Just Another Survey

After already having given the Scratch-Off Challenge I came across another interesting survey of sorts on this here blog. I'm going to do my best to write the answers with as much clarity and detail as possible so as not to miss out on any given essentials. And here we go...!


WHAT ARE YOUR THREE GREATEST FEARS?
I hate how the survey begins by asking me my three fears but I suppose I have no other choice but to answer it. Truthfully too... Aside from God, who I love and respect also, my three greatest fears are as follows in no particular order:

1. I'm afraid of heights. I wouldn't mind the everyday two- or three-storied houses but that's as high as I can manage. Anything higher than that and I'd probably have to lie down on my belly to catch a glimpse down below.

2. I'm afraid of flying cockroaches. This doesn't necessarily imply that I'm afraid of insects and all the other creepy crawlies in general. It's just that I get goose bumps everytime I see a bloody cockroach take off; especially when I'm coming to destroy them with my slipper!

3. I'm afraid of my mother's missed calls. Perhaps the greatest fear known to many an outgoing teenager is the more-than-one missed call received from the one they call "Mother." It's just so dreary to think your mum might be hell-bent on exacting a punishment on you for not answering her calls. Even when I'm not out with friends or partying here and there it still freaks me out to see missed calls because I carelessly left my phone on silent mode.

WHAT ARE FOUR THINGS YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
I'm going to assume this part of the survey refers to that soulmate I might find some day in my life. One of the ideal traits of my ideal girl would definitely have to be an appreciation for all things exquisite and fine. I'm thinking of a girl who dresses neatly, wears highborn clothing, enjoys fine-dining and formal parties, and possesses that "sass" a lot of guys love in a girl. A lady is what I'm asking. I wouldn't mind if her lady-self had a wee bit of arrogance, pride, and an upper-class attitude. But too much of those and she would just cross the line. The kind I find ideal is one who is modest and humble on the inside but richly and sophisticated on the outside.

Secondly, I'd love a lady who can maintain an upper-class vibe in front of others but who isn't afraid to explore all the wonderful fantasies in bed. Think, a tame cat outside of the house but a wild tigress in bed. To put it simply: complete sexual gratification in one package.

Thirdly, a pretty face. I know most people love their better halves for their personality but it isn't wrong to want sweet candy in an attractive wrapper. I'm not going to nitpick on any of her other womanly features but I would want a face with deep, engaging eyes, and lips in which I could just dive deep into. Sorry for getting carried away but I would want my cat-and-tigress to have a face that would melt my heart everytime I see it.

This last trait might be asking a bit too much but I want a woman who concerns herself more with the nurturing of the house and leave the breadwinning to me. I'm not asking for uncompromised obedience, I'm asking for an old-fashioned woman who hasn't let the times or the society change her. A woman who understands she's a woman and plays the part.

WHAT'S YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION?
After reading the above preferences I think you'd find this a no-brainer. But in case some of you might be wondering whether I'm bi-curious or have had any sort of sexual relations with a man then my answer would be, "No, I haven't. And, God willing, I never will. Not even if I'm getting paid."

WHAT'S YOUR HEIGHT?
Eh... I'm 5'7" to 5'8" tall. Yeah, I'm shorter than the average male height and I'm the short one, save for one or two others, among my peers. Both men and women have called me short but I feel I'm perfect for my age. Though a problem sometimes, I get by knowing that I still have seven more years to let my growth hormones increase me an inch or two (or three). And the fact that shorter people gain muscle mass faster than taller ones and kick-ass in a one-on-one encounter are just some of the reasons that help me sleep at night.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE?
This was actually very difficult to fill in but in the end I had to choose one quote above all.

"A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities." - J.R.R. Tolkien

WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIP STATUS?
Single and ready to mingle.

WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR PARENTS?
I love my parents and cannot contemplate to imagine a world without them. If there is one thing I am certain, above all else, that God has blessed me with is that He has given me a hardworking father and a loving mother. I get along well with both my parents and love and respect them equally. I admire my father for working till late at night just to ensure his children receive a good education, three meals a day, and a roof above their heads. I admire my mother for her enthusiasm and blind love for her children. She would stop whatever she's doing if she finds her children distressed or in pain. She would spend hours sitting beside her children during fevers. All the while she would also play the part of the sister we never had. A family of sons, my mother is both my mother and my older sister. She would laugh at playful jests with us and try to beat our highscore on Angry Birds while not compromising her motherly authority. My father, on the other hand, is not just my father but also my guardian-protector, ever watchful of his sons. He would provide moral and financial help whenever needed and always felt the need to spoil his sons every week with gifts or a family night out.

WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SIBLINGS?
I don't have a sister and I'm the oldest of three brothers. My two brothers - one being two years younger than me and the other nine years younger -  are to me as the moon and sun are to Earth. I enjoy the company of my middle-brother and frequently engage in bonding sessions like playing a video-game together or smoking shisha/cigarettes in the many cafes dotted throughout the city. Though I don't spend much time with my younger brother his presence is still an essential part of my everyday life. Whenever he's not around the house seems gloomy. He brims with radiance and loud happines - extremely loud happiness. His constant screaming - whether it is because he lost at a video-game, or does not like the food at his plate - is a fundamental addition to the "peace" in the house.

DO YOU AND YOUR LAST EX HATE EACH OTHER?
Actually, no. We're still in touch and are actually better friends than we'd ever hoped to be. I guess a wrong does make a right and the break-up may have actually happened for the better.

HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED A "GOOD MORNING" OR A "GOOD NIGHT" TEXT?
As a matter of fact I've never received one. I did receive a "good afternoon" text once, though.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET READY IN THE MORNING?
An hour, give or take, during school/workdays and just under twenty minutes during weekends.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR MUSIC LOUD OR AT A REASONABLE LEVEL?
A reasonable level, please.

DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX YOU CAN TELL EVERYTHING TO?
No.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU WEAR A FAKE SMILE?
Not that often but I mostly fake a smile whenever someone new is trying to befriend me.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HUGGED SOMEONE?
Last Eid.

IS THERE ANYONE YOU TRUST EVEN THOUGH YOU SHOULD NOT?
Nope.

ANY STRANGE PHOBIAS?
Luposlipaphobia - fear of being pursued by timber wolves around a kitchen table while wearing socks on a newly waxed floor.


DO YOU PREFER BEING BEHIND OR IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA?
It doesn't matter where I stand, the camera still loves me.

WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, book one in the series A Song of Ice and Fire.

WHAT'S THE WORST INJURY YOU'VE EVER HAD?
A motorbike fell on me once.

ARE YOU A MONEY SPENDER OR MONEY SAVER?
Definitely the saving type. Though I don't shy away from frivolous spending.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL?
The tiger.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING LAST NIGHT AT 12:00A.M.?

WHAT'S A SONG THAT ALWAYS MAKES YOU HAPPY EACH TIME YOU HEAR IT?
Concerning Hobbits by Howard Shore.

DID YOU ENJOY SCHOOL?
Yes. I miss those frantic days of carefree frivolity.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT DESKTOP WALLPAPER?
A beautiful picture of a wide valley in between two tall mountains overlooking the coast and blanketed with greenery in the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Well, that's just about it.

My Ten Favourite Chuck Norris Factoids

In all honesty there are just too many Chuck Norris factoids, err, facts for me to compile a Top Ten list. But duty calls and the compendium needs to be filled! :P Anyway, it was extremely difficult sorting out which factoid was superior to which so in the end I just decided to remove the order and post all ten of them with equal preference. Oh, and the few that didn't make it on the list have been included under Honourable Mentions.

Top Ten Chuck Norris Factoids

01. When Chuck Norris pokes you on Facebook, you can feel it.

02. Chuck Norris doesn't turn the light on, he turns the dark off.

03. Some magicians can walk on water; Chuck Norris can swim through land.

04. Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life.

05. Ghosts sit around the campfire and tell Chuck Norris stories.

06. Chuck Norris died twenty years ago; Death just hasn't built up the courage to tell him yet.

07. There used to be a street named after Chuck Norris, but it was changed because nobody crosses Chuck Norris and lives.

08. Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.

09. Chuck Norris does not sleep; he waits.

10. Chuck Norris doesn't call the wrong number; you answer the wrong phone.

Honourable Mentions

01. Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost.

02. Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy. It's a Chucktatorship.

03. Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC claiming Law and Order to be trademarked names of his left and right legs.

04. Outer space exists because it's afraid to be on the same planet as Chuck Norris.

05. Chuck Norris and Superman once fought each other on a bet. The loser had to start wearing his underwear on the outside of his pants.

The Survivor & The Setter

If there's a keen observation I might have made on this wonderful world of ours and the beautiful people that inhabit it, it's that people can generally be divided into two broad, and distinct, categories. I'm not saying I've made a discovery on the psychological behaviour of why people do things the way they do it, but I've definitely tackled a conclusion all on my own. Regardless of whether similar information may be available on the internet the categories I've come up with are, namely, the Survivor and the Setter.

The Survivor

Survivors are introverted people who, well, survive. Typical characteristics of a Survivor include passiveness, patience, and adaptability. Survivors are people who are generally well-suited to their environment, be it a blistering tundra or a hot desert. A pure Survivor is one who will never alter the environment or the people around him and will, instead, bend his own ways to better suit the changing times. They are peace-loving people known for their neutrality but can also be termed selfish and self-centered by those who may not know them well. Docile by nature they are not too keen on rapid expansion and progress into the unknown and would rather stay at their place of abode and "live and let live."

The perfect example of this kind of behaviour on a marcoeconomic and global scale is the Swiss Confederation, known to the layman as Switzerland. The confederation's foreign policies are entirely peace-driven and Switzerland is popularly known as the nation that never interferes. For the sake of internal stability and external "isolation" Switzerland has managed to make itself neutral from the decisions of the world, more or less. Other global examples include many central European countries (Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, etc.), the four Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland), as well as the South-East Asian nations.

On a more personal level the Survivor can be anyone you may know who tends to slip into the background during group gatherings or that person who you may find easy to befriend. Such a person would do anything to avoid confrontation, from offering his chair to fetching your cellular phone and letting you through the door first to listening attentively to your troubles or gains. However, it is practically impossible to find or be a pure Survivor. The essence of the Survivor is to go by unnoticed but in our society of extroverts the Survivor may find it difficult sheltering himself from attention. This only makes sense as the "good listener" would be a popular talk among single women who wish for a passive man. Or the "nice guy" could be extremely popular among his peers for always having money on him or always managing to offer a ride home.

Through this perspective no one is a pure Survivor. Also, Survivors tend to leave the decision-making to the Setters (explained below) but through inadvertent sympathy they have the potential to make decisions without ever realising it. For example, you have always gotten up from the computer whenever your better half asked you to do so. However, one day your better half finally notices (or chooses to notice) your obedience and may reward you by letting you stay on for longer. This way, the Survivor has subsequently behaved like the Setter.

The Setter

 
On the other hand we have society's extroverted decision-maker, the Setter. Typical characteristics of a Setter are nearly opposite to that of a Survivor. I write 'nearly' because, just like the Survivor, no one can be a pure Setter. Back to the point; Setters are people who, instead of letting things go the way they were and changing themselves to better suit their surroundings, would rather change the surroundings to better suit themselves. Just like their name suggests, the Setter "sets" things and organises the world to his liking. Born with aggression and a knack for dominance the Setter will never settle for anything below his expectations. These are the people who are known for their charisma and leadership skills but can also be negatively portrayed as dominating and intrusive.

Perhaps the greatest known example of a Setter on a global scale is that of the United States of America. The federal republic, ever since the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has played a major role in many of the world's following events including the Cold War, the forming of Israel, and now the War on Terror. Their "nosy" foreign policy has ensured them interference, for the better or worse, on interstate matters of various Middle-Eastern nations as well as the Indian Subcontinent. Their intrusive nature also includes, apparently for the better, North Korea and previously the Gaddafi-regime in Libya.

On a personal scale the Setter is perhaps your boss at work or the bully at school. He can also be the annoying sibling who bosses you around or the over-possessive wife/girlfriend who keeps tabs on everything you do. Pardon me, as I have included a great deal of bias in my description of the Setter-types. On a more unbiased note, they are the men and women who shape the future of mankind. Depicted by the great Godfather, Vito Corleone, the Setters tend to play the elitist role of society by giving out orders and controlling the controllers. Again, no one can be purely the Setter type as some decisions are left unmade and under certain circumstances a Setter person may even behave, albiet remotely, like the Survivor person (in that they wish peace).

Well, that's it for my keen observation, if I do say so myself. Interestingly enough this whole idea of Survivor and Setter was purely concocted after I observed the rationale of my younger brother (the middle-child) and myself. Of course, you can clearly see where the bias came from...

Which type do you feel yourself to be?

Winter Has Finally Come!

The second season of the highly acclaimed television series, Game of Thrones, finally aired on April 1, 2012. The series is based off of George R.R. Martin's fantasy novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the first season vividly depicted the events of the first book. Not many film/television adaptations of novels turn out successful or do justice to the books but HBO's David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have managed to accurately display the main events in the book as well as adding minor, detailed events. It's too bad the second season doesn't include Sean Bean but with five families vying for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms and the White Walkers sprucing up trouble beyond the Wall the second season promises to excel the first in every aspect!

Well, I'm off to download the first episode of season two. Until next time.

P.S. I've changed the blog's background temporarily just to commemorate the airing of the second season of Game of Thrones. :D