Drix D'Zanth

[quote name='Morpheus']We have seen a thread that talks about what you think. I understand why that People think it is fine. What I don't understand is why some people seem to think it is degrading them. I would like to hear their opinions exclusively.[/quote] It seems as though you misunderstood my post. I don't actually think it is "fine". I think it is "wrong". I don't agree with it. Now, is that what's really bothering you? Do you want people to agree with your opinion on homosexuality? Or is it the treatment of people influenced by their homosexuality that bothers you? As it were, do you have any sort of rebuttal to my arguments against it?

Ha Ha Ha! I wonder if I should just ask James to close this now and save everyone the time. I would sincerely recommending changing the question from : Give me a reason to why you dislike homosexuality. To: What are your opinions on homosexuality? It's interesting though, considering that any mild investigation of several world-wide religious creeds consider homosexuality a sin, that is, directly against their teachings. Considering the fact that a great deal of many people's ethics are derived from their religious background, that might explain the moral outrage to homosexuality... From a sociological principle, it could probably swing both ways (pardon the pun). Some cultures most likely benefited from homosexuality (Thracian, Spartan..etc), whereas it is understood by some historians that homosexuality lead to the decay of late Roman culture. From a medical standpoint... and I'll be brusque... the male organ doesn't really 'fit' easily into an anus. And the female organs don't really fit at all. So the actual act of homosexuality isn't really biologically natural. I'm pretty convinced it's a matter of psychology. So I don't really think the fact that I consider it "wrong" really has anything to do with the way I treat homosexuals. Just as I treat a friend of mine who picks his nose... granted, it might bug me or gross me out. He remains my friend despite it all, and I don't see our friendship changing over a single attribute about his character. (I don't intend to trivialize homosexuality, just take the analogy with a grain of salt.)

Hmm... I like Rum and Coke. It's a really intriguing mix, and you can usually pull it off in the midst of the other "foo-foo" drinks. My favorite legitimately soda-only pop would have to be vanilla coke. I like the stuff coke made, but I actually found a more unique way of creating this delicious beverage. First, take Coke Classic and add the vanilla flavoring usually added to Italian sodas (the syrup kind). Ooooh I love it! It's the smooth taste of vanilla with the carbonated bubbly feel. I reccomend that method. I think the japanese sodas with the little balls that float around in the top of the bottle (is that what everyone's been talking about?) are decently tasty. I prefer strawberry kiwi, and usually only get it when I visit an anime store (very rare). I also used to enjoy Stewarts' Cream Soda.... i would always get it at Barnes and Nobles... but a year ago they replaced it with IBC. A sad day that was...

James, I was noticing your new icon and avatar. Very nice! I noticed the preview for that movie on apple.com recently. Then a mild epiphany struck me; our own Tim Burton is one of the greatest "horror" filmmakers of our time. Now, he may not be out to scare anyone so much as express his wildly twisted sense of macabre. I really think his movies have almost a more horrifying sense in that they seem to create a more disturbed or uneasy feeling after viewing them. They can also be watched for their creative and lighthearted qualities at the same time. This accessibility is what I think has Burton standing out. Thoughts?

I?m going to go through the first few signups. I?ve got a few more people considering signing up ? therefore the signups are, in fairness, [b]still open[/b]. Thank you for signing up, I appreciate the work and effort you put into your signup pieces. If we can see similar effort in the full RPG, I really think this will go down as one of the better in recent Otakuboard?s history. An arrogant stipulation, I know, but arrogance loves prudence. On to the mates! [u] Baron Samedi[/u] ? I?m going to get the things I thought could use improvement out of the way, quickly. Baron, I really had to be incredibly nitpicky to find mistakes in your signup. My first suggestion is that you date your journal entries in the RPG. This will allow multiple people to include multiple perspectives on a single day. This works if people know what day the events occur. Was that my only complaint? Whaddaya know. Superb entry, Baron. You have the lingo of the most run-down scurvy sea-dogs down pat. I know it?s not technically accurate to write-out what you might sound like to others (i.e ?em instead of them); but I really encourage what you?ve written here, Baron. I think that you?ve captured the feel of your particular pirate, one that probably epitomizes the bottom of the bilge. Your descriptions were brilliant and really caught what I was trying to emphasize: make sure you describe things the way your character would. I expect you to be one of the more entertaining members of the crew. Your sense of humor is appropriately used, and the more subtle details ( ?Salted Snail?) were especially appreciated. I would also like to note, your Underground post was perfect! Welcome to the Spanish Main! [u]Annalisse[/u] ? Lady Annie ^__^ it?s always a pleasure when you grace a thread. I really loved your signup. I really enjoyed the amount of background you managed to give the reader in a single journal entry! You have shown me that your capability to develop your character is well-refined. This is an extremely important quality to have, and you have it in excess! I was only a little confused about a few things. I?m thinking your character as more of a rebel than anything that happened to grow up in the constricting grip of your genteel parents? If this is so, why does she speak with a cockney accent? Now, this makes sense for the dirtier, uneducated Pirates. Now this would make sense if she ran away during her early teens?maybe a decade or so has passed (who knows)? but I don?t want you to change the character that you have started; I suppose time and journal entries will explain a bit more on her past. I also am excited to see what happens to your character. Welcome to the crew! [u]elfpirate[/u]- I?m going to hold on my decision with you. I think you?ve got good dialogue going, but the non-dialogue could use some work. I plan on corresponding with you through PM?s to really get a feel if you are up to this RPG or not. I was impressed by your ambition, though, so I want to give you a chance. I?ll make my final decision later. [u]Heaven?s Cloud[/u]- Nice signup especially considering the nature of it. I understand that you signed up fairly recently and hastily after I asked you. Needless to say, the quality hasn?t suffered. My only concern would be the context it was written in, that is, in letter form. I could encourage letters as well as journal entries, but I think journal entries will provide a more poignant access into a character?s thoughts. The ?good? here is abundant. You are truly a veteran of the RPG scene here at OB and your quality is guaranteed. This really makes me feel confident in your posts being able to drive the story and your character. I like the history that you brought with the signup, a history that will be explored into a separate meta-plot associated with the travels. Excellent grammar, spelling, and writing flow. You have captured the feel of the era as a gentleman? a man of some significant stature. Being a Pirate will probably bump him down several notches on the social ladder, so I?m going to be interested in the way your character will react to his newer surroundings. Welcome aboard! [u]dMage[/u] Firstly, let?s point out the elements about your signup that I liked. You were able to do two things VERY well that most of the other people signing up hadn?t; you dated your entry, and you included the encounter with Captain L?Ollais. This meant that you really paid careful attention to my signup requirements. I appreciate that. I thought the dialogue was forced, but it did fit in some places. I really liked (besides the last sentence) your first paragraph. I thought you had a decent flow to your character and really caught my attention. The interaction doesn?t seem well developed. Instead of describing any sort of conversation, you seemed to use the supporting character as a gateway to describe some of your character?s abilities (slicing apples midair?). The bulk of the second paragraph was basically describing what I had described would happen in the original post: you were going to a tavern and you would meet a captain who needed a crew. Most of the second part was rife with cliché. I have no problem with that, nay, I encourage any sort of cliché? but I would recommend that you supplement your writing with it, rather than build around it as a foundation. You had some good parts and bad parts. I appreciate the signup, but I don?t think it?s the right time for you to set sail, sorry. [u]Jokopoko[/u]- I?m glad you saw this. I?ve been tapping some choice people on the shoulders about this RPG hoping a few quality people who may have otherwise overlooked this might take notice. Jokopoko is one of them. I?m really impressed here. I suppose my only complaint would be the fact that it didn?t tell me more! I was really left unsatisfied, story wise. Now, this is great because I cannot wait to hear more about his encounters in the story, but I would have liked to have seen his particular reaction to being forced in joining a pirate crew (his specific encounter, that is) in order to escape Tortuga. I loved the way you wrote this entry. The style of writing is wonderfully appropriate and really shows off the homework you?ve been doing. You have a stunning attention to the detail of the period, and I can see a very unique and convincing character here. It be me pleasure ?t welcome ya on me sloop, mate! [u]Angelus_Necare[/u] I?ve never had much of a history with you like I have with Annie, Baron, and Joko; so it?s been nice to read a post by someone new. I want to point out that I really enjoyed reading your post (thank you for dating it) and I think you really have the makings of a decent writer. I liked the character history to a certain point. I think it was important that each person had some sort of past to come into the pirate business. Whether by Baron?s character starting pirate and continuing a career, to Annie?s runaway girl taking up a life of plunder, to Jokopoko?s fall-from-grace military character; it?s important to have some sort of reason why one becomes a pirate. Now I understand something about your character?s tragic past. I also understand the interesting dichotomy of a plain farm-girl trapped in the masculine, deleterious worlds of pirates would have given an interesting flavor. But, I couldn?t seem to reason exactly [i]why[/i] your character would bother becoming a pirate. I think this would have been better explained if you had approached the Cap?n and maybe given a little more interaction. I guess the biggest complaint wasn?t the quality, but the quantity. So I?m going to have to say that you wouldn?t be quite right for the crew of my ship at this time Angelus, but I really want you to keep writing, because I see great potential in you. Well, that?s that for my current picks. I must remind everyone that signups ARE STILL open. Now, the bar has most certainly been raised with the current crew having signed up. Here?s a few ideas that might help you join me crew: -Post on the Underground after you sign up -Sign up a unique character! We?ve got English gentry, we?ve got scurvy pirate, we?ve got a tough lassie, we?ve got a military-esque character. Try tweaking ethnicities (French, Spanish, Dutch, and other Europeans were quite common in the Caribbean) or personalities. Characters are easily more interesting in their flaws than their merits!! Let?s see what kind of eccentric you can produce. -Note the other people?s characters that have signed up already in your own story! Think about it, the web of interactivity between your characters, and the interconnectedness of their experiences in journal form is really what?s going to flavor this steak. -Quality writing; hey people, those who have been accepted have shown me QUALITY writing, let?s keep it up. Edit: I suppose I should consider clearing up this confusion... we all make up the collective protagonist. That is, we are all the pirates (in some form or another) and we are all going to be on the same ship of the same story... fairly linear. No one 's playing the bad guy or damsel in distress... at least not until the story is moving along some.

Excellent so far! I have enjoyed reading your signups thoroughly! To those who haven?t signed up, this is basically your opportunity to write in journal form (might be advantageous to date your entry ;) ) and give us an example of what we can expect if the RPG were already underway. To those who have signed up; take advantage of the underground! Name, age, appearance, weapons, and/or history. Anything that you consider necessary to be out of the way when the RPG starts. I recommend that you get a post in there too. If someone has posted appearances in the underground, by all means consider including those details in your signup! I?ll be including a few details about my character in the Underground a bit later. As for Html use, I admire it to an extent, but it will NOT be a deciding factor in whether or not I choose you for the RPG. I will attempt to provide instructions in using html to anyone who needs them. PM me with any questions, or head to the Underground! Keep ?em coming!

Gather your pistols, powder, swords. Strap your boots, and don your sea-cap. You?re about to embark on the voyage that is ?Pirates: Scourge of the Spanish Main?. This is real old fashioned ?Pirates life for me? material here. The clichés are encouraged if tactful and the eccentricities are expected. Whoever signs up will have the opportunity to contribute to what will be the most adventurous, exciting, and enjoyable pirate tale that Otakuboards has ever seen. The principles of this story are unique and it is encouraged that everyone uses this opportunity to share their talents as a real crew. This tale will extend beyond the boards, and into your subconscious? and I truly want a little piece of you to become the pirate that you will design and portray. So if you feel up to the task, mates, prepare yerselves. If ye wish to sign up for the story, ye needs to write a sample journal entry. Little to no actual, valid records of pirates have existed until Henry Morgan. Henry Morgan was an English privateer who sailed primarily against the rich Spanish trading. After commandeering countless ships, engaging entire trade fleets with a single boat, and taking over four villages, including Villa Hermosa whose soldier compliment was twice that of Morgan?s crew. He retired the life every pirate probably dreamed of, living a life of luxury in an English port until old age and death. He and his crew passed the time keeping records and journals, both private and records shared by the crew. This journal survived to explain many of his exploits including how he managed to defeat the guard of Villa Hermosa, and exactly how much the pirate managed to ?liberate? from the Spanish. I would like to explore this style and mix it with the typical RPG style. Most of the story, unlike my introduction post will be played out as journal entry. This will allow your character?s thoughts to be explored and begin to paint a slow picture of what qualities he or she identifies. Obviously, the potentials for the journals are unlimited. You could reveal your past bit by bit, ponder the future actions, secretly unveil your sentiments about the rest of the crew, and (obviously) narrate the events of any particular period of time in your character?s voice. I would also like to see variations of the same day sometimes, coming from different characters. So your first challenge isn?t telling me the weapons you use, the color of your character?s hair, or how old he /she is. I want to know what kind of personality he or she will be? After you give me a journal entry of a specific day, then you may add a little miscellany like age, weaponry, etc. Do not worry, this information will be disclosed either in character, in the underground, etc. The setting: Tortuga (Northern coast of modern day Haiti), a wealthy, yet despotic settlement on the north side of Hispanola. The date: April 15, 1662 If you are the first person to post, you see a rough looking man sitting near the bar; hazy clouds of thick smoke curl around his scruffy mange, and a mean look is etched into the dirty lines of his face. Four fingers grip the old pipe, and he?s dressed in a layered jacket, faded from sunlight and sea-air. A notched cutlass hangs lazily at his side. It?s obvious that he?s bad news. All the more enticing when you managed to catch his gaze, nodding at you. What happened that day? What part of the Pirate's crew will you personify? May your journal entry unfold the story. (note: this is a living world, despite the fact that I?ve not decided who will not participate in the RPG, I greatly encourage you to play off other people?s signups as they come, maybe noting the other players in your own signup that have already given their first entry.) Have at it!

[FONT=Book Antiqua]Welcome to the Underground of ?(Pirates) Scourge of the Spanish Main?. Please post whatever comments, questions, or concerns you may have of this newly created story. I recommend any details that you wish to be known about your character that you would like specifically or widely-known (i.e. distinguishing characteristics or quirks that could be used in other people?s posts when describing your character and how they interact). I will also be using this area to drive the plot via a chapter system, but keeping the chapters locked here until whenever the story ends. I plan on working the story up at the end of the rpg with custom fonts, pictures, etc. Each character may then receive the entire transcript of events and journal entries to keep however they please. This is going to be pretty epic, ladies and gents! The Adventure Inn thread will be posted shortly with some help from my friend Alex on the html. Therefore, this underground will be a bit confusing for a couple hours. Well, the doors to the tavern be open to ye. [/FONT]

I'm suprised no one mentioned "Seven". Awesome movie, not intended as being necessarily a horror movie; but it's premise and gritty realism is AWESOME. It also throws a little moral-dilemma at whoever watches it. NIN compliments the soundtrack nicely... just an overall great movie. I think Alien would be my favorite horror movie. Therefore, if we look at the progression of the Alien movies as they have come out; Aliens (decent, worthy sequel; but not as scary IMHO), Alien 3 (pretty crappy, but still a little creepy), Alien Ressurection (Wtf mate?); Alien vs Predator (Ok nice to see them fight, but this isn't a horror movie.. by any means). I guess judging by that timeline, we can really see how the genere has basically dissolved over the years. Who knows, the dry spell might throw us something like The Exorcist (hailed by most top ten movies as the scariest..). Heh, funny fact: when the exorcist was first shown, they had ambulances near larger theatres in case members of the audience passed out from the fear!

[quote name='maladjusted][color=darkslateblue'] Oh, no. I think you got me wrong. I think it's dumb that George Bush has lead the nation in such a way that the nation is now completely divided, but in NO way am I saying it's his fault that the protestors there were so violent. Indirectly? Yes. You can't say he hasn't somehow affected their behavior, but trust me: I think protestors are sometimes just wasting their time. [/color][/quote] Partisanship runs deep in both Democrats and Republicans. The problem is neither a single man's fault (like Bush) or a single party's. I think that we have separated our agendas so much that certain issues have now been restricted to party bais (i.e. abortion tends to be a Democratic ticket, while Capital Punishment a Republican ticket). I think that it's important for both sides to recognize the differences between them, and the dichotomy that can very well exist in their own party structures. Look at Kerry.. he was against gay marriage, but he didn't take any action against it because "he didn't think the govn't should be involved." I smell BS, since when didn't he want governmental involvement (think socializing basically everything...)? My guess, his backers just didn't want him touching that issue, it wasn't the Democrat's way of dealing with that. Sure, Bush has made some people angry. But to protest his innaguration? He was voted by the people, and we need to respect the people's decision. Those protesters at DC aren't just protesting Bush, they are basically protesting my vote for him. Hey, free speech, doesn't really bother me... but if they want someone to blame for getting Bush into office, they probably shouldn't lay it on him.

[QUOTE=maladjusted][color=darkslateblue] I think it's sad that Bush is the first president (please correct me if I'm wrong) since Nixon that had so many opposers that obviously felt so much anger that they had to protest him at such a massive scale. I mean...didn't they pelt eggs at him at his first one? And not to mention the protests in [i]other[/i] cities this year. Or maybe we're all just getting rebellious.[/color][/QUOTE] Wow, sounds to me like you are implying tha Bush is accountable for those people's actions. Sure, you can protest.. that's one thing. But throwing eggs and slandering is an entirely different matter. I hope this isn't the integrity that the democrats choose to acknowledge; I would be ashamed if I were one.

[QUOTE=Heaven's Cloud][color=indigo] I'll just comment on the genres I am knowledgeable of. Classical: I have always been a George Fredric Handel fan. Growing up playing symphonic music, I always loved playing the Water Music Suites, I still find them incredibly expressive. His hornpipes and fugues are elegantly pure Baroque, a true reflection of the times, and he truly was a master of the keyboard. On top of all that his Messiah is a gorgeous piece of music..[/color][/QUOTE] Yeah, I was going to say that Handel is more Baroque then classically classical. Though, I like the guy. I must give him credit, the Messiah is probably the most recognized peice of music in history. Maybe the Birthday Song is more widely recognized... maybe. [QUOTE=Heaven's Cloud][color=indigo] Jazz: The Birth of Cool is an incredible album, perhaps the best jazz album ever recorded. That is why I would have to say Miles Davis is not only the greatest jazz musician, but also maybe the most influential. The great thing about Miles Davis is that he not only could flat out jam, but he could write simple melodies that were like pieces of a jig saw puzzle. Alone they were nice, but when they were intertwined in his odd whimsical way they just popped and allowed for so much improvisation.[/color][/QUOTE] Yeah, Miles is the best. I should really change my answer. You are right on, here, HC. [QUOTE=Heaven's Cloud][color=indigo] Blues/Rock: Muddy Waters is by far the most influential musician in rock history. Lennon and McCartney had a passion for Muddy Waters and Elvis. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards named their band after one of his earlier songs, actually Jagger and Richards formed their initial friendship out of mutual love for Muddy Waters. It is easy to understand their infatuation. Muddy Waters' bottleneck guitar style is the basis for every rock/pop guitar riff you hear today. more to come...[/color][/QUOTE] Well... muddy waters may have been the most infulencial. I still think that Sevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Guy, and Clapton were closer to the epitomy of Blues.. Muddy certainly was a "Maaaaaannn! *screams from the audience*" I reccomend his album "Fathers and Sons". Probably one of the best blues records in history. And BB. King, while not my favorite, certainly plays one hell of a concert. I really look forward to what else you have to say on this topic, HC. I think we share some of the same tastes...

[QUOTE=Dagger IX1]I don't have the energy to go back and refresh my memory on this topic or do any kind of meaningful research, but I'm pretty sure there are other reasons that people believe Alexander was bisexual. Anyway... from what I recall (and you sort of hinted at this too, but I'm not sure what you were driving at by mentioning it), the culture in which he lived didn't really ascribe to rigid concepts of "straight" vs. "gay," at least not like we do today. The fact that he took wives, had affairs and spread his seed like any other respectable conqueror is hardly proof that he didn't have relationships with men, heh.[/QUOTE] As per your following request, I'm not debating this as putting a finish to the whole discussion on "Was Alexander Gay" topic. Here's the big answer: Whatever floats your boat. Yes, sex wasn't really as restricted in greek culture, heck spartans and "sacred band" commonly used sex to strengthen their ranks. Then, while homosexual lovers have been described for many famous greeks, Alexander was simply never associated with one. Draw your own conclusions... I suppose. [QUOTE=Dagger IX1] This isn't something I want to debate, and I haven't actually seen the movie (although I've read up on it a bit). I have no desire to watch it either, heh--it sounds atrocious. Without having watched it, all I can say is that I was under the impression that Alexander's sexual orientation was addressed in the film, but never became its focus. In one article, the reporter described how the suits involved with the film felt a lot of trepidation regarding the homoerotic content and repeatedly asked the director to tone it down. I just think it's slightly unfair to say Oliver Stone was hankering to work the controversy angle when he was sort of damned no matter what he did. Including a lot of stuff about bi/homosexuality would have turned a lot of potential viewers off, as the higher-ups evidently feared; if he totally glossed over it, people would have called him out on that.[/QUOTE] Oliver Stone is a director that looks for the most dramatc selling points. No, not of the origional story, but how it could be received today. I mean, look at "JFK", for God sakes. The reason no one insinuated Alexander was gay in the first place is because no one gave a rat's *** back in 300 b.c. People today do, and that's a selling point. I wanted to see Issus, I wanted to see the seige of Tyr, I would have loved to see Granicus. I mean, did he even visit the oracle at the temple? From what I've asked my friends; the few battles they show are Gaugamela and his little skirmishes in India and some transylvannian snake charmer pretending to be Olympias. *sighs* [QUOTE=Dagger IX1] On a side note, Herodotus has his merits, but he's not necessarily the most reliable source. :p ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] I thought you were being sarcastic when I read this, that you were mistaken. Then I read my origional post. I [i]did[/i] write Herodotus... whoops. I actually meant Arrian, and to a lesser extent, Eurimenes. That would mean you bought my first post... which would mean that all the "meaningful research" you "would have" done wouldn't have gotten you a foot in the door. So, what were you saying about Herodotus?

Ah yes, the nail in the coffin of Oliver Stone's credibility. I guess he is so busy looking for some sort of provocative or politically motivated theme that he manages to disregard any sort of historical evidence... period. I mean, I'm sure a 2300 year old Macedonian general is a regular Martin Luther King for gay rights; but if Mr. Stone bothered reading any Herodotus he might have known that the evidence that Alexander was gay is about as solid as our count of the "wise" men in the nativity story... what was that number? Oh yes, we haven't a clue. All we know is that he [i]was[/i] Macedonian, raised practically Athenian, and had quite a taste for the liquid courage. Oh yeah, he married several women and had several historically noted mistresses. Wanna hear where people get the idea that Alexander was gay? Alexander grew up on Homer and idolized Achilles like a Corinthian schoolgirl. He even stepped foot on modern-day Turkey first [i]just[/i] like Achilles. So if Achilles and his best-bud Patroclus had the horizontal tango, i guess one could assume that Alex got it on with his little buddy: Hephastion. Also, Greeks didn't really observe sex the same way westernized nations do. Besides that, I hear the movie was horrible. Glad I didn't see it.

This is a great topic Panda! Could we (or you) extrapolate on the idea a bit and add a few more situations? This is a pretty fun read! -[b]Lone toddler crying in a shopping mall.[/b] Awww! I would go over and ask the poor kid where his parents are. You never really know if they could be five feet away from him, just momentarily distracted. I would then have information/managment page the parents. -[b]First person at the scene of a car accident.[/b] I was in this situation last fall. First, I didn't have a cell phone, luckily another bystander called 9-11. The accident wasn't very bad, except for one guy who suffered pretty blunt trauma to his head. I wasn't getting anything from the guy (vitals, that is). I yelled for a few other bystanders, and we got some of the people out of the car (which had swerved and hit a tree in the median). I was worried the car was catching on fire, as smoke continued to grow around the car. I started CPR on the driver and the ambulance arrived a couple minutes later. I knew the paramedic and he assisted me with the guy. We managed to stabilize him and get him to the hospital. Everyone else was just bruised with minor lacerations from broken glass. This was really coincidental, I had just gotten off of work not a few minutes ago. -[b]Person drowning.[/b] This one's easy. Shout for help, swim out and assist. I had to learn how to do rescue swimming when I took lessons, and we did a special course over it during my First Aid cert. I was planning on being a lifeguard until I got a job at the hospital. -[b]Obviously upset person running down the street.[/b] I'm not sure, I suppose it depends on the situation. If it's a younger kid, well.. I don't think I'd just go appraoching kids. If it were an adult, I would probably leave him be. I guess it depends on what kind of "upset" he seems to be in. Thrashing wildly? The cops would be called. Crying his eyes out? Uh.. well I guess nothing should prevent him from jogging off the frustration. -[b]Injured animal.[/b] I've got a sore spot for animals. I remember "saving" animals as a kid. Finding a mole stranded on a street. My family found a baby robin and nursed it back to health ^_^. Recently my biology class went to our feild station when studying phylogeny and a baby squirrel approached us. It was incredible, just making these squeeking noises and staring at us. It was smaller than both of my hands and looked somewhat emaciated. Biology professors have the same sore spot as I do, and he's actually being cared for in the science center right now! I forgot what they named him, but he's our mascot ;). I should go visit him/her. It was pretty cool to see nature so unafraid of a big-bad human.

[b]Yardplay[/b] Tigers lived in those jungles, the young explorer leered. His disheveled hair fell, threading, caked with mud. Low on supplies, water, trapped. Those helpless thoughts of a jungle-fever fell upon his damp brow. He could feel the thick air of the Tiger?s breath. So close. Then mother beckoned me to supper with an angry finger. [b]"Sometimes you can be a real cunt"[/b] His eyes widened and his forehead throbbed. How could he have doubted her? Why couldn?t he of all people have wondered it? He had his chance; the truth serum was still wild within her veins. He shouldn?t have torn Superman out of Clarke Kent. ?He taught you the five-point-palm exploding heart technique?? ---------------------- here's some... they are kinda trite, i know, I've not written something creative in a while.

"The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting." - Fran Lebowitz "It is a golden rule not to judge men by their opinions but rather by what their opinions make of them. " -Georg Christoph Lichtenberg "Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation" - Oscar Wilde "Adversity introduces a man to himself" - Jim Warren "Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him." - Aldous Huxley "He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow." - George Eliot "A ship in harbor is safe- but that is not what ships are for." -John A Shedd

[QUOTE=ScirosDarkblade]DaggerIX1 is totally on a roll in this thread. Modern-day apes are the result of as many years of evolution as man is, because they diverged from a *different* common ancestor. Chabichou, think about this. To say that evolution cannot give rise to a new species, you are going to have to show to us how there is [I]no evidence of a common ancestor between any two species[/I]. And that you CANNOT do and we all know it. Since you are making this powerful claim in opposition to evolution, the burden of proof rests on you. You lose.[/QUOTE] Ugh, remind you of a certain thread a while back, Sciros. Back when he and I were debating casually on the subject, we homed in on specifics... know why? Because the scientific theory of evolution is just like any religion. You've got your historical evidence (fossil records, etc) so does religion (religious figures, text, etc. We've got our evidence, and the faith that pieces it into some sort of belief... some reality that we shall accept for whatever reason; to answer a question, explain something, give us some sort of feeling of worth. Sciros, you of all people should know that the burden of proof is on science. Just as it is the burden of the missionary to convince the unbeliever of God. Evolution's greatest flaw is in its design; it takes the end product of all living organisms and begins to pre-impose assumptions upon it. We cannot testify to a single act of macroevolution, we cannot explain the origin of life. We can try, we can guess... inevitably all of the holes in each theory leave the disillusioned knowledge-seeker with nothing less than [i]faith[/i]. Probably a bitter taste in the mouth of a realist.

Watch the one-sentence spam, just a little hinty-poo ;). All you David Bowie Fans need to go see the movie 'Life Aquatic: with Steve Zissou'. I think you'll be plesantly suprised by a young portugese man who can play the guitar decently-well with a wonderfully cheerful voice. I don't want to ruin much more of it for you, but David Bowie is a constant tremor in the background noise of the particularily funny film.

Well, make sure she's on the pill. You don't want her pregnant with another man's child, that would merit some explaining.

Avril is more punk than any artist since the Ramones... why? My thesis: Punk- paraphrased and defined is commonly intepreted as "going against the system" we hear references to that toward all sorts of establishment and government, society being bettered by independence and free-rocking. The Ramones, despite occuring around the same time as the Sex Pistols and after The Clash, basically started the genre. They started "Punk rock" .. and every band following it has taken the basic methods of the Ramones and slightly deviated, continuing the system that is "punk". Avril plays soft rock and pop, calls it 'punk" and broadcasts it mainstream. She is directly defying the system that is "punk rock". Hence, Avril is the punk-est of them all.

[QUOTE=maladjusted] Yes, $350 million is nice, but we spend about $350 million each week in Iraq. Could we do no better? I suppose not, since we're just the poorest dang country in the world. Even in freaking recession we're still the most poweful nation in the world. I can see why some of you are angry at people like me saying the US is being miserly, but I'm sorry, I just think we could've given much more. And please take this to heart, I'm not one of those people who hate America for everything it does. If it gave more money I wouldn't parade around saying 'America is arrogant'. I love this country, but sometimes it has its faults. [/color][/QUOTE] What would giving more have done? You think it would have gotten more people over there? Built their homes, stopped the tsunami? The amount of money we are spending should be SUFFICIENT, becuase giving billions to a country who's economy is dirt poor is NOT GOING TO SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS. What the effort in the disaster areas need are manpower, that's what the US is sending, man-power and releif aid. We're paying more than enough for it, all the money we send now is just flooding a nation with cash that IT CANNOT USE.

[quote name='Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f]No offence, but I think some of you Americans are being a little bit egotistical about your country. If your country has wealth, then it is your [I]duty[/I'] to help other countries in need. [/COLOR][/quote] That?s ********. A country?s only duty is to her own citizens (pardon the reflexive pronoun) not to protect the citizens of other nations. What the U.S. gives is out of GENEROSITY and should be received as generosity. Just as what the aid from any other nation should be understood as. When is it our responsibility to make the lives of every other nation as good as ours? That?s those people, and their nation?s responsibilities. I know that sounds cruel, but many nations are DOING that, and bettering themselves. Look at India, they take decent care of themselves, they haven?t asked for aid yet. [QUOTE=Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f] I even think Canada could have given more, even while it is not as rich and powerful as the U.S. However, note that Canada gave more than the U.S, which is what I think makes people question the U.S. The U.S however, isn't the only one people should be pointing fingers at and calling stingy. Spain had the nerve to give a loan, which is to be paid back with [I] interest[/I]. [I]That's[/I] what I call stingy. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] Canada did not, nor will be giving more than the U.S. no other country on earth will ever compare to the amount of aid the U.S. will eventually be giving. What?s wrong with a loan? Since when was Spain, who doesn?t have the soundest economy in the world, need to throw money at the country? Like I said, the amount of money sent is virtually meaningless until we can actually SPEND that money on manpower and reconstruction. [QUOTE=Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f] I'm not sure about the countries hit by the tsunami, but some countries in this world are poor simply because of the sanctions imposed on them by other countries, especially the U.S. Though these sanctions are sometimes neccesary in times of war, they needn't be placed on a country when the war is over. When Iraq gave up in the gulf war, the U.S imposed sanctions on the country. Did Saddam suffer? No, he continued living a life of luxury, while the general Iraqi population suffered and thousands (or even millions) died from disease and malnutrition. I think the U.S should definitely take responsiblity for the desicions it makes. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] The UN sanctions? You are blaming the death of Iraqis living under Saddam because of UN sanctions? Please, go read something, go learn about what the sanctions dealt with; how they didn?t change the way of life for the Iraqi citizen, or how the entire suffering of the nation was really Saddam?s fault (which it was). Please, go educate yourself before posting again. [QUOTE=Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f] Since when did the U.S need foreign assistance? I think if a country owns over half of the world's whealth, it should be able to manage itself. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] The Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the 1920?s, the stock market crash (would?ve been nice if countries gave us a few hundred million to slow the recession), 9/11, the war in Afganistan, Iraq (not a unilateral operation). There?s a few examples. [QUOTE=Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f] Another thing, not meaning to drag another Israel debate in here, but the U.S gives Israel around 16 million dollars a day. If America can do that for one foreign country, which by the way is not in need of so much assistance, then it really ought to focus on other countries which are more in much need of that money. The U.S has given 35 million so far in light of the tsunami crisis, which is just a bit over what it gives to Israel in a two day period. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] I?d like to see a source to that number, Cabichou? maybe Google?s not cutting it today. The U.S. has given aid to Israel and will continue to do so. It is possible that the aid we have given them has assisted in Israel?s ability to survive despite the hostile actions of all of her neighbors. Not only that, the continued fighting against Islamic terrorists will and must continue. [QUOTE=Chabichou][COLOR=#004a6f] Finally, I'd like to point out that no country is really in the place to point fingers at others telling them they should donate more money. Then again, you shouldn't brag about how much your country helps others. It's not right to remind people of the favours you do for them. You help other countries because it is the right thing to do, and it is an [I]obligation[/I]. Yes, it is an obligation for [I]everyone[/I] to help those in need, regardless of how far they are from you. If you are capable of helping, then help.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] I love how the first sentence of this paragraph contradicts nearly your entire post. The U.S. isn?t arrogant in giving money away, nor stingy. I?m just sick of the nation where it cannot win in any situation; if it doesn?t give what the rest of the world considers enough we?re ?stingy? if we give too much we?re ?arrogant? and if we kept to ourselves, well I can see us being called any number of things from that (tyrannical, uncaring, etc).

The best of each era? I?ll include best songs. Baroque- Bach (any fugue) High Classical- Mozart (Requiem) Late Classical- Beethoven (pathetique) Romantic- Chopin (prelude in e minor) Best opera singer- Domingo or Callas Best opera- The Magic Flute/ Carmen Blues: Best blues artist- Stevie Ray Vaughn (pride and joy) Best Lounge singer- Nat King Cole (unforgettable) Best Guitarist- Clapton/Buddy Guy (they each play circles around Hendrix IMO) Best Jazz singer- Ella Fitzgerald Best Jazz player- Coltraine Best ?modern? composer ? John Williams/Hans Zimmer

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet']But isn't a church or a synogaugh or a mosque a public forum? So wouldn't that be doing what you don't want them to do? [/color][/quote] Well, no, actually. While Churches are public, they are private institutions that aren?t owned by the state. I should clarify then, keep it out of the State. [QUOTE=ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet] You want to talk failed marriages, look at all of Hollywood...I think 10 years is the current record there. And guess what, they're all straight. [/color][/QUOTE] You can be pro-marriage and against frivolous divorce/marriage. I?m not happy with Hollywood marriages any more than you may be, but nothing can prevent that from happening under our current marriage laws without threatening perfectly legitimate marriages. We can prevent gay marriage without that complication, however. [QUOTE=ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet] I think it's funny that so many opponents of gay marriage claim that marriage is a sacred and holy thing. Ok, maybe it's a sacred thing now, but it hasn't always been that way and it sure wasn't that way hundreds of years ago when the church first got involved. Arranged marriages are hardly sacred unions between two people who love eachother. i'll add more later, i have a baby to take care of[/color][/QUOTE] Marriage has been spat on, defiled, etc. That doesn?t mean that the families I know with legitimate marriages under a few different religious ceremonies shouldn?t be able to call what they have ?sacred?. We lost a few battles in WW2, we won the war. Give your baby a hug for me. [quote name='Siren']Well, now, couldn't the same be said for hetero marriages? How is it any different for them? [/quote] Well, it?s not. I don?t really need the government to tell me that I?m married. I see why marriage exists in our government, and as long as it remains ethically sound, in my opinion, I will support that institution. [QUOTE=Siren] As it stands now, your argument can be used against those against Same-Sex marriage. They're taking it into a public forum and trying to change the current social institution, because up until now, there has never been any movement (to my knowledge) that would define marriage as between a man and woman. It's how it's been in the past (a trend, really...and more or less based on business and economics), yes, but it's never been [i]official[/i]. [/QUOTE] Never been officially heterosexual? I think it has ever since the actual act was brought to our nation. I guess with the ?DoM? acts we are making it official now. As I?ve said before, there are parts of marriage I like, and parts (like Hollywood marriages, etc) that I don?t like. I only want to maintain what integrity the institution still has (and millions of married couples would agree that their marriages remain sacred) by keeping it morally right. I know you don?t see anything morally wrong with homosexuality, that?s fine. I do. [QUOTE=Siren] And remember, instituting gay rights will not lead to a blood orgy.[/QUOTE] Probably not. I?d say incest and polygamy would be pretty easy arguments though.