,” I reply, “I’m very sorry for the wait, we’ve been rather busy.” **You idiot...** A tirade begins to spew forth from the hole in his unusually small head; about the other venues where his coffees are made within minutes, where the staff are willing to lick his boot.

The voice drowns his out as I set the coffee down at his table. **Swap with me. Let’s see him talk without teeth.** A smirk creeps across my calm face, burning it; a cold shudder bolts down my spine. My hand twitches, ready to lash out. It would be quick, almost easy... At last, he finishes complaining, motioning that I may leave now. My mouth plateaus as I return to the bar, my fingers loosen but the burning lingers. *Jesus fucking Christ, what part of “no” don’t you get?!* Motioning to Ellie, I head to the bathroom.

I am alone, the water running at max. My face is wet, but it doesn’t cool. My eyebrows are raised, but the mirror reflects a scowling, icy stare. **Why did you let him get away with that? Make an example of one and the rest will follow.** My hand sweeps away the droplets but the reflection doesn’t change. *Look, they are all human. We can’t can go around hurting them, just they treat us like dirt. We have to be better, otherwise we are just like them. Now shut up and let me get back to work!*

Stepping back into the room, the bar is all that separates Ellie from a sea of people. We’re being swamped. Behind the bar, the orders take my attention; the burning fades away. Minutes pass, the bar clears and the two of us release a breath of collective relief, which joins the recirculated air. Ellie turns to face me; I know what comes next.

“Where were you before you got to the bar?” Her face looks stern, her eyes sunken, molars grinding; she hasn’t had a coffee yet. Doesn’t matter what I say, she’s not in the mood to listen. Substituting coffee for nicotine just made her less bearable.

“I went to the bathroom-

“You need to be behind the bar when it gets busy. I was alone, making all those coffees and pouring drinks, while you were in the bathroom. You need to take-"

The voice butts in again. This time, I’m grateful. **Are you really gonna take this from someone who usually isn’t even behind the bar?** It’s not wrong. Every shift I’ve ever worked with Ellie, she’s disappeared on me; now she’s giving me grief for going to the bathroom. **Let me talk to her. She won’t talk back to you again.** The thought reverberates in my head, dripping the sweet honey of temptation.

*No, you don’t get to talk to Ellie. You’ll only make this worse. Besides, she’s just like this because she hasn’t had a coffee yet.* **First, it was cigarettes, now its coffee. She still can’t tear into us like this. You’re completely useless!** My eyes scrunch, my hand reaches for my ear. A high-pitched hum drills through my skull, consuming my senses.

Silence falls. A familiar sensation begins to fill my body, accompanied by a feeling of numbing detachment. I watch from behind my own eyes; a prisoner in my own head, unable to hear or act, only capable of watching. Shit...he’s in control.

The voice speaks to Ellie. I can see her eyes grow indignant and then fade into embarrassment. I see her slap my face, unable to stop it. She leaves the bar, no doubt to tell management. In an instant, I am back in control. The mechanic of our switches has always eluded me. Maybe he just wants to have fun and leave me with the aftermath...

My cheek stings from her slap, pain spiking despite my feathery touch. My face burns again, hotter than before. I feel the smug satisfaction emanating from the voice. My stomach churns, sickened by the feeling. **All I said is that maybe she shouldn’t run to purge so often, that going to the gym is better for her.** *You sick fuck... She’s probably gone to tell management. I’m probably gonna lose my job.* **Not a chance. You may read people, but I see their true faces. Ten bucks says she’s gone to purge a bit more.**

Fifteen minutes pass. The bar has gone quiet, people saw Ellie slap me. The women glare at me, the men offer me empathetic smiles. “Its okay, mate,” one says to me. “Sheilas hear different things to us. One wrong word and you’re fucked.” I offer him a fake smile as I hand him a beer; on the house, in return for the ‘words of wisdom’. “Take it from me, kid. You’re better off single.”

Another five minutes pass and Ellie returns. She looks worse than before; paler, shaking, lethargic. I offer a coffee, hoping to start to make up for what had happened. Her eyes refuse to meet mine, the stench of vomit poisoning the air as she edged past me. **Pay up.** *Fuck you.*

~

Back at home, it’s late, the moon high in the night sky. I sit alone, staring at the pizza I ordered after work. Butterflies flutter within my stomach, I‘m not hungry anymore. The television plays in the background, but I’m only half listening. The voice’s tormenting consumes my senses. **I wonder how Ellie’s doing after today.** There’s a snide hiss to its words, I know it wants a reaction. I’m determined to deny it.

Suddenly, the sense of it changes. The pressure dissipates. Something is very wrong. A pair of hands snaps my head to the right, locking my eyes on the television. Eyes widening in disbelief, my breath catches.
“-was found dead in her house just two hours ago.” A photo of Ellie sits in the corner of the screen. Laughter echoes within my skull, a hysteric, manic laughter; it belongs to the voice. My spine freezes, saturated by ectoplasmic fear. *She’s dead...*

The voice doesn’t miss a beat. **Of course she is, you moron. She had the self-esteem of a beetroot.** *You killed her...* **No, she killed herself. I simply removed her inhibition. Besides, you are just as responsible.**
He’s right. I’m the only one who knows he’s here. I’m the only one who could have stopped him. I was too weak... A sense of pride surges through my body, I feel it as he does. A knife glints in the now harsh, artificial light. I reach out, it’s in my hands. The blade glows eerily; though my eyes are wide with fear, my lips curl back in a wide smile. *Why?*

A thought occurs, simple but plausible. *This is what he really wants.* Tears stain the floor, the knife drops to the floor. I won’t give in, I am stronger than this.

As I put the knife back, the voice hisses with resignation. **Well, there’s always tomorrow.**

title: There's Always Tomorrow (Horror Short Story)

question: Why is the narrator upset? (What did the narrator let "him get away with"?)

answer: The narrator isn't really upset. The narrator has another personality or a voice in his head; the personality is upset how a rude customer talks to him.

question: What is the relationship between the narrator and Ellie?

answer: They are co-workers. The aren't friendly.

question: Is there a conflict that develops? Is it resolved?

answer: Ellie scolds the narrator for going to the bathroom and leaving her to deal with all of the customers. The personality gets angry and comes out; he tells off Ellie. Ellie slaps the narrator. Later, the narrator sees on the news that Ellie was found dead in her house. The personality says that he/they are responsible for pushing her to suicide. The personality wants the narrator to kill himself. The narrator is tempted, but doesn't.

question: How does the narrator feel about the other characters?

answer: He is irritated with Ellie. He hates the personality in his head.

question: Write a ~11 sentence summary.

answer: The narrator and Ellie work at a bar. A customer talks rudely to the narrator. The narrator has another personality or a voice in his head; the personality gets angry at how the rude customer talks to him. The narrator excuses himself to the bathroom to calm down. Ellie scolds the narrator for leaving her to deal with all of the customers. The personality gets angry and comes out; he tells off Ellie. Ellie slaps the narrator. Later, the narrator sees on the news that Ellie was found dead in her house. The personality says that he/they are responsible for pushing her to suicide. The personality wants the narrator to kill himself. The narrator is tempted, but doesn't.


text:
“The Power of Myth” by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers reveals how the themes and symbols of ancient narratives continue to bring meaning to birth, death, love, and war. From stories of the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome to traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, a broad array of themes are considered that together identify the universality of human experience across time and culture.

Based on a six-part PBS television series hosted by Bill Moyers, this classic book is especially compelling because of its engaging question-and-answer format, creating an easy, conversational approach to complicated and esoteric topics.

Joseph Campbell (1904–1987) was an American Professor of Literature at Sarah Lawrence College who worked in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work covers many aspects of the human experience.

Bill Moyers is an American journalist and political commentator. He served as White House Press Secretary in the Johnson administration from 1965 to 1967. He also worked as a network TV news commentator for ten years.

[Bill Moyers (left) discusses mythology with Joseph Campbell.]

Bill Moyers (left) discusses mythology with Joseph Campbell.

1) Modern People Can Still Learn A Lot From Myths

  “The ancient myths were designed to harmonize the mind and the body. The mind can ramble off in strange ways and want things that the body does not want. The myths and rites were means of putting the mind in accord with the body and the way of life in accord with the way that nature dictates.”

— Page 87

In the 21st century where people have virtual reality, autonomous vehicle, and smartphones, myths seem antique and useless, right?

Perhaps not.

Campbell writes that “Myths are stories of our search through the ages for truth, for meaning, for significance. We all need to understand death and to cope with death, and we all need help in our passages from birth to life and then to death. We need for life to signify, to touch the eternal, to understand the mysterious, to find out who we are” (pg 4).

Myths serve an important role in our lives by teaching us two main lessons: how young people should act in the world and how old people should handle death.

Campbell writes that reading myths teach people to turn inward to understand the message of the symbols. He also advises readers to read other people’s myths, and not just their own religion because people tend to interpret their religion in terms of facts–but if they read other myths, they will begin to understand the message in the story.

Campbell also says that myths are bits of information from ancient times, that have helped support human life, build civilizations, and informed religions over the millennia, and if you don’t know what the guide-signs are along the way, you have to work it out yourself.

It’s important to note that myths are not lies, but rather metaphorical truths. Myths come from realizations of some kind that then find expression in symbolic form.

The sea often represents the unconscious mind. The whale represents the energy of the unconscious which must be controlled. The serpent eating its own tail represents an image of life, one generation must eat the other to survive. The dragon represents one's greatest fear or enemy. The list goes on.

2) The Hero’s Journey AKA The MonoMyth

  “The usual hero adventure begins with someone from whom something has been taken, or who feels there’s something lacking in the normal experiences available or permitted to the members of his society. This person takes off on a series of adventures beyond the ordinary, either to recover what has been lost or to discover some life-giving elixir. It’s usually a cycle, a going and a returning.”

— Page 152

[Drawing of the hero's journey ( source ).]

Drawing of the hero's journey (source).

Once a person learns about the structure of the hero’s journey, it starts to appear everywhere. Just look at Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker or Hercules. All three felt as if something was lacking in their lives and then go off on a series of adventures. The hero's all get a mentor: Potter has Dumbledore, Luke has Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Hercules has Phil. Each one dies or gets close to dying, but come out stronger than ever before.

Campbell writes that these stories usually happen to characters that are going through puberty and must make the shift from childhood to adulthood. It is essentially a test to make sure the character returns as a wise and responsible adult.

He adds that “In order to found something new, one has to leave the old and go in quest of the seed idea, a germinal idea that will have the potentiality of bringing forth that new thing” (Pg 167).

Myths about the hero’s journey describe the archetypal adventure–the story of a child becoming an adult or awakening the new world that opens at adolescence–to provide people with a model for handling this development.

At the end of Star Wars, Luke has mastered the Force and is now a Jedi. At the end of Harry Potter, Harry has mastered magic and has become a leader. By the end of Hercules, he has found his true strength and has earned a place among the Gods.

3) Reincarnation As A Metaphor

  “[Reincarnation] suggests that you are more than you think you are. There are dimensions of your being and a potential for realization and consciousness that are not included in your concept of yourself. Your life is much deeper and broader than you conceive it to be here.”

— Page 70

Campbell believes that people live in terms of depth and that their life is much deeper than they realize. “What you are living is but a fractional inkling of what is really within you,” he writes.

However, to get to the next level, people often have to die. Think of Harry Potter, when Voldemort ‘kills’ Harry and then Harry comes back stronger than before. Or in “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” when Gandalf dies and comes back as Gandalf the White.

However, more often than not, the reincarnation is a metaphorical death.

“You don’t have to die, really, physically. All you have to do is die spiritually and be reborn to a larger way of living” (Pg 141).

Think about your own life.

You had to ‘die’ as a child to become an adult. You had to ‘die’ as a High School student to become a college student. Death can take many different forms, but after each one, the person unlocks a new level of consciousness and becomes better equipped to handle themselves in the world.

[Author Joseph Campbell.]

Author Joseph Campbell.

“The Power of Myth” (1988) is an eye-opening book that reveals how the symbols of mythology are all around us in the fabric of our daily lives. Once you read this book, you’ll look at movies, books, and even plays differently, because you’ll be able to understand the deeper meaning in the story and how it relates to classic myths.

That being said, this book is very interesting, but it teaches a very specific topic that not many people may want to learn about. Some people may just want to watch a movie to see some action and don’t really care about the meaning of reincarnation when the main character dies and comes back to life. The book does, however in my opinion, have an awesome cover that looks great in your library.

Overall, if you’re enjoy art, film, or theater, I’d recommend reading this book. It’s less than 300 pages long and the interview style of it makes reading it a breeze. I’m reading “The Hero With A Thousand Faces” next, so in my next article I’ll report back to see which book provides more value.

RATING: 4/5 STARS

If you’re interested in reading the book, click here or on the image below!

-   Book: “The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers
-   Pages: 293
-   For: People that are interested in the symbols found in art, literature and films
-   Lesson:  Learn the meaning behind classic myths and symbols

If you enjoyed "The Power of Myth" you'll likely reading "The Hero With A Thousand Faces" by Joseph Campbell. Click here or on the image below to get the book!

question: Which culture(s) is/are missing from the non-exhaustive list of religions and cultures informing this book?

answer: Native/indigenous cultures.

question: How can myths transcend contemporary settings?

answer: They have to do with the soul and one's eternal truth, as opposed to being tied to elements of the material and temporary world.

question: What are some kinds of deaths we all go through?

answer: We die to become adults; we die to graduate from and to certain levels of education.

question: How does the story of the hero's journey pervade other aspects of one's life?

answer: Once one recognizes the blueprint, they begin to see the hero's journey in parts of life outside of the particular myth they are reading or watching.


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        It was cleaning day every other Wednesday.  Todd took a certain enjoyment in the calm productivity of organizing and cleaning, but the last three Wednesdays he had not done it.  This resulted in extra clutter and dust.  Todd was almost inspired to take before and after pictures, but decided that it wouldn't be dramatic enough of a difference.  Maybe if he’d waited four weeks.
	He sighed and started sorting through a pile of crumpled receipts that were on the coffee table.  He didn't know why he always felt inclined to look at each receipt before throwing it away.  He thought maybe it was because he liked to relive his week and simultaneously assess whether he is spending his money wisely.  He saw his charge for Home Depot, and he remembered fixing his daughter’s bedside table.  He saw his charge for Taco Bell, and felt a familiar guilt for feeding his kids cheap food with less nutrition than cardboard.  He justified it to his ex-wife, Jenna, by saying “The days are so busy” and “Hey, I grew up on Cheese Whiz and horse piss, and I turned out fine,” to which she would roll her eyes and show both her dislike of his food choices and her opinion on how he turned out.  Todd sighed, and felt a clenching, hot feeling when he saw the next receipt.
	The words “Outback Steakhouse” stared back at him, daring him to remember the dinner he’d had less than a week ago.  It was one of those forced family dinners that his mom insisted everyone take part in so that they can avoid “waking up one day and realizing we haven’t seen each other in years,” as she always said.  It was always at Outback Steakhouse, and they were always the loudest and largest group in the restaurant.  The waiter always struggled to keep all the orders straight, and at least one of the kids always ended up throwing food on the floor.  It was predictable torture full of, “how are you”s and “what have you been up to lately”s.  His response to both questions was always predictable as well, “same as always.”  Todd was not much of a talker.  He’d live in isolation if not for his kids and his mom’s insistence that he get out of the house every once in a while.
	Last Thursday had been more difficult than usual, though, because he had met Dave.  Dave was a doctor who enjoyed running and a good cold glass of Chardonnay.  He was the type of person who would set an alarm on the weekend.  He was the type of person who would hit the gym right after work.  He would never buy Taco Bell for his kids.  He would have perfectly prepared carrots and hummus in cute plastic baggies waiting on the kitchen counter for the kids each day.  He was the type of guy that Jenna could proudly link arms with and introduce to the family.
	Todd’s mother was best friends with Jenna’s mom.  Todd sometimes thought that the divorce brought them even closer.  They banded together and decided that the family dinners would recommence as they always had a couple months after the divorce had been finalized.  “It’s what’s best for the kids,” his mom had said.  Todd suggested that the kids could go with Jenna, and he would just stay home.  His mother had laughed and said she looked forward to seeing him.
	Even as Todd continued to clean and organize, he couldn't stop thinking about Dave and Jenna.  Little things he picked up off the ground reminded him of how much happier Jenna must be now.  A beer cap made him think of how Dave probably never would get tipsy and fall asleep on the couch during “Friends” reruns like he had once done.  Jenna had come into the living room with a disgusted look on her face and said, “You know… Shawn took his first steps last night at Sheila’s.  I wish you’d been there.”  She’d swiftly turned and walked away, leaving the collection of bottles and dirty plates for Todd.  Dave probably had one beer with dinner at another rich couple’s house as the kids played together.  He probably told witty jokes.  He probably made Jenna laugh, something that Todd had failed to do for the last two years of their marriage.
	Todd picked up his son’s dirty sock.  He thought about how Dave would probably never have dirty socks on the floor.  He’d ask the kids to pick up the sock, and they would dutifully do so because of the strong but loving relationship he has probably already formed with them.  Todd always let the kids have too much slack, Jenna would say.  He didn't hold them accountable.  He didn't provide enough structure.  Now, since he was always alone with the kids, he was even worse.  The Taco Bell was only the beginning of the night.  They’d watch Breaking Bad together, and it often gave his daughter nightmares.  The kids always went to bed too late when they stayed with him in spite of Jenna’s 8 o’ clock bedtime rule.  They woke up with indigestion and bags under their eyes, and he would send them off to school with pizza slices he’d kept from earlier in the week.
	He began vacuuming.  Dave probably had a maid who did the vacuuming for him.  Dave probably had a bunch of extra time in his day to make macaroni art with the kids and teach them how to ride bikes.  He probably even had his bike from when he was a kid and a bunch of heartwarming, magical stories to go with it.    He probably even had a zipline or a pool or something in his backyard.  He probably made lemonade for them.  Todd had always been tight on money, so he’d set up a target in the backyard for the kids to shoot BB guns at.  He would sometimes turn off all the lights and play music for them with a single candle.  He would never waste macaroni for art’s sake.  He set up a sprinkler for the kids to run through when the days got hot.  Most of his childhood stories were about chores and church.  He didn’t know how to make something sound heartwarming.
	Just as he finished dusting, Jenna rang the doorbell.  They had their usual non-conversation, then Jenna kissed the kids and whispered reminders in their ears, and Todd was positive it was because they were things she was sure he’d forget.  The kids ran inside, threw their shoes and socks on the ground, and turned on the TV.  Todd cracked a beer and sat down on the couch next to his son, and during a commercial break he asked, “How’s life at Dave’s?”  “Boring,” they replied in unison.

title: [RF] Receipts

question: Summarize the type of person Todd is.

answer: Todd is a laid back and frugal person. He prefers eating Taco Bell and having a beer. He grew up doing chores, going to church, and eating junk. He's not strict with his kids, and he can be a bit messy. Despite this, he still finds enjoyment in the productivity of organizing and cleaning. He's also a bit isolated and doesn't talk much.

question: Summarize Todd's relationship with Jenna.

answer: Jenna is Todd's ex-wife. Their moms were best friends. Jenna left Todd as she seemed to perceive him as lowbrow, messy, and not a picture perfect father. He never made her laugh during their marriage, and she's happier with Dave now that she and Todd are divorced. Jenna doesn't necessarily trust Todd to provide structure for the kids like she does.

question: Summarize the main conflict.

answer: The main conflict of the story is Todd comparing himself to his ex-wife's partner, Dave. He seems to think that Dave is a much better person than him. He sees Dave as being structured, clean, high-brow, wealthy, and present. Todd assumes that Dave provides a better and healthier life for his kids. These comparisons come after he met Dave the previous week, finding it difficult.

question: What does the story say about chores?

answer: Todd has been doing chores since his childhood. Now, every Wednesday he usually cleans his house. He finds a certain enjoyment in doing chores. Todd organizes, cleans, and vacuums his home as a part of these chores. He reflects on how his ex-wife's new partner probably doesn't do chores himself, and is better at getting his kids to do chores than he is.

question: What does the story say about Jenna's cooking?


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GHARGE-DESHMUKH (DESAI) was a Maratha dynasty and one of the oldest existing Maratha Sur-Deshmukhs of NIMSOD in Satara District. The family is Agnivanshi Kshatriya, one of the most ancient in [India]

[ Flag of Maratha Empire] [ Chatri of Abbasaheb (Yashwantrao)in Shirol]

History

Rana Ratansingh Alias Ranoji Royal from Rajputana (Rajasthan) and ancestor of the family received the Sur-Deshmukhi of Nimsod along with 72 villages from the Delhi Emperor Muhammad bin Tughluq in 1342 during his peninsular campaign and in 1536 family received Various assets from the Ibrahim Adil Shah I ruler of Bijapur Sultanate in the Shirol area, and in 1615 by Ibrahim Adil Shah II in Raibaj and Kittur and remained as one of the Largest Deshmukh of Adil Shahi.

During the Maratha rule, the family served as the important milestone of Maratha Empire with blood relationship with various ruling families of those days, were in forefront in continuous War of 27 years between 1682 to 1707 that resulted in the end of the Mughal Empire in India and brought most of the sub-continent under Maratha control. In 1732, Abbasaheb Alias Yashwantrao Gharge- Desai-Deshmukh received Saranjam of 12 more villages and noble title of Saranjamdar-Deshmukh from Maratha King Chattrapati Shahu of Satara for lieu of military service rendered to the state and total Vatan of 84 villages in Nimsod Pargana was made hereditary.

From time to time, Deshmukhs of Nimsod supplied quality horses to the Maratha Army. In 1761, Son of Abbasaheb, Sardar Sidoji Gharge-Desai-Deshmukh along with his 2000 cavalry participated as part of Maratha Army in one of the largest battles fought in the 18th century, the Third Battle of Panipat and was brutally killed by the Afghan Ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali. He was also part of the Maratha army which defeated the first Afghan invasion of India in 1751, and brought the present day North West Frontier province of Pakistan under Maratha Control.

After the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, Nimsod become the Part of British Territory and lost its importance. Deshmukhs of Nimsod were entitled for a nominal annual pension of Rs 6000/ by British. At that time, some families of Gharge Dehmukh's moved to Shirol to earn livelihood because Nimsod was an arid region with very scanty rainfall. Sardar Sidoji's Grandson Yashoji (Shirol Branch) acknowledged the changing circumstances and introduced the family to business. The Shirol branch of Gharge-Deshmukh's acquired the surname Desai which was prevalent amongst the landlords of South Maharashtra & Karnataka. Deshmukh title was almost dropped except for its occasional use in marriage invitation cards. So much so that people in Shirol are not even aware of this Deshmukh title now. They got into the business of money lending (Sahukari) and through this profession, the Shirol branch of Gharge-Deshmukh's acquired wealth, name and fame in Kolhapur District.

During the British Raj, Shrimat Bhausahaeb Desai held huge loans to various landlords (Zamindars) of those days and constructed the Vithal temple as memorial of Shrimant Abbashaeb in Shirol which is masterpiece of Maratha architecture.

During the Indian independence movement, [Sardar Dinkarrao Gharge-Desai(Deshmukh)] served as the close associate of Mahatma Ghandhi and one of the National Leaders of Indian National Congress and was sent for four years rigorous imprisonment in Katewar in Gujarat in 1930 for participating in Dandi Salt Satyagraha with Mahatma Ghandhi and again for 4 years in yerawada in Pune During Quit India Movement in 1942 for removing Union Jack flag and putting Indian Tri-Colour on Shaniwar Wada in Pune. He remained as one of the highly respected leaders of Indian freedom Movement. Mahatma Ghandhi used to call him as “Dinkarbhai”. He was awarded with special Galantry bronze medal by Prime Minister Indira Ghandhi in 1971 for his contribution to Indian freedom movement.

Number of land extracts (or records) from Shirol tehsil has Gharge-Desai family names on it though the property now belongs to different people. Family has agricultural land and properties in a couple of villages in Shirol tehsil of Kolhapur District running into a few hundred acres. The Vithal temple is managed by a trust.

title: Gharge-Desai (Deshmukh)

question: What does the text say about the Taj Mahal?

question: What does the text say about the Deshmukhs of Nimsod?

answer: Gharge-Deshmukh (Desai) was a Maratha and one of the oldest existing Maratha Sur-Deshmuks of Nimsod in the Satara District. Rana Ratansingh Alias Ranoji Royal from Rajputana (Rajasthan) received the Sur-Deshmukhi of Nimsod along with 72 villages from Delhi Emperor Muhammad bin Tughluq in 1342. From time to time, the Deshmukhs of Nimsod supplied quality horses to the Maratha Amry. After the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, Nimsod became part of the British Territory and lost its importance. The Deshmukhs of Nimsod were entitled to a nominal annual pension of Rs 6000 from the British.

question: How did the fortunes of some Gharge Deshmukh families of Nismod change after the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818?

answer: Nimsod lost its importance when it became part of the Brtish Territory after the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818. Some families of Gharge Deshmukh's moved to Shirol to earn a living because Nimsod was an arid region with very little rainfall. Sardar Sidoji's grandson, Yashoji (Shirol branch) acknowledged the changing circumstances and introduced the family to business. The Shirol branch of Gharge-Deshmukh's acquired the surname Desai, which was prevalent among landlords of South Maharashtra and Karnataka. They got into the business of money lending (Sahukari) and through this profession, the Shirol branch of Gharge-Deshmukh's got rich and became famous in the Kolhapur District.

question: What does the text say about the relationship between Sardar Dinkarro Gharge-Desai (Deshmukh) and Mahatma Gandhi?

answer: Sardar Dinkarro Gharge-Desai (Deshmukh) served as the close associate of Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian independence movement. He was one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and was imprisoned for four years in Katewar, Gujarat, in 1930 for participating in Dandi Salt Satyagraha with Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar was imprisoned again for four years in Yerawada in Pune during the Quit India Movement in 1942 for removing the Union Jack flag and putting the Indian Tri-Color on Shaniwar Wada in Pune. He remained one of the highly respected leaders of the Indian Freedom Movement. Mahatma Gandhi used to call him "Dinkarbhai".


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ANTONIO JOSE NIEVES (born May 25, 1987) is an American professional boxer who challenged for the WBO junior bantamweight title in 2017.

Amateur career

Nieves is a multiple-time Cleveland Golden Gloves open champion and was national runner-up in 2011.[1][2]

Regional title

As Nieves rose in the rankings he defeated multiple-time world title challenger Lorenzo Trejo.[3] He defeated Oscar Mojica to win the North American Boxing Organization bantamweight title.[4][5]

On March 10, 2017 Nieves defend his NABO title against Nikolai Potapov on ShoBox.[6] He lost the defense by split decision.[7][8][9]

World title attempt

Nieves fought Naoya Inoue for the WBO junior bantamweight world title.[10] He lost by 6th round technical knockout due to a corner stoppage.[11]

Professional boxing record

       Result   Record   Opponent                 Type   Round, time   Date           Location   Notes
  ---- -------- -------- ------------------------ ------ ------------- -------------- ---------- -------
  24   Loss     19–3–2   Joshua Greer Jr.         UD     10            Oct 26, 2019
  23   Win      19–2–2   José Alfredo Rodríguez   TKO    2 (8),        Jun 8, 2019
  22   Win      18–2–2   Christian Esquivel       KO     3 (8),        Jul 28, 2018
  21   Loss     17–2–2   Naoya Inoue              RTD    6 (12),       Sep 9, 2017
  20   Loss     17–1–2   Nikolai Potapov                 10            Mar 10, 2017
  19   Win      17–0–2   Szilveszter Ajtai        TKO    2 (6),        Nov 26, 2016
  18   Draw     16–0–2   Alejandro Santiago       SD     10            Aug 19, 2016
  17   Win      16–0–1   Oscar Mojica             UD     10            Jun 18, 2016
  16   Win      15–0–1   Tibor Nadori             KO     3 (8)         Feb 13, 2016
  15   Win      14–0–1   Lorenzo Trejo            KO     1 (6),        Nov 25, 2015
  14   Win      13–0–1   Tae Woong Jung           UD     6             Sep 5, 2015
  13   Draw     12–0–1   Stephon Young                   8             Jun 20, 2015
  12   Win      12–0     Gabor Molnar             KO     1 (8),        Jun 6, 2015
  11   Win      11–0     Saul Tejada              UD     8             Mar 28, 2015
  10   Win      10–0     DeWayne Wisdom                  5 (6)         Dec 20, 2014
  9    Win      9–0      Jovany Fuentes           UD     6             Nov 14, 2014
  8    Win      8–0      Justin Lopez             UD     6             Aug 15, 2014
  7    Win      7–0      Angel Carvajal           TKO    6 (6),        Jul 11, 2014
  6    Win      6–0      Adalberto Tapia          KO     1 (4),        May 17, 2014
  5    Win      5–0      Brian Raglin                    1 (4),        Nov 30, 2013
  4    Win      4–0      Hector Gonzalez                 3 (4),        Apr 20, 2013
  3    Win      3–0      Rafael Gramajo           UD     4             Nov 24, 2012
  2    Win      2–0      Jesus Gonzales                  4             May 19, 2012
  1    Win      1–0      DeWayne Wisdom                  4             Nov 12, 2011

Personal life

He works for PNC Bank as a personal banker.[12][13] He lost his sister in October, 2016 as a murder victim.[14]

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title: Antonio Nieves

question: Who is Antonio Jose Nieves?

answer: He is an American professional boxer who challenged for the WBO junior bantamweight title in 2017.

question: Describe Nieves' amateur boxing career.

answer: Nieves was a multiple-time Cleveland Golden Gloves open champion and was a runner-up in 2011.

question: Summarize everything relating to Nieves' professional career.

answer: Nieves defeated multiple-time world title challenger Lorenzo Trejo. He won the North American Boxing Organization bantamweight title by beating Nikolai Potapov. On March 10, 2017, Nieves fought Naoya Inoue for the WBO Junior Bantamweight world title and lost by 6th round TKO (corner stoppage).

question: What is Nieves' professional boxing record?

answer: 19–3–2 as of the time of the article.

question: Write a ~2 sentence summary.

answer: Antonio Jose Nieves is an American professional boxer who challenged for the WBO junior bantamweight title in 2017, losing to Naoya Inoue by 6th round TKO. He's a multiple-time Cleveland Golden Gloves open champion and won the North American Boxing Organization bantamweight title by beating Nikolai Potapov.