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Dr. Bionicle

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  1. Dr. Bionicle
    Well, yesterday was fun. We had our own personal Thanksgiving yesterday with our family here in Kansas because over Thanksgiving Break we're going to Kentucky to my aunt's place and having a Thanksgiving there.
     
    You know that wave of Christmas anticipation you feel when Thanksgiving ends?
     
    Yeah. Boom. I got a major case of it yesterday.
     
    My sister made some absolutely amazing food. The turkey was great, the stuffing was excellent, and it was so good I was about ready to puke by the end of the day. My grandparents and cousin shared our Thanksgiving, and it got to a point where there was food spraying across the table because we were laughing so much.
     
    Now here I am, in tomorrow-land, with it feeling like Christmas should take over the wheel.
     
    Oh, and I guess I should explain something. Every year my siblings and I put on a little performance for our parents on Christmas night. Sometimes it's heavily rehearsed, sometimes it's almost completely improvisation. We've had many memorable plays with Court TV, game shows, commercials, talent segments, and yours truly doing a spastic rendition of "I'm a Train" as performed by the King Singers. Our parents have taped all of these performances so that today we watched them and just about went into another foodspray.
     
    Granted, part of the humor was that the first play was in '02, back when I was a head and a half shorter, about an octave higher, and wasn't developing facial hair.
     
    But besides that, I've realized that almost every play we've done has been based off of the audio series 'Adventures in Odyssey'. It's a great series and we get some great plays from it, but we haven't done a lot of very...original skits.
     
    This year, with the middle sibling taking over the writer's position, that changes.
     
    Our theme this year is fairly simple. Here's the situation:
     
    Five/four (depends on whether my little brother will count or not) people are out Christmas caroling. They go around "town", almost always being split up (since we only have a cast of five) and experiencing some strange situations. From wrestling with a bell ringing Santa to the tune of Carol of the Bells to irritating "neighbors" with a terrible rendition of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!, this will be a fun play to put on. Not only will there be singing (as we have attempted to put into every play) but we can actually do bad singing.
     
    The problem?
     
    All of the scenes (most of them, anyway) have to conform to a Christmas carol.
     
    Thus far, here's what we have on the drawing board:
     
    -Carol of the Bells: Fight with bell-ringing Santa
    -Hark! The Herald Angels Sing: Some "out-of-tune angels".
    -Silent Night: A soloist who doesn't understand the meaning of piano singing out to a very noisy neighborhood.
    -It's Cold Outside: A rewritten version where a freezing caroler is trying to persuade a sleepy homeowner to let him in for a few minutes.
    -Silver Bells: A lulling piece, save the fact that one of the caroler's picked up the wrong set of handbells.
    -Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: A carol that would be cute if the dog who was supposed to be Rudolph didn't suddenly decide to have a revolution.
    -It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: The one carol where absolutely everything just goes wrong.
     
    Those are our ideas. If you have anymore, please post them! We'd greatly appreciate it.
     
     
    Cheerily,
    Dr. Bionicle
  2. Dr. Bionicle

    *hallelujah Chorus*

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    The quarter's over, FINALLY. The teachers have finally let up on cramming as many projects/strenuous assignments/tests into their deadline as possible, and with a clean slate things have gotten much more relaxed.
     
    A three-day weekend ain't bad either.
     
    Well, a few updates...

    Looks like that literature festival I was looking forward to this month I won't be attending. Didn't get my form and money turned in time, I'm not interested in blowing up my brain by reading a novel in four days, and Copper Sun, the book I'm supposed to read, isn't that brilliant anyway. It's a little irritating, since pretty much all my friends are going, but I'll hold up.
    I'm doing Model UN. Woot for politics.
    KU beat KState at football (WOOT).
    KU Basketball starts up soon (AGAIN, I SAY WOOT).
    BZPRPG isn't dead, no. I've been pondering over outcomes and such, and how I'll be tying everything in exactly. For those of you that haven't peeked into the Academy Region topic, Kyshim will be going through some interesting controversy. I've already gone so far as to introduce my next guardian, not to mention my first female character, which will have some pretty sweet storyline revolving around her if it all works out as I hope.
    Being 15 is good.
    I'm looking into getting some Switchfoot/Relient K tickets on their tour this fall. Looks my best shot at a concert would be Rapid Springs, Missouri, but hey, it's two of my favorite bands ever.
    The Ventura Guitar is pretty amazing, and upped my CP (Cool Points) +3. 14 more CP points and I'll be ready to learn "Bored Expression"!
    I'm addicted to Star Wars: Battlefront II for the fourth or fifth time this year. I'm pretty cheap, too. Play Instant Action, set Heroes with the timer set to "Always" and the respawn set to "Always", and I'm ready to roll. Tantive IV and Death Star are my favorite maps at this moment. Luke Skywalker and General Grievous have got to be my favorite heroes. And I finally beat my deaths record in Capture the Flag with 198 kills.
    The novel, Cyborne, is finally starting to pick up. The introduction is always the hardest part to write, and I'm a good four pages into it, so things are going pretty well.
    I'm almost finished with Lord of the Flies which I, amazingly, have never read prior to my Advanced English class. I admire Golding's work, though the book's pretty dang freaky.
    On Monday I'll have been dating Liesel, my girlfriend, for four months, which is a pretty big deal in comparison with all the three-week relationships that generally surround the freshmen year.
    My auditioned school choir is traveling to KMEA (Kansas Music Educator's Association) and ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) conventions this year. Essentially, that means we're one of the best junior high choirs in 7 states, which is pretty cool.
    After our trip to Carnegie Hall last year, LCC's going for a something a little tamer, going to the "Sing a Mile High Festival" in Colorado. It'll be pretty cool, we get to stay in dorms in everything. However, we already know that the choir next year will be traveling to Lithuania and Latvia, and I'm graduating this year. Dang.  
    Yeah, so that's pretty much what's going on right now.
     
    *too tired at this moment to write anything more conclusively*
     
    ...
     
    *or write a sign-off*
  3. Dr. Bionicle
    Teenagers...we're wackos.
     
    Through much of my own personal observation, I've figured some theories about your common 8th Grade guy. My results have been proven to me time and time again, so I know that this is how at least my friends work. I suppose I will publish these as they finalize themselves, and shall give me a subject with which I can rant on in my blog entries. If your results vary, please comment.
     
     
    Theory One: The Maturity Coil
     
    The overall maturity regarding brain cells, hormones (etc.) in males pertaining to the 8th Grade range goes through a spring tension cycle, whereas the concept starts relaxed and gradually tenses as the day moves on, dropping the maturity levels and densities until the metabolism triggers a recoil.
     
    AKA
     
    An 8th Grade guy's maturity goes through an effect where we start off as good as gold and gradually get stupider as the day moves on.
     
    Evidence of this theory:
     
    In observation of subjects Nolan, Sebastian, and Christopher (colleagues of mine) during what is generally known as a "sleepover", the maturity level lost ground throughout the day. The rest of my work has been filed into a log going by 60-minute intervals.
     
     
    Arrival Time - 7:03: They were already pretty far gone, dunking on preschool baskets and driving five to one golf cart around a pond with a somewhat visually impaired driver in the front seat. The first hour, there was some slight degrading, although it had a sort of plateau effect. The available resources of bow/arrows and long pieces of rope hanging from trees aided their atrophic actions.
     
    8:03: I have discovered that rises in temperature cause the OML (Overall Maturity Level) to drop rapidly. The subjects began to quicken their downfall after starting a fire with a diameter of about two feet. As the fire rose, their OML dropped. This spurred on a desire for more heat as leaves, soda cans, and wrappers were thrown into the flame. Nothing along the lines of a milestone.
     
    9:03: The first milestone has been reached. Subject Sebastian and his colleague, Steve, took a boat ride and ended up flipping the boat twice. The OML appeared to drop the coordination of subject Sebastian as he accidentally struck Steve with a paddle, whose loss of balance sent them both into the water. After this instance, Steve soon got his vengeance, pushing Sebastian into the water, and in turn, going down with him. The flame has reached a height of around two feet.
     
    10:03: As the night grows darker, the demand for heat escalates. Firewood is thrown onto what now appears to be more of a bonfire, without thought. Colleague, Steve, was especially persistent, whipping off his shirt for a few seconds before others urged him to replace it. Height: 4 feet.
     
    11:03: The fire has died down some and the discussion has now turned to that of the opposite gender. The common sense of the subjects has seemed to lower itself, and the defense levels are remarkably low, spurting out any secrets that come to mind. Half-an-hour later, the fire has been picked up again, now reaching a record height of 5.7 feet.
     
    12:03: The fire is all but dead. Aftereffects weigh in on the others as they indulge in entertainment by sending prank calls to people and food facilities. Colleague, Steve, who seems to have a weaker resistance to OML Depletion, is now walking in the coals. He exits when he feels them start to squish. Parents call in to come inside. There is a reluctance, but the order is followed.
     
    1:03: A creative milestone from 12:03 to 12:30. The three subjects, in their fatigue, have sparked a discussion over relationship standards. The discussion exceeded its life expectancy of 3 minutes, stretching on for about 23. This is the first of many intelligent issues to be presented.
     
    2:03: Subject Nolan has fallen into slumber while Christopher and Sebastian remain awake, in discussion. The subject has turned many times, and few jokes have been cracked. Colleague Steve is also participating, listening and speaking intently.
     
    3:03: Subject Christopher has fallen to fatigue, as has Steve, while Sebastian and I continue our ramble. The subject turns to that of OML and time, where Sebastian fails to realize that I am carefully notating his every word. Verbal records appear to confirm my theory, however, the EGMRS (Eight Grade Males Research Society) has not yet come into existence, so my evidence stays undercover.
     
    4:03: Zzzzzzz...
     
     
    In conclusion, I believe that this applies to most every class of male, except for the rare case of the nocturnal, who have submitted to the process in a reverse order. I think it's safe to say that past the cartilage of fatigue, OML is at its peak extremely early in the morning, and drops during the day. This could benefit the lives of teachers, nagging girlfriends, and random scientists who care everywhere.
     
    Thank you.
     
    Scientifically,
    Dr. Bionicle
     
     
  4. Dr. Bionicle
    I haven't posted a new entry as of recent because of a few items coming up (mainly my trip to Kentucky, which has nothing but dial-up).
     
    At the moment, though, I've got something I want to vent about.
     
    I read comic strips. Cartoonists can be real comical geniuses in comparison with the cheesy shows that now spawn on Disneychannel and Cartoon Network, which for some reason sends a good deal of my age range into laughing fits. What's so funny about The Suite Life of Zack and Cody or Dexter's Laboratory, I'll never know.
     
    Granted, I find that once again the old surpasses the new, both in television and comic strips. Because I'm just thinking over the subject due to reading over some old comic strip collections, I'm going to give a full evaluation of my newspaper's comic selection.
     
    Non Sequitor: It used to be I would find this occasionally humorous, when it wasn't throwing out political wisecracks I didn't understand. Now that they've tossed in that disturbing girl and her horse, its basically for the birds now.
     
    Pluggers: I never found this strip constantly funny. It irks me that the writer can't come up with his own ideas, and I'm thinking that the lack of selection he must get is what lends the one-panel to its common mediocrity. I've only seen two strips that have actually resulted in a positive reaction, and neither of them actually made me laugh.
     
    Family Circus: I still admire this cartoon in its older aspects, and I imagine that someday when I'm a parent and I look back on the strip, I'll laugh more than I do now. While the strip is a family-type sort of comedy, it seems more like the cutesy humor that appeals more to parents and grandparents now than it does to people of my age range. I love the writer's perspective on things, but currently, it doesn't strike me too often anymore.
     
    Off the Mark: The best improvement our newspaper ever made. This strip replaced the comic Marmaduke, which I despised due to its repetitive nature and lack of good timing. Off the Mark has a Far Side spin to it which I love seeing in present-day one-panels. I admire this strip for its clever outside-the-box thinking and the way it shifts perspectives, and I really think it's probably one of the better strips out there.
     
    Opus: I hate this strip, basically because it bludgeons the reader over the head with political humor and exaggerated stereotypes. The artwork looks stale, like lumpy dough, and the quality of the humor doesn't give me the idea that the writer puts a whole lot of effort into to it. Opus has only made me laugh once, and that was due to the fact that the strip turned on itself and actually made itself look stupid. Otherwise, it's pretty bad.
     
    Pickles: I like this strip to an extent because it reminds me of my own grandparents. Seniors have a great potential to be funny and the strip does utilize that fairly well. It's odd, though, that most of the really exceptional humor I get from it is what comes from the pets' own thoughts. In my opinion, while the writer handles grandparents fairly well, I think he would be much better off writing an animal strip.
     
    Beetle Bailey: This strip is really pretty bland. It doesn't make any real use of the setting, it's just constantly emphasizing how Sarge always gets mad and how Beetle dodges work. It's just not that good.
     
    Garfield: This strip used to be funny, but its humor has declined in the coming years. Its rarely more than Garfield firing some smart-aleck one-liner with those typical half-open eyes. I think that the writer must not be very heavily inspired by the strip anymore or else he's simply trudging through it. Either way, I think it's gone downhill since the older days.
     
    Peanuts: I've always admired Peanuts for its juvenile, yet philosophical humor. We often forget that these are kids speaking to us until they get into their tantrums. The character of Snoopy, probably the most famous cartoon character of all time, is in a world completely by himself, reflecting some of the more adult humor of the strip, though keeping it in a child's range of humor with the fact that he's really just a dog flying a doghouse. Peanuts has a great range of quality humor.
     
    Foxtrot: I really enjoy the book collections more than the daily strips themselves. Sadly, even Foxtrot has begun to fall into more of the stereotypical brands of family humor. The personalities have sort of derived into just people with punchlines. Foxtrot was brilliant in its earlier years, and it still makes me laugh, but its take a few steps backward.
     
    Get Fuzzy: Reading this strip feels like trudging through water. The ways its drawn doesn't give a lot of desire to look at what's happening, and the humor is often weak sarcasm. It doesn't take a lot of the creative liberties that it could take with a dog and a cat in the same house, it simply shows the cat abusing the dog and getting sarcastic commentary from his owner. It's just bland.
     
    For Better or For Worse: I'm not sure how to judge this strip because it relies so greatly on actually staying in touch with the comic. It's hard to simply jump in and get going. This storyline has been developing for a long time, it's obvious. It does have its moments, but so often I just don't understand because it's so much of an actual plot than it is simply a comic strip.
     
    Blondie: I do not like this strip very much.. The characters have no real depth and it relies on a routine humor. The arrogant boss, the mother that's always right, the constantly napping father, etc. Most comics end up with Dagwood simply falling asleep on the couch, and while I might've gone with that the first few strips, I think it's time to move past that joke and try something different, introduce some actual issues. It's pretty one-dimensional.
     
    Doonesbury: I despise political comics like this. Period.
     
    BC: This strip was never all that brilliant beyond sarcastic comebacks and slapstick. A good deal of the humor sounds like something you'd find on the inside of a Laffy Taffy wrapper. It really doesn't have any depth, any situations. It's just a joke book with illustrations.
     
    Baby Blues: I still like this strip. While a lot of the humor is aimed at parents, it has a nice homey feel that I enjoy. It works at a great range, from one-liners, to long diaglogues, to a single panel. Unlike so many strips that take on older kids, this focuses on raising younger kids, which I think is a great source for comedy.
     
    Hi and Lois: Stereotypical and cliche. Golf-playing dads, hard-working mothers, annoying next door neighbors, rebellious sons, etc. I don't think I've ever laughed at this strip due to its lack of real originality.
     
    Sherman's Lagoon: Funny at times, but not consistently. I like it better when it's more focused on the Shark idea rather than undersea life. It seems to be teetering on the edge of falling into a typical love-hate relationship between the parents. Still, it does lend a few laughs.
     
    Shoe: Not...that great. Basically, it's little more than a news reporter sitting around a bar hearing people bring in punchlines about their life.
     
    Luann: This strip really isn't that great. It seems to be constantly focused on the drudgery of teenage life and takes little focus off of anything else. While to some it may be funny, I simply don't laugh at it because I really can't relate.
     
    Hagar the Horrible: Does this strip really ever get past cranky wives, nights at the bar, and laziness?
     
    Dilbert: I don't know why, but I always make sure to read this strip. It has interesting bits of humor, even though I don't relate to office jobs. The style is interesting, mainly in the cartooning, but though the humor isn't consistent it makes enough turnovers to actually interest me at times.
     
     
    That may seem harsh for the most part, but it's most likely because of my obsession with older comic strips. I read Calvin & Hobbes almost religiously, and I think it would be great if they just reran his old comics like they did with Schultz. The Far Side is an era I'm sad I missed. I admire the humor it brought to one-panels, where otherwise it would seem fairly bland. Foxtrot and it's older book collections still make me laugh, and even Garfield and his older collections still bring about a few laughs.
     
    Ultimately, there are some brilliant writers out there and there are some that just aren't. Unfortunately, we seem to get more of the latter, but the former still does shine through where it lies.
     
     
    Critically,
    Dr. Bionicle
  5. Dr. Bionicle
    Guys...
     
    Complaint topics aren't cool.
     
    I'll say it again.
     
    Complaint topics aren't cool.
     
    That being said, I'm not opposed to people expressing their opinions on things. Dude, if you don't like the Mistika, you don't have to, and I don't mind you telling me why you don't. Tastes differ. I get that. Odds are, I agree with you on at least one or two points.
     
    The thing that isn't really cool is just coming up and saying, "Hey! I don't like this! Let's all talk about it!"
     
    What makes this worse is when it whittles down to, "You don't agree with me and/or I don't think you articulated your opinion very well... I'm going to be insulting now!"
     
    And then the person in turn goes, "Hey, they're insulting me. What a #####!" and return the favor.
     
    First of all, guys, if you post a topic about it, all it really tells us is that you want to wallow in your dislike of something, and that's not very awesome.
     
    And yeah, I know, I know... it's just an honest display of your opinion.
     
    However, the thing that distinguishes an honest display of opinion and wallowing is the way you go about it expressing it. If you want to honestly display your opinion, go to the appropriate topic (if such exists), and give your opinion. If you don't like the Mistika, go to a topic about the Mistika and say it.
     
    A not-so-honest display of opinion desires to draw attention to itself. Walk into a topic and say, "Seriously, this ____ is really stupid" then you're just asking for attention to be drawn to you (if you didn't know that and don't like that, then you see your problem). When you post a topic, particularly in that manner, then that's where we get into wallowing.
     
    I'm not saying your complaints are stupid or aren't legitimate. I'm saying that there are better ways of handling it.
     
    I have rarely seen a complaint topic that couldn't be discussed somewhere else or PMed to somebody or simply expressed elsewhere. If you have a blog, go vent your crazy heart out (within BZP guidelines, of course ). Topics are not necessary and, in case you haven't notice, only cause havoc.
     
    Honestly guys, we don't need to discuss exclusively disliking something. Like it or not, your discussions on a website of this side will almost never be one-sided. Someone out there is going to disagree with you. There's no need to condescend them, complain them and/or people like them, or assume that a topic complaining will keep them away (in fact, it tends to have the opposite effect).
     
    Yes, I know... this whole thing is somewhat ironic, but I'm just saying...
     
    Cool your jets and easy on the complaint topics.
     
     
    Bioluminescently,
    Dr. Bionicle
     
     
     
  6. Dr. Bionicle
    Well guys...
     
    School is back in session.
     
    From the current statistics of the RPG Contest #2 Final Poll, it looks like The Academy's up for another round.
     
    If you haven't cast your vote, do so. There are some really great entries this year besides mine.
     
    So what can we expect in the next "semester" of The Academy?
     
    -Those of you who are older members might remember that Zyrul made a visit to a man in a tavern requesting his allegiance. You'll find out what allegiance he will be giving and who his minions are.
     
    -Looking deeper into Zyrul's past. We might find out why Zyrul and Mythias were partners in the first place.
     
    -We'll find out about a new enemy of Zyrul's. One that nobody knew of or expected.
     
    -We'll discover Zyrul's mask power and why he hasn't used it yet.
     
    -Just your everyday all-out war for the good of all Matoran and Toa.
     
     
    The semester's looking good so far. I'm sure you guys will make it even better.
     
    Well don't just stand there! Get to class!
     
    Dr. B
  7. Dr. Bionicle
    We Are One Tonight - Switchfoot
     
    While you indulge yourself in the absolutely amazing musical aspects of that song, I'm going to basically break down this whole song into how I interpret it. I like songs that make a point, but the point is fairly (note, not completely, fairly) interpretable.
     
    Take a song like American Pie. That's such an insanely out there song that no one except the writer knows what it really means. It's one of those songs where it can be whatever you want it to be, and while I love American Pie, I gotta say that this stuff really just sounds like a cheap shot.
     
    I'm not a huge fan of writing music for yourself. I mean, it's fine to write a song about something only you would understand and just keep it in, but then to place that on an album for a whole population to muse over...
     
    I've got nothing against creative thinking or interpretation. But I think that songs need to drive a point. I'd say, from what I know, about half of people like songs for the music, and half for the lyrics. I am very flexible on these two aspects. While Gone by TobyMac is a great song musically, I don't understand the lyrics at all. At the same time, I think The Only Thing Worse Than Beating a Dead Horse Is Riding One is lacking musically, but the lyrics I like. Therefore I like both songs, but for totally different reasons.
     
    What I love is that one song where the lyrics and the music lock. I'd classify this as one of those songs.
     
    I have definitely been in an area where I've felt all alone. I suffered from a few problems my 6th Grade year due to the fact that I converted from homeschooling to public schooling in that year. It was a terrible experience for me, with hardly any friends, and only one, I'd say, good friend.
     
    6th Grade was a nightmare for me. I learned things that I never had to confront in homeschooling. I'm not going to say I regret homeschooling, because it excelled me academically and in discipline, but it was still a terrible experience.
     
    Then 7th Grade, redemption year for me, came. The first kid I met was in my band class. He tripped over my case, and the teacher made him sit next to me since he was taking such a long time getting across the room. Ironically enough, he turned out being my best friend throughout most of 7th Grade and still remains my best now.
     
    A few days ago, I was staying at his house overnight, and you know, it's 2 AM and we're still talking, and we get onto the subject of 6th Grade. And he says to me, "Well, yeah, I really didn't have any friends in 6th Grade. I felt like a total loser."
     
    And I'm just thinking, wow. It's one thing to know that other people have the same problem as you, but to know someone that had the same problem is a whole other thing.
     
    At the same time, I was talking with this girl who had moved from my city to Wisconsin over the summer and was having a rough time with her friends. Her friend had gone behind her back with her boyfriend and all these things that nobody her age (or at any age) should have to go through. And remarkably enough, I had a friend with a very similar problem to hers a few months ago.
     
    It's interesting as a spectator to make comparisons. If you ever get the chance, talk to your friends about little bumps you had in your life that you feel comfortable about. I'll bet you that at least one of those you've shared at one point in your life. It's not so much "What's your favorite color" and "I like football too" that makes good friends, but similarities in trials and hard times.
     
    A whole bunch of other more minor things have occurred in a similar fashion to the two things mentioned above.
     
    Interestingly enough, I stumbled across the song you are/were/didn't care to listen to on my sister's mp3 player. And my mind's flashing back to all this stuff. And the concept's just hits me.
     
    To think that we are one tonight and we're dreamin' out loud, thinking about what we wish could be, all of us some how or another. And that whole concept that everyone goes through something tough, not just you, and that everyone feels pain.
     
    I don't know, I'm sorry if any of this sounds absolutely ridiculous and you've completely lost me through this whole thing. Sweet-action music has a way of doing that to your mind.
     
    But anyway, if you got nothing else out of this, just know that if you're going through a hard time that someone out there has done the same thing. We've all been through hard times and want to persevere, and you're not alone in wanting to push through your problem.
     
    Or, at least, a cool song.
     
     
    Interpretably,
    Dr. Bionicle
  8. Dr. Bionicle
    There have been many contests as of late. Artwork, BBC, S&T, and now Epic.
     
    And I'm a dead man.
     
    We've got plenty of time, I credit them for that. They always have a reasonable time entry period.
     
    Buuuuuuuuuuut...a few things come up.
     
    #1 - My only reasonable epic would be one I haven't worked with for a few months.
     
    #2 - Echoes: Trials of the Creator is in the Bohrok Saga, which makes bringing in a female virtually impossible at this point. I'm still brainstorming as to what I can put in. Perhaps Sanuri is one of the Bahrag? But that would mean speed-writing my whole epic to the Bahrag battle.
     
    #3 - I'm already working on a novel for an afterschool program for school, which isn't all that far off. Truckloading two stories at the same time? Oi.
     
    #4 - I really don't want to back out of this contest. Story contests don't come around that often.
     
    #5 - Lack of motivation.
     
    *sigh* Even doctors get lazy (not that I'd know ) and having two stories being written at the same time is tough for someone with my attention span.
     
    Man, this whole contest is going to be really tough.
     
    Which means...
     
    ...of course I'm going for it. >=D
     
    Determined,
    Dr. Bionicle
  10. Dr. Bionicle
    Yeah, so I forgot to post here in my birthday topic. Nothing snooty, just totally forgot for some reason. So to all you cool people who took some time out of your day to wish me a happy birthday, thanks!
     
    This birthday was exponentially more amazing than most others I've ever had.
     
    Saturday had a bash at my house with a bunch of my closest friends. For those of you who remember my study in the Complex of 8th Grade Males, I must say that Freshmen Males aren't a lot better. I have learned, however, that when females are present, the OML (those of you who are good little blog-readers will remember that stands for "Overall Maturity Level") is in fair moderation of itself.
     
    Highlights...

    P-Cart (whose real name is Patrick, but no one calls him that) succeeded in drinking 7-8 Dr. Peppers and was deemed unsafe for driving home (Ha ha, yes, we Kansans can get our permits when we're 14). I succeeded in hitting Nolan in the face with a plastic sword (total accident, I swear). He just said, "Toss me the weapon!" How was I supposed to know he meant handle-first and how was I supposed to know he would bend down that suddenly? I'm still the champion of BopIt Xtreme with a score of fweeoo, kahhn, bah! bah! bah! (for those of you not fluent in the BopIt dialect, that's 113). I succeeded in being appetizing, magical, neat, and delicious in Apples to Apples. Ian managed to kick the chips and onion dip onto the floor within the first ten minutes of the party, the likes of which had to be picked up by the entire group so that one birthday boy would be allowed to live to see his 15th birthday. I finally managed to beat out Nolan in piano jamming by getting an overwhelming chorus of the guys to sing "Somebody to Love" by Queen. It was pretty awesome, even though our upright stinks like geese. I also got the opportunity to jam on my brother's electric guitar, which sounded pretty awesome hooked up to the distortion channel. My spoils include a high school shirt (which I learned on Monday is pretty tight on me, but which I wore anyway since Liesel, my girlfriend, gave it to me and I was going to see her at choir that day), a subscription to Breakaway magazine, $15 iTunes card, $45 worth of Target giftcards, Hahli Mahri (a tribute from Alan for our LEGO nerdity), a mixed CD of some of the best horn ensembles ever (one of which is "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, which sounds amazing), $15 giftcard for my favorite local fast food place, and Skillet's album "Comatose" (<3<3<3<3<3<3).  
    Saturday was pretty awesome. I fell asleep listening to Comatose (one of my favorite albums ever, now). Then came Sunday, my real birthday.
     
    There are far too many highlights to list here, but what I really got excited about were my spoils, which are worthy of a list themselves...

    The Bourne Identity and Supremacy (Matt Damon + Robert Ludlum = FTW) Stranger Than Fiction (one of my favorite movies ever, basically) Relient K's "Five Score & Seven Years Ago" (great album) Deas Vail's "All the Houses Look the Same" (I got this from my sister's boyfriend, who I consider a close bud, and I must say that I'm growing to like the band) Pants (there's a whole inside joke behind this that I don't care to explain now for ya'lls sakes) Transformers shirt (which, ironically, my sister thought was a Bionicle shirt) Hard Rock Cafe shirt ( ) Charleston Chews (if you don't know what those are, get some... best candy ever) Jaller Mahri (if you're doubting buying him, don't... he's the bomb) Guitar Capo The list doesn't end there, but the next gift I got is pretty sweet, so I figured it deserved its own paragraph.
     
    In my family, it's basically a sign of manhood (or adulthood) to get your own guitar. Emma got a Washburn, Caroline got a JetKing, and for whatever reason, Drew got a little Fender. After I started learning guitar last year, I've been playing the life out of Emma's Washburn, so I guess they figured it was time I got my own guitar.
     
    Yeah, I got a Ventura from the '70s, never been played.
     
    And it's pretty sweet.
     
    Sorry, I couldn't find a decent picture of the kind I got. It plays like a beauty, though, and I finally have a guitar of my own. So, whoo.
     
    There's really nothing else left to be said, other than it feels awesome to be 15.
     
    Whoo!ly,
    Dr. Bionicle
  11. Dr. Bionicle
    There's something you guys may not know about me. I have a...problem. I get certain urges, things I feel I can't control. I'll act on impulse, without thinking. It's been an addiction for years. I've tried to stop, but my desire has gotten in the way of my common sense.
     
    What is this that I speak of?
     
    Guys...
     
    I'm a compulsive fingernail biter.
     
    Now that half of you have probably breathed a massive sigh of relief, I guess we can move on.
     
    You may be wondering what numerous other people wonder about us nail-biters: Why do it? I mean, think about it, it's pretty darn disgusting. Your fingers touch a wide variety of things throughout the day, and guess where all the dirt and germs get built up to where you can't reach? That's right. Right under the fingernail.
     
    Well, to understand that, you have to understand what leads to nail-biting. In my loose study of this, I've rounded it off to a few common causes...
     

    Influence. In other words, they picked it up from another biter or person biting their nails (there is a difference, I'll get to that). This is probably the most common and the longest-lasting, because it usually starts at an impressionable age, where it begins to stick. Nervousness. People get restless when they're nervous. We drum our fingers, tap our foot, and, yes, bite our fingernails. Don't care to clip fingernails. Some kids just won't use those clippers. I mean, why would you when your teeth are always on hand? Hunger. Yeah, gross, but when you're hungry you want to at least simulate some part of that process. Just like chewing gum, only your nails are always there.  
    Now, there are two different kinds of biting. There's occasional biting and then there's compulsive biting. The former I refer to as simply 'a person that has bitten their fingernails'. The latter is what I define as 'nail-biters'. What's the difference?
     
    Occasional biters really have no habit or have a very minor one. A single situation, perhaps nervously waiting for a job interview, drove them to bite their fingernails. Perhaps they needed to clip their nails fast and had no clippers on hand. But the thing is that it rarely occurs and is generally for special occasions.
     
    Compulsive biters are those who have developed a habit and will do it without thinking. There may be no need or drive to bite the nail, but the biter does it anyway, without a second thought. Often, the biter doesn't realize what he's doing until someone puts it out to him.
     
    With that defined, then you may wonder now why would biters want to stop? Let's go back to one of our lists...
     

    It's kind of disgusting. Regardless of whether you spit the nail out or *shudder* swallow it, it's still extremely unattractive to those around you. No fingernails. Your nails are the little catches on your finger that help you maneuver. Your nail provides a thin attachment that slides easily into a place for leverage. Without them, all you've got is your chubby fingers, which generally are no good on their own. Bad looking nails. That area for your nail gets real torn up while you're biting down there, and people do notice. Hangnails. Nail biting is the most common cause of a hangnail. While hangnails are generally nothing severe, that doesn't make them any more fun to have around. Germs, dirt, and worms. Guys, you have no idea what crust is building up under your nail. Germs, dirt, dust, and even the ever-popular tapeworm. If a tapeworm gets under or on your nail and you bite it, you've just given it a one-way ticket to your stomach. Blech. Start another habit. A person I know that bit her fingernails for a long time grew accustomed to biting the skin around it as well, which makes that area vulnerable for infection. Cut too short! A lot of nail biters have had this experience, where you bite your nails too short. You don't want to press up against it, or it will feel irritated. Then you're at the mercy of your fingernails growth cycle to relive yourself. Doesn't taste good. Yeah, I know, gross, but there's nothing appetizing about the taste of a fingernail.  
    Not too nice, huh? A lot of nail biters will say that it's not as bad as it appears, but that really doesn't make it any better. Sure, fingernail biting isn't a terminal condition, but it sure is a stinky habit to have.
     
    Those of you that may be nail biters, I would recommend you stop. If you haven't been convinced it's not a great habit by now, then you'll come to see that eventually, I guarantee.
     
    Some of you may have tried and know it's not easy. Contrary to things like substance addictions, your nails are always around 24/7 to tempt you. They're a part of your body. So yeah, it's hard.
     
    Some tips on how to deal with this...
     

    Willpower. Make a mental note. Make a New Year's Resolution. Whatever it takes, you are in control of your brainwaves, and you can tell your fingers to stay away from those teeth of yours. Ultimately, every method requires this, but for some, this is all they need. Remind yourself. Put a note on your mirror, in your locker, maybe even on your hands. I know one guy who put marker on all his fingernails to remind him to stop. Maybe it's an object near your fingers (like a wristband or a ring) that will there simply for the purpose of being a reminder. Whatever will make you remember you want to stop. Get a partner. When I broke the habit of biting my nails, I did it at the same time as my girlfriend, who was dealing with the same problem. We constantly were reminding and asking each other. A living, breathing reminder can sometimes be more effective than inanimates. Motivate yourself. Reward yourself. Go 28 days without biting your nails and treat yourself to an ice cream or something. It doesn't need to be huge, just something exclusive and satisfying enough that it will keep you wanting to stop. REALLY motivate yourself. When rewards don't work, pull out the punishment. When I was breaking my habit, my girlfriend persuaded me to make a deal with her. If I bit my nails a certain number of times, she would paint the last finger I bit with nail polish. Risky, eh? But how's that for motivation?  
    (I'm happy to say that I never got a whiff of that nail polish, and only bit my nails twice within the time it took to break the habit.)
     
    Why do I make a big deal out of this? 'Cause it's a very common habit that gets so overlooked that nobody ever deals with it. Now, like I said, I don't think biting your fingernails is capable of ultimately killing you, but it's called a bad habit for a reason. By the way, once you conquer biting your fingernails, you'll start getting more confident about other habits you may need to break (or form).
     
    Anyway, that's just my random rant for the day. Bet you guys enjoyed reading a whole entry devoted to fingernails, huh?
     
     
    Freely,
    Dr. Bionicle
  12. Dr. Bionicle
    Press conference going on in Ga-Metru with Mythias and Zyrul.
     
    If any of you want to take this opportunity to ask the duo questions, you can submit some questions here, and I'll see if I can work it into the Q Session (unless I can simply answer them here). Any questions I can't answer in the conference I will try to answer or at least hint at here in my blog.
     
    Seriously, anything. Doesn't matter if it's conference-appropriate or not. Questions about The Academy's future, past, present, whatever.
     
    And if any of you feel like crashing the conference, well...
     
    Readily,
    Dr. Bionicle
  13. Dr. Bionicle
    Arghleman.
     
    Turns out my money for Premier Membership got sent back.
     
    Why?
     
    Well, since Doc was kind of lacking crisp bills at the time of sending, he decided to rid himself of some of the five pounds of his change. An entire bag full of $6 worth of quarters (plus a $5 bill) was put into the envelope. And then, being the stupid-head that I am, I sent it out. I didn't remember that extra weight = extra postage.
     
    Argh.
     
    So I'm just gonna Paypal it. It's faster, quicker, and more convenient.
     
    It's possible (LE GASP) that I might miss a blog entry or two for the Premier Membership to process after the Anniversary week. I know you're all just crying your hearts out right now.
     
    What happened today?
     
    Oh, not much.
     
    Except that it's possible my Mom might have diabetes. She's going to take some more tests to make sure, but it looks like it.
     
    *sigh*
     
    Such is Life.
     
    Oh, and my graduated sister is going to take her driver's test some time this week. I'm not sure when. She's already looking for a car. Maybe a Cougar.
     
    Of course, she hasn't moved out of the house yet...so I still have to share a room with my brother. >.>
     
    But Life is changing, what can I say. I'm going into 8th Grade, my sister's entering Junior High, my sister's gonna be a Junior, and my brother's going into 3rd Grade. Oh yeah, and my sister's going to start attending a beauty school nearby now that she's graduated.
     
    *sigh*
     
    And August is almost here.
     
    Which means Christmas is practically around the corner, according to the Advertising World.
     
    Oh yeah. And me birthday's in two months.
     
    Which means V&F will hopefully be mine. =D
     
    Anyhow, guys, I'll check ya later.
     
    Yearghly,
    Dr. Bionicle
  14. Dr. Bionicle

    Dr. Independent

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    Those of you tempted to bust out into Kelly Clarkson lyrics in reaction to the title, you are excused. Go ahead. This is the only time I'll condone any praise of Kelly Clarkson, so take it if you want it. Commence. I'll wait.
     
    ...
     
    Done?
     
    Okay, now let's move along. (Those of you tempted to bust out into AAR lyrics, sorry. I'll try and get you a turn later.)
     
    For those of you that don't know, I have a mass of siblings. Three sisters and one brother. Now before my little bro came into the picture, I was the only guy in the house (minus my dad) which meant, that's right, I had my own room. I was free to do whatever I wanted to the walls, floor, whatever.
     
    Then little Drewmeister popped onto the scene and that independence is gone.
     
    So for nearly a decade I've been sharing a room with the little guy. It isn't that bad, really.
     
    Well, except that when he turned seven he had the uncontrollable urge to strike up some bedtime conversation in which I, being fairly sleep-deprived, had no interested in participating in.
     
    "Ben, are vampires real?"
     
    "Barglsmuffinbush..."
     
    "Ben?"
     
    "Zzzzz..."
     
    "Ben!"
     
    *climbs up on the bunk and decides to whack me in the head*
     
    "Za...wha?"
     
    "Are vampires real?"
     
    "No. Go to sleep."
     
    "Okay."
     
    ...
     
    "Ben, are you sure?"
     
    "Yes, I'm sure. Stop talking."
     
    "Ben, if you were a vampire, could you fly?"
     
    "No."
     
    "If you bit me, would I fly?"
     
    "Do you want to find out?"
     
    "Not really."
     
    "Okay, good. Go to sleep."
     
    ...
     
    "Ben, do you have a cape?"
     
    This would basically go on for about half-an-hour or so until he finally gets tired enough to go to sleep, or decided he needed to get up. At this, he would turn on the light (which, when you're on the top bunk, is like a floodlight), and start looking for something he lost a week ago for no apparent reason. As I tried to block out the light under the covers, he would ask me if I could see it.
     
    "Do you see it, Ben?!"
     
    "See what?"
     
    "My Gameboy!"
     
    "Why do you need your Gameboy at 10 at night?"
     
    "I need to see if my Pokemon grew in the nursery."
     
    "Get in bed."
     
    "Not until..."
     
    At this point, I would get frustrated and either bean him across the head with a small stuffed animal, or get up and turn off the light. If it was a particularly bad night, he would begin to argue with me, then the parents would awaken, also sleep-deprived, and no one goes to bed happy.
     
    He's stopped doing that now, although he does have the uncanny instinct to talk in his sleep. Well, after years of this, my graduated sister moved out of the house. What did this mean? I could finally take the office, and start to transform it into my own room. I'm happy to say that I am now writing this blog entry in my own room.
     
    As of today, we've only done a few things. My dresser is down here, my bed is in a placeholder position till we can get the huge computer desk out of here. The paint job and the floral trim aren't exactly a masculine touch, but we might be able to get the thing painted some time later this year. Right now, it's more office than room, but I at least have a place of my own.
     
    So that's the update for today. Whoo.
     
    Renovatively,
    Dr. Bionicle
     
  15. Dr. Bionicle

    Drifting

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    Yeah, so those of you who stalk may have noticed that I haven't been on very frequently and haven't posted very much. A few people have been inquiring as to the cause of my inactivity now that band camp is over and my summer is pretty much open.
     
    Well, you want the answer?
     
    Guys, at this point in my life, I am just not very big with BZPower or Bionicle right now.
     
    Before some of you kill me or start bombarding me with "Why?!"s, let me continue.
     
    The fact is, when I joined BZPower, I had basically nothing to worry about. I chilled here because it was one of the ways to fill up all my free time. I didn't have much of anything to worry about or to be concerned about. I basically needed BZPower to save me from boredom.
     
    It's been a few years since then...
     
    And, well, number one, I don't have as much time as I used to. But that's not the big issue.
     
    Quite simply, BZPower is no longer a comfort zone of mine. I mean, I love this place and all, and I think the people here are awesome, but I don't "need" it anymore. I've been taking a much more active role in my real life, one that not only overshadows this one, but just about makes this place unnecessary.
     
    Now, before you guys all start freaking out, since I obviously haven't made this any better, let me just say that "No, I'm not planning to leave BZPower any time soon." I have commitments here, and I still enjoy being here. I've got this blog and the BZPRPG and Staff and all that jazz. I'm not going anywhere.
     
    At one point, this place was a great little social pillow. If I was bored or lonely or angry or whatever, I could get on here. I wasn't Ben anymore, I was Dr. Bionicle. I didn't have to face anyone from real life here, and in the very least, the amount of people I could talk to wouldn't be scarce. But now, with a lot of my relational foundations solidifying, that need has all but drifted away.
     
    Now, I know that within the next few months, I'll probably have surges of activity. I'll be really active in BZPRPG or as a Staffer or whatever, and then I'll slip back into dull activity again. That's going to happen. I guarantee it.
     
    But anyway, this is a totally muddled mess of writing, but I just wanted to explain a little bit.
     
    Yeah, it's not like I think Bionicle or BZPower is horrible, I've just lost some interest.
     
     
    Explanatory...ingly...,
    Dr. Bionicle
  16. Dr. Bionicle
    Nurse: Code red! Code red! We've got a dying blog here! Life functions are dropping!
     
    Intern: Get him to Dr. Bionicle immediately!
     
    Dr. B: Oh, this doesn't look good. This guy's been having trouble for months. We need a transfusion and fast!
     
    Nurse: Get me a quart of Premier Year on the double!
     
    Intern: Got it! Here's the IV.
     
    Dr. B: It's helping, but we've lost its entry rate. Hand me the entry shocks.
     
    Intern: Here.
     
    Dr. B: Clear!
     
    *FIZZ*
     
    Intern: It's not working!
     
    Dr. B: Clear!
     
    *FIZZ*
     
    Nurse: It's starting to work...we're getting blips...
     
    Dr. B: Clear!
     
    *FIZZ*
     
    Intern: It's alive!
     
     
    ---
     
     
    Yes, so I finally renewed my Premier membership. So now you've got me back for a year! I'll get to updating my content blocks today, hopefully.
     
    I've got some new ideas which you'll see popping up here and there eventually. New Content Blocks, themes, the like.
     
    So hopefully, this new blog should be up and kicking by tomorrow.
     
    Till then,
    Dr. Bionicle
  17. Dr. Bionicle
    I think I have a new theme. When I feel up to it, I'll put a little link to a totally awesome BZP-appropriate song at the beginning of my entry with which you can serinade the entry. Most everything I put up will be found via Dogpile's Audio Search.
     
    So anyway, for a starter, here is Flight of the Thunderbird.
     
    The background for this little ditty goes back to 7th Grade. At that time, our little band was under the direction of a brilliant man named Mr. Kelly. While 7th Grade bands are usually aimed to simply improve from the loathed 6th Grade bands (shudder), our band went above and beyond. I'm not one to usually gloat about my own band, but 7th Grade was pretty awesome. For my fellow band geeks, I'm going to detail each section to you. For my unfellow not-band-geeks...well...you might want to wait for my next entry, because this will probably bore you.
     
    Trumpets: THE most nefarious section of ANY Junior High Band. There are so many reasons that Trumpets tend to sound bad. One, in 7th Grade Band, there is no auditioning for a higher or lower band. Two, Trumpet is the instrument a majority of kids take up when their parents force them to play an instrument (besides clarinet). And third, there's a freakin' LOT of 'em. We had a total of fourteen trumpets, about six of which were actually dedicated to the band and the music.
     
    Now, being the largest section, there are a few things bound to come up. Trumpets are ALWAYS...
    The loudest The blattiest The most out-of-tune (save Low Brass) The worst-sounding section This is no offense to any trumpets, as I am only observing my own band, and it isn't totally their fault. There were some golden trumpets in that group. But there were a lot of burlap trumpets too. This group didn't suffer from talent, it suffered from a lack of work ethic. A great amount of trumpets never practiced or ever put forth any effort at all.  
    Suffice to say, only the gold nuggets made it to the Symphonic Band next year and outplayed the 9th Graders by chairs.
     
     
    Trombones: Put a big instrument with a slide in a 4th Grader's hand, tell him to blow, and move the slide up and down randomly. That is your average 7th Grade Trombone in the 2005-2006 7th Grade Band. Honestly, a good deal of these people were not the kind of people you want to be put on such a specific instrument. The trombones were of about eight, and only two or three made the sound.
     
    Our trombone section was unique in that instead of us always telling them to back off (like the Trumpets), we always had to tell them to play out. We had a remarkable first chair who could belt like nobody's business, and he was the trombone section in and of himself. Tell the section to play, then tell Mitch to play, and you don't get a whole lot of difference. He reigned over the Trombones, and not surprisingly, he was the only one that advanced into Symphonic Band.
     
    I'm happy to say that everyone in that group improved drastically. People who were pulling their slides out could articulate a scale and play through a piece fairly well. Still, improvement is a gradual thing, and if you aren't there, then you just aren't there yet.
     
     
    Tubas: There's very little that I can say about them because there were only two and you could never hear them. Tubas are hard enough to hear when they have their notes down, but our Tubas had the chronic problem of not knowing your fingerings. Really, this was a lost section, and it might've been a good thing that nobody ever heard them. Still, one's in Symphonic Band, and he's getting much, much better now.
     
    And for those of you that scorn Tubas, try to play a scale on one of those things. That's a lot of tube for one breath.
     
     
    Baritones: Now if there was any section that was on top of their game, it was the Euphoniums. Two players, two, and they powered the Low Brass. And they could cover for each other. If one was gone, you hardly even noticed. These two were the ultimate rivals as far as chairs go, and it was always the question of the week who would come out on top. Really, these people have got good hope for a career (or at least a profitable hobby) if they keep it up.
     
     
    French Horns: It's so hard to stay objective about your own section. I'd love to tell you that we were the most amazing horns you've heard since Dennis Braun, but that would be untrue. Truth is, at the beginning of the year, we were all pretty horrible. Like most horn sections I hear, we faced some of the common horn problems:
    You could never hear us in full band Problem with close notes High notes  
    Needless to say, we were pretty bad. Then my friend Ian and I discovered something called 'breathing'. This changed our whole way of playing. Finally, Mr. Kelly was telling us to tone it down instead of bring it out. Unfortunately, the three other horns never fully discovered this technique (though the one that is still playing certainly is getting there). I'm happy to say that the Horns were one of the more appreciated sections of the 7th Grade (particularly on the song you are/were/didn't bother listening to) and Mr. Kelly loved us.
     
    In 8th Grade, Ian and I advanced. The third chair converted to Percussion, the fourth chair moved on to be the first chair of the Concert Band, and the fifth chair decided to use Choir as her fine arts requirement instead. We still have a killer Horn section, though, and I can say that with no guilt.
     
     
    Percussion: The remarkable thing about this percussion section is that, at the beginning of the year, only two of them could actually count. This is actually a pretty chronic problem among 7th Grade Bands. Of course, they knew their quarters and their half notes and their eighths, but get into sixteenths and you're in a whole new world. I have a good deal of appreciation and pity for percussionists, who have to drill themselves on rhythm day in and day out. If I get a rhythm wrong, but still play the right notes, it still sounds fairly decent. You can't really do that in Percussion.
     
    We had some amazing snare drum players, some sturdy bass drum players, and some good bell players. The real problem was the Timpani. You couldn't get the thing loud enough. And when you're playing something like Duel of the Fates, you really need that thing to boom.
     
    Overall, they definitely got drilled their 7th Grade year, and those who deserved it got into Symphonic Band. And we love 'em for it.
     
     
    Saxaphones: This, without any doubt whatsoever, was the best woodwind section, and possibly the best section in the whole band. They knew their stuff. Rhythms, down, notes, down, everything. The last chair was insanely good, and the other two were constantly battling over first. There isn't much I can say about this group except that Symphonic Band wouldn't be the same without them.
     
     
    Clarinets: Oi. Much like trumpets, this was the biggest group and the most hazardous. Clarinets have a great potential to not get their notes right. We did have some great players in there, but we also had some not-so-great. Unfortunately, I can't exactly say that they improved very much because only those who had been good at the beginning of the year went onto Symphonic Band while the others either dropped out or went to Concert Band (where, actually, a few of them are starting to sound really good).
     
     
    Oboe: I'm sorry, but I have this thing against oboes. Nothing against oboe players, I have the utmost respect for you picking such a difficult instrument, but I can't stand the sound of those things. The reason why? I'm used to hearing Junior High Oboe. The definition of a Junior High oboe (here, anyway) is most commonly "out-of-tune". This guy knew his notes and his rhythms, but he was out-of-tune.
     
    And I can't say I care all too much for the sound of the things at any length. That's just my opinion there, so feel free to hit me in the face with an Italian Pie if you want.
     
     
    Bassoon: This guy has the loudest foot tap you will ever hear in your entire life. He wears sandals that are amazingly thick and make such a noise on the floor of a band room that you wouldn't believe. Unfortunately, for someone with such a monstrous foot tap, he has trouble with rhythm. He knows his notes and is good at fingerings, but rhythms are confusing to him, and he's actually capable of throwing off a whole woodwind section when he's tapping out of rhythm.
     
    He's in Symphonic Band and he's much better now, but he's still got that Godzilla foot tap.
     
     
    Flutes: Well, flutes are a lot like trumpets. There are some extremely amazing and gifted people...and then the rest are kind of bleh. The flutes were a good section last year, but it took a lot of hard work to get them there. And I'm not surprised, flute is hard. It takes twice as much air, it has a difficult mouthpiece, and there's a lot of fingerings. We were lucky in the fact that our flutes weren't overly dominant, but weren't background noise either. We had a good, strong flute section.
     
    Our Symphonic Band flute section is amazing, hands down, and the others that are still doing it are probably the most amazing section if Concert Band. So rock on, flutists.
     
     
    Bass Clarinets: I could never hear these guys, I'm afraid. They're rocking this year, but I just couldn't hear them in 7th Grade.
     
     
     
    So yeah, that's just an overview of my band. I know, you're probably thinking "Why'd he have to tell us all that?!" Well...it's a blog. And I'm trying to get this thing active again, so you might have to wade through some entries like this. Sorry.
     
    Band Geeks forever.
     
    Dr. B
  19. Dr. Bionicle
    This is basically for guys. Girls, sorry, but I kind of have the advantage of being the same gender as the guys, so it's much easier for me to get where they're coming from. And the perspectives here are two totally different ones, really.
     
    So yeah, guys.
     
    You're going to/have reached a point where you start liking girls. Some of you may think this is weird still, some of you have probably been liking girls for a long time now, some of you are older than me and are thinking "What's this guy ranting about?", so just hear me out. I'm doing my best to speak to a good range of people here. Also know that I'm speaking from multiple viewpoints, some which are older and some which are younger than myself.
     
    First of all, those of you who still don't like girls, guys, you're going to. Yeah, I know, it may seem really weird, but it's going to happen. I could give you the whole biological lowdown on it, but the basic point is: It's inevitable. Some of you may hold out longer than others, but it's going to happen.
     
    Trust me, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Really. No, seriously, join the club. If your friends still don't like girls and you do, then just wait. Eventually, it'll get to the point where you're all comfortable with it. And once you all are, believe me, you're going to talk about it a lot. So don't feel ashamed of it. It may feel weird, but that's basically natural. I mean, it's a new experience, right? We tend to feel weird about stuff like this, particularly us as guys, because we feel we have a certain obligation to be masculine.
     
    So if you've just started liking girls, don't feel like it's going to go away. The awkwardness will go away eventually, but you're just starting, man. Girls are going to be a serious mental nag. You're going to develop crushes, some bigger than others, and as you get older, things start happening.
     
    You may start feeling more awkward around girls (or the particular girl that you like), possibly girls that you never had trouble talking to or maybe never talked to before. That's OK, really. It just means that you're not really sure how to respond yet. And how could you? Like I said, it's a new experience, and we tend to be tentative or cautious about new situations (unless you're a daredevil, in which case, hoo boy).
     
    Oh, and before I go any further, let me tell you exactly what a crush is. A crush is basically an infatuation with another person of the opposite gender (for us, a girl). In short, a crush is where you like someone "from a distance". Basically, you just like them because you've observed them and something about them attracts you. As you get older, you may experience some more personal crushes, as in girls that are maybe your good friends, but usually you start with some distant crushes. It's a pretty nice way to start, since generally, these don't hurt anybody.
     
    Guys, let me just tell you right now, a crush is generally 99% you. In other words, you're the single source of your own crush. Since a crush is generally private (till you hit Junior High/Middle School, in which case, it's generally considered public scandal ), you can rarely be swayed in who your crush is. I mean, unless your friend tells you that they feed on human flesh or something, generally you make your own decisions on the matter.
     
    And be warned, crushes can be delusional. You can take some things way too seriously or way too lightly under the influence of a crush (oh great, now I sound like a PSA). Seriously, though. If you invite her and some of her friends to a party, and she says 'No', she's probably not rejecting you directly, she probably just doesn't want to go. But still, something in the back of your mind makes a transfer, and you just kind of assume, "Oh, she's not interested. Dang!" That's a pretty calm mindset (I've seen worse), but still delusional. So just don't assume. You'll save yourself a lot of face that way.
     
    Okay, here's one big thing I wanted to hit on. Guys, sometimes you'll try to act different around your crush. There are multiple reasons for this. Maybe you think that being yourself isn't good enough, maybe you just don't know what to do, heck, maybe you want to stave her off. Whatever it is, look out. Don't do anything stupid like...
    Start acting like a total foulmouth when you really aren't Try to be the unsaid BMOC Brag about yourself all the time Act all flirty (Oh, gosh, you have no idea how bad this looks... ><) Try to deliberately act like a "jock" (AKA a person who generally is just mean, in the stereotypical sense) Put down everyone around you Be a totally spontaneous spaz Just a few generic things. Guys, seriously, this isn't even to assume that you want to attract her, just to save your own self. If you start doing this, it becomes fairly obvious why, and you'll most likely get heat for it.  
    And guys, a few other things, especially around girls you know...
    Don't treat her like just another guy. Really. While it may feel more natural, you have to remember she is a girl, and as such, that has to be respected. That means don't tell her your gross jokes, don't start making weird sounds with your armpit, that stuff.
    Don't give her all the attention all the time. Geez, guys, for people who generally like to keep this stuff secret, we sure stink at doing it. It's pretty obvious when you like someone if you're constantly talkign directly to them, regardless of who's speaking, and constantly looking at them. That doesn't mean you shouldn't give her attention, but seriously, if there are other people around, a little acknowledgment will not hurt.
    Don't try to bring up romantics. It gets pretty obvious when a guy's in C-Mode (aka Crush Mode) when he starts bringing up romance. If you wouldn't do it normally, good grief, don't do it now! You'll be getting weird looks for the rest of the day.  
     
    Now, a lot of you are probably at the point where you want to "ask her out". Now, few people realize what responsibility those three words hold. Guys, remember, that when you commit to being someone's "boyfriend", it is a commitment. That means you've got to be the boyfriend. You've got to pay special attention to her, stand up for her, all that. So if you think dating or being a couple is just about getting your arm up around her shoulder in the movie theater, you've got a lot to learn.
     
    You need to really be serious if you want to ask a girl out. Guys, seriously. I really don't care too much for these "relationships" I hear about that go on in 4th Grade, because generally it contends to the fact that neither is very serious about it. I'd at least wait beyond 7th Grade. The youngest serious relationships I see going on are in the 8th Grade, but these are still some special people we're talking about.
     
    Remember, only ask out a girl when you are sure that you can handle that situation of being her boyfriend.
     
    Yeah, some of you are probably thinking "Uh...OK?", right?
     
    Well, trust me, if you don't find it out here, you'll find it out on your own time or from others.
     
    Anyway, considering that you are actually ready for this kind of thing, guys, make sure you check your intentions before trying anything. Honestly, make sure that you...
    Aren't just wanting to go out with her because all your other friends have girlfriends. Being in a relationship is about you and her, not about other people. So if you start something around that basis, you can bet that it will probably crash to the ground. Aren't just asking her out because everyone says you should. Some people seem perfect for each other in theory, then end up being a mess in experiment. If you feel nothing, then don't listen to the masses. Aren't just asking her out to say you've asked out a girl. Dating isn't about getting a reputation, guys. It's about two people in a relationship that goes beyond friendship. So please don't make this mistake like so many others! Aren't just asking her to make someone else jealous. Yeah, sounds right out of a soap opera doesn't it? But believe me, the teenage mind works in mysterious ways, and you really have to double-check your motive. More than once, have I caught my friends doing this, and for the most part, they didn't even realize it. Aren't just asking her out because you're bored. Guys, relationships are scary things, and they shouldn't be based off of whims. Aren't just asking her out as a joke/because someone dared you to. That's low. Period. Aren't just asking her out because you're lonely. That's what friends are for, and I think it's good to experiment with friends before you try to move onto a real relationship.  
    Guys, the number one reason you should be asking her out is because you want to and think you're ready. If that's not it, check yourself. Your motives are not limited to this list, but if your intention isn't your own, then you need to do some seriously soul-searching.
     
    No, I'm not going to give you tips on how to score a date or how to be a wonderful boyfriend or any of that. Yeah, I know, you can start breathing again. Guys, I'm not trying to be Dr. Love or anything of that sort, because really I'm not. I just want to alert you to what's going on here.
     
    If you haven't figured it out yet, to us guys, girls are the most confusing thing in the world. We really just don't get them, so the concept of possibly wanting to date one is freaky. I hope that somewhere in this little rant of mine, you've picked up something, and if you haven't, then hopefully you will someday.
     
    And anyway, that's all I really wanted to say.
     
     
    Awkwardly,
    Dr. Bionicle
  20. Dr. Bionicle

    Happy Dirtday!

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    You'll have to excuse the title, but unless you're familiar with Gus from Cinderella and my three sisters, you're not going to get it.
     
    Anyhow, yesterday marked BZPower's 5th Anniversary. Pretty sweet. Five's a nice milestone.
     
    I've been all giddy due to the return of my rank image and my blog, and this has convinced me to finally send in my donation for another year of Premier Membership (though, due to my mostly having twenties, Big D's gonna have a lot of quarters to count).
     
    I was secretly wishing for a giveaway or something of that sort, but I can live without it. If I remember correctly, last year they gave away a prototype Pahrak and...I think it was an Iruini with the canister signed by GregF. Hm. Can't really remember. That was a cool little contest, though.
     
    Along with every BZPower Anniversary, we get to see Big D/Hapori Tohu's spinny change. Hapori Tohu got to me first (due to an interesting little link in Cap'n Exo's signature). The Olmak is officially the new five-year spinny.
     
    Mahalis always does a great job with spinnies. He designs them quite well.
     
    I'm just going to give you my preferences on the spinnies for the first five year milestones. I'm not saying anything about design, simply about selection.
     
    Year 1 - Vahi: This was a really nice choice. This is a very neutral mask that doesn't favor any real character except possibly Tahu (though it was capable of use by other Toa in the Bionicle PC Game, which crashed and burned in 2001). It was a nice little way to mark your first year at BZPower, with something that represents time.
     
    Year 2 - Avohkii: Another good choice, seeing as the Avohkii was basically center of attention at that point in time. While it did slightly favor Ta-Koro, Takanuva was a very neutral character as the Toa of Light. It's another nice little trademark.
     
    Year 3 - Great Huna: While I don't care too much for the idea of sticking to one specific division, I can't really think of any better choice at the time. I don't believe we had much info on Lhikan's set before the spinny was made, though I could be wrong. There wasn't really any better choice besides Vakama's Huna, due to the lack of masks/faces. The only choice that would seem neutral enough would be the Noble Kiril, and that yet again was a Ta-Based character. I think the Great Huna, however, gives a certain feeling of veteranship, considering how long ago the Toa Metru fought and how they are now.
     
    Year 4 - Norik Head: Yeah, this one was meant to make you feel old. You're now represented by a hunched-over elder. I personally like this spinny because of that very feeling of veteranship, even if it does stick back to Ta roots. Some people were vouching for a Rhotuka, but that just seemed kind of 'Bleh' to me. I like the idea of the Rahaga head, due to its "ancient" feeling.
     
    Year 5 - Olmak: We kind of take a step up here. We go from hunched-over old guy to big, titanic warrior with double blades and claws. Brutaka was a good choice, considering the fact he's been around since the first Toa (making him older than Norik) but the concept is still a little strange. This is also the real bad guy we've had for a spinny, compared with Good Guys and Neutralities. I think I would've liked to see an Ignika spinny, though there might not have been enough information on it at the time the spinny was being decided. What would've been really cool would've been if it did a kind of 'tumble' sequence where it would not only spin around but also spin vertically so that you could see both sides of the Ignika (Vezon and the Mask). Fenrakk would've been pretty nifty too. But of course, Brutaka does have that one little flash that neither of those two choices have: Gold. ^^
     
    There ya have it.
     
    Yeah, that's basically what my blog's gonna be like, just me putting in my opinion on things. Little stories here and there, maybe.
     
    Anyhow, that's basically it for now. I might put up another entry later today.
     
    Yours Truly,
    Dr. Bionicle
  21. Dr. Bionicle

    Hi, Guys!

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    Okay, yes, I did kind of disappear and haven't really had any contact with BZPower in forever.
     
    So I guess some of you (BZPRPers, especially) are wondering where the cow I've been.
     
    Well... uh...
     
    Let's just say that my social life has greatly improved over the past year. Despite the fact that the learner's permit severely limits my driving skillz, my life has become saturated with... well... life.
     
    And also, you guys know that novel I've been talking about?
     
    Yeah, I'm still working on that.
     
    But that DOESN'T mean I've forgotten this place... not at all. In fact, I've been wanting to get back onto this place, but I've been afraid that with my bogged schedule, any toe in the water would end up getting me drawn back in and I wouldn't be able to commit any time here.
     
    Well, a few things drew me back.
     
    First of all, I miss the darn place. This is the haven of my nerdity, and you can bet I miss that.
     
    Second of all, I know that Smeag's probably going to cut my throat if I don't get back here for the BZPRPG, and I figured that I'd probably get something slapped on me for being gone so long (dig the new banner).
     
    And thirdly, well, I figure if I stay away too long, some of you guys are going to forget about me.
     
    So here I am!
     
    Let's see what I can do about this blog...
     
    ...
     
    Oh, wait, I need to do stuff first.
     
    ...
     
    Dang.
     
    Well, when I do, I'll be back.
     
    Till then...
     
    Schwarzennly,
    Dr. Bionicle
     
     
  22. Dr. Bionicle

    Hmmm...

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    I wonder what this button does...
     
    Oh. Errr... I guess this is a blog. Heh. Cool.
     
    Well, just poking around. I'm pretty sure I'll be frequently updating this thing...since I don't got much else to do, even with the promotion.
     
    Anyhow, this has been some cruddy introduction.
     
    Stay tuned for further stupidity/genius.
     
    Oo Dr. B oO
  23. Dr. Bionicle
    Inspired by Wysp. This is the satirical aspect, and I'm considering posting a serious one in a later blog entry. But for now, I'm going to make fun of the environment I so greatly enjoy.
     
    Now, many of you browse the RPG Forum, and want to post, but you just don't know how. How do you appeal to someone? How do you fight properly? How do you start a group? All pressing questions, all answered here! Good citizens of BionicleRPGForumville, I'm here to show you How To Be A Good RPer! Being much more extensive than my other How To's, this will be done in segments. First, let's work on...
     
    ~Character Creation~
     

    When creating a character, it is vital to come up with a great name, because honestly, who wants to save the world with a partner whose name is Fattythums? When choosing name, there are a few things to consider.  
    -Description of your character. Why not let those who don't know you in on what your character is like through your name? Look at LEGO. Axonn carries an ax. Brutaka is brutal. Roodaka is rude. Makuta is koola' than you. Let's go through a few examples on what gives the right impression and what gives the wrong impression.
    Examples:
     
    Bumbsi: Gives the impression of an obese, clumsy Bambi.
    Froopers: "Toa of Breakfast Cereals" comes to mind.
    Johnlennoneria: This is Bionicle, not Great Britain!
    Guud: Getting there...not bad...
    Awesum: Awesome.
    Superpoweredturbonia: Oh, we're cookin' now!
     
     
    -Easy to remember. Names like Tahu have no pattern and are difficult to remember. However, try a name like Qpalzmwoskxn. It's a simple pattern of going to the left of the keyboard, to the right, down, left, right, down, until you reach the third column in which you switch back to the right again. Easy, huh?
     
    -Cool letters. There are reasons why you don't see Bobs in the Bionicle universe. Take virtually any name and throw in a cool letter. Cool letters include Z, K, X, V, and Q. Let's take a simple name and make some changes. You might find this hard at first, but there's one simple philosophy that LEGO and RPers everywhere have been following for years. When in doubt, USE THE K.
    Example:
     
    Not cool -> Lenny
    Kinda cool -> Lenky
    Mostly cool -> Lekky
    Cool -> Lekkk
    Awesome -> Lkkkk
    OMG -> Kkkkk
     
    -A cool tagline. Now, while Kkkkk (Oh, man) is an awesome name in and of itself, it does get a little boring to just be yelling "Kkkkk!" all the time. So let's add a cool tag.
    Example:
     
    Okay -> Kkkkk
    Good -> Toa Kkkkk
    Great -> Supreme Toa Kkkkk
    Awesome -> Supreme Toa Kkkkk Master of All
    WHOA, NELLY -> Mr. Supreme Toa Kkkkk Master of All
     

    Next, you need to focus on your species. Nowadays, everybody wants to be a Toa or a Matoran. Don't take any of that unoriginal conformism. Be original! For the originality-impaired, however, there is what we call subtle plagiarism borrowing. Simply take a species and change the name and aspects to your liking. Example:
     
    Gross -> Fire Toa: Red and orange, humanoid, powers of fire, about 6-foot.
    Hmm... -> Firetoa: Red and turquoise, humanoidish, powers of fire, about 6-foot.
    Getting there -> Eriftoa: Turqoise and plaid, ape-like, powers of combustion, about 6-foot 5.
    Almost -> Erifto: Turqoise and plaid, reptillian ape, powers of combustion engines, about 7-foot.
    Sweet -> Eriftoz: Plaid, reptillian ape with wings, powers of nuclear weapons, 20 feet tall.
     

    Once that's done, you need to figure out the full extent of your powers. You don't want to go out there looking like a weakling? You aren't going to let those bigshots with their own guilds and organizations trample you! Nope. You want to come out looking like a football star...only with superpowers and stuff. Example:
     
    Meh -> Power of fire
    Hm -> Power of heat
    Close -> Power of light
    Yeah! -> Power of lightsabers
     

    With that done, you need to write your biography. Of course, you need to give your character a complex history. If you don't, nobody's going to bother with him. Make sure it's as deep, twisted, and complicated as possible. Example: Kkkkk was born and raised in Utahia on the island of USA-Nui, where he got super powers from a crystal of amazing energy. He went to Metru Nui and changed his name to Mr. Supreme Eriftoz Kkkkk Master of All, and now goes around killing everything.
     
    There you have it! A perfect profile!
     
    Come back next time for the next installment:
     
    How to Write a Good RP Post!
     
     
    Satirically,
    Dr. Bionicle
  24. Dr. Bionicle
    As many of you may have seen or experienced, when certain members feel a certain need to leave BZPower and let everyone know why, they tend to do something extreme to do so, or "renegades". While it's always nice to see the reaction we get from members, who for the most part see that this is clearly not the right thing to do, there is sometimes confusion as to what to do.
     
    This is a serious entry, speaking as both a Forum Assistant and as a member.
     
     
    First of all, if you...
     
     
    ...get a PM with an inappropriate message/image.
    A very common response is to post something in New Member Q&A asking "What's up?" I do not recommend this, for two reasons. Number one, what the person wants is attention, so creating a topic will only give him that reward. And number two, I've seen on more than one occasion where members feel that they must see what they did or that you do not have sufficient proof, the reposting of which would not be appropriate.
     
    The best thing to do is to PM a Staff Member you see that is active, showing them what you have received and giving them the name of the member who did it and a link to their profile. The best member to PM would be an Administrator of some sort, if one is on, but if not, you can also PM another Staff Member. Even if you can only PM an FA, they're capable of making the rest of the Staff aware. The important thing is that the issue gets dealt with quickly and, what's best, quietly.
     
     
    ...see a topic with an inappropriate message/image.
    Most people see a need to post that it is against the rules and the following member will get in trouble. To be honest, the posts are quite pointless, due to the fact that the member probably doesn't care all too much about the rules. There are also the members who feel the need to say "DON'T POST HERE", which are also fairly pointless. The best post you can make in a topic of this nature is no post.
     
    Your best method of action? Report the topic immediately, and if possible, PM an active Staff Member who can deal with the topic.
     
     
    ...see multiple topics massed with similar/multiple inappropriate messages/images.
    First check to see if a Global Moderator or Administrator is on. If they are, PM them immediately and inform them of the situation. If they are not, report the topics, and get the word out to other Staff Members capable of closing the topics.
     
     
    ...see a renegade planning (whether in a chatroom or IM or whatever) his attack.
    Inform a Staff Member, preferably an Administrator, of the situation and give them some sort of physical proof of the incident (chat logs, emails, etc.). You can attempt to dissuade the member before doing so, but if they fail to listen to you, the best thing you can do is help prevent it from happening.
     
     
    ...see a renegade with an inappropriate avatar/signature.
    Do not PM them, as it will generally get you nowhere fast. The best thing to do is PM a Staff Member of some sort who is active and inform them of the situation.
     
     
    Do you see a pattern here? Whenever a renegade goes on a "frenzy" of some sort, it's always best to let the Staff know. It's part of our job to deal with things of this nature, and commonly taking the matter into your own hands will do very little. Do the right thing and get it dealt with efficiently. Report and Inform.
     
    This is a shorter, very Staffesque entry, I know, but I think that it needs to be confronted more than it is at the moment. Please consider what you've just read.
     
     
    With Regards,
    Dr. Bionicle
  25. Dr. Bionicle
    It occurs to me that many people are unaware of how to make a good blog entry. People just type whatever pops up into their heads. Well, I'm here to set the record straight. Here is the format for a good blog entry.
    Here you should have a greeting of some sort. Something like "Hello", "Hi, guys", or "Good morning" or even "Hoo-hah Bonjour" if you're trying to appeal to those of foreign demeanor.  

    Here is where you explain your reason for not having made a blog entry in the past few months. This usually should have a well-placed excuse. Example: I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in a while, but I was abducted by these Aliens disguised as the Swedish Government (those fiends!) and they were holding me hostage on Pluto until we declare it a planet again.
     

    Now you move onto what you want to talk about. You should try to grab their attention with your first line. You can do it very nonchalantly (i.e. I found out Elvis came back from the dead today) or in a way that will excite your readers (i.e. ELVIS IS BACK FROM THE DEAD, RUN FOR THE HILLS!). Truth is optional here.  

    Now you should get to the point. Describe your situation in detail. Example: I made friends with Jenkin the Imaginary Dinosaur today. He's a good guy. I'm just afraid he might eat me.
     

    Now elaborate. Example: Because he's been looking at me all funny, licking his lips and stuff, and then I found out that someone replaced all the water in the shower with BBQ Sauce.
     

    Give a funny anecdote. Make sure it involves lots of violence. Example: It reminded me of the time that I accidentally hit Jane Doe in the face with an excited hedgehog covered in relish. She smacked me a good one upside the head after that. So I blasted her with my mashed potatoes. Then she had to go and set off a bomb. Then we started hearing these jet fighters come overhead...
     

    Throw in a joke. Relation to the topic is optional. Example: So the sponge said to the faucet, "That's no dish towel, that's my wife!" But seriously, folks...
     

    Compare it to past events. Example: I had this one friend, his name was Carny, and he was an Imaginary Tiger. Well, believe it or not, he tried to eat me. I didn't catch on till he strapped me to the grill and asked if I'd like to be 'well-done' or 'medium-rare'.
     

    Make fun of as many BZPers as you can in one sentence. Quality of the insults is irrelevant. It's quantity, not quality, that counts. Example: Which reminds me of Omi, who has weird hair, and SPIRIT, who's a silly rock, and -Chicken Little- who has hyphens before and after his name, and Kex, who's purple, and WaWa, whose name appears twice, and Smeag, who's schizophrenic!
     

    Throw in a pun, just for the heck of it. Example: Rodents like to go on MOLER Coasters!
     

    Complain about Bionicle in some way, shape, or form. Example: Those things aren't real! They're plastic!
     

    Advertise yourself. Make sure to motivate. Example: Remember to visit my blog and my mutant gerbils will be happy!
     

    Now that you've got them hooked, go on to tell them about your day. Make it as dull and monotonous as possible! Example: So then I woke and then I brushed my teeth and then I saw that there was this little bit of plaque, so I scrubbed and then it wouldn't come off and then I scrubbed again and then it still wouldn't come off and then I took out the blowtorch...
     

    Then wrap up your blog entry real quick with something snappy. Example: Ya da da da da-dat da! Ya-dat-da-dat! Uhbeebuhdabeeba...That's all folks! Ya dat dat da da-dat-da!
     
     
    And that, my friends, is how to make a *good blog entry.
     
     
    * Definition of good is variant and may or may not actually appeal to your desired audience. In fact, I'm not even going to lie, none of this really works. Just do it your own way and stop looking to my blog for advice. Young'ns.
     
     
    ly,
    Dr. Bionicle
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