Wednesday, February 24, 2016

New Age Rebels Limited Giveaway!

Get a free copy of New Age Rebels exclusively for Amazon Kindle now till Saturday! Here is an sample from the novel. The link to the amazon page will be after.

Final Orders

To everyone in the Restricted Zones,

My name is Commander Conner Bradley, former commander of the former real United States Army and this is the last letter that I’m going to make before I die. Copies will be made for every loyal man within the Restricted Zones to read so that nothing will be lost in translation and all rumors shall be laid to rest. I dedicated my life to protecting my country and I would’ve died for it, even to this day no matter how corrupt it is. When I was growing up, all I wanted to be was a protector and save lives because frankly that is the greatest honor anyone can have in his or her life. Now things aren’t as they were back when America was whole. Before the country was split in two between the rebs or rebels and the conformists or cons, before President Frank Mason.

The year 2088 was a desperate time, enemies were everywhere from Mexico to Australia now that everyone had a nuclear weapon at their disposal. The value of the American dollar wasn’t worth the paper that it was being printed on and a majority of people were fighting to stay alive while a certain few suffered little pain. That’s when Frank Mason, a senator from North Carolina rose at the perfect time and everything started to turn around. But like the rise of most dictators, he rose when people were so desperate for the bubble to be repaired, they were willing to sacrifice everything without thought or consequence. This hurts me to say because I was one of those mindless drones willing to fall if he told me to lay down.

I had been a one-star general and saw the fires surrounding my country and the only thing I wanted to do was save it. Frank Mason told me of his plans and how at the end of his two terms that he was going to do the one thing that would change everything. He succeeded, somehow the money started to circulate again and raise in value, other enemies started to become neutral or allies, and the majority who had suffered started to prosper again.

Job unemployment was at an all-time low, virtually everyone had a roof over their heads, and threats against our nation were disappearing at an incredible rate. For a short time, it was seen as a miracle and people believed that he was going to replace Lincoln as the greatest president in history. But eventually the smoke and mirrors can only hide the illusion for so long.

Clear Skies Defense Corporation. Absorbing all weapons manufacturing companies became the military’s greatest ally until it became the military in general. All military personnel, equipment and actions became the direct responsibility of the company’s owner, Peter Wesson. While it was alarming at first, thing did get better for the soldiers and the country was improving and so I stayed loyal to my oath. It would only be the first of many offenses the ‘savior’ of our country would commit and ultimately lead to what we know as The Great Division.

The one accomplishment that President Mason wouldn’t take credit for when our country was divided down the middle. Especially after he committed the greatest act of treason in my opinion and something we all should be ashamed we let happen. Despite all of his accomplishments, he still guaranteed to do something that would change everything and near the end of his second term, he succeeded.

During an emergency state of the union address, he literally shredded the constitution live on television for the entire nation to see. He spoke of how the old ways don’t work anymore and clinging on to them is what got us in such a desperate state in the first place. He spoke of how the nation had to evolve in order to survive and that he had a plan that would guarantee our nation’s survival.

I’ve lost many soldiers under my command and on that day, I wish I could join them after seeing everything that I lived for shredded apart in a mere few seconds. The balance failed to stop the check, the house and senate just rolled over and let him do what he wanted, even dropping the amendment that would deny him a third term. An election that people knew was fixed, never in American history has a president won an election with a 2 percent popularity vote.

I wanted to stage a coup d’état but with law enforcement and military being monitored as they are these days, it would’ve been impossible to do anything in secret. It would surly have meant my discharge and my death along with several other commanders who felt shared my rage. How things got so bad, only the former politicians who are still alive know.

The ones who were there when he made the announcement that he was dissolving the house but keeping the Senate just to show that he cared about the voices of the people. President Frank Mason cares so much that he removed all power so now the Senate is just a play for the masses to see. Putting on a good show but in the end, proving to be useless at because the president still had opposition. Those who were brave enough, the first opposition started to protest openly even though they didn’t have the requirements and for the first time, the president got nervous.

He made the call to order all the soldiers back home and close the bases all over the world but not to join their families but to suppress the very opposition. That was the scar that I couldn’t bear, so I went to the generals that I know that I could trust and right then and there, I took off the uniforms given to us by Clear Skies and threw it down on the floor. I wasn’t a protector of the nation that I once loved, the suit that I wore when I was just a soldier was defiled and the country I grew up in was gone.

This was my belief and the belief of the other generals so they joined in and we dawned real uniforms once again. Then I took my personal Old Glory flag and it was placed over them, covering the filth that we had worn for years. April 27th 2095 would be the year that a new rebellion was born but it we made a critical error.

We underestimated how people felt about the new regime, a majority of the population believed in the president. Even with all flag being prohibited including Old Glory, the rights being restricted, and the president forming a “cabinet” comprised of the richest people in America now that they owned the military, banks, media, oil, and medicine.

I was hoping that with all the military put together, we could force the president out of power even but my worst fears arose in the form of General Thomas Cooper, a Lieutenant back then informed the president of our conspiracy. Now he stands as the commander of what we call the Union army created by Clear Skies Defenses. Thankfully soldiers loyal to us were able to keep us out of prison long enough to form a new army that the Union media labelled us as rebels.

Using the media’s own fire, we decided to build on that and in time we accomplished building a formidable army. The other generals and I were able to unite you all in the best way we could by forming the American Rebel Army or A.R.A. but in the end, another reality would keep us from full scale war. Now that President Mason saw a legitimate threat to the nation and the country scared of a new Civil War, a compromise was offered to which both sides agreed to meet to discuss the terms.
An offer that the other generals and I knew we couldn’t turn down. Certain states would be known as the Restricted Zones to everyone who is a conformist as we call them. Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota would be ours to do with as we wanted.

Anyone that didn’t want anything to do with President Mason or the new United States had to be registered as an uncompliant. Trade would still be established with our states providing natural resources as long as the Union provided us with oil and other supplies. The United States would still be considered “United” but like everything else with President Mason, it’s all for show hiding nothing by lies and deception. We were skeptical but after carefully looking over the treaty, we knew it was a legit offer and the only way for peace. At first we wanted to deny it but after a moment, we gave it consideration.

The last Civil War cost too many American lives and we all being seasoned warriors; we couldn’t deal with anymore loss. Furthermore, we spent our lives protecting this nation, even with how bad it’s gotten, we couldn’t be the instrument of tearing it apart.  This was the cause of why we signed the segregation treaty on the eve of the new century that granted us the peace we’ve been enjoying… for now. As I lay here dying in Topeka, Kansas, our own national capital, this fellow soldier writes down my final words. Those words are about how much I’m sorry. I’m sorry for so much and I feel terrible that you all are the ones who will have to deal with this now.

We didn’t fight back at the right time and we didn’t go to the war that deep down, I feel is going to come. I only hope that you all can understand our motives and why we did, what we did. I like it on the record that I nominate Commander Debra Guillen as my replacement on the military council. She has always been a great leader and I know she will fulfill my position with the same fortitude as I did.

To everyone in the Restricted Zones, heed my words and stay vigilante, believe in our government based off the old ways.The Senate and House of Representatives in South Dakota that still serves as the voice of the people. The military council of the A.R.A. that protect our land and finally, please don’t lose faith in our country. I never believed in much but I did believe in the eternal pride of American patriotism and its ability to persevere even through the worst of times. May God bless and watch over you all.

Sincerely,

Commander Conner Bradley
August 15th 2109

http://www.amazon.com/New-Age-Rebels-Anthony-Labson-ebook/dp/B0152IQZAI/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1442940972&sr=8-1&keywords=New+age+rebels

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Deadpool Revives Fans Faith with Fox


Try saying that title five times fast. That’s my little tribute to Deadpool which was released this weekend and had a massive debut at the box office. Before we get into it, I have to make this announcement because parents didn’t know what they were getting into when I attended a 7:00 p.m. showing. What’s really funny is things were ok with bad guys getting decapitated, people shot in inappropriate places, and language that little children shouldn’t hear but when sexual situations happened, then that’s when the parents lost their mind. One mother I remember was screaming while dragging her son out, “This is a Marvel movie, how could they put this on the screen?”

If you’ve never heard of Deadpool and you have kids that want to see it, then here’s the rundown. In the comics, Deadpool is a mutant mercenary with advanced combat training, incredible healing powers and a witty intellect that was created as an answer to DC Comic’s assassin Deathstroke. Both have signature colors with Deathstroke being black and yellow while Deadpool is black and red. Both use swords and guns to do their dirty work but while Deathstroke is known to be serious and sinister, Deadpool is more comedic and rule breaking. Deadpool is famous for breaking the 4th wall when in the comics, he realized that he himself was a comic book character and started speaking directly to the reader. His world is full of chaos, outrageous humor, blood, bullets, sexual content, and some of the most spontaneous moments you’ll ever encounter and this is just the comics.  

The film started out in a way that already got the audience laughing with the most awkward opening credits in cinematic history. It follows the traditional origin of Deadpool with his former life as mercenary Wade Wilson, a man with a dark past and a mouth that always has something coming out. After a tragic diagnosis, he decides to take a chance on an “experimental procedure” that nobody has ever heard of in a laboratory which looks more like a dungeon. He meets his doctor there who would later reveal what he is and why he’s conducting his experiments on Wade. That would cause everything to change except of course for his big mouth and spontaneous comments.  

After escaping the laboratory and the one who created him, Wade sets a plan of revenge into action that would involve help from a famous Marvel character and a brand new one. There’s also some sneaky jabs at failures by Fox, Ryan Reynolds, and Marvel but if you don’t know the story behind them then they’ll fly over your head. This was a much needed win for Fox because with X-Men: Apocalypse coming later this year, this film sets the bar. The fight scenes were over the top, the comedy was brilliant, the use of language could almost rival Scarface, and it was worth the wait considering Deadpool’s history.   

The film was in a void for years after the disaster of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Plans were at a standstill since fans didn’t approve of that film’s version of the famous anti-hero but actor Ryan Reynolds was determined to make the film happen. Some role just fit to actors like Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow or Sean Connery as James Bond and for Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool matches his style of humor. 20th Century Fox at the time was determined to reboot the Fantastic Four but decided to take a gamble. They gave Deadpool a decent budget, a director in Tim Miller (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) and Ryan Reynolds reprising his role.   
Of course, with the apocalyptic bomb that was The Fantastic Four, fans turned to Deadpool with the hope that Fox can do another comic adaptation outside of X-Men. Deadpool is nearing 135 million here in the U.S. so it’s safe to say that the film is a success because of dedicated fans, a well marketed campaign, and a great job by all who were involved with making the film. The film stays true to the elements that make the character attractive, the audience laughing till they vomit and the film entertaining. Fox has finally found something outside of the X-Men so here’s my advice for the sequel, don’t change what you’re doing at this point. Of course there’s something at the end of the credits which I know people have a problem waiting for but trust me, you’ll have fun watching the credits.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Valentine's Day Poem

How To Say "I love you."
by Anthony Labson

Don't say "I love you"
with a serpent's tongue.
Spreading your false energy
through my veins -- that's worse than
any venom and murders the heart the quickest.

Don't say "I love you"
like a child does a toy,
something that is to be enjoyed
for a short period time and then discarded
without a care for the one who is used
and will be left alone in dark misery.

Don't say "I love you"
at all.

Give that person a gift
at an unexpected time,
and give it for no reason.

Kiss that person,
not with lustful intentions
but with meaningful ones.

Do something for that person,
not because they asked
but because you want to for them.

Be there for that person
no matter what the reason,
even when they don't want you to.

Look each other in the eyes
and enjoy that moment of silence,
that moment where words have no purpose.

Finally, hold that hand.
That is always the first step
and will always be the most important one.

If you want to say "I love you"
and actually mean it.
Then don't say it at all.


Excerpt from Madness in a Recession, available in print and on Amazon.
Happy Valentine's Day!