Articles written by Mr. Jay L.

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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: Living in the city: 2 of 22

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 ...
Society & Lifestyle > Subcultures Goth for newbies: 1 of 11

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...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Autumn: 5 of 43

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...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Form letter in response to criticism: 12 of 94

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 ...
Relationships & Family > Coping with Divorce After a divorce: Moving on to a new life: 11 of 49

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...
Relationships & Family > Dating Psychology Explaining the cause of shyness: Why some boys are afraid to ask girls out: 1 of 4

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...
Politics, News & Issues > War & Peace Commentary: Afghanistan,the new forgotten war: 1 of 3

The Forgotten War. That is how the war in 1950s Korea is known. The Korean War was brutal and public, covered daily by journalists, and was set against the backdrop of the Cold War. But was it truly a forgotten war? No, it was merely overshadowed by the Vietnam War a decade later. The Korean War had the advantage - if you ca...
Education > College Courses & Majors What to consider when choosing a major: 4 of 10

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?...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Boot camp horror and humor stories: 11 of 22

It seemed rather cliche, a scene from any one of a dozen Army movies. Though it had been clear on the day I enlisted - my birthday, in fact - it was pouring rain at 0530 the next morning as the other new recruits and I were loaded onto a bus for the airport. In fact, it was almost identical to the induction scene in "Forrest...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Tributes to the wives of men in uniform: 2 of 4

Uniforms. For many people they represent safety and security. Uniforms represent stability, reliability, and competence; they are the outer representation of what the public of what the public expects of the individual wearing the uniform. In the days following September 11th, the label of hero and guardian became synonymous...