Mark Martinez

My New Favorite Video of All Time

    On the web, folks know me as Digital Jedi, or DJ. It was the second screen name I ever chose for myself on the second forum I ever joined after getting an Internet connection. The image is from a Yu-Gi-Oh! card (which I play) called Solar Flare Dragon. It was my favorite card because of the obscure manner in which it functioned. It reminded me of myself. As much as I hate forums, I did enjoy frequenting the Yu-Gi-Oh! related forums to ask questions and to answer other's, (it's an extremely convoluted game with tons of exceptions to the rules and contradictions) and at some point, on a forum that didn't allow custom avatars, I chose this one. It stuck and followed me wherever I went. This is an animated version I created to better distinguish myself from all the other Digital Jedi out there.

     I'm an unpublished artist (both comic related and literary), working on many projects simultaneously. That is probably the reason why it's taking so long for any of them to come to fruition, but I just can't focus on one thing at a time. My mind just doesn't work that way. I dream rather large, but there's no better way to dream, then big.

     I don't believe that humility and compassion are bad things. Far too many people lack these qualities and think that this is what will make them succeed. But these qualities are virtues for a reason. Virtues can only benefit you, no matter what field your in, and compel you to do better, to improve on what you are and what you do. As opposed to those who think they need nothing and are already great, when they've accomplished nothing and succeeded at less. Where there is no fault, there is no need for improvement. So if you already believe yourself "all that", you'll never see reason to improve upon yourself. And I can guarantee that others, especially the ones who your furtherance in your field is dependant on their view of you, will see precisely where you need to improve, and not always be tactful about letting you know. It's one thing to be proud of your ability and to know you can be something special. It's another to think your God's gift to the world, when in reality, God's gift is the ability and talent He gave you. You should respect it. Not flaunt in people's faces.

     Someday I hope to stop talking about what I'm working on, and just show it to you. All in good time. I think the world will like the ideas and concepts I have in mind. Patience is also a virtue that one needs to cultivate when they dream that big.

     "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

-Theodore Roosevelt