Articles written by Mr. Jay L.

Where Knowledge Rules

What is Helium

About me - Mr. Jay L.

I am a 32 year old military veteran and computer geek with an infatuation with SciFi/Fantasy, Renaissance Faire, my Scottish heritage (1743 and earlier), and high-tech network technology.

I possess a degree in Computer Information Systems, and accidentally

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Autumn: 1 of 42
There was a bite to the air, a sensation like burning ice, as I drew a deep breath through my nose. Though winter had not yet arrived in Maryland, I could feel it coming deep within my bones. I shrugged my shoulders to settle the folds of my trenchcoat more comfortably over the thick cable-knit sweater and hand-woven scarf I... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Form letter in response to criticism: 6 of 121
To our IT Contracting "Supervisors": This is just a brief note to show you how much we, the contractors, appreciate you, our client and IT supervisors. We appreciate the vast amount of knowledge you have accumulated and decided to pass on through us; I will attempt to detail exactly what I mean, but as an uneducated peasant ... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Living in the city: 2 of 28
In my thirty-two years, I've lived in a variety of cities. I was born in Long Beach, California, during the '70s and, though I didn't live there, my life revolved around that city. My home was Garden Grove, a city in Orange County, and Disneyland could be seen from my back porch. As a young boy I remember travelling to Long ... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Subcultures Goth for newbies: 1 of 13
Okay, Kindergoths, listen up. I've read a bunch of these articles on introducing newbies to the scene, and for the most part they're okay. Not stellar, not fantastic. They're okay. They also contain some well-meant but slightly misleading information. Let me tell you my story... IN THE BEGINNING First off, I started out in t... More..
Relationships & Family > Dating Psychology Explaining the cause of shyness: Why some boys are afraid to ask girls out: 1 of 9
There are a variety of reasons why a man would be hesitant to ask a woman out. The reasons are as varied as the number of men on the planet. However, there are several basic categories into which men tend to fall; often men will combine several categories to various degrees to create a template that is theirs and theirs alon... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Subcultures Goth teens donning black: Roots in modern theater: 1 of 6
Theatricality. It is the core of how many people in the Gothic subculture project themselves. It is an attempt by an individual to assume a manner of self-presentation that projects an ideal of individuality; this visible persona, once adopted, is used then used to both draw attention to the individual as well as distance th... More..
Relationships & Family > Coping with Divorce After a divorce: Moving on to a new life: 15 of 56
My supervisor asked me an interesting question the other day. Basically, he wanted to know if I had any regrets or bitterness regarding my ex wife. Now, most guys would either immediately say, "I hate her," or "I regret ever meeting her." Other guys would have to think about it before they could honestly answer which, in ess... More..
Education > College Courses & Majors What to consider when choosing a major: 6 of 21
When first starting out the community college level the smartest thing to do is narrow options for your major to the top five areas of interest that most appeal to you; this will aid you in slogging through the seemingly endless lists of degrees and offered courses presented in the school catalog. Anyone can do this, right? ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Military (Other) The challenges facing military recruiters: 1 of 3
I heard an interesting, and in some ways shocking, statistic today. In the Orange Country Register this morning was a report that the U.S. military is now accepting about one in five enlistees under waivers. The types of waivers are what surprises me. I have no problem with the first kind of waiver medical since I was able t... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Party Politics & Ideology Reflections: What America needs: 17 of 39
Our modern executive branch organization is a failure. A single party in control of the Executive Branch forwards policies based on a party line; once the policy reaches Congress it faces the challenge of navigating a minefield of party line agendas and voting. Between committee rewrites and filibusters, initiatives that may... More..