non cogito ergo non sum!

Self-Improvement

2011-11-11T23:28:00.000-05:00

This evening, I accidentally ran headlong into a nlcok quote by a Christian D. Larson. I have no idea who Christian D. Larson is. The block quote was half self-help hooey and half good. One sentence stood out for me, though.

"Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time left to criticize others."

I am a fan of this philosophy -- follows nicely on the heels of the "Boredom is lack of will to entertain yourself" on which I raised myself.

Phoenix and the Worm (Sturm und Drang)

2011-10-28T15:27:00.000-05:00

They lay out my corpus,
My heart bared.
I am burned and ashes
Scattered to the winds and rains.
Each ash finds ground,

But spirit soars higher still,
To jagged pinnacles.
Spirit and clay wait apart
For the final reunion.
My heart beats once.

My heart beats twice.
I enter the room a man in black, but
My suit they replace with flowing robes of white.
The true and golden Sun gathers my clothes,
and refines them by the blood of stars.

A rose between,
To beg below and pray above,
My hands are clasped.
Life courses in me again.

Temperament Test

2011-10-26T12:56:00.002-05:00

According to the Temperament Test on www.catholicmatch.com , I am "The Sanguine/Choleric". This temperment test provide a personality typing and summary, eight possible results in total, based on the four temperaments. The four temperaments are sanguine, melancholic, choleric, and phlegmatic and are based on the four classical 'humors' respectively, blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm. (See the CatholicMatch Temperament Test and the Wikipedia article on the Four Temperaments.)

The Sanguine / Choleric

The sanguine-choleric is the most extraverted of all the temperament combinations. With the addition of the choleric aspect, the optimistic, impulsive, fun-loving sanguine becomes more adept at follow-through, taking significant leadership roles, and juggling many projects without unduly sacrificing productivity. This temperament tends to be a happy combination of charm and decisiveness, creativity and analytical skill, friendliness and focus.

Your ability to connect with people balances out the domineering and relentless temperament of the pure choleric. You value relationships highly and make friends easily. You are insightful, enthusiastic, and affectionate; your sanguine capacity for dealing with people, combined with the leadership skills of the choleric, make you an excellent manager of people. You are also capable of constancy, dedication, and serious undertakings — though at times you may have been underestimated, due to your often humorous and light-hearted manner. You not only are capable of creative inspiration, but also you will find within yourself the persistence and drive needed to carry out your inspirations.

The bad news is that, if intellectual, human or spiritual formation is seriously lacking, this temperament blend can exhibit the worst of the two temperaments: overly talkative, brassy, opinionated, loud, rash, swift to jump to conclusions, and forgetful. If intellectual depth is lacking, this temperament mixture can become superficial, bossy, and intolerant. The high-spirited humor of the sanguine can become biting and hurtful when combined with the unforgiving, vengeful nature of the poorly formed choleric. If pleasure-seeking and impulsivity are not contained, the sanguine-choleric may wind up with a lax conscience that justifies his weaknesses, ultimately resulting in habitual sin. Easily captivated by exciting new projects or opportunities, the sanguine-choleric should watch out for his tendency to come up with great ideas, put everyone to work, and then drop the ball when the project gets tiresome. On the other hand, the natural generosity flowing from the sanguine temperament will commit him to many good works.

For a better understanding of Sanguine-Choleric, it is recommended that you read the full descriptions of the Sanguine and the Choleric. See the following:
The Pure Sanguine,
The Pure Choleric,
The Sanguine/Phlegmatic,
and Sanguine Virtues and Vices.

A note on Isaac Newton~

2011-10-20T11:49:00.002-05:00

Through his scientific careers, Isaac Newton's empirical work was inseparable from his alchemic work and considerations. He was known to consider and on occasion posit Hermetic ideas and occult forces as the motivation for attraction between particles. According to Westfall's biography of Newton and Edelglass' book Matter and Mind: Imaginative Participation in Science, Newton most likely would not have developed any of his theories on gravity had in not been for his belief in Hermetic forces over distance.

Newton was particularly alchemistic in his studies on light and optics, in his works Hypothesis of Light (1675) and Opticks (1704). His answer to the question of whether light was a wave or particle was that light either cyclically transmutated across the dividing line or was particles ("subtler corpuscles") but did something akin to transmutation through the particles it illumined.

According to Westfall's biography of Newton (1983) and Edelglass' book Matter and Mind: Imaginative Participation in Science (1991), Newton most likely would not have developed any of his theories on gravity had in not been for his belief in Hermetic forces over distance. It was defense against criticism of this belief that he penned his phrase "Hyptheses non fingo", in the second edition of his Principia (1713). "I have not as yet been able to discover the reason for these properties of gravity from phenomena, and I do not feign hypotheses. For whatever is not deduced from the phenomena must be called a hypothesis; and hypotheses, whether metaphysical or physical, or based on occult qualities, or mechanical, have no place in experimental philosophy. In this philosophy particular propositions are inferred from the phenomena, and afterwards rendered general by induction."

In his work about Newton, "Newton, The Man", John Maynard Keynes wrote, "Newton was not the first of the age of reason: He was the last of the magicians."

In other news:
Aristotle was the de facto founder of alchemy, far before there was alchemy.
Alchemy fully came together in Alexandria in Hellenistic Egypt.
Alchemy was instrumental to advances made by Islamic scientists, astronomers, and mathmeticians during Europe's Middle Ages.
Other intersting know alchemists include Carl Jung, August Strindberg, Avicenna, Gerald FitzGerald the "Wizard Earl" of Kildare, Cornelis Drebbel, Agrippa, Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II, Rudolf Steiner, and Tycho Brahe.

Poignant Remarks from Authoritative Overviews of the ENTP (Extroverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving) Personality:

2011-10-08T18:45:00.001-05:00

Poignant Remarks from Authoritative Overviews of the ENTP (Extroverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving) Personality:

ENTPs...

"...generally love to argue--both for its own sake, and to show off their debating skills. ENTPs tend to have a perverse sense of humor as well, and enjoy playing devil's advocate. This sometimes confuses, even angers, those who don't understand or accept the concept of argument as a sport."

"'Question authority! (then do exactly what it tells you)' sums up the dilemma in which ENTPs may find themselves"

"...are the most reluctant of all the types to do things in a particular manner just because that's the way they have been done."

"...are very fond of toys--physical or intellectual, the more sophisticated the better. Once these have been solved or become too familiar, however, they’ll be replaced with new ones."

"...amount to a cosmic non sequitur"

"...are in the business of change, improvement, experimentation."

"...on occasions, outsmart themselves. Their juggling acts may simply be so over-ambitious they collapse."

"...are always on the lookout for a better way, always eyeing new projects, new enterprises, new processes."

"...are basically optimists, but in spite of this (perhaps because of it?), they can become petulant about small setbacks and inconveniences. (Major setbacks they regard as challenges, and tackle with determination.)"

"...are skilled at engineering human relationships and human systems"

"...always want to understand the people within the system rather than tell them what to do."

"...loyalty often runs high and can be hooked by those the ENTP counts as friends."

"...harness Feeling's good will in areas such as sales, service, drama, humor and art."

"...are genial, even charming, when not being harassed by life."

"...may sometimes give the impression of being largely oblivious to the rest of humanity except as an audience: good, bad, or potential. In general this is unfair – but it can be difficult to get an ENTP’s attention when they’re not immediately aware of you."

"The best approach in communicating with an ENTP is to be straightforward. No games–-they’ll win. No 'pulling rank'-–they’ll want to put you in your place. Try 'I need/want to talk to you.'"

Fresh Myers-Briggs

2011-10-02T16:22:00.000-05:00

It has been awhile since I did a Myers-Briggs typology test, so a few days ago, I did a fresh one. I still scored ENTP, which I have for the past five years at least. The strengths of the preferences are different than they have been, though.

Extraverted I scored 33%, while I have formerly scored around 50%.
Intuitive strength was 69%, while it has formerly been around 40%.
Thinking was 1%, instead of 60%.
Perceiving is 89%, which is only a couple points lower.

Regarding "Thrice" (Second-hand)

2011-09-25T20:37:00.002-05:00

From http://zhargon.org/2011/08/16/thrice-at-yost-theater-8132011/.

As time has gone by, I’ve always wondered which musicians people will reflect upon twenty to thirty years from now as being significant. Our parents (depending on their age) had The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, etc. Their great songwriters could have been people such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, or Joni Mitchell. In all honesty, what I’ll have to tell my children (should I be so blessed) when they ask me about the innovative, talented, and profound artists of my youth is troublesome. There are few who I believe will have an effect on our culture that is both notable and positive.

One group, however, continues to give me hope, and they are Thrice. On August 13th, 2011, I was fortunate enough to see them for third time. This show was at the newly renovated Yost theater in Santa Ana, and Thrice’s show was part of a series of events that celebrated its grand reopening.

...[Thrice] opened with ''Yellow Belly'', the first single from their new album, Major/Minor. The song is bare-bones rock and roll, with a juicy, bluesy guitar riff in the beginning that punches the listener in the gut like the fist of man that is not to be messed with. From there they transitioned into ''The Weight'', and their classic ''Artist In The Ambulance'', while some ruffian standing next to me thought it was a good idea to start fighting (during Thrice?). They also played four more new songs, all of which were enjoyable. Without a doubt, my favorite was ''Anthology''. If you pre-order the vinyl of Major/Minor, you receive an instant download of the acoustic version of that song. Other highlights included their playing 'Red Sky', ''Daedalus'', and their closing song, ''Beggars''. Of the three times that I’ve seen them, twice they closed with ''Beggars''. It’s always an epic yet haunting end to a show, the implications of its lyrics sticking with the listener. The crowd, however, demanded more, and Thrice came back on stage for an encore, playing ''Deadbolt'', an old favorite that left the audience satiated.

This evening revived my admiration for this band, and I have high hopes for Major/Minor to continue to reflect Thrice’s creative songwriting and poignant lyrics. Singer/guitarist Dustin Kensrue has infused his lyrics with theological and philosophical depth that sticks with the thoughtful listener long after the record is turned off. ''Beggars'' alludes to the last recorded words of theologian Martin Luther, the man who initiated the protestant reformation and changed western civilization: ''We are beggars, this is true''. These words posit that, at the end of the day, there is nothing we can take total credit for; rather, we are beggars at the table of divine grace. I hope that all those who listen to Thrice would carefully ponder this. Dustin Kensrue exemplifies this humility, and having the honor of getting to know and play with him through Mars Hill Church Orange County has encouraged me in seeing how I am a beggar too.

So when my kids ask me about who I listened to in my younger years, I think I’d answer with Thrice, if for no other reason than to point them to a band that points their listeners to something more, a feat that I hope to accomplish with my life.

Favourite Musicians

2011-09-13T01:42:00.004-05:00

Based on my listening stats, on my computer and online, these have been my favourite music artists of late.

1. Flogging Molly

2. Dustin Kensrue/Thrice

3. Mumford & Sons

4. Josh Ritter

5. Tom Waits

6. Bob Dylan

7. The Decemberists

8. Johnny Cash

9. Movits!

10. Frank Sinatra

11. Andrew Lloyd Webber

12. Simon & Garfunkel

13. Brian Setzer

14. Cherry Poppin' Daddies

15. The Atomic Fireballs

This reveals two things to me.
A. Sufjan is missing from my life this month.
B. I mostly am listening to my old favourites. Somebody give me some new ones.

For all those who have criticized my use of the words "catacorner" and "catty-corner" instead of "kitty-corner":

2011-06-09T07:46:00.003-05:00

For all those who have criticized my use of the words catacorner and catty-corner instead of kitty-corner: The etymology of kitty-corner is that it originally came into American English as catercorner. The first part of the word was derived from quatre, Middle French for four. Everyday users of the term thought they detected analogy to the domestic feline; hence, cater- soon became catty- and eventually kitty-. In all cases of judgement, catercorner is considered the most proper. All forms are considered Americanisms and contemporary use is most common to the American Midwest. Some sources do speculate that kitty-corner is more common in Western and Northern portions of the Midwest whileas catty-corner is more common to the Eastern and Southern Midwest, which would fit with my criticism coming from Minnesota and Canada whileas I grew up in Chicago.

America (by Walt Whitman)

2011-05-02T00:07:00.001-05:00

America

by Walt Whitman

Centre of equal daughters, equal sons,

All, all alike endear'd, grown, ungrown, young or old,

Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich,

Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,

A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother,

Chair'd in the adamant of Time.

America (by Claude McKay)

2011-05-02T00:06:00.000-05:00

America

by Claude McKay

Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,

And sinks into my throat her tiger's tooth,

Stealing my breath of life, I will confess

I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!

Her vigor flows like tides into my blood,

Giving me strength erect against her hate.

Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood.

Yet as a rebel fronts a king in state,

I stand within her walls with not a shred

Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer.

Darkly I gaze into the days ahead,

And see her might and granite wonders there,

Beneath the touch of Time's unerring hand,

Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand.

I Hear America Singing

2011-05-02T00:05:00.000-05:00

I Hear America Singing

by Walt Whitman

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,

Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,

The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,

The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,

The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,

The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,

The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,

Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,

The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

Tragedy

2011-03-30T19:21:00.001-05:00

" Greek tragedy met her death in a different way from all the older sister arts: she died tragically by her own hand, after irresolvable conflicts, while the others died happy and peaceful at an advanced age. If a painless death, leaving behind beautiful progeny, is the sign of a happy natural state, then the endings of the other arts show us the example of just such a happy natural state: they sink slowly, and with their dying eyes they behold their fairer offspring, who lift up their heads in bold impatience. The death of Greek tragedy, on the other hand, left a great void whose effects were felt profoundly, far and wide; as once Greek sailors in Tiberius' time heard the distressing cry 'the god Pan is dead' issuing from a lonely island, now, throughout the Hellenic world, this cry resounded like an agonized lament: 'Tragedy is dead! Poetry itself died with i! Away, away with you, puny, stunted imitators! Away with you to Hades, and eat your fill of the old masters' crumbs!' "

Another New World

2011-02-02T13:44:00.001-05:00

The leading lights of the age all wondered among themselves what I would do next. After all that I'd found, in my circles around the world, was there anything left?

"Gentlemen," I said, "I've studied the maps, and if what I am thinking is right, there's another new world, at the top of the world, for whoever can break through the ice."

I looked 'round the room, in that way I once had, and I saw that they wanted belief, so I said, "All I've got are my guts and my God," then I paused, "and the Annabel Lee."

Oh, the Annabel Lee, I saw their eyes shine, the most beautiful ship in the sea -- my Nina, my Pinta, my Santa María, my beautiful Annabel Lee...

That spring we set sail, and the crowd waved from shore, and on board the sailors waved caps, but I'd never had family, just the Annabel Lee, so I never had cause to look back. I just studied the charts, set the course north, and towards dark I drifted toward sleep, and I dreamed of the fine, deep harbor I'd find past the ice, for my Annabel Lee.

After that, it got colder, and the world got quiet. It was never quite day or quite night, and the sea turned the color of sky turned the color of sea turned the color of ice. After that, all around us was vastness, one glassy desert of arsenic white, and the waves that once lifted us, shifted instead into drifts against Annabel's sides. And the crew gathered closer, at first for the comfort, but each morning would bring a new set of tracks in the snow, leading over the edge of the world, till I was the only one left. After that, it gets cloudy, but it feels like I laid there for days, or maybe for months, but Annabel held me, the two of us happy, just to think back on all we had done.

I told her of the other new worlds we'd discover as she gave up her body to me. As I chopped up her mainsail for timber, I told her of all that we still had to see. As the frost turned her moorings to nine-tails and the wind lashed her sides in the cold, I burned her to keep me alive every night in the loving embrace of her hold.

I can't call it rescue, what brought me back here to this old world to drink and decline. Pretend that the search for another new world was well worth the burning of mine, but sometimes at night, in my dreams, comes the singing of some unheard tropical bird, and I smile in my sleep, thinking Annabel Lee's finally made it to the top of the world. Yeah, sometimes at night in my dreams comes the singing of some unheard tropical bird, and I smile in my sleep, thinking Annabel Lee's finally found another new world.

(~ by Josh Ritter,
"Another New World", #11
from the album "So Runs the World Away" ~)

Forgiveness

2011-02-01T02:33:00.003-05:00

This is a modified version of a letter I wrote to a friend last night. My friend posted some thought: these motivated me to read the Bible for explicit instance and institutions of forgiveness -- aim being for first human, though I broadened out. As I read, I inclined to agree with another's distinction. There are two forms to forgiveness.

The first form of forgiveness is that we push ourselves to move past instances when we have been harmed and acted against. The second is an active forgiveness that is reciprocal to the action of forgiveness requested -- by sorrow, requested of forgiveness, apology, etc. The first is exponentially harder unless we have been given the opportunity of the second -- and acted upon it.

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:5-9 NKJV)."

The Lord himself has forgiven all, but we only have his forgiveness when we confess that we have sin in us to be forgiven. To do elsewise is an active rejection of the forgiveness and the salvation. Thus it is that we have Confession and Absolution with any full service of Word and Sacrament.

In Genesis 50- Joseph's brothers begged of Joseph to forgive them and threw themselves at his feet and upon his mercy. (See esp. Genesis 50:18-20.)

In Exodus 10- Pharaoh begged Moses to petition God on his behalf and forgive him after the plague locusts, but he changed his mind and God hardened his heart after the locusts were taken from Egypt. (See esp. Exodus 10:16-18.)

In Exodus 32 and 34, and throughout Leviticus and Numbers, the Lord holds his righteous anger against Israel and Himself only explicitly forgives when Moses petitions him on behalf of the people.

Matthew 18:21 and 22 is where Jesus says how we ought to forgive, upon Peter's asking. "Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" However, in an interesting fact of rhetoric I have noticed recently, this comes immediately following ht often cited passage regarding how to confront our brothers, Matthew 18:15-20.

"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:13-16)."

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:3-11)..."

"Because finding fault with them, He says: 'Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—' (Hebrews 8:8)"

"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more (Jeremiah 31:33-34).”

"But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,' then He adds, 'Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.' Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin (Hebrews 10:15-18)."

In all, we view and act and forgive in love as Christ gave the penultimate forgiveness, and when we do not -- as we cannot forgive all being adulterated -- that Forgiveness stands for us and for the forgiveness we fail for to give. God required that the purest blood be shed for there to be the highest forgiveness and then he shed blood purer than the purest man had of him to offer, so all forgiveness possible was accomplished.

"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:1-2)."

I wish that you all be well.

You are blessed.

You are 'simul iustus et peccator'.

God bless, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

(And may His peace be with you, as it surely is.)

pax Christi,

--Aaron N.

I am writing to you, dear children,

because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, dear children,

because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God lives in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

(1 John 2:12-14)

If I only...

2011-01-25T16:05:00.001-05:00

I could while away the hours,

Conferrin' with the flowers,

Consultin' with the rain;

And my head I'd be scratchin'

While my thoughts were busy hatchin',

If I only had a brain.

I'd unravel any riddle

For any individd-el

In trouble or in pain.

With the thoughts I'd be thinkin',

I could be another Lincoln,

If I only had a brain.

Oh, I could tell you why the ocean's near the shore.

I could think of things I never thunk before,

And then I'd sit and think some more.

I would not be just a nothin',

My head all full of stuffin',

My heart all full of pain.

Perhaps I deserve you

And be even worthy erve you,

If I only had a brain.

Can you hear me now?

2011-01-21T16:26:00.001-05:00

The most effective messages are those that engage the most senses. Face-to-face is always the most effective channel of communication, capable of engaging any and all of the five senses directly. The internet, mobile phones, and 'txting' have encouraged us to develop immediacy as our priority for communication. So, we have followed the self-set mandate and, with each new development of communications, increase our immediacy, our accessibility -- the instant gratification of communicating. However, we have decreased our attentiveness. We have filled the world with electronic white noise. We have made it so we can talk with anyone at any-time. But with all this adulterating it, do we still communicate?

Personality Quiz, Question #2

2011-01-19T01:28:00.003-05:00

Once again, I earlier took a personality quiz and posted my results here. Now, as promised, I continue my analysis of the questions one-by-one.

Question #2 asks us,
What do you see near your feet?

a. A mirror
b. A ring
c. A bottle

Result is,
The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

a. You are not looking merely for a girl/boyfriend - you are looking for your life partner. Perhaps you should be more open-minded about who you spend time with. The person you are looking for might hide their charm under their exterior.

If we see a mirror near our feet, its reflection is of significance -- apparently. But we need to see more from it, see more than self and the parallel we wish in others. I can see this, but I think it is a stretch of a deduction.

b. You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.

A ring equals a romantic at heart. This is less of a stretch.

c. You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Finally, this is the answer I picked and result I received. The bottle equals a look for a practical girlfriend or boyfriend. I can see it, again again. A bottle is practical, utilitarian. It fails to account for the romanticism of a bottle, the mystery of its contents, the possibility of Message-in-a-Bottle.

I put psychoanalyst face onto myself for this round. I still say the result is a stretch from the question. I am in better mood today writing this one, though, so I'll call their deduction specific game enough. How is it, though, that the object we picture at our feet is that which relates to romantic interest? That seems degrading.

I could see Question #1's relation of environment to psychological atmosphere better.

Pax.

Personality Quiz, Question #1

2011-01-15T05:49:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday, I took a fascinating nine-question personality quiz, and I posted here my results and link to the quiz. I promised analysis and thoughts on the quiz and on my results. This I intend to fulfill one question at a time -- as questions and result sections are one-for-one.

Question #1.
Imagine that you are walking along a path. What do you see around you?

a. Forest, so much forest that you can hardly see the sky.
b. A yellow corn field against a brilliant blue sky.
c. Softly sloping green hills, with a view of mountains in the distance.

This question yields the result "Your view on yourself:", according to the respective answer you gave.

If you answered "a. Forest...":
Other people find you very interesting, but you are really hiding your true self. Your friends love you because you are a good listener. They'll probably still love you if you learn to be yourself with them.

This is the answer I gave. So, if the environment in which you instinctively picture yourself is a forest, you are psychologically hiding.

If you answered "b. A yellow corn field...":
You are intelligent, honest and sweet. You are friendly to everybody and don't like conflict. Because you're so cheerful and fun people are naturally attracted to you and like to talk to you.

A corn field as first pictured environment leads the test to the deduction that you have an open and sunny personality.

If you answered "c. Softly sloping green hills...":
You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

Finally, hills mean that you are an earthy and practical individual.

The quiz gives good broad-stroke answers to please its consumers. Could I afford to be a more open individual? Yes, I could, but this is true of most. I do not in the present "hide my true self". I do try to be a good listener, though. Parts of other answers fit me well, though, as well. From "b", I am intelligent and have intellectual potential. I like to be friendly to everybody. I try to be optimistic and engage others. From "c", I do "listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision".

My final say on Question #1, it is a good appeal because it subscribes to a fortune-teller syndrome. What does it means that I pick a forest over a corn field and hills? It means that I like walking in a forest more than corn fields or hills.

Join us next time to see Aaron ponder Question #2.

Personality Quiz

2011-01-13T23:31:00.004-05:00

I was reading a friend’s blog today and stumbled across a personality quiz, which she claimed was incredibly accurate. I took said quiz, and though I am too much cynic to consider it dead on, I found it fascinating. My results are as follow. (Numbering is by me, to facilitate question-by-question analysis in a series of short posts to follow.)

1. Your view on yourself:

Other people find you very interesting, but you are really hiding your true self. Your friends love you because you are a good listener. They'll probably still love you if you learn to be yourself with them.

(My analysis post on question/result #1.)

2. The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

(My analysis post on question/result #2.)

3. Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

4. The seriousness of your love:

Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.

5. Your views on education

Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

6. The right job for you:

You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

7. How do you view success:

You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.

8. What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of things that you cannot control. Sometimes you show your anger to cover up how you feel.

9. Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

New Year, 2011

2011-01-01T07:03:00.003-05:00

“Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.” ~Mark Twain

I wish you all an Elysian new year!

This year, I resolve to continue smoking cigars and to drink more bourbon, in honour of honourable Mark Twain.

I AM TO BE MARRIED!

2010-12-23T21:03:00.004-05:00

Dear Blog,

A lot has happened. After "I also am farmer", I went back to school. I had adventures, and those of you who know me know the kind of trouble I get into. My back held up well. The most important, though, is shortly a month after I left you.

Saturday, August 28, 2010. I proposed to Heidi~Mae, my girlfriend, my first and only for the past four years! She said yes. Will will be married on the coming May 28.

Thank you, friends.

pax,

--Aaron

I also am farmer.

2010-08-01T11:35:00.000-05:00

On the way home from church, we stopped by Wal-Mart for a couple of groceries. I accompanied my mother into the store, wearing my simple black suit and fedora. Mom picked a watermelon by appearance, but I hesitated before putting it in the cart, lifted it to me ear, and tapped on the rind. After I had placed in on the bottom of the shopping cart, a man in checkered shirt and full, straight, gray beard came up behind me and with knowing look in his eye and Eastern European accent, tapped a finger on a watermelon and said, “I know. I also am farmer.” I feel like the man peered into my soul.

"Welcome to the Family", by Little Big Town

2010-05-08T22:11:00.001-05:00

"Welcome to the Family",
by Little Big Town

Welcome to the family. Hope you have a real good life
With my little sister. Yeah, she'll make a real good wife.
Hope you have lots of babies; hope you get a real good job.
Hope you don't mind company, 'cause we'll be here a lot.
And brother here's some brotherly advice:
If you know what's good for you, you'll treat her right.

'Cause Grandpa's the local sheriff. He's the judge and the jury too.
Uncle Bill's the undertaker. Son, he'll dig a hole for you.
Cousin Jesse, he's just crazy. He'll fight you just for fun.
Mama's got a real bad temper, and daddy's got a shotgun.

Welcome to the family and this side of the tracks.
If you ever leave her, you ain't coming back.
My nephew Red's a hunter. He's gonna hunt you down,
Just like he did the last one, and he still ain't been found.
Now, I like you just fine. Don't get me wrong.
But boy take care of her, 'cause if you don't-

Grandpa's the local sheriff. He's the judge and the jury too.
Uncle Bill's the undertaker. Son, he'll dig a hole for you.
Cousin Jesse, he's just crazy. He'll fight you just for fun.
Mama's got a real bad temper, and daddy's got a shotgun.

Welcome to the family. Hope you have a real good life
With my little sister, Yeah, she'll make a real fine wife.

Man in the Arena

2010-05-08T16:25:00.001-05:00

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt

"Citizenship in a Republic,"

Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910