Project Paradox

You know that song from “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Well, here’s a band that liked it so much, they decided to rock it up a notch. The result is actually a lot cooler than you might expect.

Of course, that’s not the real story here. The real story is that two of the members of Absent Element are my coworkers. That’s right; I literally sit feet from Ryan on a daily basis, and Mark came on board at our company not too long ago. Who cares about Chris Daughtry? Everyone should bask in my vicarious fame.

Absent Element – Man of Constant Sorrow

I am a man of constant sorrow
I have seen trouble all my days
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The state where I was born and raised

For six long years I’ve been in trouble
No pleasure here on earth I’ve found
For in this world I’m bound to travel
I have no friends to help me now

You may bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave

Maybe your friends think I’m just a stranger
My face you’ll never see no more
But there is one promise that is given
I’ll meet you on God’s golden shore

Very few bloggers have a perfectly consistent writing schedule. For most, writing may be easy one day and difficult the next. Considering the importance of posting frequency, however, good bloggers don’t just write enough when they’re in the zone; they ride the wave.

It’s not difficult to tell when you’re “on a wave.” Writing one post will take you little or no effort, and you’ll often feel inspired to write more. When this happens, the important thing is that you don’t fight it. Keep writing as long as the feeling lasts. Here are a few ways to keep going after you’ve filled your normal quota.

• Build a cushion of emergency posts. It’s possible to develop a “cushion” by writing several time-independent posts in case of a blogging emergency. That way, your blog is protected from occasional periods of inactivity.
   
• Post ahead of schedule. With advance posting, you can get ahead of your normal posting schedule. Similar to a cushion, this allows your posting frequency to remain consistent despite delays. The only difference is that, instead saving the posts for a rainy day, you set them up to post automatically so your blog can fly on auto-pilot for a few days. Ideally, you can use this time to write even more posts and stay well ahead of schedule.
   
• Compose a series. Many of the best series posts are written all in one sitting, so a wave is the perfect opportunity to write one. You can write one long post and break it up afterward, or write the whole series in sections. By doing it all at once, your series will flow very well from one post to the next.

Exactly how you ride the wave doesn’t matter as much as riding it in the first place. By taking advantage of these upswings, you can maintain a consistent post frequency in spite of occasional downturns. Done correctly, your audience won’t even be able to tell the difference.

I was fortunate/wise enough to take some nutrition- and fitness-related classes while I was in college. Much of what I learned really opened my eyes to the realities of health. For example, did you know that the vast majority of people will suffer some sort of lower back problem in their adult life? Neither did I, at least not until my weight training instructor told me about it. After hearing that, I’ve always made sure to include a lower back exercise in my weight training regimen.

To be honest, the really useful tidbits like this wouldn’t fill more than a one-hour lecture, and most of it would sound like common sense. Unsurprisingly, that’s because it is. Most of us know that too much sugar and salt in your diet will lead to diabetes and heart disease. We know that too many calories and saturated/trans fat will make us obese. Unfortunately, knowing is only the first step in doing, and most people don’t go any further than that.

I’d like to propose a different way of thinking about proper nutrition and fitness, one that many people would benefit from adopting. These two things aren’t just the oft-inconvenient requirements of good health that we consider them to be. Rather, they are survival skills, as indispensable to know and practice as hunting and gathering were to our ancestors.

Why do I take this stance? Isn’t calling diet and exercise “survival skills” a bit extreme?

Not… even… a little.

Consider, for a moment, the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States:

• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Stroke (Cerebrovascular Diseases)
• Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases
• Accidents (Unintentional Injuries)
• Diabetes
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Influenza/Pneumonia
• Nephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome, and Nephrosis
• Septicemia

Notice the bold items on the list. Nutrition and fitness have very strong effects on these conditions. In the case of heart disease and diabetes, your long-term health is the most important factor in determining whether you contract them. In the case of infections, your general health and immune function determine your outcome. Sure, even if you’re the healthiest person on earth, it’s still possible to contract these conditions, but your chances are much lower, and you’re much more likely to survive them even if you do.

The point here is that poor diet and fitness can, and likely will, kill you. If you eat right and exercise, you are likely to live a longer, healthier life. Do it and you live; don’t do it and you die. I’d say that pretty much fits the definition of a survival skill, wouldn’t you?

So, next time you’re reevaluating your lifestyle choices, don’t throw diet and fitness by the wayside as annoyances. Embrace them as vital tools for your survival in a toxic food environment.

Continued from Stain of Honor (Part One)

Dawn broke over the city of Silvermoon, a crisp, clear day in the northern reaches of Azeroth. Although commerce and activity would soon bustle below, all was quiet now but for the steady pounding of a solitary hammer on steel.

In the smithy of Farstrider Square, Thalenir was doing the only thing he could to distract himself from the previous day’s events. He pounded the glowing-hot blade with rhythmatic precision, molding it into the form of his choosing. If he kept at this pace, he would have it completed before patrol later that morning, a fine new armament with which to carry out his duties.

The art of smithing was a birthright to Thalenir. His father had always been proud to tell the story of the family name. Long ago, Thalenir’s ancestor had been a celebrated smith who honed the art of quenching newly-wrought weapons in the blood of his enemies. His father had said that such weapons were instilled with unusual strength, and still much sought after. The practice, of course, earned his family the name of Bloodbrand.

The story had always been a point of pride for Thalenir, even if it was a bit gruesome. In his youth, he had endeavored to help his father in the forge at every opportunity. It didn’t matter that the process was no longer a family secret; to see the blood flow up the blade in defiance of gravity, seeping in and empowering the metal, was a magical moment.

That had been years ago, of course, and Thalenir had no chance of seeing it again. His father had fallen in the battle to retake Silvermoon some months ago. Try as he might, Thalenir could not cast the painful memory aside. The best he could do was tell himself how proud he should be of a father who died doing his duty and how he should be so dedicated. He wished his father would think well of the man he had become so many times that it had become a personal mantra.

“Sir Bloodbrand?” came a voice behind him, stirring Thalenir from his revery. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, Thalenir recognized Knight-Lord Bloodvalor’s personal messenger.

“Yes?” he said without turning.

“I have a missive from the Knight-Lord. Your are being reassigned.”

Thalenir’s hammer slipped with a resounding clang against the anvil. “What?!” he exclaimed. He turned to the messenger, who immediately offered him a scroll bearing the Blood Knight seal.

Without a moment’s pause to consider the half-finished sword behind him, Thalenir snatched the scroll, tore it open, and began to read:

“To Sir Thalenir Bloodbrand:

You are hereby commissioned as the personal attendant and bodyguard of the Lady Kirima Morninglow. Your duty will be to assist her in any capacity she deems necessary and to ensure her safety at all times. The Lady will await you at the city gates at midday.

Glory to the Sin’Dorei,
Knight-Lord Bloodvalor

P.S. It is expected that this commission will involve travelling abroad, so I suggest you come prepare accordingly.”

Thalenir read the letter twice to be sure of its meaning. His eyes lingered over the words, “travelling abroad.” Why was Bloodvalor sending him from his post? What purpose would he serve babysitting some pampered noblewoman? Had the Knight-Lord lost confidence in his abilities? With a twinge of panic, he wondered if the soldier had spoken of Thalenir’s misconduct.

Thalenir went about the rest of the morning with growing apprehension. What he had done could be considered disloyal, even treasonous. To think he had defended an enemy of the realm, even for a moment, filled him with self-loathing. He could only hope that this new development was not the result of his lapse in judgment.

As the sun climbed high into the sky later that day, Thalenir made his way to the city gates. It simply wouldn’t be proper to meet a noble unkempt, so he had spent the morning carefully polishing his armor and shield. The new sword hung at his side, honed to perfection and gleaming with deadly beauty in the sunlight. In his pack, he carried all of the essential supplies he would need for a week’s journey, although he secretly hoped not to be away from his post for so long.

The gates neared, and Thalenir saw no sign of a noblewoman. Several commoners and traders chatted nearby, the usual guardsmen stood at attention, and a solitary hunter lingered just beyond the threshold. With no apparent sign of the Lady, Thalenir frowned.

“Are you Thalenir?” came a female voice. For a moment, Thalenir was taken aback. The voice came from the hunter, who walked up to greet him. She had short red hair and wore travel-worn clothes topped with leather armor. Strapped to her back were a sword and a bow.

“Yes…,” he said, somewhat confused. After a moment’s consideration, he dismissed the thought that this could be Lady Morninglow. Although she was quite beautiful, if a bit rugged, there was nothing noble about this woman.

“Good. Thank you for being so prompt,” she said smiling, shattering Thalenir’s denial. Suddenly, he regretted his initial bias against her as nothing more than a “pampered noble.”

“Not at all, milady,” he said with a slight bow. Whatever her outward appearance, proper etiquette demanded he be cordial in respect of her standing.

“Oh, no need for formalities,” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “I don’t spend any time in court. I hardly want to be treated like a courtier.”

“My apologies,” Thalenir said as he rose from his bow. A small smile spread across his face, though he couldn’t put his finger on why. Perhaps it was due to his new companion’s unexpectedly casual composure; perhaps it was something else.

“Well, I can see you’re ready to head out,” she said, smiling back. “No need to wait, then. Let’s get going. I’ll brief you on the way.” At this, she turned and strode out of the gate.

Thalenir stood for a brief moment, musing over the unexpected turn of events. As he followed behind her, he felt unusually happy to be away from his post.

If you’ve never caught Man vs. Wild or Survivorman, they’re both basically the same. The guy on each show has to survive in some type of harsh wilderness for a few days with little or no resources. In this simulated survival experience, they have to gather food, avoid natural hazards and predators, and often try to make their way back to civilization. They’re both interesting and informative programs that give the viewer a decent picture of what it would be like to be stuck in the wild.

Watching these two shows, though, I can’t help but wonder which of the two hosts is the better survivor? Seriously, if you had to put money on either of them doing better than the other in any given survival situation, which would it be?

Bear Grylls…?

Okay, if the situation involves difficult terrain, Bear’s my top choice. I’ve often joked with my wife that his show ought to be called “Watch Bear Climb” instead of “Man vs. Wild.” The guy seems to go out of his way to find obstacles. In one episode, he even climbed up a ravine of smooth stone by bracing against both sides!

Another impressive thing about Bear is his ability to create shelters. In the rainforest episode, he throws together a lean-to in a few hours that looks like it would take anyone else a day to make. He’s definitely got the advantage here, considering Les’ igloo debacle. In situations where natural shelter is unavailable, Bears also gets my vote.

On the other hand, I have my doubts about Bear’s judgment. In one episode, he warns the viewer never go jump into arctic water since it could easily kill you, then proceeds to do so. Granted, he was doing it for educational purposes, and he’s definitely got guts, but he’s just too much of a thrill-seeker. If a situation was too challenging to resist, I think he might put his life in jeopardy.

…or Les Stroud?

Bear has a camera crew. Granted, they’re supposedly not allowed to help him, but he’s never actually alone, and they’d no doubt be prepared to help if he were in real peril. Les, on the other hand, is his own camera crew. He has to carry more weight as he travels and he’s truly alone when he’s out in the wilderness. If the survival situation requires a lot of mental and physical endurance, then, Les is my top choice.

Another impressive quality of Les is his ability to fashion survival tools from junk. I’ve seen him throw together spears, fishing hooks, traps, and an assortment of other useful things quite literally out of trash. In fact, he’s quite fond of tearing apart his vehicle for materials. He should really author the book, “101 uses for a car seat cover.” Clearly, if there are man-made materials around, Les would come out on top.

For this same reason, though, I think Les has a major shortcoming. All too often, he goes out into the wilderness with a random assortment of things on hand. Bear, on the other hand, rarely has more than his bowie knife. Don’t get me wrong; it’s great to see all the different uses you can find for seemingly worthless items, and certainly more realistic, but I can’t help but think Les relies upon them too much. As you get further away from human habitation, then, I think Les loses his advantage.

Obviously, both men are very skilled survival experts. Still, each has his own unique strengths and weaknesses. What do you think?

 

So, imagine you’re a curator at the Smithsonian Institute and some guy keeps sending you junk to put on display. His most recent submission is a barbie doll head. Not only does he openly admit to digging it up in his back yard, but he also insists that it has genuine scientific and historic value. Do you file his findings in the circular receptacle beside your desk where they rightfully belong? Or do you send him a humorous letter explaining the scrutiny and consideration that you’ve given his work? Here’s the letter from the website:

Thank you for your latest submission to the Institute, labeled “93211-D, layer seven, next to the clothesline post…Hominid skull.” We have given this specimen a careful and detailed examination, and regret to inform you that we disagree with your theory that it represents conclusive proof of the presence of Early Man in Charleston County two million years ago. Rather, it appears that what you have found is the head of a Barbie doll, of the variety that one of our staff, who has small children, believes to be “Malibu Barbie.” It is evident that you have given a great deal of thought to the analysis of this specimen, and you may be quite certain that those of us who are familiar with your prior work in the field were loathe to come to contradiction with your findings. However, we do feel that there are a number of physical attributes of the specimen which might have tipped you off to its modern origin:

1. The material is molded plastic. Ancient hominid remains are typically fossilized bone.
    
2. The cranial capacity of the specimen is approximately 9 cubic centimeters, well below the threshold of even the earliest identified proto-homonids.
    
3. The dentition pattern evident on the skull is more consistent with the common domesticated dog than it is with the ravenous man-eating Pliocene clams you speculate roamed the wetlands during that time.

This latter finding is certainly one of the most intriguing hypotheses you have submitted in your history with this institution, but the evidence seems to weigh rather heavily against it. Without going into too much detail, let us say that:

1. The specimen looks like the head of a Barbie doll that a dog has chewed on.
    
2. Clams don’t have teeth.

It is with feelings tinged with melancholy that we must deny your request to have the specimen carbon-dated. This is partially due to the heavy load our lab must bear in its normal operation, and partly due to carbon dating’s notorious inaccuracy in fossils of recent geologic record. To the best of our knowledge, no Barbie dolls were produced prior to 1956 AD, and carbon dating is likely to produce wildly inaccurate results.

Sadly, we must also deny your request that we approach the National Science Foundation Phylogeny Department with the concept of assigning your specimen the scientific name Australopithecus spiff-arino.

Speaking personally, I, for one, fought tenaciously for the acceptance of your proposed taxonomy, but was ultimately voted down because the species name you selected was hyphenated, and didn’t really sound like it might be Latin.

However, we gladly accept your generous donation of this fascinating specimen to the museum. While it is undoubtedly not a Hominid fossil, it is, nonetheless, yet another riveting example of the great body of work you seem to accumulate here so effortlessly.

You should know that our Director has reserved a special shelf in his own office for the display of the specimens you have previously submitted to the Institution, and the entire staff speculates daily on what you will happen upon next in your digs at the site you have discovered in your Newport back yard. We eagerly anticipate your trip to our nation’s capital that you proposed in your last letter, and several of us are pressing the Director to pay for it. We are particularly interested in hearing you expand on your theories surrounding the trans-positating fillifitation of ferrous ions in a structural matrix that makes the excellent juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex femur you recently discovered take on the deceptive appearance of a rusty 9-mm Sears Craftsman automotive crescent wrench.

I’ve been running Google AdSense on my site for a few years now. In that time, I’ve managed to earn almost $800. I wouldn’t describe the system as ideal, but I’d say I’m happy with the results so far. Here is my review of AdSense as a whole for those who are considering it for their websites.

Pros of Google AdSense

• Reputation. AdSense is often listed among the best ways to monetize a website. Google is a well-known and trustworthy brand, so there’s no need to be concerned over offensive ads, network outages, or missed payoffs. It’s also because of its reputation that Google has an extensive advertiser network, so they can serve up well-targetted ads for almost any subject.
   
• Contextual targetting. Other advertising programs like Chitika or Commission Junction require you to hand-pick your ads. The AdSense system customizes ads to your page automatically. This is a real convenience that frees up your time for other website activities.
   
• Customizability. AdSense can be tailored to almost any website. You can create ads in multiple sizes and tailor the colors to match your site as you see fit.
   
• Tracking. AdSense provides extensive click tracking for its affiliates. You can also set up custom channels to track ads by individual type or site. For the performance optimizing gurus out there, AdSense sets the bar.
   

Cons of Google AdSense

• Contextual targetting. You may have noticed that this is listed as a pro as well. It’s also a con because it’s driven by an algorithm and can often fail to produce well-targetted ads. For example, I’ve made several posts over on the World of Warcraft section of Project Paradox concerning spells for the game’s warlock class, to which AdSense has repeatedly served up psychic adviser and new age occultism ads. Any human being who read the article would know that these ads are inappropriate, but AdSense has difficulty telling the difference. It’s possible to curb this to a certain extent by filtering out specific ads, but it gets tedious very quickly.
   
• High minimum payoff. If you do some shopping around, you’ll notice that the minimum payoff of most advertising programs is $25 or perhaps $50 at the most. AdSense’s minimum payoff is $100. For a small website owner, it can take months to earn that much. Case in point, it took Project Paradox a year and a half to achieve its first payoff.
   
• Protracted payoff schedule. This is somewhat related to the minimum payoff problem. Whenever you get a payoff, it takes about a month and a half for the check to reach your hand. This isn’t a big problem if you’re earning more than $100 every month, but it’s just an added wait for those who don’t.
   
• Ad whoring. An old coworker once said that putting AdSense on my site made me look like an “advertising whore.” There really isn’t any avoiding this, since you have to place ads in obvious locations if users are ever going to click on them. This may turn some users off to your site. It’s just the price you have to pay for monetization.
   
• Unpredictable topic worth. Unless you’re very clever, there’s no simple way of determining how much advertisements for a particular topic will be worth. And while the industry has some general guidelines for high-paying topics, there are lots of variables that Google keeps hidden. When using AdSense, you can expect your returns to be unpredictable on a page-by-page basis.
   

There are certainly other pros and cons of AdSense, but those are the big ones. Despite a few hitches, I’d highly recommend it for anyone looking to make a few bucks off their website. If you’re interested, you can use the link below to learn more and sign up.

When my wife and I got married, I was 20 and she was 18. According to popular opinion, we were “too young,” and I’ll be the first to admit that we were toward the lower end of most marital age statistics. The median age at first marriage nowadays is around the mid-twenties (25ish for women and 27ish for men). Still, these numbers are only a product of modern cultural attitudes. Flash back 50 years and my wife and I wouldn’t have seemed so out of place; the median age then was about five years younger. We still would have been on the young side, mind you, but not so far as to seem abnormal.

The question of whether to get married sooner or later is one a lot of young couples face. From the perspective of the couple, the question seems silly. After all, if you’re already committed to spending the rest of your life together, why shouldn’t you get married? Popular opinion, on the other hand, holds that you’re not yet mature enough to make such a life-altering decision. By your late teens and early 20′s, they say, you’ve only recently become an adult, so you have to give yourself time to “sew your wild oats” before committing.

As a young husband, this was the sort of attitude I had to face a lot. I’ll admit that I met it with skepticism. After all, despite everyone’s protests, my wife and I have turned out just fine. We’ve been married for four wonderful years, had one child, and plan on having another. We can’t imagine the rest of our lives without each other. We’ve had to deal with some rough times, for sure, but they’ve only made us grow closer.

Unfortunately, in doing the research to back up our anecdotal success, I’ve managed to convince myself that popular opinion may be right, at least partly. There is evidence to suggest that personality can and, in many cases, does shift considerably through your mid-20′s. I hate to admit it, but the, “You haven’t grown up yet,” mentality isn’t completely bogus.

More significant, however, are the divorce statistics. Of men and women who get divorced, over half of them got married in their late teens and early 20′s. The predictive value of this data cannot be denied; people who get married younger than 25 are at much greater risk of their marriage failing.

There are many factors that are likely involved in this trend. Young adults rarely have significant financial resources, and money troubles are a primary cause of divorce. Much as we like to romanticize things, love is not all you need. Young adults are also often involved in college settings, where irresponsibility and sexual promiscuity could damage a budding marriage.

However you look at it, most young couples are not well-prepared for married life. Mind you, I don’t want this to be the case. I’d rather tell young couples to follow their dreams, common wisdom be damned. It certainly worked for me and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

However, the fact is that I’d advise my son to wait if he were considering marriage before 25. Even if he and his girlfriend were unusually mature for their age, I would still tell them to wait. Am I a hypocrite? Certainly. The truth is, though, that my wife and I took a real risk by marrying young.

If you’re younger than 25 and considering marriage, stop and think about what you’re doing. Coming from someone who, until now, was an ardent defender of getting married young, it really isn’t a wise choice. You may end up happy like my wife and I, but you’re also very likely to regret your decision. Think long and hard about the facts before you make the leap.

(Lately, I’ve been inspired by the World of Warcraft fan fiction on Life in Azeroth, my sister-in-law’s blog, so I decided to start a story of my own. This is the tale of Sir Thalenir Bloodbrand, a blood elf paladin slowly coming to terms with the misbegotten holy power inside of him.)

Clang! The clash of their swords resounded through the air. Thalenir glared at the young soldier with righteous fury in his eyes. He would not allow this dishonorable conduct to continue.

“Sir?” the soldier said, a look of confusion spreading across his face. As quickly as it had swelled up, Thalenir’s rage subsided. He blinked as if waking from a dream. Why had he done it? It had been involuntary, almost reflexive. A moment ago, he had been ready to kill his subordinate rather than allow him to dispatch the Wretched.

“Didn’t Lord Bloodvalor order no quarter, Sir?” the soldier asked, stepping back and lowering his sword submissively. He spoke the truth. The Wretched were to be exterminated with all haste to ensure the safety of the realm. It was their duty.

“Yes, he did,” Thalenir replied, though his voice conveyed no certainty. He looked down upon the Wretched and could think of no more appropriate title. Hopelessly addicted to magic, the pitiable creature held its hands over its sunken face in surrender. Distantly, he heard it pleading for its life.

“I’ll take care of this one,” he said. He was coming back to his senses now and his voice rang with its usual authority. “You are dismissed.”

“Yes, sir,” the soldier said obediently. With a small salute, he added, “Glory to the Sin’Dorei,” and departed.

Thalenir turned his attention back to the Wretched. He felt nothing but contempt for the creature, yet he had been ready to kill an ally to keep it from harm. Why? Because it had surrendered? Because he felt mercy? These things had never troubled him before.

“No,” he stated aloud in proud denial of these weaknesses. Though he was speaking to himself, the Wretched cringed even lower in response, sure that its life was about to end.

He steeled himself against the doubt in his heart. He was a Blood Knight, one of the chosen defenders of Silvermoon. His loyalty was absolute and his duty was clear.

He concentrated for a moment, invoking the Seal of Righteousness. As the holy power rose up within him, he raised his sword and brought it down in a single, deadly stroke.

The Wretched fell limply to the ground, its blood pooling around it. Thalenir lingered over the creature for a moment, attempting to comprehend what had driven him to protect it. “It’s nothing,” he told himself. “I just wanted the killing blow for myself, that’s all.”

As he walked away, he wanted to feel certain of himself. He wanted to be the ruthless champion that his race so desperately needed, that he had always known himself to be. But the question still plagued him. Why had he done it?

Why had he felt mercy…?

Continued in Stain of Honor (Part Two)

Evolution is a fact. To those who take offense at the idea that we evolved from primates, get over it. You have 99.4% of your genes in common with a chimpanzee. It is an irrefutable, scientific fact. If you don’t believe me, this Korn video does a very good job of highlighting the similarities. If, after you’ve seen it, you still don’t think you’re related to monkies, I suggest you seek professional help. Be sure to mention the word “denial.” That should get you the treatment you need.

Evolution by Korn

I’m digging with my fingertips,
I’m gripping at the ground I stand upon.
I’m searching for fragile bones.
(Evolution)

I’m never gonna be refined;
keep trying but I won’t assimilate.
Sure, we have come far in time…
(Watch the bough break)

And I’m sorry I don’t believe,
by the evidence that I see,
that there’s any hope left for me…
It’s evolution!
Just evolution!

And I, I do not dare deny
the basic beast inside;
it’s right here,
it’s controlling my mind!
And why do I deserve to die?
I’m dominated by
this animal that’s locked up inside!

Close up to get a real good view,
I’m betting that the species will survive.
Hold tight, I’m getting inside you…
(Evolution)

And when we’re gonna find these bones,
they’re gonna want to keep them in a jar.
The number one virus,
caused by procreation.

And the planet may go astray;
in a million years they’ll say:
“Those mother fuckers were all deranged!”
It’s evolution!
Just evolution!

And I, I do not dare deny
the basic beast inside;
it’s right here,
it’s controlling my mind!
And why do I deserve to die?
I’m dominated by
this animal that’s locked up inside!

Take a look around… (take a look around…)
Nothing much has changed!
Take a look around… (take a look around…)
Nothing much has changed!
Take a look around!
Take a look around!
Take a look around!
Nothing much has changed!
Take a look around!
Take a look around!
Nothing much has changed!
Take a look around!
Take a look around!
Nothing much has changed!
Take a look around!

I, I do not dare deny
the basic beast inside;
it’s right here,
it’s controlling my mind!
And why do I deserve to die?
I’m dominated by
this animal that’s locked up inside

Why? (why…)
Why do I deserve to die? (do i deserve to die)
(Why? Why?)