While tinkering with the new template I used for this blog, I realized that the little Blogger ads on top can be thought of as a personality meter. Blogger takes note of the little things that you write on each post, reading into your interests and subconscious and using that offer you products that will most likely interest you.
Fascinating.
Okay, so I blame my strange sleep schedule for thinking that up, but hey, it gives people something to ponder whenever they see the ads on their blogs...
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Friday, June 25, 2004
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Surprise, surprise...
Well, talk about a big surpise.
I get home from work this morning, trying to sort out some overseas family stuff involving ebay and credit cards and I find an email from the Webster's Online Dictionary saying that a few stories I've written have been picked to be part of their references to modern literature on the use of a few words.
All I can say is, wow. I know it's still not the same as a written page in it, but at least now I can say that I'm in a dictionary. :D
If you're interested, they're over here and here.
I get home from work this morning, trying to sort out some overseas family stuff involving ebay and credit cards and I find an email from the Webster's Online Dictionary saying that a few stories I've written have been picked to be part of their references to modern literature on the use of a few words.
All I can say is, wow. I know it's still not the same as a written page in it, but at least now I can say that I'm in a dictionary. :D
If you're interested, they're over here and here.
Monday, June 21, 2004
New Horizons
If you guys are wondering on the sudden change of description on my blog, it's a little about how I feel right now. After my birthday and all, and with my new job and the change in my home life and the experiences I've had, I think it's time for me to get to work.
I'm realigning my Chakras, finding my source, seeking enlightenment, sailing for new horizons and questing for the Holy Grail. Not necessarily in that order, and more often all at once.
I've had enough fooling around. My mistakes are done and over with, and my experiences will always be a part of me. Now it's actually time to work towards Maslow's favorite part of his heirarchy.
Self-Actualization.
While it's true that I'll still have to contend with everything else in that damn heirarchy, I feel more than a nudge towards seeking something else. Call it ambition or madness, but I can sense that there's something waiting for me, beckoning me to find it.
I feel like an Arthurian knight errant, lost in the woods with nothing but his steed, and his sword, and faith in the existence of the Holy Grail.
I can't define my Holy Grail to you, to be honest, because I can't even define it to myself as of yet.
I just know that it's there.
And that somehow, all is right with the world.
I'm realigning my Chakras, finding my source, seeking enlightenment, sailing for new horizons and questing for the Holy Grail. Not necessarily in that order, and more often all at once.
I've had enough fooling around. My mistakes are done and over with, and my experiences will always be a part of me. Now it's actually time to work towards Maslow's favorite part of his heirarchy.
Self-Actualization.
While it's true that I'll still have to contend with everything else in that damn heirarchy, I feel more than a nudge towards seeking something else. Call it ambition or madness, but I can sense that there's something waiting for me, beckoning me to find it.
I feel like an Arthurian knight errant, lost in the woods with nothing but his steed, and his sword, and faith in the existence of the Holy Grail.
I can't define my Holy Grail to you, to be honest, because I can't even define it to myself as of yet.
I just know that it's there.
And that somehow, all is right with the world.
Quick Quiz for the Bored
| How to make a Jay Steven Anyong |
| Ingredients: 3 parts success 3 parts self-sufficiency 1 part ego |
| Method: Combine in a tall glass half filled with crushed ice. Add a little fitness if desired! |
Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com
Haha! Now all I have to do is to make this come true... shouldn't be too hard. At least I know I've got the ego part down pat. :p
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Revisiting some old Vignettes
Well, since I had nothing else better to do, here are a few old stories I've written in my old web journal. I figure that I might as well move them here for redundancy, and as a reminder for me to keep writing.
It's funny how you read something you've written from before, and realize how well you actually wrote them, or how badly they turned out after all. :p
---
Despair by Jay Steven Anyong
"Greetings," spoke the old sage, his snowy beard trembling with his quavering voice, "what dark thoughts ail you, young man?"
I turn to look at him, dressed in the luminous robes of a scholar, holding a long inkbrush as tall as I was, "Hello, Great Sage." I greet in response, "I was merely musing about the nature of despair."
"Ah." The old man nodded slowly, "Despair... such a powerful emotion for the young."
"For the young?" My eyebrow shot up, "Explain yourself, Great Sage."
"Despair is at it's most powerful, when one experiences it for the first time." the Great Sage said, sitting down with some difficulty on a small rock beside me.
"The first time?" I snorted, "That's comforting. You've only informed me that there will be others."
"Verily," the Great Sage replied, "There will be many more times when you will be awash with despair and hopelessness... however, there is a lesson to be learned in all our experiences."
"And this lesson is...?"
"That despair, while seemingly overwhelming, is but a passing shadow to one who looks towards the light." The Great Sage replied, looking out into the horizon, "Only cowards turn to violence upon others and themselves in the grip of despair. True virtue shines in those who brace themselves and conduct themselves with humility, grace, honesty and love, for those four are what will give you the strength to bend with the storm of despair and grow with it's passing."
I listened quietly, my heart and mind at war with each other.
The Great Sage looked at me and smiled, "My words are of little comfort, as they should be, young man. For my words cannot grant you humility, nor grace, nor honesty nor love. These can only come from you."
I nodded. My mind agreed, and my heart sighed with sadness.
The Great Sage was right. Mere words cannot take me away from my despair. Like an alchemist, I must seek to rise above the base and ascend to the divine.
I bow low to the Great Sage, and hoist my pack over my shoulder looking out into the coming storm.
----
Cold Shower by Jay Steven Anyong
He sang.
Throwing his head back, his eyes squeezed shut, feeling the icy water of the shower biting into the skin of his bare chest, he sang.
He sang a song of loneliness and of heartbreak even as he bowed his head, feeling the sharp sting of cold water on his scalp, before trickling down and raking his back like little claws, trailing their way down from his shoulders to the small of his back.
Warm tears streaked down his face as his voice cracked, a soft sob escaping his lips as he took a shuddering breath to sing the next line. The warmth of his tears washed away by another icy blast of cold as he reached the chorus.
He opened his eyes, forcing them to focus as the cold gripped him tighter. He sang harder, his voice getting louder as he looked down at the blood seeping down the drain, swirling around like a little crimson whirlpool.
He gasped, his next breath seemed so hard to draw...
He sang softly as he felt his knees give, and the razor fell from his hand, clattering on the bleached white tiles of the shower floor, as he finally felt his voice waver, no sound coming from his mouth.
He gave a sad smile as he felt his vision begin to fade, ending his song with her name, lost in the sound of the icy cold water hitting bleached white tiles
It's funny how you read something you've written from before, and realize how well you actually wrote them, or how badly they turned out after all. :p
---
Despair by Jay Steven Anyong
"Greetings," spoke the old sage, his snowy beard trembling with his quavering voice, "what dark thoughts ail you, young man?"
I turn to look at him, dressed in the luminous robes of a scholar, holding a long inkbrush as tall as I was, "Hello, Great Sage." I greet in response, "I was merely musing about the nature of despair."
"Ah." The old man nodded slowly, "Despair... such a powerful emotion for the young."
"For the young?" My eyebrow shot up, "Explain yourself, Great Sage."
"Despair is at it's most powerful, when one experiences it for the first time." the Great Sage said, sitting down with some difficulty on a small rock beside me.
"The first time?" I snorted, "That's comforting. You've only informed me that there will be others."
"Verily," the Great Sage replied, "There will be many more times when you will be awash with despair and hopelessness... however, there is a lesson to be learned in all our experiences."
"And this lesson is...?"
"That despair, while seemingly overwhelming, is but a passing shadow to one who looks towards the light." The Great Sage replied, looking out into the horizon, "Only cowards turn to violence upon others and themselves in the grip of despair. True virtue shines in those who brace themselves and conduct themselves with humility, grace, honesty and love, for those four are what will give you the strength to bend with the storm of despair and grow with it's passing."
I listened quietly, my heart and mind at war with each other.
The Great Sage looked at me and smiled, "My words are of little comfort, as they should be, young man. For my words cannot grant you humility, nor grace, nor honesty nor love. These can only come from you."
I nodded. My mind agreed, and my heart sighed with sadness.
The Great Sage was right. Mere words cannot take me away from my despair. Like an alchemist, I must seek to rise above the base and ascend to the divine.
I bow low to the Great Sage, and hoist my pack over my shoulder looking out into the coming storm.
----
Cold Shower by Jay Steven Anyong
He sang.
Throwing his head back, his eyes squeezed shut, feeling the icy water of the shower biting into the skin of his bare chest, he sang.
He sang a song of loneliness and of heartbreak even as he bowed his head, feeling the sharp sting of cold water on his scalp, before trickling down and raking his back like little claws, trailing their way down from his shoulders to the small of his back.
Warm tears streaked down his face as his voice cracked, a soft sob escaping his lips as he took a shuddering breath to sing the next line. The warmth of his tears washed away by another icy blast of cold as he reached the chorus.
He opened his eyes, forcing them to focus as the cold gripped him tighter. He sang harder, his voice getting louder as he looked down at the blood seeping down the drain, swirling around like a little crimson whirlpool.
He gasped, his next breath seemed so hard to draw...
He sang softly as he felt his knees give, and the razor fell from his hand, clattering on the bleached white tiles of the shower floor, as he finally felt his voice waver, no sound coming from his mouth.
He gave a sad smile as he felt his vision begin to fade, ending his song with her name, lost in the sound of the icy cold water hitting bleached white tiles
Half-Dazed Zombie; Nerd Toys and Mage: the Ascension
Well, it looks like my body clock hasn't completely adjusted after all. I'm awake two hours early typing out this blog trying to figure out how to knock myself out into lala land again.
Oh well. Since I'm here anyway, might as well make my half-awake state useful.
----
You're a Speak & Spell!! You nerd, you. Just
because you were disguised as a toy doesn't
mean you weren't educational, you sneaky
bastard.
What childhood toy from the 80s are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Great. I'm a Nerd Toy.
----
Well, then again I am technically a Gamer Geek, so I guess I'm not really offended. Heck, I play RPGs and miniatures games and all sorts of other stuff that people would consider to be "toys". (Okay, minds out of the gutter to those who are thinking of other toys right now.)
Heck, I guess proof of this would be the fact that my favorite game , Mage: the Ascension, deals with heavy Philiosophy and a lot of high weirdness, conspiracy theories, religious conflict and the power of the singluar world view.
The basic premise of the game is this:
If you realized the spark of divinity within you, and found that you could use it to rewrite reality... what would you do?? Would you take advantage of it to make yourself rich? Will you solve world hunger? Would you explore the extent of your abilities? will you make yourself into a celebrity? Would you pimp yourself out to first world countries?
That's what Mage is about. :) It's about people who've found the ability to alter reality, and the things they have to go through in pursuit of their goals. Be it power, love, happiness or salvation. :) A little heavy on the reading, but excellent stuff. :)
oh, and just out of curiosity, if you guys are interested, can you guys take this quiz and tell me what you guys got? I think I can learn a lot out of the results of these. Most of the Game Bandits and Kirsikka already know the results they want, but I'm also curious about the guys who don't play Mage
You are a Euthanatos, bound to the Wheel of
Fortune. Others label you a "death
mage", but they do not see the necessity
of destruction, or how it allows new creation.
That is the burden you must bear, along with
the tragedy of Jhor: hold up your faith in your
vocation, lest you lose sight of your reason
for being, or worse, become a mindless killer.
You stand on the knife's edge, balancing
between extremes; your will must be strong
indeed to balance the universe with you in the
face of ridicule.
Which Tradition Mage Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Oh well. Since I'm here anyway, might as well make my half-awake state useful.
----
You're a Speak & Spell!! You nerd, you. Just
because you were disguised as a toy doesn't
mean you weren't educational, you sneaky
bastard.
What childhood toy from the 80s are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Great. I'm a Nerd Toy.
----
Well, then again I am technically a Gamer Geek, so I guess I'm not really offended. Heck, I play RPGs and miniatures games and all sorts of other stuff that people would consider to be "toys". (Okay, minds out of the gutter to those who are thinking of other toys right now.)
Heck, I guess proof of this would be the fact that my favorite game , Mage: the Ascension, deals with heavy Philiosophy and a lot of high weirdness, conspiracy theories, religious conflict and the power of the singluar world view.
The basic premise of the game is this:
If you realized the spark of divinity within you, and found that you could use it to rewrite reality... what would you do?? Would you take advantage of it to make yourself rich? Will you solve world hunger? Would you explore the extent of your abilities? will you make yourself into a celebrity? Would you pimp yourself out to first world countries?
That's what Mage is about. :) It's about people who've found the ability to alter reality, and the things they have to go through in pursuit of their goals. Be it power, love, happiness or salvation. :) A little heavy on the reading, but excellent stuff. :)
oh, and just out of curiosity, if you guys are interested, can you guys take this quiz and tell me what you guys got? I think I can learn a lot out of the results of these. Most of the Game Bandits and Kirsikka already know the results they want, but I'm also curious about the guys who don't play Mage
You are a Euthanatos, bound to the Wheel of
Fortune. Others label you a "death
mage", but they do not see the necessity
of destruction, or how it allows new creation.
That is the burden you must bear, along with
the tragedy of Jhor: hold up your faith in your
vocation, lest you lose sight of your reason
for being, or worse, become a mindless killer.
You stand on the knife's edge, balancing
between extremes; your will must be strong
indeed to balance the universe with you in the
face of ridicule.
Which Tradition Mage Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
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