Featured Artist: Diego Alaya

Diego Alaya

Angel Shadows
Deviant Art

Featured Artist: Marco Alvares

Marco Alvares

Neve
Website
Deviant Art
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Featured Artist: Scott McLachlan

Scott McLachlan

The Fisherman's Wife
Website
Deviant Art

Fossils & Ruins: Migration & Conquering Part 2

The Mongolian empire was more influential to the world than you would think.

Genghis Khan (birth name: Temujin) was supreme Khan of the Mongols  Empire that soon swallowed the Chinese. As a child he was born into royalty as his father was chieftain  However, that bloodline spilled and left a nasty stain in the floor after his father was poisoned. His mother and all his siblings were left to poverty. At the age of ten he was kidnapped by his own father's allies, but a sympathetic guard helped him escape into a nearby river.

In Mongolia at the time Genghis Khan was alive it was divided into many separate tribes. This resulted in tribal warfare and countless raids and even the use of slavery. He did though, marry the woman whom his father arranged him to be with at the age of 16. Even when she was kidnapped, he and another friend rescued her. Genghis had three more children with her.

When he took over the Mongols as Khan, he was determined to unite as one country. Once taking control over the Mongols, he spread his troops into China. After conquering the majority of China, the Mongols made their way west. Although Genghis Khan died before he saw his Empire grow completely, he handed off his succession to one of his sons.

There is a theory that the beginning of the plague grew in Southern China and it spread through to the Mongols. Since the Mongols were beginning to take over parts of the west, the disease swept through them into the west and even making it's way into England. Another interesting theory.

This is an amazing quote from Genghis's brother before he became Khan of the Mongols, "What use is there in my becoming a companion to you? On the contrary, sworn brother, in the black night I would haunt your dreams, in the bright day I would trouble your heart. I would be the louse in your collar, I would become the splinter in your door-panel...as there was room for only on sun in the sky, there was room only for one Mongol lord," (Jack Weatherford).



*Weatherford, Jack (2004). Genghis Khan: War of the Khans. New York: Random House, Inc. p. 63.

Featured Artist: Šepey Šviečia

Šepey Šviečia
Program
Deviant Art
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Featured Artist: Frode Nyboe

Frode Nyboe
Early Day Fishing
Deviant Art
Website 

Fossils & Ruins: Migration and Conquering Part 1

There was an interesting theory passed around in one of my anthropology classes. The teacher told us that there have been links to the Hungarian/Finnish and Japanese/Korean languages.

So how can that be?

In theory if we accept that the similarities are significant enough - how did this happen?
In this theory, there is an idea that the pastoral civilization that lived within present Hungary and Finish migrated through Asia and made their way to Korea and soon Japan.

Why Korea and not China?

If traveling from Eastern Europe into Asia, China is surrounded by mountains and two deserts. Not a very easy voyage. North of the mountains and deserts is a large horizontal plains through present day Mongolia - perfect on horseback. The plains move along all the way to the very tip of Korea and from Korea, Japan is a boat ride away. 

Although just a theory, it's an interesting theory nonetheless.

Weekly Writing: A Tale of Two Lovers

A Tall of Two lovers

Shaking nerves

but not of cold feet,

sweet Orpheus

waits to be wed

to dear Eurydice.

Izanagi and

Izanami,

brother and sister,

husband and wife.

Waiting for the forth

child, kami of fire,

to be birthed tonight.

A satyr sets

upon Eurydice,

ready to strike.

Escaping the creature

lead her straight

into the snake pit.

Bitten on the heel

and fell ill;

cast into the underworld.

Later, found 

by devastated, poor

Orpheus.

The birth,

so immense.

Pain grew intolerable,

uncontrollable.

Out the young

kami came,

with a large price

to pay.

Sweet wife,

lovely Izanami

had passed away.

Orpheus rode

in a heated stride,

playing music

to heal his cries.

Through the gates,

to the underworld.

Sooth Hades’ heart

with soft melody.

“Take your bride,

but do not look

at her

until you are back

in the upper world.”

Take Eurydice’s hand,

and head devotedly

back through the gate.

Izanagie charges

down to Yomi,

the underworld.

Searching for beloved wife,

yet cannot see her,

hidden in the shadows.

Pleads she returns,

but Izanami declines

and claims

she is one

with the underworld.

Quickly though

the realm of hell,

eager to have young

Eurydice back.

Step into upper world,

just one more foot

and she would be there

with her love,

hand and hand.

Yet eagerness leads

to forgetful minds.

For Orpheus

looked back

before she crossed

human to spiritual line.

Held in his grasp,

and after a seconds’ passed,

she vanished

gone back

to the hellish land.

Never giving her up,

so waited

until beautiful wife

slept quietly.

Stealthily immerge

from his place.

Pull comb from his hair

and lit it ablaze,

a torch to guide

his way.

Enter the shadows

                        to find his wife.

Yet what used to be

a beauty,

and a fragile lover,

now rotting flesh,

a maggot home and

creature’s delight.

Scream at the sight.

Run away.

Fossils & Ruins: Great White Shark Ancestry

It was under belief for a long time that the prehistoric Megaladon Shark was a direct ancestor to the Great White shark.

Megaladon was the largest shark ever discovered; recorded with a 6 foot jaw span, teeth the size of human hands, and an average of 50 foot length. It was a major ocean predator during the Cenozoic Era (a period after the Cretaceous period when large numbers of species, including the dinosaurs, became extincted).

New research however, has found that Megaladon is not a direct link to the present day Great White. Instead, a shark called Carcharodon hubbelli, who is a ancestor to the Mako shark (pictured below).

For more information, visit the full article: 

New Ancient Shark Species Gives Insight Into Origin of Great White

Featured Artist: Tony Rönnebeck

Tony Rönnebeck
Chaos
Deviant Art 
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Fossils & Ruins: Mississippians

I have a secret to admit. Before I was heart-set on becoming a writer, my passion was for dirt and anything buried beneath; mainly dinosaurs and ancient civilizations. Although I cannot pursue this passion in full I can still research as much as my little heart desires. So I might as well share my findings with you. 

Mississippians

Here's an ancient civilization in the United States. The first time I read about it was in the National Geographic Magazine and I just happened to find it again. This civilization really sparked interests.

The Mississippians was a large civilization stretching from most of the east's southern coast up to the Great Lakes.

This particular culture is one of the only civilizations to create pyramid like mounds. The greatest known and well kept mound to date is called Cahokia and is located in Illinois.

The mounds were used to display hierarchy. The community with more mounds are higher on the hierarchical scale. An artist representation of such town is portrayed below:

As shown in the illustration, the civilization maintained domestic housing; it also created temples and burial buildings.

Although the Mississippians civilization was quite large and prosperous with trade spreading into the Rockies, there wasn't a writing system in place.

This world came to an end with the Spaniards arrived. Most Mississippians died to infectious diseases opposed to war and fighting. Survivors lingered and became nomadic and others stayed and lived in the old ways, but the Mississippian culture completely collapse and after a couple generations even the oral tradition was severed from its historical roots. 

Weekly Writing: Trim Them Up

Trim Them Up

Feel soft fur

laid in your arms.

Tiny mouth bites

finger, playfully.

Pass puppy

to nurse

who takes girls

and boys

into the back room.

Tiny mouth trapped

so cannot bite.

Clip skin.

Clip meaningless

piece of flesh.

Flesh that can

do no harm.

Brought on by

Victorian charm.

We say it's for aesthetics.

We say it's for identification.

But when denial

races in our thoughts,

puppies whine in pain.

With clipped ears

and docked tails,

bring on chance for infection

and weeks of bandages

when trimmed.

Feel soft skin

laid in your arms.

Tiny hands squeeze

finger playfully.

Pass infant

to nurse

who takes you son

into sound proof room.

Tiny hands strapped

down to table

and legs separated.

Clip skin.

Clip meaningless

piece of flesh.

Flesh that can

do no harm.

Brought on by

religious charm.

We say it's healthier.

We say it's cleaner.

But while denial

races in out thoughts,

your son screams,

squirming in shock.

Actual shock;

real diagnosis given

to newborn boys

when trimmed.

Promotional Sale

Clash of Weapons has released two new books: Buried: 6ft & Oiche Shamhna

In celebration, COW is putting on a promotional sale!

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Clash of Weapons has released two new books: 

Buried: 6ft and Oiche Shamhna

Buried: 6ft

C.o.W best of S.G.Renee 2004 - 2010 poetry book, Buried. S.G. Renee solo years, (2012 version) illustrated by Konaa. Clash of Weapons 4th year anniversary edition. 

*Contains nudity, violence, and adult situations.

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Clash of Weapons has released two new books: 

Buried and Oiche Shamhna

Oiche Shamhna

Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh!

Clash of Weapons special Celtic end of the year mini poetry book, 
Oiche Shamhna. 

A homage to the Gaelic version of All Hollow’s Eve.
Featuring an exclusive kindle only "tuar ceatha" cover.

Slainte!

Find it on Amazon! 

Featured Artist: Nancy Helmer

Featured Artist: Nancy Helmer
Yawning Lion
Nancy Helmer Phototography

Weekly Writing: Samuel

Samuel

Samuel Alexander

Armas,

a fetus,

diagnosed

spina bifida.

Would not make it

at birth.

Bruner's gentle

hands came

to save

the unknown life.

Perform C-section,

slowly pull out

the womb.

Small incision.

Work miracles

and bring back

a chance for new life.

Bruner's hands fix

all that is broken.

Womb shakes,

though no one

has touched it.

Tiny hand

slips out

into a world

he will learn

to know.

Bruner's one finger,

consoles twenty-one

week old

as he clasped

his fingers

around hope.

Link to the famous photograph of the surgery taken by Michael Clancy below. Warning: the photograph is not censored. 

Samuel Armas Aug 19 1999

Featured Artist: Eric Michael Clarke
Eric Michael Clarke Photography

Indirect Self Portrait

Weekly Writing: Three Equal Parts

Three Equal Parts

Liberia can smile.

Women raise arms,

embrace new light.

Years of civil war

finally at an end.

Brave new leader,

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,

elected.

Push for rights

will be stronger now.

Now that Leymah Gbowe

is not fighting alone.

You spoke through

rallies and

your writings for Yemen,

Tawakul Karman.

Writings which scream

to break

a testosterone driven

society.

Screamed so loud

and the world has heard.

Nobel Prize award

a sign,

a symbol

of great new hope.

Writer Tips: Submission Formats

Believe it or not, just like your English homework, you need to format you story/novel/poetry submission. The link also has a link to how to set up each template if you have trouble.

Story (works for flash fiction, short story and possibly novelete & novella)
http://www.shunn.net/format/story.html

Novel (works for over 60,000 words; possibly novellas)
http://www.shunn.net/format/novel.html

Poerty Format (works for one page poems, if the poem is longer, copy the page header the story format uses).
http://www.shunn.net/format/poem.html

Hope this helps - it certainly helped me. I'll go more into submission format details and the underlining argument next week.

Weekly Writing: In the Hall of Bulls

In the Hall of Bulls

10-1-11

During the painting ritual

is when I first saw her:

blue eyes,

darkened skin,

wide grin.

Beautiful as the winter sun.

Deep in the cave,

away from tribal parenting,

we paint our spirits.

Although, I eager

to impress,

tried to depict

myself slaying a bison.

Bison, rough and threatening;

began to draw myself

but cannot take eyes

from her gracefulness.

How she spawns a lovely

beast from fingertips.

A rhinoceros,

strong and fierce,

yet make a sweet mother

for growing calf.

Smudge the painting,

no longer a human head

but that of a birds.

Hear her giggle,

quietly, not meaning

to disturb,

and left a kiss

on my cheek

before heading back to her family.

Many tribes come

for the festival,

so many it's hard

to find sweet girl again.

Weaving though

crowds and still

could not seek

girl with the sky

in her eyes.

Descend down

to the burial lands.

Great large stones

with prayers.

Gathered all in

its hold,

huddled close

for winter is cold.

Start to sing,

start to chant,

and pray

to spirits of Death.

The old emerge,

to the center.

There I see her,

lonely crying

until my hand

reaches out to hers.

She's watching

her father stand

ready to ascend.

Powerful chants

forces symbols

on the stones to light.

Singing to the old,

how we love them

but it's time

to go,

time to say

goodbye.

Ground shakes

beneath us,

for we wake

the spirits

with our prayers.

Rising forth

from the earth,

take  our

elders in fire

to live a new

life in the underworld

and leaving only their ashes

behind in ours.

Return next

two summers.

The girl with the sky

in her eyes,

holding my hand

and her stomach,

expecting.

Fingers dirty

from the caves

as the tribes

gather around

her and I.

Lay sweet woman

in the center

of the ground.

Leave a kiss

on her cheek.

Step back

and join in chants.

Sing as the light

forms underneath her.

Sing as the spirits

help new life

come into ours.

Spirits descend.

A new child in her hands.

A baby girl:

blue eyes,

darkened skin,

wide grin.

Beautiful as the summer sun.

Taking control of the blog again.
I'll be focusing on the following weekly posts:
-Featured artist/artwork
-Writing/poems
-Interesting facts about around the world
-Tips for writers/writings discussions
-Writing prompts


These posts will also be shown on my Facebook page for Clash of Weapons and Twitter.

Stay Tuned.
~ Sarah