Hypaethral

Paladin • noun  • definition: A heroic champion; A defender or advocate of noble cause. The paladins, sometimes known as the Twelve Peers, were the foremost warriors of Charlemagne's court according to the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. They first appear in  The Song of Roland  where they represent Christian martial valor against the Saracen hordes. The paladins and their associated exploits are largely later fictional inventions, with some basis on historical Frankish retainers of the 8th century and events such as the Battle of Roncevaux Pass and the confrontation of the Frankish Empire with Umayyad Al-Andalus i n the  Marca Hispanica. The earliest recorded instance of the word  paladin  in the English language dates to 1592, in a poem by Samuel Daniel. It entered English through the Middle French word  palladin  or  paladin , which itself derived from the Italian  paladino . All these words for Charlemagne's Twelve Peers likely descend ultimately from the Lati...

"We see that war is incompatible with Christ's teachings.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of peace.  War is its antithesis and produces hate... There are, however, two conditions which may justify a truly Christian man to enter - mind you, I say enter not begin - a war: (1) an attempt to dominate and deprive another of his free agency; and (2) loyalty to his country.  Possible there is a third, viz., defense of a weak nation that is being unjustly crushed by a strong, ruthless one." -President David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1942, pp.70-74 In 1939, war broke out in Europe.  On 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  The following day, the United States officially entered World War II.  At the next general conference, 6 April 1942, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., read the following official statement of the Latter-day Saint position on war: "'We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, ho...

Freak... I can't do anything without photoshop! Just this simple background caused me some trouble.  Stupid free macware. Being a poor college student really blows.  If I had photoshop not only could I make a wicked bad blog, but I could finally edit all of my photos from tour!  Well anyway, the blog got a makeover using lame Seashore b y Mark Pazolli.  Now don't get me wrong Mark, it's a great program; it's just missing a few essentials.  Even MS Paint tells you what pixel you're mousing over.  MS Paint also has a straight line tool and a shape tool and it's text feature is easier to use.  But I guess MS paint doesn't have a layer tool or the same effects as Seashore.  *sigh* I guess I just don't know how to be happy.  But yeah... New background. Yay...

"I, Whitney Amber Thayne, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." 

Loyalty   Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other Soldiers .  Bearing true faith and allegiance is a matter of believing in and devoting yourself to something or someone. A loyal Soldier is one who supports the leadership and stands up for fellow Soldiers. By wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army you are expressing your loyalty. And by doing your share, you show your loyalty to your unit.  Duty   Fulfill your obligations.  Doing your duty means more than carrying out your assigned tasks. Duty means being able to accomplish tasks as part of a team. The work of the U.S. Army is a complex combination of missions, tasks and responsibilities — all in constant motion. Our work entails building one assignment onto another. You fulfill your obligations as a part of your unit every time you resist the temptation to take “shortcuts” that might undermine the integrity of the final product.  Respect   Treat people as they should be treated .  In the So...

I am an American soldier. I am a warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined,  physically and mentally tough,  trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment, and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American soldier.

I see the inner musing of man as a form of art.  Man's ideas, theories, and thoughts are true artwork.  Some art may be more sophisticated than others or may be considered better.  Some art is more abstract and some is more conformed.  Regardless of what kinds of art it is, the artist still has some reason to hesitate before sharing his art with the world.  What if it goes unappreciated?  What if the world doesn't understand it's true meaning?  What if I lose standing in society for sharing it?  Is my art too abstract?  Is my art strong enough to hold it's own?  Those are all questions the artist faces before sharing his art, and some of those answers may cause him to hold his idea in to share it with a more understanding crowd who will appreciate it for what it is and not question the piece or the artist.

What if we got outside ourselves and there really was an outside out there, not just our insides turned inside out? What if there really were a you beyond me, not just the waves off my own fire, like those waves off the backyard grill you can see the next yard through, though not well—just enough to know that off to the right belongs to someone else, not you. What if, when we said  I love you , there were a you to love as there is a yard beyond to walk past the grill and get to? To endure the endless walk through the self, knowing through a bond that has no basis (for ourselves are all we know) is altruism: not giving, but coming to know someone is there through the wavy vision of the self’s heat, love become a decision. By Molly Peacock

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of disappointed shells that dropped behind. GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And floundering like a man in fire or lime.-- Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from th...

Back in high school I didn't mind going to classes.  I enjoyed getting out and seeing people.  In college I didn't mind going to classes. I enjoyed getting out and seeing people.  I'm still in college and now I definitely mind going to classes.  In high school it wasn't a problem.  No matter the temperature outside I would just get up and go hop into my warm car and drive to school then stay in the warm building all day.  In fall semester (at least at the beginning) it wasn't a problem.  I'd wake up and the sun would be shining and I would walk to class.  Then came winter.  I wake up and prolong my getting out of bed.  It is simply too cold.  I can't stand the idea of walking to another class day after day.  I just want to walk outside and feel the warm sun falling on my skin.  I still want to go to class.  I actually enjoy learning. I just hate that I have to expose myself to the cold to get there. Ugh...

She never slows down.   She doesn't know why but she knows that when she's all alone, feels like its all coming down She won't turn around   The shadows are long and she fears if she cries that first tear, the tears will not stop raining down   [CHORUS]   So stand in the rain   Stand your ground   Stand up when it's all crashing down   You stand through the pain   You won't drown   And one day, whats lost can be found   You stand in the rain   She won't make a sound   Alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands she'll fall down   She wants to be found   The only way out is through everything she's running from wants to give up and lie down.     [CHORUS]   So stand in the rain   Stand your ground   Stand up when it's all crashing down   You stand through the pain   You won't drown   And one day, what's lost can be found   You stand in the rain   So stand in the rain   Stand your gr...

My Immortal I'm so tired of being here Suppressed by all my childish fears And if you have to leave I wish that you would just leave 'Cause your presence still lingers here And it won't leave me alone These wounds won't seem to heal This pain is just too real There's just too much that time cannot erase [Chorus:] When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears And I held your hand through all of these years But you still have All of me You used to captivate me By your resonating light Now I'm bound by the life you left behind Your face it haunts My once pleasant dreams Your voice it chased away All the sanity in me These wounds won't seem to heal This pain is just too real There's just too much that time cannot erase [Chorus] I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone But though you're still with me I've been alone all along [Chorus] Going Under Now I will tell you what...

I love Sun and Jin... JIN: I made… dinner. SUN: I thought you had left me. Will you let me try to explain? JIN: It won’t matter. SUN: Just listen, maybe– JIN: I know why you did it. I know the man… I used to be. Before this island, I withheld my affections… And I know… that whatever you did… you did to that man. His actions caused this. So I forgive you. So I will go to Locke’s camp with you. SUN: I don’t want to go there anymore. JIN: Why? SUN: Juliet was very convincing. We have to get off this island. These people have a helicopter. We have to try. JIN: I’ll do all it takes to protect you and the baby. I promise. SUN: Thank you. JIN: There’s just one thing. And please, the truth… SUN: Anything. JIN: Is… the baby… mine? SUN: Yes, Jin. I swear the baby is yours. It’s yours. I love you so much. I thought I had lost you. JIN: I love you too. And you will never lose me.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Martin Luther King Jr. Should've posted this on monday...

Just Hold me Tight     I hurt all the time,  From these feelings inside,  Alone in the dark,  All I have is my pride. Depressed, but not weak,  I fight street to street. When I'm away from the fight,  I wish you could just hold me tight. When I am back in your arms,  As I break down and cry,  Just hold me tight,  There'll be no more good byes. The secrets I keep,  Forgetting the pain,  If only your knew,  The stress and the strain. I search for a way out of my fighting hole,  Fighting it out,  Fulfilling my role. I'll be in your arms,  No more momentary highs,  To gaze at your face,  And your pretty blue eyes. No more fear in the night,  If you just hold me tight.  Philip Lore  

And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by dilligence unto come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

Dukkha shrugged into her black cold-weather cloak. She had to go into market today to try and sell some furrow root she'd gathered. Dukkha walked slowly toward town. Dukkha approached the gate. The guard's expression spoke of inner turmoil. As Dukkha walked past the gaurd's face softened and relaxed. Dukkha cringed. She turned down a narrow side street. Ahead of her, Dukkha saw a man lying in the shadows. A seeping gash ran down his leg and his face was contorted in pain. Dukkha winced as she neared him. Upon passing within an arms length of the man an expression of peace overcame the man. Dukkha plodded onward somewhat slower than before. Dukkha pushed her mind forward feeling for what was ahead. She was hit with a wave of thoughts.   I don't see how the ground will to thaw in time for planting, a grizzled farmer thought.  Dukkha walked past him. It will work out nevertheless, thought the man with a cheerful expression on his face.  Dukkha sighed inwardly. I ...

And under the boughs, unbowed, all clothed in a snowy shroud. She had no heart — so hardened; all under the boughs, unbowed. Each feather — it fell from skin, ‘til threadbare, while she grew thin. How were my eyes so blinded? Each feather — it fell from skin. And I will hang my head, hang my head low. And I will hang my head, hang my head low. And I will hang my head, hang my head low. A gray sky, a bitter sting, a rain cloud, a crane on wing.. All out beyond horizon,  a gray sky, a bitter sting. And I will hang my head, hang my head low. And I will hang my head, hang my head low. And I will hang my head, hang my head low. And I will hang my head, hang my head low. And I will hang my head, hang my head low. I will hang my head, hang my head low, low, low.   'The Crane Wife 3' by   The Decemberists