tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1274155187294706942024-02-20T19:37:11.141-04:00Something DifferentAn experiment in out-of-context thinking.Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345931260774926686noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-22096837564137446202008-03-29T16:27:00.002-03:002008-03-29T16:37:47.995-03:00Fountain of YouthRecently, a teacher of mine said something that struck me as a very insightful comment, yet very simple. He said (give or take) that "Age is all mental. Somedays I feel like im 94, other days I feel like Im 14". Age Is Mental. That is what i've been thinking of lately and Im starting to see that it is true, to an extent.<br /><br />Everytime I meet a new adult, maybe it's a friend of my parents, a coach, a new teacher, whoever, I tend to act like Im about 26 when in reality Im 17. Why is this? Do I feel compelled to impress my elders? Am I afraid that if I don't act older that I won't be accepted? I think it's because when you are surrounded by people who are older than yourself you start to act more like them. It's basically the same as like enviromental-influenced behavior. But why can I act like im a mid twenties Yuppy around some people, then act like a 14 year old foolish typical teenage boy around some of my other friends? Its weird and keeps me thinkin at night sometimes.<br /><br />I seem to be fascinated with the human nature now that I re-read my last article and this one, I wonder why that is.....im just joking. I like to know why people do what they do. Weird things that are, as far as the general consensus is concerned, unexplained.<br /><br />I find that when I act a different age, the body starts to Feel that age. If age is mental, then perhaps the answer to eternal youth that man has searched for for hundreds of years is maybenot right under our nose, but behind it and up 3 inches.Bradleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333830714045329122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-75875486553753484352008-03-24T22:21:00.002-03:002008-03-24T22:25:21.612-03:00Finding A BalanceIt's really easy to get lost in the mass chaos of life sometimes.<br />No matter what it is that takes up your time ... school, work, relationships, family time, sports, whatever ... it's so easy to get lost in our crazy schedules and forget to take time for ourselves.<br />I'm not encouraging selfishness or self-absorbtion (is that a term? anyway). But like, think about it ... when was the last time you just sat down for a while and just breathed? You know, inhale, exhale, breathe in, breathe out ... close your eyes, chill out for a while.<br />It's probably been a while, huh?<br />So, today, let's all take a deep breathe and forget the world, if just for a moment.<br />Lets all take a moment for ourselves today. Lets all encourage ourselves to find a balance between ourselves, our minds, our thoughts, our beliefs ... and the rest of the world.Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10228512634560381415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-80148217000118730692008-03-20T20:25:00.005-03:002008-03-20T20:38:50.886-03:00"Thinking Long And Hard"Being a bit of a self-proclaimed nerd, (I'm in IB stuff.. there's no denying it) I tend to think about stuff. A lot. Sometimes wayyyy too much. And i've begun to realize that overthinking really complicates things. Honestly. Every time I do something, or have some sort of opportunity.. I think it over, and think, and think, and think, and think, and grab a sandwich, then think some more, and by the time i've finally planned a course of action, whatever opportunity I might've had is now completely gone. I've just lately begun to realize, that thinking over something long and hard is not always the best course of action. Sometimes being spontaneous and just doing or saying the first thing that comes to mind is best. Now, there is obviously a time and place to to think things through.. but the tough part is finding a balance between planning and spontaneity.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04964962364058848096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-4554831013298523872007-10-10T20:53:00.000-03:002007-10-10T21:25:35.499-03:00Racked My BrainSo yeah. It's been a while since there's been any activity on Something Different, so I thought I'd spice it up a bit. But the only thing on my spice rack was brains, so I'll spice it up with some mind.<br /><br />If you think about that expression, "rack your brain," for a while it kinda doesn't make much sense, does it? It's supposed to mean thinking long and hard about something. searching your entire brain for one little scrap to think about, or to write, or to paint, or whatever else. But when you put something on a rack, it's just storage. You're putting that thing away while you're doing something else. Not using the racked item. So when you rack your brain, does that mean you're putting your thoughts to one side for however long you are doing the racking? It could be referring to practise of negative thinking, or thinking about what's <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> there, as opposed to what is. Or it could be referring to the Eureka effect, where if you try not to answer a question, you'll stumble into the solution by mistake.<br /><br />But this can't be, because racking one's brain is usually described as a lengthy, tiresome, and only sometimes fruitful venture. There's probably some explanation behind it, one that I'm way too lazy to go out and find. Ah well. I'm a slacker, what can I say?<br /><br />But this leads to the second part of my post. My brain seems to have been racked for quite a while. At least in some parts. And I mean "sitting in non-use" kind of racked. I have been writing quite a bit, a few short stories on <a href="http://grimhippietales.blogspot.com/">my fiction page</a>, regular updates on <a href="http://grimhippie.blogspot.com/">the blog</a>, but the one thing that I really want to get back to is just... at a standstill. I'm alluding to my book, or at least the manuscript that will become my book eventually. It's maintained a fairly even few thousand words for the past month or two. No additions of anything, but at least no harsh red ink crossing off everything everywhere.<br /><br />I think I might have lost my muse, whatever she/it may have been, or at least ran out of metaphorical fuel. I need a gas station in my near future. I can't run on fumes, coughing up short stories every time something catches and I start forward a bit.<br /><br />Actually, on a more positive note, the short stories and posts have come more frequently lately, so my Muse might be siphoning some gas into the engine every once in a while. Let's hope for a break and an explosive week or two of mad writing.Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345931260774926686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-67035977326712457242007-09-19T16:12:00.000-03:002007-09-19T16:29:44.402-03:00'Primal Talent'This is my frist post here on 'Something Different' and I had trouble coming up with an idea to do this post on. I thought and I thought and racked my brain for an hour or so until I finally realized what I was doing wrong. I was Thinking too much.<br /><br />Now you may think that Im crazy but I find that the best ideas are had when the mind is somewhere else. The brain can process things much faster and more thouroughly in the sub-concious. This is true in many things, such as sport. When someone begins a sport, they have to conciously pay attention to every little detail of their form/technique/positioning, whichever the sport demands. This takes away from what I call the 'Primal Talent'. When these things like form and technique become Second Nature to us, we progressivly stop thinking about them more and more. This is when the brain can stop concentrating on the fundamentals of the activity (it doesn't even have to be a sport, but for the sake of it, im using sport as an example) and can start to tap into the 'Primal Talent'. In respect to what graeme had said in his post about Talent, it is something inherant in everyone of us. We all have talents and many of them. Unofrtunatley we can not Learn talents, as graeme alluded to. For instance, I will never be a great painter or sketch artist because I don't have the talent for drawing. I Could take classes, but int he end, the talent of one artist will win out rather than the practiced skill of another.<br /><br />So what I call the 'Primal Talent' appplies directly and mostly to sport, competittion and 'dangerous' situations where the body is at some sort of risk. While in a sport, with the Skills practiced to the point of 2nd or even 3rd nature, the brain can enter a state called 'Kinesthesia'. This means that at any given point in time, the brain knows where each and every part of the body is and what it is doing. This gives us the ability to control our bodies with incredible authority. People do things they normally could never do, go faster, jump higher, hit harder. The body can take more punishment thatn normal. Yes, this is IN PART due to adrenaline and endorphin chemicals in our bodies but I believe our minds play the largest factor. This state can be different for every person so I can only speak of my own experiences. In hockey, when I reach this level of 'Kenesthesia' the 'Primal Talent' in me comes out. My instincts control my actions and I do things i could never do in practice or pick-up hockey. My 'Primal Talent' takes hold and runa away with me, I personally have a problem controling it at times because it can increase emotions also (but maybe that's jut me). I have asked other atheletes of all sports about this state of mind and they have all given me an answer that was close to what i experience, especially in martial artists. I think this is because in a Combat sport, the body knows that it is in risk of immenent pain/injury so this Primal state takes over.<br /><br />Just goes to show you, you never know what you re capable of until you're put into the situation that stimulates your 'Primal Talent'. Whatever it may be. Being up in front of a crowd may help some musicians play better, having money bet on a card game could make gamblers sharper, all these things contribute. So next time you're wondering "What's my talent?" take a chance, dive right into soemthing.....you never know what you might find....Bradleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14333830714045329122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-7356156665690301952007-08-16T02:12:00.000-03:002007-08-16T02:19:19.291-03:00Do It Well, Do It QuickThere are few things I really, truly hate in this world. One of them is laziness.<br />I am a very organized, very punctual girl. I like things done in the most orderly fashion possible, so that whatever needs done gets down effectively and in the quickest manner possible. It's often "my way or the highway" when I get working in groups; it's why I often opt to work alone. I honestly believe that if you want something done right, you better do it yourself.<br />I hate having to work with lazy people. Slackers. I can't stand someone who sits around when there is something important that needs to be done. I'm not against vegging out in front of the TV - I whole-heatedly support vegging - but if someone asks you to do something, you sure better get up and get to it.<br />One of the things I also hate are procrastinators. People who putz around at a job for a few minutes, then say "Oh, I'll be right back, I just need to go to the bathroom..." and you honestly forget about them until they show back up an hour later. Of course when they come back, the job's done and they play stupid. You know they weren't on the toilet for an hour, but you really, <em>really</em> just feel like asking, "Dude, were you having some difficulties in there?"<br />When I have to work with a procrastinating slacker...ooh, that's when I get ugly.<br />What happened to the work ethic in America these days? It seems if you can't do it with a click of a button, or hire someone else to do it for you, it just isn't worth doing anymore. The lack of motivation in modern-day America disgusts me. Give me the good days, where you had to work for a living, and when spending twelve hours working in the heat and the humidity made you feel good at the end of the day. Not that I was alive during those "good days"...but man, sometimes I wish I was.Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10228512634560381415noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-11090756167248722122007-08-16T00:21:00.000-03:002007-08-16T00:38:40.827-03:00Get Away With It?How possible is to get away with things?<br />Well lets see, that all depends, doesn't it, who your trying to avoid being caught by.<br />Lets say your parents. How easy is it to lie to them?<br />"Bye mom I'm going to Lisa's house for the night," then you end up going to a party getting drunk and going home hung over. I mean, sure sounds easy enough right?<br />Wrong, so very wrong.<br />They are you parents. You can't lie to them they know, oh trust me they know. They of course won't let on that they know, of course not. They will wait for the best possible moment to use it against you and then BAM your begging for forgiveness. If you feel you really must lie to them, cover you ass, have the story planned out to perfection, cover every loop hole, every possible way of them finding out. Plan ahead, don't just go out on an impulse. However teachers, oh they are much easier to fool. Of course they have also been at the job of telling lie from truth but they don't know you, you don't know them. Put on an innocent face and act as if your not doing anything wrong. In most cases they will be distracted by someone else not doing such a good job at hiding this fact.<br /><br />My last words of advice:<br />Do it well, do it quick and run like hell.Windhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14397513467847571813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-64225187809503392522007-08-15T00:15:00.000-03:002007-08-15T00:16:21.427-03:00I Command You, Talent!What, exactly, is talent? Talent's different from skill. Skill is a learned ability. Talent is one that is innate. That is of or produced by the mind rather than learned through experience. Therefore, a skill can be gained, or lost, and while possessing a skill you can use it at any time. A talent, though, is slightly more complex.<br /><br />A talent is always possessed, but not always apparent. You can't learn something that requires talent, unless you discover that you always had that talent, which wouldn't really be learning. But another quirk of talent, is that you can't always use it. Why is it, then, that so. Damn. Many. People. Try to use talents that they simply <span style="font-style: italic;">don't have</span>... And, here's the kicker, <span style="font-style: italic;">get away with it</span>?<br /><br />The world today suppresses so much pure, raw talent, that may come from a, shall we say, less than "Hollywood-looking" person, in favor of digitally enhanced crap from the spoiled, rich daughters of celebrities and millionaires. Take a look at the Rolling Stones for example. They are some butt-ugly dudes, no offense, but they rocked the <span style="font-style: italic;">world</span>. If they were to have tried from scratch today, no producer would have given them a second glance.<br /><br />This effect isn't only seen in the world of music. Writing suffers from it too, add to that Science Fiction being a dying art form, and that spells disaster for the literate world.<br /><br />The best we can hope to do is to rock the talent so much and so utterly awesomely that people will look past the crap that passes as talent, and start taking a look at the real stuff.Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345931260774926686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-47454732563984328102007-08-13T10:42:00.000-03:002007-08-13T21:59:53.267-03:00You dream about being a rock star<p style="color: rgb(119, 119, 119);" class="postBody">What Happened? Where did the Music go? It seems like the day where music actually required some form of musical talent is gone. Now don't get me wrong, there are some very talented artists, singers and songwriters out there, but their numbers seem to be continually diminishing. The thing that's killing music nowadays, in my opinion, is freaking Rap! I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying rapping doesn't require talent, but in my opinion it doesn't take any kind of musical talent. It's just a style of talking fast to a beat made by a computer most of the time. There aren't any kind of instruments 99% of the time, no guitar, drums, nothing. Now, I know, that some artists in this... lets call it a "profession", do actually have some kind of musical talent, and all the better for them, but I still don't consider what rappers do as music.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(119, 119, 119);" class="postBody">We really need more talented musicians (singers, songwriters, guitarists, etc.) to refresh the whole current musical world, in my opinion. We need to start getting rid of rap, and making the way for an influx of musicians and bands. I command you, talented musicians, go! Now! And make listening to the radio a better experience!<br /><br />----------------<br />Now playing: <a href="http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/reel+big+fish/track/kiss+me+deadly" title="'Reel Big Fish - Kiss Me Deadly' - open on FoxyTunes Planet">Reel Big Fish - Kiss Me Deadly</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-size:10;" >via <a style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/" title="FoxyTunes - Web of music at your fingertips">FoxyTunes</a></span><br /></p> <input name="postID" value="3700332072272284176" type="hidden"> <input name="blogID" value="127415518729470694" type="hidden"> <div class="errorbox-good"> <input name="securityToken" value="Hxh-08uWL2Qga47Z2zhJyEY-GF4=:1187012527258" type="hidden"> </div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04964962364058848096noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-21147040017674492502007-08-10T02:20:00.000-03:002007-08-10T04:59:25.103-03:00Flashes From BeyondReality is so...vague, at times.<br />Like when you wake up from a deep, long sleep, and you've just had the most amazing dream. The kind where all your senses seem to be alive, even in subconsciousness; you see every vivid, bright color, and hear every sound crystal-clear. And after that beautiful dream is over, you wake up...and, for just a fraction of a second, you don't know where you are. Who you are.<br /><em>Was that a dream, or reality?</em> What if it's both?<br />What if that's a part of your story, waiting to unfold? What if you've just seen a highlight of what's to be, a glimpse of <em>what you could be.</em> What your life could be. What if that dream is a perception of what's to come?<br />Dreams are defined in several ways. Some say a dream is something you create; something you imagine, believe, something you wish to come true. You dream about being a rock star, or a millionaire, or a grandparent, or a friend...whatever it is you want.<br />Others say a dream is a message from your subconscious mind, and that they have true meanings regarding your reality...ever heard of a Dream Dictionary? Some people think you can decipher this message, and use it to foresee your future, your reality...<br />So tell me, in your eyes...what is a dream?Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10228512634560381415noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-58058465691244291752007-08-09T00:30:00.000-03:002007-08-09T23:33:12.735-03:00Into A Made Up WorldI made up a world. A bunch of them actually. They're all in one place, it's all canon, I assure you. They're just linked by the thinness of certain places. Not thin in a sense of physical dimensions. But a thin veil between one universe and the next.<br /><br />They're not just in my mind. I believe that by the power of my imagination, somewhere an alternate universe has split off the infinite others and in it my story is taking place. It would explain why I feel like I'm chronicling actual events, and not just making it up. I get almost a flash of inspiration at times, but that inspiration might not be me, it could be a packet of information that got past one of these thin places, and into my mind.<br /><br />That doesn't mean I'm not creative, no. It just means that I have the skill to see these flashes from Beyond, and the talent to write out the events in a way that will be suspenseful yet humuorous.<br /><br />Either that, or I'm a raving lunatic. Wouldn't it be sweet if it was both?Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345931260774926686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-73063877726273203512007-08-08T23:43:00.000-03:002007-08-08T23:57:15.835-03:00Taken out of context<span style="font-size:78%;">It's absolutely ridiculous how some little things can be absolutely shredded from reality, and placed into a made up world of insults and negativity. I feel really dumb making the first downer-post in the blog, but it had to happen- this is how my mind works. It just seems that everything now a days is offensive to someone. Our school canceled "Black and White day" because it was discriminatory? Just because a harmless idea got taken out of context. Now thats frustraiting!</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Another thing thats frustraiting- too many bug bites. Im so itchy right now. Its awful.</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Anyway, back to how my brain works. Sorry Graeme, Im a rambler. My mind goes from one thing to another so quickly I dont have time to explain. Its like "Bang. BANG. G. Wooo...." which also doesnt make sence. HI IM EVY. Yay life, yay star wars. Yay puppies.</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Yay Graemes turn? :)</span>Evyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408820036409159902noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127415518729470694.post-77407013107859613272007-08-08T23:24:00.000-03:002007-08-08T23:37:17.212-03:00What It Is, YoSo. This Blog is gonna be a total thought experiment. The basic premise behind it is this: I write. I write at length about something. Whatever the hell I want. But that's only the first post. And that's this one. The next post after this will be about something completely different. But that different thing has to come from one of the phrases, or sentences, or whatever that I used in this post.<br /><br />For example: I used the sentences, "I write. I write at length about something." The next poster could use that as their title and write about how they like to write, or how they want to become an author, or something to that effect. In effect, you take something I have written, rip it out of context, and create Something Different.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">See the humour there? I said Something Different, like they would create a thing that is different. But also Something Different, being the title of this website, so they're creating it. I thought it was clever.</span><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span>Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345931260774926686noreply@blogger.com0