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Dr. Bionicle

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  1. Dr. Bionicle
    No, my name is not Jigsaw. No, there are no winners. And yes, you will all come out alive.
     
    Anyway, here's a nifty little game that I've played more than a few times on the internet. It's really simple. There will be a series of questions or statements which require an answer. However, instead of using common sense (wouldn't want to hurt anything ), we're going to use what we call the Shuffle Button.
     
    That's right, take your iPod, Windows Media Player, or whatever playlist you may have available, and turn on the shuffle button. The answer to each question will be whatever song title is on your playlist. No skipping (unless, of course, the song title is inappropriate)!
     
    Here's my specially designed questionare thingermajig, some of which is snagged from others I've done...
     
     
    What is my life's philosophy?
    What will my last words be?
    How am I feeling today?
    What is my theme song?
    What song will be played at my wedding?
    What song will be played at my funeral?
    How will I be remembered?
    What is some good advice for me?
    What is my life's dream?
    What's my kind of lady/man?
    How do people on BZPower see me?
    How would I describe this blog?
    How would I describe my best friend?
    What's in store for this week?
    How would I describe my parents?
    If I had one wish, what would I wish for?
    What do my friends think of me?
    What is said about me behind my back?
    What do I think of this questionare?
     
     
    Go for it!
     
    Here would be mine...
     
     
     
    What is my life's philosophy? Life is a Highway
    What will my last words be? Don't Worry, Be Happy (XD)
    How am I feeling today? It Ends Tonight (O_O)
    What is my theme song? Hello, McFly (Hey, sweet!)
    What song will be played at my wedding? Beautiful Disaster (XDXDXD)
    What song will be played at my funeral? Bad Day (Well, yeah...)
    How will I be remembered? Head Held High (Oh, well, that's good)
    What is some good advice for me? My Friend (So Long)
    What is my life's dream? American Pie (Er...)
    What's my kind of lady/man? You Give Love a Bad Name (XD)
    How do people on BZPower see me? More Than Useless (Uh, thanks?)
    How would I describe this blog? Pressing On (Eh, more or less...)
    How would I describe my best friend? Healing Rain
    What's in store for this week? Come Sail Away (Ho, boy...)
    How would I describe my parents? Gone (O_O)
    If I had one wish, what would I wish for? Somebody to Love (Score!)
    What do my friends think of me? On Fire (O_o)
    What is said about me behind my back? Oh! Gravity
    What do I think of this questionare? Must Have Done Something Right (Heh...)
     
     
    So there you go.
     
    Interactively,
    Dr. Bionicle
     
     
  3. Dr. Bionicle
    What's up guys. It's been a while. So let me give you the update on things going on...
     
    For all my Students: Yes, I re-entered The Academy into the current RPG Contest. I said I wouldn't but you guys got me all sappy and wishy-washy. So I fell through. We're going to do it again. Whether you like it or not.
     
    As it is, the current plans are we're going to have a giant battle outside The Academy's walls. Everybody's going to be busy. Let me give you just a few spoilers and quotes from pending posts...
     
     
    ZYRUL/MYTHIAS DUEL: We'll learn something new about Zyrul's past. And we'll get a slight hint towards Mythias's plans. Not only that, we'll realize something about their partnership. Not only that, but there's something about Toa Metamorphosis we don't know about.
     
    QUOTE: Mythias laughed mockingly at his opponent. "Do you really think that once I defeat you I'll take your Academy and steal your scheme?" He knocked Zyrul's blade off his own.
     
    "This Academy of yours is nothing but a pathetic ploy of yours. You have no idea what waste you are putting the secret of Toa Metamorphosis to. You don't even know the full extent of its power."
     
    Zyrul scoffed at this. "You made clear, precise notes on your study, Mythias. You wrote the whole thing out for me on a page. I understand it completely."
     
    "Oh yes," Mythias said as he dodged a swing, "All my notes were very precise and specific. But were they ALL my notes, Zyrul?"
     
    The eyes met. Zyrul's rage began to grow. Mythias's grin grew wider.
     
    "Yes, there is a secret you have yet to unlock. One that, once in my hands, will let me go much farther than your excuse for a master plan."
     
    He blocked a blow and sent Zyrul spinning back with a wind blast. Zyrul smashed against a rock, but quickly regained himself. The two clashed swords and held them there in a lock of turmoil.
     
    "Zyrul, if you knew the secrets of Toa Metamorphosis...you wouldn't have wasted your time with The Academy."
     
    He laughed.
     
    "You'd be dominating the world."
     
     
    KYSHIM/K-1 BATTLE: This is going to be a good one. One of them will die. I will not reveal which one, though. You'll have to wait that one out.
     
    QUOTE: K-1 snarled at his opponent.
     
    "Traitor. Nothing but a traitor."
     
    Kyshim glared at him as the two worked their swords against each other. The clang of the metal pierced their ears. The blades threatened to tear apart whatever it came in contact with, whether it be armor or fur.
     
    "It's all in the line of power and survival," Kyshim responded, dodging a jab from K-1's blade.
     
    K-1 snapped his jaw towards Kyshim's throat, but he was rapped with an iron fist.
     
    "You know, we Kohm have some tradition in our species, being an intelligent sort."
     
    He leapt over a sweeping blade and brought his sword down on it.
     
    "And we have a very specific proverb about treachery."
     
    He snarled as Kyshim's fiery eyes glared at him.
     
    "If your brother claws you in the leg..."
     
    He slid Kyshim's sword smoothly out of the way and got a nice scratch across Kyshim's stomach, causing him to wince.
     
    "...turn and bite his neck."
     
     
    THUNDERBIRD: Not much will be happening yet. I have to deal with Tommi temporarily. Then we'll have a large showdown between Tawke and Gukko. No quotes.
     
     
    DYRON: We'll see some of his skills coming into play, especially in vehicle use. He will soon be entering the battlefield on a vehicle that will greatly benefit his side. It won't happen for quite some time though. No quotes.
     
     
    As it is, I've decided to turn this blog into an Academy Blog, because I figure it'd be a nice way to hear it from my point of view.
     
    Anyhow, I'll see you all later.
     
    Dr. B
  5. Dr. Bionicle
    Many of you may have been somewhat enlightened by my previous entry "How To Make a Good Blog Entry". I've decided to continue my series, expanding to other outlets of BZPower. One in dire danger is the Comedies Forum, and thusly I'm creating this entry for the benefit of writers everywhere.
     
    Please note that this is strictly satirical. Do not take this seriously.
     
    So let's get started, shall we?
    To start off, you need a good title. There are many trends going around as of late. Trends like "Toa as *age group*", "Bionicle meets *popular icon*", and "The ___ Show!". While originality is appreciated, 45 comedians can't be wrong, right?  

    You must have an alluring topic description. Something snazzy and spontaneous. Nothing turns the audience's head more than a good ol' "aLL yOuR bAsE aRe bElOnG tO pIe!1111.52 LOL desimuls". Or the ever-popular threat "Read this or I'll sick my radioactive badger on you! lol"  

    After you've come up with a title and you're writing the first post, it's time to think about what your story is about. Relation to the title is optional.  

    Include a narrator. Narrators give a sense of magic to the audience. And make sure that he constantly harms and/or argues with the characters.  
    Example:
     
    Narrator: So Tahu ate the pie.
    Tahu: Mmmm, pie!
    Narrator: ...that was full with Super Fire Nuva Hot Sauce!!!!!!
    Tahu: OOOMGEE MY MOUTH!!111 CURRsE u NARatir!!!
    Narrator: Lol, Tahu, you can't even spell good.
    Tahu: Oh ya, well I show u! FIRE BALLLL!!!!!!
    Narrator: But the fire ball couldn't reach the narrator cuz he's really good looking (eat your heart out ladies lol) and it bounced back and hit Tahu right in the rear.
    Tahu: OOOOMGEE MY REER!11
    Narrator: I looooooooove being the narrator. Bow to ma powa'!!! XDDDDXDXDDXXD
     

    Make sure you have a collective cast. It should consist of six basic elements (OMG SIX ELEMENTS LOL LIKE THE TOA ROAOTFL (that's Rolling All Over The Floor Laughing, hey parentheses in parentheses, it's da apocalypse!!)). These are...  
    -Your standard doofus. Doesn't know much of anything and always ends up doing something stupid for whatever reason. All the others scorn him. Common targets are Pohatu, Stone Toa, and people who's name in pig latin is Ohatupay.
     
    Example:
     
    Narrator: And so they were talking about quantam physics and stuff.
    Tahu: So, u see, e=mc2 and pi = 3.14s.
    Gali: Oooooo, I sees.
    Pohatu: I tought pie = cherry.
    Tahu: ???
    Pohatu: I like cherry pieZ!
    Gali: OMG POHATU we"r not toking abot pie with an E!!!
    Pohatu: theres other pie?!1!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
    Tahu: Yeah :bored:
    Pohatu: THEN LET MEH EAT IT!1
     
     
    -Your standard genius. Knows basically everything, regardless of whether it's true or not. Nobody likes them, but they're usually the leader anyway. Common targets are Gali, Hahli, and virtually any female.
     
    Example:
     
    Pohatu: PIE!!11
    Gali: 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510
    Pohatu: Dat not cherry!11
    Gali: Itz a irrational numbah.
    Pohatu: Like my mudda'-in-law? lolo
    Gali: Why we talkin' like gangstaz?
    Pohatu: CUz i liek Pie11
    Gali: Math!1
     
     
    -Your standard master of deus ex machina. Can solve virtually any problem within milliseconds. Common targets are Kopaka and Takanuva.
     
    Example:
     
    Gali: Ohs noes! It's da' blak hole!
    Pohatu: lol u talkin like a gangstazzz again!1
    Gali: we geting suked In thrugh centrifugalgravitationalfrictionizedinertiaismalism!
    Pohatu: o ya
    Kopaka: Don't worry! i Freez the blak hole!1
    Narrator: So Kopaka freezed the black hole.
    Black Hole: OHS NOOOOOOOOOOOOES
    Kopaka: Noone mess w/ Kopaaka!1
     
     
    -Your standard weirdo. Usually talks funny, acts funny, or just is weird. Common targets are Lewa, Lewa, and Lewa's son Lewa II (but you can call him Lewa).
     
    Example:
     
    Lewa: Heyguys weneed toget outof here!!
    Kopaka: omg u talk funny
    Lewa: I drink radioooactiv-citrus juice (az seen on TV lol well not ur tv cuz u guys not get my weirdo-89 station, gota luv da classics!! XD)
    Kopaka: ...................
     
     
    -Your standard leader, who nobody respects, likes, or obeys, but everyone still calls the leader anyway. Always has a quick temper and will blow anyone up instantaneously. Common targets are Tahu, Toa Olda of Fire, and Bionicle Set 8534.
     
    Example:
     
    Tahu: We need to beat da bad guzyz!
    Pohatu: GANGAZTA
    Tahu: Folow me!
    Kopaka: omg no i hateyou1
    Tahu: WHAT?!!?!?!? :burnfire: :urnfire: :burnfire:
    Kopaka: i mean uhhhhhh lets goz!
     
     
    -Your standard nobody. This is the guy that doesn't really do anything, but is there anyway because people like the number six. Doesn't have any personality. Common Targets are Onua. Yeah...basically Onua.
     
    Example:
     
    Tahu: Follow me!1
    Kopaka: i sAve u!
    GAli: Gravitashional forczE!
    Pohatu: coookee!11
    Lewa: Afteri finishmy bugsandwich11
    Onua: Okay.
     
     

    It's important to find a joke to stick with. If the audience laughs once, they'll laugh forever. When in doubt, use food. Food is good. Pie, cookies, anything that can be sued for obesity. The bigger a joke is physically, the funnier. And don't forget the exclamation points.  
    Example:
     
    Not funny -> Pohatu: heh i like bath towels
    Kinda funny -> Pohatu: I liek cheese
    Funny -> Pohatu: I LIEK CHEEZ
    XDlarious -> Pohatu: OMG I LUV CHEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     

    The appearance of celebrity brings in interest.  
    Example:
     
    Narrator: All of a sudden, Chuck Norris appeared!
    Chuck Norris: ROUNDHOUSE KICK the BLACK HOLE
    Black Hole: OHHHHHHHHZ NOOOOOOOOOOO NOT CHUCK NORRIS WALKER TEXAS RANGER!!! I DIN'T EVEN GET UR OTTOGRAF!111
     

    And most of all, you need to make sure you have a good ending to each chapter.  
    Example:
     
    Not funny -> The End
    Not funny -> To Be Continued
    Kinda funny -> TO BE CONTINUED!!!
    Funny -> WILL OUR HEROES ESCAPE WITH THEIR CHEESE?!!?!?
    ROTFLZ -> WILL OUR HEROES ESCAPE?! WILL GALI EVER GET PAST THE 50TH DIGIT OF PI?! AND MOST IMPORTANT, WHO'S PAYING ME TO DO THESE?!
     
     
    All-in-all, I hope you feel enlightened in how to be funny now. Otherwise, your comedy's gonna stink. Anyway...
     
     
    WILL DOC POST ANOTHER ENTRY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS?!?!
    WILL THERE BE PEOPLE TO COMMENT?!?!?!?!?!!
    AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHERE THE HECK DOES HE GET OFF THINKING ANY OF THIS IS FUNNY?!?!
     
    Doc: Hey'!!! It's funny!!
    Narrator: yeah well i da narrator and i say it's NOT!
    Doc: OH YEAH?!?!?
    Narrator: YEAH!!!
    Doc: OH I SHOW YOU!!
    Narrator: AAAAAAA! MY SPLEENPANCREAS!11
    Doc: Good night folks! Pay no attention to the man bleeding on the floor!
    Narrator: AAAAAAAAaaa, MY OTHER SPLEENPANCREAS!!!!11111
     
     
    Ridiculously,
    Dr. Bionicle
     
     
    Pohatu: PIE~!111Z
  6. 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
     
     
  7. 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
  8. 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
  10. 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
     
  11. 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
  13. 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
  14. Dr. Bionicle

    Resemblances

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    This subject fascinated me, just as a whole, because I didn't realize quite how many people see me in different ways.
     
    I'm sure that at least once in your life, someone's gone up to you and said "Hey, you look like so-and-so!". Man, I tell ya, I've gotten that a lot from a lot of different people. It got to the point where I actually kept a mental list of who I resembled, and eventually, it compelled me to post this.
     
    You think everyone sees you the same way? Well, take a look at this list of resemblances to one person and let's see what you think...

    Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe). This one I expected. For the longest time, I had glasses and dark mushroom-cut hair. My resemblance to HP isn't nearly so obvious, but people who called me that in the earlier years still call me that, and now with HP's hair shorter, I look a little bit like him still.
    Peter Parker (Tobey MacGuire). This one totally caught me off-guard, but all the girls tell me I look like Tobey MacGuire. Apparently, it's something about my eyes and how I compose myself. Watching the Spider-man movie, I see some slight resemblances, but nothing significant. And of course, none of the guys see where the heck that's coming from.
    Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). Once again, a girls resemblance. They tell me that I have a face built like his, although my eyes and expressions are different. I lost any and all resemblance to him in the third episode, but I can sort of see it in Episode II.
    Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). It's the eyes and expression. I dunno, but something in my face reminds some of the guys of Captain Jack.
    My Grandfather. I tell you, I step into any old folks place that knew my Grandpa when he was youngish, they tell me I'm a spitting image.
    Paul McCartney. My friend, Ian, who's a huge Beatles fan said he first talked to me because I looked like Mr. McCartney. I see a tad of resemblance in the face, but the hair and expression totally throws me off.
    Jim Carrey. Whenever I make a weird expression and stretch my face the right way, people see some sort of twisted resemblance of this guy. I dunno, I've only gotten this a few times, but it's always the same face.
    Tim Allen. Something about my jaw and cheeks bear a resemblance to Mr. Allen, apparently. I don't remember who told me this, but I remember staring at myself in the mirror for a good five minutes afterward.
    Steven Curtis Chapman. When I'm relaxed and around some of the adults of my church, they comment that I look like Mr. Chapman. I see some resemblance, more than most other comparisons, but not one I'd expect moms to point out.
    TobyMac. This probably surprised more than any, but the way I look at people sometimes reminds them of TobyMac music videos. *shrug*
    The Emperor. Yeah, I'm still pretty sure this was a joke... At least, I'm pretty sure...  
    It's remarkable what different aspects of your physical appearance people will take note of. Eyes, hair, facial expression, even noses. People just look at you the way that feels natural to them, and they get some weird resemblances that way. Since they probably looked at that same aspect of one person, when they find a similarity, it jumps right out at them.
     
    Personally, I think it's funny. My friends have lists, but they have more like three or four. Apparently, I'm either so generic that I look like everyone or so unique that I only look like certain people.
     
    Anyway, I thought it was interesting. I guess that makes me Emperor Dr. Captain Tim-Jim-Harry-Toby-Bill McSkypottter.
     
     
    Uniquely,
    Dr. Bionicle
  15. 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*
  16. 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
  17. Dr. Bionicle
    Yeah. Just as a quick heads-up...
     
    This isn't The Academy Blog anymore. It's just The Blog. Of my rants. Yeah, TA stuff will show up, but it won't be focused there. Just my overall shenannigans.
     
    And I'll be updating everyday.
     
    Seriously.
     
    Everyday.
     
    Don't believe me?
     
    Come back tomorrow.
     
    So yes.
     
    Over and out.
     
    . Dr. B .
  18. 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
     
     
  19. Dr. Bionicle
    Guys, just as a heads-up, you've probably heard this from your parents before. Now, whether you've heard the simplified version or had some sort of discussion or whatever, this really is an important issue for everyone.
     
    In our society, we're all about minimizing our workload. Don't think so? We have automatic dishwashers, clothes dryers, cars that work with a push of the pedal, and heck, we don't even have to waste effort switching CDs on our players, we just press a button and an mp3 pops up. Today's society wants you to do as little work as possible. Why? Because they want you to feel like you need to be convenienced.
     
    Let's face it, the human race is basically lazy. I know few people who would rather move a piano than sit on the couch reading a book/watching TV/whatever. We want our lives to be as easy and care-free as possible.
     
    Because of this effect that the media gives us, we get into this cycle in our brains. So long as there isn't any job being offered to us, it's OK to lie around doing nothing. Now, this isn't wrong... but consider these scenarios...
    You just got back home from whatever you were doing prior, and you sit down to see what's on TV. Your mom's busy working on the paperwork so that you can go on that trip with your friends. Meanwhile, the kitchen is a wreck. The dishwasher hasn't been emptied, so the sink's overflowing, the counters are a mess, and the remains of today's lunch are still left all over the stove. Your mom's already swamped, and someone's got to get that clean.  

    You're bored out of your mind, so you decide to call up your friends to see if they want to get together at the park. You plow through all the junk on your floor to reach the door, and with some effort, shove it open. You see a remarkable difference as you step from your room into the hallway.  

    You're logging onto BZPower and you notice that your sister's busy trying to throw the family room into shape. She has a group of friends coming over, and your younger siblings already trashed the room on one of their "space missions", and they're gone at a friend's house. You weren't involved in the mess, but all the same, your sister's hard-pressed for time, and she doesn't want her friends to think she's a total slob.  
    Yeah, I kinda bludgeoned you over the head with those, huh? But you'd be amazed at how obvious these situations are. Imagine watching your life as if it were a TV show. Picture yourself in the foreground playing Halo 2 while your mom's in a frenzy trying to put lunch together for your grandparents who are coming over. What would your opinions of yourself be at that point in time? Probably not too high, huh?
     
    Now, guys, I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm not going to rant on the fact that "Oh, the children of America might as well have electric outlets in their heads" or whatever. Really, I enjoy a good TV show just as much as the next guy, and I obviously enjoy my time on the computer. And I totally love just killing time doing nothing.
     
    But...
     
    There is opportunity.
     
    That's a funny word, isn't it? Opportunity. Usually when we think of that word, it has a positive connotation. That is, it makes us feel good. To assume that there is an opportunity is to assume that you have a chance at something, the likes of which probably isn't offered to some other people, giving a sort of special feeling. When we think of opportunity, we like to think of our friends asking us if we'd like to go see the concert of the year with them or the girl/guy of our dreams asking if we're available to go to the dance on Friday.
     
    And quite often, we think of aggressive opportunity. In other words, someone shoves it towards us and says "You want some?"
     
    But there is initiative opportunity.
     
    That is where we see an opportunity and we seize it, without someone telling us or asking us to. That's knowing that your crush doesn't have a date to the dance, and asking them out. It's taking the initiative.
     
    And sure, we do this on a daily basis. We see that there's a seat open next to our best bud at the lunch table, so we plop ourselves down there. We see that the band teacher's not looking and take that opportunity to toss out our chewing gum. But these initiative opportunities that we do daily all have a common theme: We're keeping ourselves completely in mind.
     
    Why do you want to sit next to your friend? So that you'll have an enjoyable lunch. Why do you want to spit out that gum? So that the band teacher doesn't harp on you about it again. You're looking out for #1.
     
    This, also, is not a bad thing. It is your life that you're living, and there's nothing wrong with making it an enjoyable one.
     
    But we tend to ignore other initiative opportunities.
     
    Let's go back to Scenario Numero Uno.
     
    Now, even though the new episode of Monk is on, and the recliner feels nice and cozy, let's look at that kitchen. Do you really think your mom's going to have time to do a good job cleaning it up and still have time for herself afterwards? Would it be that hard to go in there and even just empty the dishwasher?
     
    Hey, I'm not asking for anything profound. I'm not saying hire yourself out to a charity. But it's the subtle things that really count to a lot of people. Taking out the trash when you see it's full instead of waiting for your Dad to nag you about it or do it himself. Wiping down the counter when you see that the kitchen is a mess. Heck, even opening a door for someone. These all mean a little something to those who would've had to do it if you hadn't.
     
    And guys, here's a little secret: you can cheat. That's right, you can trick yourself, and think about it and how it applies to you. I mean, if you don't help Mom with the kitchen, what's going to become of your dinner? Do you really want to ask her to write you that note for tomorrow when she's been flustered all night?
     
    But really, I think that everyone is capable of looking beyond themselves, even for brief periods. Just thinking about other people and what could help them.
     
    And hey, all you men out there, here's another secret: girls totally dig it. That's not to say that this should be your intention, but you'll notice it. Girls, even girls that are just your friends, will think a little more highly of you if you perhaps hold the door, help someone in line loading up their groceries on the conveyor belt, or even just asking them if they'd like you to refill their glass.
     
    In the experience of having two sisters on the dating scene, I always hear about dates afterwards. And guys, it's not the quality of the restraunt I hear about, it's little things. Things like the guy picking up something they dropped or helping them put on their coat or even just making friendly conversation to the waiter. The guys I hear the best things about are those who take the initiative opportunity when it rules in the favor of others. Believe me, girls are perfectly capable of seeing through phony behavior, so if you're just acting to get her impressed, she'll know.
     
    And anyway, moving off of that, it says a lot more about your character. People notice this, both important and unimportant. And can be anywhere from the stranger that glanced at you from a distance to the boss considering giving you a promotion. While it may not fully benefit you directly, it will certainly speak volumes about who you are as a person, and people will have more respect for you.
     
    Kind of funny that stooping to help someone else gives people a higher view of you, doesn't it?
     
    But guys, it does.
     
    It's taking the initiative. It's doing it without being asked, without being begged, without being forced, without being threatened, without even being implied. It's being willing to do it, even when no one else is around to give you praise. That's taking the initiative.
     
    And it's a darn good quality for any person to have.
     
     
    Rantingfuliciously,
    Dr. Bionicle
  20. 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
  21. Dr. Bionicle

    Writing Fever!

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    For all of you hoping to make the "Oh no! The DOCTOR (OMG) has a fever! LOLXD", I beat you. So ha.
     
    Anyway, it's a weird feeling. When you're an aspiring writer and you've been working on a novel for a solid year, it's interesting to wake up one day, pull out your finished work, and then realize that you didn't enjoy reading any of it.
     
    Yes, for those of you that have keen memories, I'm talking about Cyborne, a novel I started some time back in early August, 2006. The original premise was that the government had randomly called in citizens to be turned into cyborgs (It's already shaping up to be something, isn't it?) and then some random guy comes forward and says it's all a conspiracy. So then this guy and his crew go infiltrate some labs to find some information. Somewhere along the lines, they get super powers. Then they bust in on this conspirators meeting. The main character's girlfriend ends up getting killed, as does his arch-nemesis, and then he goes and kills all the world leaders. It finally ends with the main character realizing that his leader is his father, and then declares a civil war. And then there was supposed to be a sequel.
     
    Even better? It's all told in FIRST PERSON.
     
    So yes, as you can imagine, that didn't flow to well with me now. So for the past few weeks, I've spent long nights trying to re-write this thing. I try writing out the girlfriend and putting the main character's brother in her place. I try to expand on the main character's childhood. I try everything my little writer's brain can come up with.
     
    Then suddenly, it dons on me.
     
    I don't need a new manuscript. I need a new plot.
     
    So I spent a few more long nights brainstorming some changes. At last, I came up with this.
     
    This is going to be a long synopsis, so be warned. It's not completely done yet. I haven't even gotten to the outlining stage at this point, but I will be starting at some point within the week. At this rate, I may be able to start writing within a few weeks.
     
     
    =Cyborne=
     
     
    The year is 3321. In the state of Delaware, an offer is extended to all hospital patients in the area: a government test program that could completely renew the physical being of any patient, from the terminal elderly to the minor youth, in a single operation. The program was widely accepted by a majority of the hospital patients, and the positive results suddenly bring in others grasping for the program. Cities, states, countries demand the installation of these operation programs in their area!
     
    They never told us there’d be a catch.
     
    The program is a simple one. Remove the faulty body components and replace them with sturdy robotics. The result?
     
    Cyborne.
     
    Even with this vast medical revelation, there were those who resisted the Cyborne. While they may have been healed, the robotic hybrids still have to bear their newfound appearance, one that drives a world to divide in prejudice. Connection programs are initiated by the government, but no sooner are these founded than a terrible tragedy occurs.
     
    Malfunction. Spontaneous Cyborne suddenly begin to terrorize the Humans, from massive mobs to single rogues. Around the world, all at once, various Cyborne seem to break out in mindless violence.
     
    The government cannot simply reverse this or pretend it didn't happen. The masses are in an uproar. The US Government has no choice but to issue the Cyborne Termination Grant. This grant allows and encourages any Human to kill any and all Cyborne they may encounter as a matter of national safety. All Cyborne operations are ceased. Following America's lead, other countries begin to instigate the same grant. The Cyborne are no longer a race. They're targets.
     
    And so begins an international civil war, with the races of Humans and Cyborne split. The Humans fight for their own safety, while the Cyborne retaliate as their means of survival.
     
    One particular renegade among the Cyborne steps up and makes a wild declaration. He claims that the government had planned out everything. From the operations to the war. He claims that this whole scheme was an international conspiracy to eliminate a portion of the human population for whatever reason. He even goes so far to say that the Cyborne malfunctions were planned.
     
    Naturally, he quickly scales the list of the world's most wanted men, and surrounds himself with an entourage of Cyborne rebels:
     
    -Drake Jasper. A British mercenary that steps out of his occupation to join the entourage for personal purposes. He hopes to avenge his wife, who was killed in the Malfunction Massacre, by exposing the conspiracy that killed her.
     
    -Jack Corby. An American millionare who was knocked off his economic pedestal by the Termination Grant. Now he hopes to regain his power in whatever way he can.
     
    -John Ratterson. A German scientist that believes the Cyborne to be only one step into a technical revolution that could change the world. He finds the termination of said race to be an offense to the field of science and technology. He hopes to continue the technical revolution by saving his race of Cyborne from certain death.
     
    -Michael Falkan. A man that answers to no country, but has a long history of abuse from Cyborne prejudice. His dark memories fuel his motivation in joining the uprising. However, he doesn't think they should stop at exposing the conspiracy. He wishes to destroy its conspirators.
     
    -Mark Caspian. A confused, young American that stands with the entourage on his unstable set of moral values. His purpose is to discover the truth, and he feels he is ready to face whatever obstacles might come along with that.
     
    -Mr. Q. A man with no name and no country, he is the leader who first proposed the conspiracy theory. No one is quite sure what his plans entail, but he's the only man radical enough to pursue such a theory.
     
    With his motley crew, Q seeks to infiltrate the highest levels of government security and bring about a revolution that will put a permanent end to the Cyborne Termination Grant. But even Mr. Q's intentions may not be so valiant as they seem. With the rest of the world pitted against them, the six radicals have to fight their way through a web of destruction and deceit in order to find what they seek.
     
    The secret of the Cyborne.
     
     
    So yeah. Dun dun duhhh and all that malarky.
     
    Comments, feedback, whatever. I'd love to hear it. Any suggestions you may have would be warmly accepted.
     
    Feverishly,
    Dr. Bionicle
  22. 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
  23. Dr. Bionicle

    Sick Doc

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    These are the times when I wish I was a real doctor...
     
    Well, down here in Kansas, there's been a bad flu virus breaking out with a telling average of 65 absent kids at the junior high for a straight week. I caught the darn thing a couple of weeks ago and lost it pretty quickly, but it looks like I didn't build up a full immunity to it, 'cause it came back on Wednesday.
     
    Within my time of sickness, I managed to inhale a few cups of Pepto Bismol, a score of Tylenol, and freak out the entirety of my school choir by being absent on Thursday, just one day before our state-wide convention in which I had a solo.
     
    I got better by Friday (the convention was SWEET), but its relapsed and so I'm sitting here with a stomach experiencing gastral schizophrenia. I don't know when I'm going to feel fine or when I'm going to feel like upchucking every cookie I've got.
     
    Feeling good now, and hopefully I'll get rid of this thing tonight. Tomorrow I've got Model UN (WOOT UNITED ARAB EMIRATES), and I'd look pretty silly throwing up all over the Model Middle East Caucus.
     
    (On the plus side, I finally saw Spider-man 3 and Transformers in my time of illness! On the low side, I rate them both in the 'okay' category, with S3 scoring an overall 'not bad' and Transformers bringing home a 'nice try' rating.)
     
    Blechingly,
    Dr. Bionicle
  25. Dr. Bionicle

    Music: Now

    By Dr. Bionicle,

    Musical Stimulus - 100 Years by Five for Fighting.
     
    For those of you who know and love this song like I do, I'm sorry, but it doesn't relate to the deep lyrics of the song. I'm merely using this as an example.
     
    Music is ancient stuff. Depending on what you call music, we've been making it for ages now, from laying down rhythms with clapping to complex symphonies and concertos. Doubtless, music has gone through many different periods and progressions. Compare Renaissance music to that of the All-American Rejects. You'll find some noticeable differences.
     
    Many people will only listen to music of certain genres. I know people who will listen to Jazz intently, but go running for a bathroom as soon as Country kicks in. Hip-hop lovers that make faces when Orchestral takes the stage. I personally am not a fan of this. I think that the frontier of music is virtually the same in every field, and even the commonly mocked genres like Country and Techno are capable of creating great music. After all, great music is defined by the song/piece itself, not its genre.
     
    However, there is one genre I will not touch.
     
    Rap.
     
    Yeah, those of you who love your MC Hammer and P. Diddy (and who will laugh at me for mentioning stereotypical rappers), sorry, but I don't find the classification of music in rap. Rhythms may be unique, though they are commonly run-in-the-mill beatslaps. The actual music behind it is usually just a crutch for the rapper himself. I don't find the art of monologuing to a beat or rhythm enjoyable at all.
     
    While musical aspects are very important to music, the meaning behind them, too, is very important. Personally, while there are a few parts of the song Deathbed by Relient K that don't necessarily impress me, the lyrics and message behind them are powerful. I think some of that has been greatly lost on a very self-centered industry, where rappers talk about how great they are and rock bands talk about their girl.
     
    Ask Paul McCartney or John Lennon what the meaning behind Eleanor Rigby is, and the explanation will presumably detailed and have depth to it. Ask DJ Webstar what the meaning behind Chicken Noodle Soup is and the result will presumably not be so grand. While I don't think all songs have to be "this-is-the-meaning-of-life"esque, I do think that we are losing the number of songs that do this.
     
    Despite the meaning behind songs, sometimes that is sacrificed for music. I think that if you want to write something meaningful and put bad music behind, you might as well make it a poem. Unfortunately, there are lots of burlap bands (or "groups", as those who do not play instruments are called) who write something and slap music onto it (or at least sound that way).
     
    While I think sometimes things compensate, great music with little meaning, okay music with deep meaning, I believe that the real gold nuggets are not those who get the most awards or record deals, but those who have a good balance between the two. And I'm not talking "okay music with okay lyrics". I'm talking "great music with great lyrics".
     
    That's a pretty tall order, and of course, I can't expect every band/artist with an album to have that, but I think it should be strived for.
     
    A really great example of this, in my opinion, is Five for Fighting. As an artist, he's generally known for his deep, emotional songs. At the same time, he has a good mind for music, what with layering, dynamics, and other things. Other various groups, both modern and old, pull this off, but there's such a run-in-the-mill crowd for them to get lost in.
     
    Of course, this changes for everyone. While I may not really like the song "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", others may think of that song as the staple of life. I know it's opinion, but really, I think there is a pretty definitive difference between songs with blended effort, one-sided songs, and songs that are just plain 'bleh'.
     
    There are precious gems out there, some I've heard, many I have yet to hear, and many I will never hear. To them, this is just one who appreciates the musical world saying "Thank you for your effort and for your great music."
     
    And with that, I'm going to get down off my soapbox.
     
     
    Soapily,
    Dr. Bionicle
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