Brian

functionlessart @ 2005-03-06T21:44:00

2005-03-07T03:44:33Z

functionlessart @ 2004-04-24T13:51:00

2004-04-24T18:50:46Z

Nick:

at your earliest convenience, I would like to speak with you.

gratzi.

CHANTELLE!!!!

2003-07-05T10:29:53Z

I am standing on guard for thee RIGHT NOW.

functionlessart @ 2003-06-09T01:10:00

2003-06-09T06:10:25Z

Heart Joe McCarthy says:
your paper looks like the ones I do
I Heart Joe McCarthy says:
except small font
I Heart Joe McCarthy says:
and better words
I Heart Joe McCarthy says:
and more indepth
Brian says:
heh. when I get tired, I use bigger words.
I Heart Joe McCarthy says:
In fact, it's *nothing* like mine

functionlessart @ 2003-05-19T01:35:00

2003-05-19T06:38:48Z

she says she sees things, things that I wasn't aware were perceptible, and I find myself buying into the myth that there are people who, whether you like it or not or whather you want it or not, know you better than you'd prefer, maybe even better than you know yourself.

and you find yourself acquiescing for now, willing to play along for the time being, in hopes of learning new information that will cause you to doubt the original analysis, something to cling onto so you can maintain the facade of control.

and this happens repeatedly, and you are what you repeatedly do, and perception is reality, and while reality screams out the impossible, it happens anyway, until you become a parody of a game where the outcome is already determined, and the only matter to be resolved is how to get there.

chantelle:

2003-05-15T01:18:16Z

No.

functionlessart @ 2003-04-25T00:36:00

2003-04-25T05:36:38Z

so, I think I've managed to piss off quite a few people lately, including maybe some of you.

how so? being my charming, idiotic, clueless self.

functionlessart @ 2003-04-23T03:26:00

2003-04-23T08:26:52Z

so, I'm depressed. have been for a while now, all but for a few glorious hours friday night.

it's quite painful.

1. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR KITCHEN PLATES?
they're white, with this odd flower basket on them. They were free.

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
"In the Land of Mirrors: Cuban Exile Politics in the United States" by Maria de los Angeles Torres. Yes, I'm reading this for fun.

3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
um, a mouse and a pack of batteries with 4 left.

4. FAVORITE BOARD GAME?
Monopoly, but only with the right people.

5. FAVORITE MAGAZINE?
R&R. Dear Jeebus, I'm bad.

6. FAVORITE SMELL?
there's this hazelnut vanilla air freshener that I am quite fond of. Not like the sugary-vanilla air freshener in my carro. yuck.

7. LEAST FAVORITE SMELL?
feet, probably.

8. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
I hate you, life.

9. FAVORITE COLOR?
dark green.

10. LEAST FAVORITE COLOR?
some sort of gaudy orange, probably.

11. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE?
depends on who it is. Many times, it goes unanswered. I'm enigmatic like that.

12. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME?
hmm. well, assuming I'm ever a father, for a male child I'd like the name Christopher Alan (2 fold-my 2 fave hockey players [Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis] and a very good friend who gave me a place to live and kept me from being homeless for too long, and Alan Freed)
For a female child, I had a dream where my daughter was named Tyler Wren. As long as her mother doesn't mind that name, I would like it. A dream that precise and memorable should be followed up, I think.

13. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE?
probably getting through it without mucking anyone us at.

14. OF ALL THE POSSIBLE CIRCLES OF HELL, WHICH ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO BE ASSIGNED TO?
Anything's better than where I'm at.

15. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
Chocolate or vanilla what? I'll say vanilla, cause I'm plain.

16. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST?
Not in any vehicle I've ever owned.

17. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL?
Technically, yes, since I am an animal who is quite stuffed :(

18. STORMS - COOL OR SCARY?
Cool as the other side of the pillow.

19. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR?
1982 Chevy truck.

20. IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE?
mostly I have this same answer : the live one.

21. FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK?
Crown Royal

22. WHAT IS YOUR SIGN & YOUR BIRTH DAY?
Capricorn. 1/12

23. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI?
Yes

24. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

25. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY HAIR COLOR WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I rather like my black/brown.

26. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE?
ugh. yeah.

27. IS THE GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?
It is.

28. FAVORITE MOVIE?
Young Frankenstein. Scared the hell out of me! ok, really, at this very moment, probably "Kicking and Screaming".

29. DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS?
Consistently, probably not. I make do well enough, though.

30. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?
dust bunnies, a 3 hole punch, and assorted papers.

31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NUMBER?
any number preceded by a $ and followed by lots of zeroes.
32. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH?
Hockey, even though the Blues broke my heart yet again.

33. WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST FEAR?
that I could possibly narrow it down to naming my single biggest fear.

34. FAVORITE SONG?
Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant", sure..why not?

35. FAVORITE TV SHOWS?
the Simpsons, NHL2Night (heh) um, and that one show, with that guy on it.

36. KETCHUP OR MUSTARD?
Mustard never.

37. HAMBURGERS OR HOTDOGS?
hamburgers, I guess.

38. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK?
how about a vanilla dr. pepper from the Deluxe? haven't been there in a while...

39. THE BEST PLACES YOU HAVE EVER BEEN?
I'm boring, I don't get out much. I really enjoyed Kansas City. Cleveland has a nice vibe to it. Pittsburgh has a neat airport. Give me a seat not too far from the ice, opposing goalie's stickside at a home game of a hockey team I love and I'm giddy beyond belief.

40. WHAT SCREEN SAVER IS ON YOUR COMPUTER RIGHT NOW?
n/a

41. BURGER KING OR MCDONALDS?
I drive by multiples of both every day. No thanks.

42. DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU COULD FALL IN LOVE WITH?
Ugh... yeah. so what. this too, shall pass.

43. WHAT DID YOU DO YESTERDAY?
schooled, worked, the usual.

44. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?
I have sufficiently denied myself most of the food I really loved to where now, I don't really have a favorite food.

45. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 20 YEARS?
egads. who knows? too depressing to think about.

46. IF YOU HAD THE CHOICE OF ANY SUPERHERO POWER TO POSSESS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I'm not sure what counts as a superhero power, but I'm going uber-geek and say metacreativity.

47. WHAT'S THE WEIRDEST DREAM YOU'VE EVER HAD?
they're all weird. none of them make sense.

48. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CLASSICAL COMPOSER?
that mocking, evil laugh. or something like that. Mozart. Pachelbel's Canon is pretty neat though.

functionlessart @ 2003-04-21T01:52:00

2003-04-21T06:55:21Z

I thought I had something to say, but apparently I don't.

so last night...

2003-04-20T07:16:50Z

I got fairly drunXXored and on my other journal said something nice about all the people I list as friends.

now keep in mind, most of them I have known for 5+ years, but SOME PEOPLE (er, person) got a bit miffed (or faked being miffed) that I didn't include them.

so, um, I'll try to do the same now, on this one.

but, recognize, though, that it will be forced, as I do things on whims, and most of my enjoyment of life comes from the moment, and I believe moments cannot be re-lived, and the best you can hope is to create new moments.

and then again, there aren't many people listed as friends on here as I have on the other one.

so, here's a crack at it.

chantellecam: every now and then, I remember I had MEAT delivered to your house. that fact gives me great amusement. you are a dear friend, and you have said some incredibly nice and sweet and supportive things in the past that I still think about and it helps me, even though it ruins your bad-ass image if I out you as a nice, caring person. suck it up :D

daedrius: um, you're a friend of chantelle's and you are pretty funny. Angel of Ina cracks me up. I dunno you that well tho.

easterkat: If there exists a female version of me, you'd be it, and the more I come to love myself, the more I care about you. my friendship with you is indeed priceless.

kingnick: You're a good one, although a bit misguided sometimes :D (freak. fox news rots your brain) Sometimes I think I should provide you guidance, but in the end, it'll be best for you to slug your way through life and figure it out on your own. You're too damned smart for your own good, but again, that will make things easier in the long run.

lu_cashmere: I think you dropped off the face of the earth. So, moving on..

oliveoyl: you are incredibly wise, funny, and caring. I wish more people were like you, but then again, if they were, you would not be nearly as special as you are. and I don't mean special in the "lick the windshield of the short bus" special.

robnoxious: you funny, funny, bastard. Franken-Jamie still cracks me up to this day, and if I had half of your wit, I just might make something of a radio career.

yancey22: Who else could I profess my man-crush on Tubby Smith to? You're always supportive, and you care too much sometimes. It's not bad, but sometimes I wonder how someone can be so damn nice all the time. I do appreciate you more than I let on. Wisdom is always welcome.

zlot: liek, u r SO rad!

ok, happy now?

:o

2003-04-17T21:01:49Z

I got a haircut today. I'm pretty happy about that.

and that astrology thing that Jen posted..

Brian is an unsung hero, an undiscovered genius...and an unknown quantity. It is because Brian is such an unknown quantity that his heroism goes unsung and his genius undiscovered. Some people will blow their own trumpets from the highest hill even when those trumpets are battered and badly out of tune. Brian is rather the opposite. No matter how bright the light inside him shines, he will always find a bushel big enough to hide it under. Brian wants to be thought of as stable, steady and solid. He tries his best to do what the world expects of him, he wants to be a trooper - a loyal, reliable, down-to-earth kind of character. In the attempt to give this impression Brian strives to be modest, restrained and realistic. He almost succeeds. Through diligent effort Brian manages to persuade himself and the rest of the watching world that he is a known quantity. At best he will allow himself to be known for his talent in one particular area or for his courage with regard to one particular topic. The trouble is Brian is a Capricorn and Capricorns, despite all that some astrologers say, are always unknown quantities.
Deep down inside Brian yearns to be wild and crazy, footloose and fancy-free. He wants to break the rules, question convention and court controversy. Only one thing stops him - a little voice in the back of his head that says "Excuse me, who do you think you are? That's not the kind of activity that Brian can get away with." If you want to be a true friend to Brian, you must encourage him to ignore that voice. He will love you for it and he won't need much encouraging. Brian was born to be brilliant. He was destined to be daring. One
day he will realise this and then...the world had better look out.

I'm not sure how well that fits me. I cannot decide if I like this, or if I am bothered that "the world had better look out" for 1 out of 12 people.

functionlessart @ 2003-04-15T11:30:00

2003-04-15T16:33:35Z

and then I got to the gate
pulled a list that I'd been calling fate
I'm sorry friend you cant come in
you gotta a list here that doesn't end
you're mad cause I smoke dope
you teaching any classes in how to cope?
I'll find a place to rest my head
I rather be alone now that I'm dead
like christian hossoi way back in '87
we'll be busting christ air's until we get to heaven
think I really care that I miss biology
got my education in stale fishology
with all your rules you got to chill
I'm gonna twist out like Mike McGill
I'm gonna twist out cause I got the skillz
I'm gonna twist out cause I got the skillz..got the skillz got the skillz

heaven is a halfpipe..

functionlessart @ 2003-04-10T01:43:00

2003-04-10T06:49:04Z

In other news, I neglected to mention that I officially changed majors this week. That made me feel good.

Other feelings/thoughts continue. No change, unfortunately. and I am quite enamored with the Johnny Cash icon, even though it is a bit small.

perhaps you should squint.

functionlessart @ 2003-04-06T01:52:00

2003-04-06T07:55:33Z

Last night, a friend of mine was stopped by the police, charged with a DWI and then resisting arrest. He tore up his cell, his clothes, himself, looking for some way to make a rope or something, and they took his clothes and everything away, leaving him with flip-flops and sandals. He is covered in bruises he gave himself.

I don't know how to help him.

functionlessart @ 2003-04-04T02:31:00

2003-04-04T08:34:43Z

So, as usual I don't have anything to say.

I did watch "High Fidelity" again tonight.

I might just let this journal wither and die, that is, if it was really alive. I should use it for more than just relaying what song I happened to be listening to at this moment.

Maybe there's just too much on my mind to filter anything out. I've tended to be pretty much an "all or nothing" sort of person anyway.

So, in this case, you get nothing.

functionlessart @ 2003-03-28T00:47:00

2003-03-28T06:49:08Z

I think the euphoria from my promotion is already gone. Funny thing, euphoria...once it's gone you feel lower than you were...I'm feeling a lot of things right now, none of them good.

Dear Chantelle

2003-03-27T05:29:00Z

USE ME USE ME!

my own version of 24

2003-03-25T19:33:41Z

March 24

1:17 pm - inquiry (voice mail)
1:23 pm - another inquiry (voice mail)
3:20 pm - call back and get elaboration on inquiry which evolves into an offer
3:45 pm - get on AIM and talk to someone who knows the business, get another side of options
4:00 pm - call former boss, agree to call later in the day.

contemplation

5:45 pm - call from someone who received same offer..agree to meet at local pub to compare notes
6:24 pm - call back inquiror again and get more information...on whose authority is the offer being made? who approved?
6:45 pm - meet co-offered person. compared notes. debated merits
8:15 pm - meet different friend and talk labor law
9:00 pm - talk to former boss again. gives new ideas/options

more contemplation, not much sleep

March 25
7:30 am - wake up after fitful "rest" stay paralyzed in bed
8:45 am - get dressed. no shower/shave
9:00 am - board bus for campus, spend hour and a half not listening to a lecture about water...contemplating...thinking to reject offer.
11:25 am - back home, fix lunch. still contemplating
11:45 am - halfheartedly eat rice and fish, scrape most of lunch into trash, take trash out on the way to the parking lot to go speak to current boss.
12:00 pm - talk with current boss. boss drops a bombshell or two. says I should do what I need to do...no rash decisions. casually mentions he'll talk to his boss...who might react if told who made original offer. told him I'd think about everything, make a courtesy call to original offer and see what's available.
12:30 pm - talk to newest co-worker who I've known for 7 years (we worked together previously..) ...chit-chat, tell him the basics of what's going on
12:45 pm - current boss comes back, takes me back to the "office" (a soundproof studio), and gives a counter-offer...salary of X a month, voicetrack nights on current station and help out wherever needed, minimum 30 hours a week.

I accept on the spot. Will call original offer and decline without giving a reason.

1:17 pm - back home, getting ready for class.

bah.

2003-03-25T00:18:12Z

that is all.

dreams

2003-03-23T18:34:44Z

So, last night, my buddy Duane told me "I had a dream about you...you were president of the United States."

oh really?

"and I took a bullet for you."

care to explain?

"you were president, and I was in the secret service, and you were about to give some major press conference...and I had the suit, glasses, earpiece, all that secret service stuff, and I was to the right of you and the podium..I hear something in my earpiece and I looked to the left and somebody had just pulled a gun, and I jumped in front of you and BAM! took one right in the chest...I thought 'yeah, I did my job' .. and that's when I woke up"

heh. that's pretty neat.

corroborating evidence

2003-03-17T20:37:58Z

so, I really was hit on. this comes from an irc channel that a lot of us old friends use to keep in touch. PoKeE_ = Mark and ratrace = Chris..

blades_> I hang around people who are in shape to make me look fatter ;) shhh!
PoKeE_> hahaha
PoKeE_> dude.
PoKeE_> we went to the Parmer Lane Tavern, the other night.
PoKeE_> and two chicks instantly started hitting on Brian.
PoKeE_> They were all up in his grill like flies on shit.
blades_> it was one chick.
PoKeE_> there were two of them!
ratrace> It was two!
PoKeE_> only one was talking!
ratrace> I seent it with mine own four eyes!
PoKeE_> the other one was playing shy and demure.
blades_> true, but I think Chloe was scoping out Adam
PoKeE_> That means she's the one who really wants it.
PoKeE_> Chloe?
blades_> the one with the Lisa Loeby glasses
PoKeE_> See, I live here for ages, and the only Austin chicks who look my way are unbathed neo-European types. Brian comes to town for one night, and BAM!
blades_> she probably was gold-digging, since I look so rich.

in other news, I woke up with an ear splitting headache, the kind that makes you dizzy enough to not be able to see/walk. so I didn't go to class.

so, like, hi.

2003-03-17T07:20:39Z

Yesterday (Saturday) I loaded up and went out of town with a couple of friends.

First stop: Lake Somerville.

Lake Somerville is about 20-30 miles west of here...Chris (the driver on our roadie) works with this awesome woman, Angela..back in the day, I worked with them too..anyway, we used to go hang out at Angela and Mike's a lot when they lived here close in town..play dominoes, drink, BS, etc. We get out to Angela and Mike's, play dominoes, BS, etc. and Angela says "I can't believe it's been 6 years since we moved out here!" and I kinda freaked out.

6 years? Dude, I remember when they were house-hunting :S. Anyway, hanging out there was cool, they literally live across the street from the lake..the street runs along the dam, etc. and they had caught a bunch of fish, and a lot of their friends came over, and they did a big ol' fish fry. We played washers, dominoes, all kindsa folksy Texasy type stuff. I had a really good time.

The menu went something like...

shark (very, very tasty)
catfish
okra
french fries
chicken
onion rings

and ALL of it was very very deep fried. Everything on my plate was golden brown. I felt kinda icky the rest of the day. :S

After the fried-fest, we hit the road on the way to Austin...wound up at this bar waiting for some more friends...and this girl kinda hit on me (she claims I took her chair) and I went into charming liar mode. It was quite amusing to my friends. She was kinda short, brunette, and had this really cool cowboy hat kinda thing going on, looked like a taco. Not a big redneck hat, but like..something Al Jourgensen or Rob Zombie would wear...so anyway, after the whole exchange between me and her (no fluids, sicko.) my buddy Chris said "Brian Blades, everybody, give him a hand!" heehee. Adam (the other road trip buddy) started calling her Taco (not to her face) and her friend Chloe, because of the glasses. That probably is only humorous to him and me, though. Adam and I debated the merits of becoming a pathological liar when around strangers you'll never see again.. (hi there, you're a handsome devil..what's your name? I sell couch insurance)...I said it's hard because I just randomly spout out crap, and usually I'm witty enough to make it believable (but still, utter crap) and he said he sticks to about 4 stories, just to keep everything straight.

A good time was had by all.

I got this charming buttnugget in my email today

2003-03-13T20:49:51Z

I hate forwarded crap. hate it.

This quote came with a horribly botched photoshopped picture of 2 kids praying in front of an American flag..complete with a "frame" and "One Nation Under God" underneath.

"It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance. Why don't we just tell the 14% to shut up and sit down????

If you agree, pass this on, if not delete... "

I deleted it, obviously.

Shit like this makes me sick.

personality test

2003-03-04T00:18:00Z

Take the test here, if you like.

Qualitative analysis of your type formula

You are: iNTj

slightly expressed introvert (22)
distinctively expressed intuitive personality (67)
slightly expressed thinking personality (22)
slightly expressed judging personality (1)

some analysis...including this nugget which is all too true..

"Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations. "

The Portrait of the Mastermind (iNTj)
Copyrighted © 1996-2003 Prometheus Nemesis Book Company.

Of the four aspects of strategic analysis and definition it is the contingency planning or entailment organizing role that reaches the highest development in Masterminds. Entailing or contingency planning is not an informative activity, rather it is a directive one in which the planner tells others what to do and in what order to do it. As the organizing capabilities the Masterminds increase so does their inclination to take charge of whatever is going on.

It is in their abilities that Masterminds differ from the other Rationals, while in most of their attitudes they are just like the others. However there is one attitude that sets them apart from other Rationals: they tend to be much more self-confident than the rest, having, for obscure reasons, developed a very strong will. They are rather rare, comprising no more than, say, one percent of the population. Being very judicious, decisions come naturally to them; indeed, they can hardly rest until they have things settled, decided, and set. They are the people who are able to formulate coherent and comprehensive contingency plans, hence contingency organizers or "entailers."

Masterminds will adopt ideas only if they are useful, which is to say if they work efficiently toward accomplishing the Mastermind's well-defined goals. Natural leaders, Masterminds are not at all eager to take command of projects or groups, preferring to stay in the background until others demonstrate their inability to lead. Once in charge, however, Masterminds are the supreme pragmatists, seeing reality as a crucible for refining their strategies for goal-directed action. In a sense, Masterminds approach reality as they would a giant chess board, always seeking strategies that have a high payoff, and always devising contingency plans in case of error or adversity. To the Mastermind, organizational structure and operational procedures are never arbitrary, never set in concrete, but are quite malleable and can be changed, improved, streamlined. In their drive for efficient action, Masterminds are the most open-minded of all the types. No idea is too far-fetched to be entertained-if it is useful. Masterminds are natural brainstormers, always open to new concepts and, in fact, aggressively seeking them. They are also alert to the consequences of applying new ideas or positions. Theories which cannot be made to work are quickly discarded by the Masterminds. On the other hand, Masterminds can be quite ruthless in implementing effective ideas, seldom counting personal cost in terms of time and energy.

*******

iNtuitive Thinking Judging
by Marina Margaret Heiss

Profile: INTJ
Revision: 2.2
Date of Revision: 7 Dec 1999

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To outsiders, INTJs may appear to project an aura of "definiteness", of self-confidence. This self-confidence, sometimes mistaken for simple arrogance by the less decisive, is actually of a very specific rather than a general nature; its source lies in the specialized knowledge systems that most INTJs start building at an early age. When it comes to their own areas of expertise -- and INTJs can have several -- they will be able to tell you almost immediately whether or not they can help you, and if so, how. INTJs know what they know, and perhaps still more importantly, they know what they don't know.
INTJs are perfectionists, with a seemingly endless capacity for improving upon anything that takes their interest. What prevents them from becoming chronically bogged down in this pursuit of perfection is the pragmatism so characteristic of the type: INTJs apply (often ruthlessly) the criterion "Does it work?" to everything from their own research efforts to the prevailing social norms. This in turn produces an unusual independence of mind, freeing the INTJ from the constraints of authority, convention, or sentiment for its own sake.

INTJs are known as the "Systems Builders" of the types, perhaps in part because they possess the unusual trait combination of imagination and reliability. Whatever system an INTJ happens to be working on is for them the equivalent of a moral cause to an INFJ; both perfectionism and disregard for authority may come into play, as INTJs can be unsparing of both themselves and the others on the project. Anyone considered to be "slacking," including superiors, will lose their respect -- and will generally be made aware of this; INTJs have also been known to take it upon themselves to implement critical decisions without consulting their supervisors or co-workers. On the other hand, they do tend to be scrupulous and even-handed about recognizing the individual contributions that have gone into a project, and have a gift for seizing opportunities which others might not even notice.

In the broadest terms, what INTJs "do" tends to be what they "know". Typical INTJ career choices are in the sciences and engineering, but they can be found wherever a combination of intellect and incisiveness are required (e.g., law, some areas of academia). INTJs can rise to management positions when they are willing to invest time in marketing their abilities as well as enhancing them, and (whether for the sake of ambition or the desire for privacy) many also find it useful to learn to simulate some degree of surface conformism in order to mask their inherent unconventionality.

Personal relationships, particularly romantic ones, can be the INTJ's Achilles heel. While they are capable of caring deeply for others (usually a select few), and are willing to spend a great deal of time and effort on a relationship, the knowledge and self-confidence that make them so successful in other areas can suddenly abandon or mislead them in interpersonal situations.

This happens in part because many INTJs do not readily grasp the social rituals; for instance, they tend to have little patience and less understanding of such things as small talk and flirtation (which most types consider half the fun of a relationship). To complicate matters, INTJs are usually extremely private people, and can often be naturally impassive as well, which makes them easy to misread and misunderstand. Perhaps the most fundamental problem, however, is that INTJs really want people to make sense. :-) This sometimes results in a peculiar naivete', paralleling that of many Fs -- only instead of expecting inexhaustible affection and empathy from a romantic relationship, the INTJ will expect inexhaustible reasonability and directness.

Probably the strongest INTJ assets in the interpersonal area are their intuitive abilities and their willingness to "work at" a relationship. Although as Ts they do not always have the kind of natural empathy that many Fs do, the Intuitive function can often act as a good substitute by synthesizing the probable meanings behind such things as tone of voice, turn of phrase, and facial expression. This ability can then be honed and directed by consistent, repeated efforts to understand and support those they care about, and those relationships which ultimately do become established with an INTJ tend to be characterized by their robustness, stability, and good communications.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Functional Analysis
by Joe Butt

Introverted iNtuition
INTJs are idea people. Anything is possible; everything is negotiable. Whatever the outer circumstances, INTJs are ever perceiving inner pattern-forms and using real-world materials to operationalize them. Others may see what is and wonder why; INTJs see what might be and say "Why not?!" Paradoxes, antinomies, and other contradictory phenomena aptly express these intuitors' amusement at those whom they feel may be taking a particular view of reality too seriously. INTJs enjoy developing unique solutions to complex problems.
Extraverted Thinking
Thinking in this auxiliary role is a workhorse. Closure is the payoff for efforts expended. Evaluation begs diagnosis; product drives process. As they come to light, Thinking tends, protects, affirms and directs iNtuition's offspring, fully equipping them for fulfilling and useful lives. A faithful pedagogue, Thinking argues not so much on its own behalf, but in defense of its charges. And through this process these impressionable ideas take on the likeness of their master.

Introverted Feeling
Feeling has a modest inner room, two doors down from the Most Imminent iNtuition. It doesn't get out much, but lends its influence on behalf of causes which are Good and Worthy and Humane. We may catch a glimpse of it in the unspoken attitude of good will, or the gracious smile or nod. Some question the existence of Feeling in this type, yet its unseen balance to Thinking is a cardinal dimension in the full measure of the INTJ's soul.

Extraverted Sensing
Sensing serves with a good will, or not at all. As other inferior functions, it has only a rudimentary awareness of context, amount or degree. Thus INTJs sweat the details or, at times, omit them. "I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with the facts" could well have been said by an INTJ on a mission. Sensing's extraverted attitude is evident in this type's bent to savor sensations rather than to merely categorize them. Indiscretions of indulgence are likely an expression of the unconscious vengeance of the inferior.

Famous INTJs:
Dan Aykroyd, actor (The Blues Brothers)
Susan B. Anthony, suffragist
Arthur Ashe, tennis champion
Augustus Caesar (Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus), Emperor of Rome
Jane Austen, author (Pride and Prejudice)
William J. Bennett, "drug czar"
William F. Buckley, Jr., conservative political advocate
Raymond Burr, actor (Perry Mason, Ironsides)
Chevy Chase (Cornelius Crane), actor (Fletch)
Phil Donahue, television talk show host
Michael Dukakis, governor of Mass., 1988 U.S. Dem. pres. candidate
Greg Gumbel, television sportscaster
Hannibal, Carthaginian military leader
Veronica Hamel, actress (Hill Street Blues)
Orel Leonard Hershiser, IV, major league baseball pitcher
Peter Jennings, television newscaster
Charles Everett Koop, former U.S. surgeon general
Ivan Lendl, tennis champion
C. S. Lewis, author (The Chronicles of Narnia)
Joan Lunden, television talk show host
Edwin Moses, U.S. olympian (hurdles)
Martina Navratilova, tennis champion
Charles Rangel, U. S. Representative, D-N.Y.
Pernell Roberts, actor (Bonanza)
Maria Owens Shriver, television newscaster
Josephine Tey (Elizabeth Mackintosh), mystery writer (Brat Farrar)

U.S. Presidents:
Chester A. Arthur
Calvin Coolidge
Thomas Jefferson
John F. Kennedy
James K. Polk
Woodrow Wilson

Fictional:

Cassius (Julius Caesar)
Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Gandalf the Grey (J. R. R. Tolkein's Middle Earth books)
Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)
Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes' nemesis
Ensign Ro (Star Trek--the Next Generation)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet)
George Smiley, John le Carre's master spy
Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)

functionlessart @ 2003-03-03T17:48:00

2003-03-03T23:48:01Z

"Why of course the people don't want war...But after all, it is the
leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a
simple matter to drag the people along whether it is a democracy, a
fascist dictatorship, a parliament or a communist dictatorship. Voice or
no voice the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.
That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked
and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and claim they're
exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

-- Hermann Goering