Dr. Bionicle

Yes. Yes. Neon green. However many it takes till he hits a rest stop. No. Huh? Enough. Dr. B

Whoo, turns out that thanks to a nifty little scholarship and discount, I'm going back again another week for the Senior Camp, which means the music will be more challenging, the conductor will be more serious, and I'll get to be instructed under Dr. Paul Stevens! Straight from his bio... So yeah, I'm totally psyched. Dr. B

1) Yes, actually, that's a recent development. 2) No, she doesn't know hardly anything about Bionicle (but I still think she's awesome anyway ). 3) Depends on who you ask. I try to act the same way in real life as I do here, as far as attitude goes. I don't get the benefit of reading every thought in plain text before I "post" it, like I do here, but I think one thing this site has taught me (Yeah, I was actually learning things) is to think before I say things. So, cool? Eh... I guess so. Dr. B

1) My preferences are generally Relient K, Switchfoot, DCTalk, Queen, and some Kansas. Those are pretty much my top choices. 2) French Horn, Trumpet, Piano, Guitar, and Bass. 3) I'd like the option of being a novelist, though what I'd do for a living I haven't decided on yet. I'd like to stay hooked into the music industry, though, whether just for fun or on a somewhat higher level. 4) Super Strength, FTW. I have an old Bischon Frise named Scamper, and two cats: Beans and Rascal. My favorite movie is hard to decide. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is pretty sweet, as are National Treasure, Oceans Eleven, and Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. There are definitely others, but those come to mind at the moment. As for my favorite novel, I'll have to come back to that later. Too many good choices. None. He'd just roundhouse kick it and it'd chuck itself. 42. Because my time has been extremely limited as of recent. And I'll have to come back to that for when I actually get a shot at looking at the RPGC Entries. . Dr. B .

Boy, that brings back memories. That's right, ask me anything about myself. Granted they're appropriate questions, I'll answer anything. Naively, Dr. Bionicle

I use a Concert Horn. Holton. . Dr. B .

French Horn fo' shizzle! *band* Dr. B *humor*

Just for all your information, this week, till Sunday, I'm going to be away at Band Camp generally from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time, and then later I'm usually gone a few hours for an evening activity. That being said, if you have an urgent request or report or whatever, and can send it to someone else that you can guess is more active than this, then please do. I will be home for maybe two hours every day and in the morning, but how much time will be spent on BZPower there is unknown. So, yeah, just for information. Viva La Band Camp! Geekily, 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

Boy, you know that's the truth. >< Heh. I wondered if that would come up. I guess it's just in observation of the guys and girls around me, that it seems to be a pretty important issue. Since my rants rarely sound so good verbally, I figured I might as well vent it here, since I know that a lot of the guys here are going through it. So a lot of this is just personal observation (and experience). Dr. B

I actually considered doing a sort of reverse of this, pertaining to girls as to how we act and some of our motives and ideas. ...for about five seconds. Problems... not enough of a crowd (sorry, ladies, but you have to admit that you're greatly outnumbered here), and it'd basically sound weird coming from me. Just like guys like to hear about things from other guys, girls generally like to hear about things of this sort from other girls. So yeah, probably not. Dude, you are not alone. The claim of friend = girlfriend is pretty common. I think it works out this way, though, in my own observation. As guys get older, we do one of two things. One, we cling to our buds (aka Guys) and try to tackle this whole relationship thing as a team. Or two, we start making friends (or at least more friends) that are girls. The latter, I think, is tied to a bunch of factors. For one thing, some guys simply mature faster, and in such, might find it easier to find someone of their maturity in a girl ('Cause in case you haven't figured it out, girls basically got us beat in the maturity factor, for the most part). Another thing is that maybe he just wants to explore, wants to find out what girls are like in friendships so as to give him some depth in a relationship. There are other things, but these two I see playing out the most. And man, there are some of us that are simply oblivious, but generally it's not so much that we're non-observant, but that we don't factor ourselves in. For instance, if a girl was openly flirting with my best friend and he didn't know it, I'd tell him. It's much easier to recognize someone else flirting with someone else. But when it happens to us, we have the mental disadvantage of ruling ourselves out. In other words, we disqualify ourselves, and so we just remain indifferent to this kind of thing. At least, that's what I've gathered. Thanks for the comments, guys. Dr. B

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 spazJust 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

If you were being sarcastic, my bad, but my reply to this would be... Essentially, when you're first born, that's your parents' key role. As a little baby, you can't fend for yourself, so you have to let your parents do everything for you, literally everything. As you gradually get older, you start doing things yourself. You can pick up a spoon and feed yourself, you start to walk, you start to open things. As you move through being an infant, you begin to speak and use your body effectively to complete tasks. You continue to become more independent. Then you reach an age where it's just kinda bleh. Really, you don't need your parents to do a whole lot for you, but after years of them doing jobs and such for you, you've gotten kind of used to it. However, just like in the past, you have to keep moving in order to mature. That basically means that you have to start taking jobs on your own. You don't need your parents to coax you into doing something anymore, and the real world sure as heck isn't going to, so you might as well start now! When you reach the age where you leave your parents' home, suddenly you're going to have a load of responsibilities you probably didn't think about before. You have to make your own meals, wash your own clothes, vacuum your own floor, and (leh gasp!) pick up the room yourself. Childhood, in its practical sense, is training for adulthood. While being a kid has a lot to do with having fun, think about it. You go to school constantly, your parents probably start teaching you how to do stuff like mow the lawn, etc. The more you pound this process, the easier it will be for you to pass through that interval between stages of your life. If you're capable of doing it on your own, then do it! You might as well prove to yourself that you can be an adult! Dr. B

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

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

Those of you who are BZPRPers, you know that I've been talking about a group known as the Six. I know that a number you have been wishing for background information. So...before they reveal themselves in Le-Metru, let me introduce to you... The Six ...the first Toa that Zyrul ever transformed (successfully, anyway). All six took under his private teaching, where each seemed to excel in one particular category. These formed the first Elite when The Academy took shape, and were used for all special tasks. When the official Elite were introduced, the Six were first considered figureheads, but then were determined to be on too great of a level for even the Elite, and were made into their own special task force known simply as the Six. The supposed significance behind the Six is their attempt to revive the ancient Toa teams of the past. Each representing one basic element, Zyrul had once hoped for them to be like the Nuva and Inika, a team which he could bend to his own will. However, with the creation of The Academy, the Six were all but forgotten, and Zyrul's attention turned to other things. Rashnan ... Toa of Fire... Master of the Element: Rashnan has no remarkable history that is known. There have been rumors of his affiliation that range from gang leader to former advisor to one of the *Turaga. Regardless, he was the first Toa to ever be successfully transformed by Toa Metamorphosis. Under Zyrul's training he took particular interest in the concept of elemental power, believing that it is the very essence of a Toa. In such, he trained vigorously to improve his fire abilities, and his mastery of flames is beyond that even of Zyrul's. Rashnan is the unsaid leader of the Six, his natural take to leadership and essence of authority earning him the position almost instantly. He has his own personal philosophies, most of which are in idolization of Toa Tahu. He views the Fire Toa not as a knight, but as a warlord, and in such pertains to that aspect of his Toa identity. He has drifted away from Zyrul's loyalty, though he still remains by his Master's side, he stays at a distance, not wanting to cross himself with someone who had once promised him greatness and has now pushed him aside. Tseero ... Toa of Air ... Master of the Arts: Tseero is a newer addition to the Six. He was transformed significantly later than the other Toa, only a few years before the Academy Era. He was not officially a member of the Six until Air Toa Chyanthra, who held the Right Hand position, attempted to betray Zyrul and was killed. Tseero readily accepted the new position offered. Even in his historical tardiness, he was a quick learner, and became Zyrul's personal student in the martial arts of both sword and body. His knowledge ranges from the aggressive strikes of the Hordika to the solid defense of Zyrul's people. He is virtually impervious with a blade, and only Zyrul rivals his skill. Tseero is still not fully accepted by Rashnan, who saw Tseero's acceptance into the Six as a sign of the end of all hope for the group. Still, he has proved himself time and time again to be a formidable warrior, having saved Rashnan's life on more than one occasion. He is still considered the youngling of the group, and his sole intent is to prove himself to the rest of the Six. Nysan ... Toa of Stone ... Master of the Body: Nysan was originally a protodermis miner, giving him an uncanny knack for survival, and when he was transformed by Zyrul, that knack was only enhanced. While Nysan was an exceptional student in elements and mask handling, he kept his focus on something he knew he could very easily control: his body. Nysan had speed, agility, and strength difficult to match before the Academy Era, and by the time The Academy came into being, he was indisputed. Even though he keeps his sword on hand and his powers of stone in tune, he does not resist to deliver the first blow with his fist. Nysan is headstrong, but has a willingness to help that makes him a vital asset to the Six. While his performance is impressive alone, he is nearly impervious when tag teaming with someone else. He has a sort of compassion for Tseero, and works as his sort of personal shield against Rashnan's spite. Nysan is perhaps the most virtuous of all the Six, and even his leader's darkness fails to waver that. Nuala ... Toa of Water ... Master of the Mind: Found on the streets, she was barely capable of speech when she was transformed. At length, she has become the very brain of the Six, her remarkable ability to compute and figure making her a key asset to planning and battle. She calculates accurately, using minimum effort for maximum results, and she has a sense of timing that makes her impenetrable on the battlefield. There is hardly a situation she cannot find a solution to or at least the odds for, and this gives her the position of authority more than occasionally. Rashnan has a certain spite of Nuala, who has none in return for him. He at first saw her as a viable threat to his leadership position, but gradually accepted the fact that he must step down periodically to let her take over, even if he does so reluctantly. Nuala's real intent in the Six is to prove to herself that she is the warrior she set out to be, and so far, she has done that more than adequately. Vorsc ... Toa of Earth ... Master of the Senses: While he is criticized to be the weakest link of the Six, Vorsc is perhaps the one thing that has held them all together over the years. He is a sort of conciliator, carrying a sixth sense which he also holds mastery of, giving him an unsaid ability to predict people's thoughts and actions. He credits his found abilities to his previous occupation as a savage hunter, where he learned to find peace within himself to take in the world around him. There is virtually nothing that Vorsc cannot see coming, whether it comes from above, below, around, or simply out of thin air. Vorsc is a philosopher of sorts. Several years of silence as a hunter in primitive locations gave him a chance to contemplate, and even as a member of the Six, he remains commonly silent. He only speaks when needed, and when he does speak, it has viable purpose. It is arguable that while Nuala may be the most intelligent of the Six, Vorsc is perhaps the wisest of them all. Quann ... Toa of Ice ... Master of the Mask: Quann always had an interest in collecting things, and when he realized the full extent of Kanohi power in his transformation, he took to seeking out the other Kanohi. His methods are varying, from the black market to intrepid quests, but his collection is one worthy of envy. Tuned perfectly to each mask, Quann has the rare ability to use two masks at once with no special equipment, and in this, he is a figure to be feared and respected. Quann is absorbed in power and quantity. Even while he values the Six, he values it for power. His actions are sometimes questionable, and more than once has he gone behind Zyrul's back for a few extra widgets. Even with this weakness, he is still a remarkable warrior with a good perception of logical reasoning that makes him an accepted addition to the Six. Those are the Six, the likes of which you'll see spring into action eventually at Suva Nui. These characters will be at the forefront for some time, so I'd be wary if I were you. It might not be long before you're sword-to-sword with one of them. Informatively, Dr. Bionicle

...cop out on making another 'How To' entry without actually putting any real effort into it whatsoever. Zzzly, 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

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

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

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

Musical Stimulus - Lonely Nation by Switchfoot. Some of the things I say here may be frightening, so I would not recommend that those who are easily scared, especially little kids, read this. This is a serious, scary issue. As I'm sure most of you are aware, there was a tragedy that occurred on the campus of Virginia Tech University. A single gunman killed, I believe the number was thirty-two, people in a single shooting. The media, of course, has been all over the stories. Some stations are more rash than others, and certain controversies spring up. I heard over a radio talk show yesterday over the issue of NBC playing a video of the shooter's rants. Other stations have said that they will not play the video or pictures of the incident or its relations. It's no doubt that this is one of those incidents where America is taken into shock. I'd like to say first and foremost that my heart goes out to every victim, their family and friends, and also the parents of the gunman. The case of victims are simply horrifying and a sad day in American history. I hope for strength in the family and friends of these victims, in their sudden loss of someone they care and love. And I especially would like to give my heart out to the parents of this gunman, who have to now live with this burden that their son has left them. I am no cynic about this situation, as there are literal tears in my eyes as I write this. So often we watch the news and look at the terror going on in the world. We will tolerantly ignore the fact that five people died in a car bomb, and we will usually overlook any personal murder of some sort. Unfortunately, we live in a society where we put up filters of indifference to this sort of thing. My guess is that there were probably around thirty-two people across the country that died of murder the day of the Virginia Tech Shooting, and those are so commonly overlooked. It's when these huge, massive events happen (like Hurricane Katrina) where you just see the pain and the sadness. We get a realization of how unsafe the world is and how unpredictable our lives are. Not a single one of the victims at that school was expecting to die. You wouldn't pick up their PDAs or day planners and see in there "10-11:30 AM - Die". No. Freshman were going to classes. Professors were ready to give lectures. Students were preparing themselves to take notes. Janitors were expecting to clean the campus like any other day. It was a perfectly normal day. Then... Bang. The whole world of that entire campus turned upside down in one day. There is no word better than horror to describe the thought of being an innocent victim of one of these attacks. To play no important part in someone else's life and then be shot by them. The fear of walking in the hallways of your school and imagining the kid at the water fountain pulling out a gun or the freshman at his locker withdrawing a knife. And we aren't aware of that. We all just assume that happens to somebody else. But we're all somebody else...to someone else. Believe me, I'm not trying to scare anyone here. I'm not trying to puff up this whole idea and making it into some horror story it isn't. The problem is, it already is a horror story. And it scares the heck out of all of us that it actually happened. There are things to be learned, and sometimes we can only learn from these terrible events. What you take from these events is your own business. My personal thoughts are that Life is temporary, and we need to make the most of it to us and those around us. You need to hang onto what you have, stick to what you believe, and live. A whole nation united in mourning under one tragedy. But...we'll soon forget about this as an earth-shattering event. It will be a historic tragedy...something that doesn't affect us anymore. The families and friends of these victims and the parents of the gunman will always have this issue, and for that I truly am saddened. Eventually, we'll drift back to our normal lives. We won't think about it anymore. It won't spring into our minds. And we'll feel secure...till the next tragedy. Desparate, we are young. Separate, we are one. I want more than my desperation. I want more than my lonely nation. Sorrowfully, 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

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

Music stimulus. ^ To those of you unfortunate enough to not know what that song is, that is "Carry On My Wayward Son" by KANSAS. This song has been kind of my theme lately for a number of reasons. One, this song was done by KANSAS, which is totally the name of my state. Two, the bass player went to my Junior High, so it's kind of the school's rock theme. And three, Life's taken a few interesting turns. For a longated period of my life, I faced a lot of confusion. 8th Grade doesn't seem at an eye's glance to be a conflicting period, and I'm probably going to laugh at my evaluation of it in coming years, but confusion and conflict are still confusing and conflicting. I've gone through a somewhat self-conscious period of my life. I was always constantly evaluating how I was acting and always ridiculing myself for different reasons. Trying too hard to be funny or killing conversation too often or simply not portraying a good attitude. I always found some kind of flaw with myself. I'm not sure what brought it on, just a click in my brain. Granted, we all feel this way at times, whether we realize it or not. We're always just a little concerned whether we pushed a subject too hard or if we weren't social enough or whatever. I think a problem that a lot of us face is that we know people who have great, bright personalities and we always find ourselves comparing ourselves to that. That just brings us down. There's always room for improvement, of course, but sometimes we just set the bar too high. Sprinters can't compare themselves to long-distance runners and high jumpers can't compare themselves to pole vaulters. Another thing that stressed on me was my pathetic attempt at a relationship. I honestly don't know what I was thinking when I began it, and I'm glad that it's over. I finally got my head past the fact that 8th Grade relationships are usually just to say that you've had a relationship, and usually just spawn into awkwardness by the end. Of course, they don't all work out this way, but most of them do. I sure didn't help my end either. I was remarkably shy during the whole experience, a characteristic I never knew I really had. I've heard a lot of talk from friends talking about having a relationship, one of the worst critics being my best friend. To my satisfaction, he got into his own relationship, so to speak, and he suffers the same problems (although his efforts still dwarf my own). I'm not going to say that Junior High relationships are bad. I've only had one. What do I know? I will say, though, that they certainly are harder. Especially when your only transportation is via your parents. There's no reason for it to not be a healthy experience, but the odds of it growing into anything really vital? Slim, I'm afraid. Which is why I'm holding back till I think I'm actually ready. Needless to say, I learned much through the three-fourths of the semester that this lasted. I'm happy to say that it didn't end as awkwardly as some Junior High relationships do. We're still good friends and have both gotten over the experience with no hard feelings. I learned something else too, and that was about how to be a friend. Through my whole experience, the harsh criticism and mockery of my own friends was really something that only stressed me more. I advise all of you, if you ever have a friend going through a rocky relationship or a pathetic excuse for one, keep your criticism friendly and considerate, and don't make fun of them. It can be tough. However, that bit of overplayed drama (hey, it's the 8th Grade) wasn't my only concern. I've been suffering something I had only heard about for a semester. Kiddos, there's a nasty little thing called an ingrown toenail. Don't know what that is? Neither did I. Here's the lowdown: Your nails go at a gradual rate and they keep growing unless clipped. That said, if anything should get in the way of that, like a bandage or skin, some remarkable things are going to happen. When your skin gets in the way of your toenail, it's usually just brushed aside. That...or it grows into that skin. Disgusting? Yes. Painful? Yes. Unreal? No. I discovered this occurence at the beginning of the semester. I thought nothing of it. These things usually on go on one side, and if it grows long enough, you can get somewhat used to it. Then there's the case where it grows on both sides. Yup. Double-sided. Here's the fun part. Whenever you press on something or make contact with your skin, it pushes the skin back. There are nerves in that skin that send flares of pain to the brain. That means kick a soccerball, ouch. Trip the wrong way, ouch. Have someone step on your foot, REALLY ouch. This problem has been causing me a lot of stress. I didn't truly realize what I had till a month or so ago when I spied an article in an open Reader's Digest. On further research, I realized fully what was going on. Still, I was ashamed of it for some reason. You usually don't think of your feet, much less your toes, as a vital part of your body, but when your big toe is in pain, your whole body is in pain. For those of you suffering from this problem, here's some comfort and advice: Fact: Ingrown toenails are a common foot problem in teens. They are not irreversible. However, if you let them go for too long without telling anyway, you may become infected and in need of surgery. The best thing you can do is see a doctor. It doesn't help to try and do it yourself. Believe me, I've tried and it's nothing but pain. No matter how much progress you think you're making, it's not going to change. Ingrown toenails are commonly caused by some sort of trauma to the foot, wearing too tight of socks/shoes, or simply clipping your nails unevenly. Very rarely is it a disease or oddity of any sort. It's not going to get any better if you wait. It only gets worse! I didn't know any of these things until I was informed. I finally realized that I needed to see a doctor and will be seeing one very soon. Treatment beyond that has yet to be set. I definitely feel reassured, though, knowing that my pain can be corrected soon. There's been so much going on beyond this, but these are the repercussions that commonly go back into my thinking when I consider that conflicted time. I'm happy to say that the period appears to have passed through some real emotional digging and thinking and with a little help from others. Initially, this song is really inspiring for me, mainly because of the second line of the chorus. "There'll be peace when you are done." That has such a big effect on me now. Life is hard. Coming out of this point in my life, I'm just a little bit wiser. That's just how life works, I guess. Kudos to those of you who didn't lose interest by the worthy-of-an-eye-roll section about relationship and the gah-that's-disgusting portion. Thoughtfully, Dr. Bionicle