- - - - -- -------===========================------- -- - - - - cccccc, ccccc, cccccccccccc, ?$$$$$$$$$$, ,ccc, ,cc :`$$$$$$bc :`$$$$c ::`$$$$$$$$$$$$c`:"$$$$????$$b "$$$$c, `$$h `:`$$$$$$$$c,:`$$$$h `:: ?$$$b :::;$$h`:`?$$$,::`$$b `$$$$$$c, ?$$$c ``:`$$$$$$$$$$,`$$$$c ..,,,:"$$$b `:::` `:"$$$b :`?$B,:"$$$$$$$$$$?$b `::`$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$h:"$$$$c:`$$$b `:`?$$$c`:`$$b:`?$$b."?$$:`?$. `::`$$$$$$P?$$$$$$$$c:`????":`?$$b. ,?$$.`:?$$$h.;,?$$;:"$$$,`:"`:`$$ `::`$$$$$$.`"$$$$$$$h::`` :::"$$$, .,:d$$b`:`?$$$$$$$$$;``?$Fb `:` `::`$$$$$$.` "?$$$$$c, `:::"$$$$$$$$$$$$$.:.?????""";` `:::` `::`$$$$$$ `::"?$$$h. `:::`?@$$$000P?"' : :::::''` `::`$$$$$b `::`?$$c, ::: ""'''';,,:` `::`$$$$$b `::`;" ` ;;;:''' t h e `::,????), `::' n e o - c o m i n t e r n `::::::` e l e c t r o n i c m a g a z i n e n e o - c o m i n t e r n . c o m - - - - -- -------===========================------- -- - - - - s u b v e r s i v e l i t e r a t u r e f o r s u b v e r t e d p e o p l e j a n u a r y 2 0 t h , 2 0 0 2 e d i t o r - b m c - - - - ----==={ I N S T A L L M E N T 1 8 6 }===---- - - - - w r i t e r s : h e c k a t b m c - - - - ----==={ F E A T U R E S }===---- - - - - Anatomy of Crow/ Dissecting Crow by Heckat The Sin of Boastfulness written by Gower translated by BMC - - - - -- -------===========================------- -- - - - - e d i t o r ' s n o t e - - - - ---==={PLEASE DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING!}===--- - - - - Today it was requested of me that I write 4000 words on the concept of socialism. What an odd request, isn't it? It sounds a bit too much like work for my liking. Maybe I'll do it the next time I have a week free. I think I've got a holiday coming up in 2005. But for now, I'll say ten words on socialism. Socialism in the house! Word. Say socialism what what? Jeah. That leaves 3990 words. - - - - -- -------===========================------- -- - - - - ANATOMY OF CROW/ DISSECTING CROW - - - - -- -------========{by Heckat}========------- -- - - - - beak: imagine a fishhook, a sickled hunting blade, a razor's edge stained black with blood, a limb, a plier, a wrench for getting things out of tight places, a thin, lipless maw that speaks flat notes into the wind remove it. use it as a claw, as a hinge to fasten the door on your two-year-old's playhouse, use it as a second mouth to swallow all those dead things you've been avoiding to clean up tongue: another animal, a snake, lives in crow's mouth its wet surface is a mirror reflecting the ugliest parts of the world back on itself once rootless, it lies harmless use it as bait to catch fish eyes: orbs distinguished by their absenses (no eggshell whites licking the corner of his lid, no irises capping a coloured ring around the pupil's abyss) they could be raisins, or deep pools of liquid, or planets, or the charcoal set of marbles you carried around in your pocket as an eight-year-old child only maybe there isn't anything there at all just two shadows shielding crow skeleton from scavengers wing: navigational device, "wheels," the quickest way out of here only a pair will do coat of black feathers (use those to make a boa for your niece's birthday gift) small, brittle bones remembering flight feet: textured roots, claws, the way crow clings to the branches of trees and digs in are these the worst parts of crow? his dirty, scratching toes? crow leaves footprints on our skin, marks his pacing beside our eyes our faces learn to reflect a lifetime of living with crow epilogue: crow's tender parts make tasty delicacies - the neck, the heart, the liver - serve him at dinner parties as an appetizer the rest of him can be used in magic potions (turn you to stone, make you fall in love, split your tail in half to make legs) or can quite nicely be used in pie - - - - -- -------===========================------- -- - - - - THE SIN OF BOASTFULNESS - - - - -- -------========={by BMC}==========------- -- - - - - John Gower: Confessio Amantis (1) (1) Confessio Amantis' First Book is dedicated to the sin of pride. Magniloque propriam minuit iactancia lingue This book has five Famam, quam stabilem firmat honore cilens. sections, each being Ipse sui laudem meriti non percipit, unde dedicated to a subsidiary Se sua per verba iactat in orbe palam. of that sin. The Estqeu viri culpa iactancia, que rubefactas following excerpt is a In muliere reas causat habere genas. (2) translation of the fourth section of the First Book, which is dedicated to the Confessor: The vice known as "bragging" is vice of boastfulness. closely related to pride (3), and a man diminishes his peers' approval of him if he is (2) These Latin verses are unable to refrain from singing his own praises; translated in A Book of what is first well becomes amiss, the Middle English as "The thankworthy man becomes the recipient of blame. boastfulness of a bragging By praising his own name through bragging, a tongue lessens a man's own man does not build up his reputation but tears proper reputation, whereas it up. I tell you, when this proud vice sends by silence he confirms his out wind of a man's virtue, it blows too true distinction. Not heavily; fame should be something that grows hearing from others the naturally. And there are lovers who are like praise that he deserves, that. If you are one of them, you should tell he glorifies himself in me about it. For example, when you have taken his own words before the any gift of love, such as a brooch or ring, to world. In the male, brighten your day, or when you received a moreover, boasting is a compliment or look or token or letter that made fault, since in the woman you happy, or she sent a greeting, have you let it causes guilty cheeks to your pride get the better of you and bragged blush." about it? (3) Pride: one of the Amans: Father, please know that I'm not guilty Seven Deadly Sins - of this. My poor heart, I've never received so committing a deadly sin is much as a message saying "hi" from her. In considered to be a serious other words, I've got nothing to brag about. infraction of Christian Even if I did brag about it, it would just be a religious code. lie. I don't know what I would do if I did have something to brag about, as you have said many men have, but I've never had a reason to brag. Except, of course, for being rejected by her, which nearly killed me - I can say something about that, but that's it. Therefore I don't need to repent. Now let's talk about something else - I'm not guilty of this. Confessor: My son, Love hates this vice above all others, and it should be avoided for that reason. Boasting is to be despised in general. I will give you an example - here is a story: Ahem. The first king of Lombardy, Albinus, was a great warrior who battled against many other kings. Once he fought a war against Gurmonde, who was the mighty king of the Gepidi; but not mighty enough to prevent Albinus from slaughtering him in the field. Neither sword nor shield could save Gurmonde from getting his head cut off. Albinus decapitated him, took the top of his skull - the brain-pan - and decided to make a cup out of it as a symbol of his victory in battle. After Albinus had won the battle and taken control of the land, claiming it as his own, he discovered Gurmonde's daughter. She was the Maiden Rosemounde, renowned for her beauty, youth, and liveliness. Albinus fell in love with her immediately, pursued her hotly, and eventually they were wedded. From this point forward they stayed together, deeply in love with one another. But, when they were at the highest point of love, Venus turned the wheel of fortune so they fell. Listen - the king had many things: wealth, worship, health, and a peaceful rule, and no enemies; life seemed perfect. He decided to host a festival for Rosemounde's benefit, so that she could be introduced to all of the lords who served under his rule. The king ordered his servants to quickly send out letters and dispatch messengers, and to get everything ready for the festival. The king's royal horses were trained for jousting and tournament, and garments embroidered with pearls were prepared for the big event. When the time came, the lords arrived all dressed their best. They battled for superiority in jousting and fighting in tournaments of combat. The lords had a great time and forgot their worries. After the games, they came into the king's hall for a feast. The knights were seated and served in order of superiority, and then prizes were given out as the heralds announced the victors of the games. After this, knights at the high tables and at the low tables began to speak of pursuits of war and of love, and everyone had something to add to the conversation. Their cheer affected the king in such a way that he began to dwell on his own conquest until he was overwhelmed with pride. He looked over and saw the cup off to the side, the cup he had made out of Gurmonde's head (as you have heard) after he killed him. The brain-pan, as it were, had been layered in gold and set with large gems. It was well-crafted and stood on a base of polished gold. The cup was engraved in the most masterful way and freshly polished as well. One could not have identified it as a skull at all, but would rather have thought it to be a griffin's egg (4). (4) Griffin's Egg: a goblet made by coating a The king ordered for his current cup to be large egg with thick gold. taken away - "...and fetch me that one," he said. On his command, the skull was fetched and filled with wine. So he asked Rosemounde to begin the feast with a toast. "Drink with thy father, dame," he said, and she did as he requested. She happily lifted the skull from the table and drank, having no idea what sort of cup it was that she was drinking from. And then all out, the king announced to everyone that Rosemounde was drinking from her father's skull. He did this to demonstrate his feat of battle to the lords, and also to brag about how he had won the love of the girl whose life began in that same skull. The room was saturated with the king's pride as everyone talked about it, but Rosemounde remained silent, thinking about the unkind pride that made the king boast that he had killed her father, carved out his brain, made a goblet from his skull, and tricked her into drinking from it. She remained calm until dinner was over; then, she pretended she was ill. When she got to her chamber, she spoke with her trustworthy maid and let her know what was the matter, on the condition that the maid wouldn't tell anybody. The queen promised to give her maid, Glodeside, wealth and fame in exchange for her help. Glodeside was to help avenge the queen upon the king, who caused her to drink in this manner (among the noblemen, as insult to both Rosemounde and her father). Rosemounde was so furious about it that she determined she could never be happy until she could be certain that he would not be able to boast in such a way ever again. And so the queen and Glodeside came to an agreement, finally deciding on a plan. They determined that they must get some valiant knight to help them kill the king. With this in mind, they began to consider how they could recruit Helmege into their scheme. Helmege was the king's wine bottler (5), a proud and lively (5) Wine Bottler: young knight who was passionately in love with translated from the Middle Glodeside. English "boteler," meaning the court officer in To make Helmege fall more deeply in love, charge of the royal wine. Glodeside granted her love to him. They A Book of Middle English planned to meet in Helmege's room to make true converts this word to love, and so it was done later that night. "butler." However, I have The next night the queen went in Glodeside's chosen the word "bottler" place, entered the dark room, and made true to avoid an anachronistic love with Helmege. In keeping with the code reading of the term. At of chivalry, Helmege pledged eternal obedience any rate, this term should to his lover (believing the queen to be deter the reader's faulty Glodeside). And afterward, the queen lay at observation that "the Helmege's side and told him who she really was butler did it." and what he must do for her. She said, "Helmege, I am thy queen, and now thy love shall be proved. For the one on whom you have wrought your will you shall repay, either by punishment and torture or by carrying out the deed I wish you to commit. And if you will, do as I desire and keep it secret, for ever after I shall be at your will - I and all I possess." Helmage had fallen into a wild rage of love, which no man can control. He was unable to resist, and he agreed to follow the queen's orders. And so the wheel of fortune had spun awry, and there was no longer any chance that things would work out. The conspirators planned a scheme that was so brilliantly cunning that the king was dead within awhile; however, it was not quite so cunning that they could get away with it. So they considered their options: either to flee or get caught. They packed up the king's royal treasury (and many other things), assembled an entourage, and fled by ship. From that point, they sailed straight until they came to Ravenna where they asked the duke for his help. The duke abided by their wishes, giving them a place to stay, but when he heard what they had done he prepared some poison for them. They drank it, and got what they deserved - death. And all of this was the result of proud boasting. Therefore, a man is better off not to assess himself on behalf of others. Doing so may easily tarnish his reputation. Don't brag about your conquests. A man who tries to make a name for himself in order to become known for deeds of war or love will always fail due to bragging. In conquest that is fought either with weapons or for love, a man must restrain his loose tongue, or, like a key, it will unlock him. - - - - -- -------===========================------- -- - - - - The Neo-Comintern Magazine / Online Magazine is seeking submissions. Unpublished stories and articles of an unusual, experimental, or anti-capitalist nature are wanted. Contributors are encouraged to submit works incorporating any or all of the following: Musings, Delvings into Philosophy, Flights of Fancy, Freefall Selections, and Tales of General Mirth. The more creative and astray from the norm, the better. For examples of typical Neo-Comintern writing, see our website at . Submissions of 25-4000 words are wanted; the average article length is approximately 200-1000 words. Send submissions via email attachment to , or through ICQ to #29981964. Contributors will receive copies of the most recent print issue of The Neo-Comintern; works of any length and type will be considered for publication in The Neo-Comintern Online Magazine and/or The Neo-Comintern Magazine. - - - - -- -------===========================------- -- - - - - ___________________________________________________ |THE COMINTERN IS AVAILIABLE ON THE FOLLOWING BBS'S | |~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| | TWILIGHT ZONE (905) 432-7667 | | BRING ON THE NIGHT (306) 373-4218 | | CLUB PARADISE (306) 978-2542 | | THE GATEWAY THROUGH TIME (306) 373-9778 | |___________________________________________________| | Website at: http://www.neo-comintern.com | | Questions? Comments? 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