I'd like to thank my teen & young adult friends / watchers. You guys help me to keep things in perspective. You help me to NOT forget who I am. You help me keep from becoming jaded and cynical. You continue to remind me that age is merely a number and people are people. You help me to remain tolerant, patient and keep my integrity in tact. You inspire me with your innovation and your wisdom that maybe you don't think you have, but -- you've got it.

You continue to make sure that I continue to grow up, but to never grow "old"

I also know that from most people -- online and offline, you receive more bullshit than gratitude. So I just want to say -- thank you. You make a difference in peoples lives, even if you don't realize it. I want you to realize it and to keep doing it.

Continue to be yourself. Always learn your lessons but never question who you are. Only question what you think -- its how we all learn





















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By this I mean the word "you". Not you as in, the human being reading this right now -- but -- the 3 letter word in the English Dictionary

I've noticed a very disturbing trend when it comes to the usage of this word and I'd like to see how many others have noticed the same thing.

People who are very insecure seem to interpret the "general tense" of the word you as "attacking" as opposed to describing a situation (which is what it actually describes). As wonderful of etiquette tools that things such as the Gestalt Protocol are and all -- too often we use these things as crutches to force others to walk on egg shells when they speak to us. I think this is a rather stupid fear-based outlook. I really don't think we reserve the right to demand that others revere you with such royal benevolence, lest they suffer your wrath for offending your omnipotence.

It is much the same mentality as sheltering your children from knowledge and experience because you fear for their safety and fear that you lack the ability to truly keep them safe in the first place.

Sheltering them might be all well and great for the short run -- but for the long run; you're sending them off to war with no bullet proof vest and no ammunition.

In this way, I really think we should break out of the subjective way that we view the word "you".

I'm sure it is a no brainer as to the generality of context if you hear someone make such statements as:

if you don't brush your teeth, they will decay.

if you don't respect fire, you may get burned.

if you don't look both ways when crossing, you may get hit by a car.

if you react, you lose control. if you respond, you gain control.

etc..

These are statements obvious in their generality. You understand that the general "you" is all encompassing -- referring to a large group of people and / or all people, period.

It is when you are talking to someone who is insecure -- and no matter how much effort you put into respecting their choices, sympathizing with how they feel, showing them you understand and can relate and no matter what levels of politeness and consideration you provide -- when you are disagreeing with someone in support of your own point of view (which you have the right to, as well as to make it be known and express it), this is when generalized "you" statements become the rope you've just hung yourself with.

In these events, insecure people will react. They will openly make it clear that they feel you are being judgmental and harsh. That you are underestimating their intelligence. That you are being rude and domineering.

Well I don't know about you, but to me -- that translates into "you're a jerk if you disagree with me".

I just had one of those moments with someone on dA who shall remain nameless. Of course they blocked me after accusing me of everything but raping their dog and sending them to the Amish!

Now I fully agree with "agreeing to disagree". I feel we should be as respectful towards others as is in our abilities. We should do our best to understand the other persons point of view, even when we strongly disagree. We should respect that they have the right to that point of view -- even if it sounds completely ridiculous to you -- and that they aren't a bad person for having their views.

What I do not think we should do is use the fact that people act like that as a form of "self censorship". We've become so fearful as a human race, that we wrap ourselves in the security of ritual, tradition, etiquette, protocol and morality.

I'm not saying that ritual is bad, I'm not saying traditions shouldn't be respected, or that etiquette and protocol serve no purpose; nor am I saying we should all be a bunch of licentious incompassionate asshats, either.

What I am saying is that we need to stop using these things as reasons to be fearful, hateful and prejudice. They were never meant to be used as weapons against each other -- or to bring someone else down in order to make ourselves feel superior, justified and vindicated.

I am sure that the individual who satanized me feels completely justified and vindicated in their actions. The evil demon Dave has been slain, long live the empire.

What they've put to death, is their own integrity and self respect.

Though we can not force others to see reason, we can at least remind ourselves of this next time we're being attacked (usually in the form of others accusing of us having attacked them, as you sit there wondering what they are smoking) and to remain calm and keep our wits about us. To know that there is nothing wrong with us. To realize that Rosanne Arnold was right when she said "the first step to recovery is to admit that it is everyone ELSE who has the problem"

We can only try to be the best person we can be and do our best to understand that what we think, how we feel and the views we have does not make us inconsiderate jerks worthy of punishment and ridicule.

Sometimes even for myself, I will misunderstand a generalized "you" statement and feel attacked and yes, I'll react rather than respond. What I try to do however is to remind myself that even though I have lost the battle of resisting the erg to react -- that even in that reaction, I can still do so with integrity. That my response does not have to be a brutal one. That no matter what anyone else thinks or feels -- there is no reason for me to attack them even if they are doing it to me.

Know that anyone who resorts to cruel "blow the belt" personal slams (attacking you rather than your point), cut throat statements and things that make you question yourself and make you feel worthless -- is doing so because this is the most efficient means of dehumanizing you. They are not doing it because what they are saying about you is true -- they are doing it because it is the most lethal emotional weaponry in their verbal or textual arsenal.

Know what the nature of this stuff is and let is slide off you. Its not your problem unless you allow it to be and even as much as you might care for your fellow humans and want to help everyone -- you can't. Some people are just screwed by their own doing and thats just the way it goes. It sucks, but you can't force anyone to change.















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Journal Skin by =Thewinator and ~keepwalking07

This is wassup: [link]

At least 50% of us are going to answer "yes" to this one. I am within the 50%.

For some of us, these dreams are good. For others, horrifying. For others of us still -- a little bit of both. These dreams always teach us something, regardless of whether or not we're predicting good fortune or peril.

I'd like to take the SUPER out of SUPERnatural and provide you with some logic about how and why these dreams are even possible. I'm going to take the science angle and I'll do my best to limit the "geek speak".

It is now understood that time as we know it, is an illusion. That consciousness is required for the existence of the universe and the "wireless network" our brains seem to be hooked into, is explained logically by the current understanding of the interaction between matter, gravity, mass and energy.

Okay, so WTF does all this have to do with dreams? Well, everything...

The future is malleable because in the present, things are always changing. Sudden changes in events. People change their minds. Everything always in a state of uncertainty. Its what gives us the ability to be able to make choices. Free will and all that good stuff.

So when you see a future event unfold in a dream -- it is only a probable future, not a destined future. Which is why sometimes you'll have one of these dreams and the dream is wrong. Not because it was wrong, but because something changed and therefore, the outcome changed.

You are actually seeing a statistical projection, rather than a carved in stone prediction.

To help you understand this, think of the dream as a massive domino set. We've all seen them. The point in time you had the dream is when the proverbial finger pushed the first domino to start the whole set in motion. You can see the entire set span out in front of you as you watch all of the dominoes collapsing outwards.

The completion of the collapse of the set is the most likely outcome -- but not the only possible outcome. What you are seeing in a dream is the most likely outcome, but that does not mean some currently unknown outside force can't suddenly pop in to change it.

Someone further along in this domino set could start those dominoes falling in the opposite direction. When the two forces meet -- similarly to creating a firewall to stop a forest fire -- the two equal and opposite forces cancel each other out. The rest of the set head of the firewall never falls because change happened.

Now -- we might not be able to stop hurricanes, but we can warn people to prepare. We might not be able to stop someone from dying from a heart attack, but we can make sure we say everything we need to say to them before they have one.

But now -- lets take a hypothetical look at situations we can mold to our own designs.

Lets say hypothetically, that you dream that your clock radio wakes you up and a very specific song is playing on the radio. So, you go about your day and when you come back home -- you learn that a friend or loved one has died in a tragic car accident. You wake up from that dream for real and become very afraid -- because your clock radio woke you up, playing that same song. You know what the day is going to bring, so what now?

Well, in your dream where they died --- no one intervened. No one changed anything. You also know that having or avoiding a car accident is only a matter of seconds difference. So -- before you start your day, you delay their departure for about 5 minutes. You make every excuse you can to them to delay them -- even resorting to pissing them off and starting a fight with them -- if thats what it takes.

So -- your day goes on as it always has, you come home to find that of course -- your friend or loved one, who is very annoyed with you right now -- has made it home perfectly fine. You start to wonder whether you really averted anything, or whether it was all just in your head. At this point, you feel silly a embarrassed.

The next day, you flip on the TV and theres the evening news talking about a car accident that happened the day before, at the exact same time and intersection as your dream -- on the route this person would have taken. Not only does it dawn on you that you saved your friend or loved ones life -- but you watch the news story in anticipation of what happened to the people in the car that took their place! Suddenly, you're overcome with joy that the people in the car had been rushed to the hospital, but in stable condition. They expect a full and swift recovery of everyone involved in the accident. No fatalities.

You changed the outcome from "everyone dies" to "everyone lives".

Though this story is a work of fiction, you get the point. The smallest actions within the smallest amount of time can make a huge difference. So don't be freaked out when it happens -- figure out how you can use what you know to accomplish the most good.

Even if you have never had a dream like this in your whole life -- this should still tell you that the fact that smallest actions within the smallest amount of time can make a huge difference, works just as well in the present tense.

Being the best person you can be instead of being afraid of life, can impact your life and the lives of those around you in spectacular ways.

For a practical example, check out this voting poll I did awhile back: [link]

Q: Think for a moment ... Have I ever said or done anything which has made a profound impact in your life? (if so, it proves nothing about me. what it proves, is that every person has the power to change the world, so don't sell yourself so short)

6 deviants said Yes! At LEAST one!
5 deviants said You've helped me lots, thanks! I have a lot more faith in myself now!

Now, I'm no one anymore or less special than you are. Who the hell am I, anyways? Well, apparently I am someone who has made a profound impact in the lives of at least 11 people, thats who.

Little ole me, no more or less special or better than YOU are.

So whether you have dreams that predict the future, or not -- know that your choices make a huge impact on the world.











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Many of my watchers (whom i appreciate dearly) are pretty bad-ass cartoonists. You draw quite well and many of you *I* also have on watch for that reason (and of course because you're just uber wonderful awesome people and all that, too).

I would like to promote your mad drawing skillz and there is a very quick, simple and easy way for me to help you in doing this:

01) Select which of your drawings you feel are your best. Not what you feel I think would be your best, but what YOU feel is your best stuff currently in your gallery.

02) Submit it to the Awesome Cartoonists Gallery of my dA Group. Membership is of course required to be able to do that.

03) After doing so, I shall then in turn Fav-Whore what I think is your best stuff into the group's Awesome Cartoonists Collection Folder to double your exposure.

You guys have some obscene talent and I wanna help pimp you visibility. So, this is my thank you, to you! Hope everyone is having a good NEW DECADE so far!








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