29 February 2008

Random graphics

I was just thinking today that I'd been making some graphics lately, and hadn't posted them here in a while. So here we go:

This and this are banners made for an A-U contest, of Legolas. (Though I suppose that was self-evident.) The second one isn't that great in my opinion, but I kinda like the first one.

This is a blend made for a contest in which a certain object had to be in the graphic. This round was crowns. I'm pretty proud of that one. This is another blend for a different round of the contest (umbrellas).

This is a Merrin banner with an avvy that I made one day when I was bored and had been listening to Homeless Heart by Amanda Stott, and this is another avvy, for a contest in which the images couldn't be from a movie.

Let's see...this is a blend in which a certain song had to be featured (people are quite creative with their contests). I don't really like it, but it was fun to make until the text decided it hated me. This is a blend from the first scene of PotC: CotBP, for yet another contest. This is a Phantom Grey banner, in celebration of the RPG's anniversary. (Now I'm just throwing random stuff at you.) This and this are X-Men avvies. I've never seen X-Men, but it was just little avvies, so I figured I could deal. And yes, they're for a contest. As a note, these are mostly just fun contests with various other graphic makers on A-U. Nothing serious.

~Sil

25 February 2008

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

So, I was doing Literature this morning, and an assignment that came along with the reading was to take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test and read about your personality. I've always found this kind of thing fascinating, so I did, and the results were actually extremely accurate, I think. I'm ISFJ, which means Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging. From Wikipedia:
According to Myers-Briggs, ISFJs are interested in maintaining order and harmony in every aspect of their lives. They are steadfast and meticulous in handling their responsibilities. Although quiet, they are people-oriented and very observant. Not only do they remember details about others, but they observe and respect others’ feelings. Friends and family are likely to describe them as thoughtful and trustworthy.

That's pretty much me. I knew the Introverted part, but it was really interesting to read up about the other stuff.

I think basically the way it works is that their are eight characteristics that oppose each other: Extroverted-Introverted, Sensing-Intuition, Thinking-Feeling, and Judging-Perceiving. So combined, you can get up to sixteen different personalities. From what I've read, there are various types that are less common, and various types that are more common. ISFJ is a more common one. Also, famous people who were ISFJ include Mother Teresa, George H.W. Bush, Louisa May Alcott, and Queen Elizabeth II. Dr Watson from Sherlock Holmes is an ISFJ, as well as David Copperfield. Yes, I had to add the fictional characters in, too :)

So anyway, I found that really interesting. The test is here. If you take it, comment and tell me what you are, cause I'm interested.

~Sil

14 February 2008

Song of the day

I love this thing.

Well, I used to be a farmer and I made a living fine
I had a little stretch of land along the C. P. line
But times went by, and though I tried, the money wasn't there
And the bankers came and took my land and told me, "Fair is fair"
I looked for every kind of job, the answer always no
"Hire you now?" they'd always laugh, "We just let twenty go!" (Ha ha!)
The government, they promised me a measly little sum
But I've got too much pride to end up just another bum.

Then I thought, who gives a damn if all the jobs are gone
I'm gonna be a pirate on the river Saskatchewan! (Arr!)

And it's a heave (ho!) hi (ho!), coming down the plains
Stealing wheat and barley and all the other grains
And it's a ho (hey!) hi (hey!), farmers bar yer doors
When you see the Jolly Roger on Regina's mighty shores!

Well, you'd think the local farmers would know that I'm at large
But just the other day I found an unprotected barge
I snuck up right behind them and they were none the wiser
I rammed the ship and sank it and I stole the fertilizer.
Bridge outside of Moose Jaw spans a mighty river
Farmers cross in so much fear, their stomachs are a-quiver
'Cause they know that Captain Tractor's hiding in the bay
I'll jump the bridge, and knock 'em cold, and sail off with their hay

Well, Mountie Bob he chased me, he was always at my throat
He followed on the shoreline 'cause he didn't own a boat
But the cutbacks were a-comin' and the Mountie lost his job
So now he's sailing with me and we call him Salty Bob
A swingin' sword, a skull-and-bones, and pleasant company
I never pay my income tax and screw the GST (screw it!)
Sailing down to Saskatoon, the terror of the sea
If you wanna reach the co-op, boy, you gotta get by me! (Arr!)

Well, the pirate life's appealing but you don't just find it here
I hear in north Alberta there's a band of buccaneers
They roam the Athabasca from Smith to Fort MacKay
And you're gonna lose your Stetson if you have to pass their way
Well, winter is a-comin' and a chill is in the breeze
My pirate days are over once the river starts to freeze
But I'll be back in springtime, but now I have to go
I hear there's lots of plunderin' down in New Mexico

And it's a heave (ho!) hi (ho!), coming down the plains
Stealing wheat and barley and all the other grains
And it's a ho (hey!) hi (hey!), farmers bar yer doors
When you see the Jolly Roger on Regina's mighty shores!

-Arrogant Worms, Last Saskatchewan Pirate


This is much funnier if you're Canadian, and happily aware that we are completely landlocked (all of us in Alberta and Saskatchewan, anyway). Pretty much made my day.

~Sil

[people discussing music-sharing]
"Hey, we should have a party where we all share our music, and bring iPods and CDs!"
"Yeah, and we could call it a pirate party."
[I wasn't listening]
"What? Pirate?"

12 February 2008

More random poetry

This is the sequel to the one I did around Christmas, apparently. My inspiration seems to come late at night. I'm not even quite sure what this one is about (it reminds me a bit of Merrin) but...yeah.

It’s falling like a million shards of crystal round my feet.
There won’t be any funeral; my dirge is short and sweet.
Life seems a blown-glass miniature that is but never does;
Yet death that creeps so near is not the specter that it was.

In moments before breath is stolen on the passing wind
I pause and just remember how it might once have been.
No sacrifice, no sorrow; only love and life and laughter
No thought of the slow pass of years, or what might have come after.

Bending low, I gather crystals in my fragile hand
I cannot see the light with which they gleam as sparkling sand
Alone amidst oblivion, the nothingness abounds
They told me that the angels sing. I cannot hear a sound.

I wonder if my eyes reflect the sadness of regret
I could not say; the mirror only shows that they are wet.
This was not the ending to my story that I chose
Not the path I would have taken to bring it to a close.

I cannot stop to dry my tears for what I know is gone
Nor pause to sing the fading last notes of my dying song
Something beckons, calls me on; it stirs my feet to move
Identity is something it does not care to prove.

I stumble in the darkness, without lamp to light my feet
But when a hand slips into mine…the angels’ song is sweet.


~Sil