Peanut Butter

We're in dire straits. I checked the kitchen today and found that I have a jar of peanut butter and no bread at all! Well, not quite so dire if dad would actually eat that peanut butter. He's always demolishing the bread at an incredible rate and leaving the peanut butter behind. It's a bit like the Rapture where the bread gets taken up and the peanut butter gets left behind. What a poor, lonely jar. I wonder if it's normal for one to have to go to get bread just to go with the peanut butter. Hmm.

Compound Interests

Behold! The 8th wonder of the world: Compound interest. At a rate of 1%, 100 units would become around 270 units within 100 interest cycles. The same applies to the small changes that one may make in society as an individual. Though one may never see the changes in one lifetime, or even in two lifetimes, the effects of legions of individuals doing the same would eventually have an impact of sorts. However, one may be tempted to leave such actions and sacrifices to the next generation, and so on. This mindset is practical though rather selfish. In the absence of progress, the future generations will be forced to start things off pretty much the same way the previous generations did. Compounding the efforts of interested people will go a long way towards helping society change at a healthy rate. Sacrifices must be made.

Getting Things Together

What does one do when everything seems to be falling into place? I have been praying for this break in life, and I finally have it within my grasp. However, everything just seems too neat. Information, funds, positions all seem to be there, but sometimes things just seem too good to be true. Blind as I am to the possibilities in the far future, is this truly what I want? Yes. Is this truly what I need? Yes. Is it all possible? Entirely so. So why am I hesitating? Am I too used to adversity that even innocent breaks suddenly appear to be dangerous? Or is this just another honeyed trap? My gut tells me no. My mind tells me yes. Or was it the other way around? Logic and experience tell me that things simply do not turn out precisely right, in accordance to what you've been wishing for. Yet a part of me feels ungrateful for praying for all this, being given it and then questioning its wholesomeness. Still, everything comes at a price. Is it too great a price to pay to just let this chance go? The world was prayed for, and given to me. Now I ask if I should rule the world.

The Simpsons

I know it's a tad old, but I managed to obtain Simpsons season 1-15 on DVD! Having fun with the Simpsons marathon, though I would probably be happier with the Peanuts gang. Unfortunately, the DVD set is a tad pricey at the moment, so I guess I'll be waiting for a bit.

It's a little difficult to juggle a social life, outings, watching shows on the comp and gaming. The problem with gaming is that it's remarkably fun at times, but puts a serious crimp on one's social life. In fact, it appears to be the most inefficient of entertainments since you can't really do anything else when gaming. But there's a storyline to be discovered, and that's very much like reading a book. Drat. Oh, which reminds me. Reading is seriously good especially if you're on the go! Getting places and gaining knowledge at the same time. What a deal! Shopping is an outing in addition to being a social event. Watching shows on the comp can be juggled with chatting. But playing games? Pfft. No wonder I forget to play sometimes. But it's fun when I'm really at it.

Interesting note: I dropped a mirror and it didn't break. The glass fell from the holder, but the mirror itself didn't break. Is that lucky, or did I meet my quota of 7 years of bad lucks. Hmm

Tidiness

There are several challenge ratings for bedroom mess. There are the simple low-density messes that probably involve moving a large box out of the way, thereby clearing a large area in a single move. There are also the medium difficulty messes that are like books that require some care in moving, and yet clear only a moderate amount of neat space. Finally, we have the terrible little thingummies that are really small and require proper arrangement or stuffing into suitably small carriers. Those clear only a miniscule area for the huge amount of effort taken. Worst of all, stuffing them all into a carrying pouch isn't exactly the best solution as they tend to get mingled and entangled. Examples include pens and nail files. Thank goodness most of the mess in my room comprises of the first sort of stuff. Actually, it's just opened boxes of computer stuff. It makes the place look horribly messy, yet can be cleaned up in a jiffy. Now, just when I finally get down to things...erm...sooner or later.

Privacy and Progress

The price of swift progress is the ultimate sacrifice of privacy. If every company had full access to a consumer's full demographics, likes and dislikes, the companies will be able to find ways to fulfill the needs of the consumers. Moreover, if no company were to be able to keep its production processes and designs secret, every company would be able to access and find ways to improve upon the products. In theory, this will enable the world to approach a perfect model of information flows and enable progress at a swifter rate. However, given technologies and human selfishness, this is highly unlikely. There are inherent inefficiencies in all communications technologies and humans are unlikely to want to release their "secret formulae" to the world. The free access of information may seem to negate the incentive to invent. This is untrue as everyone will have the ability to improve upon any shortcoming they may encounter. A company that implements the new product will become a feasibility testing lab and help determine whether the item will remain in production. Consumers with access to the information may also potentially seek out and better understand the items they are purchasing. In reality, though, most consumers would rather be told what they're buying, and companies would prefer to keep their lucrative new strategies to themselves. Such is the way of the world.

Wasting Time

Time cannot be saved, neither can it be wasted. Time can only be spent at its own pace. So what happens when one has, by one's own definition, been forced to waste years of one's own time? The time does not disappear. Experiences are gained every moment one spends living life in awareness of time's passage. So, for one who knows whose time was wasted, time was not truly wasted for one was already aware of that state of affairs. However, much time is wasted in unaccounted-for moments. That is unforgivable, for one lives life for the sake of existing, rather than the sake of living. One has not truly lived, who floats through life as if in a daze, hoping that things will work out. Only memories exist to prove that time has passed. And memories that are written can never be forgotten, only lost in the world or erased.

PSU

I'm a walking hi-tech disaster area. =p Sent my power supply unit (PSU) in for servicing 'coz of a noisy fan. The guy there just swapped me a brand new PSU instead. He's sweet. But seriously, I think that's adequate, given that the fan started giving trouble a mere 2 months after I purchased it. I think it's nice that I can assume that this unit won't give me trouble for another 2 months at least. *stare stare* I think the repair guy didn't really notice that I handed him an invoice for another item. *casual whistling* Illicit procurement specialist, at your service.

V Revisited

I've just finished reading V for Vendetta. The comic this time. Strange, that it is still called a comic, despite it not being comical at all. I suppose graphic novel would suit it fine, though the term was coined to draw a line between "serious" comics and "frivolous" comics. I'd say laughter does wonders for the health. There's nothing frivolous about laughing. Anyway, the movie focuses more on the drama of the whole arrangement rather than on its ideological roots. In the comic, V is truly an idea in that he understands what he’s brought upon the people, yet does not seem to revel in the destruction he has wrought as a necessity. The comic has a balanced view of the players in the game as the regime does not seem to be a truly faceless bureaucracy that works only for its own gain. Moreover, the comic does not dwell on the glory of the explosions, but more on what V hopes to achieve through his destruction of national infrastructure. More importantly, the comic portrays the struggle for freedom to be an ongoing process rather than a sudden transformation as a result of the figurative storming of the Bastille. I’d say that the comic is a far better read than the movie would be were it a novel. However, I suppose the comic translated directly to film would be rather boring to watch. I guess they each have their own merits, given capabilities of the media upon which they were created.

Dreamscape

People perceive the dreamscape differently from others precisely because it is a place that has no bearing on the usual map of human perceptions. It cannot be viewed with normal sight, nor would the sights present be seen in forms that the mind can comprehend. That is why the mind and the allies help shape the perceptions into a form that can be easily digested by the psyche. Lacking this, the traveller may be at risk of insanity when the mind finds itself exposed to unfiltered data upon which it can find no reference point. The pathways of the worlds must be approached with caution.

Vibrations

Every object has a vibration, or resonance associated with it. This is caused by its place in reality. The vibrations exist even across realities, beyond the ones that are known. One can exploit those vibrations to locate other realities, and even to create doors between them. However, there are many out there that may not be suited for physical transit, and one must take care when moving between them. The walkers between worlds should also note that the veil between different realities may vary in strength and appearance. This varies across locations, of course. Every moment on a reality is spent learning, and what one learns defines what one becomes.

Some say that there is life, death and rebirth. In truth, however, there isn't really a true rebirth as some think. Life essence does dissipate sometimes, but it is never destroyed. Rebirth is when that essence reforms in another living thing, object, plant or animal. Whether there is a link between the new incarnation and the previous one is uncertain, since there are times when the original life force remains more cohesive than is usual. However, it is not exactly correct to assume that the entire new incarnation is identical to the previous one. What is certain, however, is that all of the life force that was once contained within a living being will maintain the vibrations of the previous vessel, and will take on the vibrations of the new one with time.

The Price of Freedom

What is the price of freedom? War, famine, anarchy, terrorism and any manner of insanity that afflicts humans? Are we to sacrifice our right to free speech and right to personal privacy just because of a few mad individuals? There are several problems plaguing the world at the moment. Humans are the source of most of them. As for the rest, however, the solution is not regulation, but proper upbringing. There is no cure for human madness. The madness runs in the blood. However, regulation can only serve to drive that madness underground where it may grow unseen and unregulated. More insidious means will be devised in order to bypass the monitoring. The results are obvious: The madmen continue to hatch their insane plans and the common folk are increasingly controlled by their governments. This probably sets the stage for dictators to pull their slimy hides on top, exercising their control over an apathetic country. A country where people do not bat an eyelid over an extra camera installed to monitor a public place for their "protection". A country where the authorities can imprison a citizen without reason. This is possible in a place where freedom is sacrificed in the name of peace, and where peace is synonymous with freedom despite all the crime and unrest. There is no feeling of freedom in wartime chaos, neither is there proper freedom in a tightly regulated place.

Anchors

When setting a weave, one may choose to use an anchor to ensure that it lands on the mark. However, it is occasionally possible to tap the weave onto a living source, such that the life force powers the weave itself. As long as the life form continues living, the weave will draw as much as it needs from the source to keep itself from fading.

Signs

I watched two shows regarding the gathering of lost friends, and received a wafer with an Omega at Holy Communion. What am I to think of these? Is there more than meets the eye? I do not believe in signs and omens, but I do not believe in coincidences either.

Adam's Apple

Red fruit or blue fruit? Take the red and your eyes will be opened and you will know good from evil...
*CHOMP*
Erm...why didn't hear me about the blue fruit of eternal life?
Discernment is far more important than living forever.

People tend to value knowledge extremely highly. Knowledge does more than shape a person's identity. In reality, it creates that identity. If one is apparently the exact same person with the exact same knowledge and personality, yet is known not to be the person in question, will others regard this person as the one that they think the person is, given that they have the knowledge of this difference? What if an identical clone were created, and others were possessed of the knowledge that the person they once knew was no more, and only the new one exists now? If one knew that the person was no longer the one they once knew, it would probably be terrible to try to get them to think otherwise.

Omnia Mutantur, Nihil Interit

Everything changes. Even Morrowind has become...Oblivion. Yes. I've decided to splurge on myself...again...and get the Collector's Edition. Seriously good stuff. Yet more product placements by Fenris! I like Oblivion because of its great gameplay, freedom of character development, zounds of areas to explore and graphics. Note that I put graphics last 'coz every game nowadays has superb graphics but very...oh...so...very...few... have any sort of real exploration or gameplay to them. My friend didn't want it 'coz it didn't have multiplayer. Hah! I say it's tough enough to complete in any thorough manner without multiplayer. In case someone's wondering, my character's developing based on a voluntary advancement scheme. That is, the skills are unlikely to progress unless I actively use them. For my build, it involves Blade, Conjuration, Alteration, Marksman, Heavy Armor, Illusion, Acrobatics. Seriously, by the way I play, these skills are the least likely to advance unless I start finding ways to train or power level them. (Admittedly, I'm using Illusion a lot more than expected) Still, it's a carefully selected build since there's only one major skill per attribute, and that leaves two skills (in theory) to level to get me the maximum bonuses per level up. Yep yep. Fenris is doing the power level routine. Given that the movement Speed in Oblivion is significantly faster than in Morrowind, I see no need to improve Speed. Block and Armorer, anyone? =p Nothing is lost with change. Long live Oblivion.

For Now

Yes. The exam season is over...for now. I fear the worst for one of my courses. Then again, I think the previous semester's performance will help pull things up some. Anyway, I bought myself the Creative Prodikeys . I know, I know...this smacks of product placement and endorsement. I, however, do not draw any income in any shape or form from mentioning this. I just happen to have the misfortune of buying some really really cheap keyboard that totally sucks. I figured that the keys on this thing looked and felt pretty darned good, and it comes with a *pink* faceplate. Now Pink and Black. That suits my table just fine, thanks. It just so happens to go with my black mouse and black monitor. Creative...I dare say you've done something right for once. And the piano keys just so happen to work with my synth software, too. Ahhh...no more attempting to figure which key on the computer keyboard plays which note. Luverly. Then again, I sense a spot of binge gaming coming on before I destress enough to make some music.