Lafleur

[quote name='Circéus']Are you seriously refering to the 1998 Ice Storm?[/quote] [COLOR=DarkRed] Not that one, that was annoying. I'm refering to the year (I don't remember which one but it was only a few ago) where we had 3 meters of snow piled up on our back deck. When it was -30 on average. THOSE are the days I'd kill for.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Well, good luck to everyone in Katrina's path. Hopefully no one gets hurt. Frankly, I'd welcome any weather here; I don't care if it's a hurricane. It's so monotone here. In the summer it's hot and ******, with a bit of rain. In the winter it's nice a frozen with a good ol' blizzard now and again, but for the most part no interesting weather ever occures in Quebec. I would kill for the mega-blizzard that hit a few years back...[/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Corey][size=1]Blind patriotism is a terrible thing. You said yourself that Canada would suffer more from a trade war than the US. There might be hundreds of thousands of jobs lost instead of just thousands. I don't condone in the slightest what the US is doing. I find it underhanded and extremely disrespectful, but I believe Canada would be doing more disrespect to itself if they started an all-out Trade War with the US. Their plans of enforcing tarrifs could be a very good thing and work well... ...even though they're still clear-cutting forests, but that's not a topic for this thread.[/size][/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] Yes, all out trade war may be a bit extreme; that's well and true. But by, say, heavily taxing Electricity or Water like the US taxes us for Softwood Lumber, I only see two things happening; the US getting cranky (Refer to my sig) and saying they don't wanna play with Canada anymore, or removing the tariff. Either way, Canada will never look at the US the same way after the robbed us blind. I've only got one thing to say to the US government; Don't even think about trying to take away the North West Passage. How is it possible that the US can continue doing this when they lost... 8-0? Some shining light the US government is...[/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Akari_Demon]Except for your little qoute, cause i have some friends who are conservatives that do make progress. I agree with you completely. And to you morpheus i am suprised that your are so conservative, since your athiest. Bush hates you and me as much as he hates "The axis of Evil". I also think it is wrong how people are demonizing mrs. Sheehan for having some complaints against the war, and to say she does not support our troops is just plain ignorance. O yea one more thing morpheus, name some progress?[/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] Well, it was a general qoute. It applies more to Canada than the US (I'll admit that Regan did make some strides; but that was purely coincedental. The USSR was buggered anyway) because literally every time a conservative gets elected PM it bites us in the balls. *Caugh*Deifenbaker*caugh.[/COLOR]

[QUOTE]REGINA (CP) - Canada is threatening a trade war with the United States over softwood lumber as members of the federal government said they're studying which U.S. goods they could slap with tariffs. Several cabinet members said Tuesday that Ottawa is identifying products where Canadian tariffs would cause maximum pressure on the U.S. economy and minimal damage domestically. A government official said products already under consideration include water and California wines, but added that Canada will await a World Trade Organization verdict before proceeding. At a brief media scrum, Prime Minister Paul Martin castigated the United States for its lumber protectionism and its decision to ignore yet another ruling by a NAFTA panel made last week. "The American position is absolutely untenable. It's unacceptable," said Martin said, who didn't mention tariffs. "The fact is that we won those cases and under the terms of NAFTA and under the terms of any kind of an agreement, when a panel comes down and makes a decision, that should be honoured." One federal minister used a Canadian sports analogy to describe the federal government's willingness to retaliate against its largest and most powerful trading partner. "I have a background from my younger days in hockey. When somebody slammed you into the boards with undue force and aggression, you took their number," Industry Minister David Emerson said. "I think we've got to take their number." Federal officials were distributing an editorial from the prestigious Wall Street Journal that accused the U.S. government of "bone-headed economic policy" and endorsed the Canadian position. Emerson said Trade Minister Jim Peterson and Finance Minister Ralph Goodale have begun the process of identifying suitable U.S. targets for tariffs. Goodale was cautious in his comments and Peterson said he could only proceed after a crucial WTO ruling expected next year. Canada has already sought approval for $4.8 billion in retaliatory measures. Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew appeared to welcome the idea of tariffs and said California wines were being considered as one possible target. "I do believe that we should do it in a way that will not go to the detriment of other Canadian interests," said Pettigrew, a former trade minister who dealt with the softwood dispute. "We have to do it in a way that some U.S. interests will ring their senators and congressmen in Washington." The warnings come one week after the United States announced it would ignore a decision by a NAFTA panel that found Canadian lumber exports posed no threat of injury to U.S. producers. With more that 80 per cent of Canadian exports going to the U.S. and the countries exchanging $1 billion each day, Canada would need to tread carefully to avoid a crippling trade war. But Goodale said the federal government is intent on making its point that U.S. Customs has illegally collected $5 billion in tariffs on Canadian softwood since 2002. "We want to make sure that whatever option we pursue is effective in making our point . . . without at the same time shooting ourselves in the foot," he said. "Canada has wanted to make it very clear that we are not happy with the position of the United States to simply ignore what is a clear NAFTA ruling in Canada's favour." One particularly draconian measure has already been ruled out - imposing quotas on Canadian oil exports to punish alleged U.S. protectionism on lumber. Emerson, who supported that idea when he was a lumber industry executive, now says it would unfairly saddle Alberta with the bulk of the economic fallout. He said Tuesday the government is considering tariffs that won't damage the economy in a single region of the country. "We are stronger as a country when we pull together in a unified way. If we take actions that create regional balkanization, division and friction, we're not becoming stronger as a country," Emerson said. "(We have) to find effective tools that aren't going to create more problems at home than they solve abroad." Canada announced earlier this year that it would impose a 15 per cent surtax on U.S. live swine, cigarettes, oysters and certain specialty fish - measures worth only an estimated $14 million. The move came after the WTO agreed that the so-called Byrd amendment in the United States violated that country's trade obligations. The controversial law allows U.S. producers to get the duties their government imposes on foreign competitors. Also Tuesday, Goodale dismissed reports of bursting government coffers as wildly exaggerated and rejected private-sector forecasts that the surplus for 2004-05 will total more than $8 billion. He said the actual surplus for the last fiscal year will wind up being far closer to his initial projections - $3 billion or "a little bit less" and said this year's projections are "the most accurate prognosticators"' of what lies ahead. [/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] I think that it's about damn time that my country took a stand and put an end to the illegallity that is the Softwood Lumber Tariff. What do you people think? Do you think that Canada should respond in kind, i.e put heavy taxes on Electricity, Water, and other speciality items? I think that we should declare a full on trade-warfare. Eight times, IN A ROW, NAFTA has ruled in favour of Canada on tihs arguement; and yet the US keeps putting thousands out of jobs and costing my nation billions. Yes, Canada would likely suffer worse than the US from a trade war. But, hey, half the men of the Light Brigade died, but if they hadn't charged the Russians would have won the Crimean war. Probably a bad analogy, since it was a poem about the Light Brigade, and not the actual charge... Still.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Hawthorn Heights... Isn't that the name of a map in Rollar Coaster Tycoon? Seriously, I have no idea who this band is. I don't pay attention to these flash-in-the-pan bands that come around now-a-days. I have too long an attention span.[/COLOR]

[quote name='Morpheus']To say we haven't made any progress in two years is ignorant. We are progressing, slow as it seems.[/quote] [COLOR=DarkRed] The only progress that's been made, if you can call it that, is that a puppet government was installed. The Insurgency is worse then ever, people are dieing faster than ever, Iraq is in it's worst state since it's creation. Iraq is, if anything going backwards. Guess it's true what they say about Conservatives: [B] A Conservative is a person with two perfectly good legs who's never learned to walk forward.[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]If Robertson taught us anything, it's that Freedom of Speech is only good in moderation. When every nutjob/idiot can get a TV show and spread hate, ********, lies, and just generally be a dick, you know the bounds have been overstepped. Oh, and don't badmouth Castro.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Meh. I just call it Classic Rock (Not to be confused with Crap Rock ((AKA New Rock))) because that's what I listen to. Progressive Rock is probably the only other one, because my favourite band, Rush, practically built that Genre from the ground up. To me, Metal is Metal. Rap is Crap. The only division that really exists, to me, is between the rock from the Golden Age and this new immitation Rock. Like margirin it tastes! Oh, and somtimes I set aside a genre called Can-Rock. I don't know about you, but I find a big difference between Canadian Rock Groups and pretty much every other. Maybe it's because Can-Rock is considerably better, who knows. [/COLOR] :cool:

[QUOTE=botoman]I'm so stoked about this movie coming out. My best friend always keeps me updated about it, and finally the release date is coming up. Anyway, I had a look at a scanned article from a Japanese magazine and the price is looking pretty steep. According to the article, the release date is the 14th of September, but the prices seem to vary: 4800Y for the normal publishing (roughly 50$) and an amazing 29500Y for the limited edition publishing (near 300$). [URL=http://photobucket.com/albums/v112/botoman/?action=view¤t=ff7acprices.jpg]FF7 Advent Children Prices[/URL][/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] Either A: the artical is wrong, or B: Anyone buying this movie is getting seriously taken for a ride.[/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Drix D'Zanth]Your philosophy doesn't quite make sense. There's not a draft. Everyone who is in the military is there on their own volition. Therefore, everyone in the military accepts the responsibility and the consequences of their own actions. I'm not sure how one can support the troops in Iraq without supporting their actions. That's like saying you support the doctor, but you don't support the surgery he performs. If a man is defined by his actions, and you don't agree with their actions (or think they are morally wrong, of which the supporters of Cindy Sheenan believe) then how can you justify calling him "virtuous"- or "supporting" his behavior? Hey, I'm not about to say that actions of a soldier are the only qualities that define the soldier as a moral being. However, Cindy Sheenan is basically saying that, as far as her late son is concerned, she opposed with her son's actions (and choice to fight a war she considers unjust). But Cindy won't go out and say it. She's passing the blame up the ladder. She's disrespecting the choice her son made and the risks he accepted. She's not supporting the actions of the troops in Iraq, she opposes every second they remain in the foreign country.[/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] I think that your logic doesn't really make sense. You can support the troops, that they come home safely etc, but can disagree with the war. It's not the Soldiers choice to go into whatever conflict; it's decided by somone else and they don't have a choice but to do it. [/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Howlingvampire4]Yea, I completely agree with you, this movie was supposed to come out sometime last year, I think, but then they delayed it. :animeangr I've been waiting a long time for this movie, and I hope that it's TRUE that it's coming out next month. But, I also heard that it would be 200 and somethin bucks if you wanted to get extra features, or somethin like that. :animestun[/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] 200? ********. Even the full Gundam: Wing series is only 100 CDN. No way they could charge 200 for one movie. Ludicrous. [/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Retribution][SIZE=1]You make a very interesting point. Yes, the fans, IMHO, are becoming increasingly gullible. Breasts = fans nowadays. I guess it's also partially due to the 12 year old girls who go nuts of N*SYNC and buy five copies of all their CDs. Didn't girls use to squeal over [i]good[/i] bands, like the Beatles? *sigh* Perhaps it's a mix of the two factors, and I'm remaining oblivious to such matters.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] Well, if you look at it as a whole, some parts of music are going forward. Yes, some have taken up the mantle left by The Golden Age and kept it alive. But the vast majority of new bands are just shrill cop outs. That's why I think that Music, as a whole, has gone down hill. [/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Retribution][SIZE=1]Well, considering we all toss Spears & Co into the bin of "Failure," I would definitely say music is moving forward. Again, this is personal opinion, so... the Golden Age of Rock really doesn't appeal to me. I'm pretty content with the newer rock/techno/what have you. Really, I don't judge bands on their music videos. I listen to them, and if I like it, I get the CDs. Radiohead's a good example for me; I have three CDs for them, and I don' think I've ever seen a video. Granted, that's not to say other people are like me, but in general, I don't think music quality is degrading. [/SIZE][/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] Maybe it's not so much the music quality as the fans. I'm sure anyone with half a brain can recognize Brit for what she is; a lame shill of a musician. But yet they still manage to top the charts with every single? Why? Is this some terrible message of things to come for our generation? TRUE, there are still some innovative bands out there. But the vast magority are [I]crap[/I] that build their carreers on MVs. I have to respect your opinion, though I cannot fathom the motives. IMO most new music seems to be a cop out, a shadow of it's former glory. Even if some of the Punkrock out there is still pretty decent and entertaining, the vast magority of popular music is the 'Hey look! Ok, I cannot sing. True. But! I do have nice boobs.' or somthing along those lines. [/COLOR]

[quote name='Retribution][SIZE=1']I have no idea what people are talking about when they talk about music like this. While this is largely based off opinion, I don't think music has gotten much worse in my 15.8 years of life, and if anything, things are moving up. Yes, you hit a little rut, but things are becoming more innovative, artists are branching out, and music is becoming much more diverse and interesting, IMHO.[/SIZE][/quote] [COLOR=DarkRed] Seriously? You honestly think that the artists (It hurts to call them that) like Spears, and the rest of thoselook-I-can't-sing-but-I-use-cool-effects-in-vids-buy-my-album artists can in anyway compete with, say, Rush or Dire Straits or... [I]anything[/I] from the Golden Age of Rock (Men Without Hats nonwithstanding)? Yes there are some artists that are innovative, but the vast magority of the uber-popular bands out there make their careers because they have a pretty face and can pay for some impressive MVs? Do we agree on one thing? [/COLOR]

[quote name='Lunox][color=darkslateblue] [color=darkslateblue'] That was...stupid. Really. Yeah, I agree that playing any musical instrument is very hard (I play the cello and piano), and even harder to make what you play musical. You know what? It takes an amazing amount of talent to play the cello and piano as well as people like Gil Shaham or Yo-Yo Ma. A tremendous, gigantic amount of hard work, studying, practicing, and talent. But it is disgusting that you would just throw down another talent you've never even stepped into like that.[/color][/quote] [COLOR=DarkRed] The people who actualy do the music, the sound effects etc, are IMO the only really talented people involved in Rap. The people I'm saying are terrible are the people who get up there and SOMEHOW become popular 'singing' things like Candy Shop or anything by Lil' Jon or, well, pretty much any popular rap. That's what I'm complaining about. I think that the non-mainstream rap, though still pretty terrible IMO, is a grand improvment. [/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Osaka]I dont know how to do the quote thing but i noticed that Lunox said that rock has many diffrent styles. so dose rap. old school rap r&b hip hop mainestrem rap gangsta rap hood rap hardcore rap dirty south rap midwest rap and alternative rap and from what read in vibe mag. lil jon made crunk rap.[/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] What's your point? I've heard many Rap genre's, and they all sound pretty similar, though there are some exceptions. Besides, Lil' Jon is probably the WORST rapper around right now. Just because there are a lot of genre's doesn't mean that they're talented. It takes a hell of a lot more talent to form a band and think up lyrics and cords and preform them well to, [I]basically[/I] get up on a stage and talk in an imitation of song.[/COLOR]

[quote name='Domon][SIZE=1']And in regards to some of the people who have joined the military *cough*Ilium*cough* I think that is a rude and uncalled for assumption. I know plenty of other people who are currently in the military or military reserves. A few people are on the forums and a few others I know from my area. But I really don't feel like getting into that discussion.[/SIZE][/quote] [COLOR=DarkRed] How is it rude? It is a fact that there is a Lower Class, there is in all countries, and in most Western Nations, the Millitary provides an alternative to bumming around and contributing nothing. Often the only alternative is a dead-end job at McDonalds, and I'd rather join the Millitary, get an education, have a purpose, than flip burgers in the back of a fast-food joint. It's also a fact that Recruiters recruit heavily in Lower class areas because they know that somone working for 7$ an hour is more likely to join than somone who makes 1,200$ a week. [/COLOR]

[quote name='Lunox][color=darkslateblue'] Most of them are just entertainers. Er. Yeah, that's what I think. But rapping itself is a talent, I overflow with awe for people who can free-style rap or a capella it just out of nothing but their minds. AND...basically, you've only been listening to mainstream rap. Seriously, would you like it if everyone judged the 'rock' genre on what they hear on MTV and the radio? Because, yeah, that would suck, too.[/color][/quote] [COLOR=DarkRed] I'm not complaining about the freestyle rap, though I do find it incredibly boring, I'm saying that the most annoying stuff ever made, the worst music possible, is the rap that gets played on MTV and Much and all those excuse-to-play-advertisements that populate the airwaves. I don't see how wearing pants 3 sizes to large, being illiterate, and acting 'gangsta' is in anyway cool or entertaining; seems rather stupid, frankly. The only entertaining rapper ever is J-Roc and that's only because he's got Mike Clattenburg and Mike Smith writing the show. Besides, as talented you need to be to come up with lyrics on the fly, have you ever tried to play guitar? As easy as it looks it is probably one of the hardest things to learn; and to be as good as people like Hendrix or Clapton or Lifeson or Page, it's nearly impossible. Listen to the band Rush; it has one of the best guitarists who's ever lives (Alex Lifeson) the single greatest drummer to ever play (Neil Peart) and a not-to-shabby Bassist and Vocalist (Geddy Lee) and they cordinate so well, it's amazing the amount of talent. It makes rappers, even free-style ones, look like children hitting sticks together. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Well, you'll be happy to know that I finally got around to download Children of Bodom. Frankly, it's not what I expected that's for sure. I quite liked the instrumentation (Though it'll never replace Rush for me) but my one complaint is with the voice; no offense or anything, but it reminds me of the man in my dreams who eats chickens hearts and craps out their souls! >.> Anyway, since it's the only one I've heard, I'm going wioth Children of Bodom. [/COLOR]

[quote name='Jake of Bodom']I definately pick the Backstreet Boys. One of them can actually play the guitar.[/quote] [COLOR=DarkRed] Shocking. Are you sure about that? Seems to me they only play instruments in the MVs... I hate MVs so much![/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Your Mother][SIZE=1]I just thought of this. Aren't you a bit [I]old[/I] to be posting on the boards? Nope. She can do what she wants, and so can you. Looks like I'm the lone defender of Gangsta rap, hip-hop, and R&B. Look, say what you want, but there are some seriously talented artists in there. Usher has talent. Alicia Keys has talent. Snoop Dogg and Pharell have talent. Mariah Carey has talent. I could go on and on. If you guys dislike artists, fine. But don't go hating everybody else and calling them idiots for liking the song, or genre, or whatever. I don't like most rock bands. Metallica, System of a Down, Korn, and all those wrist-slashing-goth-people. Linkin Park is the only rock band I could ever stand- no, wait, there's Green Day, they're good.[/SIZE][/QUOTE][COLOR=DarkRed] Green Day and Linkin Park don't quialify as Rock. They're Power Pop at best. Green Day was rock, but now their terrible. And KoRn, SoaD, Metallica, that's not what Rock is confined too. What about Dire Straits? Rush? Led Zepplin? The Beatles? Rock has many genres, many styles, and if all you listen to is this 'rock' that comes out now-a-days I can see why you'd dislike it. Download Sultans of Swing or Roll the Bones and than tell me you don't respect Rock. Usher, Alicia Keys, Carey, they aren't the people out there singing 'SMAK HER WITH YA DICK SMAK HER WITH YA DICK' and 'I got ho's in diffrent area codes' and Snoop Dog is more talented than your average rapper, but he's still just out there making MVs about landin' tail and exploiting women. It's not about the music with rap. They count on the MV. It's liket aht with most new music. Bloody new music... Even if they had talent it's just squandered.[/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Sage]Aww, I failed? Phooey... :( [SIZE=1](It had to be because I wrote "a part" instead of "apart"...dammit!)[/SIZE] Heh, I immediately started humming the [I]exact[/I] same song after reading Sol-Blade's post! [I]So[/I] obvious! Seriously, you can't take this news too gravely. It's just another looney that wants to kill somebody; as long as it doesn't happen, everything's okay. ;)[/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkRed] That's the problem though. Somtimes you get these people who call themselves Devout who watch this crap and go *Puts on heavy southern accent* "Well hump ma dawg, these feller's the messenger of God! Yall must be right! Comon yall, get in the truck! We's goin' to Venezuala! Bring the .22!" (Which would have course been answered by 'Is that on the way to the 7-11?') and go down and try to put one in Chavez's skull. Is it unlikly that it will happem? Sure. That's the problem with this though, chances are somone will try. And even if it doesn't, should people be allowed to make death threats on TV and keep their show? [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]mIRC Chatrooms work great... just get on a server and create a #OtaBoa or somthing. It's free, it's easy, and it's fun. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Oh bugger this is a tough choice... Do I pick total crap absolute trash? Guess I'll go with absolute Trash. The Backstreet Boys, though not really a band and not really musicians, are slightly better than Sync, for one reason. Though their new album is TERRIBLE, the songs are slightly better than the terrible "Ya my music sucks but look at my face!" "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!" songs that came before it. Conclusion: If I had it my way both bands would be locked in a pit slowly filling up with salt water. Than I would cover them in minor cuts. AND WATCH THEM SUFFER. MUAHAHA. *caugh* anyway, both of these... circuses suck terribly. [/COLOR]