Mnemolth

Huh?? I'm not sure what you mean. It seems like you're talking about converting kg (kilograms) to g (grams). But that's a litle obvious? Anyways, I'll just assume that's what you're asking, k? ;) 1 kg = 1000 g So to covert kg to g, just move the decimal place 3 places to the RIGHT. Eg 1.23kg = 1230g (remember to add the 0 to make up at last FOUR digits) 1.2345678kg = 1234.5678g 0.1 kg = 100g (note: you don't put 0100g, cos the first '0' is NOT used) 0.1kg is the SAME as 0.100kg To convert g to kg, just do the opposite. Move the decimal place 3 places to the LEFT. So 234g = 0.234kg 10g = 0.01kg (this is the same as 0.010kg) 1234 = 1.234kg and so on....

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by clowmet [/i] [B]i know this is not math, but i need help with something non related. see, for christmas, i plan on getting a ps2. but my dad, the guy with the money, says he won't spend money on something that in a few years will be replaced. i have an outdated ps1, and i REALLY, REALLY want to own kingdom hearts.so how can i convince him? [/B][/QUOTE] For a variety of reasons its really hard to help someone out with something like this. I would say something silly like show your dad how much you want PS2 by volunteering to do things about the house for it. Or if you are given pocket money bargain with him that for every dollar you save for PS2 he will give you 4 or something like that. I really have no idea. [b]And its quite ok to ask questions that are NOT math related. This thread is not just for help with maths, its for ALL kinds of homework. Actually, I would welcome other material, maybe in science or law, etc[/b] Though we can probably help each other better if the questions are of a kind that HAS answers. ;)

Oh my eyes! Good gawd, my eyes! Are you sure its white enough? :D Well its fixed for me now. My eyes on the other hand...

I'm gonna vent here because James decided to lock up my thread. I don't think the thread should be closed because it was actually a positive exercise. It asked posters to list GOOD things about people they did not like. And I specifically told people not to mention names so that flame wars wouldn't erupt. I did anticipate that people would be guessing who the posters are talking about, but I figured no one would be silly enough to actually broadcast that in public, after all I DID SAY NO NAMES. I did not anticipate that people would actually completely ignore my post and reply before actually reading. If people are breaking the rules on a thread, then their posts should be deleted and/or those people warned. In my opinion its unfair to lock up the thread for breaches of the very rules of that thread itself! If people are hijacking a thread and taking it somewhere outside the rules, then maybe the mods should take back control of the thread and remind people of the rules. But to close the thread down would be to punish those people who actually abide by the rules, and reduce their choice of whether to participate in that thread or not. That's all folks! :D

Oh dear. Now why would someone open such an ugly thread as this? :bellylol: Here's a challenge for you. Think of a CURRENT Otakuboards member that you LEAST like (I wouldn't say hate here because many people don't hate anyone). Now think of 3 GOOD things you can say about him/her. Rules: 1) All comments must be genuine. That is, no trying to disguise insults as compliments. ;) 2) Each of your points MUST be separate, so you can't say basically the same thing in three different ways. 3) DO NOT name the person! And obviously it goes without saying that there shall be no flames here. The game is more interesting if you're honest with yourself. Since you cannot name the person, its easy to get away with BS, so try to play it for real. I'll start first: 1. He can write. 2. He can do some gfx. That's all I've got. :bawl: See how you go. :D

The world today is dominated by Western culture, and the leader of the Western world is America. But it was not always so, and need not always be so. Having arrived at this place, we have a tendency to think it was inevitable. There is a strong notion of cultural, political and religious determinism. A society that respects individuals is more 'civilised', one that separates the functions of the state and church is more 'mature' and so on. Although these values have spread across the globe, they are essentially Western concepts and ideas. Thomas Jefferson put it best in the Declaration of Independence when he wrote that every person had a right to 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'. But this is not how societies in the past have seen things, nor is this the view of ALL societies today. In some societies, there is a stronger focus on the importance of community and on the idea of the extended family. Individuality is acknowledged but it is not pampered like some favored child. I think sometimes we forget this in our unstoppable worship of individualism. It is all too easy to sacrifice what is good and right on the altar of what is easier and simpler. The notion of freedom is drilled into us from the day we are born, and we are reminded of it at every turn. However, freedom brings with it responsibilities. And yet these responsibilities are not so well recognised or accepted, and certainly they are not the objects of worship. Having been brought up in a Western society, I agree that freedom is paramount. But I also think that freedom exists within a context, outside of context it is meaningless. One has to remember that it is often the case that one person's freedom is another's prison. If you are free to do what you like, and hit me, then I'm not free from physical harm. And it is not enough to simply say that you are allowed to do anything you want as long as you don't cause harm to anyone. Because then, the inevitable question is, how do we define 'harm'?. If you believe in the right to own and watch pornography, and if I'm offended by it, do you 'harm' me by having the right to see it? Of course I don't have to watch it but the fact is its out there, and the mere knowledge of this offends me. Am I too sensitive? Or are you too aggressive with your liberties. And then of course, we also have to consider 'harm' to the society. Who is to decide this and why? What has any of this got to do with conformity?? Well, conformity or lack thereof are concepts that flow from the spring of individualism. It is only when you emphasize individual rights that you speak of conformity or otherwise. Conformity is a pejorative word. That is to say, the word itself carries with it a negative connotation. It is not neutral. When you bring individualism within the context of civic duties and family responsibilities, then you may think differently about individual rights. In schools everywhere, and in colleges and universities, teachers often encourage students to 'think for themsleves', they encourage the expression of opinions without equally encouraging 'learning'. Expressing your views is all well and good, but if those views are ill-informed, utterly ignorant or lack any real critical analysis, then what really is the point? Not only are you wasting your breath or other people's time, but even worse you are likely to continue the spread of misinformation, and along with it prejudices and bigotry. It seems to me there are far more people out there with opinions than there are those with ideas, there are more people out there who have a position on a subject than those who have any idea about the subject matter. It seems to me teachers and lecturers should stop encouraging students to speak their mind and concentrate more on feeding that mind. I don't see any pressing need for people to be encouraged to express themselves. Most people seem hell bent on venting their opinions regardless. What I see a need for is informed opinion, and to get that you must first actually be informed! Listen before you speak. Understand before you preach. Conformity is often misunderstood. There is nothing wrong with trying to be accepted. I've said as much in the Internet popularity thread. Human beings are social animals, we have a need for social interactions. If you look at a business man in his three-piece suit and you cast him as a conformist, then what are you with your gothic black hair and those body and facial piercings? You say you don't care how you look, then why do you bother? You are trying to project an image as much as the business man is. You condemn him for looking down on you, but are you not doing the same in judging him in return? I do not believe that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the keys to living. I believe that life is too precious to be wasted. I believe that freedom is meaningless without achievement. And I believe that you do not find happiness by looking for it. PS: Or if you want to skip all of the above just read my sig! :D

For those guys that think girls only want bad boys and deserve what they get... :rotflmao: Ouch! Sounds like someone has a rather large chip on their shoulders. Sounds suspiciously like that age-old cry of blaming others. Its not me, its you that is the problem. Well, sorry to burst your bubbles guys, but yeah, you are part of the problem too. Before you start telling girls how to live their lives and who to choose, maybe you ought to get your own house together first. You know a little exercise wouldn't kill you. Neither would a little bit of ambition and drive. Nor would a little bit of civility and charm. Before you start judging others, maybe you should have a real hard look in the mirror at yourself first. Or not... :D :D :D

Popularity is associated with being shallow. So you're not going to find many people admit to it or to want it. And that's a shame. Cos what I find really shallow is pretense. Human beings are social animals. We live in groups, and it is important for us to be accepted. To think popularity is unimportant is a mistake. To believe one does not need or care about popularity is to further compound that mistake. No man (or woman) is an island. And if you are going to be an island, let me say that chances are you won't end up as a tropical paradise but more of a bitter barren wasteland. Of course I'm not saying popularity is the be-all-or-end-all of everything. Sometimes the price for popularity is too high, and for your integrity, your sense of self-worth and identity, its better not to pay that price. All I'm saying is that popularity is important, and that most of us desire it in one form or another. And it would be foolish to deny that of ourselves.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by James [/i] [B][color=royalblue]Of course, I was never implying that [i]all[/i] suicidal people are just attention seekers. Most are. Some aren't. Few people among those who you might call "suicidal" actually go through with it. And in my experience, people who constantly [i]talk[/i] about being suicidal are the ones who are actually the attention seekers. It's people who [i]don't[/i] share their feelings that are the problem. In reality, a [i]truly[/i] suicidal person is hardly noticeable to the average person. Usually, their pain is locked away and they often refuse (or are mentally unable) to ask for help. So, people who are sitting here referring to their own suicidal experiences...many of them are attention seeking. And by the tone of some of the posts here, I'm sure you can tell [i]who[/i] is attention seeking more than anything else. So yeah, there is a distinction. I don't want to paint everyone with the same brush...people [i]are[/i] different and everyone is an individual. And everyone has different reasons for doing different things. In the case of suicide though, as I said...people who readily talk about it to people tend to be those who are least likely to actually act on it. The truly disturbed/suffering people are the ones who do their best to hide their pain from others (which also makes the pain worse...which is why, if possible, it's so important to look for the subtle symptoms of severe depression and detect them as quickly as possible).[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] Okay. Here's my opinion, and what I was trying to get at in my earlier post. [b]1.[/b] There are people out there that, for whatever reasons, kill themselves. From the severely depressed and frustrated teenager, to the failed Japanese businessman, to the terminally ill cancer patient. These are the so-called 'serious' folk. Their attempts are 'real' in the sense that they DO want to die. Not surprisingly, these are the people most likely to succeed. You can call them cowards for no sticking it out. You can call them selfish for leaving their loved ones behind to deal with the mess. I would call them neither of those things because I am not in a position to judge them. [b]2.[/b] There are people out there that hurt themselves or threaten suicide in order to draw attention to themselves for one reason or another. They might hate themselves, they might hate their parents and family, they might hurt themselves as a way to hurt those they feel have hurt them, or it might just be a desparate cry for help. These people come in two groups, the self-mutilaters, and those that threaten suicide. I'm not sure about the link between those two groups but I'd speculate there is some sort of connection. Self-mutilaters are those that cut themselves, or do other things 'd prefer not to mention here, nasty horrible things to their bodies. Since we're talking about suicides I'll neglect this group for now. The there are those who threaten/attempt suicide. The second group actually will take some action. But they don't really want to die. Consciously or subconsciously, they will set things up so that there is a good chance that someone will stop/save them. This is your typical wrist-cutter. Sometimes things will get out of hand, and by chance or lack thereof, some of these attemts will be successful. But very rare. What is more common is that if their cries for help are not heard, some in this group may move to the 1) category, and become dead serious. Most will not, they will simply sink into an abyss of psychological and physical hell. Inertia will drive them. Now, its clear these people are 'attention-seekers'. They do want to draw attention to themselves. The have no 'real' desire to die as such. But I would not label them 'attention-seekers' and dismiss them as such because whatever their state of mind, I feel their pain is real. Just because they do not want to die does not make their pain any less real. As I said before, you must be in some kind of hell to feel that the only form of expression available to you to hurt yourself. Of course these people need to be approached with care, you don't want to encourage this situation or their psychosis or dependence. For that kind of care I'll leave to the professionals. [b]3.[/b] These are the those who talk about suicide. Some of this group may progress to category 2), but many will not. These people usually do not act upon their 'talk'. But they do fantasize about their own deaths and what impact it would have. Now clearly these people are not going to kill themselves, in fact, they are not even likely to ATTEMPT to kill themselves. They are just depressed, or in a rut, or just want some attention. Would I then label this group 'attention-seekers'? Well, the label seems to fit pretty well. But no. I would not do so. Why? Beacuse these people too would have some psychological problems. And those problems are real. Now, they are not life-threatening, but they do reduce the 'quality' of life of the person and what he or she can achieve. These people also need professional help, but moreover, they just need SOME help, ANY help. Someone to take an interest in them and help make them better. A lot of them just need love, and to feel loved. As I said I would not label category 2) and 3) as 'attention-seekers' and dismiss them as such, but that is NOT to say that I would, if I met them and were dealing with them, appease them completely. As I also said above, you don't want to encourage this kind of behaviour by rewarding it, you want to lift these people from this dependency, not accommodate them in it! But its a fine balancing act to maintain and you need to know the person pretty well to do it right. If the person was a friend or family member of mine, and I wanted to help, I would understand it would actually take time and effort on my part. Its not a simple matter of me telling them to 'wake up' as it were, one needs to actually show them how as well.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Devidramon [/i] [B]I love Enterprise. TNG spent too much time on what I guess [i]they[/i] thought was deep philosophical discussion.:p..... Let's not even mention TNG or the first four or five seasons of DS9...... [/B][/QUOTE] Heheheh. I felt I had to answer. First off, I like the Original series partly BECAUSE of the dodgy looking sets and sfx. Its like Dr. Who or Red Dwarf. But that's not why I felt I had to say something. No, my main disagreement with you would be the dismissal of 'deep philosophical discussion'. To me, science-fiction is speculative fiction, and the best of sci-fi gives us a vision of the future that tells something about ourselves today, and where we're heading. I guess in a sense I'm a 'hardcore' sci-fi person. I'm an ideas person. Ideas are what turns me on, that and a nice rack, but let's keep this PG-13 shall we? ;) Even in the camp of the Original series, it was ideas that were being explored. Of course, the show was a result of its time, so it had more 'adventure' aspects and a lot of silliness. Just like TNG was a by-product of its time (late 80s/early 90s), with its formality and seriousness. But both dealt with ideas. I mean beyond the alien girls, there was the lava monster, the time paradox, and many others. Just as in TNG there were ideas, abstract thoughts that amaze, astounded and surprised. Some of them were a little immature but moving nonetheless. Like the all-powerful alien whose mortal wife was killed and in a instant of rage he wished vengeance upon every single creatue of the species of his wfe's killers. He then created an illusion of his wife and he lived with her on a planet as his conscience plagued him. To me that was a very touching episode. Then there was the more sophisticated episode about the Prime Directive, where the crew comes aross two civilisations, one of which is selling 'medicine' to another to help them with illness, onlt he 'illness' was in fact withdraw symptoms because the 'medicine' was actual an addictive drug. The doctor pressured to intervene and Picard, as ever the strong and rational leader, stuck by the protocol. This story has many parallels in our world today. Or the many countless episodes about the theme of what it is to be human surrounding Data. Do I watch Star Trek for the familiarity of characters and the universe that is created? yes. But I watch it primarily because of the ideas it speculates on. I watch it as I watch most science fiction, because I have a fascination for science and an interest in the human condition, and anything that brings these two factors together is attractive to me. Take out the ideas, and to me at least, the adventure is hollow. :)

If all men are dogs, then all women must be b*tches...:D There are good and bad. Sift through the pile, dump the bad and hang on to the good. :)

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by User Name [/i] [B][SIZE=4]Jeeze, you really do LOVE to show off, don't you? Righty then, history question - What were the major factors contributing to WW2 ? [/SIZE] [/B][/QUOTE] Maybe you should actually go through the thread and actually read some of the posts before commenting. You can begin with the starting post....sheesh... :rolleyes: EDIT: Hmm....and while I'm at it, can I just say the idea is about [i]helping[/i]. So if you know the answer please don't ask questions [i]just[/i] to show up people who are trying to help. And likewise, if you are going to give out advise, be nice about it. The point is not to impress, but to assist.

Hi there clowmet, glad to see someone giving this a chance. ;) Your question was rather vague, but I'll give it a try. Ok, I don't know how much you know, so I'm just gonna assume you know as little as possible ok? Please don't be offended. Its easier for me to explain everything in one go this way. To find the number of smaller triangles that can fit into a bigger one you need to find the AREA of BOTH triangles and DIVIDE the AREA of the big triangle by the area of the small triangle. I'll explain. 1. First step is to find the area of the triangle. How to do that? Well that depends on what kind of triangle it is. This is where I would have liked you to have more details in your question. As it is I don't know what TYPE of trinagles were are talking about, and whether the smaller triangle is the same TYPE as the bigger triangle, or whether they are both of different types. [IMG]http://falkor.anu.edu.au/~ely/triangles.gif[/IMG] Sorry about the sucky format, I dunno how to draw diagrams on posts (if that's possible at all). Anyways, the sides of a Triangle are A ro B, B to C and C to A In the above figures a) is an [b]equilateral[/b] triangle, that is ALL its sides are equal. AB=BC=AC In the above figures b) is an [b]isoceles[/b] triangle, that is TWO of its sides are equal. AB=AC In the above figures c) is a [b]right-angle[/b] triangle, that is TWO of its joint at a right-angle (90 degrees angle). This kind of triangle can also be an [b]isoceles[/b] triangle. In the above figures d) NONE of the sides are equal and there is NO right-angle. The basic formula for calculating the AREA of a TRIANGLE is: 1/2 b x h, where b is the 'base side' and h ='height' Working with the above diagrams, a) and b), BC = 'base side' and AD is the 'height' So Area of Triangle for a) and b) are: 1/2 x BC x AD For c) all you need to do is: 1/2 x BC x AC. IMPORTANT: It is the sides of the two ADJACENT(means next to each other) sides to the RIGHT-ANGLE that is multiplied. In this case it would be 1/2 x 5 x 10 = 25 For d) its a little more complicated. You need to find the SUM of TWO triangles. Triangle ABD and Triangle BCD. So area is (1/2 x BD x AD) + (1/2 x BD x DC) 2. Once you have the area of the BOTH triangles, let's say X is Area of smaller triangle and Y is area of big one, then Number of small triangles that fit into bigger one is: Y / X, or to put it another way Y divided X This should give you a number and maybe some fractions. ROUND downwards for your answer! Sounds complicated? It isn't, its just explaining it via the Internet that makes it seem complicated. In person I can probably explain to you in less than 5 mins! ;) Cheers

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Saiyan_monkey [/i] [B]I got 143...that's weird cos I did this other IQ test at [url]www.emode.com[/url] and I got 122...eh, I don't care I wasn't going to do that other test...write the answers down yourself? 45 minutes? Yeah, I was too lazy:D [/B][/QUOTE] Did the Emode one. Hmm...all these tests are beginning to seem pretty much the same...:( The questions are almost identical. The results are different though. For this one they did ask if I did IQ Tests before, so they may have reduced my marks. Personally though, I think a lot of that section was just a scam. My email address, my marital status, my first name? I mean how the heck does my first name have anything to do with my IQ? Sheesh! Anyways, its lucky I got a dummy email a/c I never check (thank god for free web based email). What are the value of IQ tests? Well, [b]assuming[/b] you don't do these things repeatedly or on a regular basis, IQ tests are good for knowing [b]very[/b] roughly where you stand in terms of academic ability. If you're a complete idiot and think you're brilliant, or vice versa, I think IQ tests will set you straight. Anyways, here's my result: --------------- Your IQ score is 140 This number is the result of a formula based on how many questions you answered correctly on Emode's Ultimate IQ test. The even better news is that at Emode, we've taken your IQ test one step further. During the test, you answered four different types of questions ? mathematical, visual-spatial, linguistic and logical. We were able to analyze how you did on each set of those questions, which allows us to shed light on the way your brain uniquely functions. At the same time, we compared your answers with others who have taken the test, and according to the sorts of questions you got correct, we can tell your Intellectual Type is a Visionary Philosopher. The first thing we can tell you about that is you're equally good at mathematical and verbal tasks, and learn best through experience. -------- Hmm....Visionary Philosopher....hmm...*dreams of living amongst the ranks of Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine before somone shouts rudely* They mean bullsh*t artist you w*nker! ;)

This is a review I posted on an anime site some time ago. Why am I posting it here now? Well I wanted to bring it to the attention of anime fans. I thikn people don't give it enough of a chance. Its not that Wings of Honnemaise is unknown, I feel it is just under-appreciated. And of course, I want feedback, what did you think of the anime or the review for that matter? [b]The dreamer in us all[/b] Costing some 8 billion yen, this was, in its time, the most expensive anime project ever undertaken. Originally released by Gainax in 1987. Hiroyuki Yamaga?s masterpiece is a contemplative blend of the serene and the surreal. Audaciously ambitious in terms of its themes and scope, it is largely successful. Much has been said about the slow pace of the film and its lack of focus. A lot of people do not even make it to the end, either falling asleep or switching to watch something more accessible like Ranma ½ or Ninja Scroll. Unlike most of the popular anime, there is no abundance of simple slapstick humour here, nor highly stylised violence or sickly sweet adolescent romance. The story is about Shirotsugh Lhadatt, who dreams of flying but fails to achieve the grades that would have allowed him to fulfill his dreams. An average and aimless guy he falls down to earth, and joins the ridiculed Royal Space Force. Yet through his interactions with Riquinni, a deeply religious woman, he finds meaning and purpose again in his life, pushing himself to be the first man in space. Written and directed by Yamaga when he was only 24 years old, there is no doubt this is one of the harder anime features to enjoy. It is interesting to note that Citizen Kane was also made by Orson Welles when he was the same age. This is not to say Wings is anything like as good as Citizen Kane, except to say that, in the annals of anime history, this is just about as good as any anime out there. Yes, the story unfolds slowly, at a plodding and sometimes even ponderous pace. And yes, it sometimes does fall into a habit of preaching to the audience, but for the most part it remains reserved, respecting the audiences? intelligence, letting the audience figure things out for themselves. One may argue so much so that it confuses and frustrates many, who are used to cute girls, big round eyes, action heroes, tearful romances, and linear narratives that lead to final unambiguous resolutions and the like. After all, anime, at least in the western world, remains predominantly a universe inhabited by young adults, and as such, often preoccupied with the post-pubescent angst of the late teenager. And clearly there is nothing wrong with that. But Wings is different. Mature and developed, Yamaga has created a world at once different and yet strangely familiar to our own. What people find boring and what they mistake for tedium is the painstaking and comprehensive way in which Yamaga shows us his vision of this alien land. The animation is superb. Yes, its true the frame rates may not be as smooth as Disney, but the animation is lovingly drawn to the tiniest detail. From the odd cylindrical coins used as currency, to the bicycles to the uniforms, the unfamiliar architecture of the houses, even the mics used, everything is shown to us as it is, immersing us in another world. With the exception of the ending monologue and its accompanying montage, nothing is explicitly stated. Everything comes through by way of inference. The prologue has the protagonist explaining to us: ?How am I suppose to say? that if it was for the better or for the worse?I grew up all ordinary?middle class?countryside home?there were trees and streams?Being in the middle, I never suffered the hardships of the poor and I couldn?t grasp the frustrations of the rich?But when I was young, I knew what I wanted?.only the Navy had jets?..fast jets?.they flew very high and very fast?.I ?needed- to feel those wings?I?d have been a pilot and I?d touch the wind?The Navy could but they wouldn?t accept me?My school graduated me but my grades told a different story?I wanted to achieve the ?greater- heights?but I blew it?and I landed back in the middle?into the middle of the Space Force?? In that somber and wistful voice, trembling with yearning and longing, which one of us can resist its soothing melancholic ache? This is rare in anime, and Wings should be rewarded with more popular acclaim than it has been. It can be difficult to understand but if you put the effort in to watch this rather long feature, the rewards are exceptional. For anyone who is adrift and lost, or paradoxically so focused on what they do that they cannot see the forest from the trees, this is required viewing. For anyone interested in animation and anime in particular, this film shows what is possible without resorting to cute talking animals or teenage romances. A classic

That was nice. :bawl: Of course, at this point I would normally start in with my comments, but I think I've decided to only comment on poems. I wouldn't wanna sound like an a**. What? Its too late?? Damn!! :D

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cera [/i] [B]I want to be able to be a part of someone's life, and change them for the better. [/B][/QUOTE] You know what? I really [i]really[/i] hope that's true. Cos the world sure needs more people like that. Of course what you could mean is 'I want someone to be a part of my life and change me for the better'...in which case, good luck to you anyway! :) PS: Yes, I am stalking you through the threads and making fun of you at every turn. :D

Hmm.....I kinda like them all. Though eah has their own flavor. I like the camp of the Original series, the matter-of-fact manner of TNG, the space opera of DS9 and the perculiarity of Voyager. I'm also currently enjoyng Enterprise, took me a while to get used to Scott Bakula though! Quantum Leap anyone? And I've seen the all the eps of Original, TNG, DS9, and every ep up to series 7 of Voyager, and most of first season of Enterprise. Yes, I guess you can call me a fan. :) Although I consider myself a Trekkie, that's prob not how the Trekkie community considers me! *lol* I'm not one of those people who actually can describe in detail to you how the warp drive works, never been to any convention, don't own a starfleet uniform, or pointed ears, or even any tapes. I just like watching the shows and movies. That's all.

Well....actually I was hoping for something more concrete, more substantial than just 'advice'. Like maybe you have a problem with basic Calculus, you're just a little unclear about differentiation and integration. Someone here may want to take the time to explain it to you. Give you a basic formula like: d(Ax^b)/dx = (b)Ax^(b-1) where A and b are numbers. And explain it clearly to you how it works. Some of you may be doing computer science and are a little unclear about 'Recursion', and can ask, and some can answer back and explain that it is a routine/procedure that calls itself, adding that there needs to be a 'base' case which MUST be true at some time so that the loop will stop. Others of you may be doing law, and have some trouble understanding a particular case (like the earlier one this year about drug testing in schools). You can ask someone to download it and read it and answer your queries. You can ask questions about vague stuff, like there is a thread here on Etiquette, and that's easy to answer, its just opinion, and its fun to express what you think and let other people know. But that's not what I'm after. That doesn't require actual work, research and some serious thinking. As I said before, this is more about giving than about receiving. And the things you give have to be of value, so that people can look upon the world and know that there is good in it, in a tangible and obvious way, directly related to them and not as some abstract thought, not just as a warm and fuzzy feeling but something that can directly help them, something that makes them think, wow, someone actually spent 1/2 hr of their time doing MY homework, and for FREE, with NO strings attached!! I'm pleasantly shocked. Its gone a a little way to making me believe in people again. And wouldn't that be nice? As for timely responses, well you should be able to get a reply within 24 hrs. It just depends on the question and if anyone knows the answer or can show it to you. There's no harm in trying. You're getting it for free anyways. I know some of you out there may be rolling their eyes, saying this will never work. No one is gonna be wasting their time helping strangers. The people who wanna help probably don't have the knowledge and the people who have the knowledge probably don't wanna help. Well, I think this thread is gonna bust too. But why don't you come along and prove me wrong? ;) PS: I guess some people can 'register' by posting their areas of 'expertise' (I use that term VERY VERY lightly). Just to give an idea. Me, personally, I know a little about world politics and news, law, some maths including discrete maths and calculus, and a little computer stuff.

I've tried so very very hard to resist the temptation to trawl through this territory again, but alas I feel I must say something. I'm not sure why. I just feel I need to. The American 'War or Terrorism' is a misnomer. Terror is a tactic. Its been around as long as war has been around. Practised by both state and rebels alike. From the Romans to William the Conqueror to the Nazis, to the VietCong, to the IRA, the use of violence against civilians to achieve political ends has a long history and is a well recognised strategy of warfare. To believe it is something new, and all of a sudden completely wrong, is a mistake. And besides how do you wage war on a tactic? No, the so-called war against terrorism is in reality a war against militant fundamentalist Islam. And this too is nothing new. Fundamentalist Islamic forces have waged a war on the West as early as 1979 when the Shar of Iran was ousted (a monumental blunder of US foriegn policy, but let's not revisit that argument), and furious Iranians laid siege to the US embassy. However, only 9/11 brought it home to Americans and the rest of the Western world how far this war had reached. It would be easy to succumb to Huntington's Clash of Civilisation thesis, namely that cultures will clash and that the dominant influence of cultures will be religion. Go search on google for those of you have the time and inclination. Soak up what you can because some of it is insightful but don't be too quick to swallow it whole. No, rather I would advise you to, if you are really interested, to go to your local library and read. I wouldn't recommend the Internet until you've read enough from published works to have some idea, because, quite frankly, the Internet is a hotbed of misinformation. Its easy and quick, but exceedingly deceptive. It only really good as a resource when you know what you're looking for and can spot the bull and ignore it. What has all this got to do with you? Its all academic and just a fun way of expressing yourself via a Board right? Its just about debating right? Yes, all this is true but this topic is a little different. America is waging a war against militant Islam, and it is a war right across the globe. From Xinjiang province in China, to Jolo in the Phillipines, from Chechnya in Russia to Sudan in Africa, from Algiera to Indonesia, the battle is to quell the rising tide of violent fundamentalist Islam. Its not about terrorism per se, though the US will keep that as its public face, and will, on occasion give lip service to it. Its not about ETA and the fight for an independent Basque state in Spain, or the Tamil Tigers and their deadly civil war in Sri Lanka. Of course, greater pressure will be placed on these groups to lay down their arms, but this is merely a side effect of the main battle. And the main battle? The big fight is within Islam, between those who wish to marry the religion with modernity, and those who wish to marry the faith with politics and identity. And on the sidelines, but in the thick of it, are people like you and me. The West. We, with our proud capitalist liberal democracies, our rule of law and the sepraration of church and state, our obssession with individualism and its corollary, human rights. All these things are an anathema to fundamnetalist Islam. For two centuries, Islamic faith and identity have been battered by the whims of the colonial powers. Muslims have been pushed to the fringe. And now, they are barging their way back into the centre of world culture and politics. A few centuries ago, a similar battle was waged in Europe. It was about the separation of the state and the church. It was called the Reformation. It took decades. Muslims are now going through what Christiandom went through. And it will take them decades to sort it out as well. The Muslim world is in crisis. And like any culture in crisis it clings to its identity even more fiercely. This is the appeal of Osama bin Laden. OBL is not just a terrorist, he is an idea. Here is a man whose money could easily have bought him a palatial house and a comfortable bed, and yet he chooses to live in a cave and sleep on the floor. America is waging a war not just against terrorism, its against an idea. 9/11 made sure everyone in power in Washington understood this. An idea this powerful does not die with a man, it cannot be killed by a bullet and it cannot be bombed into submission. This idea of a world Muslim community, and in particular, of a Islamic State is new. If you went back more than a couple of centuries you will find not such concept in the then Muslim world. The idea of an Islamic State is a reaction against the encroaching western culture. People want a way out. They don't want a MacDonald in every corner, or porn in every hotel room. And for the Muslim world, with the demise of the Cold War, the fall of the Left, there is no counter to the captialist market economy and the liberal democratic political system. There doesn't seem to be any other clear alternative. And so they fall back on the only thing they have left, their identity, their faith. You may look at the above and say to it is all useless banter. It may or may not be interesting or entertaining banter but it doesn't really matter to ME. Like most topics here, it may or may not be a good way to pass time and express myself, but that's all it is, there's nothing 'real' nor anything that will directly apply to my life in any substantial way. It may or may not make interesting cocktail conversation at dinner parties but that's all it is. You'd be wrong. And I'll tell you why. 9/11/01 is a marked date when the world woke up, and found itself in a deep war, just as intense as the Cold War had been, and just as dangerous if not more so. I support the War on Terrorism despite many misgivings about how it is conducted because I cherish my freedoms. My values are Western, I believe in human rights, in individuality, in, as one of your founding fathers wrote, 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. Militant Muslims have a different view of the world. They believe that faith and politics cannot be separated, they believe that the community is greater than the individual and that a capitalist market is souless. Their worldview and my worldview cannot co-exist. Something has to give. In time, Muslims will sort it out amongst themselves. But for the time being, we are their enemy, and they are our enemy. And we must know this and acknowledge it, because the danger is very real. And this is why YOU should care about 9/11. Long after this post has been purged from your memory, long after this forum has faded from the Internet, after you have graduated high school or university, after you are married and have children of your own, this war will still persist. In a year or two, when Al-Qaida may have been neutralised, there may be a lull in the 'fighting', and you may think the war has been won. You'd be wrong. We're not talking months or years here, we're taking decades. Its a depressing thought.

Err... yes. The test is meant to be done in one sitting in under 12 mins. That is, you should press 'submit' after 12 mins even if you haven't finished answering ALL the questions. The test is very time sensitive, and is invalid if you take more than 12 mins to do it. Of course repeating the test also makes it invalid. ;)

[b]PLEASE READ BEFORE VOTING!!![/b] In the weakest/strongest points thread many people have listed themselves as smart/intelligent. Which prompted me to think upon it for a moment, and I thought it would be a good idea to conduct an experiment. Just a fun one. :D Make your vote [b] and then[/b] take an IQ test [url=http://www.testcafe.com/iqtest/]here[/url]. Although you have to register, its hassle free and quick (12mins). It looks professional enough so I guess it should be 'relatively' accurate. Still, with only T & F options, I wouldn't rely on it completely. I mean I scored 159! :eek: WTF? You can post how your voted and what you scored on the IQ test was, or you can just post one or the other, or post neither. :D This is just a fun exercise for the curious and those with a little bit of time on their hands. ;) Maybe you'll learn something. Maybe you won't. The point really isn't what you scored, but what have you learnt about yourself? ;) For the more courageous or simply with more time, you should try [url=http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1641/iqown2.html] this IQ test[/url]. IMHO this is a better test. I scored a more believable 142. You don't need to register but it doesn't automatically mark itself, you have to write down your answers on a sheet of paper and manually mark yourself. Of course, taking an excruciating 45 mins, its a major hassle, and less fun. Oh btw I voted for 'better than average'. :D PS: I wouldn't take the results too seriously. Personally I don't really believe in IQ tests. I mean how do you test intelligence? Especially since many of us would disagree about exactly what intelligence means in the first place! ;)

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Cera [/i] [B]I don't know where I stand online. What do you people think of me, anyhow? At school, I have my place. I belong in the Drama Clique. I participate in a number of activities: Band, Praise Team, Ensemble, Handbells, Soccer, Enviromental Club, etc., but the only place I've found that I fit in is with the Drama people. I love music with all my heart, but I simply cannot stand the people who take charge in those groups. It's a pity, really. Outside of my clique, everyone knows who I am: Sara Martin, go ask her for the answers to any assignment! It deeply bothers me that people see me that way, as an object to provide them with academic help. For that reason, I rarely give it. It certainly doesn't help my general popularity any, but then, if I wanted popularity, I would have joined Student Council or Cheerleading. On the other hand, most people also know me for my sense of humor. I take great joy in irony and other quirks of life. Last year I kept "notes" in World History; I had an accurate record of the worst and most famous mistakes the teacher made. I've written essays affectionately known as "the fairy tale rant" and others. Generally, I'm known for being mean. But then, if you can't find humor in people's stupidity, your life is going to be very dull. [/B][/QUOTE] Hmm....I would say you're intelligent, well read, and that you can write a sentence or two without much effort. I would also say you're well spoken, at least you are when you're not busy making snide comments in that sardonic sentiment so popular amongst teens everywhere. I would say you probably have an air of the nerdy snob, that you project that superior air, not so much that everyone is beneath you, but that somehow you see the world in a different light than everyone else, that you see things they do not and in fact you are quite proud of that. Although you may on occasion have that superior air, you don't feel particularly superior. Mainly because you have yet to find your voice and your place. And that... What??? This is not Pysch 101?? Damn!! PS: Sorry. I was bored. :nervous:

That's one of the better freeform poetry I've read on anime boards. :) Its very sweet. Of course everyone has their own interpretation so recommending titles are kinda hazardous. ;) If it were me, I would call it something like 'Memories of daylight' But then I would also change parts of the poem. The set up was good, flow was easy and coherent. In the first para 'And one year' broke the flow for me so I'd change it to 'And where one year', even tho prob that's not what you meant. Of the second para I'd take out 'Circle Circle Dot Dot...', its cute and I'm sure heaps of ppl would disagree with me here, but I think its just a tad too self-consciously clever. 3rd para, I'd switch 'Where we always/ Every year/ Went for field trips' to 'Where we always/ Went for field trips/ Every year'. The style you're using is free form and conversationalist so it should be one continous smooth run without any breaks. In another form this would work, but in the form you've chosen I'm not so sure. 4th para, 'And the things we haven't yet/ But maybe will/ Soon.' doesn't really work for me either. again too convoluted a structure, keep it simple in accordance with the rest of the poem. 'And the things we still have/ But may not/ Soon.' works better I think. Otherwise it was very well done. :D A- :devil:

Er..no, not really. Besides, it wouldn't happen to me. Cos usually I get my friends to cut my hair. Usually girls cos they don't mind it. Guys tend to be a little icky about stuff like this. Getting friends to cut your hair is a lot of fun. And if you end up looking like a pineapple, so what? Its only hair after all. And besides, its not like looks are important. Whooaaa! Wait a minute. I'm on an anime board right? With a bounty of teenagers? What am I saying?? D'oh! *slaps head Homer style* PS: Don't get offended folks, I'm just ribbing ya! Peace! ;)