13. what's something you learned recently?
16. what's a piece of advice you would give to yourself five years ago?
17. do you believe in luck and superstition? Do you carry any lucky items or follow any lucky rules?
-I was sent the Magic Smoke article on Wikipedia a day or two ago, and despite building my own computer and having soldering experience, I hadn't heard of it before. It gave me a hell of a chuckle - for those that don't have time to read the page:
Magic smoke (also factory smoke, blue smoke, or the genie) is a humorous name for the caustic smoke produced by severe electrical over-stress of electronic circuits or components, causing overheating and an accompanying release of smoke.
16. what's a piece of advice you would give to yourself five years ago?
Stress less and focus on yourself more. Spend time refining the person you wanna be into a sharp point, but stop assuming the worst of everyone as well. Grind but stay kind. Don't move into that nice looking duplex in Pasadena, and don't bother going on dates no matter how nice those guys seem. Take as much from the west coast as you can, before it takes whatever it can from you.
17. do you believe in luck and superstition? Do you carry any lucky items or follow any lucky rules?
Sort of. I don't believe in anything metaphysical, or any higher powers, but I've been both terribly unlucky and lucky in life, to the point I often joke I put all my stat points in luck (so when it's good, it's good - but when it's bad, it's a critical failure).
I actually have a kotobuki tattooed on my upper thigh, which I got both because I love the art, and because I wanted a little more luck in my life. I also have a set of of knickknacks on my desk called my "Lucky Items", which are figurines that were either gifts from loved ones, or represent specific positive memories. Do I think these have some sort of cosmic power? Nah, not really. Do they make me smile and lift my mood, making me feel lucky to be in this life? Surely.