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Dark That Day, After All (Nights Gone By)

Excerpted from the anthology NIGHTS GONE BY -- by #1 Kindle Suspense author Jason McIntyre comes the story of two old souls connecting under darkening skies.

On this day, as they peer into the heavens together, elderly Jarvis Schloss unburdens his soul to another park dweller as they sit on his favorite park bench. In the tradition of Rod Serling, this eerie tale begins as the two each reflect on the primes of their lives and uncover something even darker than the sky overhead. DARK THAT DAY, AFTER ALL explores our relationship with others, our duty to them, and whether we can expect to trade someone else's good fortune for our own.

Excerpted from the anthology NIGHTS GONE BY -- by #1 Kindle Suspense author Jason McIntyre comes the story of two old souls connecting under darkening skies.

On this day, as they peer into the heavens together, elderly Jarvis Schloss unburdens his soul to another park dweller as they sit on his favorite park bench. In the tradition of Rod Serling, this eerie tale begins as the two each reflect on the primes of their lives and uncover something even darker than the sky overhead. DARK THAT DAY, AFTER ALL explores our relationship with others, our duty to them, and whether we can expect to trade someone else's good fortune for our own.

Sharon Begley
Wall Street Journal
March 4, 2005; Page B1

As the argument at the bar grows more heated, you notice that you're right in the flight path should the ranting man decide to turn glassware into missiles. You watch tensely as he clasps and unclasps the tumbler in front of him, and then suddenly his grip changes. Is he about to take a gulp ... or fire the glass in your direction?

If you duck just as it sails over your head, you can thank a cluster of neurons whose existence scientists didn't even know about a few years ago: mirror neurons.

Their modest name reflects their most obvious function but hardly does justice to their talents, which neuroscientists seem to uncover more of every time they look -- from intuiting other people's intentions to feeling their pain. Literally.

"Mirror neurons promise to do for neuroscience what DNA did for biology," neurobiologist V.S. Ramachandran of the University of California, San Diego, has written, explaining "a host of mental abilities that have remained mysterious."

In 1992, biologists at the University of Parma, Italy, were probing the brains of macaque monkeys when they made a curious discovery. It had been known for years that brain cells in the premotor cortex, the area that plans movements, fire right before the monkey grasps, manipulates or reaches for something such as fruit. But it turns out that these specialized neurons also fire when the monkey sees someone else (monkey or human) do so. Whether planning a movement or seeing one, mirror neurons fire the same way: The firing pattern that precedes, say, the monkey's lifting a raisin to its mouth is identical to the pattern when it sees someone else doing that.

The human brain has mirror neurons, too, and recently neuroscientists have been behaving like Egyptologists after the discovery of the Rosetta Stone: using mirror neurons to explain a backlog of enigmas.

For one thing, mirror neurons may be how we understand the intentions of other people, a crucial social skill whether or not you frequent fight-prone bars. In a new study, neuroscientists scanned the brains of volunteers while they watched videos of a hand reaching for a mug. In one clip, the mug sat in a neat arrangement of teapot, mug, pitcher of milk and plate of cookies; in another, it sat amid a knocked-over pitcher, used napkin and cookie crumbs; in a third the mug sat alone.

If the only thing mirror neurons do is fire when they see someone perform a movement, the volunteers' brains should have shown the same activity whether the hand was reaching for the mug as if to drink, in the first scene, to clean up in the messy scene or with no context. But that's not what happened. As Marco Iacoboni of UCLA and colleagues report in the March issue of PLoS Biology, mirror neurons were only a little active when the hand grasped the lone mug. But they perked up when the hand reached for the cup as if to drink from it (in preparty mode) or to wash it (post party).

"This suggests that mirror neurons do not simply recognize actions but are also involved in decoding people's intentions," says Prof. Iacoboni. "People seem to have specific neurons that code the 'why' of some action, predicting the behavior of others."

And that makes social interactions possible. At the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science last month, researchers said that because these neurons fire both when we see someone move as when we move ourselves, they make equivalent "what others do and feel and what we do and feel." We do not just see an action; we also experience what it feels like to someone else.

Mirror neurons "re-create the experience of others within ourselves," as UCLA's Mark Thompson put it in his AAAS remarks. They "allow us to put ourselves in the shoes of another." That makes them the neural basis of empathy.

"To function well with other people, we need to understand where they're coming from so as not to misread their intentions," says Regina Pally, a psychotherapist in Los Angeles and a clinical professor at UCLA. "Mirror neurons are what let us understand others' emotions." In fact, mirror neurons in people are connected to the brain's emotion region, the limbic system: When your mirror neurons fire in a reflection of someone else's, it triggers empathic emotions.

Mirror neurons also let us feel another person's pain. The same cortical neurons that process the sense of touch also fire when you see someone else touched. And a region that registers disgust that you feel directly also fires when you see expressions of disgust on others (hence the visceral wallop of "Fear Factor").

Instead of merely seeing what other people do and feel, said Christian Keysers of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, "we start to feel their actions and sensations in our own cortex as if we would be doing these actions and havi

Seven Falun Gong practitioners were arrested while doing exercises in a local park in Singapore on Oct. 5.

Police handcuffed four of the practitioners, citing “vandalizing public property” after they put posters on a wall. Three others, who were meditating, were not handcuffed, since "meditation is allowed," according to police.

Police are still holding the passports of the practitioners, who are Chinese nationals. Falun Gong, a spiritual practice, is currently persecuted in China by the Chinese regime, and if the practitioners were deported it is likely they would face torture.

In Singapore, the practitioners have done their daily exercises at Esplanade Park, a popular tourist site near the Singapore River, for years. On the wall, they use Sticky Tack to put up posters illustrating the persecution in China.

The police officers claimed that the posters damaged the wall. The practitioners explained that the Sticky Tack does not leave marks, and offered to sweep the ground and clean the area every morning.

Practitioners said the police handcuffed the four without warning or clear explanation. The police took all seven to the police station.



After police confiscate all posters. (Mingguo Sun/The Epoch Times) The three practitioners who had earlier meditated were asked to write statements and reveal personal information before they could be freed, while the other four, all Chinese nationals, remained handcuffed and were interrogated at the police station.

According to the practitioners, they left the police station at around midnight, after being locked up for more than 14 hours.

Another Arrest

In a related incident the same morning, five to six plainclothes policemen, along with a cameraman, arrived unannounced at the office of Zhang Tao, another Falun Gong practitioner, and demanded to check his car.

According to Zhang, who helps to ferry Falun Gong banners, posters and fliers to the Esplanade Park every morning by car, the policemen confiscated his materials and took him to the police station.

“I began to sense something was very amiss when they ordered me to remove my personal possessions such as wallet, shoes, socks, and belt before asking me to sit on an iron stool inside a long dark alley where I could hear noises coming from the locked up cells,” said Zhang. “The next thing I knew was I was handcuffed.”

“I told them I needed to see the prosecutor immediately, for I have done nothing to deserve this senseless treatment.”

One of the policemen told Zhang that he would be charged with public property vandalism, and questioned Zhang about the origin of the Falun Gong banners and posters, as well as how frequently he drove the materials to the Esplanade Park.




People are reading posters at the walkway below Esplanade Bridge, before police confiscate all posters. (Mingguo Sun/The Epoch Times) Zhang said "public property vandalism" could not justify his being handcuffed, and demanded to see the prosecutor. The officers ignored his entreaties.

After more than 13 hours of detention, Zhang was allowed to return home on bail around midnight, but the police kept his passport.

The practitioners were told to return in two weeks time, on Oct. 16, for the verdict.

Spokesperson for the U.S.-based Falun Dafa Information Center, Levi Browde, said there is a real concern that the practitioners could get deported to China.

“If they are deported they are at risk of severe persecution,” he said. “We will reach out to the Singapore government to make sure they are safe, and to explain the exact facts of the persecution in China to make sure they understand the stakes of an action such as deportation.”


Similar incidents in Singapore:
Date: Dec.31, 2000
Location: Mac Ritchie Reservoir
What happened: 15 practitioners were arrested while holding a vigil. The trial took months and seven were sentenced and jailed on March 30, 2001.
Surrounding events: Zeng Qinghong, ex Vice-President of the People's Republic of China arrived in Singapore on April 1, 2001. Zeng was a key player in the persecution of Falun Gong in China.


Date: April 5, 2004
Location: Merlion Park
What happened: Two practitioners were charged with "possessing VCDs" at Esplanade Park.
Surrounding events: Singapore was negotiating a free trade deal with China at the time and in May, 2004, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong was invited by then-vice Premier Wu Yi to visit China.

Date: July 3, 2006
Location: Chinese Embassy
What happened: On July 21, three practitioners were arrested for holding banners saying Stop Persecution of Falun Gong in China" in English and Chinese across from the Chinese Embassy. Police said the contents of the banner were "slanderous to the Chinese Embassy" and might "obstruct and disturb" passersby.
Surrounding events: On July 3, 2006, Li Lanqing, ex vice premier and former head of the 610 Office in charge of persecuting Falun Gong traveled to Singapore to receiv

THE VAMPIRE

Highland Vampire Thoran MacKettryck's lonely. Bitter. Vengeful. For centuries now, he's taken lives for profit and drained blood for free. Just like always. But then he's gifted what every immortal craves: his mate. He just can't believe his eyes when he finally hunts her down.

HIS MATE

Jolie Pritchard's young. Studious. Driven. Studying Medieval Literature is her life and this scholarship - her dream. She's the last thing an arrogant, gorgeous, world-class playboy should be pursuing and she knows it. If only he wasn't the most thrilling male she's ever imagined...

THE CURSE

She was warned. She didn't listen.

Knight After Night is a 20,000 word paranormal romance novella.

EXCERPT

"You want this?" He lifted an eyebrow.

"Not especially."

"Good."

He pitched it into the center of the river without any effort. They both watched it hit water and immediately sink. The muscles displayed in his arm had moved. Flexing. Rippling. The guy was built. Masculine. And he was gorgeous. And he was worried about performing for her. Jolie sighed. She'd known it was too good to be true. But it had sure been a fun fantasy.

"What is it?" he asked.

"You. And your...uh...impotence. I'm sorry. Truly."

"What impotence?"
"I should've known, really. It was right in front of my face. No wonder you're here. Right now. With me."

"What...does that mean?"

Thoran had his hair pulled back, but a lock had escaped the bond. Jolie noted how it caressed his brow and moved with every blink of his eyelashes as he looked down at her. He'd moved again, turning toward her, as if to envelope and encompass her completely. With the confused look reflected in those silver eyes, it was impossible not to feel a swoon coming on. She knew exactly what it felt like. And to disguise all of that, she opened her mouth and started talking.

"There's no reason to get all uptight and upset. I'm sure it happens to every guy. If they've used it too much. Or taken the wrong kinds of drugs for too long. Or had a bad experience with the wrong party. I read the tabloids. Get bombarded with the television ads. It's not that uncommon. Even in a guy as young as you."

"What are you speaking of now?"

"You're unable to...get it up. And now you're mad," she whispered.

"Get what up?"

"That's it. I'm done. I can believe you're a world class playboy who's lost his ability. I can definitely believe you'd attempt to get it back by pursuing and then charming the hell out of a little nobody from the end of nowhere. But I can't believe I actually thought for one moment you were a vampire. I can't. I must've inhaled something from the fumes in that basement. That's the only explanation."

He wasn't just closer. He was overpowering, looming over her and making certain of his domination with an arm about her back. He pulled her close. Right atop his lap, while his eyes narrowed to slits of mirrored silver.

"It's ok, Thoran. Really. I won't tell anyone. I promise. You don't have to worry."

"Tell anyone what? That I'm a vampire?" He hissed the words.

"Who would believe that?"

THE VAMPIRE

Highland Vampire Thoran MacKettryck's lonely. Bitter. Vengeful. For centuries now, he's taken lives for profit and drained blood for free. Just like always. But then he's gifted what every immortal craves: his mate. He just can't believe his eyes when he finally hunts her down.

HIS MATE

Jolie Pritchard's young. Studious. Driven. Studying Medieval Literature is her life and this scholarship - her dream. She's the last thing an arrogant, gorgeous, world-class playboy should be pursuing and she knows it. If only he wasn't the most thrilling male she's ever imagined...

THE CURSE

She was warned. She didn't listen.

Knight After Night is a 20,000 word paranormal romance novella.

EXCERPT

"You want this?" He lifted an eyebrow.

"Not especially."

"Good."

He pitched it into the center of the river without any effort. They both watched it hit water and immediately sink. The muscles displayed in his arm had moved. Flexing. Rippling. The guy was built. Masculine. And he was gorgeous. And he was worried about performing for her. Jolie sighed. She'd known it was too good to be true. But it had sure been a fun fantasy.

"What is it?" he asked.

"You. And your...uh...impotence. I'm sorry. Truly."

"What impotence?"
"I should've known, really. It was right in front of my face. No wonder you're here. Right now. With me."

"What...does that mean?"

Thoran had his hair pulled back, but a lock had escaped the bond. Jolie noted how it caressed his brow and moved with every blink of his eyelashes as he looked down at her. He'd moved again, turning toward her, as if to envelope and encompass her completely. With the confused look reflected in those silver eyes, it was impossible not to feel a swoon coming on. She knew exactly what it felt like. And to disguise all of that, she opened her mouth and started talking.

"There's no reason to get all uptight and upset. I'm sure it happens to every guy. If they've used it too much. Or taken the wrong kinds of drugs for too long. Or had a bad experience with the wrong party. I read the tabloids. Get bombarded with the television ads. It's not that uncommon. Even in a guy as young as you."

"What are you speaking of now?"

"You're unable to...get it up. And now you're mad," she whispered.

"Get what up?"

"That's it. I'm done. I can believe you're a world class playboy who's lost his ability. I can definitely believe you'd attempt to get it back by pursuing and then charming the hell out of a little nobody from the end of nowhere. But I can't believe I actually thought for one moment you were a vampire. I can't. I must've inhaled something from the fumes in that basement. That's the only explanation."

He wasn't just closer. He was overpowering, looming over her and making certain of his domination with an arm about her back. He pulled her close. Right atop his lap, while his eyes narrowed to slits of mirrored silver.

"It's ok, Thoran. Really. I won't tell anyone. I promise. You don't have to worry."

"Tell anyone what? That I'm a vampire?" He hissed the words.

"Who would believe that?"