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Pieces of You

There were holes in my being Feathers missing in my wings I was tied to the feeling Of ever broken links

It was pulling me under Underwater, where I couldn't breathe My voice became a sunder My throat started to bleed

Among millions shouting in the dust You came down and chose me My Angel, you and your trust Are never again to be

I took pieces of you And claimed them as mine Finally saw everything true In your every single rhyme

I took your heart still beating And placed it in a jar So later on it's fresh for eating But also so you're not very far

I took pieces of your soul Carved them up to fit Their one perfect role Of making me complete

I pulled out those teeth of yours And arranged them all Gifted them, of course As a gift so small

I cut off your fingers And made them a fearsome edge With ten rancid stingers A weapon with which wars to wage

In the end, I tied you up And dragged you 'round like a toy Like a newborn kitten or a pup Didn't that bring you joy?

Tore off your clothes To make everyone see That that's how it goes That you're only for me

Yeah, I have pieces of you And that may leave you dead But you said you knew That you should have fled

It kills me when you run I could cry a river I think of what I've done I begin to shake and quiver

I'll keep the pieces of you That you've left me with Because without them, I too Will never be complete

 by CompuguyKB and Pandora H. aka The Item but hush, don’t tell a soul :)

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The Legend...

This originally came to me during a Saturday afternoon when I was home alone and bored with absolutely everything else but writing. It is supposed to be an excerpt from a fantasy novel where people are still in the Middle Ages but there's magic involved and people still talk in "ye old English". I also included the giant serpent from Norse mythology that comes every so often throughout eternity and eats worlds. The idea is that in this world there is a well-known legend about a serpent but it is just as well-known that it can be defeated. The story is that there is this fellow, who grows up in fear of the legends and the myths of the serpent in a small village. By the time he is about the age of twenty-five, he falls in love with a girl from the same village and they become inseparable. After a few years the serpent appears looming above the village, set on eating their whole world, yet offers a bargain, telling them it shall leave the village for the price of someone's beloved and the girl immediately offers herself in sacrifice. The fellow storms out of his house and realizes what is going on. He sees the serpent eat his beloved and press onward to the next village and this is his recount of the whole ordeal:

So doing, the serpent prized the heart from my breast. "Now, I will blindly follow your path. I  can see no obstacles twixt us. No distance is too great, no time is left to lose". I sought naught, but to see the snake that had claimed her slain. "I'll see it's scaly hide torn from bone, ere here I rest!" I accepted this hatred gladly. "I'll waver no more! This pawn swore eternal fealty!" Ne'er had I thought myself to be one to slay, to escort life out of bodies in the cold and barren hands o' mine. "If this be the wills of God and fate, then damn the lot of them! I'll tear all of it asunder! I shan't rest until I lay the damned beast down with the scantest of mercy!" This lust for vengeance was, at this moment, etched deep into my very being and so my soul. It became the reason I lived for, and as if they heard me damn them, both God and fate left me. In that moment, that vengeance came to be not solely the reason I lived for, but also the reason I died for.

by CompuguyKB  :)

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Things like this only happen in movies. Right?

Dearest reader, let me share some stories with you.

All of us have seen movies or read books which led us to think to ourselves 'This won't happen to me, this only happens in teen dramas'. As we grow up, we realize this is not quite the case.

As I try really hard to always show an extroverted and optimistic face, no one would've imagined the thoughts running through my mind just a few years ago. Thoughts which tend to haunt me to this very day. Not only have I suffered from body dysmorphic disorder most of my life, but also from a somewhat moderate depression. The lowest point of my life was my family finding out about a nasty habit I’d acquired back then. I was too ignorant to realize how much pain I have caused my family and friends by choosing to self-harm. It took only a few months for the wounds to heal and turn into scars, but it took years for my mind to heal and it is still not completely healed. That's my own story. I'm better now, much better. I haven't self-harmed in almost 4 years and I have grown into a loving young woman. But other things, other stories are on my mind now.

My best friend had a mental breakdown in the 4th grade. I tried to be of help by cheering her up with silly jokes and an unhealthy amount of hugs, but she simply wouldn't tell me what the issue was. My ignorance stood in the way. I thought it had something to do with her 'problematic' boyfriend. Boy, was I wrong! You see, her family never had much money; they could barely make ends meet on a monthly basis. When her older sister found out she was pregnant, it was too late for an abortion. That child was an expense they simply could not afford. When they got to love the child and look forward to it, her sister had a spontaneous abortion. I still remember my friend running out of the classroom without a word. I still remember her crying on my shoulder because of the nephew she never got to hug and watch over. With time, she healed her broken heart. All of them did.

Now, if you think this is the end of this story-session, you are mistaken!This summer I met a friend from elementary school; we’d been inseparabale before we went to high school, but me going to a school in Zagreb and her staying in our hometown caused us to drift apart. We got a chance to reconnect again and I found out her parents had got divorced in the meantime. She decided to stay with one of them in our hometown. Since she didn't get into college, she got a job as a bartender at a local café. We finally got the chance to meet on a daily basis again. Though she seemed happy, I could tell that something was wrong. Everything she’d been through scarred her and brought about some 'daddy issues'. In order to fill her emptiness, she got involved with a man more than twice as old. A man whose children were her age. A man who took away her innocence. And the worst part is: she knows this was wrong but she couldn't help being self-destructive. She still can’t. Her story does not have an ending yet. I am  trying to pick up her pieces and put them back together so she finally feels better.

If you are still with me, dear reader, let me ask one thing of you. Don't be ignorant! Don't look away! Don't think these things won't happen to you or your friends! And if they do happen, know that there are people who went through the same things and seek help from them! Don't be ashamed or afraid! And most of all, never ever judge a book by its cover!

by LaPlusHeureuse

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To Her

He was that last bite of food that you didn't take because you thought it would make you fat. He was the book, filled with details and hidden stories - but you were already watching a second-rate movie. He was that cold tiny snowflake on that first snowy night right before Christmas - but you didn't want to ruin your hair. He was the old, lovely dog that you saw that time you decided on a puppy. He was a quiet night, peaceful and calming, seductive, charming, one of those rare things in life that captivate our heart and make us want to stop time - too bad you had lit all the lights at your apartment. He was the beautiful sound of the forest, the smell of the wet trees, the wild animal in the way, the path you never experienced because you just never leave the city. He was comedy when your life was horror. He was up in the sky when you were looking down. He was right within your grasp when you decided to quit. He was that bright color you had never wanted to wear. He was the silence when you were screaming.

He is the love you have never had.

by Mischief_Managed

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To Him

She was a dawn, a beautiful, colorful, promising dawn - but you've never seen one, because you like to sleep late. She was a tiny apartment on the top of a building, filled with crazy little cute things and windows from top to bottom so that the sun could get in - but you've always walked with your head down, looking at your feet while rushing to your big house in the suburbs, never once looking up. She was the rain; a fresh, unpredictable, cold, pleasant and dreamy rain - the rain you've always run from, hiding under your black umbrella, hoping not to get wet. She was the train, filled with people, sometimes noisy, sometimes quiet, always on the move and to the destination - but you never noticed for you never take trains. She was the right turn when you made the left. She was the sea, filled with wild life that floated and grew inside of her, in the depth she was at her most beautiful and the waves and ebb tides were her way of expression - too bad you never learned how to swim. She was every flower you never picked. She was every movie you never watched. She was every thought you never cared to have. She was an opportunity you never learned to take. She was the love you will never have.

by Mischief_Managed :)

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by Blue koala :)

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If I could be a fish...

If I could be a fish, I would be a moray. It lies in a cave. But the cave must be in a good position. Then, only its head sticks out. It doesn't do anything all day long. No one annoys it or bothers it. When it sees another fish near the cave, it catches it. Other fish know that morays will attack them. That's some life, just sleeping and eating. But I would rather be a bird than a fish.

by Joseph :)

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Here’s a thing...

Stand tall. Always. Walk proudly, for you have nothing to be ashamed of. Everything you've done is a product of your own ideas and intentions, and although sometimes it might not turn out the way you'd like it to, don't forget you tried. That is far more than what others did. No one in this world has the right to judge you although many will try. When it happens, rise above them, be a better person, show them how you should be treated. But always be a lady, or a gentleman. Don't forget your manners. That is what differs you from them. Be confident, but don't show off. Your confidence will speak for you. That is enough. Stop worrying. It brings nothing to you, it just plays with your nerves and takes up your precious time. Always have your head in the game. Don't be one step ahead of them all, be a mile. But never leave your heart behind, for one does not know how to manage without it. There is evil in this world and you should be aware of that every second of every day. Only with your heart will you be able to confront it. Never be greedy. You already have so much more than so many people on this horrific planet. So don't be sad if the grass is greener in your neighbour's yard - it might be like that from your point of view. Stop with the waiting. People constantly wait for something. Friday, weekend, vacation, summer, winter, graduation, middle age, retirement - right until they're dead. Don't be that shortsighted and trivial. Don't be afraid to tell the truth at any moment - never lie just so that others could  feel comfortable. Lies are deceptions created by humans in order to distract little people. Love and live. Dream big at night and make plans in the day.

Life is simple if you want it to be.

by Mischief_Managed :)

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The day has finally come...

and  it’s been a few months since they did the Elvis thing and left the building - the day to say goodbye to the gang that created this blog two and a half years ago, the bunch that went from being the admired pioneers to the victims of my authority and, now, the dearly missed. Dear Delić, Martinović, Jović, Cesarec, Marelja, Vukasović, Kovačić, Abramović, Đenadija, Crnić and Čop! There you are - all in black and white and in full view - and hopefully choking on all the sweet thoughts I have just showered you with! I wish you a safe journey; the waters will be murky and restless, but, hey, better the waters than you, the skippers! :)

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Icarus

If he only knew That the fall awaits Do you really think He wouldn't rise Rise so high To the compassion To the relief Of the blue, blue sky? Maybe the wings Are there to heal His empty soul and bitter years? Warmth Mystery Salvation It was what he desired He wanted to touch it A burning sun Oh, but how do you tell a dreamer That he must awake When all he wants Is a flare To cure his icy ache; If he only knew That the fall awaits He wouldn't fly With fear in his eyes Longing for an escape Craving it way too long, He would look again blissfully At the flaming ends Of the blue, blue skies For one last time Isn't it better To burn passionately All at once Than fade in misery Until the last pulse? If he only knew That the fall awaits He wouldn't stop at the sun He would want to reach The outer space; Maybe it is better like this Ending the flight With a fulfilling bliss Before becoming eternal dust Isn’t that the thing with the dreams? From the very first second They were meant to combust by Amelie

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Perception Makes Us Different

“The eyes look but the brain sees.”This famous old axiom states the fact that our eyes are merely sensory organs that our brain uses to define its surroundings. Though this being an axiom simply defines it as the common truth, many still can’t quite grasp its meaning and significance.

Throughout time and history, people developed ways of interpreting different things that happened around them. As the brain in its nature holds the drive to find patterns, logic and purpose in everything, it tends to do so at such an automatic level that we rarely notice ourselves doing it. When it comes down to discriminatory patterns, people often seem to get quite reserved and deny being racist, when more than once we have seen them slip up and say something not quite right or do something in a manner implying things that shouldn’t be implied. This in itself is a deeply rooted behavior and only a mechanism of protection, as in the ancient times anything that differed from the norm was considered a threat. However, this did not, nor will it ever give anyone the right to withhold people’s rights.  To clarify, it is simply true that in the past, as countless animals, we had the urgency to protect ourselves in a cruel and simple world where we were only starting to slowly climb up the food chain. These urges, often called limbic responses, will never go away. Even though we have evolved as a civilized species, we still have to master our minds. For many of us in this and previous generations it is already too late.  Since we were children, we have been predominantly exposed to one race – Caucasian. This has defined our personalities and morphed our perception of what is considered normal. Entailing the fact that even as we grow to be older and wiser, as we are taught to differentiate between what's right and wrong, righteous and dishonorable; yet, we are never to see that the things we are taught often conflict with the reality of our everyday lives; that neither life nor people are binary enough that we can call them bad or good. However, we still seem to understand that quite a number of our actions can be thought of and seen as reprehensible and we choose to stay silent and do nothing to change it.

Talking has become a strange thing to do in this modern world. People seem to have lost their voice. Nobody ever speaks up any more. No more whistle-blowers. Just occasional squabbles about the people who are chosen to lead countries and their mistakes, arguments on which political party stole more money and such matters. People telling each other not to be so weak, that there is always someone that has it worse than they do; educated people telling children with learning disorders to “try harder”. Makes me feel like the world has become bleak, that everything I knew of as a child has been rendered to debt and misery. Speaking freely, I say that the people who are put in positions of power not only seem to get corrupt, but also forget about all the moral standards and others… well, looks like it’s just a part of their personality. It’s like the days of monarchy and aristocrats. Everything and everyone just seems ornamental. Pushing to get through their day. The happiness is gone. Misery prevails.

I’m sorry if these were not the words you expected from the title.

But that’s only my perception.

by The Imperfect Perfectionist :)

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'Late Night Chilli Pepper Lurking on a Hopeless Conversation’ - PART TWO' by Double-edgedSword, drHouse, Laughing Gummy Lion, The imperfect perfectionist and Late Night Chilli Pepper lurking AGAIN :)

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'Late Night Chilli Pepper Lurking on a Hopeless Conversation' - PART ONE by Double-edgedSword, drHouse, Laughing Gummy Lion, The imperfect perfectionist and Late Night Chilli Pepper lurking, of course :)

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Dear reader,

I'd like you to have a seat. Pick a place that makes you feel comfortable, suits you the most; be that your bed, a tram seat, or a comfy armchair by the window. Most importantly, I'd like you to sit somewhere where you can read what I'm getting ready to talk about and fully take in the gist of it all. Now, the idea is not new, has been covered before, so for that matter, this is not something that'll enlighten and astound you, but if you read it carefully, it actually could - just like when something horrible you've read about in the newspapers actually happens to you as a type of punishment for your lack of empathy toward the victim, making you experience the terror they've gone through, realizing their horror on your own skin. Does that make sense? Having said this, still tiptoeing 'round the main topic of this cry for help for humanity, it's a logical question to ask what or who inspired me to write this in the first place. Looking back at what happened last week, I could name several different news that have lit a little flame inside of me, a little flame of both hate, shame, and terror for people, ignited by the magical matches of human stupidity, ignorance and most importantly - their insensitivity. The straw that broke the camel's back was something that burst all over my feed when I opened my Facebook account – various articles, by various journalists, headlines varying just a little, yet all of them followed by a photo of a young man splashing money about. A young man, waving four-digit kuna bills in his hand, and, to quote him - "counting his blessings", needless to say a recent must-have hashtag '#blessed' followed. Perhaps the whole thing shouldn't be worth the fuss. Shouldn't be worth anyone's while. Right? One 'rich' individual with no manners or empathy for the ones in constant struggle to make ends meet, bragging about his 'wealth' on Instagram. No big deal. Right? Well, turns out it IS a big deal. If it hadn't been for what followed in the comments section, the whole thing would've gone barely noticed. Hoping to find some satisfaction in the comments disapproving his act, I ended up being completely astounded not finding them, yet finding many others supporting his deed. Should we get worried over seeing a businessman's rich kid throwing a-few-retirement-pensions-worth-of-money? Well, not really. Don't we see them on a daily basis in the majority of the mass media - famous for being famous, or famous for being rich.

There is a certain profile and a group of people that concerns me though - I'm referring to the ones who keep putting these 'brats' on a pedestal and keep worshipping their image, the hundreds of millions who follow them on social media, who follow their examples, wanting to be not LIKE them, but THEM - to get their hands on a Vuitton, flash their Tiffany rings and proudly wear their Louboutins. Isn't it sad? Isn't it horrible? Centuries later, people still choosing their 'leader' only based on their 'wealth' and 'influence'. Funny, we've had an opportunity, recently, to see that these very 'leaders' really do go places after-all. Since it wouldn't be fair to allow them take up so much space again, let's talk about the other side of the coin: Now, imagine a cold, foggy afternoon. A boy walking home from school or work, having his inner conversations and worries all over his head. Recognizing a sound coming out of nowhere, from the darkness, and suddenly noticing an old lady. An old lady not like the ones in the movies portraying 'an ideal family' - the one baking cookies sprinkled with chocolate and pure happiness. Instead of a plate full of cookies in her hands, she is holding a black plastic bag filled with bottles. Cold weather. Instead of a warm home and decent clothes, there is a jacket all smeared with black stains, the dirt from having to make her living by digging through piles of trash.

How many bottles should she collect to get half of the amount the aforementioned brat threw  away? Easy math. 10 000. For HALF of the amount. The saddest part is, she actually works and makes HER living, while the 'young guy' will probably keep spending his parent's heritage without working a day in his life. I’d read about people helping out the unfortunate ones in their struggle to survive before I saw her and felt amazed, yet never had the 'courage' or whatever it is that’s stopped me from doing the same thing. So you know what? This time I told myself I'd do it. What's the worst thing that could happen? She could refuse my help? I went to the supermarket and bought a bag filled with groceries. I'd give it to her the next day. I would meet her on my way back from school at her 'workplace', anyway. The following day, she was there. At first, I started questioning myself, recoiled a bit. A few steps from her I still wasn't sure if I should do it. Would she find it demeaning to receive a help from a random kid on the street? Deep down, I knew that I'd do it. Come hell or high water. Having in mind the fact that actually nothing bad can happen from my desire to help her out a bit, I greeted her nervously. To be exact, the whole thing wasn't as awkward as I thought it'd be. After a minute or two of hesitation to take the groceries, I finally managed to convince her - not posing with her afterwards with a hashtag 'blessed' or anything else. How did it make me feel? Fulfilled. Satisfied. #blessed? No. Now, you have two options- You either choose to go ahead, hold onto the handles of your make-believe world tight, keep going through the world of indifference and having the harsh reality out of sight, out of mind; Or you choose to let the fantasy of 'the perfect world' to divulge itself, realizing that there are imperfections and sadness in the world, but you can help to ease them. Go ahead. Go to the world and be the change you want to see. Or don't. It's up to YOU.

by drHouse :)

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A Paper on Addiction

In the world today, there is a substantial amount of stress, pressure and disappointment in everybody’s lives. Everyone who lives through such terrible days tries to find some sort of escape, which is in most cases some type of addiction. When discussing addiction, a broad range of thoughts can cross our minds although most people will, primarily, think of the common addictive substances such as drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and other things of that nature. Moreover, some of us may get a bit creative and mention some other common things we like doing such as indulging in eating certain types of sweets that provide us with the necessary gustatory stimuli.

The basic principles of addiction are described with the Pleasure principle. This, in its basic form, tells us that the brain perceives and registers all types of pleasurable stimuli in the exact same way, whether you are smoking a cigarette or eating a piece of chocolate. The brain does this as it does most other things, by releasing hormones. In this case, the hormone is dopamine, more commonly known as the feel-good chemical. The sudden boost of dopamine levels provides us with a certain feeling of euphoria and happiness. However, recent findings have shown that this process is more complex than we previously thought. Certain studies done by Harvard Medical School show that the process of a certain liking transforming into an addiction is more learning-based in such a way that the released dopamine interacts with another neurotransmitter glutamate in order to, in some way, hijack the brain’s system of reward-based learning.

This system is very important as its in charge of our most primitive reflexes and links certain basic tins needed for survival such as eating and mating with pleasure. As our addiction evolves and we expose ourselves to the subject of addiction, our brain is rewired so that certain parts of the brain (the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex, the former realizing dopamine and the latter in charge of planning and executing tasks) communicate in a way that couples our liking something with our need to indulge in it. This, in result drives us to take action to seek out the source of pleasure.

Although there has been some talk over the absence of love and support of the community, there is not much information that supports this thesis.

The reason for addiction being such a large problem in the world we live in today is, that, in most cases we do not have the will power to do much about this. This is due to the fact that after the brain is rewired in this sense, it starts to develop tolerance toward the substance it is addicted to, requiring us to, over time, substantially increase the amount of the substance needed to give us the same amount of pleasure; this is especially harmful in addictions towards narcotics, opioids and other drugs. At this point compulsion takes over as the pleasure associated with the addictive drug or behavior subsides and yet the memory of the desired effect and the need to recreate it persists.

But there is no reason to feel down because everyone can overcome an addiction whether it be a lack of self-control whilst eating a chocolate bar, or something more serious. There is an abundance of support groups and rehabilitation programs that, alongside the help from the people who love you can lead you down the right road of recovery.

References:

Harvard Health Publications: Overcoming addiction and paths towards recovery

HelpGuide.org – How addiction hijacks the brain, interpretation of Overcoming addiction and paths towards recovery

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition or DSM-IV

Oxford Journals, Addiction, a Disease of Compulsion and Drive: Involvement of the Orbitofrontal Cortex

by The imperfect perfectionist :)

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"Hello, students (and maybe ex-students) at Prelog! I am SketchNiska, a new member of this great group! I mostly draw when in class (a reason why the teachers love me so) and my inspiration comes from video games, comics and cartoons, like the comic book character Bigby Wolf drawn here. I hope you, guys, like my sketches/drawings and maybe they'll brighten up your day a little bit! ;)" by SketchNiska :)

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Technology... Can't Live with It; Can't Live without It

Nowadays, technology makes the world go round and our everyday lives would be inconceivable without it. However, are we fully aware of its drawbacks as much as we are aware of its advantages?

First of all, it's indisputable that technology makes our daily lives substantially easier since it helps us with plenty of things: our household chores, for instance, with washing the laundry and doing the dishes, in communication – the Internet and its numerous social network sites – in traveling – covering long distances in short time.

Secondly, it significantly saves our time and allows us to do more things simultaneously. For example, we can be answering our e-mails, washing our clothes and preparing lunch, while our car is in the car wash and we listen to the radio – all at the same time!

Nevertheless, we mustn't disregard its disadvantages either! One of the biggest downsides, of course, is the fact that it has made us lazy – the simplest little things we ought to do, such as taking out dog for a walk or going to the supermarket, have become tiresome.

Furthermore, technology has actually made people forget some unique and valuable skills that they once possessed: nobody will multiply five random numbers since we have calculators for that!

To summarize, technology has really helped us on a daily basis, having made our lives tremendously easier; on the other hand, it has also made us lazier and ungrateful. In my opinion, as much as it has worked for mankind, it has also downgraded the individual.

by Mischief_Managed :)