The Bookshelf of a Lonely Individual's Life

Welcome to the quite literal bookshelf of an individual's life, loosely packed with texts that you'll find quite amusing (or boring) to read. Feel free to browse the collection of displayed sample works, further sorted into stories or misc. for your convenience. Thank you, and please continue to shop at the House Depot.

Souls

The concept of a “soul” is one present throughout history within many cultures and religions for a very long time. As such, it is under debate whether a soul of some sort really exists. I, personally, believe that no such thing exists, for there is plenty of evidence to explain what we are, what we feel, and how we perceive ourselves as not spiritual, but physical entities.

Let us begin with a more basic inquiry first, what makes you you? Aside from our innumerable physical features, humans are intelligent self-aware organisms, with egos, sentiment, a complex language, et cetera. And what makes a soul? As some see it, the soul is the part of us that is our conscious mind, our emotions, the part of us that lives on after we die. However, such is coincidently regulated by the brain as well, mainly the general frontal lobe portion. This part is dedicated to decision making - like choosing whether or not to read this; thinking/problem solving - finding the solution to a googolplex to the power of a googolplex to the power of a googolplex to the power of a…; planning - like when arranging a trip to the bottom of the ocean; and movement - walking, running, limping. Yet, more importantly, this area is the site of our emotions and personality, our judgement, language, and reasoning skills. All emotions can be rendered as just a series of processes, whether they take place in the amygdala (anger), the frontal cortex/other (pleasure/joy), et cetera, they all happen right in one’s head. So in reality, the brain is us, and where there is something defines a soul’s importance to a human being, there’s an area in the complex human brain that accounts for and explains it, like the visual processing, speech, and the list goes on of said areas. Since the brain also controls all of the other systems that drive the body, it should appear now that there isn’t any specific reason for a soul that isn’t already filled by the chemical, electrical, and physical activity in our brain.

What happens when you die? A common question amongst many people, including insolent schoolchildren thirsty for amusement. Numerous religions include the belief of an afterlife, whether it be pleasant or torturous. It is apparent that many people believe that a soul is like a supernatural spirit; thus incorporeal/not present in the physical world. Does the soul leave your body? Would a soul actually travel to an afterlife, leaving a dead husk behind, there’s still no way to prove either exist. No matter what you think happens, it won’t actually prove anything unless you wish to believe in such superstitious ideals.

Another crucial point in the argument is that there is simply no solid proof of a soul, after all, they aren't even solid (or of any other state of matter as a matter of fact). No tests can be performed, no properties to be measured, examined, gauged, so how would one determine they exist in the first place? Or, rather, are they just a pleasant thought to comfort oneself that a sanctuary far away exists, or perhaps our way of differentiating ourselves from animals or non-human organisms? Indeed, with the brain, as science has already proved numerous times, there is no need for a soul to exist. After all, what role would such an object have?

To conclude this argument, quite trivial in actuality, I believe that souls do not exist. The concept of a soul would serve no purpose to us, who function with our brains perfectly fine, should it even exist in the first place. It is amusing, if anything, what great lengths people will go to justify that something exists with hardly any proof.

For more information, see Muller-Urey Experiment and/or Panspermia Theory.

Dragons Across the World

All around the world, dragons have been a major influence on our cultures. However, the Eastern and Western perceptions of dragons differ immensely from each other. Those from the East, from China to Cambodia, see the dragon as unique, magical, beautiful, and often show great respect for them. In contrast, those from the West view dragons as monsters, who often breathe fire and are regarded as dangerous. These differences show the diversity between the two cultures.

Eastern Dragons

In the Eastern culture, generally the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, the dragon is a symbol many divine traits, including wisdom, power, strength, nobility, luck, and wealth. The Chinese show great respect for them, as dragons are often present in oriental folklore, art, myths, and proverbs, often shown with a flaming pearl. The Chinese even began calling themselves descendants of the dragon, seeing how the dragons’ traits aspire to their own. Many temples and shrines have been built to honor and worship them. The Chinese also have a year of the dragon, in which anyone born in that year will be healthy, wealthy, and wise, which represent the attributes of their dragon.

Chinese dragons are known to control the elements, particularly earth, water, and spirits, as well as control rain, rivers, the sea, and lakes. In addition, they can protect the weak and helpless, ward off the evil, and bestow safety to the innocent. These dragons are rulers of the skies, known to “ride” on clouds, and extremely powerful. Furthermore, they are believed to cause natural disasters when in a bad mood, including flooding, tornadoes, lightning, thunder, and heavy rain, but can also bring rain during long drought. These Eastern dragons are also depicted as long, ancient serpent-like creatures with no wings in contrast to the Western “beasts”. They are even classified as nine types of dragons. This includes the Tianlong, Shenlong, Fucanglong, Dilong, Yinglong, Qiulong, Panlong, Huanglong, and the Long Wang.

Western Dragons

In the Western culture, notably North America, Canada, and Europe, the dragon is portrayed as evil, mean, bloodthirsty, deadly, violent, ferocious, greedy, and deceptive monsters. This type of dragon as commonly referenced as Medieval, and can be seen as a symbol of war. Many religious people/teachings often use the dragon with the symbol of the Satan incarnate and evil. In myths and folklore, dragons were monsters only to conquer and overcome, and represent the dark side of humanity.

A stereotypical Western dragon can fly, breathe fire, and usually has sharp claws, great, torn wings, and has horns and teeth. They have a long, scaly tails, and are normally red, green, ash, or yellow. Western dragons also have other ways to attack. Some believe that, in addition to fire breathing, they can use deadly blasts of ice, acid or poison. As for close combat, Western dragons can use their powerful jaws, razor-sharp claws, or whiplike tails to cause serious wounds.

These dragons are said to live in hot places, from deserts to volcanoes. In addition, they also known to hoard gold and are always hungry, developing a liking particularly for weak, young, human flesh. These dragons have been said to terrorize villagers and prey upon livestock, as well as cause chaos all over the land. Some are even known to have defeated knights, saints, and even gods. In contrast to the Eastern dragons, this version of beasts is violent and even shows a liking towards chaos.

The perception of Western and Eastern dragons is nearly completely opposite. Both show little to no similarities in behavior. Their habitats, traits, and physical appearance contrast almost entirely. However, the dragons of both cultures can still be ferocious and harsh, or forgiving at times.

Eastern Myths

Chinese dragons have been involved in many myths. These dragons are also said to control the elements of earth, water, and sky or spirit, which affect rain, rivers, lakes, and sea.

In one popular myth, about a land in which only the Eastern Sea existed, lived four dragons. These were the Long Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, the Black Dragon, and the Pearl Dragon. One day, while the dragons were playing a game in the clouds, the Pearl Dragon suddenly cried out to come over to them. There, the dragons saw a poor woman and boy on the earth, praying with incense, fruits and cakes. She begged for the God of Heaven to send rain, for the rice, fields, and earth baked under the sun of what was a long drought. The Yellow Dragon remarks on how poor and unhappy the people are, while the Long Dragon suggests that they go to the Jade Emperor for rain.  However, he doesn’t help them, so the dragons take it upon themselves to supply the village with water. The dragons end up taking the water from the Eastern Sea and spraying it into the air, causing the sky to go dark and rain to fall. The Jade Emperor was eventually informed of this, and so he imprisoned the dragons under four mountains. Despite this, the Yellow, Long, Pearl and Black dragon still wanted to provide the people with water, so they became their respective rivers (Long River, Yellow River, etc.). This story shows the kindness and thoughtfulness of the dragons, because even though the dragons were punished for their actions, they didn’t regret helping the people.

Another myth, titled the Dragon’s Pearl, is about a boy and his mother. The little boy would go out to the mountains to cut grass to sell. However, the family became very poor, as a drought had occurred. They made less and less money, and his mother became ill from hunger. One day, while walking beside a dry riverbed, he came upon the lushest, brightest grass ever. He quickly cut the entire patch, filling his bag whilst carrying it to the village, where he made enough money to feed his mother a good, hearty meal. The next day, the boy went to the same spot the grass was at before, hoping to find another patch. To his surprise, the grass grew back. He harvested the grass every day, and this continued for five more days. However, on the sixth day, the boy instead decided to dig up the “magic” grass under the grass patch. However, while digging, he found a white pearl which he kept in his pocket until he finished. By the time he was home, he wanted to sell the pearl, but his mother insisted on keeping something so beautiful, and placed the pearl in the grass. It turned out that, the next morning, the grass that was planted was withering, but the jar in which rice was stored was brimming full, even though it was nearly empty yesterday. On that night they ate full bowls of rice, and placed the pearl once more in the jar. Again, the jar was filled with rice which, by then, led to the assumption that they owned a magic pearl. From then on, they could create anything they wanted, from money to oil. However, one day, two greedy men decided to rob the family of their secret. Their mother decided to show the robbers their secret, the magic pearl. Upon seeing the treasure, the two men decided to grab the pearl, but before they could, the boy put it in his mouth. This made him so thirsty, he drank up all of his beverages, the well, and almost the entire river. Rain soon poured from the heavens, and the boy became a large, scaly dragon. He was then to become the guardian of the River Min, and guard the sacred pearl. The mud banks are still there from when the dragon turned and thrusted his tail to take a final look at his mother. Until she died, the mother often visited the river to talk to her son, hence the other name for this river the “Looking at Mother Banks”. In this story, and in many others, the dragon becomes a guardian, and leaves his mark on the world (ie: the mud banks, and the four rivers).

Western Myths

Like Chinese dragons, Western dragons have been commonly used in various myths, stories, and tales. However, their great reputation has, somewhat, changed from “majestic” to “medieval”.

One popular myth in Europe is called “the story of Saint George and the Dragon”, and was about a martyr named Saint George. Near the town of Silene, of Libya, there was a large pond/lake in which a plague-bearing dragon resided. To please it, the villagers would feed it sheep and maidens, who would draw lots to determine who’d be sacrificed. On one occasion, the lot fell upon the princess of Silene. The king, however, begged for his daughter to be spared in return for half of his kingdom and all of his silver and gold. But, for various reasons, one being that they feared the dragons wrath, the people refused. As a result, the princess was sent out to lake where the dragon lived, dressed as a bride, to be sacrificed. However, Saint George heard of this, and arrived horseback, attempting in vain to save/persuade her to leave. As they discussed/argued, the dragon approached. Seeing the threat, Saint George pierced it with his lance while the princess used her girdle to lead the dragon back. The townspeople were terrified of the dragon. Saint George, he becoming a martyr later, told the people that if they were to convert to Christianity and be baptized, he’d end the dragon. In the end, the king agreed (along with 15,000 men and women). A church was built by the king on the site where the dragon died. In this story, the dragon is seen as a monster, who is vicious, evil, and demonic.

The Legend of Krakus and Smok is a legend about a small farming settlement in Poland. These people would often talk about an evil dragon that lived in a cave located on the side of Wawel Hill. No one dared venture inside the cave, wary of how they might disturb and awaken the dragon. However, several foolish youths decided anyway to prove the myths about this terrible beast all false. But, the boys ended up awakening the dragon. As everyone gazed in horror as the beast proceeded to consume a stray sheep, the ashamed boys slunk away. From then on, the dragon would take a victim from the village to prey upon every day. The people couldn’t even scratch it with their primitive weapons, so they went to a wise man named Krakus for guidance, who soon devised a plan. He mixed up a paste from herbs, which he then lathered onto a sheep. The people of the village presented the sheep to the dragon, who, hungrily ate it. The mixture that was coated on the sheep caused a great “burning sensation”. The dragon drank nearly half of the river, and before long, exploded. Krakus, the village’s savior, was crowned king, and built a stronghold at the top and bottom of the hill. When he died, he was given a splendid burial, and the city was to be renamed to Krakow. The dragon here is hungry and merciless, and is also tough, with its great, thick scales.

Another story, known as Ivanko and the Dragon, regards a boy who had once been a sapling named Ivanko. In short, a dragon asks a smith to forge her (the “she-dragon”) a sweet voice that resembles that of Ivanko’s mother. She then uses it to kidnap him. However, he escapes the fate of being cooked in an oven by tricking the dragon, and later returns to his parents. The dragon’s personality/desires in this story are very similar to others, and the ones previously mentioned.

Dragons Across Cultures

In almost every place in the world, dragons have been a major influence on our cultures. However, the Eastern and Western perceptions of dragons differ immensely from each other. While some see the dragon as anything from long, mythical snakes, the majority of others regard them as greedy, evil beasts. These interpretations that differ greatly from each other are what show how each culture is especially unique.

Some Simple Musical Arrangements Made by a Cabbage:

Beloved, Dearly So -

https://trinket.io/music/c2b65dd5a7

The Theme of Roxas -

https://trinket.io/music/a95ad7d533