Random Omegle Trolling 5

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: hey aasl
You: Are you drunk?
Stranger: no finger hit twice by accident
You: Legitimate excuse, then.
Stranger: lol asl
You: You first.
Stranger: 16 m canada hbu
You: You're young.
You: 23 f usa
Stranger: lol i can be older if u want
You: You can be?
Stranger: sure i could lie and say im 20 if u want
You: I feel like we're starting this relationship on a foundation of lies and mistrust.
You: How can I ever feel safe leaving you alone in a room with another woman?
Stranger: lol im only kidding im actually 16 and im not drinking
You: You're so willing to lie to me.
You: My heart hurts.
You: My eyes are watering.
You: How could you do this to me?
You: I thought we had something special.
You: A bond of trust and, dare I say it, love.
Stranger: lol who needs another women when u have a sense a humour
You: A deep connection, between two people of semi-similiar geographic ancestry.
Stranger: lol so whats up
You: Well shit, you're a spoil sport.
Stranger: lol
You: I need intrigue, drama, suspense.
You: That's what we women have to feed our vaginas.
You: Otherwise they turn on us and consume us from the inside.
You: Semen is also an acceptable placebo.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.


You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: ey
Stranger: hey*
You: 'Eeeeeeeeeey!
Your conversational partner has disconnected.

Random Omegle Trolling 4

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
You: Hey hey heeeeey.
Stranger: hi there :)
You: Smilie face?
You: Damn.
Stranger: 18 f
You: You move quickly.
Stranger: are you horny?
You: Is this where I pretend to put my arm around your shoulder to grab your boob?
Stranger: do you wtant 2 see me uhmm . . . play with my wet pumssy on web cam 4 u? [;
You: I do not have anything protruding from my skull.
Stranger: ok (: babe go loobok at my pro
You: Communicating with you might be easier via cam.
Stranger: http://prn.xxx/3b09
You: I think your URL is confused. It has no vowels, it's not a word.
Stranger: you got an uhmmm. . . account there?
You: Where are you from?
Stranger: & we can get startred
You: Started on what?
Stranger: i'm goin 2 gett off here nd go soetup my cam for u
Stranger: i wilwl be waiting for u therje
Stranger: tlk to you onthxlere
You: okjay iell b thr
Stranger: buh-byee

Your conversational partner has disconnected.

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!

Stranger: Hey m

Stranger: Asl?

You: Are you saying you are male, or just being lazy when you're saying "Hey, man!"?

Stranger: Male

You: Oh, okay. Glad we cleared that up.

Stranger: Loo

Stranger: Lol

Stranger: U?

You: Do you need to pee?

Stranger: No

Stranger: So theres nothing lije that to clear up

You: You sure? Loo is a common colloquial name for the toilet. May have been a Freudian slip.

Stranger: Possibly

You: Although, his practices have been mostly disregarded at this point.

Your conversational partner has disconnected.

Random Omegle Trolling 3

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: hi
You: Howdy
You: You started, you're supposed to continue.
You: That's how conversation works, it's like Tennis.
You: Or catch.
You: Do you catch?
Stranger: Wtf
You: I can pitch.
Stranger: fuck you idiota
Your conversational partner has disconnected.


You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: m
You: Moustache?
You: Marmouset?
Your conversational partner has disconnected.



You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: hey 22 m , just to make some friends , not horny , so fuck off horny bitches
You: Horny bitches are an issue on here?
You: Who knew.
You: Defying the stereotypes. Usually online sexual predators are viewed as male.
Stranger: now they r females
Stranger: keep this secret
You: And they want to hop all over dat e-dick.
Stranger: they will steal your dick from your pants
You: Or you are trying to bring them in, pretending to be a non-sexual predator when in fact, you are very overtly sexual.
You: Seducing them with your faux non-threatening demand for conversation versus titties.
You: How coy of you, sir.
Stranger: hahah you're smart
Stranger: c u
Your conversational partner has disconnected.

Random Omegle Trolling 2

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Official messages from Omegle will not be sent with the label 'Stranger:'. Strangers claiming to represent Omegle are lying.
You: *lick* :3
Stranger: hey m or f?
You: *lick* :3
Stranger: ok
You: *lick* :3
You: *lick* .....
You: :3
Stranger: what?
You: You don't like my signs of affection?
You: :3
Stranger: i do
You: Whew.
You: *lick* :3
You: *purr* :3
Stranger: meeowww
You: Whoa whoa whoa, I'm only into humans, dude.
You: WTF, cats can't even type!
You have disconnected.


You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Official messages from Omegle will not be sent with the label 'Stranger:'. Strangers claiming to represent Omegle are lying.
Stranger: helloow,
You: Hey, into diapers and scat play?
You: I am.
You: It's awesome.
Stranger: what's that?
You: First, you put on a diaper, then you shit in my mouth by surprise while I'm changing your diaper.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.


You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Official messages from Omegle will not be sent with the label 'Stranger:'. Strangers claiming to represent Omegle are lying.
Stranger: hi
You: hi
Stranger: asl
You: asl
Stranger: 20 m pk
You: 20 m pk
Stranger: what?
You: what?
Your conversational partner has disconnected.


You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Official messages from Omegle will not be sent with the label 'Stranger:'. Strangers claiming to represent Omegle are lying.
Stranger: hi
You: Fuck greetings.
Stranger: ?
You: I don't wanna say hi.
You: I REFUSE GODDAMMIT
You: YOU DON'T DESERVE A GREETING, YOU'RE NOT A HUMAN BEING
You: YOU'RE FUCKING TEXT ON A SCREEN
You: FUCK
Your conversational partner has disconnected.

Jou, 216 (Reporter's Package)

Super awkward.

Jou, 216 (Blog Entry 6, One Thousand Words)

  In the city of San Francisco, it's an obsession.  As with all art, there are often different motivations behind the piece.  Be it for aesthetics, politics, memorandum; anger, love, hate.  All of these can be found on display on sides of buildings, down secret alleyways, and hidden in plain view.

Graffiti is not a new concept.  "A deliberate mark made by scratching or engraving on a large surface such as a wall" by definition, the practise runs all through history.  Humans innately want to leave their imprint behind for future generations; if not for self-glorification, then for information and assistance for generations to come.

In modern days, the act is viewed as a form of rebellion.  Modern versions of graffiti in the US have been around since the 1920s, first showing up on railroad cars and subway trains in New York City.

An image of a bald man with a long nose looking over a fence with the words "Kilroy was here" etched next to him became iconic during World War I.  Servicemen would sketch the image during their travels wherever they would camp out, leaving behind a sign to represent their occupation and as an inside joke among soldiers.

The concept of leaving a mark for others of your kind is not a novel concept, many groups and cults have been known for leaving a symbol for others in their collective, including the Freemasons, fraternities, and many rumoured secret societies.

Some forms of graffiti are used to claim areas for certain groups, gangs, or "taggers" as their territory.  Those marks are usually very elementary in execution and rarely have more than just the name of the collective.

In San Francisco, graffiti is an art.

Space is hard fought for in the city, often going down the same alley within a week will have new art for display.  The streets are open air galleries for any to explore, so long as they're ready for a windy walk.  Multiple alleyways dedicated to artistic expression, the walls dripping with colour and styles of all types.  There are those who pull from historical styles like the mural pictured above near a holistic animal hospital in Oakland.  Others focus on photorealism, fantasy, colour composition, political agendas, and even children's cartoons.

Different communities are represented on the walls of the city, showing its diversity and history with vivid imagery for all to understand.

 Some pieces show a fantastic gift for art and design, creating beautiful visages in unexpected places.

In an alley visible from a elementary school playground in the innercity.

Graffiti artists are often much more considerate and proactive to the community than the stereotype most adhere to.  The entire alley behind an elementary school was covered in children's characters, alphabet and counting references, and even a field of flowers with peace signs for petals.

Local churches, charities, and public health groups are known for enlisting artists to help spread goodwill and beautify the city.

In the 1980s, the YMCA commissioned some artists to paint murals commemorating Asian-American history and accomplishments in San Francisco's Chinatown area.  The murals were varying in style and colour, depicting different triumphs through history, including Asian-American athletes, cultural history, and modern contributions to society.

Just wandering the streets can give you visual documentation of the history and composition of the neighbourhood.  Each district has its own distinct style and flavour, trumpeting the local palette with a myriad of reds, blues, and yellows in an intimate dance on any surface available.

Jou, 216 (Blog Entry 5 - MLG Ohio 2012)

This past weekend has been a bit of a blur. After finishing up in Ohio, I spent the entirety of Monday traveling to San Francisco.  This will end up being a bit more of a placeholder until I am able to get some legitimate sleep, since it is now 3 AM for my natural circadian rhythm.

 This event featured multiple games, including fighter games Tekken, Soul Calibur, King of Fighters, Mortal Kombat, first person shooter Halo and real time strategy game Starcraft.  Players came in force, fighting for the top slot, honour, and prize money.  I was mostly in the Starcraft area of the venue, which ultimately focuses on the comparison between the Korean players, who hold the highest place among competitors, and "Team USA" as the foreign hope for everyone from the rest of the world.

Many of the players travel to the same tournaments to compete, which has generated a pretty tight knit community of friends and rivals.  Often friends and teammates will play their all against each other, even to the point of elimination in bracket.  Two of my friends, who are also teammates, had this situation in Winners Round 5, neither wanting to be defeated nor to be the one to send the other to the Loser's bracket.  The matches were intense, they know each others' strategies well from often practising together.

 As the match completed, the men had a moment of being awkward, then both smiled and shook hands while critiquing the matches the just completed.

Obviously, the matches are an important aspect of a tournament, but another side of it is a chance for fans to interact with their favourite players.  As competitive gaming is a sport which can be played and viewed from any location, large tournaments like Major League Gaming draw in massive amounts of spectators who wish to cheer on and meet the players they idolise daily through streams, online tournaments and match replays. 

Jou, 216 (Blog Entry 4 - Requiescant in Pace)

Any time I am free of obligations, I tend to adhere to the adage "sleep when you're dead".  This definitely rang true over the past week, sadly being coupled with the mortal sin of sloth.  To absolve myself of my sins, I decided to photograph a few local cemeteries in penance.  I personally prefer architectural or natural pictures, and graveyards are one of my favourite places of that variety.

"My Lord hath need of these flowerets gay," The Reaper said, and smiled. 

To say I enjoy graveyards sounds morbid and disturbed at first listening, but let me clarify.  They are very peaceful places, filled with interesting tidbits of history and a very real feeling glance into the past.  It really gives you a frame of reference for how much times have changed, yet have stayed the same, as time has progressed.  It can also be very humbling as well as occasionally entertaining to read the lasting vestige left behind by those before us.

"A precious one from us has gone. A voice we loved is stilled."

Familial pride and respect resonates strong in these old cemeteries, some graves dating as far back as 1801.  Plots are arranged by family; husbands and wives, sons and daughters at rest together often with joined headstones.

Glancing at the ages, one finds a pattern of child and infant deaths.  The more sobering coupling of a mother with "an infant at her side" which shares a deathdate.  Such reminders bring an appreciation for modern medical technology, and leave a momentary hollow feeling of guilt in your stomach.

At the same time, solace can be found in the heartfelt decorations and notes adorning the graves.  There is something sweet about the messages engraved for those who have passed on to the next adventure.

Some are simple, a verse from the Bible being the most common sentiment.  Others are a description of the person's life and legacy, giving you a peek into the window of their soul.

Then there are the truly deep ones that make you stop and inch closer to interpret the decaying stone.  The ones that even a complete stranger feels a tug on their heartstrings over the unadulterated emotion on display for the dearly loved departed.  Those are the intimate notes you almost feel like an intruder upon, the kind which invoke an appreciation and respect for the love you happened to experience from across history.

Some may claim graveyards to be a depressing place, but when truly explored, hope and inspiration can be cultivated.  It is a final chance to leave an impact on the world, where many go with a positive option versus a negative.

When it is my time to rest, I hope that I will have left an impact which deserves the kind of love I've found in these epitaphs.

"Alas how changed that lovely flower
Which bloomed and cheered our heart
Fair fleeting comfort of an hour
How soon we are called to part
Hope looks beyond the bounds of time
When what we now deplore
Shall rise full immortal prime
And bloom to fade no more." 




Click HERE for the rest of the set.

Psychology, 150 (Dream Interpretation)

As someone who generally cannot recall past a mild impression of an idea from their dreams, interpreting them is a rather difficult task to attend to. I've never held much stock in dream interpretation. The whole psychoanalytical scheme reminds me more of a soothsayer telling your your past, present and fortune based on a few generic inquiries, or a medium claiming to contact a dead relative of an audience member who has some connection to the letter “A”. It's an act of preaching to the choir, appealing to those who already follow the same school of thought and manipulating the details to force a meaning assigned to them.

That being said, I do acknowledge that dreams are obviously going to be affected by the individual's thoughts. The same could be said about writing a short story, or painting an abstract image. The raw materials must be in your head to be able to create the final product, but that doesn't necessarily mean that being able to conceive the idea correlates to one's want or ability to. In the same mechanic, the best sort of detective is one who can take the perspective of sort of character they are pursing while also not having the intention of following suit.

I like to apply waking psychological theories to dreams. There have been studies which show that your brain filters out irrelevant sounds and background noises. In these studies, they postulated that the brain may take these noises and try to sort sense out of them, giving the impression of disembodied voices or sounds that did not actually happen. It would not be far fetched, as supported by the biological view, that your brain could do this while also sleeping, taking queues from your surroundings and integrating them into the inner cinema evolving during REM sleep. So not only do you pull from your own past experiences, knowledge, creativity, but also from the world around you.

The cognitive view suggests that your brain uses REM sleep as a time to sort through the data of the day and file it away. It would therefore make sense for your experiences during the day to bleed into whatever absent minded thoughts you would fabricate while sleeping. A full REM sleep is the same concept as a daydream, it is up to your creativity and personal experiences as to what will fill these dreams. Any meaning you may wish to assign to it is up to you, but in the end, it's just an amalgamation of whatever stimuli you have interacted with and the correlations your thought patterns may related to those experiences.

In the end, as I stated at the beginning, I do not support the idea of dream interpretation. At this point, since dream interpretation is well known within out society, one could even argue that this has a placebo effect on those more liable to the idea, leading them to fabricate meaning from fragments. Dreams are a just an assessment of your day, a story your brain creates to amuse itself while doing some paperwork. Meaning, or lack thereof, is up to the dreamer to decide.

Jou, 216 (Blog Entry 3 - The Leche of Human Kindness)

The best way to get better at something is to practice it often.  I've taken to bringing my camera with me whenever I depart into the outside world, probably to the discomfort of my close acquaintances.  Luckily, they've been very supportive.

I recently photographed my friend's two-year-old daughter, getting her in focus proved to be quite the challenge.  The fun part of candid shots is that they don't have to be perfectly crisp, sometimes the imperfect ones lend to the subject, as more often than not, a toddler will be tapping into their wellspring of forever energy.

Heidi is a sweetheart.  The first time I met her, she looked at me like I was the devil.  Since then she's rather warmed up to me and has proceeded to turn on the doe eyes with abandon when her will is contested.  Not that I generally mind being manipulated by a small bundle of cunning, it's just so hard to deny her when she turns on the charm.

The entire time I was shooting, she shyly shuffled around with an occasional giggle bubbling past her lips.  Multiple times she would reach forward with her sticky fingers to fondle my lens, leading to some blurry "come hither"-esque photos and me neurotically dodging to avoid fingerprints smears.

As her mother was preparing their family dinner, I sat in the living room with Heidi to watch her favourite movie, Rio.  I'm a sucker for children's films and had yet to see it, so I was just as engrossed with the story as she was.  Luckily, I decided to pester her a little more with the camera and captured a sequence of emotion that only little kids seem to manage.  The film had reached a point of conflict in the plot, causing Heidi to go from blissful mumbling of song syllables she's retained on to fear, sadness, anger, surprise, happiness, then intent focus in the span of a few minutes.

That unguarded reaction and expression is something we eventually grow out of as adults, so it is refreshing when you get to see a child show their exact feelings so plainly.  It doesn't hurt to be damn cute while doing it, either.

Her favourite part was to look at the pictures of herself on the small display screen on the camera.  After a few minutes of posing for the camera, she would exclaim "baby?!" and clamour into my lap before any rebuttal could be issued to flip through the recent shots.  It was so much fun hanging out with my friend and her daughter, I can't wait to invade their home again soon.

Jou, 216 (Blog Entry 2 - A Little Flamboyant Heart and Soul)

I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day. I view it as a very fake and forced holiday, even when I have a significant other to share the time with.

Luckily, a good friend of mine had invited me to see the play "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told" at the Duke Energy Theatre.  A mutual friend of ours is the stage manager for the show and asked us both to attend.

We decided to try a soul food restaurant near the theatre before the show, Mert's Heart and Soul Food. It was one of the best impromptu food choices ever made in the history of mankind.

The decor was eclectic and inspiring, the walls adorned with personal photographs of the owner and famous African-American figures of the South.

A chalkboard hangs above the open view kitchen featuring the original menu from the restaurant opening 13 years ago and random sculptures made from discarded items were stations around the cozy space, keeping a mix of old with the new in theme.

Our waitress was fabulous, a true southern lady calling us honey while she offered sweet tea as the first and foremost option for liquid refreshment.  No matter how long I've lived in the South, the odd obsession with tea sweet enough to make your cheeks pucker will forever amuse me.

 With the chill outside, I opted for some homemade chicken noodle soup and a piece of buttermilk fried chicken.  My friend, a born and bred Southerner, went for a more traditional collections of sides of macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and sweet yams.

Each order comes with a small loaf of cornbread, possibly the most delicious cornbread in the world.  I felt like my mouth was going to die from happiness, the moist and semi-sweet nugget of baked magic.  I'd honestly never been a fan of the stuff, but this restaurant introduced me to the perfect version that alone will bring me back with drool on my chin in anticipation. Yes, it was so good I am devoting an entire paragraph to its majesty.

To round off our meal celebrating old fashioned home cooking of the South, after asking the waitress for her personal suggestions, we ordered some banana pudding for dessert.

This was another one of the best life decisions we've made as a collective throughout our friendship.  Two in one night, we were obviously on a roll.

Enough whipped cream to last the entire dish.  Freshly made, I'd only ever experienced the kind that's been loitering in a pan at some cheap buffet before.

And, I don't know, I'm just a big fan of both bananas and pudding.  So, maybe I was a tad biased.  Which ever you wish to accredit my praises to, I definitely recommend this treat.

We were reluctant to leave, but we had to rush off to catch our show.  I plan on repeating my attendance, not only for the tantalising cornbread, but also to dive deep into some of the local food culture I've never had the chance to become acquainted with despite my years of residing below the Mason-Dixie line.

Jou, 216 (Blog Entry 1 - Snug Harbor, 1.28)

 We must write a blog for my journalism class. This is my first post.

I've always been rather lazy when it comes to exploring the city, no matter which city I am in.  Once I am home, I want to just cuddle up in front of my computer and whittle away at the hours until my body demands I rest for another day.  For this blog, I am going to attempt to push myself outside my comfort zone to experience a little more of what life has to offer at nominal cost.

Charlotte nightlife can be a very interesting animal to encounter.  One of my first meanderings brought me to the Snug Harbour, a local alternative bar in Charlotte's "hipster" area off Central Avenue near Midwood Plaza.  I had been there once before, wanting to force myself to socialise a bit on a demure Sunday night.

This evening was a Thursday.  Shiprocked Thursday, to be specific.  On this night, they have a special show for the alternative community which is a mash-up of Drag Queens and Burlesque.  I had an inkling of the presentation from the onset, some friends recommended the novelty and requested my humble presence.  It was definitely an experience which left an impression.

The small bar was packed, one of those standing room only situations where you appreciate the added body warmth but would rather not be in close proximity with the bulk of your available compatriots.  It's a popular night, for along with the show there are drink specials to tempt the wicked to attend.

My friends were getting crunk, as the kids would call it, while I claimed the role of designated driver with gusto.  As the night progressed, I crept around with my camera to entertain myself.  To avoid getting a fist implant, I kept my reticule primarily on inanimate objects.  The night progressed smoothly, saw old friends and made new ones.  Good times were had, along with giggles and some wriggles on the dance floor.

Midnight hit, and the real ball began.  The music was throbbing, people were gathering close to the dinky wooden stage in one corner of the room.  The closeness brought an emphasis on the beat as dollar bills began to fly on stage for the gogo dancers gyrating to the sound.  Soon the DJ brought down the music as the girls shuffled off-stage to announce the treat for the night.  A local Drag queen, Bethann Phetamine, was soon to mount the stage.

Her entrance was dramatic.  

Her make up, elaborate.  

Her clothes ... Not so existent. 

The show was definitely entertaining, to say the least.  The crowd ate up everything she had to offer, and were voracious for more.  It was hard to tear your eyes away, even if it were merely from morbid curiosity.

She mouthed along with the lyrics while fluttering about the stage with an erratic fluidity which is difficult to capture on film or in words.  The show ended with a dramatic flourish of her arm as the mass of bodies pushed forward in excited reception.


To say it was a one of a kind experience would be overtly poetic, but for my first experience of that lifestyle, it will definitely be one difficult to forget.

Psychology, 150 (Sigmund Freud)

Basic "answer these questions" boring short essay thing.

Sigmund Freud was a revolutionary in the evolution of psychoanalysis and psychology. He began as a neurologist, then transitioned into theories about the unconscious mind. Freud theorised that individuals would repress unwanted or inappropriate desires, often sexual or pleasure related. He believed it was a defense mechanism of the subconscious to protect the individual's sanity. Another of his theories was that girls had to accept early in life their initial failure to be born as a male. Freud was known for his male preferential and was often criticised for it.

Many of Freud's theories were directly based on his own experiences and surroundings. Later in life, as the first World War and antisemitism took hold of Europe, “death and violence became more prominent in his theories, and he emphasized the ways participation in mass society released deep-seated aggressive impulses. (LOC)”

Outside of criticism for his misogynistic theories, Freud's emphasis on sexual tendencies and causality for mental issues was also often under fire. Over time, many of his supporters would come to disagree with him and move on to create their own organisations as “diversity of opinion was something Freud himself seems to have had but little tolerance for. (NNDB)“ Although his theories are often discounted, his drive to understand the subconscious and mental process set the foundation for modern psychology.

"Write About Yourself"

Most uncomfortable thing you can ever request of someone imo. >_<;;;




I first joined the Simulation and Game Design Program when I was eighteen-years-old and fresh out of high school.  At that age, I was very free-spirited and largely interested in traveling and exploring the world around me.  Before I had entered high school, I had visited England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and had been deported from the Czech Republic to Germany on a trip with the YMCA to attend a Christian Leadership Conference in Prague with a group of fellow teens.  I was thirteen-years-old at the time and managed to keep calm while soothing the twenty-eight-year-old chaperone which had been deported with me as he had a panic attack.  The summer after I graduated from high school, I went to Russia for a three week riverboat cruise with my Grandparents where I made friends with my contemporaries employed on the ship.  By the end of the trip, I was already able to communicate basic conversations and understand more complex ones in Russian.

When I returned to America, I was antsy to explore more. While attending classes, I worked two jobs to accumulate 3,000 dollars for a trip around the United States my best friend and I had been planning since we met in our sophomore year of high school.  We purchased one-way tickets and flew from Charlotte, North Carolina to San Francisco, California on May 20th, 2008.  We explored the city and helped non-profit group Food Not Bombs feed the homeless for a few weeks, then purchased three month unlimited ride Greyhound bus tickets as our mode of transportation. We passed through thirty-one states and two countries, carefully navigating our trip to ensure we could find people to stay with as well as follow Warped Tour, a music festival, to spread awareness for a non-profit association Vegan Outreach. 

Negotiation, compromise, flexibility, decision making, budgeting, sociability, and assessing the character of others are all life skills we relied upon heavily during our trip.  There were times we trusted complete strangers to have wonderful experiences with, other times we were taught lessons about the dynamics of people and how to interact with them.  It was a wonderful adventure, through which I experienced and explored much of the United States and its diverse national cultures. 

My trip ended with me in Canada, where I worked for three months until I had an opportunity to move to New York City.  I pounced on the chance and lived there for two years.  While living there, I worked as a secretary and after a year of residency began filing papers to attend classes at a local school.  I realised I would not be able to afford going to school on my own while also trying to live in the expensive city and made plans to return to Charlotte so I could focus on my education.

Since I have returned to Central Piedmont Community College my grades have been excellent and I have been involved in extracurricular events on campus while still working a regular part-time job.  A highlight would be designing a game for teenage girls which received an honourable mention in the Games4Girls Competition held by the University of Illinois, primarily due to the judges being unable to defeat it. 

I have had fun learning about game design, but I have found that throughout my life, I have really enjoyed helping those around me.  I have always had a strong interest in psychology and why people do the things they do, so I have decided to focus my education in that field of study.  I hope to one day be able to properly understand, assess and advise those in need and have a positive effect on the world around me. 

English, 112 (Tomulin Essay: eSports)

Tomulin style approach to the ever debated "Is it, or is it not?" for competitive gaming. 

Another piece written while lacking in sleep, with a little filler added to reach a length requirement.

What Makes a Sport?

Heavy breathing, fingers clenched, heart racing; you're on the edge of your seat, afraid to blink and miss even a second. Tension breaks as the match completes, a crescendo of sound erupting from the audience as bodies launch to their feet and cheer the victor. Maxed capacity, the room quakes under the energy of the crowd as the winner exits his sound poof cocoon to strut across the stage and shake hands with his former foe. In the splendour of such a moment, none present could fathom someone discounting their competition as a true sport, yet there are many who would contest such a claim. Competitive video games are often discounted by those who do not understand them. Professional players push themselves past the breaking point physically and mentally, practicing multitasking skills and strategies to be the best in their craft. One Real Time Strategy [RTS] game, Starcraft II, has emerged above the rest as the flagship game to represent what many are calling eSports. By definition, StarCraft II is a sport because it is an athletic activity, which requires mental, emotional, and physical dexterity at a highly competitive level.

The topic of what makes an activity a sport versus a game is a well worn argument. The English language is continuously evolving, semantics of a word change with common usage to become gradually accepted by the general public. Most current definitions of the word “sport” require the same basic mechanics; physical activity, usage of skill, a set of rules, and a competitive nature. Many emphasize the importance of the physical activity as a staple of sport, although modern society as a whole has evolved to a point less emphasizing the pure muscle strength of the individual. Contests such as billiards, car racing, and video games focus more on specific skills of the individual player. Each game has its own form of endurance involved to be able to win; in Starcraft players sit for hours at a time playing endless games and studying their opponents. Contrary to conventional views, the physical, mental, and emotional drain on a player is immense. Albeit not moving much in comparison, a professional gamer's heart rate can race up to 160 beats per minute, keeping pace with a basketball player on the court (PBS). Many of the teams have mandatory exercise periods to help stay in peak physical condition to play to their best and help prevent career killing injuries such as carpal tunnel. Just as with more conventional sports, players dedicate their entire lives to the game with full days of practice and studying strategies. They train their body and mind with only victory in sight, often to the point of exhaustion. Jonathan “Jinro” Walsh, a professional Swedish progamer living in Korea describes preparing for an important match; “I practiced every hour I didn’t eat, shower or slept during the GSL,” Walsh said. “One day could start at 2 pm and end at 7 am and when I played the most I only had was a few hours over to eat and for shorter breaks. (dantranimal)” Although the 2008 Summer Olympics did not pick up Warcraft III, another RTS game, as a demonstration sport, they did select two progamer athletes as torch bearers on the way to Beijing (Blocksom).

An important aspect of a sport is how it engages with those who watch it. Entire stadiums have been filled by spectators hoping to see their favourite titans clash in battle for thousands of dollars and recognition. South Korea is the current hotbed for eSporting events, the second most watched sports genre under only Soccer (KeSA). The largest live event in Korea had 120,000 live spectators gathered at Kwang-An-Li beach in Busan to watch Starcraft, beating even the 2011 Super Bowl (KeSA). The passion and fervent excitement demonstrated by Korean fans is slowly infecting the rest of the world as leagues expand in other countries. Major League Gaming [MLG] recently held their National Championships in Providence, Rhode Island drawing in over 241,000 unique viewers online from over 175 different countries, surpassing top cable networks during competing broadcasting time slots (MLG). Their peak live spectator event in Anaheim, California had over 20,000 in attendance, many traveling from all across the world just to potentially meet and cheer on top progamers (MLG).

Big time eSports leagues such as MLG, North American Star League [NASL], and the Korean organization GOM all stream their matches online with live commentary with a popular viewer subscription programme of typically about US10$/month. Spectators can choose to watch the matches in the lowest quality setting for free, but many opt to pay the fee for better resolution and to join in with chat conversations. Much of Starcraft is about entertaining their audience via personalities; players interact with fans, celebrate victories and actively participate in the online community. Progamers may stream their practise matches online to thousands of viewers daily, the bigger personalities often being able to make more by streaming daily than most salaries (Destiny). Esports also accesses a demographic which is typically difficult for marketers to reach, males ages 18-24, which attracts many sponsors to support players and tournaments (MLG). Where there is money, there is support to help the sport grow past just being Korea's national pastime and spread across the world.

Some dissenters claim that it is too easy to reach a professional level as a progamer, that all one has to do is put in the hours to be on the same tier as top players. There is a bit more of a level playing field since physical ability is less of a factor. Anyone can train themselves to be decent at the game, typical barriers such as gender differences or motor capacity do not come into play. Aptitude and dedication are the essentials in a equation for success. Just as in regular sports, muscle memory and learning the game to the point where it becomes instinctual is the key to winning. When playing Starcraft, a player must focus on collecting resources to build his army via structures and upgrades, as well as keeping an eye on his enemy. Ultimately, you must defeat your enemy by dominating control of the map and using the army you've amassed against his. Multitasking, decision making, strategy, and muscle memory are all heavily relied upon for victory. Some progamers can reach up to 370 actions per mintue [APM] with their keyboard and mouse, while casual players usually peak around 100 APM (National). In an effort to find the reason why professional players excelled above amateurs who are also dedicated, Korean doctors scanned the cognitive processes of a professional and an amateur players' brains after playing a match. Seo Ji Hoon, the professional player, had the most activity in his frontal lobe and limbic area, showing that his actions were based on assessing the play field and reacting using instinctive strategy unlike the amateur player who focused on consciously deciding what course of action to take (National). Mark Blair, a cognitive scientist at Simon Fraser University recently began a study analyzing the learning patterns and division of focus mastered by Starcraft enthusiasts in hopes of applying their multitasking mastery skills to the general populace outside of the game (Scientific).

Sensationalism and a sense of imminent danger is one method of selling a sport. There is obviously no real potential threat on a player's life or immediate health when engaging in electronic competition, but that isn't something to belittle. Claiming that the primary incentive for viewership is violence gives a negative impression of any sport as well as the fans and isn't a solid ground to base an argument. As with any new sport, the basic concept can be easily grasped while watching; more in depth intricacies are learned from continuing to watch, speaking with friends, or from listening to commentary. No matter the sport, a neophyte will not has as strong of a relationship with the mechanics as a seasoned veteran. Small nuances about the metagame and leveled aspects of play enhance the game for both players and spectators. A true sport can branch across language barriers and bring a community together over their shared interest, something Starcraft accomplishes well. Anyone with a computer and internet connection can play, watch, and participate in the community to connect with like minded individuals all over the world.

Semantics and definitions can be constantly debated and reevaluated to uplift or discount the validity of the dedication people have for eSports. The true spirit of sport and competition is to bring people together in friendly rivalry who come away from the experience with a feeling of self worth and camaraderie. Any participant in the Starcraft community, be they a player, spectator, caster, or merely support it can vouch for the worth of being brought together by this shared passion.

Works Cited Page

MLG. “MLG Delivers the Largest Season in eSports History.” Major League Gaming. Major League Gaming. 6 Dec 2011. Web. 6 Dec 2011.

Upson, Sandra. “How a Computer Game is Reinventing the Science of Expertise.” American Scientific. 1 Dec 2011. Web. 6 Dec 2011.

Blocksom, Jimmy. “Sky & Moon to Carry the Olympic Torch!” Gosu Gamers. 3 years ago. Web. 6 Dec 2011.

PBS. “Korean eSports.” Frontline. 2 Feb 2010. Web. 6 Dec 2011.

KeSA. “e-Sports Biz in Korea.” Korea s-Sports Association. May 2008. Web. 6 Dec 2011.

National Geographic. “Starcraft: World Cyber Games 2005.” YouTube. 4 Feb 2010. Web. 6 Dec 2011.

dantranimal. “Why e-Sports Will Rival Traditional Sports.” dantranimal. 30 Dec 2010. Web. 6 Dec 2011.

Destiny. 'What do the pros earn and how?” Team Liquid. 4 May 2011. Web. 6 Dec 2011.

English, 112 (Sexism in Print Advertisments)

I was mildly delirious while writing this. 

Research made me sick of the subject and frustrated with the world, so I threw something together. 

No real feminists were consulted in the writing of this rubbish.

This is about the Man, and how He's always trying to keep us Goddesses in our place with these stereotypical ads shoved down our throat. Everywhere you look, there is a Woman dressed like a china doll with Her face made up to perfection, a impossibly short dress barely covering Her sacred flower, and some awful Man-made pair of torture on Her feet. She's lusting after some gem, or some appliance, or some piece of chocolate. Lord forbid She could be someone practical. Improbable; She was born with a vagina and is the sole reason miserable Men are in existence. Here are just a few examples of the abuse of Man on Womankind that I'm sick and tired of putting up with.

Because women aren't well versed in manipulating knobs.

First is the over used and abused bimbo routine. In His effort to demoralise Us, they constantly skew our soft femininity as some equivalent to intellectual inferiority. This ad focuses on Her lost expression and Her lip bite is a subtle commentary on how a Man doesn't want to listen to His woman to speak, just look pretty for Him to look at. Offensive and outrageous insinuations such as this set Women up as objects to be mocked and ridiculed as if they are so below a Man they can't even drive properly.

Well, when you put it that way ...

More insulting undertones about how Women are merely materialistic and only want a Man who can take care of them with His money. I am here to say that this Goddess' legs are crossed no matter how many shiny baubles are thrown at me. I am not your tawdry whore, I am a Woman of empowerment! My womb is the chalice of life and as its carrier I demand respect from the chauvinistic pigs who think they can control Me, otherwise you can keep a'steppin' Mr. Moneybags!

A real man wears fancy shoes when
he curb stomps his bitches.

There is too much wrong with this ad for Me to even form cohesive sentences, I need to go relax with some lychee green tea to collect my chakra before continuing on. First off, how does this even appeal to a buyer about shoes? “All the better to kick your face in, my dear, so get to polishing.” What sadistic sack of sad human conceived this contrived ads is beyond me, but I hope you got one of those loafers to the face.

One would think in a modern age that the Mother Goddess would be shown true respect for the Gift She gives to the world via Her body, and yet We are still besmirched by the oppressive puerile mentality of the Men around Us. Here's to empowering Ourselves to step up and protest when He tries to bring us down with immature and insulting propaganda against vaginas!

English, 112 (Rogerian Essay)

It Takes Two to Tango

Sexual preferences are often a point of contention in modern society. Personal beliefs can often taint one's ability to view a situation subjectively, no matter which side you are on. Both sides have been known to go to the extreme in support of their cause, often imposing it on others with selfish disregard. Two young gentlemen have recently been thrust into the spotlight for their choice of partner in love, being met with strong support of those who wish to not see them torn asunder by what they call unfair and homophobic actions. Others have discounted their love, claiming although it “occurs naturally in nature, [it] doesn't mean it's right”.

Buddy and Pedro have a bromance for the ages; the friends groom each other, swim together, and whisper sweet sounds of endearment. Once the intent of separating the two in order to “take advantage of their good genes by breeding them” reached public notice, negative critique came pouring in from many sources with claims of homophobia and exploitation. The pair are not the first to have the public rise in support when their life choices are threatened. A small commune of endangered couples in Germany were protected by advocates when advisers attempted to introduce females to encourage mating. Eventually, one of the couples was able to successfully raise a child, paving the way for other couples in the colony.

Typically, standing up for the rights of others is not a practise to be looked down upon; trumpeting the cause for those who cannot speak for themselves is noble and just. However, harsh criticism, such as accusing groups of homophobia, without acknowledging all the details can often blow a situation out of proportion and create an awkward situation for all involved. Buddy and Pedro enjoy each other's company, having lived their bachelorhoods together, but need to be given a chance to explore their options. Some may disagree with the methods of their elders, but often those who are outside the issue are lacking in details to provide a proper opinion.

Conventional wisdom says to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what the cost. Amidst such excitement, group mentality can focus on specific issues instead of the big picture. Jumping to conclusions can lead to confusion and turn a slightly awkward situation into an international issue other groups can use as a springboard. The best method of action would be to assess the situation completely before rushing in and accusing those involved.

In the tale of Buddy and Pedro, bachelor African penguins of the Toronto Zoo, the ending is a happy one. They are still allowed to spend time together, merely being separated to hopefully help continue their species with some lucky ladies. Those who reviewed the entire situation would see that no one was trying to split up the two, and that “they will be allowed to renew their relationship” after helping rejuvenate their species. Hopefully this will serve as a lesson in exploring all aspects of an issue before making a snap judgment.

Random Omegle Trolling 1

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Official messages from Omegle will not be sent with the label 'Stranger:'. Strangers claiming to represent Omegle are lying.

You: Wow, Ryan, is that you?
Stranger: yepp
You: Fuck yeah. Dude, I've been trying to find you since that first night we talked for like hours.
Stranger: awesome
You: I was so heartbroken when your internet connection lagged out and I didn't get your facebook info yet.
Stranger: oh really im sorry
Stranger: that sucked
You: Funny thing about sucking, I was totally going to suck your dick.
Stranger: creep?
You: But that was like five years ago and I've had gender reassignment surgery since then.
Stranger: sick.
Stranger: your really a girl?
Stranger: boy*
You: Depends on what you like, Ryan. I kept my originals, just added some new fun parts.
Stranger: dude you've changed you nasty bitch.
You: But, you said you were down with that when we first talked!
You: You're the one who has changed!
Stranger: i was young and stupid than. now all i know is that we met on the internet
You: I THOUGHT YOU ACCEPTED ME FOR WHO I AM!?
Stranger: and i dont know you.
You: Don't say that, Ryan. It breaks my heart!
You: I LOVE YOU RYAN
You: DON'T DENY ME
You: I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOU
Stranger: DUDE IM JUST MESSING WITH YOU THIS ISNT RYAN FUCK FACE
You: THE OH'S STAND FOR MILLIONS OF MILES FOR EACH ONE
You: DON'T LIE TO ME RYAN
You: I KNOW IT IS YOU
You: YOU EVEN TYPE THE SAME WAY
Stranger: who the fuck is ryan
Stranger: DOESNT MEAN IM RYAN DIPSHIT.
Stranger: IM A FUCKING FEMALE
You: DOES TOO, YOU'RE MY RYANASAURUS REX!
Stranger: WTF CREEPER
You: Shit, that's cool, I like chicks too.
You: Wanna fuck?
Stranger: your bi?
Stranger: WTF
Stranger: helll no
You: Why not?
You: I've got the best of all worlds, lady.
Stranger: cause im all straight
You: It's coo', I still have a dick.
Stranger: FUCK YOU BITCH
You: :(

Your conversational partner has disconnected.

English, 111 (Argumentative Essay)

I hate five paragraph essays. This essay is pretty lame.


Eureka



Tensions are always high in the Senate. With the well being of the Nation at stake, it is important for Senators to focus on the real issues affecting the country and use their allotted time to enact laws for the common good. With that in mind, one can see why there is such a heated debate over the controversial laws affecting the sale of incandescent light bulbs set to come into play beginning January 2012. Incandescent bulbs are to be slowly phased out for the more efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Lawmakers are very polarized when it comes to this topic for many reasons; proponents of the movement cite the energy efficiency and environmental factors, while dissenters are outraged over the possible legislative precedent being set. Although one can empathize with the worry of encroaching upon consumers' rights, this is an instance where the risk is worth the potential gain.

Light is something many seem to take for granted, a basic necessity of our modern times with a surprising price tag. Energy Star, run by the U.S. Department of Energy to research energy usage and its effects states “lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home's electric bill” (Energy Star 1). CFLs may have a higher cost at initial purchase, but they last 100 times longer while using nearly 75 percent less energy for an average savings of 70 dollars (AJ). Some companies, such as Duke Energy, have embraced the initiative by offering customers vouchers for free starter packs of CFLs replacements for their homes. Otheriwse, the 700 percent price different sounds grandiose without proper data. Comparing 50 cents versus $3.50 with the compounded over time savings makes for a weak counter-argument even in a time of financial crisis.

Another advantage which cannot be ignored is the environmental impact the transition will enumerate. Incandescents use 90 percent of their power resources to produce heat, causing the temperature to rise as much as 5 degrees per hour in some rooms. CFLs burn 6 times cooler, using only 35 percent of their power to produce heat with the rest emitting light. Although CFLs currently contain a small amount of mercury, if properly recycled, the decrease in power demands actually lessens the amount of mercury emissions used by a single light source by 30% (Energy Star 1). 45 percent of US electricity comes from coal based plants, primarily in the Southeastern and Midwestern states. For areas with a high dependency on coal, switching to CFLs is proven to decrease the amount of mercury released into the environment.

Opponents of the legislation view it as an affront on a consumer's right to make their own decisions on which bulbs to use in their homes. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) accused supporters of “always want[ing] to do something that tell[s] us how to make our lives better” (Howell). Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) relayed “people in Idaho are just astonished that the federal government is telling them what kind of light bulb to put in their home” (Howell). Their statements come across as fear mongering as they chastise supporters by comparing the regulations to abortion issues and grossly skewing the language of the mandate into being a ban versus a progressive upgrade in technology. A more legitimate claim can be held for the concern over potential mercury difficulties and recycling protocols. Some have mentioned a discomfort with CFLs being made primarily in China, which seems biased since most manufacturing for a collection of daily use items takes places overseas.

Proper representation is an important aspect of the political system. Compact fluorescent lamps are a financially viable method of conserving non-renewable resources as well as cut down on pollution. Some view the transition as a threat against consumer rights, but the actual language of the legislation is outlined as a process to weed out out dated and wasteful alternatives via guidelines and regulations. Luckily, the brave elect are around to spend the time and effort to review important issues such as motions that were signed into law back in 2008 to protect the American right and way of life. God bless America.

English, 111 (Journal 4)

Write one page, double-spaced explaining you feel about overweight people in our society. Who is to blame? Do you think America is obsessed with being thin?

There once was a boy named Billy,
He found himself to often be chilly,
Arms were skinny, he looked a bit illy,
So he ate, and he ate, and he ate himself silly.

As Billy grew and grew, his girth often got him in trouble,
His mother was embarrassed, she thought it abominable,
Friends still loved him, for he was ever amicable,
But the doctor warned him, his actions were deplorable.

He ate his way through the h'ordeuvres,
Restaurants wanted his patronage everywhere,
A seven course meal in comparison to him was for amateurs,
Happily consuming, his stomach kept expanding while he was unaware.

He stuffed his mouth with his fists,
Nothing else in the world seemed to exist,
He downed an entire chicken without any assist,
His face turned blue, his eyes bulged as he asphixed.

Poor Billy was too big to save, his life met its aorist.