http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Aranov&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Aranov en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:41:02 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/26986696/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/26986696/ Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:45:52 PDT
The rules:

1- Be one of the first 14 people commenting on this journal entry, and I will add you to the Promotional List
2- For each of those 14 people I will put their avatar and three deviations I like from their gallery on the list.
3- If I feature you, you'll have to do the same in your journal, putting me on the first place, completing this way the list with 15 people.

1.
[link] Andre, who needs cookies and a shot of gin.
[link] Dominic has a most undignified nickname.
[link] "Just know that dares involving meat, bears, and beer often don't end well."

2.
[link] Two Paths. Read it. Comment on it. Get hooked on it. Draw shiny fanart of it.
[link] To the tune of Loreena McKennitt's The Highwayman, which is win.
[link] Creepy sentient objects for the win!

3.
[link] Midnight. Because vampires who sparkle aren't into girls.
[link] Fluffy adorableness!
[link] FIIIIIIIIIIRE!

4.
[link] Snow! Assassination! Fine horses!
[link] These sorts of chores rather make one grateful for only having to load the dishwasher...
[link] Cats. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em...

5.
[link] Elves! Art Nouveau! Does it get much better?
[link] Answer: Yes. Jesus loves us and this sister is sharing it with the world through her art.
[link] Drool over the details! Just... don't dribble on Fëanor's boots. He doesn't look like he'd appreciate it.

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/25503998/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/25503998/ Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:04:03 PDT
From [link] this, which is made of awesomesauce.

1. Describe Rana in five words.
Oh. Wow. Umm... Tough, occasionally misguided, (mostly) well-meaning.

2. Wyn suddenly knows all your secrets. What do you have to say about that?
May God have mercy on us all.

3. What would Flaed not be caught dead in?
Things that show legs. Apparently, people have pants and boots for a reason.

4. What would Zav not be caught dead in?
Um... I think that changes with her mood. You ask her. O.o

5. How did you meet Ara (919)?
We-ell... Funny story. Y'see, there were these two nutcases I call my sisters that I got hooked on Karen Traviss novels...

6. Does Kythra have any pets?
Not any more. Jael got married off.
(ACK! OK, OK, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! D

7. Have you ever been in Jael's house?
I wish. Then she would have fed me.

8. What musical instrument would Escalus most likely play?
Aaaactually, he does play the concertina.

9. Ara Cloudreaver just got vaporized in a freak accident. Now what?
The Kestrel is going to need a new navigator. Stat. Though I think that'll be the least of our worries.

10. What would you do if Jus confessed love to you?
Run far, far away, because Rana would be intent on killing me as painfully as possible.

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/25023664/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/25023664/ Fri, 29 May 2009 21:44:01 PDT
1. What author do you own the most books of?
Tolkien, without a doubt. I'm working on completing my History of Middle-earth collection, and I think I only have three or four left.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?
Probably the Bible. Next to that... I think I have two copies each of The Fellowship of the Ring and the Book of Lost Tales I&II.

3. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Ummm... where do I start... My very first crush ever was on Westley from The Princess Bride.

4. What book have you read more than any other?
Ah, I have no idea. You lose track after a while... Possibly The Princess Bride. I went through a phase in eleventh grade where I read it over and over for about two weeks.

5. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?
The Hobbit. Mom started me early and right.

6. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
...that's a long time... I can't remember what I've read in the past year, so I will take this opportunity to say that I loathe Wuthering Heights.

7. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
The Silmarillion. (Again. Yes. But it had been a while.) I laughed, I cried, I drew fanart, I fell in love with the genius that is our dear Professor Tolkien all over again.

8. If you could tell everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be?
That's hard... I don't know. Either the Silmarillion or Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword.

9. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
As in why on Earth am I forcing myself through this? Probably The Last of the Mohicans.

10. Do you prefer the French or the Russians?
I haven't read very much of either, but the French wrote Cyrano de Bergerac, which rather predisposes me to like them more.

11. Shakespeare, Milton or Chaucer?
Sadly enough, I haven't read much of the latter two. Shakespeare is pretty amazing when he's not being completely obnoxious, though.

12. Austen or Eliot?
Again, I haven't read much of either. I am attempting to remedy my lack of Austen, however.

13. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?
I do like to think that I am at least tokenly well-rounded, though I am probably not. Romance novels are probably the biggest. The most embarrassing depends on what company I am in. My current gap in need of filling is George R.R. Martin.

14. What is your favorite novel?
...can I put the Silmarillion down for this one too? It's a bit epic to be categorized as a novel, though. Umm... Either Robin McKinley's The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown, Garth Nix's Abhorsen trilogy, or Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief trilogy.

15. Plays?
Cyrano de Bergerac. <3. That is all.

16. Poem?
I like Emily Dickinson and Stephen Crane. His War Is Kind is amazing.

17. Essay?
I read a really good one by... is it Henry James? The novelist's brother. I forget the title, but it was an argument for free will as opposed to determinism.

18. Non Fiction
I like historical things. One off the top of my head that I enjoy is 13 Days to Glory, about the siege of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution.

19. Graphic Novel?
Don't actually read many of those. Do webcomics count?

20. Science Fiction?
Oh, hard. Karen Traviss's Star Wars books, I think. I need to read more of them, but I love her Republic Commando series.

22. Fantasy?
Tolkien. Nix and McKinley are pretty high on the list too. I'm probably forgetting someone.

23. Who is your favorite writer?
Tolkien. Though any of the names I've mentioned are most certainly on the list.

24. What are you reading right now?
Pride and Prejudice, with handy little notes in the back about what all the social implications of a chaise as opposed to a hired coach were, and that sort of thing. I'm enjoying it much more than when I tried to read it the first time in high school.

25. Favorite Genre:
I find myself reading mostly fantasy, usually from the young adult section. There are some excellent writers marketed for teens that I enjoy quite a bit.

The end!

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/24939175/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/24939175/ Mon, 25 May 2009 09:21:26 PDT
]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/22688383/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/22688383/ Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:28:16 PST {2} Each tagged person must post 8 things about themselves on their journal.
{3} At the end you have to choose 8 people to tag, and post their icons on the same journal.
{4} Go to their page and send a message saying you tagged them.
{5} NO tag-backs.

All right... where to start.

1. Jesus loves me!
2. He loves you too.
3. Dr Pepper is the nectar of life
4. but tea is necessary to sustain life.
5. If all else fails, put lots of sugar and milk in my coffee.
6. I study historical swordsmanship.
7. I heart my Prismacolors.
8. Procrastination is an art form.

Yeah, the whole tagging thing... They're more like guidelines anyway. Do it if you want to. This virus spreads on a voluntary basis.

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/21789834/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/21789834/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:20:09 PST Unfortunately, since the book is my sketchbook, said line is erased. The drawing is a failed attempt to draw a male Riune in a vaguely Art Nouveau-ish style.

2.Stretch your left arm out as far as you can. What do you reach?
A... turquoise-ish back pillow that I'd be leaning against if I had any sense.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Mythbusters, specifically Adam getting tossed around by his animatronic shark.

4. Without looking, guess what time it is:
Um. Is it past nine already?

5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
9:06. It is. I should do constructive things before bed...

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The shower running in the next room. Suvetar by Gjallarhorn just ended.

7. When did you last step outside?
About an hour and a half ago

What were you doing?
Walking home from the cafeteria.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
*Memnalar's journal. That, and the doodlings in the margins of my roommate's EDFD notes

9. What are you wearing?
T-shirt with a hole in it, black basketball shorts

10. Did you dream last night?
I think so. I really don't remember.

11. When did you last laugh?
Probably before supper, looking at that one ridiculous stock photo...

12. What are on the walls of the room you are in?
Let's see. My gun calendar (December features the Glock and the Colt M1911A1), my Return of the King movie poster, artwork by both myself and my friend Phaedre, my roommate's target at which she shot a .22 for the first time ever, a small carpet featuring two horses, a print of da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine, and two horse posters. That's not counting the closet doors.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
Well, my roommate is sitting right next to me.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
It doesn't inquire about my favorite color or relationship status. I like it.

15. What is the last film you saw?
Um. Good question. I watched part of the HBO John Adams miniseries over Thanksgiving, which was certainly long enough to be a movie...

16. If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
First thing? Honestly, I have no idea. But I wouldn't have to worry about how I'd support myself with an art degree and an aversion to teaching any more!

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know about.
I refuse to marry a man who can't beat me in an arm wrestling match.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
I would abolish stupidity.

19. Do you like to dance?
Um... not really. I'd rather be fencing.

20. George Bush:
...is from Texas ^_^

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
I like Elanor. Dunno about middle names. Lalaith is a possibility.

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Ian is a nice name. So is James, even if my mother doesn't like it much.

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Well, if Texas is a whole 'nother country, then I'm going to school abroad...

24. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
I don't think words will be necessary, really. Though I suppose a simple "Well done, child" would work too.

25.Tag six people who must also do this in THEIR journal.
I don't know six people who would... And six is such an arbitrary number. Why six? Why not five or seven or something with meaning?

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/21631647/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/21631647/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:20:25 PST
I'm thankful for my family, the blood relatives and the adopted ones. They've made me who I am today, and I certainly wouldn't be nearly as interesting without them. I'm thankful for my friends, both IRL and on the interwebs, and their kind words and support. I'm thankful for good food like my aunt's baked beans and my grandfather's chicken fried venison. I'm thankful for dogs, since if everyone was the person their dog thinks they are, the world would be a better place. I'm thankful for the talent God has given me in both my art and my writing, and I hope I'm using that talent in the way he wants me to. I'm thankful for my country and all the freedom we have. I'm thankful for the selfless men and women of our armed forces who have given us that freedom. I'm thankful for this opportunity to share this with all of you, or at least the ones who finish reading this. May God bless you in this holiday season as much as he's blessed me, and more.

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19950509/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19950509/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:36:54 PDT
Welcome to the 2008 edition of getting to know your friends. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to your friends including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known!

1. What time did you get up this morning?
Slightly before 11 AM because I am a lazy person and it's still summer.

2. Diamonds or pearls?
Don't particularly care for either.... can I have sapphires instead?

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
I... honestly can't remember for sure. I think it was Prince Caspian. [Ben Barnes in armor is pretty. ^_^]

4. What is your favourite TV show?
Mythbusters, not that I watch anything very often... I must confess my fondness for Most Haunted too.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Tea, either Earl Grey or spiced black chai, and whatever I find laying around, usually frozen waffles, toast, or poptarts.

6. What is your middle name?
Danielle

7. What food do you dislike?
Dill pickles.

8. What is your favourite CD at the moment?
Flogging Molly's Within A Mile of Home

9. What kind of car do you drive?
A silver Montero Sport named Lancelot, because it is stolid, obnoxious, overrated, but gets the job done.

10. Favourite sandwich?
Grilled ham and provolone

11. What characteristic(s) about yourself do you despise?
I'm horribly lazy and prone to procrastination

12. Favourite item of clothing?
My cloak with pocket.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
Scotland and Ireland, retracing the steps of my ancestors and all that.

14. Are you an organized person?
When it's convenient for me.

15. Where would you retire to?
I've no idea. That's a rather long time in the future.

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
My last one. Steak dinner and whatever the most recent Bourne movie was [I haven't seen the other ones, but it had lots of explosions so I enjoyed it XD]

17. What are you going to do when you finish this?
Start some laundry before I head into town to get my passport.

18. Furthest place you are sending this?
Probably the Philippines, assuming he actually reads it

19. Person you expect to send it back first?
*shrug* No idea. Whoever has the time first.

20. When is your birthday?
September 19. Only three days before Bilbo's...

21. Morning person or a night person?
Night. Afternoon and evening, too. Just don't wake me before 9 or so and we'll be good.

22. What is your shoe size?
Approximately 9 1/2. All the cute shoes are made for size 7, though... <_<

23. Pets?
Beagle mutt, Kitty, chocolate lab, Russel Stover, and hyperactive nutcase Jack Russell/rat terrier mutt, Magnum [nicknamed Maggot.]

24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
I'm going to see my sisters in less than a week ^_^

25. What did you want to be when you were little?
Artist is the earliest thing I remember, then marine biologist [I'm fairly certain every child in America wanted to be one at some point], archaeologist [Ancient Egypt specifically], and now I'm going to school for art. Funny old world, isn't it?

26. How are you today?
Pretty good, thanks. I did sleep til 11 after all XD

27. What is your favourite flower?
Amaryllis or calla lily.

28. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
August 20, when I shall see my sisters.

29. What are you listening to right now?
Olympic men's beach volleyball

30. What was the last thing you ate?
Torino's Mexican-flavored frozen pizza

31. Do you wish on stars?
Heck yes.

32. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
Can I be one of those that's all your old crayons melted together?

33. How is the weather right now?
Bright, sunny, hot, and humid.

34. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My cousin

35. Favourite soft drink?
Well, it was Mountain Dew Game Fuel before they discontinued it. Any sort of Mountain Dew, I guess.

36. Favourite restaurant?
Taco Cabana

37. Hair colour?
Brown. Though when the sun hits it right I have gold-ish and reddish highlights.

38. What was your favourite toy as a child?
Any sort of toy horse, especially the Grand Ch... ]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19886732/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19886732/ Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:17:47 PDT
SO. The point of this journal? Your favorite bookstores and/or authors. I love McKinley [The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword have influenced my writing soooo much, as well as Megan Whalen Turner's Thief of Eddis books], Tolkien, Karen Traviss, Stephen Crane's poetry, and several other people I can't call to mind at the moment. Half Price Books is my first choice, although since we have none within about an hour's drive of my house, Barnes and Noble is an acceptable substitute. You?

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19669092/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19669092/ Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:17:02 PDT
Rules are:
* Choose a singer/band/group
* Answer using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group
* Tag 6 more people (let them know they've been tagged)

Nickel Creek. For the win.

1. Are you male or female?
Sabra Girl

2. Describe yourself.
Beauty and the Mess

3. What do people feel when they're around you?
Why Should the Fire Die?

4. How would you describe your previous relationship?
Young

5. Describe your current relationship.
Hanging by a Thread

6. Where would you want to be now?
This Side

7. How do you feel about love?
The Hand Song

8. What's your life like?
Tomorrow Is a Long Time

9. What would you ask for if you had only one wish?
Out of the Woods

10. Say something wise.
Spit on a Stranger.

My turn to tag /you/ on something... I'm tired. If five more people actually read this, then they get cookies. And can do it too. There.

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19257435/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19257435/ Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:24:34 PDT [link] is what the amazing Jay has written so far, and I highly recommend- nay, I demand- that you go read it now and leave complimentary comments on his page.(He might write faster that way. ) While you're there, check out the rest of his gallery. [link] He's a very talented guy and you'll definitely enjoy it.

Hey! What are you still reading my ramblings for? Go read! Now! Shoo! [link] <- Here's a link just in case you missed it the first time.

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19172374/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19172374/ Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:42:15 PDT I would have to paint
soprano harmonies in a minor key
And depict a violin score
in twenty-four colors of oil pastel

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19072111/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/19072111/ Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:07:20 PDT
If you don’t have ten, add in some cool people.

1. Ara’nov, RC-Zeta 919. Likes explosives and is technically in charge…
2. Rana Talgal, Mandalorian merc. Loves her Verp (and her husband), likes her tihaar, and hates strill.
3. Jus, Mandalorian merc. Aforesaid husband. Tries to keep Rana’s barfights from ending in death (most of the time.)
4. Lady Ysaere, Lindorran noblewoman. Owns a green-dyed poodle named Toadstool. Need I say more?
5. Rane Goran, Jedi. Can’t keep ahold of her lightsaber to save her life. Literally…
6. Ruusaan, Mandalorian medic. Rana's aunt and the only person she's afraid of.
7. Wystan, Lindorran nobleman. Ysaere's younger son and a bit of a dandy, though at least he isn't crazy and he does love his mother.
8. Queen Kiarameldasylthrian of Lindor. No, she's not from around here, nor is she a particularly nice person.
9. Zavryqenn Raelephwen, schitzophrenic Mandalorian dark Jedi bounty hunter. Enough said.
10. Dremith, Mandalorian. Zavryqenn's dead husband and second personality.


Q2: Four invited three and two to dinner at their house. What happens?

…oh my word. >_< Ysaere inviting Jus and Rana to dinner. Rana would probably say something… unfortunate… about three seconds after she got in the door, and Jus would have to get her away before Ysaere… I don’t know. Ysaere couldn’t really do much about it, I guess, but… It would be a bad idea anyway, especially if Wystan was around.

Q3: Nine tries to get five to go to a strip club.

*choke* Zav and Rane at- No. It's probably a trap. Zav's going for the bounty on Rane. Though... I didn't know there was one... Hm.

Q4: You need to stay at a friend’s house overnight. Who do you choose, one or six?

Ara or Ruusaan. Ruusaan is a good cook, and Ara is probably off on some mission or something.

Q5: Two and seven are making out. Ten walks in. What’s their reaction?

Rana and... Wystan? O.o Drem would find it slightly awkward and slip back out. But... Rana would hate Wystan's guts, so this will never happen. o.o

Q6: Three falls in love with Six. Eight is jealous. What happens?

OK, Jus in love with Ruusaan is just awkward. Kiarameldasylthrian is only jealous cuz she thinks Jus is hot or something.

Q7: Four jumps you in a dark alleyway. Who comes to rescue you, ten, two or seven?

*snooooooorf* OK, the thought of Ysaere jumping anyone is pretty amusing. I don’t think I’d need rescuing. But maybe she brought the poodles, so. Hm. Rana, Wystan, or Dremith. Wystan would probably be the one to remind his mother that it's late and she should probably get to bed.

Q8: One decides to start a cooking show. Fifteen minutes later, what is happening?

Something has exploded. Possibly the grilled cheese sandwiches. Zeta has to call for takeout again.

Q9: Three has to marry either eight, four or nine. Who do they choose?

Jus with Kiarameldasylthrian, Ysaere, or Zav. O.o None of those are very happy. Kiarameldasylthrian has the most power, but Zav would kill her. If it was a fight over him, Zav would win. If it was who might actually want to marry him, Kiarameldasylthrian would.

Q10: Seven kidnaps Two and demands something from Five for Two’s release. What is it?

...how the heck did Wystan manage Rana? O.o And why would he want something from Rane the second-rate Jedi? I have noooo idea.

Q11: Everyone gangs up on three. Does three have a chance in hell?

Nope. Not while everyone includes Zav.

Q12: Everyone is invited to two and ten’s wedding except for eight. How do they react?

She's feeling very socially snubbed. How dare they? But later, when she finds out that Zav massacred everyone there (except for Drem), she is secretly relieved.

Q13: Why is six afraid of seven?

*snoorf* Ruusaan totally isn't afraid of Wystan, are you kidding? Ruusaan could take on Wystan any day, despite being older than his mother.

Q14: One arrives late for two and ten’s wedding. What happens and why were they late?

Ara and her sisters are there with security after Zav killed everyone. They're trying to figure out how blood got all the way up there.

Q15: Five and nine get roaring drunk and end up at your house. What happens?

o.o Epic death. Drunk Zav is BAD.

Q16: Nine murders two’s best friend. What does two do to get back at them?

...Zav kills Shry? Oh that's VERY BAD. Epic death. I'm not sure who would die first.

Q17: Six and One are in mortal danger. Only one can survive. Do they save themselves or one another?

Ruusaan would let Ara go. Ara would try to protest and learn why even Rana never trie... ]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/17917779/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/17917779/ Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:42:28 PDT
Musee des Beaux Arts
W.H. Auden

About suffering they were never wrong,
The Old Masters; how well, they understood
Its human position; how it takes place
While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along;
How, when the aged are reverently, passionately waiting
For the miraculous birth, there always must be
Children who did not specially want it to happen, skating
On a pond at the edge of the wood:
They never forgot
That even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course
Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot
Where the dogs go on with their doggy life and the torturer's horse
Scratches its innocent behind on a tree.
In Breughel's Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away
Quite leisurely from the disaster; the ploughman may
Have heard the splash, the forsaken cry,
But for him it was not an important failure; the sun shone
As it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green
Water; and the expensive delicate ship that must have seen
Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky,
had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on.

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/17755497/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/17755497/ Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:00:04 PDT
ANIME/MANGA NERD

[ ] You watch anime.
[ ] You read manga.
[ ] You buy/collect anime DVDs or manga volumes.
[ ] You own some other form of anime/manga merchandise.
[ ] You have referred to an anime character as 'hot' before.
[ ] You have cosplayed.
[ ] You have done so in public.
[ ] You have been to an anime/manga convention.
[ ] You have created/joined a fanclub for an anime/manga character.
[ ] You have created/joined a hateclub for an anime/manga character.
[ ] You have squealed when you found out somebody had the same name as an anime character you knew.
[ ] You enjoy drawing anime.
[ ] People you know know you as the 'anime' person.
[ ] You know that it is pronouced 'mawnguh' and not 'manga' like it is spelled.

ANIME/MANGA POINTS: 0/14

ART NERD

[x] You like art.
[x] You actually consider yourself an artist.
[x] When using art supplies, the brand of them matters to you.
[x] You have a favorite brand. (Prismacolor pencils are made of win.)
[x] You have asked for art supplies as a Christmas/birthday gift before.
[x] You give people your drawings as gifts.
[x] People actually ask for your drawings.
[x] You are known as 'the art person' at your school. (Not necessarily at my school, but within my circle.)
[x] Instead of just 'brown' or ‘ink', you'd be specific; it's 'sienna brown' or 'blush pink'.
[x] You have taken an art class outside of school.
[x] You have considered a career as an artist.
[x] Your school papers are always covered in doodles.
[x] You have a favorite artist. (John William Waterhouse was an amazing person. Alan Lee is an amazing person.)
[x] Your drawings have been framed.
[x] You carry a sketchbook with you everywhere you go. (Depending on whether or not I have my backpack with me, up to three at a time.)
ART NERD POINTS: 15/15

MUSICAL NERD

[x] You play a musical instrument. (Voice counts. )
[ ] You play more than one instrument.
[x] You actually really enjoy playing your instrument.
[ ] You've given your instrument a name.
[ ] You've participated in an extracurricular activity for your instrument.
[ ] You are known by what you play.
[x] You listen to classical music.
[x] You are wondering whether that refers to the classical music genre or the classical music time period.
[x] You have a favorite composer.
[ ] All of your friends are from your band/orchestra class.
[ ] You write music.
[ ] You've had discussions with your friends about music; your favorite composers/instruments/musical time periods/key/etc...
[ ] You have considered a professional career with your instrument.
[ ] You are never nervous playing for other people.
MUSICAL NERD POINTS: 5/14

VIDEO GAME NERD

[x] You play video games.
[ ] You own more than 4 different video game systems.
[ ] You've had debates over which system is the greatest.
[ ] You play video games every day.
[x] You have played a video game for over 10 hours.
[x] You have songs from your favorite video games on your MP3.
[x] You love to talk about video games.
[ ] You memorize the dates for when a new game is being released.
[ ] People know you as the 'gamer' person.
[ ] You spend more time on video games than you do hanging out with friends.
[x] Your gaming system is in your room.
[ ] You have preferences when it comes to what company your game came from.
[ ] You've had debates over which company is the best.
[x] You keep playing a game until you beat it. (Usually)
[ ] It makes you angry when you found out somebody looked up cheat codes on the internet to beat their game.
VIDEO GAME NERD POINTS: 6/15

COMPUTER NERD:

[x] You use the computer every day.
[x] You have an account/username on some sort of social website.
[ ] You go into random internet chatrooms.
[x] You spend at least 2 hours a day on the computer.
[x] You use computer faces; : D XD XP D: ^_^ >.> and etc.
[x] It is hard to go a day without using the computer.
[x] You spend time in online forums.
[x] In the forum/chatroom you use, you are known there by everyone else.
[x] You have friends you have only met online.
[ ] You have/have had a girlfriend/boyfriend you have only met online.
[x] You have actually met an online friend in person.
[x] U cn ezly rd 'txttlk.'
[x] You have said 'lol' or 'omg' in speech that is not online.
[x] You can type really, really f... ]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/17263059/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/17263059/ Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:49:56 PDT
]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/16837229/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/16837229/ Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:36:20 PST
You get back home from wherever it is you go during the day and think, Oh, I'll just check my email and Facebook and DevArt and then do something constructive. So maybe you have to write your mom back, and then your favorite artist has some really spiffy new work up, and then you find this amazing stock account, and when next you look up, it's three hours later and you have a presentation due the next morning, and no time to work on it tomorrow.

So, of course, you have to either wing it (ill-advised, unless you're just disgustingly gifted), or stay up later than you really wanted to and finish your speech.

Of course, it's probably a speech you didn't want to do in the first place, and even though you know it's going to take you long enough to make it decent, you just don't want to get motivated enough to start. Added to that, you hate introductions, and do much better writing a journal entry than doing your speech like you should have a week ago.

So. Guess that means I'd better get my lazy brain in gear and do something constructive...

]]> ~Aranov http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/15063412/ http://Aranov.deviantart.com/journal/15063412/ Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:26:14 PDT
She glanced around the darkened room, wishing for her helmet before spotting a dim computer screen. She crossed the tile floor, treading carefully so as to make no noise with her armored boots. Settling herself in front of the terminal, she pulled the data spike from a belt pouch and inserted it. The screen brightened and lines of glowing blue characters began scrolling across it. The spike was definitely a welcome addition to her kit; she never could have sliced into the terminal that quickly. Nau’laar was truly an artist among data deceivers.

She checked the chrono on her wristplate and hissed quietly in annoyance. Only ten more minutes to get the data and get out. The screen went suddenly blank, and tiny red and green lights pulsed on her data spike. Finished, then. She breathed a sigh of relief and removed the spike, standing and tucking it back in her belt.

She froze suddenly, feeling the cold metal of a blaster barrel pressed against the back of her head. “Hello there, sweetheart. And just where do you think you’re going?”

She raised her hands slowly, gritting her teeth at being called “sweetheart”. How could she have been so stupid as to get caught? The voice, a man’s, deep and amused, continued. “That’s the ticket. Now, what would you be doing in Aus Derask’s manor in the middle of the night?”

She took a deep breath, feigning fearful bravado. “What’s it to you?”

“Derask pays me to make sure nobody’s running around his place in the middle of the night.” The blaster gently prodded the back of her head. “You’re awfully curious for the one on the other end of the blaster. Now, answer the question, yeah?”

“Creds.” Ara began to lower her hands, but a sharp poke to her head stopped her. “Some guy in a cantina offered me enough to get off this sorry rock if I could get him some data. Nothing personal. He didn’t even really tell me what information he wanted.”

Her unseen assailant gave a short bark of laughter. “Yeah, yeah, sure.”

“Hey, look, how ‘bout I just give you the data spike and we forget the whole thing?” Ara tried to sound slightly desperate, working what she hoped was a convincing quaver into her tone.

The blaster barrel nudged the back of her head again. “How ‘bout you hand over the spike and come along quietly?”

“Do I have a choice?” she asked, sounding dejected. “Look, it’s in my belt. Don’t shoot me while I’m getting it out, okay?”

“All right, but keep one hand where I can see it.”

Ara allowed herself a small smile as she slowly dropped her right hand to the small holdout blaster concealed under her jacket. She ducked suddenly, spinning and kicking savagely at the man’s hand. His blaster clattered to the floor, and she kicked it away as he swore in pain and surprise. She leveled her small blaster at his head, but he knocked her hand aside and the shot went wild, striking sparks from the ceiling. He grabbed for her wrist, forcing the pistol up and away from him, and she twisted her arm, trying to escape his clasp. He tightened his grip, trying to force the pistol to point back toward her, and she stamped on his instep. He grunted in pain but didn’t loosen his grasp, digging his fingertips into her wrist instead. She hissed, face contorting as she tried to keep hold of the small blaster, but he wrested it from her fingers. She snatched at it with her free hand, throwing off his aim so that the shot fired hit her shoulder instead.

Her knees buckled with the sudden blaze of pain, and only his grip on her arm kept her off the floor. She gasped and gritted her teeth. Her assailant shook his head and pulled her upright, grabbing her in a headlock and pressing her blaster’s muzzle to her temple.

“Now will you cooperate?” he asked, slightly breathless. She snarled and struggled, and he tightened his arm around her throat and whacked her wounded shoulder with the butt of the pistol. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she sagged against him, gasping in pain. He shouldered her back onto her feet and forward, out of the dark room and along the hall, dimly illuminated by small lights along the wall.


A broad-waisted man in a security guard’s uniform looked up from a holozine and a disposable cup of caf as Ara’s captor half-carried her into the bright room. She blinked painfully, eyes slowly adjusting to the light as he dumped her unceremoniously onto a chair... ]]> ~Aranov