http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:Q-Lok&section=today deviantART RSS for by:Q-Lok en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:01:33 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/23131659/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/23131659/ Tue, 19 May 2009 23:34:10 PDT
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EDiT: OKAY NOW I'M FINISHED. YOU CAN STOP ASKING FOR THESE FEATURES NOW.

-------------------

Wow I hate journal memes. But yet, I still keep doing them. I really must hate myself. [EDiT: REALLY REALLY.]

Anyway. I did agree to do that gallery feature thing, so here it is. You comment here (telling me something you like about me or my art in accordance with the Spread The Love meme) and I go through your gallery and display three deviations that I like. Also note that there is a limit of ten people before I stop doing this. The first three slots are taken by people who have already featured my artwork in their own Journals recently.

Also, please note that although *Ideya-Freak, =Aura-Moon, and =feniiku are featured, I have not yet actually chosen pieces from their galleries to feature. I will do this tomorrow, when it is not 1:37 in the morning. Thank you in advance for your patience.


SPREAD THE LOVE MEME (taken from =Aura-Moon)

Leave a comment telling me one thing you like about me or my art, then re-post this meme on your own journal so I can do the same for you!

Spread the love!


FEATURED

The only condition upon which I will feature your art here is your posting a copy of this featuring my work as one of the ten.

1.
-
This drawing is only a tiny chunk of the tip of the iceberg when compared to the rest of the world that it represents. Dare has created a complex environment with a number of interacting and fully-realized societies, of which "My Friend" is only a single member. This world is worth exploring, and these drawings are the key.
-
The colored version of Dare's Nightmaren of Purity. Though I am working on an alternate coloration of the same drawing, this so-called "bad" example of Dare's coloring work nonetheless effortlessly dwarfs my own in both quality and style.
-
A deep thinker and a deep writer, Dare has proven time and again her capacity for this type of poetic analysis. Not only a great pencil artist, this modest example clearly shows her proficiency in literature.

2.
-
Who else remembers Doomsday Zone? That was, in my opinion, one of the best gameplay moments of Sonic history, captured extremely well here.
-
One would be extremely amiss visiting Feniiku's gallery and not having a look at the PlotChasm flash series. It is one of the most gloriously random things I have yet seen here, and it continues to point out wonderful little absurdities in the Sonic series. Also: that pit was the stupidest thing in the world.
-http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/23131607/ Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:28:37 PST
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Character

Coolest: NiGHTS
Cutest: The 'ians. Sickeningly so.
Funniest: Girania (seriously, obvious Gulpo and Gillwing knockoffs [appearance and gameplay elements, respectively] aside, what the fish is up with the balloons?)
Scariest: Wizeman
Stupidest: Will (Helen and Owl are closely tied for second)
Weirdest: Bomamba

Level

Coolest: Reala's original boss arena
Cutest: I dunno. My Dream, maybe? You know, just for the ludicrously high proportion of Nightopians compared to other game areas.
Funniest: Delight City ("So THIS is what being grown-up is like! " Um, wut?)
Hardest: Stick Canyon
Scariest: Nightmare Twin Seeds Tower (Wizeman's original boss arena) or possibly Jackle's boss arena, just for the sheer dementedness factor
Stupidest: Delight City again. Or possibly the one mission where you have to DEATH VORTEX the Nightopians to safety, which is utterly absurd by any standard.
Weirdest: Soft Museum. You bounce off of EVERYTHING.

Moment

Coolest: Seeing Wizeman gray-out at the end of NID. That's an accomplishment, right there.
Cutest: I dunno.
Funniest: Watching Gillwing's head explode off at obscenely high speed when the end of his tail is prematurely Paralooped.
Scariest: Watching the counter tick down as Wizeman hits me with yet another of those infernal tornado attacks.
Stupidest: Realizing the sheer amount of awful that the fans got stuck with in exchange for ten years of waiting and pining for a sequel when JoD came out.
Weirdest: Gillwing's epic head-explody scene; see above.

Music

Coolest: Any of the stage themes in the original game. The application of live music mixing has yet to be matched.
Cutest: Probably one of the "happy 'ian" tunes from NID.
Funniest: That'd have to be when I first realized that a Macintalk voice was being used in part of The Mantle.
Happiest: Dreams Dreams, either the original adult version or the Sweet Snow version. As annoyed as I was with JoD on the whole, that song was very impressive.
Saddest: There really isn't much sad music in NiGHTS at all. The closest thing would have to be the Night Over tune.
Scariest: D'Force Master.
Stupidest: The kids' version of Dreams Dreams from JoD. That annoys me to no end.
Weirdest: The Mantle.

Sound/Speech

Coolest: Hearing Reala speak for the first time in NID.
Cutest: Maybe Helen first introducing herself to Will. But that's more sickeningly childish than cute, per se.
Funniest: "Go on and touch NiGHTS... if you're into that sort of thing." Screw the ORLY Owl, we need an INNUENDO Owl.
Scariest: NID Wizeman's laugh, as heard in the middle of the night.
Stupidest: Basically anything that Will, Helen, Owl, NiGHTS, Reala, or Wizeman say throughout pretty much all of JoD. In my opinion, that game's dialog was extremely poor in its writing, and shouldn't have even been there in the first place due to the standard set by NID.
Weirdest: Probably realizing for the first time that Owl's innuendo line is almost still intact in the final game.

Villain

Coolest: NID Reala. Or possibly Jackle. Or NID Wizeman. Or Clawz. Or-- Okay, you know what? Screw it. The whole NID boss roster.
Cutest: Um, I really hope this doesn't apply. Imma go with Puffy, but given the competition, that's not saying much.
Funniest: Either JoD Wizeman (because he proved `mangapunksai's gangsta theory 100% correct) or Donbalon (because on top of being named Donbalon, he's also Jackle and Puffy's love child).
Hardest: Clawz, NID Wizeman, or Bomamba.
Scariest: NID Wizeman or NID Reala. They both totally lost credibility with me with the advent of their utterly silly voices in JoD, not to mention Reala's bat tights (a bad idea no matter who you ask).
Stupidest: Donbalon, Chamelan, or Bomamba. They were all patently ridiculous, though of greatly varying difficulty.
Weirdest: Donbalon, Bomamba, Jackle (as much as I like him, you gotta admit that a floating invisible guy wearing only socks, gloves, a hat, and an invulnerable cape is a little odd), or Puffy.



Info
[] I am shorter than 5'4.
[x] I think I'm ugly sometimes.
[] I have many scars.
[x] I tan easily.
[] I... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/23131598/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/23131598/ Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:27:19 PST
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None
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Remember this? Well, I have more memes. A lot more. Let's get started right away:

NAME MEME

1. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother & father's middle name)
Patrick Gurney (My old guy name has made a return.)

2. NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother's dad, father's dad)
John John (SHEER BRILLIANCE!)

3. STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Vanja

4. DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Verdant Eagle

5. SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Merrill Salt

6. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Orange Fruit

7. FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Jaff

8. GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Spumoni Chip

9. ROCK STAR NAME: (current pets name, current street name)
(No pets in the family, so...) Zebra Douglas (We used to have a finch. Sue me.)

10. STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
...I don't know a single cologne or perfume name. Wow.

11. PORN NAME: (1st pet, street you grew up on)
Cinnamon Douglas



1. Name one person who always makes you smile.
~LostAnimeDrawer.

2. What were you doing at 5:00 this morning?
Sleeping in a hotel room.

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Mrrm... I think I was checking my iPod's playlists. That or reading the end of Genius Squad.

4. Who was the last person who broke your heart?
Me.

5. What is the last thing you said aloud?
I think I was mumbling something about how I couldn't get this pillow to fit properly behind my head.

6. How many different things did you drink today?
Just water.

7. What color is your toothbrush?
Green and white.

8. What was the last thing you bought?
Five packs of Heroscape figures. Yes.

9. where do you live?
Salt Lake City, Utah. Near the University.

10.What color is your gate?
We don't have one, which is good. I don't like gates.

11. Where is your brother?
Right in front of me.

12. how was your day yesterday?
It was okay, I suppose. I managed to annoy myself rather badly by not thinking to check a local phone book for addresses before walking over a mile in search of good shopping, though.

13. What is the last ice cream flavor you ate?
...You know, I honestly have no idea. It might have been peppermint, but I think it was just some soft-serve vanilla.

14. are you an optimistic one?
Honestly? Not really. I'm working on it, though.

15. Do you think you're okay?
Only some of the time.

16. contented in life?
Nah.

17. Do you talk a lot?
Oh, yes. You do not even slightly want to know how many ears I've nearly talked off in the last few weeks.

18. Do you skip meals?
Yeah. I shouldn't, though.



CHARACTER INTERVIEW

CHARACTER/S:
Nami
Windman
Trynis
KiNETiC
Bel
Darius


Who/What are you?
Nami: A chameleon! Also, an old author-persona for Q-Lok. At one point I was known as an Emissary of the "Great Author Dude," but of course that was back in his n00b days.
Windman: I'm mostly Reploid. My operating system is a bit closer to that of the more communicative Dreamcybers, though. The main difference is that I was designed as an organism rather than a system, and so have more personality and interactivity than hard logic. I also shared a stint as an Emissary with Nami in the days of Chaos Comics.
Trynis: I'm one of the warriors chosen to rescue Cephiro. I'm told that my Cephiro is an alternate world to the one most people are familiar with, though. I'm a light magician by trade, and my hometown is the castle town outside Cephiro Castle. I never did get to find my Mashin or my Escudo weapon, but Clef did get the chance to tell our group that we were supposed to get them eventually.
KiNETiC: I'm an Earth Aspect. I do movement and energy, and my granted power is force beams.
Bel: I am a red giant star -- or rather, its embodiment. Our kind lives far outside your group of galaxies, so don't bother looking for us.
Darius: I am the avatar of a white dwarf star. I am one of the presiding council over our galaxy, but my influence is waning in my star's age... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/22770576/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/22770576/ Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:40:28 PST
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So now I have another new pseudonym. Limerick Lexington is my brand-spanking-new Second Life avatar. He actually looks quite a bit like me, sans glasses. And fashion sense. I can't seem to find the right clothes, so I went with an outfit vaguely reminiscent of this drawing of me by ~Ideya-Freak.

Anyhoo, I'd appreciate any of you who are already over there to let me know so I actually can have something to *do*. Also, there's a NiGHTS club on SL and I've been hearing talk of a possible iMAGNi area that TRiP might be putting up in the future, for those interested.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
N/A

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
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Clubs: ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/22359905/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/22359905/ Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:11:05 PST
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Okay. Got some stuff to say. Got some apologies to make. Mostly to you guys. I've been acting pretty jerky lately, just hiding away and ignoring things that really should have been dealt with a long time ago. I've been ignoring relationships, commitments, and friends. It's not good at all. But there is a reason for it. I've had things that I've been dealing with for some time, mostly personal issues that have spilled out into other areas of my life. It's gotten so bad that I've not only been trying to escape from this website but from my responsibilities and from my friends. In fact, there have only been really two things that have kept me going -- Star Sigil and Heroscape. They're both escapes, and both are pretty piteous excuses to avoid my responsibilities, but I've told myself enough times that they were good enough that for awhile I believed it. But it's not quite right.

I'm sorry to you all for my absence, for prolonging it so much more than was necessary. It's just become very difficult to find this place fun anymore. Too many strings attached.

On a lighter note, though, I'm back (at least for now), and I have a @#$%-load of new art to show you folks, going all the way back to last April. Also, as I said above, I've been doing a ton of work on Star Sigil and have about eight new characters for it, not to mention a one-per-week average for those drawings. It's a new year, and that means that for awhile I'll try extra-extra hard to do things right, though I probably won't succeed particularly much more than usual. It's just been Christmas, which means that I now own the complete Firefly DVD set and about twice the amount of Heroscape parts as before, plus some awesome posters, shirts, and other assorted cool stuff. All of that means that you get a more or less happy me, and I'm going to try and actually behave that way no matter how much I don't feel like it.

Good luck to you all in the year two-thousand and nine. May it be better than the last one.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
N/A

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs: http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/21782208/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:50:44 PST
Song Lyrics:
There ain't no justice in the world
I wanna do it great harm
See its blood
In the memory of my fallen one
Take back the feeling that I was wronged
I wanna take the world on
In a street fight
Spill its blood on the asphalt
Blood On The Asphalt [Richter Mix] -- Shael Riley and Richter
-------------------

No rant last week. No rant yesterday, either. Can't say I'm as sorry as I should be about that.

Also, does anyone know of an emotional anesthetic and, if so, can I have some?

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
N/A

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs: ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/21574813/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/21574813/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:26:17 PST
Song Lyrics:
Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be
There's a shadow hanging over me
Oh, I yesterday came suddenly

Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say
I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday

Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
Oh, I believe in yesterday
Yesterday -- The Beatles
-------------------

Incidentally, did you know that the song Yesterday originally came to Paul McCartney as a dream, with the opening lyrics "Scrambled eggs/Oh baby, how I love your legs"? True story. Look it up. Anyway.

I decided to write this today because I'd get even more annoyed with myself if it got any later than two full days. Today's subject? PMS. Undoubtedly an odd topic for a guy to cover, and more so one who is usually a lot more worried about offending people than I feel right now. I've had a lot of complaints from my sister about her periods, which is totally normal. I'm not blaming her for anything. What I do take offense at is when she tells me how lucky I am not to be a girl and have to deal with it. What she and doubtless many other women don't understand is that while guys don't have PMS, they're like that all the time.

Men are known universally as being more aggressive and more agitated in general, while women are seen as more unstable over time. True enough. This is because, in my opinion, the guys are in a constant state of moodiness and general instability and have to cover for it by just getting mad at their problems instead of responding the way they actually feel.

Essentially, this isn't a very big rant, since my entire point can be summed up thusly:
Girls can blame PMS all they want, but guys have to put up with the same problems 24/7. That's one of the reasons we're all such jerks when left to our own devices.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
N/A

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs: ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/21447643/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/21447643/ Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:41:11 PST
Song Lyrics:
I feel there's something deep inside
of your lonely heart
and it seems so desperately
to call away, tear you and I apart

I fear there's something hidden there
slowly killing you
But to know is half the deed
to rescue you

Will you take me to the place you used to visit in my arms?
Will you take the only place beside me at my right-hand side?
Can you tell me, whisper in my ear, how much you love me so?
'Cause if you can't, I will not breathe you anymore

That lonely place
That barren place
Only one resides inside my heart
That lonely place
That horrid place
Only one could tear me this much apart
Please rescue me
Please set me free
because I will not let you go
Please take me inside your arms
and tell me tenderly
"I cannot go," please
Blue Reflection -- Injury
-------------------

...Well, that emoticon isn't really the right one for this situation. I'm too exhausted to even get properly riled up about things just now. But, out of respect for tradition I'm going to leave it as-is.

First thing. I'm pretty much scrubbing my footer, as you can see. In fact, I'm going to do it with the organization of most of my account. And I'm going to do it with my own activity out of the picture. Essentially, I'm leaving. For those sharp enough to have picked up on this, I'm doing it because of the reasons I mentioned at the beginning of my last Journal. Unfortunately, out of obligation to that stupid tradition I set myself up for, namely Rant Month (which started a day and a half ago but I missed it), I won't be able to really just disappear to work things out for at least another month. ...Which works out very poorly for my needs here. Oh well; I'm not going to really be around for awhile either way. I'll still update my Journal for rants, and possibly also my gallery with some new roundform fractals, but that's really about it unless something huge happens soon to change the situation.

All I can say about all this to the public is, I'm sorry everything had to work out this way, and I wish I didn't need so badly to disappear while I figure it all out.


Moving on.

The rant this week was originally going to be on politics, as the only real concerns in my life right now are off-limits for public discussion by my own self-limitation. But, in thinking about it, I can't really get myself as worked up over it as I thought I'd be able to just now. Maybe next week. Instead, I'm going to rant on the nature of social existence and the way that group dynamics seem to work around me, just because that's sort of been on my mind a little more than the other trivial stuff.

In the worst times of our lives, we always need support. Basic common sense, right? And yet, it's usually frowned upon to seek that support out in anything but total privacy. We're not allowed to go to our friends at school because it might make us look weak or sissy or whatever you please. In fact, the times that it might be most helpful, such as in a room full of people you're at least cursorily familiar with and many of whom are your friends (i.e. elementary through most of high school and some college situations), it seems the most taboo to ask for help with anything not directly related to the school situation (homework and so on). If you did so, you'd no doubt be the object of scorn and ridicule throughout the whole school, right?

Probably not. I think that most people would be very responsive to opening up and sharing what's really going on. Some, of course, would not know how to help; some would be simply in the wrong position to offer aid; and some would be downright unwilling to help in any way, whether out of malice, indifference, or simply unfamiliarity. But that doesn't account for the majority. I think that very nearly everyone is basically good and trying to help those around them and most of them would jump at the chance to be directly helpful.

So why don't we let them more often? Why do we hide what's really bothering us until we can tell it to a family member? Or a boyfriend or girlfriend? Or a therapist? Or a best friend? And even then, why does it have to be in total secret? Why does it have to be behind locked doors that our hearts and minds are opened in a way that people can help to heal the damage inflicted by daily life?

I don't have an answer to that, other than expectation. We expect everything to go wrong. There's a little pessimist in everyone, and a little bit of realist, and a little bit of cynic. We just don't let ourselves off that easily, regardless of what the actual... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/21319835/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/21319835/ Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:56:11 PST
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
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You may have noticed my inactivity of late. There are reasons for that, and I may be acting on them in full soon, but for now I'm just going to kind of leave things how they are. Anyway.

I have something to share with you all. Time Cube. What this is, I don't think anyone is really sure, but a fellow by the name of Gene Ray decided to not only "go," but to enthusiastically fling himself off the deep end back in 1997 and declare pretty much everything in human knowledge wrong without citing any form of real evidence. It's the sort of website that `mangapunksai would eat for breakfast. Sorta reminiscent of Jack Chick's work to disprove just about everything that isn't based on his twisted and rather backward version of religion, really. The site itself has been around for quite awhile, having opened, as I mentioned, in 1997 and been mercilessly parodied since then. Its most recent update indicates that one should not vote for Obama because he will create a "Black America" and this will somehow destroy the world.

Oh, and also, according to Time Cube's lovely "four-cornered perspective," everything you've ever been taught is evil and you're going to die for it. Congratulations.

Links for your amusement/self-headache-inducing:
-The original Time Cube website
-The Wikipedia article on Time Cube
-Cory Doctorow's BoingBoing post about Time Cube
-Blog Of The Moderate Left's post about the recent anti-Obama post
-Kuro5hin's post about Time Cube's apparent cult status
-The Wikipedia talk page that is the reason I have a headache -- Apparently some crackpot out there honestly believes math doesn't work, and is willing to spend an entire month arguing with someone clearly more intelligent, but won't actually prove his point in any way. Also, I bothered to read almost the whole thing. I'm honestly unsure whether this was a mistake.
-Crank.net's list of Time Cube pages -- Mostly defunct, but there are a few good ones left.
-Nintendo's Portable Simultaneous 4-Player GAME CUBE -- This one amuses me highly.
-Timecube: the RPG -- The best idea I've heard all day.


EDiT: Oh yeah, and one other thing I forgot: cubes apparently have only four sides.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20979084/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20979084/ Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:45 PDT
Song Lyrics:
It's my party and I'll cry if I want to
Cry if I want to, cry if I want to
You would cry too if it happened to you
It's My Party -- Lesley Gore
-------------------

It's been a very different year. Odd and off on so many levels. I've grown in more ways than I can count, and I've found so many new kinds of feelings, new types of love, and new types of pain. I've felt worse and better than at any other time in my life, by far. I feel that I owe all of it, better and worse, to *spinningcannon. She's taken me through the bad times and into the good, very literally the wind beneath my wings.

I turned nineteen on last Friday, October 10th. The next day marked the one-year anniversary of the first day I really started talking to Spinny. What I consider one of the three or four most important and life-changing days of my life. She has gotten me (or accidentally allowed me to get myself) into and out of so many kinds of trouble and brought my whole life up to an astonishing standard, and she's been with me every step of the way. I've striven to do the same for her.

I spent most of last week in a very scary sort of crisis, and then she pulled me out of it right when it mattered most. I'm sinking back into it somewhat the last couple of days, just due to a lack of momentum, but it was a nice weekend. Nice and pure and simple. Good birthday gift from the universe. Good birthday gift from Jewel. It won't last long, I know that from experience gained over the past year, but it was good while it lasted.

I'll most certainly not complain if I get birthday giftart from you guys, but if you haven't decided what to do for me and feel obligated, then I do have a request. Do it for her instead. Do something nice, something meaningful for the girl that saved my life.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. May end up leaving this one as-is and just taking another photo of it.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Demia design head sketches.
Status: Got three done in under half an hour yesterday. Will upload with the rest of it.
-Chaos Zero comic-style sketch for .
Status: Done while on the train. You won't be seeing this one after all, though, because she actually has the thing and I forgot to scan it.
-Gatfaish giftart for *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20801567/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20801567/ Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:40:15 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

dA staff said no, so away they go.

You may or may not have noticed the sudden disappearance of my SSBB captioned screenshots (which for the record I never claimed as anything but copywrited material that I had edited). That would be because the staff deleted my "Bowser's foreplay problem" deviation and gave me a cease-and-desist notice. That said, though, I'll be linking them from here as soon as I bother to get them up on Photobucket or something.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. May end up leaving this one as-is and just taking another photo of it.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Demia design head sketches.
Status: Got three done in under half an hour yesterday. Will upload with the rest of it.
-Chaos Zero comic-style sketch for .
Status: Done while on the train. You won't be seeing this one after all, though, because she actually has the thing and I forgot to scan it.
-Gatfaish giftart for .
Status: Done.
-Two pastel pieces, one abstraction and one re-hash of Confusion Of The Phoenix.
Status: Done. The finish spray I put on it killed the colors, but I think I can fix it in scanning.

Art In Progress:
-Large-paper DreamGold drawing.
Status: Lineart done, needs color. It just occurred to me that I can digitally ink and color this now, so I might just have to do that.
-Demia character references.
Status: GRiD, CRUiSE, DiODE, THESiS, OPTiC, DiODE, NiMBUS, TURBiNE, CHiLL, iVY, and BiRD are started.
Completed: MELODi, RAiL, KiNDLiNG, ALKALiNE, SPiKE, LEGiON, iNFERNO, WiNG, Dreamcyber, Selph, RAiN.
-Chaos Zero sketches.
Status: Got a couple done on the way to the library today. Will be uploading these for the club when I finally get to scanning everything.

Art On Hold:
-Theme 50 photo list.
Status: Just making official what you all should already know by now. This is definitely not on hold, as I haven't even thought about it in months. You can find the list and (un)current progress here.
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Will do this when someone offers to actually do some of the skinning and rigging, as Hosea has taught me that I'm lousy at it.
-"Hosea" 3D projec... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20780578/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20780578/ Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:42:19 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

There's a guy I know. He goes by Frank. For some reason or another, I found him sitting in the lobby of the campus library today. He noticed me, and as always happens, we got talking.

Before I go on, I'd like to tell you all about how I met this man, and a little more about him as well.

I first met him a few years ago at Go club, basically a group of people whose only commonality was an interest in the game of Go. They met, and still meet, weekly at a bookstore in one of Salt Lake's suburbs. I stopped going after I saw that I was nowhere near the status of even a decent player, and more importantly that I didn't have the devotion to the game to get there. For centuries, people worldwide have struggled to fully grasp all the intricacies of this ancient game, and only a very few in each generation get close. The Go club was made up of people mostly on the upper tier of the decent amateur skill range, with only one or two people ever showing up that had anything like my level of UN-proficiency. We also had one fellow who was at the very bottom ranks of the professional players, and I must say he was fascinating to watch. But then there was Frank. He had an innate mastery of the form of the game, stagnating for months in his development and then suddenly making huge leaps in his ability, then stagnating again. He always had some amusing witticism to share, some new game-related credo, some tidbit of strategy that I was always too incompetent to understand the applications for. "Dead stones can kill" was always his motto. "When in doubt, tannuki" was another catch phrase. The first was easy enough to grasp in theory, but in practice, my oh my was it ever difficult to implement. My opponents tended to notice me trying to scheme my way into using my dead stones and just capture them on the spot. Frank, though, Frank would somehow manage to keep them distracted long enough to pull off some elaborate maneuver incorporating stones from all the way across the board and take an entire corner or edge for himself in the process. I couldn't keep up with his strategies nine times out of ten. Heck, I couldn't even see the purpose to most of his moves until he'd already won.

And then I started talking to him away from the board. The man is a genius. Like his Go strategies, his mind thinks more as an organism, on instinct, than a computer. He thinks in materials, in construction techniques, in complex theories that effectively nullify time itself. His ideas, as he's outlined them to me, seem sound enough. I have no basis at all to understand almost any of what he's talking about, but I always have just enough understanding to be completely lost and yet still somehow come out of it with a clear picture in my head of what he's proposing and why it should work. He thinks in terms of the whole, but he can see how each individual part can be best constructed or used to benefit it. He has an affinity for small airplanes, most particularly their engines, and for structural fabrication techniques. His mind is brimming with thousands of ideas, all of them sound, for improving the functional technology all around us. And yet, somehow, he hasn't patented any of it, and he hasn't even managed to actually build almost any of them. They're all fleshed out to the smallest detail, including cost and function. But he doesn't take them past that.

He's bipolar, and only recently figured out how to avoid having paranoid schizophrenic attacks -- it's in his diet, something about the way his body processes fats and sugars. He looks like a hobo, and evidently enjoys the lifestyle, as the last time I asked he was living in his car. He hasn't held a job for years. And he's among the five most intelligent men I've ever met.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20773708/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20773708/ Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:21:27 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

GUEST STARS! We need GUEST STARS! Adventures In Myopia has hit a snag in production: we have a show written, and no star to fill the rantspace, Q&A, or WIIHTI episode. Thanks to technical difficulties, at least for the moment our original selection of guest star is unable to record with us. What we need is simple: someone willing to associate their name with our insanity and in possession of recording software like Audacity and audio chat software such as Skype. Both of these programs are free and cross-platform, so regardless of your particular computer setup, you should be able to use both of them given reasonably good processing power and a decent connection to the Internet. We'll do the scriptwriting for you, so that's not a concern either. All you have to do is have those programs, a mic, and some spare time at the same time as we do (which we are admittedly still trying to work out).

Sign up here, as we need guest stars for the next two episodes at minimum.

Also of note is the fact that guest stars will typically play a new villain in the Whatever It Is He Titled It episode for their guest show, and may therefore help us shape that character as much as they like.

Sign up now!

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. May end up leaving this one as-is and just taking another photo of it.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Demia design head sketches.
Status: Got three done in under half an hour yesterday. Will upload with the rest of it.
-Chaos Zero comic-style sketch for .
Status: Done while on the train. You won't be seeing this one after all, though, because she actually has the thing and I forgot to scan it.
-Gatfaish giftart for .
Status: Done.
-Two pastel pieces, one abstraction and one re-hash of Confusion Of The Phoenix.
Status: Done. The finish spray I put on it killed the colors, but I think I can fix it in scanning.

Art In Progress:
-Large-paper DreamGold drawing.
Status: Lineart done, needs color. It just occurred to me that I can digitally ink and color this now, so I might just have to do that.
-Demia character references.
Status: GRiD, CRUiSE, DiODE, THESiS, OP... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20733448/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20733448/ Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:42:36 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Life is but a moment
A single grain of sand
That slips right through the hourglass
And slips right through your hand
You've shown me how
To make each moment count
And I know now
What life is all about

Life is but a twinkle
The winking of an eye
A star that lights the universe
A flash across the sky
You came to me
Just like a shooting star
You gave to me
The love that's in your heart

When you live for love
How precious life can be
When you give your love
I truly do believe
If only for a moment
It's a miracle to see
So shine for all the world tonight
And live for love
Give your love to me

Life is but a twinkle
The winking of an eye
A star that lights the universe
A flash across the sky
You came to me
Just like a shooting star
You gave to me
The love that's in your heart

When you live for love
How precious life can be
When you give your love
I truly do believe
If only for a moment
It's a miracle to see
So shine for all the world tonight
And live for love
Give your love to me

So shine for all the world tonight
And live for love
Give your love to me
Flying Man -- Mother
-------------------

Taken from !NiGHTSandReala07, who apparently got it from ~Mindoe-Luvs-U early this year. I've been waiting to post this for nearly a year now, but I believe now is the right time to do so. I would appreciate it if you all would give me responses, though by no means am I requiring it. Thank you for whatever time you spend on this.

What would you do if.....

1. I died:
2. I kissed you:
3. I lived next door to you:
4. I started smoking:
5. I stole something:
6. I was hospitalized:
7. I ran away from home:
8. I got into a fight and you weren't there?


WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MY:

9. Personality:
10. Eyes:
11. Hair:
12. Family:


WOULD YOU:

13. Be my friend?
14. Keep a secret if I told you one?
15. Hold my hand?
16. Take a bullet for me?
17. Keep in touch?
18. Try and solve my problems?
19. Love me?
20. Date me?
21. Sing with me?


HAVE YOU EVER:

22. Lied to make me feel better?
23. Wanted to kiss me?
24. Wanted to kill me?
25. Broke my heart?
26. Kept something important from me?
27. Thought I was unbearably annoying?

MORE:

28. Who are you?
29. Are we friends?
30. When and how did we meet?
31. Describe me in one word:
32. What was your first impression?
33. Do you still think that way about me now?
34. What reminds you of me?
35. If you could give me anything what would it be?
36. How well do you know me?
37. When's the last time you saw me?
38. Ever wanted to tell me something but couldn't?
39. What song do you think would describe me best?
40. Are you gonna put this on yours to see what I say about you?

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs: *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20498930/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20498930/ Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:50:30 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

I know I don't usually do this. But this is an unusual time. And I'm feeling pretty low at the moment, without even truly understanding why. I suppose it's yet another instance of Fate or whatever playing around with my life and those around me, but the fifth-to-last person to visit my page happened to be ~Maximilian12, who had posted this in his journal. I don't know him, nor he me, but somehow he happened to show up at just the right time for me to read exactly what I needed to hear in his journal. Everything that follows is copied from the entry on his page.


♥To every guy that said, "Sex can wait"

♥To every guy that said, "You're beautiful"

♥To every guy that was never too busy to drive across town to see her

♥To every guy that gives her flowers and a card when she is sick or down.

♥To every guy who has given her flowers just because thats how he rolls

♥To every guy that said he would die for her.

♥To every guy that really would.

♥To every guy that did what she wanted to die for

♥To every guy that cried in front of her...

♥To every guy that she cried in front of...

♥To every guy that holds hands with her.

♥To every guy that kisses her with meaning..

♥To every guy that hugs her when she's sad.

♥To every guy that hugs her for no reason at all.

♥To every guy who would give their jacket up for her.

♥To every guy that calls to make sure she got home safe.

♥To every guy that would sit and wait for her for hours just to
see her for ten minutes

♥To every guy that would give his seat up...

♥To every guy that just wants to cuddle.

♥To every guy that reassured her that she was beautiful no matter what.

♥To every guy who told his secrets to her.

♥To every guy that showed how much he cared through every word and every breath.

♥To every guy that thought maybe this could be the one.

♥To every guy that believed in her dreams.

♥To every guy that would have done anything so she could achieve them

♥To every guy that never laughed at her when she told him her dreams.

♥To every guy that walked her to her car and opened the door

♥To every guy that gave his heart.

♥To every guy who prays that she is happy even if you are not with her.





Not many girls appreciate nice guys anymore...
And because of this, there are not many left out there...


I guarantee 90% of the men on your page will not repost this cuz they care more about their image

If you are a nice guy repost this with: "Nice guys STILL finish last "

If you are a girl that thinks every guy should treat a girl this way
repost this with: "To Every Guy"

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs: *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20480799/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20480799/ Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:23:35 PDT
Song Lyrics:
When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face they day

Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone

Because there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breathe again
Crash and Burn -- Savage Garden
-------------------

Seems like we should be past this by now, doesn't it? Maybe with the speed of communication so far past what it really needs to be, we've disabled ourselves from actually communicating. Odd.

First problem. I keep seeing Spinny online at anywhere from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM my time, which is 12:00 AM to 3:00 AM her time. I have a very hard time not seeing this as her killing herself slowly. A different form of self-abuse than usual, but abuse nonetheless. I know that it's necessary to a point, just because she's taking so many classes and doing so much all the time, but there likewise comes a point when it's just plain self-destruction. She told me recently that she sees the truth at those times of the morning, but she backed down when I asked her to tell me what truth that was. I'm not going to press, but given the other patterns I've observed at those times of night, in my worried, frazzled opinion it can't be anything good.

Second problem. I see Spinny online late at night, and long after she's offline (2-3 hours usually) I'm still awake and staring at this screen, pining for her. Plain old self-destruction, and even worse, it makes me a flat-out hypocrite to tell her to go to bed earlier than she does. I don't take kindly to that, especially when it's true. I just keep finding myself sitting here and thinking to myself, "What am I doing?" The answer usually doesn't come at all, but when it does it's usually something like, "Just sitting." "Why?" I ask myself. "Because it's what she might have been doing two hours ago. That's why." And I have no other reason. I pine away, when I'm worried. I just sit and do nothing, I preoccupy myself with the simple notion that there's nothing I can possibly do. It's not good at all.

Third problem. I stay up late, then wake up at the usual time. For almost two weeks now, it's been seven hours a night. I wake up tired, far more so than I am when I actually go to bed. I get nothing done during the day, find myself unwilling or unable to actually do anything when I have free time, and then wind up waking up at around 9:00 or 10:00 PM. I get stuck in a pattern of late-waking and then wind up perpetuating my own cycle -- certainly not made any better by the fact that I worry that Spinny may still wind up being online later than me, even at 2:00 AM in my own time zone, two hours behind hers. She's done it several times before.

Fourth problem. Song lyrics. Spinny won't talk to me. I think it's more likely "just too exhausted all the time" than "avoiding you because I have something to hide," but that's still no less reason to worry. She's constantly busy, and when she's not she's exhausted and burnt out instead. So it's been two weeks since we've even had so much as text-chat, and over a month since we actually spoke last. I don't blame her for this, mind you, so please don't go getting the wrong idea about what's happening. But it does hurt to know that she's still unable to even communicate on the basic level we had at the very beginning.

Fifth problem. I have this bad habit. I tend to spew things of a very sensitive and personal nature at the whole Internet just because I feel like it or am too shortsighted to notice that it might come back to bite me, or far worse, Spinny. This Journal is proof of that. A corollary problem to this would be my unwillingness to NOT post things like this even when I know it's a bad idea. So yeah. I'll be seeing you all when I have my brain and probably more importantly my type-voice under at least a little bit of control. Which right now it's, you know, not.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20421493/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:31:36 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Guess who's back, back, back
Back again, gain, gain
Get N00Bish -- DiGi Valentine
-------------------

AND NOW MY INBOX IS TOTALLY FREE OF MEMES. GIVE ME A FREAKING AWARD NOW.

...

*cough* Anyways.

That's right. I'm back from my vacation. It was mostly fantastic, punctuated by a few moments of extreme stress, such as when our car broke down in Chicago or the morning before I first met *spinningcannon in person. Matter of fact, have I ever mentioned how much I love her? More than the silly, inadequate English language will ever be able to express, that's for certain. Long story short, we had tons of fun and those were very nearly the best two days of my life -- right behind March 31, 2008. I don't know if I've ever felt happier than that in my life. It was -- she was amazing. I don't care what you think of her, or even if you know her. But go over there and send her a Note or leave her a comment or or make her some fanart or do something to say thanks for making Q-Lok so happy. I'll personally owe anyone who does so.

Anyway. I'll probably never stop gushing over her for very long, but I'm sure you're not all reading this for just that. Meanwhile, in the intervening month or so, I've started college at the University of Utah, and I am loving it. My dad is worried that I'm not doing very much homework, but that's because I've been taking all of these total cake classes -- or, as Mick Webb would say, they are easy as baklava. I only ever get any real homework from my writing class (WRTG 2010), which is by far my least interesting and least fun, but I also have the occasional assignment from The Universe (ASTRO 1060), Deductive Logic (PHIL 3200), and Intro To Quantitative Reasoning (MATH 1030) -- the last of which, thankfully, are not graded. It's not that I'm bad at math, particularly, it's just that the class's homework is a hideous, hideous waste of time -- it's math for people who never want to take another math class, so it's really, really simplified from what I'm used to. I love my Logic class, and my class up at the Institute (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, RELIGION 393R) is absolutely fascinating as well. The Universe is pretty interesting so far, but we're kind of stuck on the basics and boring stuff, so we can't get to the cool parts quite yet. Writing, as I said, is torturously wasteful of my time and effort, but it's required and therefore something I'm willing to put up with. Also, I got 100% on my first Logic exam, which is awesome.

In fact, I'm in Deductive Logic right now, which might tell you something about my recent tech purchases. I am now on a brand-new MacBook, which being stupid, I named Sark, after this fellow from the original Tron movie, in keeping with the theme I've been naming stuff after (our G4 Cube is Flynn -- the guy that goes into the computer -- and my Mini is Clu -- the program from the opening of the movie). This was a bad idea, obviously, because the sexiest piece of plastic I've ever seen now shares the name of some old guy who yells "NO, BIT BRAIN!" and wears bulky red-and-gray armor.

That being said, however, this computer is absolutely fantastic. Plus it came with a free iPod Nano, which was a nice bonus that I actually didn't know about until I went to check out at the campus store. iRelish MKII is also in my backpack at the moment. And *spinningcannon's picture is on it. Yeah.

Also, last thing (I think). The Big Demia Art Contest got much too little attention, both from me and from its prospective participants. This needs to be fixed, since I never technically closed it and other than the header and footer in this thing, those polls are the only thing I really use my subscription for. So I really need to get it in gear so that we can get it over with and do something else. The basic plan is, as soon as I get through with all of the references people asked me for (yes, I do know I set myself up to fail pretty badly on that one), I'll give the remaining participants two weeks and then open the vote. From there, it'll go pretty much like last year, most likely including FTPs as well. I have most of CRUiSE's reference done, finally, but that's about it. I'll get working on that within the week, if ~Ideya-Freak and *http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20398395/ Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:16:18 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

From , circa Aug. 21.

Gaming Quiz

Top 10 favorite videogames
1. NiGHTS Into Dreams
2. Darwinia
3. Sonic CD
4. Sonic R
5. Super Smash Brothers Brawl
6. Project Justice
7. Phantasy Star Online
8. Power Stone
9. Dragon Warrior Monsters
10. Megaman Battle Network 3

Top 10 favorite game characters
1. NiGHTS (classic)
2. Reala (classic)
3. Espio (classic)
4. Fang
5. E-102 γ
6. Chaos Zero
7. Vyse
8. Slimeborg
9. GLaDOS
10. Serenade

Top 10 favorite game songs
1. Number One
2. pain fade down
3. Dreams Dreams
4. Know Thyself!
5. Sonic Boom
6. Megaman 3 intro
7. Greater Lights
8. Bloody Tears
9. Ballad Of The Wind Fish
10. Open Your Heart

Top 10 game character crushes you have
1. There really aren't any. I could say Claris Sinclair, I guess, since I admire her, but even that's not really a crush. Deal with it.

Arrange the following in order of which you like from best, to least. (Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Sega)
Sega
Nintendo
Sony
Microsoft

What’s the number of games in your house right now?
Lots and lots. And yet, somehow still not enough.

Have you ever met an important figure in the gaming industry?
Nope.

Have you ever played a game in Japanese?
I wish.


From , circa Aug. 21.

CHARACTER INTERVIEW

CHARACTER/S:
RiVET
RAiL
NiMBUS
Vortex
Christmas Star

Who/What are you?
RiVET: A Metal Aspect Demia, assigned to directing the reconstruction effort from the Central Tower's observation center in Teeming Metropolis.
RAiL: Metal Aspect.
NiMBUS: An Air Aspect. Got a problem with that?
Vortex: Just your average teenage superhero. I train with the Superhero's League of Metropolitropolis to defend against threats to the city and its people.
Christmas Star: I... I'm a star. I'm not in your galaxy, though...

How old are you?
RiVET: Just seventy years. I'm a youngster for one of our kind.
RAiL: I dunno, I stopped keeping track decades ago.
NiMBUS: One hundred and seven.
Vortex: Seventeen. Just had my birthday a couple months ago.
Christmas Star: ...Two thousand and eight years. Is that old for one of you?

YOU WANT A HUG?? XD
RiVET: Um... I suppose.
RAiL: No! Get away from me!
NiMBUS: *lightning crackles* Do I look like I want a hug?
Vortex: Sure, why not?
Christmas Star: I'm... not really... very comfortable with that. I'm sorry.

You got any bad habits?
RiVET: Sure, who doesn't?
RAiL: Do you remember who you're talking to? The guy who made the STiCKMEN?
NiMBUS: No. Why would you think that I have bad habits?
Vortex: Yeah, I keep messing with Biohazard Bob's lunch to see him flip out, and I have this thing where I... *trails off*
Christmas Star: Well, I'm... a little shy.

Are you a boy or a girl?
RiVET: I think I take after the masculine gender a little more. But I'm a Demia, so I can be either, or both, or neither if the situation calls for it.
RAiL: Call it a guy, that's close enough.
NiMBUS: I have no gender. Deal with it.
Vortex: Boy, all the way!
Christmas Star: Am I a what? I'm sorry, I don't understand the question.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?
RiVET: Only in the sense that all of our kind were born of the same dreamstuff.
RAiL: Nope, not really.
NiMBUS: No.
Vortex: Only child, sorry.
Christmas Star: My siblings are the stars themselves. ...We live in your night sky.

Who's your mate/spouse?
RiVET: I'm single, if anyone's interested. I'm a little busy in my life right now, though, so it might be a little hard to keep up a relationship.
RAiL: Not interested.
NiMBUS: I work alone. Leave me that way and I won't electrocute you.
Vortex: Haven't found anyone yet. But don't you think I'm a little young to get married?
Christmas Star: "Mate?" What is a "mate?" I don't understand.

Do you have any kids?
RiVET: That'd be a neat trick. No... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20398364/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20398364/ Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:14:07 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

From , circa May 27.

Q: Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search:
A: "Jacob needs a brother." The irony is so thick you could bruise your head trying to walk through it.

Q: Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search:
A: "This is what the name 'Jacob' looks like in Japanese:."

Q: Type in "[your name] says" in Google search:
A: "Jacob says Raaawr." Raaawr.

Q: Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search:
A: "Jacob wants his money." Darn straight I do. Pay up.

Q: Type in "[your name] does" in Google search:
A: "Jacob does his Chewbacca impression." Raaawr.

Q: Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search:
A: "Jacob hates everyone." AH HATES YA ALL! GIT OFF MAH PROPAHTY!

Q: Type in "[your name] asks" in Google search:
A: "Jacob asks Santa to bring presents for the whole family." No comment.

Q: Type in "[your name] goes" in Google search:
A: "Jacob goes to Egypt." No. No, I don't.

Q: Type in "[your name] likes" in Google search:
A: "Jacob likes it when you laugh."

Q: Type in "[your name] eats" in Google search:
A: "JACOB EATS ICE CREAM!!!"

Q: Type in "[your name] wears" in Google search:
A: "Jacob wears a watermelon helmet."

Q: Type in "[your name] was arrested for" in Google Search:
A: "Jacob was arrested for money laundering." Secret's out.


From, circa June 6.

Three Things You Want To Do Before You Die:
1.) Fly in a wind tunnel.
2.) Publish my games.
3.) Find a job and place of residence that truly suit me.

Three Names You Go By:
1.) Jacob
2.) Q-Lok
3.) Q

Three Screen Names You Have Had:
1.) Q-Lok
2.) qloktheinvincible
3.) Avalon

Three Physical Things You Like About Yourself:
1.) My green eyes.
2.) My hair's unique ability to stay flat with no real care paid to it whatsoever.
3.) My uncannily skinny, tall stature.

Three Parts Of Your Heritage:
1.) American
2.) European
3.) Mormon (Yes, I can boil the whole mess that is my family tree down to that.)

Three Things That Scare You:
1.) Big ants
2.) Unsolvable problems
3.) Myself

Three Of Your Everyday Essentials:
1.) Computers and the Internet
2.) Deep thinking
3.) Art and creativity

Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1.) Dress shirt
2.) Belt
3.) Glasses

Three Of Your Favorite Bands/Musical Artists:
1.) Electric Light Orchestra
2.) Trash80
3.) Richard Jaques


Three Of Your Favorite Songs:
1.) Number One -- Richard Jaques
2.) Lover Reef -- D-Lux, GeoffreyTaucer, pixietricks, shonensamurai, zircon
3.) Show Me The Way -- Styx

Three Things You Want In A Relationship:
1.) Love
2.) Friendship
3.) Honesty

Two Truths And A Lie (in no particular order):
1.) I plead the fifth. I'm not up for any real mental exertion right now.
2.) Didn't you just hear me?
3.) I SAID NO! Go away!

Three Physical Things About The Preferred Sex That Appeal To You:
1.) "Deep" eyes. You know, the sort you can just fall into.
2.) Not "too perfect" or supermodelish. That look really creeps me out.
3.) Modesty!

Three Of Your Favorite Hobbies:
1.) Art
2.) Gaming, both video and board
3.) Philosophy, deep thinking, and internal discovery

Three Things You Want To Do Really Badly Right Now:
1.) Talk to *spinningcannon (always).
2.) Sleep
3.) Actually *finish* something major

Three Careers You're Considering/You've Considered:
1.) Computer/video game programmer
2.) Graphic designer
3.) Fine art photographer (the journalist photography crowd really bugs me)

Three Places You Want To Go On Vacation:
1.) Japan
2.) Ireland
3.) As far in a randomly selected direction as I can get in a car within a day.

Three Names You Like:
1.) Eden
2.) Claire (or Claris. It's obligatory.)
3.) Harrison

Three Way... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20398105/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/20398105/ Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:12:10 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

I guarantee you'll never see this many of these stupid things filled out all the way in one place ever again. The formatting alone has threatened to kill me over the past four days.


From , circa Feb. 16.

What kind of gamer are you?
Story Chaser is how Swords And Circuitry put it. I'm dependent upon having a good story, or at least an internally consistent premise in order to enjoy a game. That's the most important thing, then the likeability of the characters and style, then the actual gameplay. That's why I've never really gotten the hang of games like most of the Final Fantasy series -- they're just too drab at best, and at worst, they are direly inconsistent and flat-out boring. So I can't really relate to the worlds, or to the characters, and end up just not caring enough to get good at the game.

What game was your VERY FIRST?
Sonic The Hedgehog 2. Game Gear version. Came with the system. Hardest game I've ever played, I kid you not. Still haven't ever beaten the first boss.

How did you come across gaming?
The Nguyens, a wealthy Vietnamese family that got their start in the USA with the help of my grandparents two generations ago, gave me my Game Gear when I was four, thus starting me down a long road of total geekery. The rest of it followed naturally.

Which 3 game characters are closest to your personalty?
I've always identified a lot with characters from the older Sonic games, but that was before they had personalities outside of the Archie comics. As it is, I'd have to say that I feel like I share something of a connection to E-102 γ of Sonic Adventure, Linear Cannon of Evolution: The World Of Sacred Device (weird choice, I know, but I've got my reasons), and Enrique of Skies Of Arcadia. That being said, I'm 100% certain I'll think of three better ones in twenty minutes.

Did you ever cry because a character died in a game?
No, but I've not played many games where characters I cared about wound up dying, or at least, not permanently. If I had, I'd probably be able to answer this "yes."

What 5 theme songs are your favorite and from which game?
In no particular order:
-Dreams Dreams and Know Thyself! from NiGHTS Into Dreams
-Sonic Boom (okay, and You Can Do Anything/Cosmic Eternity) from Sonic CD (both English and Japanese)
-Ballad Of The Wind Fish from Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
-Title from Mega Man 3
-Title from Uniracers
-Doomtroopers Unite! from Ares (THANKS A LOT, ~BDSb)
-pain fade down from Darwinia (and yes, it is supposed to be all-lowercase)
And yes, that was indeed a grand total of ten songs. Thank you for noticing.

Name 2 of your favorite games.
Darwinia and NiGHTS Into Dreams.


From , circa Feb. 18.

1.What was the first video game you have ever played?
I think it was Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for Game Gear. If I played anything before that, the only two things I can think it would have been would be Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country (my old babysitter's son had an SNES).

2.What was your first console?
N64.

3.Have you ever visited a video game arcade?
YES. I wish they were still any good. If they were, I'd go all the time.

4.What was your first handheld?
Game Gear.

5.What was the first game you've beaten/cleared completely?
...Ohhh boy, I can't remember. Uh, I think it probably would have been the Game Gear buld of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.

6.Games based off of real sports: Yay or Nay?
No, they tend to be awful.

7.Online games: Yay or nay?
Yea.

8.Do you play any Massively Multiplayer Online RPG games? (MMORPGs?)
No, but I often wonder how much I would enjoy it if I did.

9.Do you play any virtual pet games? (Neopets, Teripets, Aftermathzone, etc.)
Not in a very long time. Tomagotchi ring any bells?

10. Puzzle games and Strategy games: Yay or Nay?
Yea.

11. Do you play any RPGs?
Yes I do.

12. Do you play any Platformer g... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19709630/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19709630/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:19:31 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Take it hip to hip rocket through the wilderness
Around the world the trip begins with a kiss

Roam if you want to
Roam around the world
Roam if you want to
Without wings, without wheels
Roam if you want to
Without anything but the love we feel
Roam -- The B52s
-------------------

Yeah, that's right. I'm disappearing on you folks again. I'm leaving on Saturday morning for a road trip that'll take me all over the East end of the country, to such destinations as Chicago, IL, Madison, WI, and a little side road near Scranton.

Oddly enough, I'm only in it for the two-day stop on the side road.

Of course, that makes far more sense when you know that that's where *spinningcannon lives. I'm dropping by for a visit, after all this time. Finally.

I may have an internet connection at some of our destinations, so I'll try my best to keep you folks updated, but I wouldn't count on it if I were you.

See you all when I get back, sometime around the 17th or 18th.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: Show 06 in scripting.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. May end up leaving this one as-is and just taking another photo of it.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Demia design head sketches.
Status: Got three done in under half an hour yesterday. Will upload with the rest of it.
-Chaos Zero comic-style sketch for .
Status: Done while on the train.
-Gatfaish giftart for .
Status: Done.
-Two pastel pieces, one abstraction and one re-hash of Confusion Of The Phoenix.
Status: Done. The finish spray I put on it killed the colors, but I think I can fix it in scanning.

Art In Progress:
-Large-paper DreamGold drawing.
Status: Lineart done, needs color. It just occurred to me that I can digitally ink and color this now, so I might just have to do that.
-Demia character references.
Status: GRiD, CRUiSE, DiODE, THESiS, OPTiC, DiODE, NiMBUS, TURBiNE, CHiLL, iVY, and BiRD are started.
Completed: MELODi, RAiL, KiNDLiNG, ALKALiNE, SPiKE, LEGiON, iNFERNO, WiNG, Dreamcyber, Selph, RAiN.

Art On Hold:
-Theme 50 photo list.
Status: Just making official what you all should already know by now. This is definitely not on hold, as I haven'... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19507699/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19507699/ Thu, 31 Jul 2008 22:27:14 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Who needs sleep
Well you're never going to get it
Who needs sleep
Tell me what's that for
Who needs sleep
Yeah you're never going to get it
Who needs sleep
There's a guy who's been awake since the second world war
Who Needs Sleep? -- Barenaked Ladies
-------------------

EDiT #1: Okay, here I am at five in the morning. It's almost been a day since I've slept, which is my present record, and I don't plan to let up anytime soon. I figured it would be a good idea (which it wasn't, by the way) to record myself doing a quick status check. The video is located here, and it's only about 4.2 MB in size, so you all should be able to download it and laugh at me without too much trouble. I'll continue to update this Journal over the course of the experiment to let you all know how it's going.

Also, no one has yet sent me anything at all for AIM06, so I have no idea what I'm going to do with it if it happens at all.

EDiT #2: I'm calling this one right here and now. It's currently 1:13 AM, and I have been awake for 40 consecutive hours. I have the energy and the capacity to continue to my goal of 48, but not the drive. I feel that though none of my original goals were met here, my time has reached an acceptable close, and I'm not going to be getting much more out of this.

I may not have completed Super Mario Galaxy, nor outperformed Jimmy Theed's record of staying awake for a full 48 hours and 36 minutes, but I proved to myself that I could have done it.

That's enough for me.

EDiT #3: Okay, now that it's been over a week since, I figure it would be a good time to (finally) upload all three of the other videos from Day 2.

July 22, 9:25 AM
July 22, 1:46 PM
July 22, 10:45 PM

Enjoy the insanity. ^_^

-------------------

Okay, first things first. I need submissions for AIM06 as soon as humanly possible. This is so that we actually have a show to give you folks this time.

Next thing, which ties rather well into what I just said, is that I am going to be doing a sleep-deprivation experiment this week. There actually is a purpose here besides making me look kind of dumb (which it pretty much certainly will), and that is to completely beat at least one of the following three games from the beginning without sleeping at all:

1) Shenmue
2) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
3) Super Mario Galaxy

I have not played any of these games for more than half an hour, though I have owned all of them for at least six months. This is meant to remedy the situation.

To add even more to the fun, ~BDSb and ~LostAnimeDrawer are going to come over during part of it to film me and join in the fun. Not only that, but there is a very good probability that we'll end up having a LAN party right in the middle -- probably Tuesday night -- and playing loads of Starcraft, AoE2, Battle For Wesnoth, and any other LAN game I find out that I own. And, to make it even better, they'll be periodically filming me as I degenerate to a blubbering mass of no coherence whatsoever so that you all get to laugh at me eventually.

The last, possibly best part of this is, as the beginning of this Journal implies, I'm plotting to do AIM06 while totally insane and sleep-deprived, which should lead to all kinds of craziness and fun, not to mention with a sleepy ~BDSb and ~LostAnimeDrawer along for the ride.

Here's hoping I don't somehow kill myself by doing this, yeah?

LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE I COME!

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19222773/ Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:27:46 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

Hmm, emotes. Now that they work again, I'm having a very hard time deciding on which one best matches me today. Right now, I'm evenly tied between Movingon, Gloomy, Lonely, It's Hot, Pain, Emotional, Sweet, Tender, Caring, Yearning, Questionable, Worried, Hope, Relief, Glad, Thanks, and of course plain old Tired. I've decided to go with that last one, just because it's the only one that's been true for more than five minutes at a time today.

Oh well.

Anyway, on to why I'm actually here.

This has to have broken some kind of speed record from me, but in just under two and a half days, I finished burning a disk of the complete Adventures In Myopia Show 05 at roughly 1:45 AM this morning. We started writing the script, completely from scratch this time, at about 10:30 AM Wednesday morning. If I may say so, this is awesome.

The show itself came out rather better than I'd anticipated, though a lot of it is either really weird or has too obscure of references for most people to find funny. But then, when has AIM ever been different? There was a guest star this time, mostly because we did a really dumb thing at the end of AIM04 by deciding the topic without forethought and wanted to cover up the fact that we did nothing even resembling the topic we'd promised. Here, this guest star is known as ~LostAnimeDrawer, so perhaps you can tell a little bit of how the show went just from that. I think that the phrase "total and utter insanity" sums it up pretty well.

Here it is, the speed-record-breaking (and probably also sheer-dumbness-record-breaking) AIM show...
Adventures In Myopia Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show!

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics Show 05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show ((Index))
Status: No new shows in progress. Send us stuff so that we can make one.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Tons of photos, including gifts for , , and .
Status: Done an... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19193296/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19193296/ Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:01:49 PDT
Song Lyrics:
There's something I can't quite explain
I'm so in love with you
You'll never take that away
And if I've said it a hundred times before
Expect a thousand more
You'll never take that away

So expect me to be
Calling you to see
If you're okay when I'm not around
Asking "if you love me"
I love the way you make it sound
Calling you to see
Do I try too hard to make you smile?
To make us smile

I will keep calling you to see
If you're sleeping, are you dreaming
If you're dreaming, are you dreaming of me
I can't believe you actually picked me

I thought that the world had lost it's sway
It's so hard sometimes
Then I fell in love with you
Then came you
And you took that away
It's not so difficult
The world is not so difficult
You take away the old
Show me the new
And I feel like I can fly when I stand next to you
So while I'm on this phone
A hundred miles from home
I'll take the words you gave me and send them back to you

I only want to see
If you're okay when I'm not around
Asking "if you love me"
I love the way you make it sound
Calling you to see
Do I try too hard to make you smile?
To make us smile

I will keep calling you to see
If you're sleeping, are you dreaming
If you're dreaming, are you dreaming of me
I can't believe you actually picked me
Calling You -- Blue October
-------------------

I've been in a pretty major funk for the last couple of days (so much so that I almost got all existential at Venture last night), though yesterday's recordings don't really show it. The solution? Be as productive as I can with AIM05 and then throw bits of it at you before they're ready.

So I've only been working on it for a day and a half, but I'm already over two-thirds of the way through editing Show 05. I should be done by tomorrow night.

Meantime, here's the greatest ad in the history of ever, courtesy of ~BDSb/Far Reacher and some late-night GarageBand work to produce some generic trip-out music.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics ((Index))
Status: AIM05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Tons of photos, including gifts for , http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19174084/ Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:41:10 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

Yep, we're done with it, seven months later. I've been using MediaFire to store these since Show 03.5, but it seems to have eaten my old files, so I'm going to try re-uploading them and checking through the documentation to see if there's anything in there about it, just so that I won't go losing any more data that you guys may or may not want to actually hear.

Anyway.

Adventures In Myopia Show 04: Linguistics is finally out of editing, and I rather enjoy the way it came out. I was (more than) a bit lazy with the editing, since at the time I just wanted the stupid thing done, and so the volume levels jump around somewhat in a couple of places, but otherwise it's a fantastic show -- clocking in at one hour, nineteen minutes, and two seconds. There was much, much rambling, and loads of language-y fun to be had for all. Altogether a fun show, though I must admit there was a bit of a flub right at the end in which we decided what AIM05's topic was going to be. Having just recorded Show 05 today, I know for a fact that we discussed absolutely everything but the topic we were originally going to do a show on.

So, here it is:
Adventures In Myopia Show 04: Linguistics

Enjoy the show!

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special Show 04: Linguistics ((Index))
Status: AIM05: Xilats Coyote Guest Show in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Tons of photos, including gifts for , , and .
Status: Done and waiting for mass upload.
-Demia design head sketches.
Status: Got three done in under half an hour yesterday. Will upload with the rest of it.
-Chaos Zero comic-style sketch for .
Status: Done while on the train.
-Gatfaish giftart for *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19027965/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/19027965/ Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:36:01 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Closed off from love
I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you’re frozen

But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground
Found something true
And everyone’s looking round
Thinking I’m going crazy (hey baby)

But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding I
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling

But nothing’s greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe

But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

And it’s draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I’ll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see

I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
Bleeding Love -- Leona Lewis
-------------------

...But I gotta. I really should leave the contest Journal up until I'm done with all of that, or at least until I've updated it. But this can't wait.

*spinningcannon, if you're still lurking, please come out. I can't keep doing this, not without knowing what's really happening to you. Please talk to me. I don't know any other way to reach you beyond what I've already tried.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scann... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18619145/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18619145/ Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:32:40 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

The Big Demia Art Contest

Object: Make the best Demia art and vanquish the competition!

Prizes:
First place: A small prizeart request (in the style of your choice), a HS prizeart request, and... Drumroll, please... A ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION!
Second place: A sketch request of your choice and a one-month subscription.

Rules: The contest runs between June 1 and June 30. After that, no entries will be accepted. The winner will be chosen by a popular vote, which will be taken via poll during the week of July 1. After July 8, the winner will be declared and the prizes distributed. Entries may be in any medium (including, but not limited to, traditional art, digital art, literature, sculpture, and/or anything else you can think of) and of any Demia character or group of characters.* There are no limits on size, structure, characters, or continuity. The sole restrictions are that each entry must feature at least one Demia character and must contain no mature content of any kind.

Demia List:
Demia with complete references available on dA:
Selph (additional reference here), Wizeman, RAiN (additional reference here), WiNG, iNFERNO, SPiKE, LEGiON, ALKALiNE, KiNDLiNG, RAiL, SYNTHESiS, PRiSM, Dreamcyber,** STiCKMAN**

Demia with partially completed references available on dA (references will be completed upon request):
OPTiC (additional reference available here), THESiS, MELODi (more accurate color reference available here), TURBiNE, CHiLL

Demia with partially completed references not available on dA (references will be completed upon request):
NiMBUS, DiODE, BiRD, KiNETiC, GRiD, CRUiSE

Demia with no reference work (references will be created upon request):
RiVET, MiRROR, PLANETiA, iVY, HiLL, MOUNTAiN, RiVER, TiME, WiND, FOUNTAiN, WHiRLPOOL, WiRE, CHAiN, PRODiGY, SPLiCE, TWiNE, CHiME, PiPE, TWiRL, CELESTiA, PRiEST, iCON, iDUMEA, TiDE, MiST, FLiNT, LOGiSTiC (limited character information available here and here), TRiDENT

Additional helpful information can be found in the Demia Biographical Listing, though it is not complete. Any other information on the Demia may be requested via comment or Note and will be provided to entrants quickly and thoroughly to the best of my ability.

Game Status: Contest opened.

Entries and participant breakdown are as follows:
[None]

Announced/unentered participants:
~RougeHyuuga- Demia: unannounced. Style: unannounced. Gimmicks: unannounced.
~Ma... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18618393/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18618393/ Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:59:40 PDT
Song Lyrics:
How many days had I been waiting there to tell you
I really can't believe
We're walking out into the world tonight
We'll do it all again until the break of light
And the feeling in your heart will soon be shining in your eyes

You shine a little love on my life
You shine a little love on my life
You shine a little love on my life and let me see

Can you understand (yes I understand)
Can you feel it's right (I know it is)
Will you be the same (I'll do it all again)
Shine A Little Love -- Electric Light Orchestra
-------------------

Yes, obviously, I am back. Some of you are probably wondering why I haven't posted a Journal in, say, over a week since I've been home. The answer is simple: I've been busy, tired, and lazy (not necessarily in that order).

Put shortly, the trip(s) was (were) quite good on the whole, though I had a hard time enjoying them due to having other things to think (worry) about at the time (mostly *spinningcannon, with a bit of my own personal spirituality thrown in for good measure). However, I did get a nice tan in Idaho, a lot of good quality time with my grandpa in the car, some amazing photos in Nebraska, and Colorado, and Chicago, IL, a really awesome train ride, and not nearly enough sleep in between. Since then, things have been vastly better, save for the fact that I've been getting increasingly tired-out by the day. I've been making the trade of fun and zeal for life in exchange for my sleep. It was well worth it, but I can't wait until I get to sleep in after this week.

Speaking of which, I'm FINALLY graduating high school on Thursday! After six rather miserable years wasted at this horrible excuse for an educational institution, I am finally out, once and for all. The only thing left to do is to go and pick up my diploma.

And, on a more relevant note, I have another mass upload coming up this week. I'd intended to do it today, but I spent the whole afternoon playing Twilight Imperium with my family (or trying to, at any rate). Therefore, I am typing this now and will post the BDAC2 Journal next. Probably after that, I'll just go to bed instead of doing the mass upload or the other thing I was going to do -- catch up with the massive backlog of messages and deviations that have piled up in the past few weeks. This is on account of the fact that despite my not having a first period class, I think I still have to be at this silly senior farewell thing tomorrow morning. But whatever, it's all good. ^_^

Anyhow, I guess that's the week(s) in brief. See ya next time I decide to bother with this, huh?

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18344513/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18344513/ Thu, 15 May 2008 22:47:49 PDT
Song Lyrics:
(Turn around) every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round
(Turn around) every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears
(Turn around) every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by
(Turn around) every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your eyes

(Turn around, bright eyes) Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes) Every now and then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight and I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right 'cause we'll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (all of the time)
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight, forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight

Once upon a time I was falling in love, but now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do... a total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time there was light in my life, but now there's only love in the dark
Nothing I can say... a total eclipse of the heart

(Turn around) bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around) bright eyes, Every now and then I fall apart
Total Eclipse Of The Heart -- Bonnie Tyler
-------------------

I've obviously been having a bad week. But I don't really know how it's going to end. In an astounding stroke of brilliance that puts me in with the crowd of people leaving dA this week (*spinningcannon, =Madmatica, etc.), I'm going on two consecutive road trips, this weekend and the beginning of next week. First, I'm going to Idaho for my brother's soccer tournament, and then I'm headed immediately to Wisconsin and Chicago to get my grandpa home. I'm going to be back home one week from today -- the 22nd. That means that I'm not gonna be on the net at all, unless everything (including our timing) goes astoundingly well with setting up my grandpa's computer, probably on Monday. I'm so sorry that I didn't say anything to anyone about this before, but there's nothing I can do about it right now. My best hope is that the time away from the present structure of life will allow me to finally collect myself again and get some real peace of mind.

See you all when I get back.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Tons of photos and f... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18328983/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18328983/ Wed, 14 May 2008 22:38:20 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Boot! Coot! Everybody!
Boot To The Coot (The Musical) -- LRR's Whatever Thing
-------------------

Note: I usually try to avoid things like this, though lately they've been noticeably more common. However, I use this Journal for news related to me and, like in the "real world," the news right now is just all bad. My apologies to those not looking to be depressed.
-----------------

Why can I NEVER learn to NOT EVER load up my "bad news sites" when I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?! What will it TAKE to get this lesson through my THICK FREGGING SKULL?!

I'm incredibly tired. I'm quite hungry and thirsty. I'm sick to my stomach. And yet, I have no real motivation to solve any of these problems. I feel a lingering, potent, and worst of all unexplained sadness choking the very life out of me, and yet I just don't care. I don't understand why this is happening, and I know I should be scared past anything, and the fact that I'm not -- that I just don't care enough to be -- scares me even more.

And then tonight, I did something even dumber than usual. I hit my whole complement of "bad news sites" right before I was planning to go to bed. And, surprise surprise, I got -- you guessed it -- some really bad news. And also as usual, I can't do a thing in the world about it. I feel horribly scared about all this, and once again even scarier is the fact that I didn't really react emotionally to the emotional news. I spent this morning trying not to cry while listening to Styx's Don't Let It End (which, in retrospect, was actually a very fitting way to start such a miserable day), and yet now I hardly feel a thing from what should be much more striking.

More than that, I'm scared for my friends. All of them, or the ones for whom I keep confidence, anyway. Once more, this web of connections that I seem to have accidentally formed seems as though it's dragging everyone down instead of bearing everyone up the way I had hoped it would. The sadness and pain of one person seems to be spreading along the line to then next, and the next, and the next, until we are all somehow miserable.

Thanks to this recurring pattern of sadness and pain, I'm starting to slip into that state of mind that I once thought impossible for me: that of resentment towards the Heavens and whatever it is that you believe resides Up There. I'll not discuss my personal beliefs here, but my convictions are strong. And I feel as though those very same convictions are being directly challenged to my face by all of this. "How could a just God let this happen?" You know, the usual "doubting sinner" questions. I'm feeling bitter over all of this, because the people that I have to watch going through it -- as well as myself -- do not deserve this. They deserve so much better, each and every one of them. Each and every one of you, actually, since those people are really who this is written for.

Long story short, I guess, I'm scared, I'm sad, I'm depressed, and I'm starting to feel bitter against Heaven. And I don't really know why. And for me, that's the scariest thing of all.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18280861/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18280861/ Sun, 11 May 2008 20:55:49 PDT
Song Lyrics:
I wake up from a nightmare now
In the day it haunts me
It slowly tears me apart
With dreams of a distant love
I'm a wandering satellite

Somewhere in the wasteland
I see you smiling at me
A vision out of my dreams
Will everything change?
Take the pain away
Lead me with your light

My world spinning out of time
Won't somebody stop me?
I may be losing my way
Will you make it right?
Take the pain away
Hear me as I cry

Heading for the sun
Leave the sadness behind
Crossing oceans dry
Deep inside I go

Spirit dreams inside
Spirit dreams inside

What can I do? I ask
There's nothing left to say
What can I do? I ask
There's nothing left to say
Why am I here?
Why am I lost?
Where is love?
Lead me with your light
Spirit Dreams Inside -- L'Arc~En~Ciel
-------------------

Hokay. It's been awhile. But here I am.

First off, I'd like to give a HUGE thank you to the awesome folks that made giftart for Selph's birthday over the past few weeks:

~EB-G-SaraiEra

~Ideya-Freak

~MaddeningTruth

*spinningcannon

On behalf of myself and of my Muse, thank you all so much for this incredible work you've done!

Next, I just wanted to point out the fact that I actually Rick Rolled myself two days ago, entirely by accident while making a new playlist in iTunes. I did not realize that I had that song, and discovered it sitting in my library, and then played it simply because it was so stupid.

Obviously, I'm starting to get into fractal art. This is, so far, turning out to be an excellent way to express abstract emotions and thoughts, as well as to just have some epically awesome graphical fun. I have a whole slew of them that I've created over the past few days, mostly quite good with a couple of not-so-good ones tossed in for good measure. I'll be uploading those along with a lot of photographs as soon as I get the time/stop being lazy. Also, they're almost entirely in 1280x1024 wallpaper resolution, so I'll likely be putting up a devPack of them once I hit, say, twenty or so (seems like a nice round number to me).

On a vaguely related note, I freaked out several times at ~LostAnimeDrawer last night during our conversation, and would like to apologize publicly for being a jerk. However, I do still stick by the points I was doing so poorly at getting across, and hope that it helps out somehow.

On Mother's Day: It's been good so far, pretty much, and my mom seems happy. I made (surprise) a high-res fractal for her and wrote all over it; I will probably be uploading this to Scraps or something eventually, but then again I might not. (This is mostly thanks to what ~LostAnimeDrawer told me last night; he was entirely correct even if I don't take the advice anyway. I'm really bull-headed like that sometimes.)

On *spinningcannon: Her eighteenth birthday was last Wednesday (May 7). If you haven't done so yet, go wish her a happy birthday and send some gifts. Also on *spinningcannon: I'm in love. Read this for a better explanation:
*Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18015537/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/18015537/ Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:56:49 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Can't you see?
There's a feeling that's come over me
Close my eyes
You're the only one that leaves me completely breathless

No need to wonder why
Sometimes a gift like this you can't deny

There's a will
There's a way
Sometimes words just can't explain
This is real
I'm afraid
I guess this time there's just no hiding, fighting
You make me restless

You're in my heart
The only light that shines
there in the dark

When I was alone
You came around
When I was down
You pulled me through
And there's nothing that
I wouldn't do for you

'Cause I wanted to fly,
so you gave me your wings
And time held its breath so I could see, yeah
And you set me free
You Set Me Free -- Michelle Branch
-------------------

"Do you know that feeling? The one where your heart feels so big that it could fill the whole sky, and so warm that it could keep you safe through the coldest night?"

You know, sometimes something really amazing happens to make a lot of hurt go away. I had originally typed up a VERY lengthy explanation of why this week has mostly stunk to the high heavens. I'm still going to talk here about what I'd originally come to discuss, but all of that doesn't really need to be said right now. I got it out of my system, and you all shouldn't have to put up with my rambling and ranting right now. And besides, I'm having a hard time being in as bad a mood as I was five minutes ago, because of something I just read. It said a whole lot of things I needed to hear, and a whole lot of things that are giving me real hope right now. And it reminded me of what I came here to do in the first place.

You know who you are, and you know what I'm referring to. Thank you.

And I said it twice both because I doubt myself and because it just doesn't want to stay in when I can still say it more -- not because I don't know what's going to come back. I just hope you know that.


Anyway. I do have some actual content here for you good people out there.

This week was lousy for the most part, punctuated by the occasional extreme high point. It's been a roller coaster in every sense of the word except the one that would have made it genuinely fun. However, things are looking not-too-awful, at least for the time being. I am anticipating a lot more rough times and problems in the immediate future, but I'm hoping that with graduation in a month and a half that things will finally start calming down and getting consistently better.

As for this semi-hiatus mentioned in the title, I've simply decided to make official what I think a lot of you have probably already noticed. That is, I'm just getting too drained lately to effectively reply to things here and really interact. I'll be continuing to read your responses, comments, and Journals, and I'll occasionally take some time out and just answer them (especially if I consider them high-priority for whatever reason), but for the most part I'll be mute. I'm still going to be making uploads (there's a bulk photo upload session for my recent work probably coming tomorrow) as usual, and I'll likely continue to write Journals, but I want you all to know that I'm not ignoring you simply because I'm not commenting or replying to things. Again, I've already started something of a downward slide with this, and I figure it would probably be healthiest for me right now if I separated myself temporarily from the social responsibility of answering nearly every comment. Thus, my decision: temporary semi-hiatus.

As of right now, there is no set timespan for this hiatus, but I would like to allow for at least until the end of the school year (early June).

And for those interested, this does not in any way affect my Skype presence. I'm still gonna be on there as often and long as possible for those wanting to talk or text chat.

EDiT: Oh! Oh! And one other thing! The other piece of utter awesome that I forgot to mention up there is this: my room is currently being lit by its secondary fixture, my reading light. This is fairly normal. However, today at work, I noticed that our store carries -- get this -- 25-watt amber light bulbs! I'll give you one guess who went and bought light bulbs today. XD

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

------------------- *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17902698/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17902698/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:57:09 PDT
Song Lyrics:
This was a triumph!
I'm making a note here:
"HUGE SUCCESS!!"

It's hard to overstate
my satisfaction.

Aperture Science:
We do what me must
because we can.
Still Alive -- GLaDOS (Portal)
-------------------

As I said last night, it's Selph's birthday today, by virtue of the whole Selph=Caleb thing. By the same token, it makes his present incarnation 20 years old, which is kind of freaky for me in a way. But it's still all kinds of awesome. ^_^

Also, if you couldn't tell, I've become thoroughly obsessed with Portal over the last few days. I have a Mac, and I like/own practically every game system in the world except the ones it runs on. Regardless, I have a great deal of respect for the game developers, who actually had the guts to make a game that utterly quirky and random just to suit an interesting gameplay concept, and the game itself looks amazingly fun. I must play it, and soon.

By the way, I'd like to extend my personal warm welcome back to *spinningcannon, who decided to drop by a day earlier than expected. I would also like to extend an apology to any/everyone who was depending on me being here tomorrow afternoon. I have another commitment that I don't think I can weasel out of at 5:00 (7:00 EDT), which should be done within about two or three hours (depending on whether one of the guys doing it decides to let me play Portal at his house afterwards XD). After that, I'll be back, and probably getting more work in on Hosea and/or talking to whoever *happens* to be online.

End of line.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.

Art In Progress:
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bothered to do so.
-"Hosea" 3D project.
Status: Left arm nearly complete, and looking surprisingly decent, despite how little it looks like the reference art. 6-__-
-"Locket" 3D project.
Status: Model in progress. It's coming out reasonably well, though I've hit a snag involving a noncooperative edge loop.
-The Road Ahead ~Walking Beside You mix~.
Status: Almost there. Just need to put in a little more work and it'll be done.
-DelOS 3D splash screen.
Status: The plan here is to rebuild it from scratch in Maya 8.5, now that I can. It shouldn't be very difficult, though this project's success is largely dependent on whether or not I ever get around to it.
-DEL Dumbness 5.
Status: Got an idea, now need to get it onto paper.
-Sailing Ship Of Aquafresh 3D project, as suggested by *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17888368/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17888368/ Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:26:19 PDT
Song Lyrics:
I am thinking it's a sign
That the freckles in our eyes
Are mirror images
And when we kiss they're perfectly aligned

And I have to speculate
That God Himself did make
Us into corresponding shapes
Like puzzle pieces from the clay

And true it may seem like a stretch
But it's thoughts like this that catch
My troubled head when you're away
And when I am missing you to death

And when you are out there on the road
For several weeks of shows
And when you scan the radio
I hope this song will guide you home

They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now," they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now," but we'll stay

I tried my best to leave
This all on your machine
But the persistent beat
It sounded thin upon the sending

And that frankly will not fly
You'll hear the shrillest highs
And lowest lows with the windows down
And this is guiding you home

They will see us waving from such great heights
"Come down now," they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away
"Come down now," but we'll stay
Such Great Heights -- The Postal Service
-------------------

[link]

So yeah, if any of you actually remembered this, I will be mucho impressed. But yes. Tomorrow, April 17, is Selph/Justice's birthday.

If you REALLY want to know why, read Transference: Day 7. I do believe this makes Big Brother Caleb 20 years old. ...Weird.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.

Art In Progress:
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bothered to do so.
-"Hosea" 3D project.
Status: He has his hand back, which is definitely a good sign. Head is still missing, though.
-"Locket" 3D project.
Status: Model in progress. It's coming out reasonably well, though I've hit a snag involving a noncooperative edge loop.
-The Road Ahead ~Walking Beside You mix~.
Status: Almost there. Just need to put in a little more work and it'll be done.
-DelOS 3D splash screen.
Status: The plan here is to rebuild it from scratch in Maya 8.5, now that I can. It shouldn't be very difficult, though this project's success is largely dependent on whether or not I ever get around to it.
-DEL Dumbness 5.
Status: Got an idea, now need to get it onto paper.
-Sailing Ship Of Aquafresh 3D project, as suggested by http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17872965/ Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:20:50 PDT
Song Lyrics:
And if there's no tomorrow
And all we have is here and now
I'm happy just to have you
You're all the love I need somehow

It's like a dream
Although I'm not asleep
I never want to wake up
Don't lose it (don't lose it)
Don't leave me (don't leave me)
Breathless -- The Corrs
-------------------

EDiT: If you got this in your devWatch three times in a row, I'm sorry. I kind of effed up the title, and I don't want you guys worrying too much about what's going on. Yes, that's the reason I felt it necessary to spam up everyones' inboxes. Sorry 'bout that.

So, I'll start with the good news. *spinningcannon is doing far better than her latest Journal entry indicates. She was under remarkable strain when she wrote it, and evidently that strain was constant for several days before it hit that point. I spoke with her last night, which it would seem fixed a lot of it, and then again tonight, which seems to have wrapped up the loose ends from all of that. However, due to her usual crazybusy schedule, she's not really planning to be back here to dA until probably Sunday evening. I can't wait.

However, it's my personal opinion that she's still quite fragile from this whole mess and needs us all just as much as ever.

Next comes the bad news: I found another dumb quiz to do.

Stolen from ~KaziRede.

1. YOUR (not)REAL NAME

Jacob "Q" Libris [just threw the Q bit in there because a one of them requires a middle name]

2 . YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle)

Jacizzle [...What?]

3 . YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)

Emerald Wolf [Well, it was between that and "Verdant Eagle," so...]

4. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)

Libja [Okay, now that's just dumb. XD]

5. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (Your 2nd favorite color, and favorite drink)

Red Tea [The alternative was cream soda. I think you can see why I didn't use that.]

6. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, first two letters of your middle name, last two letters of your first name then last three letters of your last name)

Abqobris [Uh. Politically incorrect much? Oh well, it's good fun anyway. XD]

7.YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (both parents middle name)

Patrick Gurney [Ew. Sounds like an old guy.]

8. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one of your pets)

Black Cinnamon [Oh, COME ON! I haven't named a pet since I was four! And the only other pet we've had since then was named Hoppy! ...Okay, I think I failed this quiz. XD]

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new op... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17797405/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17797405/ Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:59:37 PDT
Song Lyrics:
There were lines on the mirror, lines on her face
She pretended not to notice she was caught up in the race
Out every evening until it was light
He was too tired to make it she was too tired to fight about it

Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane
Life in the fast lane
Everything all the time
Life in the fast lane
Life In The Fast Lane -- The Eagles
-------------------

Yeah, so I'm gone for most of the afternoon today. And evening. My mother has decided to whisk me away to dinner and my brother's soccer game, which will take roundabout an hour to get to, taking traffic into account. I'm hoping to be back home by 8:30 tonight (that's 10:30 for you EDT people), though my showing up later is a definite possibility. It'll be nice to get away and get some work done on my drawings, but I'm still feeling rather bad about leaving the last couple of days' business hanging like this. Sorry, folks, but there's not a ton I can do.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Terra Seven drawing from that one weird dream I had.
Status: Done.
-Some sketches of my energy core as it appeared at various points in the past.
Status: Done because I could.

Art In Progress:
-Hallucination Of Blue colored pencil drawing for .
Status: Over halfway done. I'm going to have it finished by the time I come home.
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bothered to do so.
-"Hosea" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bothered to do so.
-"Locket" 3D project.
Status: Model in progress. It's coming out reasonably well, though I've hit a snag involving a noncooperative edge loop.
-Various unsolicited fanarts for .
Status: Will start these soon.
-The Road Ahead ~Walking Beside You mix~.
Status: Almost there. Just need to put in a little more work and it'll be done.
-DelOS 3D splash screen.
Status: The plan here is to rebuild it from scratch in Maya 8.5, now that I can. It shouldn't be very difficult, though this project's success is largely dependent on whether or not I ever get around to it.
-DEL... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17770010/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17770010/ Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:19:47 PDT
Song Lyrics:
The mist is lifting slowly
I can see the way ahead
And I've left behind the empty streets
That once inspired my life
And the strength of the emotion
Is like thunder in the air
'Cause the promise that we made each other
Haunts me to the end

The secret of your beauty
And the mystery of your soul
I've been searching for in
Everyone I meet
And the times I've been mistaken
It's impossible to say
And the grass is growing
Underneath our feet

The words that I remember
From my childhood still are true
That there's none so blind
As those who will not see
And to those who lack the courage
And say it's dangerous to try
Well they just don't know
That love eternal will not be denied

Yes, I know it's gonna happen (know it's gonna happen)
I can feel you getting near (feel you getting near)
And soon we'll be returning
To the fountain of our youth
And if you wake up wondering (if you wake up wondering)
In the darkness I'll be there (you know I'll be there)
My arms will close around you
And protect you with the truth

I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere somewhere
I know you're out there somewhere
Somewhere you can hear my voice
I know I'll find you somehow
Somehow somehow
I know I'll find you somehow
And somehow I'll return again to you
I Know You're Out There Somewhere -- The Moody Blues
-------------------

D'OH! I just typed a big rant up about how I should be doing basically anything else right now but am not, and then hit Refresh. Next time I do that, someone smack me in the head. Please.

Anyway, it pretty much said this:
I have homework that I should be doing.
I could also be eating dinner because I didn't really finish it and am totally not-hungry for a change but Mom wants me to eat the evidently-expensive food so it won't waste.
Or, I could go to Venture Scouts.
I'm not doing any of them because I'm lazy like that, plus they're all boring and unpleasant so I'm here instead.
And then at the end I had some little thing saying that the weather is lousy and I'm in a bad mood because I'm sick of it being so cloudy all the time.

That was about all I really said in there, so you can safely count this as my "big rant" if you like.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Terra Seven drawing from that one weird dream I had.
Status: Done.
-Some sketches of my energy core as it appeared at various points in the past.
Status: Done because I could.

Art In Progress:
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Already have... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17739412/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17739412/ Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:02:27 PDT
Song Lyrics:
I hear a voice in my mind
I know her face by heart
Heaven and earth are moving in my soul
I don't know where to start
At night i dream that she is there
And I can feel her in the air
Tell me, tell me, the words to define
The way I feel about someone so fine
How do you talk to an angel
How do you hold her close to where you are
How do you talk to an angel
It's like trying to catch a falling star
How Do You Talk To An Angel -- The Heights
-------------------

Obviously, I'm back. You know what, though? I have a better playlist now. So I'm going to post this quiz again.

RULES:
1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, ETC on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Put this on your journal.


1. If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say?
Eleanor Rigby -- Kansas
[Huh? XD]

2. How would you describe yourself?
The Lost Christmas Eve -- Trans-Siberia Orchestra
[TRiPPY LOST MY ARTWORK A YEAR AGO!]

3. What do you like in a girl?
Just For Love -- Electric Light Orchestra
[...Ah, now Clu is most definitely being cooperative. This is true.]

4. How do you feel today?
Still Breathing -- Duran Duran
[Hmm, Spinny was right. There are quite a few ways that I could look way too far into this one. But it's still a good answer.]

5. What is your life's purpose?
Home Computer (Live) -- Kraftwerk
[... ...DAHAHAHA!]

6. What is your motto?
Hey You feat. TRiPPY -- DiGi Valentine
[Hmm, I guess that works. But there are better choices.]

7. What do your friends think of you?
Diamond In The Sky -- Sonic R
[Uh. XD I think not. Except... maybe one of them.]

8. What do you think of your parents?
Xanadu -- Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John
[Okay, now THAT's just weird.]

9. What do you think about very often?
Ruler Of The Galaxy Gingaiou -- Seiju Sentai Gingaman
[I think about giant animal-based mecha with really cool theme songs?]

10. What is 2 + 2?
Love Hurts -- djpretzel (OC ReMix of Sonic 1's Marble Zone)
[Yes. That's the answer. Tell your math teacher next time she asks.]

11. What do you think of your best friend?
Got To Rock On -- Kansas
[Okay, I guess that works.]

12. What do you think of the person you like?
How Soon Is Now? -- Love Spit Love
[Hmm... ...No. That's all wrong. Good song, though.]

13. What is your life story?
Cast Away -- Visions Of Atlantis
[XD Oh jeez! I guess it works out rather nicely, though.]

14. What do you want to be when you grow up?
8th Space -- Sonic Remix (Mega CD Remix)
[Say what again? I want to be the eighth space when I grow up? ...The heck does *that* mean? XD]

15. What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Search Goes On ~ the Searching. feat RASPBERRY -- DiGi Valentine
[...NO. All wrong. At least, wrong in context. The chorus works well, though.

"Out on the winding road
If you're looking
That is where I'll be
That is where I'll be
Even when the road is long
The search goes on"]

16. What will you dance to at your wedding?
Free Fallin' -- Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
[That's one sad wedding if that's the best thing we can come up with.]

17. What will they play at your funeral?
Wacky Workbench (Present) -- Sonic CD Japanese Soundtrack
[Wait, what?! XDXD]

18. What is your hobby/interest?
The Diary Of Horace Wimp -- Electric Light Orchestra
[Getting married within a week? What?]

19. What is your biggest fear?
When We Reach You ~Could It Be~ -- Sonic Remix (Mega CD Remix)
[That doesn't make sense. Sorry, but NO.]

20. What is your biggest secret?
Dai Sentai Goggle V -- Animetal
[GOGGLE GO!]

21. What do you think of your friends?
Starlight -- Electric Light Orchestra
[Eh, maybe.]

22. What will you post this as?
One Of Those Days -- Duran Duran
[XD Actually, for a change, it actually WASN'T. Which was nice.]

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17643313/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17643313/ Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:25:39 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Come with me in the twilight of a summer night for awhile
Tell me of a story never ever told in the past

Take me back to the land
Where my yearnings were born
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now fly me there

Fanatics find their heaven in never ending storming wind
Auguries of destruction be a lullaby for rebirth

Consolations, be there
In my dreamland to come
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now take me there

I believe in fantasies invisible to me
In the land of misery I'm searchin' for the sign
To the door of mystery and dignity
I'm wandering down, and searchin' down the secret sun

Come with me in the twilight of a summer night for awhile
Tell me of a story never ever told in the past

Take me back to the land
Where my yearnings were born
The key to open the door is in your hand
Now take me there
to the land of twilight
Key Of The Twilight -- .hack//SIGN
-------------------

...Happened last night. And it is rightly named thus. With who? I'm not telling (not so hard to guess). What was it about? Hey, I get to be cryptic sometimes too! But this conversation was VERY meaningful, and a full day later I'm still trying to just wrap my tiny brain around the whole thing. I'm still barely absorbing any of it... but it's a beautiful thing that happened anyway.

[EDiT: Oh yes, and LUA? You were right. Not only did we both hit peak at the same time, but we both thought of you telling us that. At the same time. Thank you.]

At any rate, I should probably go on to what this Journal is actually about. Tomorrow, I'm going to the airport. Why? To go to New York for most of the week, of course! I'm going to be back on the afternoon of this Sunday, though there is no guarantee that I'll be online at all that day. However, I am plotting at least one quick stop at the Apple Store out there, where I happen to know they have display computers that are connected to the Internet. But in the meantime, ~spinningcannon flat-out promised me that she would keep things on this end working smoothly in my absence, and I'm holding her to that. Nothing is to go wrong when I can't do anything about it, have you all got that?

Also, I did finish the colored pencil piece that I was working on, but I was kind of dumb and didn't scan it immediately when I got home and had the chance. Therefore, it shall come online when I get home.

See you in a week!

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again. I think I'll just take a photo of the paper for now.
-Eternal Moment colored pencil art for http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17605644/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:35:50 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

Stole this from ~Sarist. Just seemed like the thing to do at the time. Anyway, I'm going to use the playlist that I had repeating all yesterday to do this. It's short, but it should provide some interesting answers.

RULES:
1. Put Your iTunes, Windows Media Player, ETC on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5.Put this on your journal.


1.If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say?
Living In The City -- Sonic R
[Not a good start...]

2.How would you describe yourself?
Super Sonic Racing -- Sonic R
[Definitely not a good start.]

3.What do you like in a Boy?
Tetris -Music A -- Electroid Rebuilt
[I'm attracted to retrogamers of my own gender?]

4.How do you feel today?
Back In Time -- Sonic R
[Okay, this one KINDA works. I have been getting a little bit of cabin fever today.]

5.What is your life's purpose?
Amber -- Manheim Steamroller
[Um.]

6.What is your motto?
The Seeker Movement -- Advent Rising
[KILL THE HUMANS!]

7.What do your friends think of you?
The Midst Of The N'Kul -- Advent Rising
[...Okay, no idea what that one means.]

8.What do you think of your parents?
Tron - Sea Of Simulation -- Electroid Rebuilt
[I think that they are simulated inside of a mainframe computer from the 1980's.]

9.What do you think about very often?
Sonic Boom -- Sonic CD
[Spinnin' through a world in motion...]

10.What is 2 + 2?
Metal Gear Solid 2 - Snake's Theme -- Electroid Rebuilt
[The heck?!]

11.What do you think of your best friend?
Luriam Down -- Advent Rising
[No context on this one either, but the song definitely doesn't fit him.]

12.What do you think of the person you like?
Fortified Strength -- Advent Rising
[I guess that makes sense, kind of. KIND OF.]

13.What is your life story?
Canyon Encounter -- Advent Rising
[I get attacked in canyons a lot.]

14.What do you want to be when you grow up?
Seeker Assault -- Advent Rising
[I want to be a Seeker and obliterate every human in existence. Actually, the Seeker Shock Troop armor looks really, really neat, now that I think of it.]

15.What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Stolen Transport -- Advent Rising
[I think of fleeing in terror in a stolen spacecraft.]

16.What will you dance to at your wedding?
The Human Movement -- Advent Rising
[You can't dance to that at all!]

17.What will they play at your funeral?
Retrocade -- Electroid Rebuilt
[...Okay. It's going to be a retro-style arcade remix with sound effects taken primarily from Robotron. Why does that bother me so much?]

18.What is your hobby/interest?
Firey Arrival On Aurelia -- Advent Rising
[Crash-landing spaceships for fun.]

19.What is your biggest fear?
Outrun - Passing Breeze -- Electroid Rebuilt
[*fears the oldschool racing game*]

20.What is your biggest secret?
Frogger - Intro And Level 1 -- Electroid Rebuilt
[I eat flies.]

21.What do you think of your friends?
Diamond In The Sky -- Sonic R
[*headdesk* NO.]

22.What will you post this as?
Human Demise -- Advent Rising
[Bleghhhhh... *dies*]

...Man, that could have been SO much better.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17598197/ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:25:40 PDT
Song Lyrics:
O muse, o alto ingegno, or m'aiutate,
O mente, che scrivesti ciò ch'io vidi,
Qui si parrà la tua nobilitate.
Muse -- Advent Rising
-------------------

That dream, I remembered a little more of it while singing Greater Lights in the shower (don't ask). All I remember about most of it was that it was really sci-fi, bore a really strong resemblance to the screens and movies I've seen from Advent Rising, and that there was the character that I saw through (quite possibly the hero of the game, I don't remember) and a girl that was with him through most of it.

Dream Diary: Sunday, March 30, 2008

I'm in some kind of enclosed space, and there are lots of transparent (maybe holographic) video screens all around me displaying information. The text is white-on-clear, and everything else is mostly strong orange and red colors. A few of the screens are showing views of landscapes and forests. I realize that I'm in a computer linkup of some kind, operating as a communications link between a network of planetary computer systems. There's a girl with me, also an offworld-born Terran, and we're talking about our homeworlds. I tell her that I'm from the moon Gaia III, and explain why I miss it when she asks. Then she tells me a little about her home, the planet Terra Seven [I distinctly remember seeing Roman numerals on one of her displays that couldn't possibly have added up to seven].

YES I KNOW! The colors! I don't know why on earth or Terra Seven or Gaia III or any other world I didn't think of it sooner! But that's what I recalled. Oh, and the view of Terra Seven on the screen was absolutely stunning, by the way.

And THIS is what happens when I'm listening to Advent Rising music and talking to ~LostAnimeDrawer and listening to awesome video game music and thinking about the current situation, all right before bed! XDXD

...Of course, I don't expect any more than one of you to understand the exact significance of ANY of that, particularly the bit about the colors, or the timing of the dream. But I figured I'd just stick it up here anyway because the inaccurate Roman numerals are funny. That is all, thank you, and GOOD NIGHT SALT LAKE CITY! *headbangs with OPTiC and his new cellist friend*

EDiT: And on an even more personal note than the rest of this, I'm sorry I messed up that verse. I was trying hard to just focus and do it, but you know what my voice was doing right before that. Made it a little hard to get the lines right, you know.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again.

Art In Progress:
-Into The Tempest colored pencil art for http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17582066/ Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:46:10 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Adorata Immortale
Angelo Mio
Sempre Tuo

Memories
Keeping me
My steps have said
You must go through every door
Where you are led

Silences hangs
In my fear
Daylight fades
And I know you will be here
Melting our ground

In never ending shadows
I'll follow you to greater lights
Burn through me
Around me
I'll follow you to greater lights

Worlds will fly
Beyond us
Waking now
No longer numb to the sound
Of every voice

In never ending shadows
I'll follow you to greater lights
Burn through me
Around me
I'll follow you to greater lights
In never ending shadows
I'll follow you to greater heights
Burn through me
Around me
I'll follow you to greater lights
I'll follow you to greater lights
I'll follow you to greater lights
I'll follow you to greater heights
I’ll follow you to greater lights
Greater Lights -- Advent Rising
-------------------

Okay, so I spent the evening at the symphony. Yes, me. Yes, the symphony. No, not so normal. The reason for this is that a certain touring group happened to drop by our hometown this week. That certain group happens to be called Video Games Live. And they are freaking legends. The bad part came in the facts that 1) they conspicuously managed to totally dodge around mentioning Sega's existence and acted like they never made any games at all (same goes for Myst, which I was really hoping to hear their rendition of the themes from), and 2) the last two songs were from Halo and the first encore was from FFVII, both games which I hate with a passion. However, the second encore was a fantastic Castlevania medley, and in honor of the fact that they had never actually performed three consecutive nights in one place before, they brought in the kid that played Mario blindfolded on YouTube (as in, yes he is that good in real life, and yes they actually found the guy) to play the organ for it, as well as a couple of other arrangements including the exact same blindfold stunt he originally pulled scattered throughout the show. All in all, an unbelievable evening. I shall have to describe more of why tomorrow, when I have rested enough to think straight.

Oh yes, and OPTiC is now officially a cellist. A HEADBANGiN' cellist. Ask ~BDSb about that one, he'll explain.

As for thoughts, I just would like to say thanks to everyone who's been taking the time to comment on my page, deviations, and Journals lately. Each and every response has meant worlds, usually in more ways than one. Although I have not yet been able to take the time to respond to each, I most definitely will. A few are defunct and no longer apply, due to the rapidly changing nature of my situation, but I nonetheless wish you all to know how much I appreciate it. Of course, this language has no adequate words for what I feel, so I guess you'll all have to make do with this.

And the lyrics listed above are from a game called Advent Rising, which I have never played. It came out in 2005 for XBox and PC, and its soundtrack was composed by Tommy Tallarico (the guy from VGL) as an Italian and Latin orchestral opera. It is truly a thing of beauty, on so many levels. When it was performed at the concert, I was intrigued, to the point of not only purchasing the (overpriced) soundtrack (which was worth the price anyway) but seriously thinking about trying to find this game.

By the way, there was also a Medal of Honor arrangement there tonight that nearly moved me to tears. I don't play MoH, but the music was beautiful, and so perfectly fitting to... everything, really. If I can, I'm going to be locating a copy of that song soon. I just thought I'd say that.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: B... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17549645/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17549645/ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:10:22 PDT
Song Lyrics:
We all know that life gets harder
It's getting harder day by day
We can show that we are trying
By making sure that everyone can stay
You're the one I can depend on
No one else can do it right
I'm someone you can rely on
Cause we're not giving up without a fight
Work It Out -- Sonic R
-------------------

Aha, this is so typical. Just at my moment of greatest darkness, there appears the most brilliant ray of light. And it all just finally stopped. I guess I can take off the SAPPHiRE pin now, huh? Oh well, I guess the red one stays on for now.

I think that being a light in the dark only applies to those around you. One cannot light one's own path, and in order to see where we are going, we have to surround ourselves with other lights. The larger the group of lights -- or the brighter that a single point shines -- the easier it is to find the way. In my own darkness, I asked questions. Important questions. But I could not find my own answers. And then, minutes later, I discovered that the answers were staring me in the face, and all of them were good.

I was right about one thing, though. We do all eventually hit equilibrium. I was wrong about one thing as well. I thought that the state of "equilibrium" was slightly less happy than "happy," and slightly less sad than "sad." It turns out it's happier than "neutral," and slightly more happy than "content." This is good news, I think.

I'm still scared out of my wits, and more confused than I've been in my whole life. But I'm also finally a little bit at peace, and I'm starting to realize that I am doing the good I'd worked so hard for. And the truth isn't so bad if you get the whole story.

This world is filled with evil. I knew that through this whole thing. But what I hadn't realized is that it's also filled with good.

And by the way, Impulse: Always And Forever got color-shifted a little by the scanner. The center is bright orange in real life.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again.

Art In Progress:
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bothered to do so.
-"Hosea" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bothered to do so.
-Folder Of Dumb for history class.
Status: Got three Demia busts scribbled on it in charcoal, with room for at least another four, plus the whole backside. I have all next week to work on it, so I think it shall come out quite awesomely. And then I shall spray it with Matte Finish and toss it into the scanner!
-"Locket" 3D project.
Status: Model in progress. It's coming out reasonably well, thou... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17549025/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17549025/ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:07:54 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Kazoekirenai... demo sukoshi no saigetsu wa nagare
Ittai kimi no koto wo dore kurai wakatteru no ka na?
Yubisaki de chizu tadoru you ni wa umaku ikanai ne
Kizuiteiru yo fuansou na kao Kakushiteru kurai

Isogiashi no ashita e to teikou suru you ni
Kakemawatteite mo fushigi na kurai... kono mune wa kimi wo egaku yo

Miagereba kagayaki wa iroasezu afureteita
Donna toki mo terashiteru ano taiyou no you ni nareta nara

Soba ni ite zutto kimi no egao wo mitsumeteitai
Utsuriyuku shunkan wo sono hitomi ni sundeitai
Doko made mo odayaka na shikisai ni irodorareta
Hitotsu no fuukeiga no naka yorisou you ni toki wo tomete hoshii eien ni
Living In Your Eyes ~ Hitomi No Jyunin -- L'Arc~En~Ciel
-------------------

It just doesn't stop. In 72 hours, I don't feel like my stream of thought has been interrupted at all. The sleep I've gotten has done me little lasting good, and there hasn't been nearly enough of it. This morning, when I awoke at ten after just six hours of sleep, it felt as though it was still 4:00 AM. The worries were the same, the good times were the same, and I was even thinking about the same things, as though the whole six hours had just not happened. Like I hadn't slept at all but had instead just frozen there, unable to think and unable to progress.

I suppose it all works out in the end, doesn't it? It all reaches equilibrium. I have the best day in the history of ever, and then I have a single, incredibly pivotal event occur that turns the whole thing on its head. The last two and a half days have made up for the happiness that I felt three days ago and have left me right back where I started: uncertain, confused, and afraid. But that's better than suicidal, better than isolationistic, better than flat-out depression.

Sometimes, you search so long and look so hard for the truth. But then, when you find it, you wish you had never tried because it hurts so much. When you realize that there really isn't anything you can do in the end. And when you really have been given no choices, only an observer's role.

What is it that I've accomplished? What is it that I have become? What effect has my life so far had, in the end? And what good have I done? The answers to those questions have become so well hidden, and I see no way to answer them myself.

It just does not end.

Oh, and if you want to know what those lyrics mean, it's on you to find out. Despite the non-Englishness of them, I did choose those verses carefully.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Complete, though it's on the big paper again.

Art In Progress:
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bot... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17533772/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17533772/ Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:45:53 PDT
Song Lyrics:
You're fooling yourself if you don't believe it
You're kidding yourself if you don't believe it
Get up, get back on your feet
You're the one they can't beat and you know it
Come on, let's see what you've got
Just take your best shot and don't blow it
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) -- Styx
-------------------

And now it's the day after. I didn't go to sleep after writing yesterday's Journal, as I definitely should have. Instead, I spent the next two hours breathing Sharpie fumes while I finally finished Christmas Star. Yes, THAT Christmas Star. At one-thirty in the morning. I woke up about twelve hours ago without most of the headache, but with all of the heartache and a slight sick-stomach feeling. Today has itself been fairly good, with little negativity going on, but I still can't stop thinking about last night... about any of it. The good, the bad, and the very, very ugly.

To ~BDSb, you are my best friend, even in situations like this. I want you to know that I appreciate you being there for me, even as just a funny voice to get my mind off things when I need it. Thank you for helping me to be me, and thank you for being you.

To *Sairus and ~Anthro7, I just want to thank the both of you for paying attention to what's been going on with me, and for all that you've done to try and help me out of it. But this time, it's not only a problem that must be dealt with from the inside out, but it's also something that I don't even really know if I want help with, let alone whether you two can give it. Again, my thanks, and don't stop trying to cheer me up. I just want you to know both that it's appreciated and that it's not having the effect that any of us want it to, despite your good intentions.

To ~InuFoamy31, I'm sorry that what you've told me has done so little to change things. I agree with all of it, and I wish that its impact could be more direct. Much of what is happening now has to do with what's happening inside my own head and heart more than with you, but I think that what you have said will help in its own time and its own way. Thank you for keeping me in mind, and thank you for trying.

To ~LostAnimeDrawer, thank you as well, and I will keep your offer in mind. I may just have to take you up on it soon, Sage.

To *whipzter, I hardly know you, but I want you to know that I really appreciate what you have done. I love your work, and I want to thank you for creating such meaningful art, as well as for taking such an interest in my own work. It really means a lot to me.

To ~Madmatica, thank you yet again for all of your incredible fanart that you have graced my world with, and thank you for actually caring despite your other responsibilities. I may not be as busy as others, like you, but I do understand how hard it can be to find the time to be around for people.

To ~MaddeningTruth, I didn't know that you'd cared at all about me until I saw your gifts. They helped, though not enough to get me out of this mess. I want to thank you for the concern that you showed me -- a complete stranger -- even though you had no real reason to do so.

To ~ViralAlchemist207, I think I understand it all now. A lot better than before. I may not know what you went through, but I think I finally know a little of how it must have felt. With that in mind, I'm still here for you, no matter what.

To *FullmetalShamanrocks, none of this garbage that I'm going through means that I'll be there for you any less. I refuse to let this bring me away from my duty to you as my friend, especially as a friend that is also having troubles just like me. I'm still here, if you need me, and I still will keep my promises to you, no matter what.

To *spinningcannon... Oh, what do I even say here? What can I say? Except maybe... Thanks. For everything. And trust me, I know all about it.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17518169/ Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:45:41 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

I have a headache. I have had the best day of the year so far, by far. And the most heart-wrenching end to it that I can imagine. I have no idea what I feel right now. I feel as though I'm drowning in my own emotions, and I don't even know whether it's a good thing or not. I'm just... so ready for... what? I don't know.

I just finished a colored pencil drawing, mostly abstract. The only way I can hope to describe it is as the visual version of an Impulse. It shares quite a few characteristics, such as being a total personification of my internal world at the instant at which it was conceived, as well as being totally non-understandable, even to me. As I look at it, it looks just like my mind, heart, soul, and body, all rolled into one, but yet I somehow can't recognize it. I see it and I think, "That's me." And then I think, "What is it?" And then I realize that I have no answer.

It hurts, it feels like the best thing of my life, I want it to stop, I want it to keep going forever. I am just so confused...

I wanted to feature some new art from the past few days that's been especially important to me:




And then there are these. Each one tells a small part of the story... But all are connected, if not directly to each other. And all are important.


Thank you, . You have no idea how much it means.


...And now I guess it's my turn to get to bed, huh?

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------
<... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17483548/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17483548/ Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:16:34 PDT
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

That's right, Adventures In Myopia actually has another show complete! After all this time, I finally got my rear end in gear and *finished* something.

Adventures In Myopia Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special <-- This is a temporary link; the show will have a more permanent home in the near future. Like, as soon as I remember to give it one.

It's nothing special, clearly, but at least it's done. It being the Boxing Day Special, we actually did record it on December 26. Which, of course, means that not only am I releasing it on entirely the wrong holiday, but I'm actually three and a half months late on my filler that was supposed to distract you people from the fact that Show 04 never got finished. The show was done without a script in one take, and consists mostly of us trying to figure out what we're going to do for the show (which was in progress by that point anyway) and me trying (and extremely failing) to remember everyone that was on my Christmas list at the time. We had a lot of fun, even if it did turn out rather dumb. So I hope you enjoy it!

EDiT: D'oh! And now, because I totally forgot to do so: HAPPY FRIGGIN' EASTER!

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes Show 03.5: Boxing Day Special ((Index))
Status: AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-HS PHANTOM.
Status: Finished.
-HS NOVA.
Status: Finished.
-Havoc OC sketches.
Status: Finished, and ready for the scrap pile as soon as it hits the scanner.
-Sailing Ship Of Dawn 3D project.
Status: Model nearly complete, aside from a few minor touch-ups and color changes. Will start working on a full scene within the week.
-Black and white THESiS refs.
Status: Just about there. I should probably make a color version at some point, though.

Art In Progress:
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bothered to do so.
-"Hosea" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. Will start work on it as soon as I can be bothered to do so.
-Folder Of Dumb for history class.
Status: Got three Demia busts scribbled on it in charcoal, with room for at least another four, plus the whole backside. I have all next week to work on it, so I think it shall come out quite awesomely. And then I shall spray it with Matte Finish and toss it into the scanner!
-Random OPTiC sketch of HEADBANGiN' awesomeness.
Status: Not really that close to being done, but it does look pretty good so far.
-"Locket" 3D project.
Status: I have it in my head, in surprisingly great detail. Now I need to make Maya behave enough to show it to all of you.
-Various unsolicited fanarts for *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17466020/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17466020/ Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:56:14 PDT
Song Lyrics:
So many different things to see
There's no time
So many different things to do
But there's no time
So many people all around
So many feeling to be found
Living in a city where no one lets you down

So many things that we've been through
Can you feel it
So many things for us to do
But can you feel it
So many faces all around
So many places to be found
Living in a city where nothing gets you down

In the sky at night
The stars are shinin' bright
You can see the city lights
Cause I'm here to make it right

Living in the city
You know you have to survive
(Living in the city)
You've got to keep the dream alive
(Living in the city)
Where everything is free
(Living in the city)
Can't you see
Living In The City -- Sonic R
-------------------

Yes, I am once again putting off my responsibilities in favor of posting a dumb journal here for no other reason than that I can.

Right now, I really ought to be doing one of a few things. First and foremost, I should be vacuuming the house. My dad decided that it was a good job to give me today, and so he did. Second, I should be recording any one of at least three or four various voice clips, character auditions, and introductions that I've been promising people for ages on end. This almost actually got done this time, but I'm nearly out of time to do them today. So, hopefully, I'll have some of it by tomorrow. Third, I should be working with Maya. This is sort of a given, but I figure it deserves to be said, since I have so much to do with it. Fourth, I debatably ought to be watching Quantum Leap, as it is nearly due. Again.

So yes. I have been a horrible procrastinator today once again. Which is proven all the more by the fact that this very journal has taken me about three hours to type.

NOTE: By the time this journal was completed, the vacuuming was already done. Just thought you ought to know.

Oh, and one last thing: being as it's spring break this week, I'll be able to be online for pretty much the whole time that I'm not at work. Therefore, those of you with Skype and/or other methods of bugging me really ought to use this time well.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes ((Index))
Status: AIM03.5: Boxing Day Special in editing.
AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-HS PHANTOM.
Status: Finished.
-HS NOVA.
Status: Finished.
-Havoc OC sketches.
Status: Finished, and ready for the scrap pile as soon as it hits the scanner.
-Sailing Ship Of Dawn 3D project.
Status: Model nearly complete, aside from a few minor touch-ups and color changes. Will start working on a full scene within the week.
-Black and white THESiS refs.
Status: Just about there. I should probably make a color version at some point, though.

Art In Progress:
-"Snippy" 3D project.
Status: Already have most of it figured out. W... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17434710/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17434710/ Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:32:44 PDT
Song Lyrics:
When all alone in my chair, I just go about wishing
I wanna be strong, I really wanna be trusted

But that's not something I can do so easily
This is not simply my way, my style
Gotta get a hold of my life

When all alone in my sleep, I just go about dreaming
I see myself there, having the same adventure

If I just follow you, I will never see the light
Now is the time to find my way through this life
I'm trying so hard to be strong

Many friends help me out, in return I help them
Certain things I can do and there are things that only I can do
No one's alone!

I wanna fly high
So I can reach the highest of all the heavens
Somebody will be waiting for me so,
I have got to fly higher

Gotta keep goin'
Everything is a brand new challenge for me
I will believe in myself
This is the only start for me
Believe In Myself (Tails' theme) -- Sonic Adventure
-------------------

Okay! It's time for me to actually post some straight-up good news for a change! I know you're all getting tired of the emo-ness that is me, and before I totally go off on a tangent, I'd like you all to know that what I've been saying for the past while still goes. Spinny, Viral, Shaman, LUA, and even myself still need a bit of love, and things are still not quite perfect just yet.

However, that being said, I think there's nothing new on the matter. So, I'm now free to move on to something less depressing. (Happy now, ~Anthro7?!)

Next week, I have school off. Spring break is the name given to this rather random gesture on the part of the district administration, and I plan to fully enjoy it. I'm going to be getting all kinds of work done on my 3D projects, as well as hopefully some actual drawings done. I'm also finally throwing my Brawl party on Wednesday/Thursday, as I finally have time to do so, and I'm also going to be planning in some Ghost Squad as well. Ghost Squad, for those wondering, is quite probably one of the dumbest, most cracked-out FPS-on-rails games that I have ever seen. It is also one of the most fun party games I have ever encountered, especially for a full four players, and especially at two in the morning. For some reason, two in the morning really makes that game good. If you don't want a really long explanation, then don't ask what Ghost Squad is beyond the fact that absolutely everyone should play it.

Next thing on the list. The crazytons of deviations that deserve all kinds of props for their respective awesomenesses. Each and every one of these is fantastic, each featured here for a different reason. Being that there are so darned many of them, I figure that simply posting a listing of them here is probably the simplest way to give them the recognition that they each deserve. So, moving on to that.
*Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17355676/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17355676/ Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:50:36 PDT
Song Lyrics:
Another road that we must travel
Another night for you to show me the way
And so today, I give up dreaming
Cause now I know, I need you everyday

You're the one that makes me feel so high
Just like the diamonds in the sky
I never want to hear you say goodbye
Cause you're my diamond in the sky

Where do all the rainbows go?
To somewhere I don't know
Wherever it is, I want to go
Diamond In The Sky -- Sonic R
-------------------

Hoo boy, where do I even begin? Today started in one of my relatively rare irrational good moods, where I should be totally fried and/or furious at the world in general but I am instead just really happy for no reason. The weather when I woke up was absolutely amazing, and if it had stayed that way we would have had easily the best day of the year. However, about three hours in, it decided to shift gears a bit and by the end of my work day it was snowing hard. No idea. Anyhoo, my mood eventually deteriorated -- as it usually does -- to thoughtfulness. I wound up writing some rhymed verse (GASP!) during lunch, and generally didn't have a bad day. I am profoundly grateful for that. And now I'm sitting here at my computer at home, wishing that it were warmer. I've been staying at my grandmother's for the last week and a half, and it's positively balmy over there, but now I'm back home to the inadequate heating and stupidly late nights.

More to the point than any of that is this: I have had the strangest past few days. I've been basically kept alive by the fact that I have my ORANGE Gen pin on (long story, and if you have to ask, you probably don't want to know). I keep having people quote me back at myself, and it's starting to make me feel vaguely smug. I feel very fulfilled by all the good that I can finally see that I'm doing. I just had a surprisingly involved conversation (with who, I'm not going to tell you people) that rather enlightened me as to the true nature of a friend of mine, as well as to my own. I have learned more about what it really is to love, and what it really is to live. It's been a really good couple of days on the whole.

But that doesn't stop me from worrying. Worrying about everybody. All of the hurt has seemed to get better lately, people have made up to one another, and we all seem a little less down. But it all seems too easy. It seems like there's something wrong with the fact that we're suddenly so lighthearted, like it only means that something worse is on the way. And that really scares me. I just don't want any of you guys to stop watching out for the next backstab that the universe is going to try and pull. Because the instant your guard comes down, that's when it'll happen.

I'm just getting so tired of watching my friends get hurt.

And I'm getting sick of not knowing what's happening with you all. The less I know, the more I worry. And several of you are either incognito or not interested in talking about the serious stuff. I can't blame you, really, but it still makes me worry like crazy for you all.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes ((Index))
Status: AIM03.5: Boxing Day Special in editing.
AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17276895/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17276895/ Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:28:19 PDT
Song Lyrics:
What do I do when my love is away
(Does it worry you to be alone)
How do I feel by the end of the day
(Are you sad because you're on your own)

No, I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends
Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends
A Little Help From My Friends -- Joe Cocker
-------------------

Ambush And Doubt

Lately, I've been having some issues of thought, pardoning the strange idiom. Every time I contemplate actually doing some of the things that I've been raised to believe are good, right, and significant parts of my purpose in this life, I get these feelings and thoughts, as though if I do them, something horrible will happen. It's felt like everything from my own death or that of others around me all the way to my being forever unable to help or being cut off from those I love is going to happen if I go through with these things.

Now, don't get me wrong. I've had serious doubts about taking these actions for well over a decade now -- try though I might to hide them. But now that it's so close to actually happening, it seems like whatever force, be it good or evil, that seeks to prevent me is trying all the harder to convince me by the very day. Now, a wise person that I know told me today -- in a totally different context -- that it is simply in the nature of both humanity and this world: "When one is about to do tremendous good, one will invariably meet with tremendous resistance." This, "coincidentally," comes just a short matter of days after my coming to realize that the pattern on which the world operates is this: "In life, the good are punished proportionally to their resistance to evil. You stand up for good and seek out the good in others, and the evil in others seeks you out in turn." These statements being discovered within so close a time seems to mean that they are true. Such has certainly been my own experience.

I've felt that lately, I've been ambushed from behind by something most dark indeed. I have felt that power, the same power that has caused the continuing downward spiral of humanity of which I have spoken with such pain. And I have had intense doubts -- premonitions, almost -- about my future and those of the people I love.

Death, So Close

My grandpa, my great-uncle, and now my great-grandmother. There is so much death in this family. And the toll mounts by the passing month. And it's just hurting worse. She hasn't passed from mortality as of yet, but she nearly died earlier this afternoon. She won't likely live through the night, and my grandmother is not taking it well.

Self-Distraction For Fun And Profit

In accordance with this pain, death, sadness, and grief, I've tried desperately to hide myself away from the feelings with which I'm coping. To this end, as well as the entertainment of my sibs, I picked up my copy of Super Smash Brothers Brawl today. It's a very good game, but my heart really wasn't in playing it. Same as how my heart hasn't been in nearly anything except helping my friends and family since things started going bad for what seems like all of them. The only other thing I've really been able to focus on since Friday night has been Deep Space Nine -- mostly because everything about that show seems to resonate perfectly with the way that things seem to be going in good old "real life." In the final episodes of Season Five, the tension of the entire season's arc comes to a point, but with a single "relief episode" thrown in just before the finale to lighten the mood.

I can't help but feel that the tensions of recent events in my own life are coming to a similar crux, and that whatever good seems to be happening is just going to wind up being a little release of pressure before some kind of massive explosion. Thus, all of my distractions, save for that one (and iffy it is, at best) cause me mostly to just think of what I could be doing, or at least trying to do, to help where I feel that I have failed. But, despite that feeling of failure, I also feel that I have no other recourse but to try desperately to kill more time before whatever is going to happen, does. I'm pretty sure I'd go totally insane if really left alone with my thoughts for more than a little while.

I suppose that it is perhaps a small irony that the words spoken at the end of the episode "...Nor The Battle To The Strong" by Sisko are one of the largest reasons I'm typing this whole thing out right now. "It takes courage to look inside yourself, and even more courage to write it for others to see." I just hope tha... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17232295/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17232295/ Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:27:49 PST
Song Lyrics:
We spend all of our lives goin' out of our minds
Looking back to our birth, forward to our demise
Even scientists say, everything is just light
Not created, destroyed but eternally bright
Masters in everytime lord in everyplace
Those who stood up for love down in spite of the hate
In spite of the hate

Who put the flower in the barrel of the gun
Who lit the candle that started the fire
Burnt down the fortress, the throne?
Who could house all the refugees in a single shack
Or a lowly bungalow
Who lives in a different dimension, free from the
Struggles we know
They Stood Up For Love -- Live
-------------------

I don't think anything that I had initially planned to say here would actually help anything.

The world has gone completely out of its mind, and I am truly afraid for the future of mankind. Who-knows-how-long ago, the seed of something truly evil was planted in this world. That seed has blossomed, nearly to its fullest, in these decades of wars and death and fear and abominations. Everything is wrong, everything is backwards. There are few real forces of light and of good left, and they are getting smothered right along with their remaining hope. Tears and breaking hearts are the condition of the true, and the ones escaping from this unscathed already have such stone-hard hearts that it may well be too late for them anyway.

But sometimes, we are handed tools with which to fight the darkness. Sometimes, Fate just drops what we need in our laps, even if we don't at first recognize it for what it is. And that same synchronistic Universe always gives it to us at the moment when we need it most -- not one second sooner. If I have learned nothing else from the past four and a half hours, I've learned that everyone has the chance to do good, that few people take that chance, and that those few who do are the most amazing, meaningful, powerful people in this existence. That those people have to be so strong, or else they will be crushed under the weight that they willingly bear.



You guys... There's really not much I feel like I can say to help either of you. But I gotta try.

Viral. I barely know you at all, other than what I've heard from you in the past week or so. But I want that to change. And I'm not going to get that chance if you hit the self-destruct before you get through this. It's a selfish reason to help, maybe. But it's true. You intrigue me, and I want to know who you are. And more than anything, I want you to know that I'm here to help you -- if you want to let me. In the end, it all comes down to you. Whatever you're going through, I'm willing to help you get through it intact, but I'm not going to force you to accept that help if you don't feel that it's the right thing to do.

LUA. I know you just well enough to know that there is something underneath the goofball. Not only that, but there's something really deep, sharp, intelligent. You have the capacity for real feeling, which is something that sadly few people can say. But you really look like you could use a hand. Take mine and we'll see if we can come through this okay, huh? I don't know what's really going on, but then, I never really do. You don't drop the goof-off mask, even when keeping it on may well kill you. You've gotta open up sometime. But I'm not going to force you to do so, especially now. I'll ask you, yes, I'll ask you what's wrong. But in the end it's down to you to decide whether you want to answer.

Sorry I couldn't do more. Sorry for this horrible English language. Some things just transcend language, and reach straight for the heart, mind, soul. I think tonight, all of it, has been one of those things.

My hands are outstretched, and I'm willing to help anyone who needs it. All you have to do is ask.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17179832/ Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:01:14 PST
Song Lyrics:
If it won't stop, there will be no future for us
Its heart is tied down by all the hate, gotta set him free

Can't hold on much longer - But I will never let go
I know it's a one way track - Tell me now how long this'll last
I'm not gonna think this way - Nor will I count on others
Close my eyes and feel it burn - Now I see what I've gotta do

Open your heart it's gonna be alright
Open Your Heart -- Sonic Team
-------------------

You know, for crying, this feels pretty good. Life's okay for me now. Thank you all for your concern -- I really do appreciate it. It's a little hard to accept right now, but I'm really glad you were all thinking of me.

I have other things to think about, though. Today's been really good so far, barring the sheer dumbness of third period (don't ask). But yes. There was a ton of sunshine, though right now the sun's hiding behind a cloud. Given the pattern that it's followed all day, the cloud'll be gone within the hour. I've been in a constant "warm fuzzies" feeling all day, and life is definitely good. My faith in my own ability to dispense good advice and generally not screw things up for people has been restored, so that's another plus.

As for the rest of the day, I'm going to be spending some time either packing or rendering DelOS (depending on whether I win the impending argument with my mom), then going to work for four hours. That promises to be dull but not particularly bad. Then when I get home, I have to take my kid brother on a date for school. Please, don't ask why. We're going to the University's arcade (yes, they are that awesome) to play some games and then he's going to sign a paper that gets my teacher off my back. XD Then, depending on what else is going on, I'll either start work on SSOD3D or maybe just watch some DS9 and draw a bit.

Oh yes, and a bit of good advice, courtesy one of my friends this morning: The next time you feel like driving drunk, shoot yourself up with PVC and drive yourself directly to the hospital! XD

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes ((Index))
Status: AIM03.5: Boxing Day Special in editing.
AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.

Art In Progress:
-DelOS 3D splash screen.
Status: Ready for a final render, as soon as I get the lighting fixed.
-DEL Dumbness 5.
Status: Got an idea, now need to get it onto paper.
-Sailing Ship Of Dawn 3D project.
Status: Sketched on my hand; I'll start actually modeling it soon.
-Sailing Ship Of Aquafresh 3D project, as suggested by .
Status: Will do this using the model from SSOD, status immediately above.
-HS PHANTOM.
Status: Black marker linework done, now it only needs some color.
-Large-paper DreamGold drawing.
Status: Lineart done, needs color.
-Christmas Star (AKA T... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17149089/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17149089/ Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:46:20 PST
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

And spinning around in circles.

This week has been terrible. Monday was okay until the evening, then it went all screwy. Tuesday was spent worrying and wishing that the weather would stop mocking me. That night, things looked a lot better, so I got some art done. Wednesday -- the only genuinely good day -- still ended badly, with a couple of hours utterly wasted and a little bad news at the end, but at least the bulk of it was good. Thursday was yet another testament to the utter incompetence of my school's administration, but was otherwise okay. Friday, though fun, was ultimately not particularly good, because hours on end of SSBM, fun though it was, was not really very fulfilling of my hopes for the day. Saturday -- yesterday -- was awful. Everything seemed to go wrong. The weather was bad, but only while I was out in it (before and after that, it was almost totally clear), my work was spent helping the weirdest clientele our store has had in weeks, and even my lunch (purchased from a fantastic restaurant) was cold and not very pleasant. And after I got home, things only got worse. I had a conversation on Skype that was, while humorous, very draining. This was followed immediately by another conversation that was not humorous at all and far, far more draining. And painful. Very, very painful. The night passed roughly, and then I spent this morning writing and generally avoiding human contact.

The bright spot so far today has been this article by the Onion, linked for the benefit of those not having as bad a time as me.

I have only one thing left to say, and that is that this cannot continue. Something must change. Now.

EDiT: Oh, and one last thing that I forgot. My great-uncle passed away at 4:30 this morning. Ironically, that isn't even that prominent in my mind right now.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes ((Index))
Status: AIM03.5: Boxing Day Special in editing.
AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.

Art In Progress:
-DelOS 3D splash screen.
Status: Mostly done, but I'm still having problems with that horn. Will finish as soon as I figure out how to fix it.
-DEL Dumbness 5.
Status: Got an idea, now need to get it onto paper.
-Sailing Ship Of Dawn 3D project.
Status: Sketched on my hand; I'll start actually modeling it soon.
-Sailing Ship Of Aquafresh 3D project, as suggested by .
Status: Will do this using the model from SSOD, status immediately above.
-HS PHANTOM.
Status: A little over halfway sketched.
-Large-paper DreamGold drawing.
Status: Lineart done, needs color.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17066423/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17066423/ Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:06:02 PST
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

No, I am most definitely not in a good mood tonight. That is all.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes ((Index))
Status: AIM03.5: Boxing Day Special in editing.
AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-DEL Dumbness 3.
Status: Done.

Art In Progress:
-Large-paper DreamGold drawing.
Status: Lineart done, needs color.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Started; just needs a background.
-Huge HS Christmas giftart.
Status: Planning. Not very quickly. Probably will not be done until at least the new year, but it'll be worth it.
-Eighteen zillion pastel fanarts for Betrayal and the story of the P-Maren.
Status: Creeping down the list.
-Theme 50 photo list.
Status: You can find the list and current progress here.
-Demia character designs.
Status: OPTiC, DiODE, NiMBUS, TURBiNE, CHiLL, iVY, and BiRD are started.
Completed: MELODi, RAiL, KiNDLiNG, ALKALiNE, SPiKE, LEGiON, iNFERNO, WiNG, Dreamcyber, Selph, RAiN.

Art On Hold:
-My "New Of Old" emblem watercolor picture (the first page of my no-longer-so-new pad).
Status: On hold until I feel comfortable in watercolors. Could happen as late as the day after never.
-Pokéthulhu scribbles.
Status: Want to do more sometime. I intend to design "Gherr Kinsman" (yes, a pickle 'thulhu) and a couple of others.

...And if you can read this, you do not need glasses. ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17045557/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/17045557/ Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:40:39 PST
Song Lyrics:
Jump
Dash
Live Robo
Super Live Dash!
Dash! Live Robo -- Kouji Kaya
-------------------

I really ought to go get myself to the scanner, before you people start getting mad at me, huh? My brother's in there, probably reading, but that's no big deal. I'll just tell him it's a matter of life-and-death. Which it kinda is. But yeah. That's why I'm going to just start idling in a minute and probably not be back on for another hour or so, maybe less. Just so you all know.

*really should have something vaguely topical here*

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes ((Index))
Status: AIM03.5: Boxing Day Special in editing.
AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Rather bizarre sketch page of Dreamranger mecha designs.
Status: You don't want to know.
-An updated "custom Dreamcyber" design. In gel pens.
Status: Done and don't ask.
-Punk HS request for .
Status: Done!
-ViSiONA and iLLUSiEN HS giftart for
Status: Awaiting scan.
-'s alternate-form constipation transformation scene.
Status: Done.
-NOVA HS art for .
Status: Awaiting scan.
-Not-too-flattering DEL sketches.
Status: I'm getting to it!

Art In Progress:
-Large-paper DreamGold drawing.
Status: Lineart done, needs color.
-Christmas Star (AKA The ORIGINAL Character) marker art.
Status: Started; just needs a background.
-Huge HS Christmas giftart.
Status: Planning. Not very quickly. Probably will not be done until at least the new year, but it'll be worth it.
-Eighteen zillion pastel fanarts for Betrayal and the story of the P-Maren.
Status: Creeping down the list.
-Theme 50 photo list.
Status: You can find the list and current progress here.
-Demia character designs.
Status: OPTiC, DiODE, NiMBUS, TURBiNE, CHiLL, iVY, and BiRD are started.
Completed: MELODi, RAiL, KiNDLiNG, ALKALiNE, SPiKE, LEGiON, iNFERNO, WiNG, Dreamcyber, Selph, RAiN.

Art On Hold:
-My "New Of Old" emblem watercolor picture (the first page of my no-longer-so-new pad).
Status: On hold until I feel comfortable in watercolors. Could happen as late as the day after never.... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/16984063/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/16984063/ Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:59:23 PST
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

The following is a public service announcement brought to you by your friendly neighborhood geeky kid.

It's an EMOdemic! You are hereby being fairly warned, lest you too are caught in the trap of emoness that has plagued so many in such a short time. It all started innocuously enough, with a simple piece of thoughtful, introverted writing expressing concerns over his mental state at the time composed by :

Emotion Writing-The gunman

I was inspired, as I had been having thoughts of a somewhat similar nature at the time. Of course, I'd read it for the first time at 11:50 PM and needed to go to bed. Living up to my lengthy record of poor split-second decisions, I decided to act on that inspiration right then and there instead of getting my sleep, and forty minutes later (when I really should have been asleep) produced the following:

Impulse: Lunch With Impossible

With this, I got a slight rise out of both and , but despite the fact that I received no comment of warning, I had actually wound up inspiring . Knowing us, this was no real surprise. But, before the day was out, she had composed this:

Impulse: Cacaphony Of Colors

The emodemic spread from there to , who almost immediately wrote this:

Back into an Endless Waltz

Reading this last was what first made me realize just how far and how fast this disease had spread.

Of course, I was not left alone after my first encounter with the emodemic. Alas, it still lingers with me, hence my continued notice and care for those infected. One day after my initial brush with this disease, I produced:

Impulse: Which Is The Real One

This latest product of my emodemic infection appears, if anything, more severe than my first bout. Thus, I have cause to fear greatly for those unexposed and uninoculated against it, as they may fall prey to this deadly disease without even realizing it until it is too late.

This has been a public service announcement, courtesy of your friendly neighborhood geeky kid. Thank you.

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes ((Index))
Status: AIM03.5: Boxing Day Special in editing.
AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/16954700/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/16954700/ Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:32:50 PST
Song Lyrics:
I used to like to walk the straight and narrow line
I used to think that everything was fine
Sometimes I'd like to sit and gaze for days through sleepless dreams
All alone and trapped in time
All alone and trapped in time

I wonder what tomorrow has in mind for me
Or am I even in its mind at all
Perhaps I'll get a chance to look ahead and see
Soon as I find myself a crystal ball
Soon as I find myself a crystal ball

Tell me, tell me where I'm going
I don't know where I've been
Tell me, tell me, won't you tell me
And then tell me again
My heart is breaking, my body's aching
And I don't know where to go
Tell me, tell me, won't you tell me
I've just got to know

Crystal ball
There's so many things I need to know
Crystal ball
There's so many things I've gotta know
Crystal ball
Crystal Ball -- Styx
-------------------

I'm sure that some of you are wondering what's up with my rather impulsive behavior lately (pardoning the pun; it was the worst I could come up with at the time), and I certainly can't blame you. I've had a lot on my mind lately, to the surprise of only a few. I honestly don't know what's going on in my head these days; it's just all very muddled. So, to help get some of it out, I've started to write my "Impulse" series. These may not go anywhere in the end, but for the moment, I'm using them for an abstract release of raw emotion, sensation, and thought. Sort of a stream of consciousness, if you will.

I strongly encourage, and even flat-out am asking for, an analysis of the contents of those deviations prefixed with "Impulse: ". I want to know what you all think of it. Mostly because I already know the obvious -- that they make me sound quite insane. I'm okay with that. The next step is to move beyond the obvious, and into the true meaning. If they'd had no meaning, I couldn't have written them. But, muddled as my mind is becoming, I honestly have no idea what most of the things I wrote mean. And I want help deciphering it.

-------------------

And now for something completely different. Stole this quiz from ~MaddeningTruth, who as far as I know is its original author.

Rules:
+Pick a film
+Cast your OCs as the main characters
+Tag somebody

1) What's your Film?
Not really a film, but I'm choosing...
The Drowsy Chaperone

2) All star cast?
+Man In Chair: RAiL (Heck yes!)
+Robert Martin: Selph
+Janet Van De Graaff: Lucid (belongs to )
+The Chaperone: NiMBUS
+Aldolpho: iNFERNO
+Mrs. Tottendale: RAiN (?)
+Underling: WiNG
+George: RiVET
+Mr. Feldzieg: OPTiC
+Kitty: TWiRL
+The Gangsters: iVY and SPiKE
+Trix: PRiEST (?!)
+Super: CHiLL

3) Which scene would you love to see them act?
Hmm, I'd say the duet between the Chaperone and Aldolpho in I Am Aldolpho, the (almost) all-cast number featuring the Gangsters in Toledo Surprise (I want to see the Demia start record-skipping. XD), or Janet's solo in Bride's Lament (because I really want to see Lucid singing about monkeys! XDXD). Any one of those numbers would just be plain old EPIC with the Demia.

4) Tag the next three directors!
, , and


...It's very late, and I need some sleep now. Good night, all!

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! <... ]]> *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/16890916/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/16890916/ Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:42:29 PST
Song Lyrics:
If I only had the words to tell you
If you only had the time to understand
Though I know it wouldn't change your feelings
And I know you'll carry on the best you can

If I only had the urge to tell you
If you only knew how hard it is to say
When the simple lines have all been taken
And the radio repeats them every day

If I never find the song to sing you
If you always find it hard to comprehend
Well, you know there wouldn't be much meaning
If I had to sing those tired words again

Life goes on and on
And tonight will soon be gone
But if we try we can be sure
If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You) -- Billy Joel
-------------------

I fail at eating pancakes. Me plus pancakes plus computer plus a mildly poor sense of balance equals lots of slat, pepper, and olive oil margarine yes I know I have weird taste! all over my shirt that has /(bb|[^b]{2})/ written on it. Just thought I'd put that one out there.

Anyway, it is now nearing the end of the world-renowned Valentine's Day in my time zone, as is annual international tradition. Now, as some of you probably know, I hate almost all holidays on principle alone. It doesn't stop me from celebrating most of them, as I enjoy a good random day of stupid customs as much as the next guy, but I still don't like them. For this reason, and vice-versa, I believe that I have inherited what I call the "Grinch Gene" from my father, who loathes Christmas with a burning passion. I really don't go as far out of my way to dislike these dates as he does, but most of his reasons are good. Mostly they center on the inherent commercialism that just doesn't want to go away with modern holidays, to put it as succinctly as possible.

However, all that said, I have at least two V-Day pictures to do, as decided by myself over two weeks ago. And I haven't started either. And I haven't even decided on subject material for one of them. *le sigh* Oh well, progress continues on the projects that I actually have been working on the last few days!

Catch you all next infernally commercialized holiday, huh?

Peace out,
~Q-Lok

-------------------

My contests:
[link]

Contests joined:
Auramix's Holli redesign contest

-------------------
Adventures In Myopia: Show 01: Randomness Strikes! Show 02: Super Sentai Show 03: Superheroes ((Index))
Status: AIM03.5: Boxing Day Special in editing.
AIM04: Linguistics in editing.
-------------------
Oekakis: The NID.com Oekaki The Ideya Oekaki
-------------------
Clubs:
-------------------

Art List:
Finished Art:
-RAiN and WiNG "My Cast Away" colored pencil drawing.
Status: Done on big paper. Need to choose between taking photograph and paying to get it scanned. A new option has opened; that is, I can use my photo teacher's big scanner. Maybe.
-Rather bizarre sketch page of Dreamranger mecha designs.
Status: You don't want to know.
-An updated "custom Dreamcyber" design. In gel pens.
Status: Done and don't ask.
-Punk HS request for .
Status: Done!
-ViSiONA and iLLUSiEN HS giftart for
Status: Awaiting scan.

Art In Progress: *Q-Lok http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/16841229/ http://Q-Lok.deviantart.com/journal/16841229/ Mon, 11 Feb 2008 22:54:05 PST
Song Lyrics:
None
N/A -- N/A
-------------------

DISCLAIMER: I mean no offense with the following Journal. It is the result of something that has been churning about in my head for years on end -- since early 1997, to be exact. I wish no hurt feelings, and I do understand that you all meant well. This is simply my problems with a long-running Internet practice coming to the surface when I finally just snapped and wrote a rant about it. Translation: Don't take this personally.

Chain letters. Well-meaning or not, I don't like them. This extends to everything from mail, to e-mail, to devNotes, to userpage comments. This last is the topic on which I have come now to speak with you.

You see, within a matter of a few mere hours, a chain-post message describing the differences between "Fake Friends" and "Real Friends" has circulated around dA, reaching my own page three times already. Now, I really appreciate the thought. This gives one a few moments' worth of food for thought. However, it is also a deliberate guilt-trip, a plea for attention, an impersonal series of relatively vague platitudes, faintly insulting to the intellect for being so unoriginal, and finally a simple waste of small portions of someone's server space.

Now, that said, I know that many of you don't feel that way about it, and in spreading it feel that you are granting me the kindness of revealing your friendship with me. For that, I extend my humble thanks to *spinningcannon, ~EB-G-SaraiEra, and ~Madmatica, all of whom posted a copy of this chain letter on my page. I do honestly appreciate the fact that you consider me your friends, and I return the sentiment. But I choose to do it in my own way, and do you what I feel is the service of not clogging up your deviant pages with another copy each of this rather impersonal string of statements -- many of which I personally feel are not relevant.

My own list goes something like this:

A real friend is there for you, if they can be.
A real friend is willing to listen to your problems and let you be weird.
A real friend sticks by you when you need them.
A real friend will put up with you, just because you need to be put up with.
A real friend lets you be yourself.
A real friend comes along for the ride.
A real friend has their own problems, too.
A real friend forgives you but doesn't forget.
A real friend stays courteous even when they don't have to be.
A real friend gets exceptions to all the rules and gives those exceptions right back when you need them.
A real friend doesn't need to be told that they are, because they already know.

This is why I don't like chain letters: they don't require any thought. This is what a true friend would be. There are, of course, more. But this point should illustrate itself -- this list will not be the same for any two people, at least not in its entirety. I disagree with many of the points on the chain-post in question today. A couple of examples:

FAKE FRIENDS: Will talk bad to the person who talks bad about you.
REAL FRIENDS: Will knock the person out that talked bad about you.

A "real friend" would do no such thing. A real friend would just be there, there would be no need for retaliation. Not from them.

FAKE FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
REAL FRIENDS: Is the reason you have no food.

A true friend would not just abandon courtesy so quickly. And a fake friend would not show such kind restraint.

Of course, I couldn't really leave the obligatory final entry off:

FAKE FRIENDS: Would ignore this.
REAL FRIENDS: Will send this to all their friends and hope to get it back!

This is a guilt trip, nothing more and nothing less. As what I hope is a true friend, I refuse to do either. I composed my own list, and don't even chain-mail it out at that. I want to really show myself as I am, not as some arbitrary chain letter list that I happened to be guilted into sending on to people who either already knew what I thought of them or really didn't want to put up with the dilemma of "Do I send this to other people and risk annoying them, or do I ignore it and risk offending the person [people] who sent it to me?" I for one don't want to continue this vicious cycle, or contribute to its longevity in any way.

Oh yes, and I do NOT want to see that list posted anywhere else.

------------------- *Q-Lok