Help End Bullying With Art

Strength and dignity are her clothing...

Proverbs 31:25

Author's Note: I have been enjoined from sharing the details of my true romance adventure until such time that the other party is prepared to present her perspective on the affair arrangement...

One week after arriving in Europe, I met a woman in the sauna on the ground floor of the large villa she shared with her ex-husband. Four weeks later she was sharing a small rain-soaked tent with me in Vienna, our little gas-fired stove barely capable of boiling a cup of water. It wasn't until we reached Croatia that we decided to invest in a large electric kettle. It was quite the luxury and it made me very happy.

As an artist inspired by a young woman's struggle with self-esteem and bulimia, body acceptance had always featured prominently in my aesthetic. Having recently discovered naturism and its mantra of body acceptance in the United States, I was eager to explore the style and philosophy of naturist clubs and the beauty of naturist campsites in Europe. By a trick of fate, I found myself first in Bielsko-Biała, Poland. Margo's home.

Though I was born in Europe, I had been brought up from a young age in America, living in states as diverse as Nebraska, Ohio and Connecticut. I was taught American values and saw reality from an American perspective. She was born and raised in a village in Poland. She went to work in the nearest town. The nearest city seemed like the center of the world. The American perspective was not something she was ever planning to see.

Do unto others as you would have done unto you. But how to judge what we would want done to us if we've never been in somebody else's shoes? If we've never been abandoned by our mother, how do we treat somebody who has? Somebody who seems to constantly suffer the repurcussions of it? Margo and I had 46 days and 6,000 miles to try on each other's shoes. We had one car and one tent in which to hear each other's words. We learned to cooperate. We started learning how to listen.

One of Margo's pictures from our trip across Europe. — 6,000 miles across Europe with a complete stranger
**Day 5**
7/24/2011
⚔ 4༛♊²⁵/₂₄♀
Sava Hotels & Resorts/Terme Banovci
Veržej, Slovenia
THE DISAPPEARING WOMAN, THE DISAPPEARING MAN...
a collection of modern art prints and posters
During our trip across Europe, Margo very bravely opened up to me and to the camera. It was a difficult thing to do considering the scars that she carries. I wanted to share with the world her often joyful, often sad, often angry but always liberating experience except that the Internet is full of pictures of naked women and men and full of trolls who abuse them.
I realized that what I really need to point out is not the openness that Margo and I cultivated between ourselves, but the darkness that continues to surround us. When I censor nudity, I do so in a way that does not compromise the integrity of the human body. In censoring the photographs that Margo and I took during our trip, I was quick to notice that in those pictures where Margo was at her most open, at her most unguarded and most relaxed, in a word, when she was herself and basking in the sun I was forced to blacken her completely.
Why does our society drive people into darkness? Why can we not accept ourselves as we are? Why can we not accept our bodies? Have we truly become eunuchs? Or are we capable of defying the sickness that pits us against each other? Together we could conquer the devils that abuse us.
Whether you enjoy being nude or not, whether you've been photographed nude or not, but especially if, for you, like for Margo, it's something you never thought you would do, consider submitting your own photograph to be published in a censored manner as a form of protest against the ubiquitous presence of the human body on the internet, naked or not, that is published and duplicated ad infinitum without context and without regard for the identity or the needs of the individual being depicted.

Previous Image — 6,000 miles across Europe with a complete stranger
**Day 5**
7/24/2011
⚔ 4༛♊²⁵/₂₄♀
Sava Hotels & Resorts/Terme Banovci
Veržej, Slovenia
THE DISAPPEARING WOMAN, THE DISAPPEARING MAN...
a collection of modern art prints and posters
During our trip across Europe, Margo very bravely opened up to me and to the camera. It was a difficult thing to do considering the scars that she carries. I wanted to share with the world her often joyful, often sad, often angry but always liberating experience except that the Internet is full of pictures of naked women and men and full of trolls who abuse them.
I realized that what I really need to point out is not the openness that Margo and I cultivated between ourselves, but the darkness that continues to surround us. When I censor nudity, I do so in a way that does not compromise the integrity of the human body. In censoring the photographs that Margo and I took during our trip, I was quick to notice that in those pictures where Margo was at her most open, at her most unguarded and most relaxed, in a word, when she was herself and basking in the sun I was forced to blacken her completely.
Why does our society drive people into darkness? Why can we not accept ourselves as we are? Why can we not accept our bodies? Have we truly become eunuchs? Or are we capable of defying the sickness that pits us against each other? Together we could conquer the devils that abuse us.
Whether you enjoy being nude or not, whether you've been photographed nude or not, but especially if, for you, like for Margo, it's something you never thought you would do, consider submitting your own photograph to be published in a censored manner as a form of protest against the ubiquitous presence of the human body on the internet, naked or not, that is published and duplicated ad infinitum without context and without regard for the identity or the needs of the individual being depicted.

Usage of Chance in Michal's Fiction Corpus

Michal's Fiction Corpus of Acceptance Literature (FiCAL) is presented under the Bare Bottom imprint. It is currently comprised of six bodies of work, each representing a different pillar of culture and incorporating a wide variety of writhing styles.

If you're wondering...

How do I use this?

Just click on a title to see examples of the word "chance" being used in a particular work. You'll stay on the same spot on the page, only the Table of Contents will disappear. To get back to the Table of Contents just click next to the image of the Bare Bottom imprint where it says "Back to Usage of Chance: Table of Contents."“And...?”

The Table of Frequency and the Table of Collocation provide numerical information about how many times the word chance appears in its original or modified form and with which words. It can help to give you an idea of how a word is used and in what contexts.“Ok.”

Why a Fiction Corpus?

The popular understanding of the word "fiction" and its complement "non-fiction" is a reflection of the cultural influence of a classification system. The Dewey Decimal System is responsible for separating "fiction" from all other work and categorizing it by author's name. This has influenced the popular idea of fiction as a narrative that tends to be "untrue" and the product of an individual's fantasy, a bias compounded by modern art's century-long obsession with abstraction, surrealism and self-expression.“So...?”

My idea of fiction rests on the idea that art doesn't have to be factual to be a true reflection of our existence. Adam and Eve didn't have to exist as two individuals 700 generations ago for them to be true portraits of two human beings trying to work together.“And...?”

The Bible is a Fiction Corpus. It is a body of writing that isn't overly concerned with facts and yet its words carry weight. It was written by many different authors living in different places with different audiences in mind, yet everyone gleans something from it.“Right...”

In preparing my fiction corpus, I have striven to see the world through the eyes of others. Through the eyes of my Adams and Eves I hope that you too will glean some truth about our existence. At the very least you will learn some more about how one man can use the English language.“Ok.”

Who are you, Michal?

I'm just a guy who makes art. And if you're interested in making a solid investment in an aesthetic that supports our present and future welfare, then I will help you look for something that you can buy.“How...?”

Everybody makes. Everybody sells. Some people know how to protect their interests. Some better than others. Few people know how to listen. Listening to somebody means considering their interests as if they were your own. Going out and doing something to satisfy another person's interest is how we build a strong economy. Without a strong economy, democracy collapses.“And...?”

Buying 4Occupy is buying for democracy. Don't give your money to somebody who's ruining it. There's no such thing as cheap democracy, quick democracy, or easy democracy. There's good, solid, complete democracy and the tyranny of feudalism. Let's not mix the two. Let's not buy everything on the cheap. Let's not create another tyrant and enslave ourselves because it was easier not to think about what we were doing. Let's protect our interests. Let's listen.“Ok.”

Who's really behind this site?

Have you ever been to one of those post-it-yourself retail websites where there's a really attractive top-seller ready to give you tips on how you can be a top-seller too?“Uh...”

Have you ever been to a "job" interview where you sit in a line, walk through one door, get hired as a contractor and walk out another door, so that the other applicants don't realize that everyone's getting "hired" to work in the same market?“Maybe...”

The internet is full of people who are ready to exploit your ignorance. They are people who want to make money at the expense of our economy. They are cheats.“And...?”

I, Michal, am behind this site. Not some fat plutocrat exploiting my image. I like to do things the right way. I like to work with people who take the time to do things right.“Why...?”

I used to work for a company that didn't do things the right way. My labor was exploited because of mismanagement. That company was the United States Postal Service, an independent agency of the United States Government that is ultimately controlled by Congress. I'm mad because if the Federal Government can exploit labor, who is going to stop every other cheat from doing it?“Labor Unions...?”

Don't say labor unions. I went to my labor union and they did nothing. They ignored me because labor unions aren't democracies. Holding a free and fair election for a "representative" once in a blue moon does not equal people ruling. Democracy means open government. It means we the public need to accept the hard work. It's the only way to secure liberty and equality.“Ok.”

What's the difference between use and usage?

Definition-wise, not much. But the -age suffix is ultimately French in origin and with most things French, at least in American eyes, the immediate thought is that of something precious and arcane whose value should be judged very carefully. This is in contrast to the word France, which is associated with a beautiful place. Thus people in France or from France are beautiful, warm, kind people. Generous even. Unlike French people who suck. Unless you're frenching, in which case you're only sometimes sucking.“And...?”

Along those lines, usage means you're in bed. Use means you're just heavy petting. Also notice that common people, like common words, get used...whereas "proper" things make "appearances." Whether or not you are being exploited is a different story. Exploitation is what happens when somebody uses you or your property without listening to you. Listening is what happens when you consider another person's needs as if they were your own. You don't have to satisfy those needs. All you need to do is consider them. So many of us can't even do that.“So...?”

Help stop exploitation. Buy 4occupy. Buy a better world. Whether or not you feel you can afford to buy art, consider joining my protest. I want to guarantee every working man and every working mother on this planet a 15-day universal holiday. But I can't. Only we can do that. We have to work together. We have to accept the idea that everyone deserves time for himself and we need to build that time into a new kind of calendar. We have to give peace it's own day. We have to make love something you can't avoid. We have to make even the most miserly cold-hearted capitalist among us say that he cashed his check on Love Your Neighbor Day. There won't be any other way to say it once the Acceptance Calendar is widely adopted.“Ok.”

Back to Usage of Chance: Table of Contents

Chance, a morphological approach

I have yet to make a morphological analysis of the word chance.

That doesn't mean it's not high on my list.

Table of Frequency for the Word "Chance."
This table lists in descending order the total number of times that the word chanceand any of its morphological derivations appears in the Fiction Corpus, along with a breakdown of frequency by title, the respective rank of each word in the complete list of all words in the Corpus, as calculated both densely and competitively, as well as the percent increase in frequency of the word over the frequency of the next lowest rank in the complete list.
Percent Increase over next rank	RANK		WORD	Frequency
	RANK			TOTAL # of occurences	MCDONALDS	JESUS	SEX	TSIGA	JACKSON	DINGBATS
	dense	competitive		TOTAL # of occurences	modern/sloppy	biblical/terse	poetic/high-brow	hard/fast	talky	mixed salad
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
I have yet to publish the table of frequency for the word chance, but I will get to it shortly. -Michal

Back to Usage of Chance: Table of Contents

Usage of Chance in Death to McDonalds

An aerial view of Dodger Stadium in the foreground, with an imaginary partially submerged Los Angeles behind — A story bible for a comic book series set in a post climate-change California narrated by eight characters who live through a natural disaster that sinks Los Angeles and triggers a war with an expansionist Mexican government covertly supported by China.

Frame #5548

the patient mustve talked. militiamen are asking me if by any chance i have a bag of money lying around. i told them its mcdonalds's trick.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

25 November, 9:55 AM

Frame #3890

the girl was in the house. shes leaving now. on foot. she may not be out for long but. this is my chance. im going in with the bug.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

19 September, 10:00 AM

Frame #7543

i told harley that she has to survive. if im gonna have any chance of saving these people. its true. if shes strong. i can be strong.

Sprint "Iphone" Case

24 December, 6:58 AM

Frame #3989

i did an online search for etsy's grandparents. on the off chance that the marshals missed something. they didnt.

Chase Credit

23 September, 8:24 AM

Frame #2492

mcdonalds is smart. he switched the tracks manually. i have to get to the daggett bridge. its my only chance.

Chase Credit

21 August, 2:37 AM

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Usage of Chance in The Gospel of Jesus H.

A picture of the planet Mars — An experimental science fiction Christology that makes Jesus the hard boiled narrator of his own early years on a bizarro earth made dark by volcanic ash and informally ruled by a man from Mars who sells bottled air.

It was that pathetic - and precisely in this ever-thickening atmosphere of paranoia was Jesus approached by the three leaders of the three most successful political parties of the Right. Parliamentary elections had been promised - but not yet scheduled - by the ruling Leftists and, despite talk of delaying them, they were almost universally expected for the spring. Presidential elections were scheduled for the late fall. The problem was that, along with the Left (the usual suspects), this time, the political Right had also been implicated by the latest scandal. Privatization of the PZU had been planned by a Rightist government. Their chances of Parliamentary success no longer seemed as certain as they once had been.

– Verse 34 from the chapter called Vows

"What do you expect?" he asked. "There ain't nothin' here, man. Give me a chance - for old time's sake."

– Verse 72 from the chapter called Vows

"'I said, "If we attack by surprise, we might have a chance." We waited for dark; then we attacked. The men slaughtered us. My mate was dead; my children were dead; and I too was dead. In the afterlife, my pack was angry. "We should have begged," they said. "Now they will never trust our kind." I agreed. I offered to go back and make penance; my offer was accepted. Therefore I roam these woods, not to harm mankind, but to help him. I have cursed myself: for I must help those who cannot or will not trust me; the more I try to help, the more my name is hated. Once in a while, I succeed - you are not the first - but until my name is cleared, and people think fondly of my kind, I cannot return to the afterlife.'

"'What can I do?' asked the girl.

– Verses 197-198 from the chapter called Childhood

We unloaded. The truck left. I said, "Let's go this way through the woods." It was longer, but, going this way, there was less chance of being seen.

– Verse 149 from the chapter called Security

Sticks and stones were the first weapons known to man. There was a choice to be made between a strong stick, broken off in such a way as to have a nice point, which was the first spear, and a handily shaped stone, which was the first club. Only in the afterlife shall we discover what the first hunter's prey was, but there's a good chance, considering man's humble stature in those days, that, with his relative lack of experience in mind, it was either a slow fish, or a dumb bird, or perhaps even a blind squirrel. Unless one of those three creatures happened to jump into his lap, we can safely assume that, whichever weapon he chose to use, he threw it.

– Verse 1 from the chapter called Arms

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Usage of Chance in Sex for Children

A drawing of a man between a woman's legs in front of another man in a hospital bed — A literature book narrated by a pair of siblings on either side of the Atlantic whose profoundly weird sexual experiences pose a serious challenge to their traditional understanding of mathematicians, marriage, gay young men and God.

Before long, there was something else on Nike's mind. It was a beautiful realization, and, despite the horrible circumstances, Nike had to celebrate the gorgeous irony. By setting out to find this woman, this beautiful raped woman, he had unwittingly brought himself into the hands of those who would take him to her. Sooner or later, that woman would have to come to the police station, and, if Nike were extremely lucky, there would be a chance to do something. Although, for the life of him, he knew not what that was, and, even though he spent the entire night in jail, he woke up even less prepared.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 3, The Third Day, Part 1, Family & Welfare Reform, Section 4, Falling in Love, Paragraph 1

I called you and shared with you the terrible news after he fell into his coma - but you don't know what the doctors have said. There has been no improvement in Albert's condition, of course. There is no disputing the imminence of the end, but they have said there is a chance that Albert will wake before he dies, and Indiana is compelled: she must hold a constant vigil - except that she cannot do so by herself, and I have offered my own services; so I write to you today from his bedside, his quiet bedside, where I can peacefully contemplate his impassive body and the almost dream-like events of the past few days.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 1, The First Day, Part 1, Victory & Calendar Reform, Section 2, Poetics, Paragraph 4, Clauses 1-3

Euclid himself would quake; his pupils would quiver. But my pupils were satisfied: they were able to rest on the sloping rhomboid, dreaming joyfully of spreading myself across the flying trapezius, waiting to climb down the spine carefully, hoping for a chance of straddling the noble erector, the noblest of all muscles! the source of human living! the uprightness! the power! feeling its power! for a moment, before falling down to the gentle valley, resting in the small of the back, staring at the greatest of all curvatures: the beautiful, indescribable mystery: the overflowing seat of pleasure: the wonderful, the infamous gluteus maximus.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 1, The First Day, Part 1, Victory & Calendar Reform, Section 9, Intoxication, Paragraph 1, Clauses 6-8

What was going on? Was this procedure standard? For whom was he standing then? for himself? or someone else? Was that bastard Christian behind this or not? Was that beautiful woman behind those lights right now? Was this the only chance he'd have? "Number five can go." If number five goes, then what about four? Was this lineup for number two? Then where's his lawyer? Where's anybody's lawyer? But most importantly: where is number four's lawyer? Why hadn't he called anyone? Why must he be so arrogant? "Number four, step forward." It's true: he wasn't formally charged. In the States, that means no lawyer. But this was France. Why didn't he know French law better? "Step back, please." Why must he be so helpless? "Step back, number four." Nike fell to his knees. He brought his hands together in supplication. "Please," he said, "please, forgive me. I want to love you - do you hear me? I want to love you!" But there were people rushing and crowding around him.

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 3, The Third Day, Part 1, Family & Welfare Reform, Section 7, Surprising Oneself, Paragraph 4

ANDY: Actually there's a chance he might wake before he dies.

NIKE: Really? How's that?

ANDY: I have no idea.

NIKE: How big a chance?

– Title 3, Regarding a Dream, Chapter 2, The Second Day, Part 1, Labor & Economic Reform, Section 8, Affording Private Health Care, Paragraphs 16-19

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Usage of Chance in Tsiga Tsiga Tsiga

Bullets whizzing by a statue of Nikola Tesla — A collection of stories featuring a sexy Parisian ghost, a spooky Moon base full of vagina-faced aliens, a policeman with an Irish name, a truck full of watermelons, a flautist, and a man who has to see another man about a diseased horse.

"We didn't stand a chance."

The woman shrugged. "Eef you look at di Uyghur peepul now, sumtaims you see dey haf di blont hair. We wur doink sumtink."

"I'd much rather be doing that kind of work. Wouldn't you agree, Clark?"

"I'm afraid I'm not very big on archeology." Shephard laughed.

– from “Two Dudes and a Chinese Desert,” a friendship story featuring a frank discussion of what to do with a smelly camel

"I see," said Dorothea. "I'll be sure to let Davis know."

"Can't we settle this like gentlemen?"

"What do you mean?"

"Give me a sporting chance."

– from “A Horse Named Clutch Bag,” an inspiring story featuring sex

Shephard kept going. He realized he was running out of fuel. On the road, he would be helpless. In the desert, he might stand a chance. If he were lucky, he could reach the mosque. Pepsi was there praying for the success of the mission. She could help.

– from “Two Dudes and a Chinese Desert,” a friendship story featuring an interesting use of U.S. assets

"We should stay here for the night."

"You said we could make it in a day."

"We started late. This will give you a chance to wash your feet."

– from “Two Dudes and a Chinese Desert,” a friendship story featuring one of those guys you don't if you can trust

Gog sympathized with them. If the armies of Rusas were helpless against Sargon, what chance did he have? He allowed his chiefs to decide their own fates. Many chose, despite their qualms, to continue.

They marched southeast. They skirted the kingdom of Rusas. In the hills, they encountered a people named the Hayk. Their speech was almost intelligible. They said their king was named Bagadatti.

– from “In the Beginning, There was Gog,” a fantasy story set in the middle east

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Usage of Chance in Sorry Ms. Jackson

Chiseled letters from an ancient stone tablet hanging on a wall — A real play. With drama in it. Talk fast. It takes two hours. Set in a guest house. In a small community. After a murder. Lots of suspicion. The characters learn to listen to each other. It's funny.

GREY GOOSE: (to FLETCHER) It's over.

FLETCHER: What do you mean?

GREY GOOSE: I'm done.

FLETCHER: We were just getting started. Mother hasn't even seen us doing it.

GREY GOOSE: It's been made perfectly clear to me that I'm not welcome.

FLETCHER: After all the effort we put into making her work - and the mess we left.

GREY GOOSE: It's a damn shame.

FLETCHER: The least we can do is clean her up before Mother gets a chance to use her. Wouldn't you want her to be clean before you start sticking things inside her?

ALICE: What are you two talking about?

FLETCHER: A gift that will give my mother great pleasure.

– ACT I, lines 1122-1131

MS. JACKSON: If he came to me repentant of his sins - I mean all of them - I would forgive him. I would consider allowing him to return to this house. Do you think I don't want him? I want him more than you could ever know. I want him in a way that, unfortunately, I have never had him. I won't settle for less than I deserve. That's all I'm going to say on the subject. It upsets me. Your father has behaved strangely in the past; as of late, his actions have been frightening me. Maybe it is the climate around here - I'm not going to take any chances. (to KOKOMO) I want you to watch out for him, in case he should try to violate you.

FLETCHER: That is unwarranted.

MS. JACKSON: It may have taken a hundred and fifty years for another murder to occur, but we are not immune to rape. We need only bear witness to what took place on Pitcairn in recent times. Six men were found guilty of sexual offenses. That's almost the entire adult male population over there. I'm not going to let that happen around here - not while I'm alive. Do you understand? As soon as you're done with this mess, Kokomo, I would like these towels to go to the laundry. We have all of Lesbian's things to wash.

KOKOMO: I have a question, ma'am.

MS. JACKSON: Yes?

KOKOMO: Will our guest from New Zealand be staying with us for considerably longer than planned? If that's the case, I'm going to have to make a new schedule.

MS. JACKSON: I don't know, dear. I don't think so, but, then again, you can never be sure, can you? Just stick to the current schedule for now. I'm sorry if you've been overworked.

KOKOMO: That is not my concern at all.

MS. JACKSON: I just want Homo to feel as welcome as possible. Thank you for your continued cooperation. Excuse me.

– ACT I, lines 1323-1332

GREY GOOSE: Look, woman: I'm giving you one last chance. Did you rat me out to the cops or not?

MS. JACKSON: I won't say.

GREY GOOSE: I deserve to be answered.

MS. JACKSON: A man deserves only three things: honesty, gratitude, and remorse. He does not deserve to be answered.

GREY GOOSE: This is the thanks I get after all these years of marriage?

MS. JACKSON: It was your pleasure to be my husband.

GREY GOOSE: The worst of penalties was once reserved for such obstinacy.

MS. JACKSON: Not for treason?

GREY GOOSE: There are worse things than being hanged.

MS. JACKSON: Such as?

– ACT I, lines 311-320

ALICE: It was no big deal. It was some stupid kid with a knife.

FLETCHER: Was it sharp?

LUKE: She didn't have a chance to taste it.

FLETCHER: What did it look like?

ALICE: It was just a regular jackknife. It wasn't very big.

FLETCHER: What did he get away with?

ALICE: My purse.

LUKE: With everything in it.

ALICE: It was so stupid. The cops could've picked him up around the corner if they had just bothered to look. They were such pigs.

FLETCHER: Don't tell that to old Grey Goose! Australian cops guilty of misprision? He would go on a rampage.

– ACT I, lines 157-166

(FLETCHER and MS. JACKSON exit.)

LESBIAN: Now my passions are roused! In this room lies my chance to consummate my love for her. How wonderful a thing is a parlor! Only a lecher seeks his victims in their own beds. Normal folk must wait for respectable opportunities to have their lusts filled. My landlady knows as well as I that, once the rest of the house has gone to sleep, having respected my privacy, I shall have reason to wake her - or she me - whichever the case may be, depending on who can resist temptation longer. With looks such as hers, I doubt I can.

– ACT II, lines 307-307

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Usage of Chance in Miscellaneous Dingbats

The title of the book at the end of a string of miscellaneous dingbats — A story book full of short fiction stories. An interesting bedtime mystery. A fairy tale. Science fiction romance. Adult life. Uninspiring gay fiction. Horror.

Daniel told Sir Lewis to forget about it. "Come on, dude," he said. "She thinks you're a nerd." He even calculated Sir Lewis's chances of making Miss Day fall in love with him. He described the solution as an acute parabolic function with both ends tending toward zero.

"So there's a chance," said Sir Lewis.

– from “The Skirt on the Proctor,” a kid story about love in an unforgiving world

After my mother died I went to visit her homeland. On my own. My father didn't want to do it. He was busy. I flew into the capital. I don't know how to spell the name. It sounds like a drunk guy slurring the word casino. It's appropriate. Not only did I drink a lot of booze but I took my chances with it. The same turned out to be true for the food.

– from “The Most Idiotic Actress,” a fictional story based on something that happened as related to the author

It must be easy for men like Jeff and Matt to get rid of love. To move on. Their torches must be tiny. I couldn't do it. I would burn for love brighter than a billion arrows. I would rip this rubber shell right off my soul. But I can't do it on a chance. It's too risky.

– from “A Magnum Condom,” a bedtime story to teach children about physical stuff that may or may not work

Mary babbled late into the night. She was like a broken robot. The rest of us were falling asleep staring at the fire. Steve decided to invite her inside the tent. I made sure I wasn't the one sleeping next to her. Peter did the same. It didn't guarantee we would survive the night but we both felt it increased our chances.

– from “Woodstock,” a life story based on true life, namely the author's

"We are all jealous of you," she said. For whom did she speak? "There is a new order in the world. You have power and opportunity. Our destinies were decided by systems, technology, social movements. They manipulated us. You've been living with them from the very first day. You have more of a chance to decide what to accept and what to reject. We never had that luxury."

– from “St. Andrew's Eve,” a story of love that may calm one's nerves depending on your outlook

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Collocation of Chance in the Fiction Corpus

Table of Collocation for the Word "Chance."
This table lists in descending order of frequency a selection of word pairs that appear in the Fiction Corpus and groups them according to the morphological derivation of the word chance that appears in the pair.
Type	Frequency
	TOTAL # of occurences	MCDONALDS	JESUS	SEX	TSIGA	JACKSON	DINGBATS
	TOTAL # of occurences	modern/sloppy	biblical/terse	poetic/high-brow	hard/fast	talky	mixed salad
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
I have yet to perform a collocation analysis of "chance." I hope I can get it done sometime soon. -Michal