Was in Astolpho's Ustream and someone mentioned achievements for FA.

Here's some of my ideas :)

Eye gouge: Lose 5 watchers within 24 hours of uploading your last pic.

Secret Fetish: Upload a picture that receives a view to fave ratio of 1000:1

Viral: Receive on average 5 daily faves on a single submission for 3 months.

What achievements can you come up with?

I saw an interesting documentary on brainwashing techniques last month and just felt like making a journal about it :)

Whenever we think of brainwashing we imagine people tied to chairs and being tortured or injected with stuff, hypnosis or even bizarre signals from the tv. However real brainwashing is very different than what we imagine it to be and in fact it is so common that many of us practice or exploit it almost every day.
The main operators in brainwashing a person:
-High stress
-Controlled environment
-An authority figure
-Prevention of focused thought through busywork or other means.

It sure doesn't take much to get those conditions set up and their result is that we enter a "receptive" state and any authority figure no matter how absurd can simply come in and tell us what to believe. So long as those conditions are maintained even the most strong willed individual will be brainwashed.

Now we're all familiar with social institutions that operate with these systems: School, the military, cults, certain religious orders and even the TV. Lets take TV as an example; it's not the most powerful brainwashing device but it does have the advantage of a voluntary audience. Often conspiracy theorists will harp about how they're emitting brainwashing signals, however as you may have guessed that's not really true. If you're glued to the TV you're automatically exposed to a controlled environment as everything you see and hear is very much controlled by the TV. If you watch the news you're likely to notice that it exploits fear and tends to be pretty stressful, always pushing a panic when it can. Of course focused thought when watching TV is difficult too since you're really not thinking and just absorbing information. That all combined puts you into a receptive state and anyone that presents themselves as an authority is quite capable of brainwashing you.

You can probably figure out from that example a lot of other institutions that also use similar methods.

Now here's when we get to how we operate in a world full of receptive people and how instinctive brainwashing can be. Many people will gravitate to those that are in a receptive state and try to come off as an authority to them. This is especially common among "alpha" people and those that aspire to lead. It happens all the time and it's so subtle even those that exploit it fail to notice that it's happening.


There ya go, yet another bizarre journal from Mif_Maf

Unlike it seems everyone else in the world; I don't readily pursue an interest in music. However I do enjoy music and find it incredibly inspiring with regards to art, I don't often draw with accompanying music even though I know it's effective at making me more creative and looser. I guess I just tend to minimize my exposure given how powerful an effect music has on my emotional state.

Now that I've been learning more about meditation and such things I've begun to notice similarities between music induced emotions and states and that of a self induced trance. Both allow the use of a quieted mind and thus enable a kind of "zen" state.

I've been getting better and better at triggering a meditative state in myself these days and I find it feels similar to that induced by music. Though music doesn't get me as deep as the meditation does.

Oh and I'll mention to those that practice meditation: I don't sit around waiting for it to happen, I'm familiar enough with the sensations in my body and mind to be able to trigger it on command, though I still need to practice more to make it easier and more reliable.


So in summation: music makes me bouncy :3

I've gone through all the descriptions and despite some really tempting ideas I decided to go with something a bit less familiar.

So the winner of the mifmaf steam game commission is:

 alchemistskunk

Everyone had some great ideas and I'll be keeping you guys in mind if/when i do this again :)

I'll be selecting the pic to draw on the 27th so if you still want to have a chance to get my one commission slot send your descriptions in.

Details here:

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/598277/

Do not play Saints Row 2 for PC. I made that mistake and it cost me my video card :(

Luckily I have a laptop now that is comparable to my desktop so at least there is no lost productivity. Now I wait to see if I can get me card replaced.

Oh and I've got a commission slot open:
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/598277/

Yup. That's right I'm offering a commission.

Just 1 !

However, there will be no exchange of money involved. Instead I'm willing to draw a basic color (simple shading), single character, digital image in exchange for a specific game on steam. Note that this is not first come first serve, I'll be selecting which commission I feel most like doing. Images can be from G - NC-17. Gaping orifices i'd consider X and those are no fun. Most subject matter is ok except guro and scat.

That's right you can get a commissioned pic from mif_maf in exchange for a video game.
The game in question costs $50

Send me a note with a general description of what you'd want if you're interested.

If this works out I may do it more often as I love video games.

FEMALISHNESS

you dress to attract
you spend more time than economical on outfits
you look in the mirror too much
you'd prefer others do the physical work
you act passive around new people
an elaborate cocktail is YOUR poison
You explain sex as OTHERS doing it to YOU
discreet earphones are better
you don't like going too long without seeing a friend
you giggle
you wash and care for your hair daily or almost daily
two cute guys playing around is HAWT
cute things in general are great
Undie shopping can be sooo fun
the shoes you're wearing matter in relation to the rest of your outfit
you don't mind being touched gently- but only by someone I love
you are unafraid of saying "FABULOUS"


TEH GUYNESS

you enjoy physical competition
you like to feel strong by helping or harming weaker people
beer is your drink
using words your friends might not understand is very uncool. - It's a sure sign of egotism.
using sexual terms your friends don't know and explaining them is VERY cool
you will say "i had sex with/fucked..." instead of "we had sex"
headphones that make your ears bleed are AWESOME
you have a working hand therefore you don't mind extended time alone
you laugh boisterously
Hairdressers FEAR YOU and your greasy boy hair
Two girls making out and doing inappropriate things with objects turns you on
you use the term "gay" to denote something unpleasant
'street' and gang stuff and awesome graffiti any day
you are uncomfortable shopping for underwear, and do it conservatively
you watch sport on television often

Stolen from  bianka

I guess I'm slightly more guyish :D

Stolen this from Louvelex and I think it's neat :3

It sparked my curiousity.

Generally speaking, people tend to have a 'defining image' that comes to mind when they think of a particular artist. Maybe it's one you can relate to, maybe it's the image that first introduced you to their work, maybe you just feel it was their absolute best, so it sticks out in your mind. So when ever you think of a certain artist, this image pops to mind.

So, I am curious, which of my works comes to mind when you think or hear of me?
Not assuming that you think or hear of me outside of FA, XD but hopefully you know what I mean. :)

Lets get this meme rolling :D

Found a neat dvd series on the subject and I've started practicing more seriously. The kunlun stuff gave me my first taste and now I'm keen on developing my chi conductivity further.

Really felt chi for the first time the other day, and it was cool. Definitely not something you can confuse with a normal bodily function.

http://www.kvue.com/news/top/storie......466a87af.html

More details have since been revealed but they don't really change much. You can still get used electronics though :P

Hi everyone, I'm back from my trip to finland. It's been quite an experience and I'm going to be going abroad in the very near future for something else that should also prove to be quite an experience.

I'll be attending some Kunlun seminars in Secaucus NJ from Jan 15-17.
Info: http://www.kunlunbliss.com/seminars.html

My brother is paying for my tickets there and the flight too, I just need to book a hotel. If anyone is interested in hanging out there sometime just send me a note. If you're interested in the seminars and want to split a hotel room I'm up for that too. Sorry no spooning ;P


I'll have a more thorough report on my Finland trip once my jetlag subsides.

... Back in 3 weeks :P

Have a merry xmas everyone :D

You've all been reading about these discoveries and realizations that I ramble on about. So how about sharing things that you've learned that have completely changed your view of things.

I'll share my first and most profound realization, one that I've since learned is experienced by others in the world as well and is just as profound for them.
I realized that I exist. It's something we rarely think about, but it's one of the most profound realizations we can experience. It's also very simple to say and believe, but to actually fully comprehend your own existence in relation to the universe as a whole can be a life changing event and is the very definition of a "religious experience". This is the solid foundation upon which all my beliefs and realizations have been built, as I cannot in any way refute my own existence after acknowledging it.

So how about it? Perhaps through sharing a little bit like this we can all come to learn a bit more about ourselves.

C'mon you've all got ideas for the greatest game ever, or at least one you'd love to play. I like to design em for fun and sometimes profit too. However I do want to set some ground rules.

If the description involves "do anything with anything anywhere" and "total freedom in a massive totally interactive world" I'll just smack you and tell you to go interact with the real world sometime.

Lets try to keep the ideas realistic.

To get the ball rolling here's one of mine.

Title: Juggernauts
Idea: You control a village full of little people who harvest resources and produce food. Set up just like the settlers series of games in that you have to create resource chains and process materials into usable or better forms. You can not only build these little cities but you can also build massive walls to protect them. Now these little people are at war with other little people and none of them are particularly handy in a fight. Instead they're all really clever builders and work together to build enormous warmachines called juggernauts. The player starts by building a scaffolding structure and scaling it to what size of warmachine they want to build. Then they enter a construction mode where they use building blocks and such to assemble a custom warmachine. Once designed and confirmed the citizens start to deliver resources to the scaffold and start to assemble your creation.
Once finished you can control the juggernaut in an RTS fashion and send it against the opponent.
An important feature is that all pieces can be scaled up and as they scale up their stats and price also increase. As a result as the game progresses and infrastructure gets better your ability to make larger warmachines increases.
Physics for smashing stuff and fire are a must. Game is set in a medieval/steampunk world.

I'm interested to hear what you guys think and what game ideas you have too :D

I'm sure most of you guys have already seen ads for this but it struck me that this is possibly the best scam business ever.

Basically there are businesses that you can send your gold to and they'll send you a cheque. Of course you have no way of knowing how much they'll actually pay for your gold, but at least it's convenient.

I personally have a hard time trusting the honesty of that kind of relationship. However I must commend them for their skill at targeting the lazy and stupid :3

Hmm, perhaps this could be combined with payday loans :D

I'm looking for some good vegetarian recipes to increase the variety in my diet. If you have any you can recommend I'd enjoy hearing about them.

I'm also going to be flying to Finland in a couple weeks and need to start a decongestion regimen and I need some recommendations on decongestants that have minimal side effects. I'll have to be taking them daily for two weeks in order to prepare. I have a deviated septum as a result of my jaw surgery and the pressure in an aircraft cabin can be excruciating if my nose isn't clear.

I just had a discussion with my brother and I've finally come to consciously understand the absurdity of my largest fear. A fear that I share almost everyone on earth.

The fear of action.

It's a completely irrational fear that is beaten into our heads from the time we enter school until we finally leave it. Every time you've had to raise your hand, or gone to a class, done homework, worked on a project or an extra curricular, it's been reinforced. You are taught to fear acting of your own free will and instead to be given direction by someone or something else. Whether it's a schedule, a teacher or your parents the effect is the same: you learn to fear your free will.

The world we live in now is populated almost entirely with people that have this irrational fear. Those that do not exhibit this problem rise to the top of society and tell the rest what to do or believe. It's not because they're special, or smart, creative or wealthy. It's because they simply had the willpower to actually act upon their own will. Our society likes to admire people like this as though they are akin to gods, when in fact they are just like us but lack that fear.

I must remind myself that this fear is irrational and without basis and to act every day.

UGGH! *GRUNT* GGRAARGH, ARGLE RAR, EERRRRRFGG! ARARRARAR! RAAAR!
GRARGUGH! *SNORT*, RRRRR!










...etc.

:P

I use that emoticon a lot, it confuses people :P

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080722.html

Happiness is fun :)

Any suggestions for really good puzzle and brain twister games for the DS? I'm planning on getting the system and a couple games as a gift for my dad and he's really into such things, especially sudoku and similar.

http://www.sexinchrist.com/index.html

I had to share :3

When you eat an apple, when does that apple stop being an apple and become you?

This was a response by Sadhguru to a question regarding mortality.

The entire language seems to be based on the idea of spirituality and the self. Many words build on roots from those concepts within the language. Those concepts themselves have an enormous array of words and subtle distinctions between different states.

It really is quite neat.

English just has lots of variations on describing quantities :P