No, You're Not Crazy - Linkin Park's 'Hybrid Theory' IS The Best Music Album Ever Bestowed Upon Human Kind (ESSAY)
No, You're Not Delusional - The Killers IS The Best Music Artist To Ever Walk The Earth (ESSAY)
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Fate: set in stone +
Destiny: includes human agency
= "ÖDE" in Swedish and incorrectly(?) used for both contexts!
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DESTINY PREORDAINED: (redundant OR contradictory on purpose)
101 People, Places & Things That... /
101 People, Places & Things That... /
Decided My Life (Without Asking Permission Or Even Letting Me Know)
Made Me Who I Am (Without Letting Me Know Or Asking Permission / Without Notification Or Consent)
Motion Pictures (10)
Music Artists (10)
Video Games (10)
Social encounters/Acquaintances (10)
Celebrities, Heroes, Rolemodels & Muses (10)
Celebrities, Heroes, Rolemodels & Muses (10)
Non-fiction Books (10)
Fiction Books/Novels (10)
Fiction Books/Novels (10)
Geographic Places / Locations (10)
World Events (10)
Personal Experiences (10)
Personal Experiences (10)
=
100 People, Places & Things
+ Destiny Itself (1)
Motion Pictures (Movies, TV Series & YouTube Channels)
1. Världens M. Land (TV series) - Anthropology
2. S. Park (TV Series) -
Non-conformity/Dissent
3. Penn & Teller: Bullsh!t (TV Series) - Critical Thinking
4. Angry Video Game Nerd (YouTube Series) -
Passion/Irrestraint
5. Guns, Germs & Steel (doc. series) - Interdisciplinarianism/Singularity/Academic Interconnectedness
6. Indie Game: The Movie (Movie) -
Integrity
7. Waking Life (Movie) - Philosophy
8. Jobs (Movie) - Vision
9. Engineering An Empire (TV Series) - History
10. Joe Rogan Experience (YouTube Channel) -
Humility(?)
11. Bowling For Columbine (Movie) -
Activism
12. Seinfeld (TV Series) -
Simplicity/Minimalism
13. Boston Tea Party (TV Series) -
Unorthodox, mixing all academic fields and life situations
2. S. Park (TV Series) -
Non-conformity/Dissent
3. Penn & Teller: Bullsh!t (TV Series) - Critical Thinking
4. Angry Video Game Nerd (YouTube Series) -
Passion/Irrestraint
5. Guns, Germs & Steel (doc. series) - Interdisciplinarianism/Singularity/Academic Interconnectedness
6. Indie Game: The Movie (Movie) -
Integrity
7. Waking Life (Movie) - Philosophy
8. Jobs (Movie) - Vision
9. Engineering An Empire (TV Series) - History
10. Joe Rogan Experience (YouTube Channel) -
Humility(?)
11. Bowling For Columbine (Movie) -
Activism
12. Seinfeld (TV Series) -
Simplicity/Minimalism
13. Boston Tea Party (TV Series) -
Unorthodox, mixing all academic fields and life situations
Music Artists
1. Linkin Park (Rock/HipHop)
2. The Killers (Rock/Pop)
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers (Funk/Rock)
4. Eminem (Hiphop/Rap) -
Obsession (for both commercial success and writing lyrics)
5. Green Day (Rock)
Rebellion -
6. Nirvana (Rock)
Alienation -
7. Nordman (Pop/Folk Music)
Cultural Pride -
8. Snook (HipHop/Rap)
Articulation -
9. Gyllene Tider (Rock/Pop)
Borrowing -
'Sommartider' is a complete and utter ripoff of Billy Talent's 'Mony Mony' - and there are (probably?) more examples of near-theft levels of "borrowing."
"'Mediocre artists copy - Good artists steal" (Da Vinci?)
10. Beatles (Rock/Pop)
Self-restraint/Self-awareness
Alice Cooper interview ("there's no needless noodling on the guitar... everything is there for a reason, to serve the song.")
2. The Killers (Rock/Pop)
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers (Funk/Rock)
4. Eminem (Hiphop/Rap) -
Obsession (for both commercial success and writing lyrics)
5. Green Day (Rock)
Rebellion -
6. Nirvana (Rock)
Alienation -
7. Nordman (Pop/Folk Music)
Cultural Pride -
8. Snook (HipHop/Rap)
Articulation -
9. Gyllene Tider (Rock/Pop)
Borrowing -
'Sommartider' is a complete and utter ripoff of Billy Talent's 'Mony Mony' - and there are (probably?) more examples of near-theft levels of "borrowing."
"'Mediocre artists copy - Good artists steal" (Da Vinci?)
10. Beatles (Rock/Pop)
Self-restraint/Self-awareness
Alice Cooper interview ("there's no needless noodling on the guitar... everything is there for a reason, to serve the song.")
Social Encounters/Acquaintances:
Family, Friends, Teachers & Co-workers
1. Ewa Prahl (mother) -
Ambition
2. Matts Prahl (father) -
Academicism
3. Mehrad 'Razz' Razzaghi(?) (friend) -
Social/People/Communication Skills
4. Erik Rausner (friend) -
Intellect
5. Björn Johansson (friend) -
Ireverence/Troublemaking
6. 'Kent' (teacher) -
Curiosity
7. Andres Ozolins (professor) -
Excellence
8. Teresa 'Babi' Halpern/Szuster (grandmother) -
Hope (surviving poverty, famine & war)
9. Patrik Prahl (half-brother) -
Admiration (he was my role model)
10. Jarl falkenborn (friend) -
Initiative/Entrepreneush8p
11. Amanda Cronberg (girlfriend)
Ambition
2. Matts Prahl (father) -
Academicism
3. Mehrad 'Razz' Razzaghi(?) (friend) -
Social/People/Communication Skills
4. Erik Rausner (friend) -
Intellect
5. Björn Johansson (friend) -
Ireverence/Troublemaking
6. 'Kent' (teacher) -
Curiosity
7. Andres Ozolins (professor) -
Excellence
8. Teresa 'Babi' Halpern/Szuster (grandmother) -
Hope (surviving poverty, famine & war)
9. Patrik Prahl (half-brother) -
Admiration (he was my role model)
10. Jarl falkenborn (friend) -
Initiative/Entrepreneush8p
11. Amanda Cronberg (girlfriend)
Celebrities/Heroes
1. Jordan Peterson (academic) -
Destiny
2. Filip & Fredrik (cheatful inclusion allowed) (filmmakers) -
Unabashedness
3. Edmund McMillen (video game designer) -
Vulnerability
4. Kurt Cobain (musician) -
Belonging
5. Marcus 'Notch' Persson (video game designer)
6. Trey Parker (filmmaker) -
Humor
7. James Rolfe (filmmaker) -
Authenticity
8. Michael Syevens (YouTuber) -
Intelligence/Genius
9. Jim Carey (actor) -
Charisma
10. Robin Williams (actor) -
Eccentricity
11. Brian Tracy (author) -
Personal Development (introduced to me by 'Razz')
12. Barrack Obama (politician)
Eloquence
13. Eminem (music artist)
Obsession - read the dictionary page to page at a young for the sole purpose of adding it to his word-related repertoire and MAYBE utilizing a few of them words in the future (Anderson Cooper CNN Interview)
14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (athelete)
Spitefulness
Pissing off current (or even prospective) naysayers just so that he could encite their disapproval & channel that disliking into 'proving them wrong.' ('Jag är Zlatan' - book)
Destiny
2. Filip & Fredrik (cheatful inclusion allowed) (filmmakers) -
Unabashedness
3. Edmund McMillen (video game designer) -
Vulnerability
4. Kurt Cobain (musician) -
Belonging
5. Marcus 'Notch' Persson (video game designer)
6. Trey Parker (filmmaker) -
Humor
7. James Rolfe (filmmaker) -
Authenticity
8. Michael Syevens (YouTuber) -
Intelligence/Genius
9. Jim Carey (actor) -
Charisma
10. Robin Williams (actor) -
Eccentricity
11. Brian Tracy (author) -
Personal Development (introduced to me by 'Razz')
12. Barrack Obama (politician)
Eloquence
13. Eminem (music artist)
Obsession - read the dictionary page to page at a young for the sole purpose of adding it to his word-related repertoire and MAYBE utilizing a few of them words in the future (Anderson Cooper CNN Interview)
14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (athelete)
Spitefulness
Pissing off current (or even prospective) naysayers just so that he could encite their disapproval & channel that disliking into 'proving them wrong.' ('Jag är Zlatan' - book)
Video Games
1. Super Meat Boy (PC/Console game) -
Precision
2. Mr. Gimmick (NES) -
Imagination
3. Zelda: BotW (NSW) -
Immersion/Awe
4. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) -
Fun
5. Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES)
OR
Croc (PS1) -
Adventure
6. Zelda: aLttP (SNES) -
Cooperation/Teamwork (playing with 'Fladder')
7. Age of Empires II (PC) -
Competition (playing against (Niklas, Peter Barrelid, Bjorn & Zone.com rivals)
8. Worms Armageddon (PC) -
Creativity (level design & naming)
9. Tomb Raider (PC) -
Problem-solving
10. Tekken 2 (PS1) -
Social Bonding (with Patrik, who bought the game and played it with me)
11. Panic Restaurant (NES) -
Empathy/Compassion
('Babi' bought the game for me despite financial constraints because I desperately wanted it on a whim).
12. Doom (PC) -
Shock Value
13. Gran Turismo (PS1) -
Coolness
14. Minecraft OR Super Mario 64:
Insomniac employee: 'Toy Factor' (Intrinsic Motivation):
Precision
2. Mr. Gimmick (NES) -
Imagination
3. Zelda: BotW (NSW) -
Immersion/Awe
4. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES) -
Fun
5. Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES)
OR
Croc (PS1) -
Adventure
6. Zelda: aLttP (SNES) -
Cooperation/Teamwork (playing with 'Fladder')
7. Age of Empires II (PC) -
Competition (playing against (Niklas, Peter Barrelid, Bjorn & Zone.com rivals)
8. Worms Armageddon (PC) -
Creativity (level design & naming)
9. Tomb Raider (PC) -
Problem-solving
10. Tekken 2 (PS1) -
Social Bonding (with Patrik, who bought the game and played it with me)
11. Panic Restaurant (NES) -
Empathy/Compassion
('Babi' bought the game for me despite financial constraints because I desperately wanted it on a whim).
12. Doom (PC) -
Shock Value
13. Gran Turismo (PS1) -
Coolness
14. Minecraft OR Super Mario 64:
Insomniac employee: 'Toy Factor' (Intrinsic Motivation):
Non-fiction Books:
1. 'Outliers: The Story of Success' (Gladwell) -
Solidarity
2. 'The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided By Politics & Religion' (Haidt) -
Open-mindedness
3. 'The Element' (Sir Ken Robinson) -
Optimism
4. 'How To Win Friends & Influnce People' (Carnegie) -
Likability
5. 'Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail Or Succeed' (Diamond) -
Gratitude (not taking anything for granted and being naive)
6. 'Massutmaning: Politik för ekonomiskt utanförskap och antisocial beteende ' (Sanandaji) -
Civilcourage
7. 'Against Empathy' (Bloom) -
Nuance/Relativity (between seemingly similar, but vastly difference terms such as empathy and compassion)
8. 'Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us' (Pink)
Motivation
9. 'Nudge' (Cassenstein)
10. 'The Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter and How To Make The Most of Them Now' (Meg Jay) -
Urgency
11. 'Why Him, Why Her?' (Fisher) -
Romantic Compatibility
12. 'Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind' (Harrari) -
Faith (in God, in money, in stories, etc.)
13. 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can't Stop Talking' (Cain) -
Relativism/Self-acceptance
14. 'Man's Search For Meaning' (Frankl) -
Meaning/Purpose
15. 'David & Goliath' (Gladwell) -
Self-confidence
16. '5 Regrets of the Dying' (?) -
Time Management (make the most of life while you can)
17. 'The Game' (Strauss) -
Manliness/Sex Appeal
18. 'The Prince' (Machiavelli)
People Management
1. 'Outliers: The Story of Success' (Gladwell) -
Solidarity
2. 'The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided By Politics & Religion' (Haidt) -
Open-mindedness
3. 'The Element' (Sir Ken Robinson) -
Optimism
4. 'How To Win Friends & Influnce People' (Carnegie) -
Likability
5. 'Collapse: How Societies Choose To Fail Or Succeed' (Diamond) -
Gratitude (not taking anything for granted and being naive)
6. 'Massutmaning: Politik för ekonomiskt utanförskap och antisocial beteende ' (Sanandaji) -
Civilcourage
7. 'Against Empathy' (Bloom) -
Nuance/Relativity (between seemingly similar, but vastly difference terms such as empathy and compassion)
8. 'Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us' (Pink)
Motivation
9. 'Nudge' (Cassenstein)
10. 'The Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter and How To Make The Most of Them Now' (Meg Jay) -
Urgency
11. 'Why Him, Why Her?' (Fisher) -
Romantic Compatibility
12. 'Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind' (Harrari) -
Faith (in God, in money, in stories, etc.)
13. 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can't Stop Talking' (Cain) -
Relativism/Self-acceptance
14. 'Man's Search For Meaning' (Frankl) -
Meaning/Purpose
15. 'David & Goliath' (Gladwell) -
Self-confidence
16. '5 Regrets of the Dying' (?) -
Time Management (make the most of life while you can)
17. 'The Game' (Strauss) -
Manliness/Sex Appeal
18. 'The Prince' (Machiavelli)
People Management
Fiction Books/Novels:
1. 1984
2. Animal Farm
Self-actualization/Character/Un-jealousy ("Watering your own grass" instead of worrying about your neighbor')
('Tall Poppy Syndrom' and its Scandinavian Equivalent 'Jantelagen' with the cynicism and and malicious pleasure it indirectly advocates)
3. Atlas Shrugged (Rayn)
Realism
Understanding that self-serving egoism is human nature, can't be changed, and - paradoxically and counterintuively - makes the world better for strangers by accelerating global wealth and reducing poverty.
(Steven Pinker's 'The Better Angels of your Nature' talking about 10s of thousands of people escaping poverty daily, albeit the media focuses exclusively on the select few people that are hurt by capitalism and free trade)
4. Anna Karenina (Dostoevsky)
Compromise
(Message: The cost of violating societal norms needs be carefully weighed against individual self-interest for happiness.)
5. Perfume: Story of A Murderer (Suskind)
Disgust
(Kurt Cobain anecdote about perfumist, physically and mentally, relinquishing human society because he is so disgusted by human nature)
6. Being There (Kozinski)
Clueless garden speaks simply, people think he's smart and profound, gives him power and influence.
Message: Media's (detrimentally large) influence on society and high society's superficiality.
Geographic Places/Location
1. Honolulu, HI (USA) -
Beauty
Beauty
2. Barranquilla (Colombia) -
Celebration
Celebration
3. Swinouscie (Poland) -
Loyalty (from friends/family)
Loyalty (from friends/family)
4. Ronneby (Sweden) -
Contentment
Contentment
5. Helsingborg (Sweden) -
Indulgence (in alcohol because it was cheap due to close proximity to Denmark)
Indulgence (in alcohol because it was cheap due to close proximity to Denmark)
6. Miami, FL (USA)
Youthfulness/Childlike wonder (because of fast cars, good-looking people & great entertainment offerings locally)
Youthfulness/Childlike wonder (because of fast cars, good-looking people & great entertainment offerings locally)
7. New Orleans, LA (USA) -
Culture (Food, Jazz Music, Architecture)
Culture (Food, Jazz Music, Architecture)
8. Växjö (Sweden) -
Resource Management (taking advance of very modern, accessible educational resources at Linnaeus University)
Resource Management (taking advance of very modern, accessible educational resources at Linnaeus University)
9. Ystad (Sweden) -
Convenience (ferry terminal with direct, daily boat rides to Denmark, Germany & Poland)
Convenience (ferry terminal with direct, daily boat rides to Denmark, Germany & Poland)
10. Delray Beach, FL (USA)
Relaxation/Slowing down/Pacing yourself
Relaxation/Slowing down/Pacing yourself
World Events
1. REPATRIATION AGREEMENTS
A improvement in Soviet freedom (?) leads grandma 'Babi' and grandpa Adam to gain cjtizenship in, and relocate to, Poland from their respective birthplaces of Lithuania & Ukraine, allowing them to meet, fall in love & give birth to my mother in Gdansk (1945-1956?).
1. REPATRIATION AGREEMENTS
A improvement in Soviet freedom (?) leads grandma 'Babi' and grandpa Adam to gain cjtizenship in, and relocate to, Poland from their respective birthplaces of Lithuania & Ukraine, allowing them to meet, fall in love & give birth to my mother in Gdansk (1945-1956?).
2. TRAVEL PERMISSION TO OTHER SOCIALIST STATES
Loosening Soviet demands on barring Polish residents from international travel in 1977 facilitates the meeting of Mother Ewa and Father Matts at a Romanian night club in 198X, leading to a relationship and eventually marriage(1977).
Loosening Soviet demands on barring Polish residents from international travel in 1977 facilitates the meeting of Mother Ewa and Father Matts at a Romanian night club in 198X, leading to a relationship and eventually marriage(1977).
3. EVEN MORE TRAVEL PERMISSIONS (?) GRANTED
An even bigger addition of Soviet freedoms enables my aunt Ania to establish and nurture connections abroad, including someone living in Miami, Florida, facilitating her move to the U.S. in 198X, grandma 'Babi' and mother Ewa aspiring to do the same in the 1990s. Mother Ewa never permanently relocates, but does apply for a green card while enrolled at a local Med School which later grants me permant residency status in 2007. In 1996, this facilitates my first vacation opportunity to Miami, where American pop culture makes a lasting impression of 9 year-old Martin.
An even bigger addition of Soviet freedoms enables my aunt Ania to establish and nurture connections abroad, including someone living in Miami, Florida, facilitating her move to the U.S. in 198X, grandma 'Babi' and mother Ewa aspiring to do the same in the 1990s. Mother Ewa never permanently relocates, but does apply for a green card while enrolled at a local Med School which later grants me permant residency status in 2007. In 1996, this facilitates my first vacation opportunity to Miami, where American pop culture makes a lasting impression of 9 year-old Martin.
4. WORLD CUP '94
Sweden Claims the Bronze Medal at the FIFA World Cup (inadvertantly inspiring a whole generation of young boys to aspire to become football stars, me being one of them) (1994)
Sweden Claims the Bronze Medal at the FIFA World Cup (inadvertantly inspiring a whole generation of young boys to aspire to become football stars, me being one of them) (1994)
5. THE DOT-COM BOOM
The rapid expansion of Internet infrastructure and increasing market demand for tech skills in the late 90s introduces me to web design, learning to code HTML 2001-2003 and (possibly) facilitating my return to the tech industry more than two decades later. (1995-2000)
The rapid expansion of Internet infrastructure and increasing market demand for tech skills in the late 90s introduces me to web design, learning to code HTML 2001-2003 and (possibly) facilitating my return to the tech industry more than two decades later. (1995-2000)
6. THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS
The (at the time, ostensibly) out-of-nowhere terrorist attacks on Manhattan on September 11th, 2001, throws a wrench into my (and my Mother's) intentions of visiting New York the month after, possibly influencing the U.S. state that I settle in once relocating 6 years later (2001)
The (at the time, ostensibly) out-of-nowhere terrorist attacks on Manhattan on September 11th, 2001, throws a wrench into my (and my Mother's) intentions of visiting New York the month after, possibly influencing the U.S. state that I settle in once relocating 6 years later (2001)
7. THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF BUSH V. GORE TAKES PLACE
Comprehensive media coverage, combined with my recently acquured broadband connection, leads me to expand my already pre-existing fascination/obsession with American pop culture by adding politics to the mix (2004)
Comprehensive media coverage, combined with my recently acquured broadband connection, leads me to expand my already pre-existing fascination/obsession with American pop culture by adding politics to the mix (2004)
8. BARRACK OBAMA WINS THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
The new dynamic, African-American president inspires me - a then senior-year college boy infatuated with intellect and charisma - to further my interest in politics, deeping my understanding of political science and political ideologies (2008)
The new dynamic, African-American president inspires me - a then senior-year college boy infatuated with intellect and charisma - to further my interest in politics, deeping my understanding of political science and political ideologies (2008)
Personal Experiences
1. Learning to play my first instrument - drums (private lessons & Patrik Prahl) (199x)
2. Discovering Creative Writing As An Art Form (fairytale writing on dad's typewriter) (199x)
3. Living through my first bout of Loneliness and Social Alienation (Staying in RBY for a year when mom relocated to HBG, relocating to her, and (Not fitting in, belonging, or being sble to relate to people after Moving to HBG) (2000-2001)
4. Having my first Heartbreak/Breakup (causing my first depression, which I channeled into Learning my second instrument - Guitar - and, most importantly, Songwriting) (2004)
5. Moving To The U.S.
(Facing culture shock after moving to the U.S. for college upon receiving green card) (2007)
(Facing culture shock after moving to the U.S. for college upon receiving green card) (2007)
6. Being incapacitated by my first Bipolar episode (delusions, disorientation, social phobia) and spending many years experimenting with different caffeine dosages and consumption frequency before eventually learning how to best manage it (2009-2023)
7. Having my first career failure (freelancing in creative writing until accepting the prospect of taking on "real" jobs in customer service, sales & education after not being able to support a living) (2014-2018)
8. Meeting My Wife (Adopting her National Culture & for the first time feeling loved the the way I am) (Colombia) (2019)
9. Surviving My (Only) Suicide Attempt (after dropping out of an online Master's program in Psychology and seeing no career direction, returning to creative writing before finally accepting an alternate career choice that was actually feasible in Tech) (2020-2023)
10. Discovering Tech (first Python programming, then Figma UI/UX design, and lastly front-end development for web & app - feeling recognized for what I do) (2023-2025)
DESTINY ITSELF (no category): (1)
Destiny itself is all 3 things: A person, place and thing -
Person because... connects to, communicates with, and supports you in (ideally) thick and thin.as your guiding light when things look dark.
Place because... a refuge you can go to when emotional tragedy or spiritual emptiness strikes unexpectedly
Thing because ... It's an intellectual idea, a feeling, in other words figment of the imagination, after all. But just because it doesn't exist doesn't mean it's not real (South Park - Go, God, Go!)
The late great Steve jobs once said, in a university commencement speech justa few years before his passing, that you can't see destiny in the current moment. When you look back, however, it's quite easy to connect the dots, realizing that life is, indeed, destined.
No, I didn't say 'fated' - I said 'destined.' And that's because while fate inherently implies a life outcome completely pretermined by one or more high beings, set in stone, destiny confers a small, but signicant, degree of individual human agency.
So next time someone dismissively, and possibly conceitedly, take that to the bank: free will and destiny aren't irreconcilable - they're, quite conversely, fiercely interdependent.
Most importantly - and quite a bit ironically as well - even making the blanket suggestion that they are unequivocally and invariably worlds apartment, in itself, is a a testament to the human tendency for complacency.
If ever in doubt, think back on an equal-parts articulate and profound quote from the philosophically deep-digging pseudo-documentary 'Waking Life' that is sure to make any self-reflecting person think twice before jumping to existential conclusions of the hasty variety.
"In this world, there are two types of sufferrors. Those who suffer from a lack of lkfe and those who suffer from an overabundance of.life. i've ways found myslef in the second category. At best, our thinking gets us up to the cholimapnzee.level. Heck, the distance between the chimpanze and the average is smaller than that between the average human and nietsche. Heck, no greater values have developed. The ancient greeks 3,000 years ago were just as advanced as we are. I'm talking abiut the true saint, think, philosopher. Why so few? Why is human history not a.tale of progress but an endless addition of zeroes? The answer to that can be found in another question:
What are these barriers that keep people from reaching anywhere near their real potential? The answer to that can be found in another question and that's this:
Which is the most universal human characteristic:
Fear... Or laziness?"