Sara

[QUOTE=Ozymandius Jones][COLOR=DarkOrange] I claim glasses dude! Mwahaha! [b]Edit[/b]: Do I still draw glasses dude, or wait until 1nOnlyCloud links their character? [/COLOR][/QUOTE][color=#b0000b][size=1]Glasses dude is all yours. The time was up, and the thread moves forward.[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]It's been (more than) 24 hours, so the floor opens up again. Anyone who wants to draw Dagger's character can call it.[/size][/color]

[QUOTE=Delta][COLOR=#656446][SIZE=1]INPUT! Um, you know how the English "go" is pronounced as if it has a "-w" in the end (and ends up sounding like "know" and "hoe")? That happens 'cause the lips go into a semi-purse and form the "-w" sound. Going by what I observe in J-doramas (significant!), Japanese pronounciation of "go" and many other syllables entails little lip motion. Try holding your lips in place while pronouncing "go". The -w sound is diminished, yeah? [/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE][color=#b0000b][size=1]I was going to post about diphthongs, but I thought it might be a little too nerdy... =] A lot of people around here actually say [b]go[/b] as guh-OH. The two sounds blend into eachother, and you would never notice it unless you were really thinking about it for some reason. But yeah, a lot of vowels in American English (at least) are diphthongs--combinations of two sounds. If you don't pronounce both parts of the sound, people will still understand what you are saying... but they'll probably assume you're from Canada or something. :p Not all languages have diphthongs where we do, though. If you pronounce a non-diphthong "o" as "uh[i]OH[/i]," you're doing it wrong. And you probably would never realise why, or even hear the difference.[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]I think that in the United States, the word "marriage" is used for two different things, thus giving the impression that those two things are intrinsically linked. [i]They are not.[/i] The word [i]marriage[/i] is used to describe a legal contract, recognised by the state. The word [i]marriage[/i] is also used to describe a holy contract, recognised by the church. We should not assume that because these two things use the same word, they are the same thing. They are similar, and they often overlap. However, they serve different functions. Holy Matrimony is a state entered into by a couple, before God and with the blessing of their pastor. It deals with "loving, honoring, and cherishing," and entering into that state involves a church official and a church ceremony. Legal matrimony is a state recognised the government. It deals with the legal status of a couple, and the rights and privileges they are entitled to. Entering into that state involves a government official, a marriage certificate, and a witness. Whether or not any given church recognises, performs or allows same-sex holy marriage is a matter of that church. Whether or not the government recognises, performs, or allows same-sex [i]legal[/i] marriage is a matter of civil rights.[/color][/size]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]The other place I bum around is the [url=http://www.threadless.com/blogs?from=verdana]blog forum[/url] over at Threadless. It hasn't got categories, which is the thing that bugs me the most. Lots of silly random posts, which can be fun, but it's frustrating to sort through all of them to find actual threads about artwork.[/size][/color]

[quote name='Deathsye']Yeah that is about the same with me. I can draw on a normal sheet of drawing paper with a normal size character but when it comes to drawing in a little box... i can only draw with stick figures or and triangle person.[/quote][color=#b0000b][size=1]Tip: Draw normal sized characters on a normal sheet of drawing paper. Make a panel layout for the page. Scan and resize your large image so that it fits in the appropriate panel.[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]*huffily* That's what it used to be, [i]anyway[/i]. =] Thanks for checking it out for us, Des. I (especially) appreciate it.[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1][i]When a new day [b]dawns[/b]. You also used the wrong "your" there once or twice. [i]And yet you cannot leave the things tying you to this Earth[/i]. This line throws me a bit. The use of "Earth" is a little strange, especially since it's assumed that everything is taking place on earth. That you mention Earth, especially with a capital letter, seems to imply that you're looking at things in an astronomical sense--other planets are options. I don't think that's what you are trying to say, because it doesn't come through anywhere else in the song. "...this world" might be an alternative. Anyway, other than that I haven't got any complaints or suggestions.[/color][/size]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]I thought this was going to be about names for titles, but as long as we're talking about characters... ;) I am a fiend for names. Most of my characters' names are chosen specifically for their meanings, or possibly due to a famous (or not-so-famous) namesake. I have a couple baby name books at home, and I keep a mental tally of the names that I particularly like and want to use some time. (I also have a book called [i]Beyond Jennifer and Jason[/i], which breaks names up into categories like "wimpy names," "bully names," "grandmotherly names," "names you can give your child if you want people to be unsure of whether it is male or female" and "names that you should not give your child because they belong exclusively to a famous person, and your daughter Cher will hate you [i]forever[/i] if she has to spend the rest of her life saying 'Yes, as in [i]Sonny and--[/i]' " (It's a very fun book, even if those category names have been slightly paraphrased.) Also, as a [i]very[/i] useful tool, [url=http://babynames.com]BabyNames.com[/url] has an option to search the database by your desired [i]meaning[/i]. (For example, type in "gift," change the drop-down menu to a meaning search, and it will give you all the names in the database that have the word "gift" in their meanings. Anyway, examples of characters that I've named for specific reasons: [url=http://fanart.theotaku.com/tags/yanamaria][b]Yanamaria[/b][/url], a character that started out as a broken porcelain doll. Her name means [i]bitter grace[/i], and I thought the juxtaposition of the two ideas was really intriguing, especially for her story. (Side note: I fabricated the name myself using terms I knew had to do with grace and bitterness, and ended up with this--sort of a backwards version of MaryAnne. It turns out that it was already enough of a name to be listed in at least a couple books and databases, which just goes to show that you're not always as original as you think you are.) [b]Vespa Dolichovna[/b]. I don't have any uploaded images of this lady, but hopefully that will change soon. Vespa was born through an idea of an assassin using the callsign [i]Yellowjacket[/i], and (history aside), that's where her name came from as well. Yellowjackets fall under either the genus [i]Vespula[/i] or the genus [i]Dolichovespula[/i], so you can probably see where this is going. I liked [i]Dolichovespula[/i] because I immediately thought that [i]Dolochov[/i] would work as a Russian last name. "Vespa" became her first name, and after some research on how gender works in Russian surnames, her name settled as "Vespa Dolichovna." [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showpost.php?p=623566&postcount=16][b]Charlotte Hassenpflug[/b][/url] was created for Shy's [i]Vignette[/i]. It was an RPG about stories, and since I was taking a German Folklore class at the time, I thought I would do something with Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm. In the end, though, that seemed too obvious, and I took a different route. I researched the Brothers, learning that they had a sister, Charlotte, who had married into the Hassenpflug family. So the name was that of a historical character (if a minor player in the scheme of history), and the character herself was an expansion of the name. (Isn't this fun?)[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1][list] [*] [b]Walking barefoot in grass.[/b] Free feet are happy feet. [*] [b]Pineapple sherbet.[/b] And on that note, [*] [b]Pistachio gelato.[/b] Could life [i]be[/i] any more delicious? [*] [b]Stickers.[/b] Oh, I love them so. [*] [b]Novelty socks![/b] Toe socks, striped socks, knee-highs, ankle-socks, socks with candy on them, socks with butterflies, socks with spaceships, socks with crayons, super-fuzzy soft socks, green socks, blue socks, red socks, pink socks--I love socks. =] [*] [b]Catbusses and Totoros[/b]. I cannot watch that movie without grinning like an idiot. [*] [b]Bad movies[/b], particularly when watched with friends. [*] [b]Friends [/b] who will watch bad movies with me. ;] [*] [b]Hard Times Café[/b] at 1 in the morning, not to mention [*] [b]being deliciously dizzy with caffeine and lack of sleep.[/b] I love college. [*] [b]Dried cherries[/b]. And dried, unsweetened pineapple. And dried currants, and dried plums, and dried apricots... [*] [b]Puns[/b]. Hate me if you must, but I adore them. [*] [b]LETTERS[/b]. How I love them. [*] [b]"Long walks. Beach optional."[/b][/list][/size][/color]

[quote name='GaarasStalker][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=1]Just be honest. Relationships shouldn't rely on how clever you are. ^_~[/FONT'][/SIZE][/quote][color=#b0000b][size=1]Yeah, but pick-up lines aren't about relationships. They're about meeting new people and getting their attention.[/size][/color]

[QUOTE=Solo Tremaine][color=#503f86]Actually, to be fair, The great fire of London was in 1666. Not that it matters at all. Damn that baker. And those poor street planners and building... builders for making incredibly flammable cities back in the day. Hardly an act of divinity.[/color][/QUOTE][color=#b0000b][size=1]But on the other hand, the fire is believed to have wiped out the last vestiges of the Great Plague. You win some, you lose some. ;)[/color][/size]

[QUOTE=Hinata][URL=http://www.hpana.com/news.19200.html]Commentary: Harry Potter Book Seven[/URL] Seventh book also rumored to be named (according to J.K. Rowling Site) 'Harry Potter and the Pyramids of Furmat' Little note taken from the site as well... [I]The Pyramids of Furmat lie a few miles east of the famous Fortress of Shadows, not far from the magnificent Pillar of Storge. Many tourist prefer to view these ancient monuments at night, when they are illuminated by the Green Flame Torch.[/I][/url][/QUOTE][color=#b0000b][size=1]To anyone reading this, be aware that this is [i]not[/i] serious, but a joke about previous (incorrect) rumored names. I'd hate for someone to come in and mistakenly take it as gospel. :)[/color][/size]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]The idea of paying for anything online kind of bothers me, so I doubt I would pay for that. I would be willing to pay up to two dollars/issue of a hard copy, more if I were familiar with the artists' styles and enjoyed the stories.[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]The best place on the OB to look for feedback on your writing is over in the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=87]Anthology Forum[/url]. (Make sure you read the rules before posting there, or your thread will be closed and deleted. :) ) [quote name='duoikari]err hugging and kissing isn't yaoi, that's shouen Ai and no i haven't, [b]i only read yaoi.[/b'] I am actaully looking for a FMA with ed x envy, ed being the seme[/quote]That seems like an awfully narrow view of life, don't you think?[/color][/size]

[quote name='Delta][COLOR=#35425E][SIZE=1]Just like the chick flicks I love, it doesn't offer anything new, but it's highly entertaining.[/SIZE'][/COLOR][/quote][color=#b0000b][size=1]That's a pretty good way to put it, actually. You knew what was going to entertaining, but it was entertaining (if somewhat frustrating), anyway.[/color][/size]

[QUOTE=Shinmaru]Maybe you heard about it from me some time? Lord knows I talk about it on my site enough. :p (By the way, is that Norman Bates I see in your avatar? :luv: )[/QUOTE][color=#b0000b][size=1]Are you kidding me? I never go to your lame-*** site. [spoiler]Uh, yeah, you're probably right. [/spoiler] And yes, that is Norman Bates. I saw [i]Psycho[/i] the other day, and I have the hugest crush on him. =][/color][/size]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]Yeah, I'm not completely against the function, and it certainly has its uses. I'd just be much happier if it weren't the default setting.[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]Did I hear about this a while ago, or am I thinking of something else? Anyway, I saw a poster for this when I went to see x3, and seeing Shin's post, I'm actually really excited about it now. It looks neat, and I'm going to look for the book when I'm at the library today.[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]I completely agree with you, and I've brought this up before. (Honestly, I just get annoyed when the vast majority of my PMs request a receipt, simply because that's the default setting.)[/size][/color]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]Here's one I think is cute, and would definitely get my attention: [b]Do you know how much a baby polar bear weighs?[/b] (no) [b]...Just enough to break the ice.[/b] (Come on everybody... Awwww!)[/color][/size]

[quote name='NightmareVC'] There's really nothing special about today, so why is it such a big thing for some people? That's what I want to know, and also why do people think they can make such bold statements without any proof or knowlage what so ever?[/quote][color=#b0000b][size=1]People make all kinds of statements, all the time, without any proof or knowledge whatsoever. Every once in a while you'll here about someone's theory that the world is going to end, or a worldwide disaster will strike, but those things mostly pass unnoticed by the public. [url=http://www.savelivesinmay.com/]Here's an example[/url] of a gigantic disaster that didn't quite happen on May 25th.[/color][/size]

[color=#b0000b][size=1][quote=Revelation 13][size=1]11Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. 14Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. 18[b]This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man's number. His number is 666.[/b][/size][/quote]So that's where the significance of the number 666 comes from. Revelation and the end of the world. =][/color][/size]

[quote name='silver_blade]I forgot to say why I hate him calling his people "Dragon Riders." It is because Anne McCaffrey has had her [I]Dragonriders of Pern[/I'] series out for a few decades[/quote][color=#b0000b][size=1]Oh no, I'm definitely aware of that. My point was just that, of all the "rip-offs" to criticise, the use of very functional term doesn't seem that important. :) [quote name='Retribution][size=1]It's not the idea of a "true name," it's the idea of an ancient language that has command over magic (and you can't lie in, I believe) is straight from the mouth of Le Guin. Sure, the idea might be nothing new, but my point is that no matter [i]where[/i'] he got it from, he stole it like all the other elements of his book.[/size][/quote]Yeah, again, I'm aware. And trust me, I'm not a fan of the book or the author. Just tossing stuff out there, I don't know.[/color][/size]

[color=#b0000b][size=1]sakurasuka's time limit is up, so the floor is open for someone else to claim Delta's character [b]Beach Girl[/b]. (sakurasuka, please feel free to edit your version into your original post when you are done, but the time limit unfortunately means that you cannot post your original character after the 24 hours are up.) Amelia, I'm okay with "endless" threads. I'm hoping that this will just go on, for as long as anyone is interested. I wanted it to be casual enough that people didn't need to sign up and make any obligation beyond a day in advance. I would definitely not have a problem, though, if you wanted to start an organised version of the thread--perhaps for people who want to have a turn guaranteed in the next week? :)[/size][/color]