I received an email today informing me that my LiveJournal account, yes, that ancient digital relic, has officially turned 21.

Twenty-one. As in, legally allowed to drink in every jurisdiction that still pretends LiveJournal is a thing.

I had genuinely forgotten I even had one. It’s been lurking in the shadowy corners of the internet like a time capsule filled with questionable poetry, dramatic status updates, and the occasional pixelated GIF of emotional turmoil.

But now that it’s reached the age of majority, I suppose I owe it a celebratory pint. Maybe two. Maybe a full round of shots and a long, cathartic conversation about how we’ve both changed.

So tonight, I raise a glass to my LiveJournal, my moody, melodramatic, HTML‑decorated companion from the early 2000s. May it drink responsibly, avoid posting while tipsy, and never remind me what I wrote in 2005.

For those who may be new around here, my blog has gone through four iterations, with LiveJournal being the second incarnation.

• Version 1: Hand-coded posts on my original website back in the early ’90s — before the word blog even existed. Just raw HTML, questionable colour choices, and the burning need to overshare.
• Version 2: Migrated to LiveJournal, where angst met animated GIFs and every post felt like a diary entry written by candlelight.
• Version 3: Took up residence on the Three-Ninjas site, because clearly what my thoughts needed was a dojo.
• Version 4: (And hopefully final version) is right here — on this very page. Still rambling. Still oversharing. Just with better fonts and fewer sparkly backgrounds.

The number 2 has several unique and fascinating qualities:

• Prime Number: It’s the only even prime number. All other even numbers can be divided by 2, making them non-prime.
• Binary System: In computing, the binary system (base-2) uses only two digits: 0 and 2. This system is the foundation of all modern computer architecture.
• Duality: The concept of duality appears frequently in philosophy, spirituality, and science, representing pairs such as good and evil, light and dark, yin and yang.
• Symmetry: It’s the smallest natural number that is not a palindrome but symmetrical in its form. The symmetry concept is crucial in mathematics and geometry.
• Human Perception: Humans tend to think in pairs or opposites, like day and night, left and right, etc.
• Mathematics: Multiplication by 2 is equivalent to adding a number to itself. It’s the basis for the concept of doubling.

It’s incredible how such a simple number holds so much significance across various fields!

So why is this post brought to you by the number 2?

Well, today I had an email from LiveJournal (Yes apparently they it is still a thing!) 

“Blog’s Birthday – We’re together for 20 years now! Thank you!”

Looks like my LJ account is 20 years old today. I wonder how long ago my last post was? to be honest I did not know the place was still live, I really should go post something on it just for old times sake. So 20 years old, and in 2 0. I know there is nothing odd in that, we are all getting old now. Hell I remember the time we had a work experience kid turn up in the office and I realised I had websites older than him.

This would be nothing, but the number 2 had popped up a few more times recently, like I visited 2 lodges in 2 different Masonic Halls, on 2 consecutive days.  (you want more?)

Both those Lodges ended up doing Second Degrees. 

I do not know what the world is trying to tell me, but it has something to do with the number 2.

Wasn’t there a film once called 2, or 22, or something about the fact a number keep showing itself to main character?

Dear Constant Reader,

If you have been around this blog since the beginning, or in a really really bored moment actually went and read the old posts you will be aware that every so often I retest my personality using the Jung Explorer test to see if I have changed as I’ve aged.

The Past!!

Test 1:

Dec 5, 2006

Actualized type: (who you are)

INTJ (Mastermind)

Preferred type: (who you prefer to be)

INTP (Architect)

Attraction type: (who you are attracted to)

ENTP (Inventor)

This is the Baseline Test I use since it was how I scored on the first test I posted on this blog over 7 years ago. (Damn this blog is old)

Test 2:

Jan 21, 2010

Actualized type: (who you are)

INTP (Architect)

Preferred type: (who you prefer to be)

INTJ (Mastermind)

Attraction type: (who you are attracted to)

ENTP (Inventor)

When I resat the test in 2010 the thing that really struck me was  that I was now what I used to want to be, and I wanted to be what I was. “Wow… that’s like so deep ……………man”.  Or I had become the think I preferred to be, then discovered i did not like it outside my safety bubble so wished to return to what I knew. Either way it was interesting the switch between “Who I was” and “Who I wanted to be”

Test 3:

Apr 28, 2011

Actualized type: (who you are)

INTJ (Mastermind)

Preferred type: (who you prefer to be)

INTJ (Mastermind)

Attraction type: (who you are attracted to)

ENTP (Inventor)

When I took the test for a third time I was mostly curious to see if I had switched again. Imagine my surprise when this time my results showed once again I had become what I had previously preferred to be. Only this time I now preferred to be exactly what I was. So I was basically happy being myself.

It’s good to reach your goals.

The Present!

It has been three years since I last sat the Jung Explorer test, and I have been wondering if I have changed again. Am I still happy being myself or do I fancy a change. So a retest was due.

Test 4:

Apr 24, 2014

Actualized type: (who you are)

INTJ (Mastermind)

Preferred type: (who you prefer to be)

INTJ (Mastermind)

Attraction type: (who you are attracted to)

ENTJ (Field Marshall)

It seams I have not changed in the last few years, my personality is still the same old INTJ it has basically been since the first time I sat the test. And I am currently still happy with being me, so Who I want to be is Who I am.  I wonder how many people can actually say the same?

What is interesting is that for the first time ever, the type of person I am attracted too has changed. OK, it is not much of a change, ENTP to ENTJ but it is the first time out of 4 different tests at 4 different periods of my life that it is even slightly different. (Only down side is I have gone from being attracted to 3.2% of population to just 1.8%… arse)

So any Single ENTJ’s out there want to meet up for a drink in the aid of science? Let me know!!

Classes:

INTJ – “Mastermind“. Introverted intellectual with a preference for finding certainty. A builder of systems and the applier of theoretical models. 2.1% of total population.

INTP – “Architect“. Greatest precision in thought and language. Can readily discern contradictions and inconsistencies. The world exists primarily to be understood. 3.3% of total population.

ENTP – “Inventor“. Enthusiastic interest in everything and always sensitive to possibilities. Non-conformist and innovative. 3.2% of the total population.

ENTJ – “Field Marshall“. The basic driving force and need is to lead. Tend to seek a position of responsibility and enjoys being an executive. 1.8% of total population.

I got tagged in one of those blog-meme type things…

And since I always try to be as helpful as I can, I have decided to complete it.

So here goes nothing!

1. Are you a cat or dog or bird person? 

Dog person. Dog’s are cool, loyal, a man’s best friend. They go for walks with you, play fetch, and can do loads of fun things. Cats just sit and watch you, waiting for you to show the slightest sign of weakness and then they will pounce and eat your eyes!!!. And Birds? what use is a pet in a cage? Are Bird people just people with secret zoo owner fetishes? So defiantly Dogs…
(This answer was written of my own free will, and my dog in no means forced me into my answer)

2. What was your favorite food as a kid? Is it the same, or has it changed as an adult?

I can not remember?
Chips, Burger? No my mothers home made butterscotch flan thing.

And yes, it is still my favourite. I have a very sweet tooth.

3. What is your favourite hobby?

Reading, I love nothing more than setting into a good book.

Although I do love playing Games (I am a self-confessed gamer) so maybe I should have two answers Reading & Gaming.

Although I do like watching TV/Films, but not as much as Reading/Gaming. But then there is writing.

NO!!! I am decided my favourite hobby is Reading/Gaming.

4. If you HAD to move to a different state (or country) where would it be? 

Well If I had to move to a different country I think I would pick the States, they have all the best Conventions, and some places have decent weather. I am not sure which state I would pick? Since I have never yet been to the States so have nothing much to base my choices on.  Maybe I should play safe and stay in the UK, somewhere like Scotland or Ireland?

I think my answer would have to be based on the reason I had to move. If I am running from the Government I may need to move to a country without an extradition treaty with the UK.

5. Are you a winter or summer person?

That is a very hard question to answer.

There is nothing better than being indoors in front of a roaring fire either reading a good book, or enjoying good company while the outside is blanketed under thick snow. And you have to admit a blanket of snow makes even the most run-down environment look wonderful.  So my answer should be Winter.

But… In the summer you have the warmth, the light, women wear a hell of a lot less *eyebrow wiggle*. So summer has its advantages, so….  

If you were to threaten me at gunpoint to pick just one answer, I would probably stab you in the eye with a pencil, and then move to one of the places I mentioned in question 4. Nothing personal you understand but I do not like being threatened at gunpoint!. err oh the question. I will have to go Winter.

6. What makes you happy? 

To crush my enemies — See them driven before me, and to hear the lamentation of their women!

7. What is the weirdest question you’ve ever been asked?

I was once asked by a stranger “Hi, are you the person I promised a chocolate covered dog treat too?”

That is a true story. A large group of us were going out for drinks on the eve of Christmas Eve, and someone I had never met came up to me holding a wrapped Christmas gift and asked that question.

8. If you had to go on an adventure, with elves, dwarves, or hobbits, who would you take and why?

Since there does not seem to be a limit on the number of people I can take with me in my party.

For wisdom and magical backup :-
Gandalf, Dumbledore, Vanyel, Dr Strange, Ged, Merlin, Raistlin Majere & Harry Dresden.

For muscle and fighting :-
Achilles, Lancelot, Elric, Geralt, Conan, Aragon, The Hulk, Superman, & Batman.

And I guess for research, stores, and improvised equipment :-
McGyvur, The Mythbusters, Sherlock, Hermione & R2D2.

Oh and you always need the one comic relief person :-
Deadpool!

9. You are at a rural retreat lodge somewhere deep in Wisconsin or Canada. You are approached by a taxidermist who hands you a stuffed badger and asks you to put it in your lap. What do you do next?

I would start by wondering just what kind of retreat I was in where random taxidermists wander about with stuffed badgers.

If the taxidermist was a man I would probably ask him what he was up to and depending on his answer comply or not.

BUT if said taxidermist was female I would wink and say “of course you can rest your stuffed beaver on my lap but what shall we do with the badger?”

10. What was your first job?

Apprentice Electrician, I went from school to training to become an Electrician.

11. What is your favorite utensil?

I take back my answer for Question 7. This is possibly the weirdest question I have even been asked, with that stuffed badger one coming in at second place.

Ok favourite utensil…
I guess I would have to go with…

The Dragon Throne!!!! Ha, did not see that one coming did you? Now before you start protesting the Dragon Throne which was the rhetorical seat of power in the Empire of China is also called the divine utensil. “Boom, headshot“

OK, the title of this post looks wrong. I do not mean that “Will you marry me?” is becoming a FAQ, In fact I think it’s only been asked once by a semi-anonymous person on Formspring. What is becoming a FAQ is the question “Why would you want to be asked `Will you marry me?`” so I figured to save me having to answer the question more than once (and twitter has a 140 character limit) I’d answer it here.

I should explain for anyone who missed the origin of this, that it all begins with a Formspring Question I was asked.

What is the one questions you would most like to be asked on here? Only the questions, not the answer or reason

To which I answered :-

“Would you like this iPad for free?” or “Will you marry me”

Now, since the original question said only the question, not the answer or reason, I left it at that. Or I would have if people were not confused by the “Will you marry me” part of the answer, and started asking why I would like to be asked that.

So I will point out now to quieten the questioners, I would like that question on formspring from someone I was in a long term serious relationship with. Since it would mean I was in a long term serious relationship :). That is all it’s about. So my Answer is more about the person who would ask the question, rather than the question itself.

See, there is no big conspiracy, or mystery. So can normal service now resume?

I was reading on t’interweb about the Russian owners of Livejournal laying off most of its staff without any severance packages, and since all of these people are in the technical area, leaving only sales people left its a bit of an interesting time.

So being a IT person and therefore a BIG advocate of OpenSource. I decided I had better back up my data. For those of you interested in such things, or wishing to back up your own data I suggest a program called ljarchive.  It is a good idea as you could have years worth of memories you may loose.

After downloading my data, I sat there with my back up of several years of pointless drivel from Livejournal, inspiration hit. Where better to store a backup of my old blog, but in the archives of the new blog?

So, quick import of data from the ljarchive file, a tweak on posting info, and bob’s your great uncle.  And this blog suddenly backdates several years. I have hidden all the MEME’s, most the Insanity, and all of the plans for global domination.

I have seen this on multiple friends LiveJournal’s, and other places all over the internet.

It looks nice, simple and safe. So the idea is, you type “[your name] likes to” into Google and list ten things the Internet thinks you like to do.

Oh but it gets worrying! There are some very strange Wayne’s out there, and they are not all me!

Wayne likes to relax by seducing pensioners.
Wayne likes to go deeper.
Wayne likes to eat his meals from a dog dish with chop sticks.
Wayne likes to rub fabulous feasts in the faces of the uninvited.
Wayne likes to say that his job is to help people catch fish by design, not by accident.
Wayne likes to say, “We’re in the business of helping others help others.”
Wayne likes to share his knowledge with others.
Wayne likes to hang out behind the band overlooking the DuPont Circle underpass.
Wayne likes to challenge his audiences to think outside the norm and to truly consider how and why they operate the way they do.

I think only 1 of them may apply to me. You can try and guess which one.

1. Elaborate on your default icon.
Which one is my default Icon? Can’t remember, Hang on one second I’ll go check….
“Intermission”
Ah its that one… I generally use a dragon based name/logo and that is just one of the
Dragon logo’s I use, I believe its the one I use for Dragon Code.

2. What’s your current relationship status?
Sadly Single. Due to never being able to find an intelligent, beautiful woman with a great
personality (Curse my look of living in the Wrexham area.)

3. Ever have a near-death experience?
Err, not that I am aware of, I have had my past flash before my eyes as I was in a serious
car crash, but all I remember of that is realizing I was in a smashed up car, and saying
“weeee Can I do that again!!!”

4. Name an obvious quality you have.
Brilliant Mind. That I never really make use of.
EDIT:: I have just been informed my best feature is my Sarcasm

5. What’s the name of the song that’s stuck in your head right now.
Witchcraft by Wonderwall. due to it being played 4 times this morning.

6. Name a celebrity you would marry:
Errr. Sheesh.. I not know…

• Kate Beckinsdale
• Jewel Staite
• Claudia Black
• Lexa Doig
• Eliza Dushku

7. Who will cut and paste this first?
No one because only one likely to do it is and he has already done it.

8. Has anyone ever said you look like a celebrity?
I am a celebrity, and people have been told they look like me, does that count?
Err, I was told I look like Michael Jackson, Which I took as an Insult!
And I was told I look like a character from a book, and the drawings of him on the cover.
EDIT:: I was also told I looked like a young Stephen King, and Wiz from the wizbiz books

9. Do you wear a watch? What kind?
Occasionally a pocket watch, silver on a chain…

10. Do you have anything pierced?
No

11. Do you have any tattoos?
No. Still not found the right dragon drawing…

12. Do you like pain?
Apart from sadomasochists does anyone actually like pain?

13. Do you like to shop?
Yes, but online, or out of normal hours, I hate crowds, and queuing! But like getting new stuff.

14. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
A can of coke I just drank.

15. What was the last thing you paid for with your credit card?
Petrol

16. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone?
Tim the Director about a script for poaching domain names.

17. What is on your desktop background?
Gray Background
Blue Background
Black Background
Black Background
Depending which Desktop I in front off..

18. What is the background on your cell phone?
Err its called steel, but looks like a plant pot with a plant in it. Don’t ask, it came with the phone.

19. Do you like redheads?
If they are cute, nice, and don’t shout insults at me from the window of a Taxi..

20. Do you know any twins?
Yes, they were born on Feb 29th, and very weird!!

21. Do you have any weird relatives?
I am the weird relative!!!!

22. What was the last movie you watched?
Superman Returns

23. What was the last book you read?
Finished would be “The Traveler” (Real book) and Gibsons Neuromancer (eBook) but there are currently half a dozen in the progress of being read by me.. I just don’t get the time as much as I would like.