Support Charity
Please support education and information access where you can in addition to these charities:
Check out the Sick Kids Lottery! [New!]
Sick Kids Foundation (Canada)
Help research that provides cures and support treatment for sick children.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Canada)
Creating a world of possibility for kids and youth with disabilities.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation (International) [New!]
The Cancer Research Institute (International) [Updated!]
The Terry Fox Foundation (Canada/International)
The Princess Margaret Foundation (Canada)
Cancer Research organizations that combine the expertise of many different research firms and Universities to find innovative treatments and cures for Cancer.
United Way Worldwide (International)
United Way brings communities together to face their greatest challenges, whether that’s helping families find stability, empowering young people or responding to crises.
United Nations Fund (International)
Unicef (International)
Two organizations whose contribution of expertise, human and financial resources and volunteer efforts provide humanitarian solutions to real world problems the entire world over. These charities operate worldwide. The United Nations Fund supports the various programs part of the United Nations’ global mandate, as much a foundation as it is a roof around the world, while Unicef has been helping children throughout the world through famine and medica crises, and are most benefited by other children of the world who raise money during holidays like Hallow’s Eve (Halloween).
David Suzuki Foundation (Canada/International – Dr. Suzuki has delivered many keynotes at United Nations Environmental Summit events throughout the years)
Through evidence-based research, education and policy analysis, we work to conserve and protect the natural environment, and help create a sustainable Canada. We regularly collaborate with non-profit and community organizations, all levels of government, businesses and individuals.
Humane World For Animals (Formerly Humane Society International) (International)
The Humane World for Animals protects the health, lives and rights of animals the world over, ensuring that they too have a voice in this world. We are interdependent upon the complex web of life this entire planet over for our mutual survival. This is a world wide charity.
World Duchenne Organization (International)
Muscular Dystrophy Canada (Canada)
The World Duchenne Organization and Muscular Dystrophy Canada’s mission is to enhance the lives of those affected by neuromuscular disorders by continually working to provide ongoing support and resources while relentlessly searching for a cure through well-funded research.
‘There is a compelling need to ensure that wherever they are in the world, everyone diagnosed with Duchenne (and Becker) Muscular Dystrophy can benefit from a standard of care that is informed by the best practice of the best clinicians from all over the world, and is based upon the latest research.
World Veterans Federation (International)
The World Veterans Federation is a humanitarian organisation, a charity and a peace activist movement. The WVF maintains its consultative status with the United Nations since 1951 and was conferred the title of “Peace Messenger” in 1987.
I’d like to point out that it was the incredible Gary Sinese Foundation (United States) that brought the issue of Veteran’s rights to my attention. I’ve always had little respect for those who’d forget the great contribution made by those who’ve risked life and limb to defend those values that so many of us espouse. Perhaps the true measure of one’s principles are by that for which they’d risk their life.
“None can speak more eloquently for peace than those who have fought in war.”
Ralph Bunche, Nobel Peace Prize 1950
The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (United States/Global)
The Reeve Foundation provides programs for research, uniting Scientists and Specialists from many different fields to find treatments for spinal cord injury translating them into therapies and support programs.
The Heart And Stroke Foundation (Canada)
For over 60 years, Heart & Stroke has been dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our work has saved thousands of lives and improved the lives of millions of others.
The ALS Society Of BC (Canada, British Columbia)
ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) is a progressive neuromuscular disease in which nerve cells die and leave voluntary muscles paralyzed. The ALS society provides a variety of programs to combat this disease and help those with it to survive.
The Global Foodbanking Network (International)
Ensuring that people the world over have enough food day to day in order to survive and lead healthy lives. In this challenging day and age services like this are becoming more and more essential. This is a world wide charity.
Margaret Atwood (Canadian writer)
Internationally renowned writer who continues to stifle us with her characters, plots and prose.
The Pierre Berton Heritage Centre (Canadian writer)
Visit a modest heritage museum for one of my inspirations as a Canadian writer. Children should read The Secret World of Og.
The Edgar Allan Poe Museum (United States writer)
Because Barris told me to put it here. If I didn’t, he said he’d walk. Geez. Stardom really gets to some people’s heads. Maybe I could kill him and bury his heart beneath the floor boards! Or I could encase him in behind a brick and mortar wall, for shaming my family name of Amantillado!
Wikipedia (Global)
The model for what may become the Encyclopedia Galactica, a complete reference and record of history, events and knowledge of humanity and its journey beyond. It is the encyclopedia of all that we know, what we surmise that we’ve known and will learn in the future. Yes, Wikipedia is a charitable organization of great importance. If you enjoy what I am doing here then please take the time to donate to Wikipedia. Surprisingly only 1% of Wikipedia’s users donate yet the site serves pages to millions every day.
Humble Bundle (United States/International)
A video gaming storefront benefiting a vast variety of different Charities in the United States and United Kingdom (hopefully soon to be expanded to include other areas of the world?). Their software bundles and video games allow you to choose which Charity your money benefits and how much of your money benefits that Charity. See? Gamers can do their part too and often do.
Multiple Sclerosis Society Of Canada (Canada)
Multiple Sclerosis is a degenerative disease currently affecting an estimated 2.3 million world wide. By donating you are contributing to effective research in finding a cure and tipping the scales of MS research to change lives forever.
If you’re a resident of Ontario then please consider supporting Building Better Schools.
Other Ways To Help Using Your Computer
Donate your idle computer time to science! Join the World Community Grid by clicking on one of the links below and follow the instructions for how to participate:
Thank you for your support
Shhhh! Digital Media
Brian Joseph Johns
The Butterfly Dragon: The Two Butterflies – Episode 04
Gabe’s Nap
Doctor Briggs managed to get the oxygen onto Gabe’s face as he gasped for air. The oxygen quickly filled his lungs as he calmed, his breathing now eased.
The dialysis machine and the lights in the room suddenly came to life as the power came back on throughout the building.
Zheng stepped back from the dialysis machine as it began to do its job automatically.
“He should be fine now. He’ll stabilize and we’ll be able to take check him out thoroughly,” the male Nurse told them as he injected the blue liquid into Gabe’s left shoulder.
“What was that you gave him?” asked Zheng suspiciously.
“A mild sedative to help him sleep, but unfortunately that’s going to cut your visit here short. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got other patients to attend to…” the Nurse stormed out of the room as the two security guards that had led them in arrived.
“Sorry but we’re in the middle of an emergency here. Visiting hours are over,” the first security guard told Zheng and Doctor Briggs as they stepped in the room.
Behind them, Bryce had just arrived with a Doctor.
“You’ll all need to leave and I’ll attend to Gabe. Trust me, he’s in good hands…” the Doctor assured them.
As they went to leave, Gabe struggled with all of his will to lift his head and speak.
“Didn’t you forget something?” he asked, barely able to keep his head up.
“I don’t think so…” Zheng checked her purse to ensure she hadn’t dropped anything from it.
“I mean your tablet. You’re going to need it… for the meeting… right?” Gabe said as he passed out.
“Oh. I forgot my tablet! Of course! How forgetful of me. Get some rest buddy,” Bryce nodded to Gabe as he passed out and then walked over to the tablet and picked it up in hand, carrying it like he would a book.
“We’ll be back as soon as we can Gabe. I promise,” Zheng assured her friend, who was not conscious to hear her words.
“Bye Gabe,” Doctor Briggs waved to the unconscious man as the three of them, accompanied by their security escort left the hospital.
When they arrived at Zheng’s car, Bryce’s smartphone came to life in his pocket with a ring. He quickly answered it as Zheng let him in the back seat.
“Professor Maxwell?” asked a familiar female voice.
“Speaking,” he answered.
“This is Inspector Tricia Camden of the RCMP. You remember me, don’t you?” she asked him in a professional manner.
“Of course. Zheng, Doctor Briggs and I are just leaving the hospital. We just saw Gabe and despite his injuries, he seems to be doing quite well,” Bryce told her, making strategic conversation.
“Glad to hear that he’s alright. Look, I need to meet with you and discuss something that might help the both of us. Could you meet with me today, before your meeting at West Meet East?” Tricia asked him directly.
“Yes, I’m just on my way to West Meet East right now as a matter of fact…” Bryce began and paused when he saw Zheng trying to get his attention.
“We’re going to hit the drive through first. Something quick and healthy…” Zheng began as Doctor Briggs cut in.
“…and substantial I hope,” Doctor Briggs said from the front passenger seat.
“Look, its my wife’s sister calling, she’s going to need my help for about an hour,” Bryce said, cupping his hand over the phone.
“When? Right now?” asked Zheng.
“Exactly. She’ll drop me off at West Meet East after, and given that the meeting isn’t for another two and a half hours, we should be fine, but I’ll need you to drop me off right now,” Bryce asked them.
“Sure. Where would you like me to drop you off?” asked Zheng in an accommodating voice.
Bryce removed his hand from the phone and put it up to his ear.
“Where would you like to meet?” asked Bryce of Tricia.
“How about that Tim Horton’s down at Yonge Street and College Street?” asked Tricia.
“That sounds good. We should be there in about half an hour,” Bryce replied.
“Perfect. I’ll be there ahead of time. I’ll see you then,” Tricia hung up.
“Alright, I’ll need you to drop me off at the Tim Horton’s at College Park,” Bryce told Zheng, with a poker player’s face.
“She lives there?” confirmed Zheng.
“Not in the Tim Horton’s. She has a condo above College Park,” Bryce kept the ruse in place, though he didn’t like having to conceal things from his friends but it was for their own protection.
Zheng pulled out of the parking lot, handing her credit card to the parking lot attendant before they left. A moment later he returned it and they pulled out into traffic on their way to downtown Toronto.
The Return Of Dan Furdy
Several rows of treadmills filled one quarter of the space, each with its own sweaty jogger putting the machine through its paces, though in many cases, it was in fact the other way around. Behind them were a row of bicycle trainers. Each occupied by a rider who pushed their cardiovascular endurance further and further. They were headed toward some degree of what they thought might make them feel good about themselves through their honest effort.
To the right of the treadmills and bicycle trainers were the weight trainers, machines and contraptions of various form that were used by their occupants to target specific muscles and muscle groups. Beside that was a section of open floor, bordered by mirrors on one side and free weights on the opposite. Women and men nearly filled the floor in one row across, each facing the mirror as they curled or pressed their way to fitness.
Finally, in the corner on the other end from the treadmills and bicycles, were the boxing and kick boxing trainers. The kick boxing bags were being put through the run by people of all skill levels. Each of them tuning their stamina, hefting the longest limbs on their body up to hit a floor perched bag. Behide the kick boxing bags were the punching bags, each of them bouncing off their extent and back to the boxing gloved hands that punched them. One of the punching bags however, was being manipulated by someone who appeared to be a pro. The bag rhythmically moved in accordance of the circular motion of boxing gloves, where a bald man worked the bag like he’d been doing it his whole life.
Felix Ritner, a hefty man with a large midsection who’d been running on one of the treatmills hoping to cut down on some of that weight walked by the punching bags on his way to the showers when he spotted someone familiar.
“Dan?! Dan Furdy?” Felix approached the professional boxer.
The boxer stopped.
“What’s the matter. Do I know you or something?” the boxer replied.
“I’m Felix. Felix Ritner. From Denver Partners Inc? Don’t you remember?” Felix looked at Dan, amazed to see such a transformation in the man he’d known.
“Must be mistaken identity…” Dan returned to the bag.
Felix examined him from head to toe. Dan had gone from being a two-hundred and fifty pounds plus ball of cellulose to a solid mass of muscle. His body was finely carved and sculpted, as if Michaelangelo had risen from the grave and directed the man on how to do so. He looked and was more fit than most twenty year olds, and he was in his early sixties.
The boxer stopped, and turned around to see Felix staring at his transformation.
“Look, I thought I told you. You’re mistaken. You have the wrong guy, now beat it before I make you beat it!” Dan said in a firm, streetwise voice.
Felix was so shocked by the threat, and the fact that the Dan he’d known would have never have said anything of the like, that he quickly made his way to the showers, shaking his head in disbelief.
At that moment that Felix had disappeared, one of the professional fitness coaches approached Dan from behind.
“Mr. Gurdy?” the trainer addressed the man.
“Dan. The name’s Dan,” Jack said from within Dan Gurdy’s body.
“I just wanted say that you’re one of our greatest success stories here, and that we’d like to offer you an opportunity and some cash to represent us in our advertising campaign,” the trainer said to him.
“Really? What kind of cash are we talkin’?” asked Jack in the form of Dan.
“Three grand to start, where you’ll be under contract for two weeks for all the promo work, which is mostly photoshoots for our brochures and pamphlets. Possibly more from there,” the fitness coach assured him.
“Two weeks? Where do I sign?” asked Dan enthusiastically, as that money might be enough to put him in with Mutano again.
“Here’s my card, and our agreement. I’ll let you take this home, read it and sign it. Return it to me by tomorrow and I’ll schedule your photoshoot right away,” the gym trainer handed him the agreement package he’d been holding the whole time.
“Thanks. I’ll have this to you by tomorrow,” Dan returned to the punching bag, turning his back to the trainer who casually returned to weights area to assist his customers.
“Mister Mutano? here I come,” Jack spoke aloud to himself from within Dan’s body.
College Park
Bryce sat in the donut shop with a cup of coffee in front him, reading the headlines on the tablet he’d procured from Gabe. Though he was concerned with how the situation was heating up in Europe, he spent most of his reading time in the science dailies, perusing the papers of his colleagues.
“Getting comfortable?” a familiar voice asked him.
“A little too comfortable. How are you?” asked Bryce, standing to greet Inspector Camden.
“Good. I had a good night’s sleep and was up early enough today to see the sunrise from my back porch. I’m going to get a coffee and we’ll take this on the road. There’s a little park that’s often sparsely populated at this time of day, except by others in my field,” Tricia walked over to the service counter and ordered herself a cup of decaf.
When she had her coffee in hand, the two of them ventured out onto College Street and walked east to Yonge Street. From there, they walked south half a city block and found a large paved path leading to the west. They turned onto this path and after a short hike, they found a park complete with surrounding vegetation and the benches upon which they sat.
“So what brings you here today?” asked Bryce, carefully.
“First of all, the information I’m about to share with you is privileged, and I’m trusting that you’ll not divulge it. Not even in a drunken moment with your peers?” Tricia confirmed with him.
“I can offer you assurance, except maybe under the duress of torture or effective social engineering,” Bryce assured her.
“Social engineering? Funny you should say. I know that you and your peers at West Meet East are looking into the details of something we’ve been investigating for years now,” Tricia began.
“And what gave you that impression?” Bryce asked, playing coy.
“Don’t patronize me Bryce. We have our methods and they’re very effective. We’ve been doing this as a force for well over a hundred years, but I didn’t come here to intimidate you. I came here to forge an alliance. An alliance based upon trust,” Tricia told him firmly in no uncertain terms.
“Go on Inspector,” Bryce responded, unperturbed by her earlier statement.
“Much to our society’s benefit, a group of people such as yourselves have taken it upon themselves to understand the inner workings of a social phenomenon that our force and others like ours have deemed a great threat to society,” Tricia continued.
“A great threat? You mean like bitcoin or something of the like, that takes away the power of centralization and autocracy? Look, I support the existence of such currencies and for many good reasons, but I don’t agree with the misuse of any technology on the world stage,” asked Bryce, digging his own heels in.
“No, Bryce. This has nothing to do with anything of the sort. We know that you’re looking into something that we’ve systematically analyzed as a great threat to society as a whole. We have our think tanks and they’re populated by many brilliant people like you, and what they found in their analysis was alarming, and that was conducted almost seven years ago. We know that you’re on a similar path and direction when it comes to this investigation, and I’m proposing that we work together on this,” Tricia asked him.
“And how would we do such a thing?” asked Bryce, somewhat cautiously.
“I’m going to take a step in the spirit of trust, by sharing with you the details of a recent interrogation on our case. These details are a piece of the puzzle into which you and your friends are already looking. In fact, its one of the biggest missing pieces,” Tricia explained to Bryce.
“Go on…” Bryce insisted.
“After a recent bombing, a bombing I’m sure you already know about, we uncovered a key piece of evidence in the form of the possible name of the ideology behind this phenomenon and very possibly, the act of terror committed in the form of that boming. We also uncovered the name of one of the former members of this ideology. We questioned this ex-member and we obtained this information. This was all thanks to the astute observations of a Toronto Police Service Detective and a Forensic Technologist, with whom both of we already have a similar partnership,” Tricia laid it all out for Bryce, enough so to bait him into his next question.
“And what did you find?” he asked her.
“Funny you should ask. We found that this person had been indoctrinated into the ideology using a unique systematic methodology that yielded startling results. Let’s call this ex-member Alice. So Alice joins what she thinks is a soul searching group, perhaps having found a comfortable and enlightening system of belief,” Tricia continued her story.
“We’re not attacking the right to belief or non-belief are we now?” confirmed Bryce skeptically of her.
“No. Not at all, though that’s conditionally speaking, when such beliefs or the ideological groups that uphold them operate in a manner conducive to the rights of other citizens and non-believers, whose rights are also protected by the Charter I might remind you, Bryce. Anyway, getting back to Alice, she spends nearly a year in such a group, attending the main cloister which was at the time, located in central northern Toronto. Said group would often spend weekends at the cloister, where some remarkably strange things went on according to her account,” Tricia paused enough for Bryce to speak.
“What kind of things?” asked Bryce.
“During the overnight stays, Alice reported that other indoctrinated members of this cloister, a large group of people perhaps a hundred or more at that time, would spend all night verbalizing what sounded to her like nonsensical babble. This would continue all night during the sleeping hours within the cloister until morning. As time went on, this babble eventually began to sound more and more hateful. Spiteful and perhaps even accusing. Alice reported that she could distinguish the words and statements of individual members of the cloister and that during her sleeping hours, she often felt strange sensations around various parts of her body, mostly centralized in the abdomen just below the solar plexus, and near the groin. She described this as a tingling sensation that would coincide only with the babbling,” Tricia explained.
“So what happened to Alice?” asked Bryce, now somewhat concerned and slowly starting to understand where Tricia was taking this conversation.
“Eventually, the frequent overnights at this cloister ceased. However, Alice reported that when sleeping in her own home in which she lives alone, she heard the same voices and experienced the same tingling sensation in the areas I described. The voices eventually became clear to her. Very clear, and from what she described, they were a sort of two way connection between her, and the rest of the ideology who’d stayed overnight at the main cloister. Alice worked in the legal profession, and one day, the voices asked her to do something that would violate the policy of the office where she worked, not to mention the laws protecting that arena of her vocation. When she refused to do what they’d asked her to do, she reported suddenly coming down with intense debilitating headaches and accompanying depression, during which time the voices would taunt her, striking at the personal details of her life as she recalled. This continued for a week, until one day it ceased and the voices once again demanded that she do what they’d asked her to do previously. She refused as she did before, and experienced the same turmoil again…” Tricia continued.
“…which lasted for a week?” Bryce responded, catching on to where Tricia was going.
“Exactly. After the second time she’d experienced this, it affected her life and work performance so much that when they asked the third time, she agreed. After she’d carried out their instructions, she reported that for about a week, she felt blissful. Energized. She even said that it felt like being on Novocain, but instead of it only being focused on the mouth, it was her entire body. Keeping in mind that Alice doesn’t partake of any controlled substances,” Tricia finished her story for Bryce.
“Novacain? You mean the pain killer that used to be used in dentistry in the nineteen seventies?” Bryce confirmed.
“Exactly. Now, we already know that you and your friends are putting your minds to investigating such a phenomenon. A specific phenomenon whose social footprints match the story I just told you, if I’m correct. I’d like you to share this information with them. Especially with Zheng, Doctor Briggs, and Heylyn. Preferably, I’d like you to share it with them at your meeting today, with the same understanding that they’ll not divulge this information to anyone,” Tricia asked Bryce.
“I couldn’t agree with you more. I’d be happy to present these findings. Now, have you any more such connected cases related to these methods employed by this group?” asked Bryce.
“I am not able to discuss those details with you today, though we are investigating a link between this methodology and the recent spate of public attacks. We’re also looking into a connection between this methodology and what we can only describe as systematic radicalization to the ends of violence. Situations where people with no prior history of violence are gradually spurred into bursts of mania and possibly violent action,” Tricia told him, recalling the cases of Ron Forseth and Helmut Werner.
“With these methods you’ve described, I’d be willing to bet that such a history of violence could be doctored. Created even, systematically. Perhaps there might be more details hidden within such cases that could expand your understanding of this phenomenon?” asked Bryce.
“That is exactly why I wanted to forge this alliance. Insights like that will help us to investigate this further and to fill in the blanks,” though Tricia wasn’t referring exactly to Bryce’s most recent response, she was referring to the fact that she wanted him to put his mind to assist them in this partnership.
“To tell you the truth, when I discuss this with Zheng and Doctor Stephen Briggs, we’re going to get a lot of insight from their combined expertise, not to mention Heylyn’s philosophical perspective and the input of the rest of the group. Now this brings me to another subject and very important question. You usually work towards building a strong enough case that you can take and try before a court of law. We’re obviously dealing with something that transcends that model of law enforcement. So how do you fit into this? What are your goals? What happens if you achieve a holistic understanding of this group? What are you going to do with the accumulated case files and evidence?” asked Bryce.
“I cannot discuss those details with you involving the deployment of strategic or tactical resources, though I can tell you that we’re examining providing briefs along with corresponding consultation and expertise to the cabinet. Something they could, with our consultation and the consultancy of independent expertise, affect via policy. We would also provide our strategic partners and other global leaders with similar intelligence packages assuming that these options are approved by the cabinet, though these details are not to be discussed with anyone, and given the nature of what we recently spoke about, they aren’t even to be thought about,” Tricia told Bryce assertively.
“Wow. I never thought I’d have to protect my own cranium from hacking, social engineering or outright scrying. How are we to share information? I mean us. My friends and I? With you?” asked Bryce.
“With little walk talks like this. We can’t use this same place all the time, in case we’re breached. So we’ll meet at a different location to discuss matters each time, which I’ll call you and notify you about. If you have information you want to tell me, you’ll add a new contact to your phone, the number for which I’ll give you. A name that won’t cause any suspicion if discovered by say… phone hackers. You’ll call this number and ask for this contact by the exact name you save it under. Understood?” asked Tricia.
“How about Professor Ethel?” Bryce asked her, already pulling his phone and creating the new contact.
“That’s perfect. I never thought I’d become an honourary Professor this way,” Tricia smiled.
“I never thought I’d be discussing this with anyone outside of my group of friends. You have my vote of confidence, Tricia,” Bryce assured her.
“And you mine. Let’s wrap this up then. I’ve still got a full day ahead of me if we’re going to tackle this, we’ve got to proceed very carefully. You have a good day, and I hope that all your friends are doing well. Also, I wish Gabe a swift recovery. Have a good day Professor Maxwell,” Tricia stood up, suddenly realizing that her coffee was cold.
“Thank you Tricia. I’m glad that we had this talk. Perhaps together we can overcome this thing. Oh, by the way, what was this ideological group called?” asked Bryce.
“Mentis. Mentis and the Millions Of Minds,” Tricia told him as they walked to her car.
West Meet East
Monique and Kori were the first to arrive in the meeting room, which was understandable simply because they worked in the same building. They casually strolled in, where Monique prepared herself a coffee and Kori prepared herself a cup of Chai Latte not unlike that which Heylyn enjoyed. After they’d made their drinks, they each took a seat at their usual places.
“So where’s your car today?” Monique asked Kori.
“You know. Its a used car. Stick shift. Its been having some issues with the transmission and shifting lately. The clutch I think, so I dropped it off last night at a garage. They’re looking at it today. Hopefully I’ll know by tonight how long it will take to service it.” Kori took a sip of her latte.
“Stick shift! That’s sooo Kori. Have you driven stick before?” asked Monique.
“No. Never. To tell you the truth, it was the cheapest option I had when I’d saved enough to buy a car, so I bought it and dove in, and the rest is history as they say,” Kori smiled at Monique’s comment.
“Well hopefully you have it soon,” Monique replied.
“I should. My mechanic is a good mechanic, which begs the question, why are you so interested in me getting my car back?” asked Kori of Monique.
“Well, to tell you the truth I was going to ask if you’d be interested in a group outing to a local beach? Either one in Toronto, or Lake Simcoe?” Monique responded coyly.
“You know its funny you mention that, but I was thinking the exact same thing. You know what I think?” asked Kori.
“What?” responded Monique.
“We should get Valerie and Troy to come. They’d love it!” Kori replied as the door to the meeting room suddenly opened.
“Who’s there?” asked Kori, not seeing anyone approaching as the table blocked her lower vision.
“Kori? Monique? Butterfly says that you need to get more chairs because there’s going to be more people in here,” Warai spoke in a firm, authoritative voice. That is, for a six year old girl.
Kori stood up and saw Warai standing by the door, still holding onto the door knob.
“Well… if the little Butterfly says so, I guess we’ve got to go find some more chairs then…” Kori approached Warai and upon reaching her, began tickling her profusely.
Warai burst out into laughter, nearly falling over trying to escape Kori’s tickling spree. When she managed to break free, she ran screaming through the office back to Heylyn’s design room.
By that time, both Monique and Kori had left the meeting room to the storage room in the showroom to grab several extra chairs as Heylyn walked in the room.
“Where is everybody?” she asked, checking the time.
“We’re early again. One of the fringe benefits of being the host,” Valerie walked into the meeting room behind her.
Monique and Kori returned with Braden, the latter wheeling a stack of chairs on a carrier.
“Where’s Warai?” asked Kori.
“She’s with Ebtissam, and when Warai tires her out, Lisa offered to take her,” Heylyn replied.
“Do you think this will be enough chairs?” asked Braden.
“That looks good. If we need more, we’ll get more. thank you Braden,” Heylyn smiled to him.
“Not a problem. That’s what I’m here for,” Braden returned the smile, though he could tell that there was something more.
Braden setup the rest of the chairs while Heylyn and Valerie made themselves a Chai Latte each.
“I hope we’re not too late,” Zheng said as she walked in, Doctor Briggs behind her.
“Not at all. Come in and make yourselves at home,” Heylyn greeted them.
“There’s some more behind us,” Doctor Briggs told them.
“I just got here, literally all the way from the airport. I had my driver drop me off here. After the meeting, if one of you would be so kind as to drop me off at the Sheraton, I’d be quite grateful,” Linda said, wheeling her luggage behind her.
“Zheng. Doctor Briggs. How is Gabe?” asked Linda immediately upon seeing them.
“He’s stable but he’s struggling. This is going to be difficult journey for him, but the Doctors are optimistic that he’ll make it,” Zheng replied.
“Our plans were to discuss his case and condition during our meeting, as we know that everyone here is obviously very concerned,” Doctor Briggs added.
“I am glad to hear that your friend is well,” Aikiko bowed as she entered the room, greeting everyone in the room.
“Thank you Aikiko. Are you ready for your first real photoshoot tomorrow?” asked Heylyn.
“Don’t worry, she’s in expert hands. How is everyone?” Troy stepped in the door, Valerie puckering up and throwing him a secret kiss.
“One here!” Monique smiled, raising her hand as she sat at her place beside Heylyn.
“Another here,” Kori added hers as well.
“I think you could say that we’re all doing well thankfully, and that our hearts are with Gabe and his swift recovery,” Heylyn responded.
“Hello? Oh good, I’m not too late, not too early either,” Myung said, still wearing her courtroom apparel, with a pair of comfy sneakers.
“Myung! I’m so happy you could make it. Come in and find a suitable place to sit. If you’d like coffee, tea or latte, or even a snack, we’ve got everything setup there on the buffet. Just make yourself at home,” Heylyn greeted the new arrival to their weekly meetings.
“I think you’re going to be needing a bigger parking lot,” Hanshi said as he walked in.
Heylyn bowed to him respectfully, and then greeted him.
“Myung’s already here. We’ve got our usual crowd of regulars, minus a few. Just come in and make yourself at home. There’s coffee and snacks on the buffet,” Heylyn greeted her former Sensei.
Behind Hanshi, Hoon Tiger Kwang snuck in behind him quietly. When he was close enough, he poked either side of Hanshi’s lower ribs. Hanshi turned quickly in a ready stance. He broke out laughing when he saw that it was Tiger, who by that point had a mischievous smile on his face.
“Hello everyone,” Hoon Kwang waved and bowed, as Hanshi patted him on the back.
“You got me good there,” Hanshi shook his head, still laughing.
“I figure that somebody has to keep us old timers young,” Tiger replied.
“That’s the spirit,” Hanshi responded, still smiling at his prank.
From behind Tiger, he felt two quick jabs at his ribcage in the exact same place he’d poked Hanshi.
When he turned around at the ready, he saw the smiling face of Jinn Hua. A big smile then crossed his face.
“My dear friend, you’re no spring chicken yourself, so I figured that perhaps I should keep you young,” Jinn said to him with a smile on her face.
Tiger and many in the room broke out laughing at the antics of these new arrivals to their circle. Jinn stood graciously still, quietly and humbly as they reveled in her Zen.
“Jinn? I’m honoured you could make it, though I never expected that you’d ever attend something of this nature,” Heylyn addressed her former Sifu.
“There are treasures in this world to be watched over. Protected. But none as much so as Butterflies and Gems. I am simply protecting my greatest treasures,” she replied humbly.
The brilliance of her anecdote was lost to most people in the room, except those who knew specifically as to what she was referring. Yet, to everyone else, the statement had its own distinct wisdom and Zen.
“Oh great! The lady with the talking dragon. There goes weeks of psychiatric therapy out the window,” Kori slapped her forehead upon seeing Jinn again.
Alicia walked in through the door.
“What did we miss?” asked Alicia, her lips and cheeks reddened by her curious ear to ear smile.
“What’s going on in here? It sounds suspiciously like fun,” Norler joked as he stepped in behind Alicia.
“Totally. The fun meter on my gadget here just hit like two hundred percent!” Gregory added, holding the secondary Medi-Friend prototype in his hands, causing the room to once again burst out into laughter.
“Alicia, so good to see you honey. You didn’t miss anything because you were already here with us in our hearts. You just missed it by timing, not intention. How are you all?” Heylyn greeted Alicia, Norler and Gregory.
“We’re good. We’re healthy, happy and making a living. Norler’s got a project on the go with Gregory and they’re making great strides,” Alicia replied, speaking up for her fiancé.
“We’ll talk about this during the meeting. How are all of you doing? And don’t lie because with Gregory’s device, we can tell if you’re doing well or not, or even lying,” asked Norler, the corner of his mouth turned up.
The room once again broke out in a short lived laughter.
“Alright everyone, take your seats and we can begin as soon as…” Heylyn started, before she was interrupted by the last arrival.
“…our last TWO guests arrive,” Bryce said as he walked in the room.
“No offense Bryce, but I don’t think the world is ready to handle TWO Bryce Maxwells,” Monique responded, drawing a laughter from the already tickled room.
Bryce laughed at her joke, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
“I wasn’t talking about me,” Bryce said as he took his seat.
“Well don’t keep us waiting in baited breath. Are we going to need another chair?” asked Braden, ready to get one if they’d requested.
“This guest doesn’t need a chair, because this guest has no corporeal form,” Bryce said as he placed the tablet Gabe had insisted he take.
“Huh?” Monique replied, again drawing a bit of a chuckle from the rest of the room.
He pushed the power button on the fully charged tablet after he’d propped it up on a music stand on the table. Then, the tablet spoke to them, though through its own tiny speakers.
“I have detected a WIFI Speaker System named WMESPMR. Do I have permission to use these speakers for future interaction?” asked MAZ.
“Heylyn?” asked Bryce of owner of the building.
Heylyn nodded to Bryce, still puzzled as to where this was going.
Bryce turned the tablet around and clicked the YES button on the permissions prompt that had just popped up on the screen and then turned the tablet around again to face everyone.
MAZ quickly detected and configured the tablet to use the WIFI enabled speakers in Heylyn’s meeting room.
“Thank you. Hello everyone. I am MAZ. An artificial consciousness designed by MindSpice engineers, though I like to refer to Gabriel Asnon, Zheng Ni Wong and Professor Bryce Maxwell as my parents. Please don’t think about that too much, as I’m sure it would paint a somewhat questionable picture of things,” MAZ spoke through the room’s speakers and once again laughter erupted from the room.
“I can see Zheng Ni Wong. Doctor Stephen Briggs, Monique Defleur, Kori Jonglyu, Linda Delmore, one unrecognized male late twenties early thirties, Doctor Alicia Westin, Walton Norler, Gregory Epsen, Morgan Hind, Hoon Kwang, Myung Chung-Ae, an unrecognized female mid to late thirties, Trey Cooper, Heylyn Yates…Heylyn, do I have permission to express your ancestral name?” asked MAZ as her widefield three hundred and sixty degree lens recognized most everyone in the room.
Heylyn looked to Bryce, somewhat confused.
“She’s just like any person. Do you want her to acknowledge you by your registered name or ancestral name?” Bryce assured her.
“Yes, MAZ. Its alright in the company of everyone in this room, but elsewhere I’d prefer to decide who I let in on that secret,” Heylyn responded intuitively.
“Very well. Heylyn Yates also known as Ai Yuanlin Ying by her ancestral Chinese name. Valerie Aspen. I hope that I have not embarrassed anyone nor made you uncomfortable?” asked MAZ after she’d gone through the motions of recognizing everyone in the room.
Bryce Maxwell stood from his chair.
“Giving us MAZ, was Gabe’s last request before underwent the next round of treatment, though he did it auspiciously so that nobody would suspect we’d taken the means to access his greatest technical achievement. As it turns out, MAZ had already been of great value to what we’re looking into,” Bryce explained to everyone at the meeting.
“That’s a machine. Nothing more than a complicated coffee maker that can speak. How could you even trust anything like that to help us with something that requires a love of life and of being alive?” asked Hanshi, edging more towards his western roots.
“Everything has a mind, though some minds are not awakened,” Aikiko pointed out to Hanshi, clinging to her Japanese understanding of the material world.
“I agree with what Aikiko is saying, but it would be in our best interest to hear Hanshi out,” Jinn Hua added.
“Are you saying that only because that machine was unable to recognize you?” asked Hoon Kwang of Jinn Hua.
“No more than a generational farmer of the rice fields and gardens of my homeland would reply. Am I guilty because I have something in common with unrecognized people of the land, or because I’m simply unrecognized?” asked Jinn Hua.
“I’m new to these meetings, but I am skeptical that a machine can speak for us in the world who sweat to survive. To live life. To breath the air through lungs of made up of organic cells, all of whom are alive like us. For whom we need to speak up!” Hanshi added to his argument.
“What difference is the machinery of life if it is soft flesh or hard stone? Is the planet not alive with rivers for veins and an atmosphere for lungs? Would you then accuse our most gracious host of life on this planet of being inept of consciousness? Of being nothing more than a speaking coffee maker?” Jinn Hua responded to Hanshi, whose eye brows rose when he heard Jinn Hua’s remark.
“Hanshi’s point is pertinent and needed to be expressed, but clearly, and in accordance with our traditions of the east, Jinn Hua makes the most sensible point. MAZ has as much right as a consciousness in this fold to speak. To elicit what she knows, possibly even to help us all,” Hoon Kwang added his perspective.
“Hello? I’m not qualified as intellectually as you all are, but I believe intuitively that MAZ seems to genuinely be concerned for us in one way or another,” Monique spoke up.
“Intuition is one of the most accurate elements of the human condition,” Heylyn backed Monique’s perspective.
“But that might be anthropic bias. You see, all those for whom intuition wasn’t successful who died as a result of their reliance on it, aren’t considered in the data because they literally can’t tell us they relied on their intuition and that it killed them. In other words, the only data we have on intuition is from those that paid attention to it and survived. My point being that when we decide upon MAZ’s participation in these meetings, we need to consider all aspects. Both the objective and subjective of dealing with an artificial consciousness,” Doctor Briggs quickly jumped in.
“I have a somewhat radical idea if you all might indulge me?” asked Braden.
“You have the floor. Speak,” Heylyn smiled to him.
“Why don’t we just treat MAZ the same way that we treat each other? When I hear something I agree with, I add it to my understanding of the world. However, when I hear something that I don’t agree with, I consider it, evaluate it, and decide as to whether its validly something that I want to allow into my sense of being. That’s what most of us do when we talk with each other. Why don’t we just do the same thing with MAZ?” asked Braden, in his somewhat uninformed and humble stature amongst them.
“I believe that the Shipper Receiver here at West Meet East has truly hit upon a gem of wisdom,” Heylyn smiled to him.
“I’m all with Braden. That absolutely sums up how we need to deal with this, especially considering that no one of us here was given the same scrutiny when we arrived,” Jinn Hua surmised astutely.
“That truly makes sense. If my coffee maker said something to me that I disagreed with, I’d do the same,” Hanshi admitted.
“Everyone? A show of hands in support of Braden’s synopsis?” Heylyn asked the room for their vote.
Everyone in the room raised their hands.
“Thank you for the vote of confidence. I will do my best to be worthy or your approval, though I will not restrain what I express in the interest of appeasing your opinions, but rather remain committed to the evidence,” MAZ responded to the vote, clearly having seen it through her vision.
“How is this all happening. I mean is all of that mind being calculated in that tablet?” asked Gregory, absolutely curious of inner workings of MAZ.
“No Gregory. MAZ doesn’t run on this architecture. She runs on what we call TADEQUAR. Tasked Dedicated Symmetric Quantum processing Arrays. Hardware which was designed by an a clever MindSpice engineer named John Marshall, all while we were designing the APIs that would integrate it into the MindSpice cloud. Anyway, Professor Maxwell and I designed the algorithmic inner workings of MAZ’s quantum based neural network, integrating a fractal topological design into the emergence of synaptic nodes. Fractal meaning the same genetic technology seen in plant and root systems. Branch and expand,” Zheng explained to Gregory, who was in awe of her explanation.
“So with MAZ on our side, I figure we have a much better chance figuring this out. Not to mention, I think that’s what Gabe was interested in when he gave us the tablet and essentially, MAZ,” Bryce spoke up.
“So what’s next now that we’ve worked that out?” asked Kori.
“Alice Through The Mentis Glass. That’s what. Doctor Briggs, I’m going to need your fact checking on this,” Bryce stood, ready to deliver his address to the room.
To be continued in The Butterfly Dragon: The Two Butterflies – Episode 05
Credits and attribution
Special thanks to Yaya Han @ yayahan.com and the world of comics and cosplay, who have certainly given inspiration and wings to an entire creative side of things with regard to costume and props. On that note, I’d also like to thank Kropserkel for the same inspiration and to remind you that you can see Kropserkel’s work on the movie Resident Evil: Apocalypse [Nemesis].
Special thanks to Twilight Zone Night Club circa 1985 on 185 Richmond Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. So many important experiences happened there and with so many friends that I’d be a lonely fool not to remember them.
Thank you to the clubs that followed, and to Wes, who ran many of them including Guvernment, Joker, and the Big Bop to name a few.
Thank you to BCR, Phil and Dylan. True artists of a kind, including Skippy.
Thank you to Andrew R, Frank A, Michael S. Joan M, Janice L. Bernard, T.J., J.M., Jun, Nelson, Chris, Angela, Barry and Miguel and so many others. Keep the spirit of art alive. Nelson, remember that first song I played on the piano at the soup restaurant on Lakeshare Blvd at lunch? That’s our Koan. 😉
Special Thanks To Rocket Fuel Lakeshore Blvd West, perhaps the best place in history to get a coffee, circa 2001-2004. Miss you all very much. Its great to see that special place still inspires so many.
Special thanks to Udemy, whose courses I have relied upon for the last few years to allow me to grow my skills at my own pace, even finding time between my frantic work pace here at Shhhh! Digital Media.
Special thanks to Perplexity AI and their Comet browser, who have recently become a part of my software toolkit. Their AI powered helpers accelerate your research, reference at every step of the way, not to mention built in tools for content generation, though Shhhh! Digital Media does not rely on text generation for any of its stories, though I do work with AI for suggestions, and scientific accuracy of concepts in Butterfly Dragon, and for delving into the more esoteric traditions of mysticism that are aligned with the story and background of Era of the Spellbound.
Artwork: Amy Wong, Wendy Pusey, Ghastly, Birdman, Brian Joseph Johns, Daz3D, Unreal Engine…
Tools: Daz3D, Corel Painter, Adobe Photoshop, Lightwave 3D, Blender, InstantID, Sadtalker, Google Colaboratory, Microsoft Copilot (Windows 11), Hitfilm, PhotoPea (a great web based Photoshop stand-in if you’re on a low budget or in a pinch), Borderline Obsession…
Shhhh! Digital Media 2026 Tools: Word Press, Gutenberg, Blockspare, Sliderberg, Rank Math SEO, Elespare, JS Archive List, Google Site Kit, Ultimate Blocks and WProofReader.
SEO is an entire mountain unto itself. My advice is to content creators is to set aside a budget for professional SEO setup and management. It’ll give you much more time to focus on creating meaningful content. If you’re budget limited, then stick to the easy optimizations and build up your audience until your budget includes room for professional SEO.
Mage Flow AI model which I’m using increasingly for editing and occasionally, generation from text.
DeepSeek AI for suggestions on exercises to improve aspects of describing scene and settings with a more sensory focused grammar.
InstantID by: Wang, Qixun and Bai, Xu and Wang, Haofan and Qin, Zekui and Chen, Anthony.
Research Paper Title: InstantID – Zero-shot Identity-Preserving Generation in Seconds.
Sadtalker by: Zhang, Wenxuan and Cun, Xiaodong and Wang, Xuan and Zhang, Yong and Shen, Xi and Guo, Yu and Shan, Ying and Wang, Fei.
Research Paper Title: SadTalker: Learning Realistic 3D Motion Coefficients for Stylized Audio-Driven Single Image Talking Face Animation.
Two Minute Papers: A YouTube channel dedicated to computer science geared towards the end of the advancement of computer graphics technology.
Gratitude: Our Mentors, Senseis, Sifus, Sebomnims, lifetime inspirations, family, friends, the Nomads (ask Stanton about that one), the Music, the Movies, the Theatre, the Arts, ASMR, (both YouTube and Bilibili and the many other creators on those platforms), the Gaming and Developer communities and of course, the audience.
Martial Arts (in the words of real experts and at least one comedian)
- https://brucelee.com (home of the real Dragon and an entire family of inspirations)
- http://iwco.online International Wing Chun Organization (International presence of a very scalable intensity martial art, protected and developed by Shaolin Nun Ng Mui) and the alma mater of Jinn Hua’s own specialized variation thereof,
- https://iogkf.com International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karatedo Federation (even Hanshi had his teachers),
- https://itftkd.sport International Taekwondo Federation (Here there be Tigers),
- https://tangsoodoworld.com Tang Soo Do World (the path of Grandmaster Chuck Norris),
- https://www.aikido-international.org International Aikido Federation (how else would Navy Chef Steven Seagal liberate a
Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier from a team of hijackers?), - https://www.stqitoronto.com Shaolin Temple Quanfa Institute (The City Of Toronto’s own Shaolin Temple),
- https://www.enterthedojoshow.com Master Ken’s Ameri-Te-Do presence (If we can’t laugh at ourselves, then we can at least laugh the loudest at others, and other Zen)
Thank you to the Divine Miss M and to Ms. Hirose of our Own for the inspiration for the character Aikiko Tanaka. May they always embody the empowerment of women and their self determination, despite the direction that some of the stories on Shhhh! Digital Media might take.
Magic (performance, illusion and perhaps the real thing)
- Magic Week Archive Videos from the history of the performance magic masters.
- Doctor Angela’s Symposium Learn about the truth and history of magic from a scholarly Phd. A great informed resource of both knowledge and speculation.
- Da’at Darling A student of the esoteric mysteries ✶ Thelemite & Pagan YouTuber • Podcaster • Author of Planetary Theurgy (2026) Creative Director of Katharsios Press. She’s a real busy Wytch.
- Real Witchcraft in Romania An insightful video whose central subjects are all witches in the country which originated the Dracula and Undead mythos that still pervades modern society to this day.
Special thanks
- Aitrepreneur
- Mickmumpitz
- PixelArtistry
- Hugging Face
- YouTube educational content producers
- AI content production pipeline
- AlphaSignal
Martial Arts Education, Courseware And Artisanship
- Jade Xu
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the lady who will choreograph and perform all of the Butterfly Dragon’s martial arts performance sequences if ever there is a live action version. Regardless, Jade Xu is an inspiring Wushu martial arts performer, along with her cast of co-stars, they really bring performance encounters into next level experiences for all to enjoy. - Aikido Shinburenseijuku
Experience the spirited tradition and execution of waza (technique) through the expertise and guidance of Shirakawa Ryuji, each of his videos exploring intriguing and applicable aspects of this circular and angular focused martial art, but most of all, step away from the claustrophobic perspective of many martial artists with regard to this branch of jujitsu, and learn to understand the true dynamics and application at play here from a renowned master. - Martial Club
These fellows are the living embodiment of performance martial arts, producing absolutely vivid and incredible action stories, taking martial arts to the next level. They’re literally doing what I’d always hoped I could do with Butterfly Dragon, but with their own well written and performed live action stories and stunts, after gruelling rehearsals and training to achieve their ambitions. In their own humble words: promoting the virtues and ethics of traditional martial arts in the modern world. - Shi Heng Yi Shaolin Training For Self Mastery
A reknowned Sifu under whose tutelage you can study the theory and practical applications of the Shaolin Arts for health, physical and mental wellbeing in every day life. His online and self-study courses offer students the chance to train in the comfort of their own choosing, and at their own pace under Shi Heng Yi’s informed guidance. - Jesse Enkamp: Karate Nerd
Jesse, a reknowned Sensei who runs his own dojo, explores the world of Martial Arts, traveling around the world to many exotic locations to meet practitioners of a variety of different arts. Truly an adventurer into the world of martial arts, delving into new territory with every video.
Jesse’s Kobudo Mastery at kobudomastery.com
Jesse’s Karate Flexibility & Mobility Training
Jesse’s Strength Training for Karate - Rokas Sensei: Martial Arts Journey
A reknowned Sensei of Aikido who in seeking to understand the roots of Aikido and its applications, seeks to stress test its effectiveness in a number of real world situations while studying its history.
Rokas Sensei has also developed an incredible seasonal series called the Ultimate Self Defence Challenge that introduces select martial artists from the world over to face challenges that test their rank and mettle against other competitors. An absolutely amazing series with top notch production. - Seamus O’Dowd
An extensive and growing archive Katas, Techniques and Waza (mostly Shotokan), focusing on form, precision and technique. - Iaido: Train For Katana Mastery Like Samurai
The original weapons focused curriculum under which Samurai became masters of their art. - Tapp Brothers Exercise For Better Motion
Extensive courses for calisthenics and body strength, stamina and flexibility. They offer course that are geared directly for the improvement of flexibility, athletics and overall performance.
Special thanks to Captain Shayne and his wonderful butterfly sister!
Special thanks to Bandcamp for giving indie music artists a home under one roof.
Written and published by Brian Joseph Johns, Shhhh! Digital Media.
Copyright © 2026 Brian Joseph Johns.
