User:SOCL

This is my user page. Contact me as needed, when needed.

WARNING: I am currently on short fuse because my girlfriend of two years left me for a guy she's only known for a few weeks, and all this a few days prior to my proposal of marriage. So if I seem a bit edgy, please forgive me and try to understand why.

The Mission Statement
I joined this site in order to help spread some of the crazy knowledge I have about Star Wars, but first and foremost, to learn from the knowledge of others. I intend to search-out and correct the little mistakes everyone makes simply because I like precision (that was in no way meant to target the makers-of-little-mistakes--I myself make more than most). As far as creating articles, I plan to write articles concerning many of the lesser-known characters, most especially those in the Thrawn Trilogy and Hand of Thrawn Duology, and more specifically, the minor Imperial characters in those two series. Articles already written which concern my objective can be found under the heading "Articles".

The Mistaken Me
If you happen to see edits done by User:68.201.153.18 or User:4.152.156.98, that's probably me fighting to computer to keep it from logging me out. Additionally, you'll notice I make A LOT of little mistakes and edit articles over and over and over again...all I can say is I'm sorry, but I like to have the end result be as precise as possible. No worries, I am slowly and surely becoming more and more accustomed to using the magical bliss of the "Show preview" button.

The Star Wars Fan
I have been a Star Wars fan since I was very young and watched Return of the Jedi with my father and wondered why Vader's head and the Death Star II looked the way they did (and why they seemed to resemble one another in the fact that they're both missing pieces). My favorite movie would have to be The Empire Strikes Back with Revenge of the Sith in a close second. My favorite novel series is, without a doubt, the Thrawn trilogy, most especially Heir to the Empire, though I've read and own nearly all the others (as well as the non-series novels, of course). Thrawn is, hands down, my favorite character in all of the Star Wars universe, with both Pellaeon and possibly Grevious following second. I read Star Wars novels whenever possible, and am currently in the process of trying to get through all the post-Return of the Jedi novels. Additionally, I listen to novel audiobooks in the car continously, but am quite dismayed at the fact I can't seem to locate unabridged versions. I am an advocate follower and supporter of Dr. Curtis Saxton and his move to make the Star Wars universe both rational and more logical. I have military experience, so am frequently heard criticizing the "Charge!" order given by the battle droids in Revenge of the Sith, and the total and utter lack of strategy and tactical planning in the many battles that happen in-universe. I see Timothy Zahn as the best author in the Expanded Universe (probably due to Thrawn) and Karen Traviss as the rising second (due to her understanding of real tactics and strategy).


 * Current novel: Shield of Lies
 * Current audiobook: none

The Normal Dude
When I'm not geeking-out over Star Wars, I spend most of my time reading, writing, researching topics of which I have little knowledge, or otherwise amusing myself--additionally, I also attend university during the academic school year. I am currently working towards a B.A. in History with a concentration in Ancient Studies (specifically Antiquity, most especially the era of the First and Second Punic Wars, though I also specialize in Islamic history). I am also persuing a second B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing.

I have written six research papers that have since been published, entitled:
 * Hannibal's Folly: The Logistical Error in the Strategy of Hannibal Barca in 218 BCE Concerning the Army of the Scipios Upon the Rhone
 * The Image of Islam: A Basic Study of Ancient Islamic Art
 * Cunctator Magnus (The Great Delayer): The Curious Dictatorship of Quintus Fabius Maximus
 * Hasdrubal's Folly: The Errors of Hasdrubal Barca in Iberia in 206 BCE Against the Army of Publis Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major
 * Saguntum: The Origins and Beginnings of the Second Punic War and the Ebro River Boundary Dispute
 * Hamilcar's War: Foundations of the Second Punic War

I have also written some brief historical articles that have been included in some inter-university historical encyclopedias. My creative writing includes numerous short stories and poems, many of which have been published, most especially the short stories "Almost Paradise" and "The BME", and the poem "Pale-Green Eyes".

Recently my girlfriend of two years left me for someone she's only known for a few weeks only a few days before my proposal of marriage, so if I seem a bit edgy, please understand why.

Also, I am the founder of the Gundam Wiki mostly due to my lack of understanding in the ways of the Wiki. In reality, I had hoped to establish it and then turn the reigns of true administration over to others since I very clearly understood my own ignorance and limitations. The was that Gundam Wiki would eventually be as vibrant and user-friendly as the Wookieepedia, which is actually on what the Gundam Wiki is based, but it currently leaves much to be wanted. It has some great contributors there, but still needs more, especially those with skills in various media, HTML, and site-management. If you are interested, please contact me or simply drop by the site.

Also, I have a blog, though I rarely update it.

Research Methodology and Approach
I had a tendency to get a little angry when I encounter people who are ignorant to topics, yet speak with the highest of authorities. These are normally, though are not always, the same ignorant people who have no intention of ending their ignorance through learning. I also tire of people who believe that a single shred of positive evidence will negate any negative evidence; this is an incorrect way to approach research as one must consider all aspects of a topic and situation. When a topic is being researched and reported, one must report all findings, not simply the findings which are convenient to one's belief and/or bias--I have failed many students, most especially on research papers, because of this particular problem, also noting that history has a tendancy to not be "clear, cut, and dry". I approach the understanding and research of Star Wars here at Star Wars Wiki much the same way and expect others to do ample research to back their findings; further, if the evidence presented is not enough to negate a certain point, then neither is wrong and neither is correct, they both simply are. Therefore, both must be noted, most especially in articles with conflicting, unconfirmed, or otherwise unclear points and evidence. I tend to get a little upset when others draw conclusions from insufficient evidence. To understand my research style, I recommend Dr. Curtis Saxton's Star Wars Technical Commentaries. Though I do not agree with all his points, I certainly agree with his understanding and manner/method of research.

''This article is a stub about a character. You cannot help the User:SOCL by expanding it.''

There's more to be said, but less interest in writing it.

Personae

 * Aban
 * Ardiff
 * Argona
 * Bas
 * Brandei
 * Bremen, Jak
 * Bremen, Kallin
 * Cronus
 * Delvardus
 * Disra
 * Dreyf
 * Flim
 * Graemon/Lord Graemon
 * Harbid
 * Hestiv
 * Kyte, Jaron
 * Maloc
 * Nalgol
 * Niriz, Dagon
 * Ramic, Sutt
 * Ritton
 * Selid, Kleyn
 * Trazzen
 * Tschel

Warships

 * 13X
 * Bellicose
 * Death's Head
 * Grey Wolf
 * Inexorable/Inexorable
 * Ironhand
 * Judicator
 * Majestic (Imperial-class)
 * Nemesis
 * Obliterator
 * Reaper (Executor-class)
 * Resolution (Imperial-class)
 * Stalwart
 * Stormhawk

Other

 * Battle of Bilbringi
 * Crimson Command
 * Director of Imperial Intelligence
 * Executor (title)
 * Military Executor (rank)
 * Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty
 * Rear Admiral
 * Starfighter Command
 * Supreme Commander of the Imperial Fleet

Online

 * De Imperatoribus Romanis: An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors
 * Hannibal Barca and the Punic Wars
 * Mobile Suit Gundam: High Frontier
 * Star Wars Technical Commentaries
 * Wikipedia
 * Gundam Wiki

Published

 * Bagnall, Nigel. The Punic Wars: Rome, Carthage, and the Struggle for the Mediterranean, 1st U.S. ed.  New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2005.
 * Bentley, Jerry H. and Herbert F. Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past, 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003.
 * Bentley, Jerry H. and Herbert F. Ziegler. Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past, 2nd ed. Vol. 2. New York: McGraw Hill, 2003.
 * Eckstein, Arthur M. Senate and General: Individual Decision Making and Roman Foreign Relations, 264-194 B.C.  Berkeley: University of California Press, 1987.
 * Goldsworthy, Adrian. The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146 BC.  London: Cassell, 2000.
 * Harris, W.V. War and Imperialism in Republican Rome, 327-70 BC.  Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979.
 * Khouj, Abdullah Muhammad. Islam. Washington: Assembly House, 1996.
 * Lamb, Harold. Hannibal: One Man Against Rome.  Garden City: Doubleday & Company, 1958.
 * Lazenby, J.F. Hannibal’s War: A Military History of the Second Punic War.  Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1988.
 * Lazenby, J.F. The First Punic War: A Military History.  Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1996.
 * O'Neil, Gerard K. The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space, 3rd ed.  Niagra: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc., 2000.
 * Plutarch. Parallel Lives.  Translated by Bernadotte Perrin, Loeb Classical Library.  Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1967.