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Dezi> <<A friend of mine actually sicked her german shepherd on one.>>
*L* That's mean, both to the person and the dog.

<<I'm not sure exactly what he does but it has something to do with computers and telephones (NOT telemarketing).>>
Maybe it _is_ telemarketing... maybe telemarketing is a government conspiracy... It all begins to make sense now. ;)

Gside> <<Nah, I'm just the only one who can see the truth. For I am a sexy sexy man.>>
*L* But you're the only one who can tell?

<<My favorite is when they ask "Would you like to get to know God?" to reply "Yes, in the biblical sense.">>
LOL Stay away from Belldandy, you pervert. :P

Tony Elliot> <<When someone asks me, I say I’m a just Christian.>>
*L* I know people who take that statement to mean that you're a member of a cult.

Josh> <<Okay, maybe I'm ignorant, but I don't get it. Explain?>>
http://www.religioustolerance.org/u-u.htm

<<And we can leave them where they fall?>>
No. Corpses rapidly become public health issues.

<<Um, no. Current laptops are much more portable than the big textbooks, especially engineering textbooks.>>
I think he meant portable in the non-breakable sense, not to mention less tempting to theives. Personally, I drop things all the damn time, so I'm really not keen on the idea of carrying around expensive toys.

<<So true. I just can't sit and stare at a computer screen for that long. Why is that?>>
The glow and the flicker? My mother's monitor flickers something awful. Hate it.

<<He'd end up ON a computer, not IN it.>>
If it was a great big computer, and someone left a panel open.

<<That would explain why every Prof I know considers the pinnacle of a career to be writing a book.>>
Sure, it's their retirement money.

<<What do they say if you answer yes?>>
What do they say if you answer "42" and then slam the door in their face? The world may never know...

<<Ask the builders of the Pyramids.>>
If I were going to ask them anything, I'd ask them how they developed such a bad case of penis envy. "My pyramid is bigger than your pyramid!"

<<And how does someone give consent to being shot?>>
Just by pissing me off. ;)

Bud-Clare - [budclare@yahoo.com]
Sunday, January 12, 2003 03:46:37 PM
IP: 24.169.113.216

TONY ELLIOT> <<so, do I have idea now, or do any of you disagree?>> No, no, no. He's not the Godfather to the Fay's Mafia. He's their lord through birth. He was the son of the previous Lord and Lady of Avalon. He's Royalty. The Fay live under a monarchy. I don't see what was so complicated about this to begin with.
Greg Bishansky
Sunday, January 12, 2003 11:45:51 AM
IP: 216.179.6.128

*Warpmind strolls in, smiling enigmatically, hat pulled well down on his head.*
Hullo, gang.

Not much exciting to report from this side of the ocean, but... *Yanks off hat, revealing an intensely bleached scalp* I got a significant alteration done last Thursday. :) Two hours in the hairdresser's chair, sitting there with the STRONG hydrogen peroxide solution in my hair, and I ended up with a shade of pale not unlike that of Spike on Buffy. And the photo I took to freak out mom immediately afterwards makes me look rather vampiric, too... };)

Anyway, like I said, not much else to report... I'll probably just decide to get as much slack as possible today... As usual. :/

Later.

Warpmind de InzanE - [warpmindATtiscaliDOTno]
Middle, Nowhere, Norway
Sunday, January 12, 2003 08:37:34 AM
IP: 213.142.69.162

Yeah, I know I haven't posted. We've had guests, so I've been a bit busy. Macworld Expo ruled and I picked up a copy of the Omni productivity suite, which students get a good discount on. Picked up lots of free schwag, but nothing good. Companies just aren't giving stuff out like they used to.

***STARGATE SG-1 SPOILERS***

Not too happy with this episode. I loved O'Neill's "even we know not to use time devices!" line, it was very appropriate. I'm guessing advanced cultures don't have Star Trek, otherwise they'd know too.

However, the concept of the replicators evolving into humanoid forms is kind of retarded. It also suggests that they'd ignore some technology that wasn't a threat, as if it had a borg-like mind. But the replicators are only supposed to reproduce, and that means ANY raw materials (hence them making replicators out of a less-advanced nuclear submarine a while back).

Sort of a happy ending at the end, as usual.

***END SPOILERS***

Green Baron: <<here are some posterboys for them>>: What a bunch of retards. <<Nothing. It's a blank book>>: Okay, maybe I'm ignorant, but I don't get it. Explain? <<it was a battle between Sikhs and Hidus over control of the world's QuickieMarts>>: That was the most racist comment I've heard in here since Greg's "towelheads" comment. <<if they agreed with us, they woudln't be Protestants anymore>>: Good point. <<a Pat Buchanan/Jesse Jackson bumper sticker comes close>>: HAHA. Oh if only. <<Those should be thrown out by any judge with half a brain>>: Of course, but many judges do not have half a brain. <<Why fry them when they can die of exhaustion?>>: And we can leave them where they fall? <<you could make it illegal for fathers to spoil their daughters, and for mothers to use excessive guilt on their sons. But then you lose a lot of yoru cultural identity>>: True, but those things alone do not make a jewish princess. <<Love you very much, 2 dollar!>>: Dude, that's "Love you long time!" You're actually IN the military, you should know that movie by heart 8-) <<In Switzerland, almost everyone is armed and crime is incredibly low>>: I used to be really in favor of gun control, but I think I like this idea better. <<let's hope the upcoming dictator is a nice guy like me>>: Don't worry, I won't be. <<Odin coudl kick Zeus's paradise spoiled ass.>>: Odin is pretty hard core, but I don't think he'd last long against Apollo or Hera (a real bitch). <<most limousine liberal types are closet racists>>: They are? <<f you feel some perverted old man attached to your breasts, it's just my cat's ghost>>: Or my grandfather. << Jar Jar as a sex fantasy. That's just sick>>: You have no idea. <<I also imagine the first black President along with the first woman President will probably be Republican>>: They'll have to be. It's the only way they'd be able to carry both groups. <<in about five minutes if you don't get off my porch>>: LOL! Great idea. <<A kid is twice as likely to get molested by a family member than a priest or minister>>: True, but since we can't avoid having family members, we should just get rid of christians ;-)

Patrick: <<books are still a lot more portable>>: Um, no. Current laptops are much more portable than the big textbooks, especially engineering textbooks. I'd rather carry my iBook than even one engineering text, let alone 2. Laptops are similar size and are just as light now. <<Printed text on a page is a lot easier on the eyes>>: So true. I just can't sit and stare at a computer screen for that long. Why is that? <<"Have you found Jesus yet?" I mean... who wouldn't want to be able to reply "Yes!" and throw the evidence in their face?>>: LOL!

Laurence: <<Strong Bad's email, where he does a tribute>>: That was so funny! All of us in my apartment were laughing pretty hard.

Hyperion: <<Criminals refuse to follow law>>: Even better, its "supposedly reformed criminals refuse to follow law" ;-) <<I'm sure there’s another explanation for the "burning sensation">>: ::claps:: <<No word yet on how his wife and kids feel about being valued at $1.25 million>>: I'd be happy if I were worth that much. <<People's Republic of New Jersey>>: Berkeley has the same title. As does Santa Monica. <<you are hereby known as "nerfle". Please use that in all official CR correspondence>>: Okay. <<One of the reasons I will only move to the People's Republik of Kalifornia under duress. The other is Berkeley>>: It's not fair to judge the state based on the actions of one small city. If you'd looked at Tahoe you'd think the entire state was beautiful and covered with beach homes and friendly people. <<It's a damn good plan, actually.>>: You're so modest. <<Maybe holy water on a holy artifact>>: Who said that water in the grail is holy? I thought holy water had to be blessed by a priest. <<not to be construed as a lack of knowledge>>: Uh huh sure. <<If you are going to kill me, then do so. Otherwise, I have considerable work to do>>: I think I said something to a mugger once. Cost me a whole $8.

Gside: <<of course, it does tend to be underaged amputees>>: My roommate will be thrilled. <<Mommy, I just killed this guy>>: Did you put a gun against his head? <<For I am a sexy sexy man>>: Keep telling yourself that, someday you might believe it. <<As is everyone else's>>: I plan to become a dragon. <<Yes, in the biblical sense.>>: Sorry, I'm over here 8-)

Bud-Clare: <<snickers>>: I, too, am refraining from Richard Gere jokes. <<Maybe he'll trip and fall>>: He'd end up ON a computer, not IN it. <<"Experts" always get to charge an arm and a leg>>: That would explain why every Prof I know considers the pinnacle of a career to be writing a book. <<cuz family members are never child molesters>>: Good point. <<It's a good thing that no one's ever asked me that>>: What do they say if you answer yes? <<I fail to see how a building is worth killing someone over>>: Ask the builders of the Pyramids.

Fire Storm: <<My next step is a Balarog>>: You're gonna be flaming? <<Sucks when you need other people to upload, doesn't it?>>: That's why I don't run a server. <<do you have an oversized black chair from which you can spin around in, while petting said cat?>>: Why yes, I do.

Dezi: <<Somebody has been stealing baby Jesuses from nativity scenes around the Indianapolis area - 10 in all>>: LOL! <<I swear only weird things come out of Indiana>>: California didn't 8-)

DPH: << I hear the military/police don't mind target practice against living objects if the living objects give consent>>: And how does someone give consent to being shot? <<Or that sciencists don't mind using living human bodies for experiments as long as the humans give consent>>: That I understand, though I think its stupid. <<Wouldn't those options be better choices?>>: Yes, but that wouldn't accomplish their goal. <<max file size 50-100 pages>>: How can you limit the length of a book? <<If I found out my nephew lived next door to a guy who sodomized boys, I would want to know>>: Would it be okay if he sodomized adults instead? ;-) <<there would be people who would claim the elction results were about race and NOT about issues unless the black woman was a republican. In that case, they would think the voters made the right decision>>: Of course. <<I can take students who scored in the bottom 10% on test and find something in common and does that mean the teacher discriminates those kind of people?>>: In this country, yes.

Spacebabie: <<Jack Daniels Hard Cola.>>: Carbonated alcohol? <<That sucks>>: Fortunately, I've been saved. <<Why am I not surprised?>>: I certainly wasn't. <<Not my type of Round Robin then>>: Your type probably involves 4 men and a carton of whipped cream ;-)

Tony Elliot: <<do I have idea now, or do any of you disagree>>: Sounds good to me. <<do I have idea now, or do any of you disagree>>: I'm not going to comment on your TGS comments, since I know what's coming for you. <<Civil engineers go to ASCE meetings, but the ASCE doesn’t tell them what to do>>: WRONG! ASCE provides lists of standard practices which are enforceable as LAW before they become law. Books published by ASCE are frequently used as code references. <<your probably gona’ answer NO, eh>>: Yeah. I get the idea. <<Can I get my hands on it?>>: Probably. Ask me again tomorrow. <<How many college students drive a Z3 whenever they want to??>>: More than I'm comfortable with. <<which is hellofalot quicker car>>: Quick is irrelevant. Comfort and features are more important 8-) You can only go 80 MPH on the freeways anyway. <<functionality is so much more important than aesthetics>>: I don't agree. <<Tony is trying really hard not to dish out a Mac bash… but fails>>: Don't think for a second that macs don't have functionality. Mac functionality has Microsoft shitting itself trying to come up with the same products. Movie Maker, Media Player? Try iTunes and iMovie. Built in DVD and CD burning? Extra programs on windows, free pre-loaded on macs. <<I think that they are good computers for people who just want something simple to surf the net with or type papers and email>>: Yes, they are. But they're good computers for power users too. They offer real power under the hood without the crap of windows. <<Drive a Z3, and then drive a S2000. Then you can say its lame>>: How about I drive an X5 and a CLK320 instead. Okay, done. The S2000 is lame 8-) <<Has Apple done any development for a tablet of their own?>>: You should know that no one knows what Apple has developed. Apple has several technologies that loan themselves to a tablet, but I don't think Apple would be very smart to enter the tablet market. Tablets suck, don't do enough, and Apple's would just be more expensive then the crappy Microsoft offerings. <<The first AP movie is right up there with the classic comedies like Spaceballs, Monty Python, and Caddy Shack>>: No way. Nothing compares with those three. <<Enterprise is still worth watching>>: I disagree. <<an NRA sticker wouldn’t look too classy on the Z3 I never got to drive>>: BMW's and bumper stickers don't go together. <<cat people’s cats own them>>: Depends on how your cat is raised. My cats love to just find the nearest human and curl up next to them.

outta here.

93. If I decide to hold a double execution of the hero and an underling who failed or betrayed me, I will see to it that the hero is scheduled to go first.

Josh - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
Berkeley, CA, US of A
Sunday, January 12, 2003 03:26:45 AM
IP: 64.168.28.239

**Listing to digitallyimported.com high NRG techno/trance while typing CR post.**

Thanks for the feedback and opinions about Oberon. I’m getting the feeling that he could be equated to godfather to the third race mafia. He’s the leader, lord, because he holds the most power (magic, not political), but he could be beaten and replaced if one or many of Oberon’s children (not necessarily offspring) made an attempt to seize power. The third race could be considered to have a similar position in the Gargoyles universe as Q does in the Star Trek universe. They are not deities, they are not benevolent, but they aren’t evil either. Most of them are like anyone else, imperfect and fallible; they just happen to be immortal and yield magical powers. Fox, although half fay, is just other mortal, since her powers were undeveloped and faded away (more in reviews/comments) .
… so, do I have idea now, or do any of you disagree?

Usual TGS reviews/comments
---------------------------------------
Guardians and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice were good episodes. I’m in the middle of Sacrifices part1 and I’m gad finally see some tie backs to previous episodes. Fox can light candles and learns not to muk around with mortal magic. Is this suggesting that she may end up being immortal; and for that matter, will baby Alex? Perhaps David Xanatos’s quest for immortality will lie in powers of his family. I must read more! Lex looks like he finally starting to make friends. I have a bad feeling about Mr. Madox, he seems too friendly and just I don’t trust him; but I can’t wait until Lex and Eliminator meet up for a date.

Replies
---------------------------------------
Josh
I can’t let such an untrue statement with insulting innuendos go unanswered.
<Just look at the church you put so much faith in.>
I don’t put my faith in the church; I put it in God. Example: Civil engineers go to ASCE meetings, but the ASCE doesn’t tell them what to do; Christians go to church, but it shouldn’t tell them what to do. God and his word in the Bible tell Christians what to do. ACSE helps Civil E’s stay current on engineering issues, gives them an opportunity to network, find job openings, professional guidance, holds lots of conferences, etc. The church is much in the same in that it gives Christians a place network and find fellowship, offers education, and gives guidance to living well. The other week, you said that you can’t stand people who blindly follow a religion. I agree with that. There are plenty of people who blindly follow the church instead of following God. Its that idea that separates the religious people from the faithful people. To put faith in the church, merely an institution maintained by people, your foundation is on shaky ground at best. Those people follow blindly with out thinking for themselves about what and who they are putting their faith in. To put faith in God, you must do considerable self examination, soul searching, and most importantly, thought; which is a darn good way to avoid being blindly faithful. If you want me to elaborate on this more, just ask… your probably gona’ answer NO, eh?
<Why?> < engineering jokes file?: Yes. >
I was bored. Can I get my hands on it?
<Now I know you're lying. <<click my name for a few proof pix>>: That isn't proof.>
Lying isn’t the right word… but of course I’m joking. How many college students drive a Z3 whenever they want to???? Zero! Although I did get to drive that one in the pix a few times. Its been, thankfully, replaced by the S2000, which is hellofalot quicker car. It doesn’t look quite as good; but functionality is so much more important than aesthetics. **Tony is trying really hard not to dish out a Mac bash… but fails** -Just for the record, I don’t like Macs; but I think that they are good computers for people who just want something simple to surf the net with or type papers and email… I’d get my grandma a Mac instead of a PC.
<Well, I would, but you see...that car is lame.>
Drive a Z3, and then drive a S2000. Then you can say its lame.
<2003 is the year of the notebook for Apple>
Has Apple done any development for a tablet of their own?

Green Baron
<Well, you don't know his denomination. Only a few are really that prominent.>
I’m nondenominational. When someone asks me, I say I’m a just Christian. If they push it, then I whip out the big nondenominational word. I’m not a member, but I do regularly attend Elmbrook Church. www.elmbrook.org

Godiva
<Finally got a chance to see one of the Austin Powers movies. We saw "Austin Powers in Goldmember" Sunday night at my sister's house. It was pretty funny, which surprised me.>
Goldmember was alright. Goldmember compared to the first Austin Powers is equivalent to comparing The Goliath Chronicles to the first two seasons of Gargoyles. The first AP movie is right up there with the classic comedies like Spaceballs, Monty Python, and Caddy Shack.

Glad your enjoyed the Lakers game. I’ll go to a Basketball or Football game if I get free tickets, but nothing beats driving down to Chicago and seeing a Cubs game. Great stadium, great crowd, great city, and I’ve never seen the team loose a game when I’ve gone. Ah, how I wish it were summer. **Tony looks outside at the snow flurries and shivers.**

DPH
<Sorry, I think the writing quality has gone seriously downhill after ST:DS9.> True, but Enterprise is still worth watching. If you want high quality writing, read the Trek book series. $6.95 ($6.35 for an e-book) for a book is the best money I spend. Give the “New Frontier” series a try written exclusively by Peter David – I think he was involved in writing the Spiderman movie. I believe that there are 11 books in the series now.
<Is it because ST:DS9 sells itself so well?>
Milwaukee’s UPN only runs Voyager. They used to run DS9 at midnight up until this fall when they replaced it with Roseanne re-runs. Sad sad sad.

Hyperion
<Your gun rant on Wednesday>
Does your truck have a NRA sticker on it? I completely agree with your position.
…[Josh] but an NRA sticker wouldn’t look too classy on the Z3 I never got to drive.

Gside
<I've seen images of giant female robots firing lasers from nether orifices> Guns in the fembots’s juggies of the Austin Powers movies were funny, sharks with frickin’ laser beams attacked to their heads was funny (once again Austin Powers) was funny; fembots with lasers in their nether orifices is just sick!

Todd Jensen
<he could become a great force for uniting the world. Now everybody has a common enemy.>
lol

Spike
Cool link for the Arina and Gremme art.

Dezi
<cat was chasing my 40 lb. Springer Spaniel/Labrador around the apartment and swatting at her. So now my big "tough" dog is scared of cats!>
Cat people know: dog people own their dogs; cat people’s cats own them. I guess it stands to reason that the cat would own the dog too.

Lain
Your email address in yahoo groups does not work. Could you please email me so I have an address to reply to?


--------------------------------
I’m posting in blue because it got a lot colder this week. I hate winter!

Tony Elliot - [h664e34@hotmail.com]
Milwaukee, WI, The 103% All Natural Freezer
Sunday, January 12, 2003 01:13:28 AM
IP: 65.29.159.249

Bud Clare> <<Narcissist>>: Nah, I'm just the only one who can see the truth. For I am a sexy sexy man.

Fire Storm> <<do you have an u/l, d/l limit to the site?>>: Not that I know of. The only transfer limits I know of are from my computer to outside servers. Hence how I can download an entire series in high res DivX in under a day, assuming someone already has it on my network.
<<And what's your Internet download limit?>>: I think it's at 2 gigs a week (upload is much less), but my large file needs can usually be met without going outside.
<<My next step is a Balarog!>>: As is everyone else's.
<<Um... ::FS pushes two body bags out of the way:: no, there isn't>>: You killed my DII druid?

Patrick> <<who wouldn't want to be able to reply "Yes!" and throw the evidence in their face?>>: My favorite is when they ask "Would you like to get to know God?" to reply "Yes, in the biblical sense."

Spacebabie> <<More like Zima...>>: I was referring to knurd as in the opposite of drunk. It's Pratchett's joke.

Na zdorov'ya.

Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Sunday, January 12, 2003 12:39:40 AM
IP: 68.38.240.227

Oh yeah, forgot something--
Green Baron: My dad isn't infantry. I'm not sure exactly what he does but it has something to do with computers and telephones (NOT telemarketing). He got sent to Korea for a tour of duty so he could straighten out some communications mess they had. Whatever it is he does (and if you know what I'm talking about explaining it to me would be great 'cause I have no idea), MCI has offered him a pretty sweet job when he gets out.
Dezi
Sunday, January 12, 2003 12:04:43 AM
IP: 68.58.158.101

Green Baron: <That must have been rough when you were five, because Privates don't make sh*t, and the military had much less family provisions back then. > Nah, my parents had just gotten divorced, so Trickle-Down Economics and my mom drove my dad into the military. At the time, being government issue had shining stars compared to being layed off at the door factory.
I've stayed with my mom the whole time, and visited my dad when he was at Ft. Sill and Ft. Gordon. During my junior year, he got sent to Izmir Turkey and took my brother with so he could learn about the world and stop being an @ss. He came back an arrogant @ss that could claim he lived in Turkey during an earthquake. :p Meanwhile I lived it up as an only child.

Spacebabie: <If I had a gold fish I would have named it Pepperidge or Cracker.> I like those names, those are cool. But I used to have bettas and they would die as soon as I named them. One was named Jujube. The snail thing is of course a potato chip theme, I mean c'mon what else would you name a snail? Also, they are putting goldfish cracker shapes now into the noodles of Campbells soup.(...I believe that was the brand I saw at the store. Either that or some cereal marshmellows...)

Fire Storm: Yes she did lose her baby. It was sad.

Bud Clare: <<Another friend of mine actually debated with one and may have converted the Witness to Catholicism.>>
That's pretty much what I'd do... except for the Catholicism part, obviously. I'm genuinely curious as to the logic behind being a Jehovah's Witness (if I can abuse the word "logic" in that fashion).> A friend of mine actually sicked her german shepherd on one.

*****************************
My cat-phobic dog is dragging my arm away from the keyboard, in other words, Dottie says hi.
*****************************
Bye

Dezi
Sunday, January 12, 2003 12:01:11 AM
IP: 68.58.158.101

Thomas> <<but maybe soemone coudl have shot the guy before he damaged a Church.>>
I fail to see how a building is worth killing someone over. Wounding, maybe...

<<Jar Jar as a sex fantasy. That's just sick.>>
Maybe it's a form of masochism.

<<Yeah, in about five minutes if you don't get off my porch.>>
I like. :)

<<Another friend of mine actually debated with one and may have converted the Witness to Catholicism.>>
That's pretty much what I'd do... except for the Catholicism part, obviously. I'm genuinely curious as to the logic behind being a Jehovah's Witness (if I can abuse the word "logic" in that fashion).

Bud-Clare - [budclare@yahoo.com]
Saturday, January 11, 2003 10:27:38 PM
IP: 24.169.113.216

Another snowy day from Kosovo. Brr!!

Hyperion> <<Actually, what was funny was the "Bomb explodes in Israel. No information available about how was responsible" banner on CNN. Like, did they think the Buddhists suddenly decided to throw us a curve ball or something?>>

I was thinking it was a battle between Sikhs and Hidus over control of the world's QuickieMarts :)

Lain> I also thought the Good Girl was a really crappy movie, yet it got Oscar nominations. Nemesis will play next week, but still no Two Towers or Harry Potter in the Balkans, yet :(

Laurence> A fellow Catholic. Always good to have in here :)

<<It is a matter of faith that God will not allow his chosen church to slip into irredeemable error, which protestants will of course disagree with. ;)>>
Well, if they agreed with us, they woudln't be Protestants anymore. Have you ever heard of Hialire Belloc?

Dezi> Division Ready? I'm currently attached to 1st Infantry while in Kosovo, but 39th Finance belongs to 266th Finance Command, not some Infantry grunts ;)

Indianapolics doesn't sound too exciting, but as for Army assignments, it is better than some, unless your hard core. Ideal assignment is Japan for me or a TDA assignment. As MTOE's go, Germany is not as bad as Ft Bragg or Ft Hood, so maybe I should stay in Germania insetad of leave in August, unless I get Ft Leonardwood. I imagine the Iraq thing will cause me to stay in Germnay lonegr anyway, as reassignments are frozen for my MOS. And in all honesty, I'd prefer my winter in the middle East as opposed to Germany, due to weather.

<<After reading back on it, I wish to walk away from that entire post and blame it on a cold medication enduced haze.>> Don't worry about that. I wasn't upset, more correcting a mistake a lot of people make. You're not alone.

<<He's been in since I've been 5 (I'm 21 now) so I guess it's safe to say he is career.>> 4 years till retirement. If he's Infantry and still an E-6, that's pretty bad, or he has some crappy superiors. If he's an E-7 and he's in an Administrative job, I give him a thumbs up :)

That must have been rough when you were five, because Privates don't make sh*t, and the military had much less family provisions back then.

I'm a Specialsit and I would never raise a family on my income, even when I am deployed and not paying taxes. Of course. Hopefully you didn't have too bad a hardship then.

Imzadi> <<Because nothing says tolerance like a Sharpton/Duke bumper sticker!>> Well a Pat Buchanan/Jesse Jackson bumper sticker comes close :)

<<And a lawsuit from the family.>> Those should be thrown out by any judge with half a brain.

<<How?>> They could start them dependent on government aid and use that to affect policies by the school.

<<The steel and auto industries, along with everyone in Michigan, might disagree.>> I imagine so. Too bad. People in Idaho and Patterson, NJ may disagree if I condemn anti-semitism.

<<We don't want to kill them.>> Well, overworking prisoners is a perfect substitute for capital punishment. Why fry them when they can die of exhaustion?

<<I'd abolish jewish princesses.>> Well, you could make it illegal for fathers to spoil their daughters, and for mothers to use excessive guilt on their sons. But then you lose a lot of yoru cultural identity ;)

<<That's retarded. I think that the gargoyles universe suggests that ALL major belief systems are constructed around the same group of immortal supernatural beings.>> Greg said it's up to you about actual belief system. Easy answer to give.

<<Just look at the church you put so much faith in.>> Well, you don't know his denomination. Only a few are really that prominent.

Happy Birthday, Aaron.

Revel> I take it you'll be in Florida more often.

Godiva. Red Beans and rice sound quite good, especially on Monday. You spoil me ;)

Hyperion> <<I have seen some nasty Vietnamese hookers, though. 2 dollars, less with "student discount">>
Love you very much, 2 dollar!!

<< I assume you mean the "building prisons" idea. Yeah, something about hidden escape hatches bothers me though.>> Well, I knew they were tent prisons and the jailbirds all wore pink underwear. Poor Sammy the Bull Gravano in pink underwear ::snicker::

I was thinking of a new program to advertise on Colleeg Campuses. We can propose that the UN add a humanitarian program to supply more medical necessities to Iraq. Call it the Blood for Oil program :) Yes, that was quite sarcastic as Sadaam uses oil for food money to build 7 million dollar mosques.

Ed> Well, adding more to the police force would increase taxes and cost the people more. In Switzerland, almost everyone is armed and crime is incredibly low. Now, Gun Control can work in Singapore or Iran, but with freedom comes crime, so maybe adding to the freedom can help the regulars do their part in being good citizens.

If we rely to heavily on the police and military to do all our protecting, well let's hope the upcoming dictator is a nice guy like me.

Maybe the Axeman could have a gun, and I doubt it's that hard to get a gun in the UK if you sidestep the law, but maybe soemone coudl have shot the guy before he damaged a Church.

DPH> <<What about a convicted murder who escaped from prison and was re-captured, and then the evidence for the murder conviction goes south?>> Well, he broke out of prison, so he's guilty of that crime.

<<If we have a repeat shop-lifter who was convicted of a murder and evidence for the murder conviction goes south, do you really want to release the shop-lifter?>> If he's acquitted for murder, we do that. Now, if someone decides to deal with the murderer as a concerned citizen, well, my eyes are not always open.

Imzadi> <<TGS or the show? I was talking about the show>> I never liked that idea. I always saw Zeus as a seperate fey and I prefer him as an equal to Odin, not a superior, esepcially since Odin coudl kick Zeus's paradise spoiled ass.

Spacebabie> Well, out of the choices, Liberman is the most tolerable. The Barbara Streissand tofu regime would be split over Daschle, Kerry, Dean, and Sharpton, except that most limousine liberal types are closet racists.

Godiva> <<*Glances at chest* Nah, more like melons.>> Be careful what you say. If you feel some perverted old man attached to your breasts, it's just my cat's ghost :)

If you see Ranam, you'll get the joke :)

<<Your opinion, but of course, I respectfully disagree.>> well, it is botehrsome that they are so heavily subsidised when they should be subsidizing the government,like how the Casinos in Nevada allow for no state income tax, no sales tax and decent public services.

Fire Storm> <<Absolutely! You see, some parents were afraid that they were using the life-size Jar-Jar as a sex doll and the Jar-Jar mouth candy as an insertion toy.>> Jar Jar as a sex fantasy. That's just sick.

Imzadi> <<you should know that this country will elect a black woman before it elects a jew, as long as she's a protestant>> Well, the only black woman Catholics in Offcie I can think of are Carol Moseley Braun and Cynthia McKinney, and both out of Office right now.

I see your point will be proven if Condoleeza Rice runs for President. I woudl vote for without question, but she doesn't seem too interested in it.

DPH> <<You know that if a black woman lost an election to a white male, there would be people who would claim the elction results were about race and NOT about issues unless the black woman was a republican. In that case, they would think the voters made the right decision.>>

I notice the double standard. I also imagine the first black President along with the first woman President will probably be Republican. I especially stand by this if Condi runs for President.

As for a Jewish President, it's too bad Kissinger is ineligible. I think he'd be an excellent President, except that my motehr met him and found him incredibly obnoxious, so he may annoy people too much.

Now, I fear Kissinger is too old to run as he's almost 80. Still, he was one of the best Secretaries of State ever.

Bud-Clare> <<*L* It's a good thing that no one's ever asked me that...>> I've never had soemone ask me that at the door. All I got were Jehova's Witnesses. My friend had a good way of handling them.

JW: Do you know when the end of the world will come?
friend: Yeah, in about five minutes if you don't get off my porch.

Another friend of mine actually debated with one and may have converted the Witness to Catholicism.

<<They are. (Although the publishers are making a lot, too.) "Experts" always get to charge an arm and a leg.>> It also depends on the Professor. My buddy Dr. Barnes would assign a regular book for soem of his upper level courses and if he only used a small portion of a text, he'd give the students copies of that section.

I worked in the bookstore, so I just took a few aside and demagnitized the strip, but never more than what I needed ;)

<<Oh yeah, cuz family members are never child molesters...>> Good point. A kid is twice as likely to get molested by a family member than a priest or minister.


Green Baron - [greenbaron@hotmail.com]
Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
Saturday, January 11, 2003 06:36:47 PM
IP: 136.216.75.6

DPH> <<I believe that is so unless the writers are making a fortune on every book.>>
They are. (Although the publishers are making a lot, too.) "Experts" always get to charge an arm and a leg.

<<Incidently, when I took a class on Perl, the class used the instructor's book after the instructor pointed out how little he got from each sell of the book.>>
How much did you pay for the book?

<<Yea, but they choose to obey some laws.>>
Like gravity?

<<btw, that's an impossible scenario right now, considering all of his neighbors but one are family.>>
Oh yeah, cuz family members are never child molesters...
___________________________________________________
Patrick> <<It could be that he was just tired of being hounded by the people knocking on the door asking "Have you found Jesus yet?">>
*L* It's a good thing that no one's ever asked me that...
____________________________________________
Spacebabie> <<:::Lends her a box of aloe treated Puffs:::>>
Oh, thank you. I haven't had one of those in so long.

<<:::Gives her some Vegetable Ramen Noodle cups and a few bottles of Sobe Lizard Blizzard:::>>
Vegetable ramen cups? Do they actually make those? I've never seen any. :(

<<What kind is it?>>
Sudafed yesterday. I think it's also happened with at least two other kinds, but it could be a coincidence. (Well, with the triaminic, it deifinitely wasn't a coincidence... I was accidentally overdosing badly. That'll teach me not to bother reading the label. :P) It doesn't happen everytime I take medicine, but it seems like every time I do get really dizzy, it's after taking medicine (which I only take some of the time). I'm probably just sensitve to medication, since I take it so rarely (sometimes not for years at a time). I stupidly bought the extra strength theraflu cold stuff, so I've had to start only using half a packet at a time. *shrugs*

<<If I had a gold fish I would have named it Pepperidge or Cracker.>>
Ouch.

<<I’m on my way to getting better!>>
Yay!

Bud-Clare - [budclare@yahoo.com]
Saturday, January 11, 2003 03:50:05 PM
IP: 24.169.113.216

Just passing on a bit TGS-related art from the talented Briana Garcia on Side 7 -- a very, very kawaii picture of Ariana & Graeme in traditional Japanese outfits.
Spike
Saturday, January 11, 2003 01:41:04 PM
IP: 64.216.237.116

Spacebabie: <ER>
I missed ER Thursday because the weather knocked out the satelite signal. Did Weaver loose the baby?

FIre Storm
Saturday, January 11, 2003 01:12:58 PM
IP: 66.72.184.69

I’m on my way to getting better! Right now I’m feeling icky...which is better than yucky but not as good as crappy. Hopefully by Tuesday I’ll be Bleh.

*****************SPOILERS FOR ER****************************
Right off the bat Romano was being an ass. Pratt was being a pratt, but we got the back story of his adopted brother. Nice lil homage to Anna Nicole. Somebody should get that one mathlete off caffeine, although if she can use math to prove the existence of God then I guess math can’t be all that evil. Heck I even felt sorry for weaver at the end.
******************SPOILERS END*****************************

Replies:

Firestorm>>>Dern lot boys again?<<<Well, she IS dating a guy!>>>:::Races up behind Firestorm and thwacks the back of his head with Smackers:::

Dezi<<<Doesn't the store have those concrete pylons in front of the doors of the main entryway?>>>They managed to get in an angle<<<Did they get caught eventually?>>>Not yet.<<<I got a new pet snail today for my goldfish bowl. His name is Pringle. All the snails I had in the bowl before this were named Tostido, Dorito, and Frito.>>>What is next Cheeto? Torengo?<<<Just in case of the slight chance that anyone was wondering what I named my goldfish, its named goldfishie, because if I name it it might die.>>>If I had a gold fish I would have named it Pepperidge or Cracker.

Gside<<<You like to get Knurd?>>>More like Zima, Smirnoff Ice, Baccardi Silver, Captain Mrogan’s Gold, Skyy Blue, The Hard Lemons and Iced tead and this new one I saw…Jack Daniels Hard Cola.

Josh<<<so the automated system that produces degree checks had me 4 units behind...again.>>>That sucks.<<<I'm David Xanatos>>>Why am I not surprised?<<<Chika bow bow... >>>Figured<<<Eh, no.>>>Not in that way!<<<they involve lots of engineers and really difficult questions.>>>Not my type of Round Robin then.<<<So you're a bush-hater then?>>>So far the Gov’s brother has yet to get on MTV’s ass about toning down it’s violence or trying to force it to cancel the violent show all together.

Green Baron<<<Nothing. It's a blank book!>>>LOL!

Bud Claire<<<I have a cold. It sucks.>>>I know the feeling. :::Lends her a box of aloe treated Puffs:::<<<I need to eat something, but I just don't care.>>>:::Gives her some Vegetable Ramen Noodle cups and a few bottles of Sobe Lizard Blizzard:::<<<And I think that cold medicine makes me dizzy.>>>What kind is it?



16. “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, and it seems as though you cannot hang on A minute longer, never give up then, for that is the place and time when the tide will turn.”~ Harriet Beecher Stowe

Spacebabie - [LadyAndromeda@smstars.zzn.com]
Orlando, Florida, U.S.A
Saturday, January 11, 2003 10:26:26 AM
IP: 67.25.48.168

:: quickly peeks in ::

"Somebody has been stealing baby Jesuses from nativity scenes around the Indianapolis area - 10 in all."

Maybe he has a good motive. It could be that he was just tired of being hounded by the people knocking on the door asking "Have you found Jesus yet?" I mean... who wouldn't want to be able to reply "Yes!" and throw the evidence in their face? ;)

:: bounds off into the snow to get groceries ::

Patrick Toman
Saturday, January 11, 2003 08:47:27 AM
IP: 67.38.248.157

Fire Storm - <Sucks when you need other people to upload, doesn't it?> No, I don't need help with getting the file uploaded. It's the content.

GSide - <Not much, I'm sure. For materials, can't be too much more than $10, with a ream of paper going for $5. The printing is a large one time cost, sith small per unit costs, so that'll vary with number printed, but it shouldn't be too much.> That's what I thought.

Patrick - <I would wager the high cost of college textbooks has more to do with greedy publishers than with the cost of paper and ink.> I believe that is so unless the writers are making a fortune on every book.

Incidently, when I took a class on Perl, the class used the instructor's book after the instructor pointed out how little he got from each sell of the book.

Green Baron - I sent the link to a friend. I hear the military/police don't mind target practice against living objects if the living objects give consent. Or that sciencists don't mind using living human bodies for experiments as long as the humans give consent. Wouldn't those options be better choices?

Imzadi - <As long as the texts are in HTML or some other platform-independent format, I'm in agreement. I can't scroll 400+ pages of a text file.> STANDARD (not browser specific) HTML format of course, max file size 50-100 pages.

Hyperion - <How about "33,000 sex offenders not registering under Megan's Law". While not amusing on it's own, a quick analysis reveals this translation: "Criminals refuse to follow law". At that point, you will be excused if your response is "no sh!t, Sherlock".> Yea, but they choose to obey some laws. <Gotta love stupid legislation.> Sorry, I don't consider it stupid legislation, but a nice way to send sexual offenders back to prison. If I found out my nephew lived next door to a guy who sodomized boys, I would want to know. (btw, that's an impossible scenario right now, considering all of his neighbors but one are family.)

Patrick - <Printed text on a page is a lot easier on the eyes> Depends on the font size. Any time I use microshaft product to do word processing, the first thing I check for is the font size and raise it to 12 if it isn't there (or higher) already.

Imzadi - <you should know that this country will elect a black woman before it elects a jew, as long as she's a protestant.> You know that if a black woman lost an election to a white male, there would be people who would claim the elction results were about race and NOT about issues unless the black woman was a republican. In that case, they would think the voters made the right decision.

Sorry, if I'm synical at time. There's a school desegeration lawsuit in my capital lawsuit and for the life of me, I don't understand why. I can take students who scored in the bottom 10% on test and find something in common and does that mean the teacher discriminates those kind of people?

I hope to get to bed before 1am. *Crosses fingers* I got to get back to "normal" for college life.

DPH
AR, USA
Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:51:51 AM
IP: 204.94.193.54

This was on the news last nite: Somebody has been stealing baby Jesuses from nativity scenes around the Indianapolis area - 10 in all. Well, last nite they caught him. It was a teenage guy that the cops pulled over on some really dumb traffic violation (typical stupid criminal). Said cop who arrested the kid: I've been in law enforcement for 20 years and I've never been involved in a Jesus rescue before today. !
I swear only weird things come out of Indiana. Luckily for me, I'm not a native.

I just got home from work a little while ago. My boyfriend had been home for like an hour. He found our neighbor's cat outside and it is supposed to get really really cold tonite (10 degrees or so) so he brought the cat inside. Not just into the apartment lobby or to the neighbor's door, but into OUR apartment. By the time I got home, the cat was chasing my 40 lb. Springer Spaniel/Labrador around the apartment and swatting at her. So now my big "tough" dog is scared of cats! She chases squirrels, been in on the homicide of at least one neighborhood pet rabbit (not here though, in Illinois, and she had help), and is constantly keeping an eye on my pet rats because they might be conspiring against her. But get her near one small (and incredibly nice to humans) cat and she hides behind my legs and tries to keep me between her and the cat.
I resolved the whole thing by taking the cat back to its home.

Ugh. What a day.

Dezi
Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:22:13 AM
IP: 68.58.158.101

Well, my two days were productive. Spent most of it downloading Farscape tribute videos and other clips, and trying to finish downloading Dr. Strangelove. All in all, I liked it.
OH! Can't forget the atomic detonation videos! THEY ARE SWEET!

Dezi: <All the snails I had in the bowl before this were named Tostido, Dorito, and Frito>
Hmm... And what's next? Ruffle? Cruncher?
<I thought everyplace had those and was told that their only purpose besides to be in our way is to block morons from crashing the store. Did they get caught eventually?>
They are usually put in place only in higher crime areas. One store by my house has them on a empty wall... GIVEN, a street dead-ends at the building, but STILL...

Gside: <Apparently. You're not missing anything. I think I'll have to start using eden. At least I have a larger quota there.>
I know you have a file limit, but do you have an u/l, d/l limit to the site?
And what's your Internet download limit?
<But I like the occaisonal metallic ring. Like a nice axe after passing through a few orc necks.>
Mmmm... or the *thwee* or arrows passing to their targets!
<So does that mean I'm you after your fall from grace?>
My next step is a Balarog!
<And do we have a Brown and a Grey lying around anywhere?>
Um... ::FS pushes two body bags out of the way:: no, there isn't

DPH: <*Makes mental to schedule a chat with certain people*>
Sucks when you need other people to upload, doesn't it?

Imzadi: < if he leaves me alone for a few months of quiet contemplation I will likely return to the path of righteousness>
92a. ... After the phone call, I will have my VERY best and most loyal assassins pay the self proclaimed "hero" a visit.
<True. I meant that bad scents are a problem>
Oh yeah. DEFINATELY!
<I have a cat!>
Hmm... do you have an oversized black chair from which you can spin around in, while petting said cat?
<That would be funny as all hell.>
"Mesa dark lord Sauron Binks!"
<So you're a bush-hater then?>
Well, she IS dating a guy!

Patrick: <"Meesa da beeg evil eye! Meesa wan back da one ring, okeyday?">
I wonder if anyone of TheForce.net has ever made anything like that!

Hyperion: <No, I'd worry if they were good at it; they have no concept of actual aerodynamics and they think they can recover from a "crash" by flipping the equipment off and on again>
"DAMN! Crashed another one!"
"Don't worry! You still got 3 lives left!"
"I know, I know... but I hate that there is no in mission save."
<Honorable mention only, the drill absorbed most the energy, he only took splash damage as the drill exploded. Sucks.>
Well, it shows that he has the initiative to become a real Darwin Award winner. We just have to wait... it will happen.

And of course, Farscape ruled!

Fire Storm
Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:12:08 AM
IP: 66.72.184.69

I have a cold. It sucks. *sniffle* I need to eat something, but I just don't care. And I think that cold medicine makes me dizzy.

kathy> <<Dog needs to go to the vet - it appears she has screwed up her back knee.>>
Poor baby. I hope she's feeling better.

Hyperion> <<When ask why, if this was so insulting, she was standing in a McDonalds in the first place, she replied she was "raising awareness" of vegetarianism.>>
That's so sad...

<<"feels like my hamster did before she died">>
*snickers*
__________________________________________
Gised> <<Exactly. For examlple, I've recently started dating myself.>>
*L* Narcissist... I bet that's not spelled right. I hate being sick.
(...oops... I really can't spell today, can I?)

Fire Storm> <<"There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't...">>
Well, _I_ thought it was funny, anyway. Of course, my head feels all oogy, so I'm really not responsible...

Josh> <<I mean, there are only so many ways to end up in a computer>>
Maybe he'll trip and fall.

Bud-Clare - [budclare@yahoo.com]
Saturday, January 11, 2003 12:09:17 AM
IP: 24.169.113.216

DPH> <<How much of the cost of the books is the printing process?>>: Not much, I'm sure. For materials, can't be too much more than $10, with a ream of paper going for $5. The printing is a large one time cost, sith small per unit costs, so that'll vary with number printed, but it shouldn't be too much.

Imzadi> <<That's just sick>>: No argument here. And of course, it does tend to be underaged amputees.
<<That's not a metallic ring>>: After going through, the axe gets a nice ping like a tuning fork. Of course, you must have a nice sharp axe.

Hyperion> <<NJ is usually referred to as PRNJ, People's Republic of New Jersey>>: Probably partially caused by NJPIRG (NJ Public Interest Research Group).
<<I guess, Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me>>: Mommy, I just killed this guy.

Na zdorov'ya.

Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Friday, January 10, 2003 11:56:43 PM
IP: 68.38.240.227

Ah yes, nothing like an amusing headline to start the day off with. How about "33,000 sex offenders not registering under Megan's Law". While not amusing on it's own, a quick analysis reveals this translation: "Criminals refuse to follow law". At that point, you will be excused if your response is "no sh!t, Sherlock". Gotta love stupid legislation.
Oh, well, maybe that's to serious, how about "Hip-hugging Health Hazard"? My marketing guys assure me this is just as good, because it has overtones of sex, and sex sells.
Yes, that's right, hip hugging jeans actually promote compression of a sensory never in the thighs leading to a "tingling or burning sensation". Maybe it's just me, but knowing a few girls that wear those types of jeans, and knowing about their activities, I'm sure there’s another explanation for the "burning sensation"
And finally, ebay decided to put the kibosh on an auction where an author tried to sell his family (5$ for four people). He explained it as a "way to revive the old tradition of patronage in the arts" No word yet on how his wife and kids feel about being valued at $1.25 million.
Oh yes, and thanks to everyone who pointed out that the "new Season" of Farscape is only the last few episodes. Thanks for the info.

Gside><Are you comparing areas with similar socio-economic makeups> As best I can tell yes. But the same comparison would probably hold true even if you compared similar socio-economic areas of, say, Trenton, NJ and Richmond, VA.
BTW, among CCW holders, NJ is usually referred to as PRNJ, People's Republic of New Jersey. Just though you'd like to know.
<First it's a little high, then it's a little low> I guess, Anyway the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me...

Josh><Can I still be Josh?>No, you are hereby known as "nerfle". Please use that in all official CR correspondence.
<Unfortunately, in CA, a burglar was allowed to sue the owner of the house he broke into because he hurt himself doing it> One of the reasons I will only move to the People's Republik of Kalifornia under duress. The other is Berkeley.
<Of course it puts out bad vibes>Of course...silly me...
<Not a bad plan> It's a damn good plan, actually.
<Those only find water> and holy water? Maybe holy water on a holy artifact...ah-ha!
<then you need to re-think your kama sutra, Mr. Cassanova> That was merely a parenthetical discussion of a personal preference, not to be construed as a lack of knowledge.
<Try not to sound too surprised> Believe me, I'm not.
<Even better> and a video recorder, so I can do both. *evil chuckle*

Firestorm><I would worry only if they suck at it.> No, I'd worry if they were good at it; they have no concept of actual aerodynamics and they think they can recover from a "crash" by flipping the equipment off and on again.
<did he survive, or is he in the running for a Darwin Award>Honorable mention only, the drill absorbed most the energy, he only took splash damage as the drill exploded. Sucks.
********************************
"If you are going to kill me, then do so. Otherwise, I have considerable work to do.


Hyperion
Friday, January 10, 2003 01:44:10 PM
IP: 151.199.240.91

I know it's my second post, but this was just too funny :)

DOOR-TO-DOOR UNITARIANS

INT. FAMILY HOME - DAY

A HUSBAND and WIFE relax within the home. The doorbell RINGS.

The husband opens the door. Outside are two MISSIONARIES.

FIRST MISSIONARY
Hello.

SECOND MISSIONARY
Have you ever considered your place in the earth's interdependent web?

WIFE
Honey, it's those crazy Unitarians. Close the door quick.

The first missionary sticks her foot in door.

FIRST MISSIONARY
Is there something missing from your life

HUSBAND
Of course. It's the Nineties.

SECOND MISSIONARY
Then maybe we have the answer for you.

FIRST MISSIONARY
Or maybe not.

SECOND MISSIONARY
We are a denomination that emphizes concern for the environment, concern for oppressed peoples, and we serve the best Sunday lunches in the city.

HUSBAND
Really?

FIRST MISSIONARY
But bring your own plates. We're trying to keep the level of trash we generate down.

WIFE
So what do you do, sit around, act concerned, and stuff your face?

SECOND MISSIONARY
Yes. that's about it. Except for the sermons. Would you like to hear about or sermons'

HUSBAND
Sure.

FIRST MISSIONARY
There's overcoming oppression parts 1 -39.

SECOND MISSIONARY
Easy-bake pagan desserts.

FIRST MISSIONARY
And overcoming oppression parts 40 -97.

FIRST MISSIONARY
We'd like to leave our literature with you. This pamphlet describes sightings of Ralph Waldo Emerson at 7-11's around the country.

WIFE
That's strange. I always see Henry David Thoreau at Store 24's.

HUSBAND
What time are the services?

FIRST MISSIONARY
If you are 35- 65, they are at 10 AM.

SECOND MISSIONARY
If you are over 65, they are at 9 AM.

FIRST MISSIONARY
And if you are 18-35, they are at 7 PM.

SECOND MISSIONARY
We're also trying to raise money so we can erect a question mark on our church steeple.

FIRST MISSIONARY
You can contribute by buying this book, which contains a description of our philosophical beliefs and dogmas.

HUSBAND
How much?

FIRST MISSIONARY
Twenty dollars.

HUSBAND
Twenty is too much. I'll give you ten.

FIRST MISSIONARY
Fifteen.

HUSBAND
It's a deal. Here.

SECOND MISSIONARY
Thank you. We hope we'll see you at church soon.

The missionaries leave. The wife looks at book, puzzled.

HUSBAND
Honey, what does it say?

WIFE
Nothing. It's a blank book!

Green Baron
Friday, January 10, 2003 11:32:56 AM
IP: 136.216.75.6

Since we talked about Japanese animation a little while ago, I figured I'd draw your attention to Strong Bad's email, where he does a tribute. ;)

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail57.html

Laurence
Friday, January 10, 2003 11:02:24 AM
IP: 128.233.231.27

One more week almost done. TGIF.

Christine > Great link. The only way that could be scarier... if instead of Jar-Jaromir, it was Jar-Jaramon or even Jar-Jaron. Yes, I can see it now... "Meesa da beeg evil eye! Meesa wan back da one ring, okeyday?"

DPH > "How much of the cost of the books is the printing process?" - Since a 300 page hardback Steven King or Harry Potter costs about $25, while most 300 page textbooks will set you back nearly $100, I would wager the high cost of college textbooks has more to do with greedy publishers than with the cost of paper and ink.

I also doubt we're going to see CD-ROMS replaced printed books any time soon. Even with notebook computers getting smaller and lighter, books are still a lot more portable and user friendly. Printed text on a page is a lot easier on the eyes, and books never run out of battery power halfway through a long bus ride or plane flight.

Patrick Toman
Friday, January 10, 2003 07:13:24 AM
IP: 67.38.248.157

Just in to put up a link. Well if Greg X or Imzadi want to make fun of Christians, here are some posterboys for them ;)
Green Baron - [greenbaron@hotmail.com]
Friday, January 10, 2003 06:17:56 AM
IP: 136.216.75.6

Had to meet with my advisor today because there was a scare that I might not have gotten credit for my first physics class. Apparently they changed the rules about AP Physics credit while I was here and so the automated system that produces degree checks had me 4 units behind...again. But we got that all cleared up and I still get credit.

I also got the new MATLAB beta today, and I've decided that X11 apps suck. No one should *sell* an X11 app for Mac OS X because it is a blatant insult to the interface. That'd be like selling an application for "Mac" that only runs in VirtualPC. You'd have pissed off people, and this is no better. On the plus side, the company sent me every toolbox it makes for the purposes of beta testing, which I think is like $30,000 worth of software (which I can't resell, of course).

Gargoyles quiz: I'm David Xanatos. Duh.

Ghost of Rev. Attila: <<New Jersey had first pick>>: that explains a lot. <<Joe Lieberman may run for President in '04>>: You should know that this country will elect a black woman before it elects a jew, as long as she's a protestant.

Lain: <<youve never claimed that you werent arrogant>>: Ah, true.

Spacebabie: <<I’m too afraid to ask if I suggested Sorow>>: Chika bow bow... <<if it was Aaron, Mooncat, orDPH>>: Eh, no. <<Do these involve magical lotions and Demogwais>>: No, they involve lots of engineers and really difficult questions. <<I believe in Presidents that allow the first amendment to exist>>: So you're a bush-hater then?

Godiva: <<more like melons>>: If you say so. <<a damn good one>>: This year. <<That only happens in professional football>>: And baseball. And olympic swimming. And basketball. And...

Fire Storm: <<sometimes you can be with someone that doesn't have much of a scent>>: True. I meant that bad scents are a problem. <<I've never heard you laugh and you don't have a cat>>: I have a cat! <<I always imagined that under that helmet, Sauron was actually Jar Jar>>: That would be funny as all hell.

Gside: <<amputees seem to be coming into style>>: That's just sick. <<Like a nice axe after passing through a few orc necks>>: That's not a metallic ring.

DPH: <<Do those who think they know me believe I will enjoy that movie?>>: No, the movie was terrible. First of all it was totally inaccurate historically, and second the math was only mildly interesting. The acting, while good, features uninteresting characters. However, its fun to see it with non-math-types and really follow along during the movie when he does his math shticks. <<why does my local UPN affliate which airs ST:DS9 at 9pm and ST:V at 10pm promote ST:V lots more?>>: I wish I knew. My UPN affiliate doesn't show DS9 at all. But Voyager every weekday at midnight. <<So you will have a single main control room?>>: Didn't say that. I just said that I wouldn't design it so that every workstation was facing away from the door. <<How much of the cost of the books is the printing process?>>: Depends on the book. But not much. Mostly the price is whatever they think they can get. Very high if the professor teaching the class is the one who wrote the book and its required reading. <<laptop PCs and cd-roms replacing books as it would be much more cost-effective>>: As long as the texts are in HTML or some other platform-independent format, I'm in agreement. I can't scroll 400+ pages of a text file.

Nite

92. If I ever talk to the hero on the phone, I will not taunt him. Instead I will say this his dogged perseverance has given me new insight on the futility of my evil ways and that if he leaves me alone for a few months of quiet contemplation I will likely return to the path of righteousness. (Heroes are incredibly gullible in this regard.)

Josh - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
Berkeley, CA, US of A
Friday, January 10, 2003 02:55:08 AM
IP: 64.168.28.239

Fire Storm - <Yes, it did.> Well, my last email contained an attachement. *Points fingers at a certain two people in the CR* Hopefully, it will be implemented soon. *Makes mental to schedule a chat with certain people*

Leo - <Needs more than jut four questions. It's too easy to "cheat".> I have to agree. It's pretty damn obvious who gave which answer, although I disagree with the ones that I believe lead to the answer of Fox because they're oversimplifying her.

Spacebabie - <I learned from the archives.> Funny, I thought a certain somebody was the next person to have a birthday in the CR.

Rev Attila - <Q Why does New Jersey have the most toxic waste dumps, while California has the most lawyers? A New Jersey had first pick> Do you mind if I share that joke?

An RL friend of mine recommended I watch "A Beautiful Mind" and it got my attention when he said a leading character was a mathematician. Do those who think they know me believe I will enjoy that movie?

Imzadi - <91. I will not ignore the messenger that stumbles in exhausted and obviously agitated until my personal grooming or current entertainment is finished. It might actually be important.> I'd like to add a collory or few. All messengers delivering messages in person to me will be treated to a fresh change of clothes, free nice sleep accommadations, and nice food for the duration of his/her visit. That always leaves you a contigency plan for escape: pose as a messenger. <Agreed.> Ok, so why does my local UPN affliate which airs ST:DS9 at 9pm and ST:V at 10pm promote ST:V lots more? Is it because ST:DS9 sells itself so well? <90. I will not design my Main Control Room so that every workstation is facing away from the door.> So you will have a single main control room?

Gside - <Got my books, at over $400 for four classes.> How much of the cost of the books is the printing process? For those who don't know or forgot, I am very much in favor of laptop PCs and cd-roms replacing books as it would be much more cost-effective.

Laurence - <Pretty much the same an any other sovereign state in the world.> I would expect them to be closer to the Evangical Christian stand on Israel.

Yes, it's getting close to the anniversary of mom's death. Can't remember the date, though. [Yes, for years, I never remembered when my dad's birthday was.]

I'll share the story again of two odd occurances. Around the same time my dad and brother heard really bad news about my mom, I was at school and became extremely depressed. Yes, my friends noticed. After my mom died, I forgot my locker combination, but could still help somebody else with Calculus.

DPH
AR, USA
Friday, January 10, 2003 01:48:00 AM
IP: 204.94.193.42

Imzadi> <<I feel your pain, dude>>: Luckily, it's not actually my pain.
<<I fail to see how that could be erotic>>: As do many people. Unfortunately, amputees seem to be coming into style.

Spacebabie> <<I prefer Antibeer>>: You like to get Knurd?
<<I’m sure a jerk created it and created the autoe-mail sender>>: But making something that repeats an action is not as time consuming as doing it himself.

Fire Storm> <<I am getting 403 Forbidden errors when going to your Remus account. New security policy?>>: Apparently. You're not missing anything. I think I'll have to start using eden. At least I have a larger quota there.
<<Yes to both>>: Good to hear.
<<The helmet would give too much of a metallic ring>>: But I like the occaisonal metallic ring. Like a nice axe after passing through a few orc necks.
<<Fire Storm the White>>: So does that mean I'm you after your fall from grace? And do we have a Brown and a Grey lying around anywhere?

And since I've been thinking about my servers today, I've put up an mp3. This one about someone boud to die. Tom Dooley by the Kingston Trio.

Na zdorov'ya.

Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Thursday, January 9, 2003 10:32:38 PM
IP: 68.38.240.227

Gargoyle Quiz:

Needs more than jut four questions. It's too easy to "cheat".

I managed to get Goliath. :)

Gee, I wonder who you'd get if you selected "*woof*" and "*ruff*" :P

Leo
Thursday, January 9, 2003 08:18:38 PM
IP: 68.96.8.12

Spacebabie: <My mom’s Winn Dixie was victim of a crash and theft. This when the crooks crash their car through the front door and try to steal the ATM…except they got nervous and left the money, but ended up hitting a lot of other places.> Doesn't the store have those concrete pylons in front of the doors of the main entryway? I thought everyplace had those and was told that their only purpose besides to be in our way is to block morons from crashing the store. Did they get caught eventually?

I got a new pet snail today for my goldfish bowl. His name is Pringle. All the snails I had in the bowl before this were named Tostido, Dorito, and Frito. Tostido lived the longest and I wouldn't have had to get all the other ones (who have since died) if this moron from maintenance would have moved the bowl further away when he showed up unannounced to fix our wall after a water bubble formed from heavy rains and a nearby tornado. (phew that was a long sentence) The 'tard got primer in my fish bowl and I barely saved my fish. Just in case of the slight chance that anyone was wondering what I named my goldfish, its named goldfishie, because if I name it it might die.

Anyways, thats all I have for now.

Dezi
Thursday, January 9, 2003 06:58:50 PM
IP: 68.58.158.101

Well, at least I had my name in that post
Fire Storm the White
Thursday, January 9, 2003 06:40:23 PM
IP: 66.72.184.69

Green Baron: <Should I be afraid, now?>
Absolutely! You see, some parents were afraid that they were using the life-size Jar-Jar as a sex doll and the Jar-Jar mouth candy as an insertion toy.

Silverbolt: <thank god I have friends who take computing, when they explained I groaned at how clever and at the same how stupid that joke was!>
I thought it was pretty bad my self!

Gside: I am getting 403 Forbidden errors when going to your Remus account. New security policy?
<Oh truly? And should there have been a wink wink nudge nudge there, or was it more innocent?>
Yes to both.
<But you'll get there eventually. Justs at the beginning to acclimate her to the humor>
MAYBE... but she doesn't get some of my jokes anyway... GIVEN, some of them ARE sick in nature...
<With or without hemlet?>
Hmm... Without. The helmet would give too much of a metallic ring
<And it's Gimli>
Details, details...
<Unless you want out of a lease. And that one was #42>
I like that one!

Imzadi: <I hate getting sick on vacation>
I can just imagine if that happened to me:
LM: Go to bed! You're sick!
FS: But it's my vacation! ::cough:: Just let me finish this pipe and... <pause> $h17... Call 911..
<I can't imagine being with someone who didn't.>
True... but sometimes you can be with someone that doesn't have much of a scent
<That's every porn flick>?
Well, the more the merrier!
<How does he fit?>
Easy. The pants have laces in the back to tighten them
<Let me know when I'm there, k?>
Well, I've never heard you laugh and you don't have a cat, so you have quite a way to go
<Yeah, but not very good access>
But that makes it more exciting!
<Dude that's been on slashdot for years>
The classics are worth repeating

Revel: <Though I think I'm still glowing because of it>
Knew you would, knew you would...
I told you to get your microwave checked out for leaks!

Hyperion: <I can't imagine they would be, but you never know>
"Hmm... I really don't want to CLIMB this wall... and rocket jumping works in quake..."
<The problem is the guys that fly the Predators playing Microsoft Flight Simulator in their spare time...acck!>
I would worry only if they suck at it.
<It definitely ranks up there. It's second next to the idiot that tried to make his own hollowpoints by clamping a .45 ACP FMJ into a vise and applying a drill>
Yeah... that would do it... did he survive, or is he in the running for a Darwin Award?

DPH: <Did the stuff I sent Lady Mystic meet her satisfaction?>
Thought she got back to you on that... Yes, it did.

Christine: <I think the link speaks for itself ... >
I always imagined that under that helmet, Sauron was actually Jar Jar

My quiz result: I am DEMONA! All the pathetic humans shall die by my hand!
Fire Storm - [<--- I am called Demona]
Thursday, January 9, 2003 06:39:52 PM
IP: 66.72.184.69

Took the quiz and I came out as Elisa, too. I guess that’s okay, given my undying devotion to David (my hubby).

Replies:

Coyote--<Sounds like he left the word "luxury" off of his description of the seats.> No, he was told that they were box seats. <I always kinda wondered what goes on in luxury boxes ... of course, I wouldn't give up being out in the elements with the rest of the fans for anything.> I know this will sound weird, but as much as I enjoyed the skybox, if I ever get to go to a Lakers game again, I want to experience it with the “common folk”. lol

Lain--<would you mind enlightening ME as to what exactly in my last post to you got you wondering why it was "getting so personal"? you will recall that you posted "Back to my blue mood. Anyone know of a good joke to cheer me up?" and i, in the spirit of good humour, posted a joke for you.> I didn’t see any smiley faces or LOLs, so like a twit, I assumed you were getting personal. I apologize. So, even though I deserve it, don’t bash me over the head too much..lol <if this is "too personal" for your taste, then maybe id better just ignore you alltogether, so we wont run into these problems in the future.> *extends an olive branch to lain* Peace? <if youd like to bring the other debate back from the dead, then thats your call.> No thanks. I think I’ll leave that one alone.

Christine—Say it ain’t so!! LOL

Josh--<You're nuts.> *Glances at chest* Nah, more like melons. <Its a sports team.> And a damn good one. <Trying having someone else read it.> Might do it, though the discussion is over. <Um, no. I think professional sports are a waste of everyone's money, especially the taxpayers.> Your opinion, but of course, I respectfully disagree. <I think that professional athletes are overpaid drug-addled morons without an iota of personal integrity.> That only happens in professional football. The Dallas Cowboys immediately come to mind.


Godiva - [reneeprater@adelphia.net]
Montclair, CA, USA
Thursday, January 9, 2003 01:41:23 PM
IP: 68.64.159.134

Cool quiz. Click on my name or copy pate here
http://quizilla.com/users/obsessed/quizzes/Which%20Gargoyles%20Character%20Are%20You%3F/

I got Elisa.

What the hell? Frost on the tops of cars and grass? Parts of the central area going down below 32 degrees??? This is supposed to be a rainforest…it’s not supposed to get cold.

My mom’s Winn Dixie was victim of a crash and theft. This when the crooks crash their car through the front door and try to steal the ATM…except they got nervous and left the money, but ended up hitting a lot of other places.

It appears I’m going to have a lot of fun people in my class and the professor seems cool. Except the class is in the Chemistry building??? WTF? CH= Chemistry building at first I thought it would be in he Colburn hall where the English dept is located, but Colburn hall is CNH. So they stuck us in a room that appears to be a large janitorial closet…Small, no windows, has exposed pipes and wiring, but on the plus side we got our text books free.
Replies
Leo<<<watches as Spacebabie gets all dreamy-eyed>>>There are some sparkles but I’m more bloodshot eyed.

Silvebolt<<<Can I have a Delilah?>>>Not my chibi!...but yes someday your Delilah shall come.

Greg X<<<ANd Lite beer sucks.>>>I prefer Antibeer.<<<YOu need to watch more of it.. in order>>>I’ll get him the first season DVD thing that you got, and we’ll watch it together.

DPH<<<Funny, it's not on the CR calendar.>>>I learned from the archives.<<<On an operating system designed by Microshaft, right?>>>Bingo.

Gside<<<Nah, I'm sure it's automated>>>but I’m sure a jerk created it and created the autoe-mail sender.

Josh<<<I've added you but haven't seen you on yet>>>I’m usually on during the day.<<<I'm Oakleyposterboy>>>You have been added.<<<A sex robot doesn't do much for me>>>She does have a human soul.<<<Depends on which member >>>I’m too afraid to ask if I suggested Sorow, but if it was Aaron, Mooncat, orDPH.<<<round-robin interviews>>>Do these involve magical lotions and Demogwais?


Hyperion<<<so now there *are* new episodes of Farscape? That the hell is going here?>>>Those episodes were already made before the show was officially canceled. Since they have been made they might as well air them.

Christine>>>Good lord that was hilarious

Reverend Attila>>>Last Sunday’s “Get Fuzzy” reminded me of you. “Dames can’t eget enough of Buckey love?”<<<Daschle decides not to run for President.>>>Feh I think only the Tofu eating, Barbara Streisand type uberliberals would vote for Dasshole.<<<Joe Lieberman may run for President in '04>>>Oh dear lord I hope not. It would be like having Tipper Gore for president…sorry but I believe in Presidents that allow the first amendment to exist.

15 “When your bow is broken and your last arrow spent, Then shoot, shoot with your whole heart.”` Zen saying


Spacebabie - [LadyAndromeda@smstars.zzn.com]
Orlando, Florida, U.S.A
Thursday, January 9, 2003 11:15:59 AM
IP: 67.25.51.150

josh>> no, hon. yours was the "YOUR OPINION IS WRONG" to which she replied "NO, YOUR OPINION IS WRONG!!"
but youve never claimed that you werent arrogant so.. ;)

lain
Thursday, January 9, 2003 09:40:38 AM
IP: 65.93.77.197

CHRISTINE - Yep, I've seen that Jar-Jar-Jaramir thing as well. It's good to know that it's just a hoax (at least, I assume that it's a hoax....)

Actually, Jar-Jar Binks might not have been such a bad thing after all; he could become a great force for uniting the world. Now everybody has a common enemy. :)

Todd Jensen - [merlyn1@mindspring.com]
St. Louis, MO
Thursday, January 9, 2003 08:43:21 AM
IP: 65.57.57.45

I'm back to haunt you. The ghost of hentai-kitty and if not for Happosai, I'd be the most perverted dirty old man, except I'm a dead neutered cat ;)

Imzadi> Burglary lawsuits.....
Q Why does New Jersey hav ethe most toxic waste dumps, while California has the most lawyers?

A New Jersey had first pick

Speaking of New Jersey, I am now wondering if killing poet laureates would be wrong. Silvadel should know what I'm talking about :)

Political news> Daschle decides not to run for President. Well, if he gives up his Seante seat, John Thune would win. It would be really neat if Thune beat Daschle anyway.

Joe Lieberman may run for President in '04. So far he and John Edwards, sleazy millionaire personal injury attorney with a minor resemblance to Geoffrey Fieger, would probably have the best shot against Bush.

So far we have House Minority Kaiser Richard von Gephardt ::laughter::, Gov. Howard Dean of the People's Republic of Vermont::more laughter::, Senator John Kerry of Taxachusettes ::New Engalnd accented laughter::, and Sen. John "rich Fieger-looking lawyer" Edwards announcing an intention for President. Well, let's not forget that overwieght bag of hate, Al Sharpton.

In the sidelines Joe Lieberman may run. Also, Gary Hart is talking about running. With Mondale and Lautenberg, Gary Hart will be the third politcial zombie to re-eneter politics. I wonder if Terry McAuliffe has a vodoo priest on his staff.

Tom Daschle's announcement is more newsworthy, as he is a Democrat who is *not* running for President :)

I wonder if Mario Cuomo, Tom Foley, and Alan Cranston will also run for President. Sure Cranston is dead, but his brain was already dead when he was in the US Seante :)

Just to be fair and even, Pat Buchanan sucks :p
ghost of Reverend Attila
Thursday, January 9, 2003 06:47:43 AM
IP: 136.216.75.6

Went down to Apple for lunch today, talked with the talent scout. Apparently I'll be receiving an email soon telling me to call and schedule my 2nd interview. Not so nervous about that one, but the round-robin interviews that make up the third round of interviews will be the tough one.

I just saw the Mr. Slave southpark. That was officially the most twisted south park I've ever seen.

Airwalker: <<The only problem with all this is that I'm currently short on cash so I don't actually have a Mac of my own>>: New iBooks are only $999, but you can get something used on ebay for a real steal. <<Have you gotten your hands on Safari yet?>>: Downloaded it after just a few minutes. <<I'm curious as to how it works in comparison with IE and Netscape>>: Much faster than either. But as its still a beta, the plug-in support is not fully developed.

Godiva: <<I got a little teary- eyed when I saw it>>: Sports chicks are real sluts. <<Words can't do justice to the game or to my experience. It was awesome. I still can’t believe I went to see my favorite team. I’m still pinching myself>>: You're nuts. Its a sports team. <<I'm still not getting why this has gotten so personal>>: THAT WAS A JOKE. You asked us to tell you a joke. So they did. <<I honestly don't see where I'm coming off as sounding condescending>>: Trying having someone else read it. <<Are you a fan?>>: Um, no. I think professional sports are a waste of everyone's money, especially the taxpayers. I think that professional athletes are overpaid drug-addled morons without an iota of personal integrity.

Hyperion: <<I am victorious>>: Can I still be Josh? <<is it because people are nicer in VA then DC>>: You know, I used to be in favor of gun control. But you are so right. Unfortunately, in CA, a burglar was allowed to sue the owner of the house he broke into because he hurt himself doing it. <<Maybe Congress puts out lots of bad vibes>>: Dude, this is Congress we're talking about. Of course it puts out bad vibes. <<Just have some peons set up an expansion on a gas geyser and some token base defense>>: Not a bad plan. <<prayers and divining rods>>: Those only find water. <<Speaking for myself, the back door is strictly exit only>>: If you can't figure out how to use that position without violating that rule, then you need to re-think your kama sutra, Mr. Cassanova. <<we now know who wasn't an Boy Scout>>: Try not to sound too surprised. <<Ironically, that's almost a direct quote>>: Nothing ironic about that. <<I have an audio recorder on my PDA>>: Even better.

Lain: <<if you dont think yelling "NO, YOUR OPINION IS WRONG!!" is arrogant or condescending>>: Um, that was me.

Gside: <<over $400 for four classes>>: I feel your pain, dude. I have to buy books next week and expect to get off cheaper. <<I've seen images of giant female robots firing lasers from nether orifices>>: I fail to see how that could be erotic.

91. I will not ignore the messenger that stumbles in exhausted and obviously agitated until my personal grooming or current entertainment is finished. It might actually be important.

Josh - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
Berkeley, CA, US of A
Thursday, January 9, 2003 03:49:12 AM
IP: 66.125.230.75

Christine:> I'm saving that that pic. :)

Interesting coincidence that they just showed the "Lemmiwinks" South Park episode. ::shudder::

Leo
Thursday, January 9, 2003 01:01:00 AM
IP: 68.96.8.12

Got my books, at over $400 for four classes. After this, that section of my reference library is pretty much complete.

Imzadi> <<A sex robot doesn't do much for me, I don't know about the other perverted wackos>>: I've seen images of giant female robots firing lasers from nether orifices.
<<what else would they use to find relics? Shovels and luck?>>: A map with an X.
<<Try graduating, it might help>>: I need a job, too. Think I hvae a couple leads from today.

Hyperion> <<now there *are* new episodes of Farscape?>>: Not quite. This is the last half of the last season.
<<the crime rate, even right across the river, is lower in VA>>: Are you comparing areas with similar socio-economic makeups?
<<Because it's easy come, easy go?>>: First it's a little high, then it's a little low.

Na zdorov'ya.

Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Thursday, January 9, 2003 12:52:12 AM
IP: 68.38.240.227

I think the link speaks for itself ...
Christine - [<--- augh, my EYES!]
Thursday, January 9, 2003 12:00:09 AM
IP: 65.239.47.12


godiva>> <<I'm still not getting why this has gotten so personal. I reread everything that I posted, and I honestly don't see where I'm coming off as sounding condescending. Perhaps if either one of you would enlighten me and show me the specific things that I said... >> um.. what? would you mind enlightening ME as to what exactly in my last post to you got you wondering why it was "getting so personal"? you will recall that you posted "Back to my blue mood. Anyone know of a good joke to cheer me up?" and i, in the spirit of good humour, posted a joke for you. if this is "too personal" for your taste, then maybe id better just ignore you alltogether, so we wont run into these problems in the future. if youd like to bring the other debate back from the dead, then thats your call.. but its a bit late now. if you dont think yelling "NO, YOUR OPINION IS WRONG!!" is arrogant or condescending, then i dont think theres anything i can say to convince you otherwise.

:P

lain
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 11:48:07 PM
IP: 65.93.77.197

Godiva: Sounds like he left the word "luxury" off of his description of the seats. I always kinda wondered what goes on in luxury boxes ... of course, I wouldn't give up being out in the elements with the rest of the fans for anything. (Keep in mind, the last sporting event I attended was a Tigers-Royals game at Comerica Park with Ravyn last July, and our seats were in the upper level mezzanine along the first base line, away from the rowdies and up where the old men keepin' score were.) :)
Coyote the Bando
Algonac, Michigan
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 09:20:17 PM
IP: 216.234.104.217

Oops, my apolgies. The new Angel ep is next Wednesday.
Vash
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 09:08:25 PM
IP: 129.98.123.136

Ok, so now there *are* new episodes of Farscape? That the hell is going here? Not that I'm complaining, mind you; I guess I just missed a press release.

Whatever...

Silverbolt><Don't get smart with me ya frikken Anonymous bastard>Muhwahahaha! My clever disguise has deceived you! I am victorious! Well, I’m Hyperion, really…but victorious too.

Ed><I’m glad to know that we simply need to bring back guns to solve our crime problem> Oh dear, I know where this is going.
Ok, first off, the police ain't gonna solve your crime problem. Police cannot stop crime. They can try to deter it, and then can capture criminals but the only way they'll ever stop crime is by tying a cop to every citizen, and unwieldy exercise at best. That said, the point is not "can maniacs and criminals get guns". The answer, which your police force is currently dealing with, is "fu!k yes!". So now you have an armed criminal population that can prey with impunity on the disarmed law-abiding populace. Obviously an armed citizenry is no substitute for a good justice system, but the deterrent effect of having some members of a population trained and carrying weapons is huge.
If you don’t' believe me, look at Washington DC and Virginia. Two areas with radically different ideas about gun control. DC is passionately anti-gun. They are outlawed in the City and even things like pepper spray must be registered with the local police department. Across the river, in VA, anyone without a criminal background can obtain a permit to carry concealed. Not surprisingly, the crime rate, even right across the river, is lower in VA. Now, is it because people are nicer in VA then DC? Something in the water? Maybe Congress puts out lots of bad vibes...or maybe its because a criminal in VA knows that there's a good chance he will be met with lethal force, wherein DC he knows his victims are totally defenseless.

Gside><so you'd be running low on pure Templars> So? Just have some peons set up an expansion on a gas geyser and some token base defense. You'll be fine.
<No, just that I don't want to get stuck in a loop> Oh.
<I'm just a poor engineer from a middle class family> Because it's easy come, easy go?

Josh><Shovels and luck> I was thinking prayers and divining rods, but shovels would probably help too.
<Which has little to do with Constantinople> Actually, it has nothing to do Constantinople. Or Istanbul.
<or on her stomach> if you want. Speaking for myself, the back door is strictly exit only.
<What's a bowline?> Well, we now know who wasn't an Boy Scout. *ahem* Bow line (bO-lIn) n : a knot used to form a loop that neither slips nor jams
<Sucky sucky fi' dolla'>Ironically, that's almost a direct quote.
<But then who will sell things>Merchants?
<After the sex> How drunk was she before the sex?
<Carry a tape recorder, will you> I have an audio recorder on my PDA (Muhwahahaha)
<Does that mean you want to turn yourself into Soylent Green> No, my stupidity was a temporary condition. I am not a chronic idiot that manages to avoid the rules of Darwinism.

and that's all she wrote...

Hyperion
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 05:44:57 PM
IP: 151.199.241.70

I had such an awesome time at the Lakers game last night. We dropped the kids off at my parents’ house and met up with Danny, the guy who was holding our tickets for us. We got inside Staples Center, and immediately went up a few flights of stairs. We came out into a hallway-type place that has doors off to the side and my jaw dropped. Even though those doors were there, you could still see the inside of the arena and the game. It was just so amazing to see the championship banners and the jerseys of the retired Lakers. There was even a special jersey that was hung up for Chick Hearn. I got a little teary- eyed when I saw it. Finally, we got to where we're going to be sitting. I didn't think my jaw could drop any further, but it did. When David told me that we had box seats, I was thinking box seats as in the kind you’d find at a baseball game. We walked in and immediately to our left was a counter that had a serving dish that had Buffalo wings on one side and hot dogs on the other. Next to that, there were two baskets. One held buns for the hot dogs and the other held individual sized bags of potato chips. Next to that, was a large bowl filled with a salad that consisted of cut up lettuce and thinly sliced cheese. There was a smaller bowl that held salad dressing—I think it was ranch. There were plates, napkins, eating utensils, and condiments as well. There was another counter perpendicular to the one I just described and that one had different size cups and directly underneath the cups a cabinet that had three compartments that held the beverages. One held beer, one had bottled water, and the other had sodas. There was also a bottle of wine on the counter. Above the counter was a cabinet that had a TV in it. Directly in front of us was the seating. You could either sit on the couch and watch the TV (which was showing a hockey game), at a bar-type seating, or in regular stadium seating. David and I sat in the bar seats. We had an AWESOME view of the game and arena. And the game was great. The final score was: L.A. Lakers-119, Seattle SuperSonics- 98. Kobe Bryant had 45 points, Shaquille O’Neal had 20 points, Rick Fox had 10 points. Kobe Bryant also broke the NBA record for the number of three-point shots taken and made in an NBA game. I forgot what the old record was, but the new record is 12. I leaned over and told David that Kobe heard I was coming to the game, so that’s why he played so good. He laughed. Words can't do justice to the game or to my experience. It was awesome. I still can’t believe I went to see my favorite team. I’m still pinching myself.

Replies:

lain and gunjack

You wrote: A man and a woman are driving down the same road at the same time. As they pass each other the woman leans out the window, points and yells, “PIG!”

The man immediately leans out his window, shakes his fist and shouts back, “WITCH!"

They each continue on their way, and as the man rounds the next corner, he slams into a pig that had wandered into the middle of the road.

If only men would listen...

I'm still not getting why this has gotten so personal. I reread everything that I posted, and I honestly don't see where I'm coming off as sounding condescending. Perhaps if either one of you would enlighten me and show me the specific things that I said...

Josh

You wrote: <You've never been to a Lakers game? And you live in LA?> Sad, but true. But I don't live in L.A. anymore. Maybe that's what I needed, move from L.A. and then I can go to a game. But last night more than made up for it. It was..awesome. <And you're a fan?!> Oh yeah! Lakers, baby! I haven't heard the "official" slogan for a fourth championship, but I think it should be: Do it four Chick. "Four" for the fourth championship and "Chick" for the late, great Chick Hearn. Are you a fan?

Godiva - [reneeprater@adelphia.net]
Montclair, CA, USA
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 04:16:21 PM
IP: 68.64.159.134

JOSH - You wrote: [I didn't know you were a mac user.]

Technically yes and no. I started out 2002 getting my MCSE and mainly being involved with PCs. That quickly got me disgusted with them in general and given that most of my friends who are involved with computers are Mac Addicts, that got me taking a serious interest in Macs. The final straw that got me into wanting a Mac was going to MacWorld last summer. The only problem with all this is that I'm currently short on cash so I don't actually have a Mac of my own. (My brother got himself an Ibook before he went off to Cornell for his Graduate Work so when he's home I spend most of my time fondling it. :-) ) I will probably get myself an Imac as soon as I find some work. The only thing stopping me now is that the economy is terrible.


Have you gotten your hands on Safari yet? I'm curious as to how it works in comparison with IE and Netscape.

Airwalker - [airwlaker9999@yahoo.com]
Brooklyn, NY
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 12:40:39 PM
IP: 12.88.164.244

<Woo, foreign policy? What is the Catholic Church's stance on Israel?>

The Israeli authorities are bad for their refusal to give the Palestinians their own state, and for questionable military practices. The Palestinian authorities are bad for their support of terrorism and suicide bombers. Be good and don't kill each other... and leave christian shrines alone.

Pretty much the same an any other sovereign state in the world.




Laurence
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 11:12:48 AM
IP: 128.233.230.140

Happy Birthday Aaron!

Wishing lots of fresh sushi and other yummies!

MC
>^,,^<

Mooncat
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 11:06:40 AM
IP: 68.102.23.36

Well, today was the Steve Jobs' keynote at Macworld expo. The largest web streaming event *EVER*, to over 130 countries (including the Vatican, apparently). Here's what they announced/released:

Safari Beta - Accelerated web browser for Mac OS X. Faster than IE, Omniweb, and even Chimera. Based on KHTML (Konqueror).

Keynote - Presentation software designed to compete with M$ Powerpoint, which exports and imports .ppt files. $99.

X11 Beta - if you don't know what this is, you won't care. This version by Apple takes advantage of the Quartz Extreme graphics rendering in OS X.

iPod has 42% market share in Japan.

Final Cut Express for $299. Much of the functionality of Final Cut Pro but with a more friendly price tag.

iPhoto 2, iMovie 3, iDVD 3. New features and better integration with other i-Apps.

iLife: A package of iDVD, iPhoto, iMovie, and iTunes. $50. Bundled with all new macs, and everything but iDVD is available as a free separate download.

17" powerbook G4 - made of aluminum with a 17" 1440x960 display, $3299. Same goodies as the other powerbooks, except with built-in bluetooth and Firewire800. Not that anything can use the full bandwidth of Firewire800, but that's hardly relevant. Weighs 6.8 lbs and has a backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors to determine the illumination level. GeForce4 440 Go. A real desktop replacement.

Airport Extreme: 802.11g is fully backwards compatible with the current 802.11b cars, but the g-standard offers more bandwidth with a reduced range (only 50 feet).

New base stations for Airport Extreme are $199.

12" powerbook G4 - basically the ibook but made from aluminum with a G4 chip. Only 4.6 lbs with a full-sized keyboard. GeForce4 420 Go. Slot loading combo drive. $1799. Smaller than the iBook in every dimension.

2003 is the year of the notebook for Apple, which I guess is their strategy for dealing with crappy chip speeds. Overall, my impression is that this show is much smaller than last years and they aren't giving away much free stuff, probably because of the lagging economy. So get out there and spend, EVERYONE, so I can go enjoy my frikkin' expo!

When I go shopping for a new machine in a couple years, that 17" laptop is it. I'm all about the desktop replacement. Now that I've posted Mac stuff, flame away. I'll try and respond intelligently ;-)

Happy B-day, Aaron

Patrick: <<Two years of "going steady" is a long engagement, even by human standards>>: The more successful marriages I've seen were ones where they dated/lived together/were engaged for a LONG time (3+ years) before getting married. By then they've worked out all the issues 8-) <<Madoc in TGS is certainly not _the_ Prince of Darkness>>: Just to clarify, I didn't say he was. Just that he could have inspired the image.

Revel: <<I feel no loss in manhood or dignity being emotional or loving to the girl I care about>>: Well perhaps you should ;-) <<if you ever want to see whipped look over at GunJack>>: Or Wolf. <<he is just more resiliant than I anticipated>>: I'm developing a strong stomach for this room. <<I would have and her parents liked me>>: Always a good thing. <<I was a complete gentleman. Though I think I'm still glowing because of it>>: Then you weren't a complete gentleman 8-) Or you were doing something wrong.

Spacebabie: <<I’m MaranoMiko>>: I've added you but haven't seen you on yet. I'm Oakleyposterboy. <<Christine Morgan’s GODIVA>>: A sex robot doesn't do much for me, I don't know about the other perverted wackos 8-) <<Apparently there is some idiot with too much time on their hands who likes to copy our e-mail addressed and use them to send viruses with our names and e-mail addys>>: No, that's just how the virus works. <<I bet that is a chore in itself>>: Not really. When we switch off its fine. We were just a bit cramped with all four of us in the car. <<What about Nsyncing?>>: Hate that too. <<If a member from the CR was hanging out with you what would you two be doing?>>: Depends on which member 8-)

Airwalker: <<well if I really wanted to nitpick then I'd say it only took 1 year to develop feelings (up to THE MIRROR>>: Good call. You're right. <<I love Macworld>>: I didn't know you were a mac user.

Leo: <<I'm curious as to what her responce to that will be>>: Sadly nothing interesting. <<I think they may have ruined the Bond franchise with this one.>>: I agree that this was definitely un-bond-like.

Godiva: <<I've been a fan of the Lakers for about 20 years and to finally get a chance to see them play is a dream come true>>: You've never been to a Lakers game? And you live in LA? And you're a fan?!

Hyperion: <<apparently the Knights Templar are using computer imaging, ultrasound and thermal imaging to try to find relics>>: The Knights Templar are still around? Besides, what else would they use to find relics? Shovels and luck? <<I wonder if two Templar can merge into a giant ball on energy>>: LOL! <<I was about to start on "Bohemian Rhapsody.>>: Which has little to do with Constantinople. <<try being on top this time>>: or on her stomach. <<feels like my hamster did before she died>>: That is a sick person. <<use a bowline for bondage>>: What's a bowline? <<2 dollars>>: I want my two dollars! <<less with "student discount">>: Sucky sucky fi' dolla'? <<they saw that all the plates had "PD" in them. Oops>>: Only in America. <<Soylent Green>>: Good idea. But then who will sell things? <<How much did you pay them beforehand?>>: After the sex, she doesn't ask for money. <<Wuss>>: Keeps us awake and doesn't interfere with grades. No complaints. <<I laughed and belittled her for some time>>: Wish I'd seen it. Carry a tape recorder, will you? <<apperently I woke up stupid this morning; this vexes me>>: Does that mean you want to turn yourself into Soylent Green?

Coyote: <<Emotional men in love of the world UNITE>>: Preferably in one place so I can bomb you all.

Ed: <<Two Towers>>: Awesome review, dude, and dead on.

Greg X: <<what is your idea?>>: The how isn't important. Lex is obviously going transfer his consciousness into the computer by choice, or have it done in a foolish move by Alex to preserve his lifetime friend. Probably following critical wounding in battle or some really stupid accident. Vague, I know, but I bet if that isn't quite right then its something similar. I mean, there are only so many ways to end up in a computer ;-) <<Oberon paraded himself around as Zeus to the people of ancient Greece>>: TGS or the show? I was talking about the show. <<Lite beer sucks>>: For wusses. Even I don't drink lite beer.

DPH: <<On an operating system designed by Microshaft, right?>>: I know of Trillian, but what other 3rd-party AIM clients are available on windows? Are any of them good? <<I think the writing quality has gone seriously downhill after ST:DS9>>: Agreed. <<What is the Catholic Church's stance on Israel?>>: They're going to hell 8-)

Gside: <<Perhaps I'll also be able to pick up my books for next semester>>: Ah, good idea. I'll have to do that soon. <<I thought it originated in History, and he did do a couple movies before it>>: Okay fine, but its been in every movie since. <<you'd be running low on pure Templars>>: Maybe, but what's left would kick ass. <<I'm just a poor engineer from a middle class family>>: Try graduating, it might help 8-)

And with that, I leave you for another day.

90. I will not design my Main Control Room so that every workstation is facing away from the door.

Josh - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
Berkeley, CA, US of A
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 02:14:45 AM
IP: 64.170.154.128

Career fair tomorrow at Rutgers. Perhaps I'll also be able to pick up my books for next semester.

Imzadi> <<Actually, that's in every movie he's ever made>>: I thought it originated in History, and he did do a couple movies before it.
<<Um, no. At least I wasn't>>: Are you sure about that?
<<How does he fit?>>: There are a lot of details.

Happy birthday Aaron.

Spacebabie> <<some idiot with too much time on their hands who likes to copy our e-mail addressed>>: Nah, I'm sure it's automated.

Hyperion> <<I'm sure it would make excavating easier>>: But it's irreversable, so you'd be running low on pure Templars.
<<Are you saying you tire of out little game?>>: No, just that I don't want to get stuck in a loop.
<<I was about to start on "Bohemian Rhapsody.">>: I'm just a poor engineer from a middle class family.

Greg> <<How Saruman meets his end, I am uncertain of>>: I'm betting the first time they run into him on the road.

Na zdorov'ya.

Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 12:21:20 AM
IP: 68.38.240.227

Thanks to the new episode of Crossing Jordan, I can now go from Gargoyles to JAG in 5 steps. That's all I'll say.

Leo - < I think they may have ruined the Bond franchise with this one.> Respectfully, I disagree.

Happy birthday, Aaron. Funny, it's not on the CR calendar.

Spacebabie - <Did a little work on my site and downloaded AOHELL instant messenger> On an operating system designed by Microshaft, right?

Silverbolt - <Well at least the new series of Enterprise has started so that's brightened my day a little.> Sorry, I think the writing quality has gone seriously downhill after ST:DS9.

Green Baron - <After all, the Catholic Church can be
kinda clueless on Economics and foreign policy, but they can be, as that is not the role of religion in one's life anyway.> Woo, foreign policy? What is the Catholic Church's stance on Israel? <And no point paying for them to be in prison when the evidence grows shaky.> Depends. If we have a repeat shop-lifter who was convicted of a murder and evidence for the murder conviction goes south, do you really want to release the shop-lifter? If it is the 1st and only offense murder and the evidence goes shaky, yea. What about a convicted murder who escaped from prison and was re-captured, and then the evidence for the murder conviction goes south?

Fire Storm - <M's sick, AND it's her day off!> Sorry to hear that. Did the stuff I sent Lady Mystic meet her satisfaction?

Lain and/or Gunjack - Thanks for checking your email daily.

DPH
AR, USA
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 12:02:25 AM
IP: 204.94.193.63

JOSH> <<No, but it doesn't take much to form a good idea.>> And what is your idea? See, I already know what happens, but I'd like to see your thoughts. Speculation from the readers is always fun to see. <<No, it sounds like you're a psycho.>> And when have I ever claimed to be sane? <<No, it took two years for them to DEVELOP feelings for each other.>> According to Greg W, the feelings existed for a while, Goliath wanted to discuss them in "The Mirror", Elisa brushed him off, so "Hunter's Moon" was her admitting those feelings existed. <<Yes, but I don't think Oberon ever paraded himself around as a god, while its likely that Madoc inspired the Satan image in the gargoyles universe.>> Oberon paraded himself around as Zeus to the people of ancient Greece.

PATRICK> <<Oberon is not omnipotent, omnipresent, or all-powerful. Ergo, while he might be considered _a_ god by some, he is not _the_ God.>> Nope. <<similarly, Madoc in TGS is certainly not _the_ Prince of Darkness. He's a far, far cry from it, in fact... no matter what he might claim.>> If I were to do a Lucifer story in TGS, Lucifer would not be presented as a purely evil being, like all other characters in the "Gargoyles" Universe (well, most of them) he'd be presented as a more gray figure (leaning slightly more towards black though). Of course my interpretation of Lucifer is way, way to similar to the one of Vertigo's Sandman comic and it's spin-off comic "Lucifer" (both excellent comics) for me to do anything that would not be called a rip-off so for the forseeable future, So, as much as I'd like to do one. I'll be staying away from doing a story about Lucifer.

REVEL> <<Sorry, was not trying to make you vomit, was aiming it at Josh, he is just more resiliant than I anticipated.>> Do it again and I'll kill ya ;)

SPACEBABIE> <<Yeah Maddoc Lite sounds like a beer>> ANd Lite beer sucks. <<I never really gotten into Babylon 5. My dad loves it.>> YOu need to watch more of it.. in order.

ED> <<I can't begin to conceive why Jackson chose to let Frodo and Sam tread water for three hours by treating the Faramir interlude as he did.>> Because (and I love the books so it pains me to say this) Faramir in the books made no sense, why can he resist the Ring (not only resist but have no interest in it), and I always really disliked that aspect. THe film's version of Faramir makes a lot more sense. <<It wasn’t just that it illustrated the sheer incompetence of the Nazgul in their failure to get the Ring when it’s a couple of feet from one of them>> Keep in mind that the Nazgul have very poor eye sight. The Fell Beast certainly saw Frodo, but the Nazgul didn't. Had Frodo put the Ring on, I guarantee you the Nazgul would have saw him and captured him. << suppose the scourging of the Shire scenes will most likely be chopped>> It was officially announced that the Scouring of the Shire was cut a long time ago. At least a year. How Saruman meets his end, I am uncertain of.

Greg Bishansky
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 11:49:07 PM
IP: 216.179.1.117

Anonymous: I’m glad to know that we simply need to bring back guns to solve our crime problem. For a moment there I thought it was something to do with the fact that the police are understaffed and the courts let all the criminals go so they can re-offend (it has been suggested that burglars on their first couple of offences don’t even need to go to jail). I’ll sure be relieved when axe-wielding maniacs can not only smash up everything within a few feet of them, but also have easier access to weapons that permit destruction from afar.


Anyway, I popped out to see the new LOTR film today, finally having both the time and inclination to spare for it after a rough couple of weeks. I should really be trying to get caught up, but here's my review of the film at any rate.


***‘The Two Towers’ Review -- Comments & Spoilers***

Silence speaks volumes in ‘The Two Towers’. Amongst the amazing visuals of the battle scenes, the broadly pleasing character interaction, Sam’s cringe-worthy speech at the end and scores of other features of the sequel, the defining scene of the film for me was one that you could have missed if you blinked. It’s shows the encampment at Helm’s Deep waiting for the battle to begin, and there isn’t a voice or a musical chord to be heard. The added gravity that comes with that silence is simply earned but oh-so necessary.

Jackson's second outing – purely in story terms - is considerably less ambitious and considerably more successful than his first. While the first film dealt with twenty-two chapters of material, the second deals (roughly) with eleven and most of those are only glanced at. I'm not entirely sure that this is good for the final film, which is obviously going to have a very different look about it from the original book if it wants to cram in even half the material, but there is promise in ‘The Two Towers’ nonetheless. It doesn’t simply echo its source without seeming to understanding it, but tears the original apart and puts it back together before us to show what makes the characters tick and the events move. What we end up with is quite far removed from the original in content (sometimes unnecessarily so), but closer in terms of its spirit and tone. ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ for all its eye-candy and hype, was a flawed film that did not know how to balance the needs for the story to progress and the characters to develop. ‘The Two Towers’ shows what happens when valid character conflict is put above mindless plot pushing.

And when I say character conflict, I am being quite literal. Frodo and Sam argue. Merry and Pippin argue. Aragorn and Legolas argue. These aren’t arbitrary bits of yammer to fish for a few acting Emmys: they take the essence, but not the bulk, of the original story and present it in a series of pithy scenes. Aragorn’s character is broken apart and we see the fine line he treads between hope and nihilism. We see him in a paternal role to Hama’s son, as a friend to Gimli, a counsellor to Theoden and as a military man with Legolas. Merry and Pippin shed their yuk-yuk mascot roles and make choices. In fairness, Jackson’s considerable rearrangement of material in these sections to make Merry and Pippin’s decisions more instrumental in the march of the Ents is probably more a result of his failure to make them credible in the first film and consequent need to bail them out here, but it does make their story arcs sufficiently engrossing. For a few minutes, I nearly forgot how appallingly miscast Monaghan and Boyd are.

One significant exception to the generally superior character material in this film is the encounter with Theoden. The source material shows Gandalf showing up Wormtongue’s deceit and treachery, and winning a battle of words with Theoden and Wormtongue to show him that his feelings of age were illusory. The film shows Gandalf waving his wand, glowing a lot, and exorcising Theoden of Saruman’s control, thereby removing his magically induced age. The former shows characterisation while moving the plot. The latter is a gimmick that gets from A to B, and comes off as rather ridiculous. The fact that we get the excellent scene where Theoden breaks down before his son’s grave not long after only emphasises the inconsistency.

Perhaps the most curious development is that of Frodo, Sam and Smeagol. Jackson’s Smeagol is generally repentant, broadly coherent and eventually, a scheming vengeance figure. I don’t buy this interpretation as a spin on the books, and I do think that Tolkien’s version is rather superior, but Smeagol isn’t really an end in himself. Instead, he comes between Frodo and Sam – notably Smeagol physically rescuing Frodo in the Dead Marshes, and the rather excellent confrontation between Frodo and Sam that followed. There is real chemistry and tension here, and it’s probably the best thing the film has going for it. Sadly, it’s squandered.

I can't begin to conceive why Jackson chose to let Frodo and Sam tread water for three hours by treating the Faramir interlude as he did. It wasn’t just that it illustrated the sheer incompetence of the Nazgul in their failure to get the Ring when it’s a couple of feet from one of them. It also meant that by the end of the film, the characters were in practically the same position as they were ten minutes in – approaching Mordor with Gollum as a guide – and allowed the ugly spectacle of Sean Astin struggling with a badly written, too-long, pretentious monologue when I would far rather have seen material from the final chapters of ‘The Two Towers’ book which has – well, far be it from me to spoil ‘Her’ delights. (And yes, I do know that the original chronology would have been screwed up if it was done as I suggest, but I really don’t think it would make much difference).

For its flaws, the plot did not flounder nearly as much as its predecessor – the ending was mercifully clear and crisp, and the placing of the material in the opening scene was truly inspired, although it’s nice to know that Gandalf took precautions to fireproof his beard and clothing before he left Rivendell. The battle also had texture and variety, as well as characterisation. Gimli was the butt of most of the jokes, but these all naturally developed out of his character: not because he’s some kind of bumbling buffoon that becomes a victim of events. A few pointless tag-ons did stand out besides everything connected with the Frodo/Faramir plotline. One was Aragorn’s bland fake-out death. Another was a similarly pointless Galadriel section in the middle: its dubious pushing forward of Elrond’s character was probably a secondary consideration to finding Cate Blanchett something to do to justify her paycheque. I could also have done without the reuse of the shots of whimpering women and children every few minutes but this was compensated by the kids taking up arms.

The real star was, of course, the special effects team. The battle, flood, the Ents – they all looked breathtaking. The computer generated Gollum also was quite successful. We don’t have any of the characters in this instalment being lit up by computer effects to present themselves as scary, and that is all to the good. Still, the camera is still rather intrusive on occasion. This most stood out in the Stinker/Slinker dialogue where Gollum decides to reject the influence of the Ring: ironically, there isn’t an actual actor playing these scenes, but the same concerns remain. Because the camera cuts between two angles, we somehow lose the intimacy with Gollum’s transition that we might have done if we saw it ‘live’ - because we aren’t looking at one character swinging from good to evil, but a good character set against an evil character, the effect is far less shocking. At the end of the day, the film is still visually very strong indeed.

So now we have nearly half the story still to go and only one three-hour film to tell it in. Sadly, there isn’t any reason why the story couldn’t have progressed further if only the plot had been tighter – and better for it. I suppose the scourging of the Shire scenes will most likely be chopped – a pity, since that chapter is my favourite, but never mind. I will expect pointless frills, quality visuals, the inevitable dearth of interesting subtext, and maybe if we’re lucky, some quiet, powerful moments that convey the rich characterisation and concerns of a thousand page book in vivid form onto the silver screen. ‘The Two Towers’ is not a perfect film by any means, but it is coherent and broadly competent in its treatment, which for my money puts it head and shoulders above its weaker predecessor.

Ed - [ed@steelclaw.org]
London, England
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 10:24:42 PM
IP: 213.187.48.116

**stands up and joins in the standing-O for Revel** Hear, hear. Emotional men in love of the world UNITE!
Coyote the Bando
Algonac, Michigan
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 08:18:37 PM
IP: 216.234.97.229

Spacebabie> <<I’m pretty sure he would rather have a Demona>> Can I have a Delilah? Oh yeah get better soon!

Revel> <<Aww don't be jealous>> *Sniff* I can't help it ~_~ (Even the fact that I won the best erotic fic award can't cheer me up... well it can actually *^_^*)

Anonymous>> <<See? It's useful having a pro-firearms guy in the Comment Room some times, you get lots more info ;)>> Don't get smart with me ya frikken Anonymous bastard! :P

Leo> <<I think they may have ruined the Bond franchise with this one.>> Only the song!

Silverbolt
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 05:36:30 PM
IP: 62.7.125.199

More to the point, why exacty was the color wrong and my name missing...apperently I woke up stupid this morning; this vexes me.
Hyperion
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 05:27:06 PM
IP: 151.199.240.31

Hmm...so apparently the Knights Templar are using computer imaging, ultrasound and thermal imaging to try to find relics. I find this both amusing and very cool.
In addition, I wonder if two Templar can merge into a giant ball on energy. I'm sure it would make excavating easier...
"We need to dig there"
"POWER OVERWHELIMING!" <ZAAAAAAP>
"Ah, thanks"

anyway......

Gside><and I believe we're back where we started. Good> Are you saying you tire of out little game? I was about to start on "Bohemian Rhapsody."

lain><something is wrong with my kidneys> Hope it's not kidney stones. That sucks. Probably just a little to vigorous the other night; try being on top this time.
<yes in fact he has>I'm sure I'm still better at it.
<your hair curly?> Sorry, no. It has been described (by disinterested third parties, even) as "soft, silky and sensual" or once as "feels like my hamster did before she died". I think I need to hang around with better people.
<sicko!> I am not. I'm just well-versed in the carnal arts. Example, use a bowline for bondage. It won't close up and accidenly constrict circulation. Any other tips will garner my usual rate.

Fire Storm><Quake junkies in the military have ever been stupid enough to try and rocket jump> I can't imagine they would be, but you never know. The problem is the guys that fly the Predators playing Microsoft Flight Simulator in their spare time...acck!
<it was the funniest/coolest thing I heard all day>It definitely ranks up there. It's second next to the idiot that tried to make his own hollowpoints by clamping a .45 ACP FMJ into a vise and applying a drill.
<Maybe people just like it better that way!> You know, even old New York was once New Amsterdam.
<There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't> Ba-dum-bum *ching*

Green Baron><Are Democrats this desperate to get back power?> Uh, yes? Ney Jersey? Rule of law? What? Wellstone "memorial" what? Hillary Clinton, what? shall I go on?
<I woudl think Thai> Never been to Thailand. I did try to go to Bangkok for one night, but it didn't work out.
I have seen some nasty Vietnamese hookers, though. 2 dollars, less with "student discount"
<There's a method used in Arizona by this one super Sheriff> I assume you mean the "building prisons" idea. Yeah, something about hidden escape hatches bothers me though. Kinda like the one department that used prisoners to make police license plates. The cops couldn't figure you why their undercover guys kept getting spotted, then they saw that all the plates had "PD" in them. Oops.

Silverbolt> I'll let you read and comment on the following:
http://reason.com/0211/fe.jm.gun.shtml
If it's inaccurate let me know, I prefer to be well informed; but so far I've been told the legislation is accurate.
See? It's useful having a pro-firearms guy in the Comment Room some times, you get lots more info ;)

Josh><What do you want from idiots?>Soylent Green.
<They really do like me> How much did you pay them beforehand?
<We drink soda here> Wuss.
<Thank you Costello> Hey Ab-bot!
<Was she planning to do this with a lawsuit, somehow> Farked if I know. I do know I laughed and belittled her for some time.
************************************************
"Mr. Garibaldi. I have been on this station long enough to know that you don't ask leading questions unless you already know the answers. So, why don't we just pretend I've lied about it, you've caught me in your web of ineluctable logic and cut to the point."
Anonymous
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 05:25:34 PM
IP: 151.199.240.31

OMG!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Sorry for the shouting, but I just got off the phone with the hubby. Guess what he told me?? He just got tickets to the L.A. Lakers game tonight from a contact at work. And the seats aren't in the nosebleed section, either. They're box seats, so I'm going to have a glorious view of my beloved Lakers.

I'm so excited, I can't keep still. My hands are shaking. Have you ever tried to type while your hands are shaking?? I've been a fan of the Lakers for about 20 years and to finally get a chance to see them play is a dream come true.

Now, if you'll excuse me,I have to go back to running around the house and screaming, "OMIGOD! OMIGOD!" over and over.

Leo-->see "Previous Week" :) Okay, now I feel dumb. I've never noticed the "Previous Week" link before. D'uh...LOL

Godiva - [reneeprater@adelphia.net]
Montclair, CA, USA
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 03:29:35 PM
IP: 68.64.159.134

Godiva:<<When will the posts from last week be archived?>>see "Previous Week" :)
Leo
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 02:18:53 PM
IP: 68.96.8.12

Yellow text for a much better mood: Today is happy!

Finally got a chance to see one of the Austin Powers movies. We saw "Austin Powers in Goldmember" Sunday night at my sister's house. It was pretty funny, which surprised me. I didn't think I'd like it. It was a little weird watching it with my 10 yr. son, though. There was a lot of sexual innuendo in the movie, but I don't think he understood.

Anyway...I've a question that goes back to something Lain said to Ravenes. She metioned that Ravenes should have read the archive before commenting on Impfac. My question: Why is the link to the archive on the "Add Comment" page? Wouldn't it make more sense to have it on the CR page? Just wondering. Oh yeah, one more question. When will the posts from last week be archived?

Replies:

Green Baron> <<Thanks, but I really can't have anything that spicy. It burns my throat rather badly.>> Too bad. My mom makes the best gumbo. Could I interest you in some cyber red beans and rice? I've been told that I make a pretty mean pot of red beans and rice. I know it's probably cold in Kosovo.

Mooncat> <<Godiva chocolates>> I love *my* chocolates. ;) My hubby got a box of them from one of his co-workers for Christmas.

Spacebabie <<That wasn’t me…Apparently there is some idiot with too much time on their hands who likes to copy our e-mail addressed and use them to send viruses with our names and e-mail addys.>> That's what I figured, but I just wanted to make sure, just in case you actually did send me something.


Godiva - [reneeprater@adelphia.net]
Montclair, CA, USA
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 01:42:11 PM
IP: 68.64.159.134

Wierd weather here yesterday. Mostly sunny except fo a small afternoon shower (and when I say small, I mean it only affected half our block)For 15 minutes it was raining in HALF our yard and dry in the other half. Then last night around 7pm we got SNOW!! Nothing spectacular, just enough to coat the cars in an inch of the fluffy stuff. It's mostly all gone now.

--------------------

Josh:<<The fog got pretty thick and we had to slow down >> Did you happen to notice a strange glow or any reanimated corpses with glowing red eyes. :)<<Anyone have an opinion of Honda's service/quality? I'm thinking about a new Accord.>> I'm still driving my 87 Accord LX. It turned 130k last week. It's starting to show its age though. Two weeks ago one of the hinges broke on the glove compartment so that if I open it, if falls out. :p <<I'd suggest throat coat, but Revel already left>> I'm curious as to what her responce to that will be. :)<<I'd have died of a heart attack right there>>I'll probably be too old by the time they bring it to a vote (If they ever) :P

Revel:<<I feel no loss in manhood or dignity being emotional or loving to the girl I care about>>::watches as Spacebabie gets all dreamy-eyed as she begins to melt:: **Revel gets standing ovation from the CR** Ummm... Ok, but I don't remember saying anything about being "whipped" though.

Dezi:<<Richard Cusack of (or in)California...>> I heard about that. <<Such people should not reproduce.>> Well I don't think he'll have to worry about that now. ;-)

lain (or) gunjack:<<go see the new james bond movie>> I think they may have ruined the Bond franchise with this one.

---------




Leo
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 01:08:28 PM
IP: 68.96.8.12

JOSH - You wrote: [No, it took two years for them to DEVELOP feelings for each other.]

True (well if I really wanted to nitpick then I'd say it only took 1 year to develop feelings (up to THE MIRROR) and then took the better part of another year to get around to admitting that they have those feelings and should maybe act on them. But I don't want to nitpick. :-) :-) ).

Again I didn't say I based my thought on any rational logic, just on a feeling in the back of my mind. It wouldn't be the first time I'd be wrong.

You wrote: [Off to Macworld Expo tomorrow. Will have fun.]

I love Macworld; I was at the last one in NYC and can't wait for when the next one shows up in town later this year. Enjoy yourself.

Airwalker - [airwalker9999@yahoo.com]
Brooklyn, NY
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 12:50:26 PM
IP: 12.88.161.220

Happy 23rd Birthday Aaron!

Still Icky.

Got some get well supplies…Daytime and Nighttime gel caps, Ramen noodles, Sobe Lizard Fuel, and juice.

Today I start my Advanced fiction class. I may stay home Thursday but I have to at least make it to the first class.

Did a little work on my site and downloaded AOHELL instant messenger…I’m MaranoMiko.

I don’t know if anyone else noticed this but the link to the archive on the main page isn’t working, the one in the comment room information does.

Why Oberon is in charge…I think its cause the other Fey Gods elected him.

Fan Service…I can summarize it in three words :Christine Morgan’s GODIVA

Replies:

Revel<<<Maybe you should treat yourself to something nice.>>>I would but your not here.


Dezi<<<I came home sick from work yesterday, and spent the rest of the day drowning in Sunny D>>>Yeah that stuff is good. Got some Vitamin C fluids as well as Lizard Fuel…it has Echinacea and zinc.<<<Generic Walgreens Sudafed is much much better.>>>Amen to the generic stuff!<<<She did what she was told and then asked my dad what a canada is>>>Kids say the darndest things.<<<My new little sister was born today!>>>Congratulations

Mooncat<<<Were-goyle Jon and Jason chibis>>>Oooh Mini Muffins!:::Notices Zel-kun and Squall-kun looking jealous::: Ah you guys are muffins as well.<<<Get better soon!>>>I’ll try. Don’t wanna write when I’m this ill

Vashkoda<<<and Angel has been moved to Wednesdays 9/8c.>>>Thanks for the info

Bristopher>>>Welcome to the baord…please deposit your sanity into this lil jar here.

GXB<<<Okay, I gotta say this; please call him by his damn name. It was cute for a while, but it's not funny anymore>>>Yeah Maddoc Lite sounds like a beer.<<<And you don't?>>>I never really gotten into Babylon 5. My dad loves it.

Godiva>>>That wasn’t me…Apparently there is some idiot with too much time on their hands who likes to copy our e-mail addressed and use them to send viruses with our names and e-mail addys.

Josh<<<too busy driving back to Berkeley>>>I bet that is a chore in itself.<<<I hate syncing.>>>What about Nsyncing?<<<but Revel already left>>>Hey I don’t want him to get sick.<<<He wants a Fox, not a Dominique.>>>I’m pretty sure he would rather have a Demona<<<Which is exactly what you'd expect an intergalactic bounty hunter to look like>>>Not a male one.<<<Nope!>>>Too bad!<<<Huh?>>>If a member from the CR was hanging out with you what would you two be doing?

Too sick for a quote

Spacebabie - [LadyAndromeda@smstars.zzn.com]
Orlando, Florida, U.S.A
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 12:02:30 PM
IP: 67.24.95.140

Less than a week before I have to head back to school myself. Trying to get in this last week of money and have to start getting the War Wagon ready, oil and fix up and stuff. Plus Friday I have to take it to a muffle place and get a new tail pipe that that girl in the parking lot at school messed up.

Leo- I feel no loss in manhood or dignity being emotional or loving to the girl I care about, and it's actually really funny to see everyone's reactions. Besides, if you ever want to see whipped look over at GunJack ];)

Silverbolt - Aww don't be jealous

GregX- Sorry, was not trying to make you vomit, was aiming it at Josh, he is just more resiliant than I anticipated.

Josh- Trust me, if I could have stayed longer I would have and her parents liked me :D

FireStorm- *blinks* I was a complete gentleman. Though I think I'm still glowing because of it :D

Spacebabie- *hugs* I'm sorry you are not feeling better. Maybe you should treat yourself to something nice. Have fun at your class today.

I was told it was Aaron's birthday. Happy Birthday bro, whenever you see this ;)

Gone

Revel - [samrx5@cs.com]
the bayou city, tx
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 11:15:29 AM
IP: 172.148.230.112

Re: Goliath & Elisa > I've always felt that the fact that it took so long for them to get over that first hurdle of just admitting their feelings would be precisely why a romantic courtship would _not_ continue to drag out forever. Call it Newton's Law as applied to emotional momentum. A relationship in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an external force. As it is... it still seems like in TGS it took quite a while for Elisa and Goliath to reach the next step of actually becoming a mated couple. Two years of "going steady" is a long engagement, even by human standards.

Re: Oberon & Madoc > I certainly would see either of them as the be-all and end-all of the supernatural spectrum. The existance of the Third Race in the "Gargoyles" universe has never seemed to imply that there might not be some higher powers at work in the universe. Oberon is not omnipotent, omnipresent, or all-powerful. Ergo, while he might be considered _a_ god by some, he is not _the_ God. And similarly, Madoc in TGS is certainly not _the_ Prince of Darkness. He's a far, far cry from it, in fact... no matter what he might claim.

"Who are you?" / "I'm Phil, the Prince of Insufficient Light. I've come to darn you to heck." - Dilbert

Patrick Toman
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 07:41:01 AM
IP: 67.38.248.157

No post yesterday, too busy driving back to Berkeley. The fog got pretty thick and we had to slow down for a while so it took a lot longer than usual. Most of today was spent shopping and synching my computers back up.

I swear, next machine is going to be a powerbook for desktop replacement. I hate syncing.

Tony Elliot: <<insulting to people who do believe in the native religions>>: That's retarded. I think that the gargoyles universe suggests that ALL major belief systems are constructed around the same group of immortal supernatural beings. <<Coyote, Puck, Oberon, and the rest of ‘em are not worthy of religious devotion or worship>>: Says you. That level of power would convince most people to worship you as a god. <<At best, they are as just greedy, selfish, and “human” as anyone else; and with that power, they could cause a lot of trouble>>: Which is exactly what happens. <<how the fay are supposed to be part of Gargoyles universe>>: Not sure I understand this question. They're part of the universe by being there. <<why is Lord Oberon called LORD>>: Because he's in charge. <<he has more powers than the rest of the fay?>>: That's enough to keep the rest in line. Its how most power structures are upheld. Just look at the church you put so much faith in. <<I envy all of you students who still have another few weeks off>>: Two more! <<I found your first post, Thursday, February 22, 2001>>: Why? <<Do you still have that engineering jokes file?>>: Yes. <<it’s my grocery getter; the weekend vehicle is either the Lamborghini or the Leer Jet>>: Now I know you're lying. <<click my name for a few proof pix>>: That isn't proof. <<Do you mean new to you, or do you mean brand new 03’ Accord>>: The latter. I find the previous years hideous. <<just as nice, if not nicer than the Lexus LS400 he had 8 years ago>>: Well, that's hardly a valid comparison. Lexus 8 years ago was not exactly a luxury division like it is now. <<if you lease>>: Screw that. I don't want to have to give the car back. <<you could probably get the Honda S2000 coupe>>: Well, I would, but you see...that car is lame. <<My minds eye is seeing a planet Chewbaccas>>: AAAAAAARRRRGH! <<What episode was this?>>: The halloween one. <<have any of the voice actors ever been to a gargoyles gathering?>>: many of them do. But I don't think more will ever show than showed in Los Angeles.

Spacebabie: <<Went to bed last night with a sore throat>>: I'd suggest throat coat, but Revel already left. <<someday your Dominique Destine will come>>: He wants a Fox, not a Dominique. <<They combined Ripley from Aliens with princess Leia>>: Which is exactly what you'd expect an intergalactic bounty hunter to look like! <<Is that like a lava cake?>>: No. <<oh wait…you don’t want to hear>>: Nope! <<What do you do if you have member fro the CR over?>>: Huh? <<it’s that I was so pumped>>: ...oh, nevermind.

Green Baron: <<Perfectly ruthless>>: And hot! <<she had internet for me to use while I was so sick>>: A true friend! <<I can buy a BMW for $1,500.00, though it would be 10 years old>>: Hardly an impressive distinction. <<we need to dump all these stupid antiquated protectionist policies>>: The steel and auto industries, along with everyone in Michigan, might disagree. <<Al Sharpton is planning to run for President. I think he should run as an Independent with David Duke as his running mate>>: Because nothing says tolerance like a Sharpton/Duke bumper sticker! <<Even Lain and Gabriel think a 14 hour work week is too soft for prisoners>>: We don't want to kill them. <<all we have to lose is the bill for some jailbird's room and board>>: And a lawsuit from the family. <<I am concerned that it may provide a back door for Governments to infiltrate private schools and begin tehir evil micro management there>>: How? <<You feel righteous. Barbara Streisand sings for you>>: LOL! <<Your neighbor has none. So>>: Amen to that! I am not responsible for your lack of cows! <<Drugs and skiing are both good ways of eliminating worthless Kennedys>>: LOL! <<My firt move was to abolish tarriffs>>: I'd abolish jewish princesses. <<it's cheaper than horseback lessons>>: So is a vibrator. <<has a holy hand grenade launcher aimed at me to make me do the right thing>>: They do, they just haven't counted to three yet.

Dezi: Congrats on the new sibling. Try not to kill her. <<decided it would be a good idea to tell me that Congress had passed a bill about all males having a mandatory two years of military service>>: I'd have died of a heart attack right there. <<No draft-dodger is gonna marry my daughter!>>: I guess I'm out then. I've got relatives in Canada who can't wait to have me. <<what a canada is>>: Its a silly little country with worthless money and no navy. <<is that anything like Madoc being the devil and Oberon being god>>: Yes, but I don't think Oberon ever paraded himself around as a god, while its likely that Madoc inspired the Satan image in the gargoyles universe. <<Its growing very annoying>>: Especially since they haven't taken me yet! <<I have monkeys in my pants>>: Did he have bananas in his shoes?

Hyperion: <<It’s *ice* you idiots>>: What do you want from idiots? <<They're probably lying>>: No, I just checked 8-) They really do like me. <<Go have some coffee and try again>>: We drink soda here. <<who can't jump higher than a 52 ton tank? It's not like the tank can jump>>: Thank you Costello. <<she was "raising awareness" of vegetarianism>>: Was she planning to do this with a lawsuit, somehow? <<I have printed it out for future reference>>: Why don't you just store it on your computer?

Vashkoda: <<the next eps of Angel and Buffy are both new, and Angel has been moved to Wednesdays 9/8c>>: Yes! Now I have something to watch on Wednesdays!

Patrick: <<"It's good to be da king." - Mel Brooks, "History of the World, Part 1">>: Actually, that's in every movie he's ever made ;-)

Bristopher: <<Does anyone know when the new seasons are due to start>>: never. <<Last thing what is GNL>>: Something else.

Gside: <<I take it that's from a text adventure?>>: Don't remember. <<for a low string or woodwind (and the occaisonal brass), you need at least long arms>>: True. <<We weren't?>>: Um, no. At least I wasn't. <<There's been a study showing men are bettere at focusing on one thing and women are better at spreading their attention>>: Probably true...but women seem to focus too. Then they get pissed that we aren't focusing on the same thing. <<

Greg X: <<You don't know what made Demona an outcast among her own race in the future>>: No, but it doesn't take much to form a good idea. <<You don't know how Lex becomes what he does in 2198>>: Again, its not hard to guess. Even if the guess isn't perfect, its going to be close enough. <<I know this sounds strange but the characters, especially the ones I've worked hard on developing are constantly having conversations in my head>>: No, it sounds like you're a psycho. <<anyone else have any deaths for politicians in mind that are poetic justice?>>: I think Strom Thurman should be lynched in Alabama 8-)

Lain/Gunjack: <<something is wrong with my kidneys>>: Did you wake up in a bathtub full of ice? <<honey>>: No, honey won't work in a nuke. <<WORST ACTION MOVIE OF ALL TIME>>: Whoa. Glad I skipped it, then. << could make a better film than that after recieving a drunken narcoleptic lobotomy. Infant woodland creatures are born posessing moviemaking skills that far surpass those of the "director" squeezed out>>: LOL!

Fire Storm: <<LM's sick, AND it's her day off!>>: I hate getting sick on vacation. <<she has a rather delightful scent>>: I can't imagine being with someone who didn't. <<really old, never been washed men having their way with young maidens!>>: That's every porn flick. <<Bet your gay!>>: LOL. <<The devil is in the details!>>: How does he fit? <<Soon you will be a proper villain>>: Let me know when I'm there, k? <<that suit is pretty dang sexy if you ask me!>>: Yeah, but not very good access. <<I wonder if any Quake junkies in the military have ever been stupid enough to try and rocket jump>>: How hard could it be? <<Theif grabs bag, finds deadly snake!>>: Woot! <<There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't...>>: Dude that's been on slashdot for years.

Airwalker: <<It took them two years just to get around to admitting their feelings to each other after all>>: No, it took two years for them to DEVELOP feelings for each other.

Off to Macworld Expo tomorrow. Will have fun.

89. After I captures the hero's superweapon, I will not immediately disband my legions and relax my guard because I believe whoever holds the weapon is unstoppable. After all, the hero held the weapon and I took it from him.

Josh - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
Berkeley, CA, US of A
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 03:51:16 AM
IP: 64.168.28.239

Mooncat> <<My definition simply didn't include ALL definitions and broadest spectrum descriptions of Easter Eggs>>: Wich you should have, if you wished to be accurate.

Gunjack/Lain> <<its just the part where he cant do two things at once>>: There's been a study showing men are bettere at focusing on one thing and women are better at spreading their attention.
<<and then you surround the fissile material with..>>: Explosives to create an implosion.

Fire Storm> <<On the plus side for me, she has a rather delightful scent>>: Oh truly? And should there have been a wink wink nudge nudge there, or was it more innocent?
<<Subtle isn't my way>>: But you'll get there eventually. Justs at the beginning to acclimate her to the humor.
<<Gimley WOULD make a good thump sound when dropped>>: With or without hemlet? And it's Gimli.
<<I talk about how STUPID it is to make Meth>>: Unless you want out of a lease. And that one was #42.

Na zdorov'ya.

Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Monday, January 6, 2003 11:17:15 PM
IP: 68.38.240.227

Guess what everyone!!! My new little sister was born today! Her name is Nicole Grace and she weighed 4 lbs. She was born a month early but that's ok 'cause we nearly lost her back in October. *does little happy dance but no one can see it*

Green Baron> My dad is at Ft. Carson in Co. Springs. He's been in since I've been 5 (I'm 21 now) so I guess it's safe to say he is career. He has been in Korea (where he picked up my stepmom and mother of my two youngest sibs), Turkey, and various places stateside. He is like a E 6 or 7 (can't remember which) and has been on the tips of his toes waiting to go to the Mid East for like a year now. He said something about division ready. I dunno really, my sister Michelle who's 5 and now little Nicole are more army brat than me. I'm just in Indiana for school. Indianapolis sucks.

****Now to clear the air on the pope thing and back away from it completely****
After reading back on it, I wish to walk away from that entire post and blame it on a cold medication enduced haze. It is not to be taken seriously, intentionally or internally and if the later occurs please contact your local poison control center and Ripley's Believe It or Not, because that will be some feat.

Why does Jeopardy now air so many kiddy tournaments? It used to be one kid, one college, and one champion torney a year, maybe twice a year but now its like every two months. Its growing very annoying.

Ok. Last bit. The Indianapolis Star has just named its Moron of the Year. Apparently, Richard Cusack of (or in)California, attempted to smuggle in 4 exotic birds and 50 wild orchids from Southeast Asia into America inside his suitcase. He was caught when one of the birds flew out when the case was opened during a routine customs check.
The customs agents were then required to ask him the question: Do you have anything else to declare? To which he replied: I have monkeys in my pants. True, he had hidden two monkeys in his pant legs and needed to be treated with antibiotics because the monkeys had bitten him many times in places where they probably shouldn't have, presumably because they were upset with their flight accomidations. Such people should not reproduce.

Dezi
Monday, January 6, 2003 08:48:04 PM
IP: 68.58.158.101

2nd!!! MWHAHAHAA.

*ghost of Siryn currently on the qe2*

(go vote at mgc!)
*waves to all of her friends then poofs!*

Siryn - [<--go vote!]
Monday, January 6, 2003 08:28:03 PM
IP: 38.184.224.126

<<First, papal infallability is not a constant thing. The Pope can make mistakes on day to day basis.>>

Correct, in fact the Pope goes to confession weekly. (Thursdays I beleive). The doctrine on papal infalliability is in fact a limit to papal power. After all, as the head of the church, it was starting to look like everything he wrote should be taken as dogma, which would be a very dangerous thing, or that everything he wrote was hogwash, also a very dangerous thing. Basically, a declaration of something that is infalliable (used only twice for two doctrines that had been on the books for centuries anyway) is basically confirming a contentious doctrine when it is stating he is using said infalliability. It is a matter of faith that God will not allow his chosen church to slip into irredeemable error, which protestants will of course disagree with. ;)

Laurence
Monday, January 6, 2003 06:16:53 PM
IP: 128.233.231.160

*cries* WAAAAAHHHHH!!!! Don't wanna go back to stupid school!

Well at least the new series of Enterprise has started so that's brightened my day a little.

spacebabie> <<Kisses him back.>> Excuse me, I'm gonna be sick. *Sighs jealously*

Fire storm> <<"There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't...">> thank god I have friends who take computing, when they explained I groaned at how clever and at the same how stupid that joke was!

Hyperion> <<But, but weapons are illegal on England! How could this BEEEEEEEEEE!>> It's an AXE! You know? those things that chop wood? Yes it can be a weapon, but almost every house hold has one! Also the guy caused £200,000 worth of damage to a church (the git!)

See? It's useful having a Brit in the Comment Room some times, you get lots more info ;)

Silverbolt
Monday, January 6, 2003 05:43:50 PM
IP: 62.7.60.25

green baron>> <<I also liked The Tuxedo. Let's see you attack me on that>> nah. ill allow you to like that one.. it had jackie chan :D! woot!
.. you are slightly redeemed.. ;)

lain
Monday, January 6, 2003 01:48:33 PM
IP: 65.93.74.26

Mooncat. Bristopher is similar to Christopher. My real name is Brist and my family startedf calling me Bristopher and it has just stuck.
Bristopher - [Bristopher@cox.net]
Topeka, KS
Monday, January 6, 2003 01:16:29 PM
IP: 68.102.184.207

GREG BISHANSKY - You wrote: [Well, you don't know everything, there's still a lot left that we haven't revealed.]

I know that; I even mentioned something to that effect in my last post. I can see how some of what I post might be irritating to someone who has a complete view of the picture. All I can really comment on is what there is so far and how I see it; As more stories keep coming out and add to my view of the entire picture my opinion can (and probably will) shift. But for now I can only speak on what I've read, not whats planned for the future.

You wrote: [If you were to take what we did reveal and weigh it against what we didn't reveal, well you get the idea.]

I understand; I didn't say that TGS was revealing everything without leaving anything to be told later. I never said that it was all just revelations and that the story was something of an afterthought. I just think that some revelations that have been given so far can have a limiting effect on the earlier setting. (Of course it could be that the whole TGS future we've seen is all just an alternate reality and that the "actual" future hasn't been shown yet. But something like that hasn't been revealed yet so I can only deal with whats written currently.)

You wrote: [All done for a reason, nothing is done by accident (well, occasionally a line here and there).]

Ok, thats fine. You after all have a better view of the overall picture. But I can only make judgements and comment on what is out so far, not how its going to fit into something I haven't seen yet. TIMEDANCER Season 5 may have some spectacular revelations and story that builds on everything that has been told in Season 4 but I can't talk about what I haven't seen yet.

You wrote: [it's always been planned since season one for Brooklyn to spend a long time in the future. We had to develop the world there and it's characters or else no one would give a damn about them.]

I'm not against the development of the 2158-21XX period at all. And I'm not against giving some time to the characters in that time period. But I felt reading through the story that while trying to build up a credible future world for Brooklyn and Sata to inhabit that they got shifted off to the sidelines way too often. It was more FUTURE TENSE than it was TIMEDANCER. And while they were good as FUTURE TENSE stories, unless the episodes focus on Brooklyn (and/or Sata and the Twins) then its loses focus as a TIMEDANCER story. I like TGS Samson for example but when the focus of the episode is on him with Brooklyn and Family barely showing up, without Brooklyn being the prism through which to reflect Samson then its not TIMEDANCER, its FUTURE TENSE.

You wrote: [Okay, I gotta say this; please call him by his damn name. It was cute for a while, but it's not funny anymore]

Sorry. I started out using it just to be funny and it just got addictive to use it. How do you feel about me calling him Merlin 2? :-) :-) :-) (I'm just Joking! Really! :-) )


DPH - You wrote: [That was in November 1999 and the series started in 1994. What would you have prefered Goliath and Elisa never mate up in the series?]

My feelings on them moving too fast is more a gut feeling than anything else. Its not at all rational. I always figured that with Goliath and Elisa would drag things out for a long, long time with Elisa doing more of the dragging out than Goliath. It took them two years just to get around to admitting their feelings to each other after all.

Airwalker - [airwalker9999@yahoo.com]
Brooklyn, NY
Monday, January 6, 2003 01:10:00 PM
IP: 12.88.163.238

Another wonderful day, though frickin windy in beautiful recovering Kosovo, where the action remains pleasantly low, way down here in Kosovo :)

Dezi> Where is your dad stationed. You mentioned you live in Indiana. Is he at Indianopolis? That's headquaretrs for my MOS.

I doubt that bill will go through. Besides, conscript military is an awful idea, because you get second rate soldiers who don't want to be there, as opposed to volunteers who want to serve. If the possibility of a draft comes up, though I highly doubt that will be the case, I recommend the Air Force or Navy. My father joined the Navy in 65 and instead of being in 'Nam, he was sailing around the Carribean stealing t-bone staks from Offcier's quarters when no one was looking ;)

<<Pope is supposed to be infallible *probably unintentionally opens up a can of worms*>> poor comparison. First, papal infallability is not a constant thing. The Pope can make mistakes on day to day basis. After all, the Catholic Church can be kinda clueless on Economics and foreign policy, but they can be, as that is not the role of religion in one's life anyway.

Also, Oberon can force the fey to do as he commands. Last time I checked no one in the Vatican Army has a holy hand grenade launcher aimed at me to make me do the right thing :)

Besides, infallibility does not apply to everything. Encyclicals are fallible. So are many traditions. Disciplines and doctrines currently held can be fallible, too.

<<then followers of other religions can look upon Christianity as a myth too.>> They can and do. There are a lot of different views in the world, regardless of whether I agree or not :)

<<Madoc is always being referred to by the humans as the prince of darkness, is that anything like Madoc being the devil and Oberon being god?>> I think that was the plan with Madoc. He was a sort of Satan figure, in fact Nicholas was based on Old Nick.

<<True. But the gun-control laws still suck. Hey kids! Here's a fun home game to play! List the state with the lowest numbers of crime, then list the state with the least restrictive gun-control laws. Compare. Can you draw any conclusions? (HINT: Washington DC, the "murder capital of the world" has the most restrictive gun-control laws in the nation)>> Now their mayor is talking about letting illegal aliens vote. Are Democrats this desperate to get back power? Expanding the franchise to non-citizens?

<<So's STDs. Get them a few Vietnamese hookers.>> I woudl think Thai, myself :)

<<Sold! Just don't make them build new prisons. That's just a mistake waiting to happen.>> There's a method used in Arizona by this one super Sheriff. I think its Joe Arpaio. He should be Attorney General with his ideas :)

Greg X> <<and also arrange for the Bushes to drown in oil.>> Just stick 'em in Saudi Arabia. See how long they last in the desert.

We can send Nader back to Lebanon.

Let's not forget Patty Murray who praised Osama Bin Laden for being a humanitarian.

<<Lott, we nail him to a cross and for a KKK ralley and let him get burned on it ;)>>

Good, you've read my cracks on him. I figure if we can reveal that he's a closet homosexual we an realease him in the most rural part of Mississippi and the rednecks will finish him off. To be bipartisan, Let's attach Senator Byrd to the same cross, as he is the only Senator who was in the KKK.

And if you heard John Edwards of NC is running for President. He's a millionare personal injury lawyer and looks like a young Fieger. Just on principle, personal injury lawyers should be strapped to race cars and Ravyn can zoom away with them atatched :)

DPH> <<First of all, I believe in a mandatory review of all 10 year old murder cases where there was no eye witness testimony or video camera showing the crime just to re-examine the evidence with new technology to re-establish or deny guilt. All convicted rapists should have a chance to have DNA confirm or deny their guilt if existing evidence makes that possible. Essentially, we want to ensure justice is just.>> And no point paying for them to be in prison when the evidence grows shaky.

<<Only take the prisoners whose guilt is absolute and beyond any possibility of being wrongly accused for use as prison labor.>> No. While they are there, they shoudl still earn their keep. Now, those who are not lifers, we can upgrade the safety condition of their job to mid 19th century :) The rest can work like its 1345 :D

Lain and Gunjack> Well, excuse my taste in movies :p Maybe I should be more careful about posting my movie preferences.

I also liked The Tuxedo. Let's see you attack me on that.

Besides, it was free :p

Fire Storm> <<And better than Jar-Jar dolls!>> Should I be afraid, now?

Now, I'm off and I see more movies tonight...for free :p




Green Baron - [greenbaron@hotmail.com]
Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
Monday, January 6, 2003 11:42:06 AM
IP: 136.216.75.6

Quote of the day: (No explination will be given)
"There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't..."

The valiant return of Fire Storm
Monday, January 6, 2003 03:38:44 AM
IP: 66.72.184.69

Hey Spacebabie, did you send me an email with an attachment?

Godiva - [reneeprater@adelphia.net]
Montclair, CA, USa
Monday, January 6, 2003 03:19:56 AM
IP: 68.64.159.83

Hey all! LM's sick, AND it's her day off! FUN!
I start night shift for a few days, THEN I go back on afternoons! MORE FUN!
I tell you... It is just a barrel of fun here at the small yellow house!

Leo: <That movie gets three stars for killing Will Wheaton>
Yeah, I forgot to mention that! I think that scene was added by a Treker!
<That was supposed to be a reference to "Sighlent Night Deadly Night," one of the more disturbing "holiday" slasher movies, where (naturally) premarital sex is "naughty" and Santa must punnish>
Ah... Mine would have been more for "Sorority Night 6: Santa get sLaid"

Gside: <And another good bonus to you>
Yep. On the plus side for me, she has a rather delightful scent.
<That is a problem. Maybe you should start small and stay with consistant small jokes, waiting to see how far you can go.>
Subtle isn't my way. When people bring children to work, I say things like "Aww... she looks delicious!" and "and me without my barbecue sauce!"
<Granted, I was talking about something else>
I know, but the most interesting things happen when I take things COMPLETELY out of context!
<dwarves should probably stick to percussion. You need height to get good bass, and I can't see a dwarf playing much flute>
Hmm... yeah, I bet you could get some nice sounds out of Legolas if you hooked him up to high voltage, and Gimley WOULD make a good thump sound when dropped
<You probably should have at least mentioned something about Largo's shirt>
Oh, like I can remember everything!
<Even with the prisoners you've kept locked in solitary for the majority of their life?>
Yeah! You can make an alternate site about really old, never been washed men having their way with young maidens!

Imzadi: <I don't get it>
You had to be there, I guess.
<The latter might be good if the people involved are also of low quality>
True, true... "What's with this lighting? One string of Christmas lights?"
"WTF do you expect? They were on after-Christmas sale for a buck! Look, if you don't like it, I'll go back to 8-mile and find some other whore who will do this for $5!"
<You eat babies, dude!>
Great with a good dipping sauce!
<Welcome to Santa Anthrax>
Then the St. Valentine would come in and rescue him, prompting Santa to say "Bet your gay!"
St. Patrick would look at Valentine for a moment before speaking. "Well, it WOULD explain the faggy little wings and the pink sash!"
<Are you qualified to do that?>
Does it really matter?
<Yeah, that'll find something. Technically>
The devil is in the details!
<Sounds like a short book>
Well, if it is like the regular book, every little change is something else.
"This is the Flaming Flamingo. But if you turn your ankle this way, it becomes the Impassioned Rhino"
<And blackmail the heros I've imprisoned there, for even more cash!>
NOW you're getting it! Soon you will be a proper villain.
It'll be good working with proper villains again.

Tony Elliot: <Everyone - have any of the voice actors ever been to a gargoyles gathering?>
Well, I think most of them have been to at LEAST one. The LA gathering had the most.
Lex at least usually comes now a days.
<why is Lord Oberon called LORD>
It's part of his name! His mother was a little tipsy from the medications when he was born.
"Mrs. Oberon, have you chosen a name for your son?"
"Yes, Mr. Leprechaun! His name is Lord! Now, get me more happy juice!

Spacebabie: <Naw it’s that I was so pumped>
Ah... so he was doing to pumping? ;)
(HAD to!)

Lain: <Pity that they had to wrap her in a walking tank to keep the hormone levels under control>
Hey, that suit is pretty dang sexy if you ask me!
<hes yapping on about how to make a nuclear bomb>
I talk about how STUPID it is to make Meth to people and how it makes me laugh that people are stupid to make AND use the stuff!

Green Baron: <Sounds like that Harry Potter broom that young girls are getting. Well, it's cheaper than horseback lessons ;)>
And better than Jar-Jar dolls!

Hyperion: <Well, come on, with all the frogs legs they eat, you'd think they could jump at lest a little bit. I mean, who can't jump higher than a 52 ton tank? It's not like the tank can jump>
Hmm... I wonder if any Quake junkies in the military have ever been stupid enough to try and rocket jump
<But, but weapons are illegal on England! How could this BEEEEEEEEEE!
Sorry, anti-gun control side breaking though for a moment>
True! I heard that story on the radio on my way home and just thought it was the funniest/coolest thing I heard all day!
<No, you can't go back to Constantinople, 'cause it's Istanbul, not Constantinople>
Why they changed it, I can't say.
Maybe people just like it better that way!

Vashkoda: <You may already know about this one, but the extended FOTR DVD has a hidden TTT trailer>
Thanks! Checked it out earlier tonight!

Patrick Toman: <"It's good to be da king." - Mel Brooks, "History of the World, Part 1" >
I liked how he added that line to Robin Hood: Men in Tights too!

News event of the day: Theif grabs bag, finds deadly snake!

Fire Storm
Monday, January 6, 2003 03:11:25 AM
IP: 66.72.184.69

something is wrong with my kidneys.. and its no fun :(
owieowieowie..

dph>> <<Check your email regularly>> yessir!

vashkoda>> <<next eps of Angel and Buffy are both new>> bout frikin time :P

hyperion>> <<Does that mean he's never offered you a romantic massage by candlelight>> yes.. yes in fact he has.. mmmmmmmmmmm candlelight.. *koff* i mean.. uh.. anyways.. what was i saying? ah yes. he can be very romantic.. its just the part where he cant do two things at once like.. watch TV and talk to me at the same time.. and were watching 24 and during the commercial, hes yapping on about how to make a nuclear bomb and then the show comes back on and its...
"and then you surround the fissile material with.."
"with what honey?
honey?
honey?
HONEY!!??
*smacksmacksmack*"
*vacant expression*
"huh?"
its cute for the first five zillion times but then i have to remember im a pacefist and i really DONT want to beat him senseless for being so annoying...<<lady of your distinction>> ooOOOOoooo im a "laaaady of DISTINCTIOM" how fancy! but tell me.. is your hair curly? ;) (the hair on the TOP of your head, sicko! ;))

green baron>> <<I saw Ballistics on Friday night and that was good. I loved Lucy Liu's character as Severs. Perfectly ruthless :)>> *Val grabs the keyboard* ...Are you frickin' NUTS?! Ruthless like a SOCK! We watched that a few nights ago. I'd rented it, cause the previews had promised a nonstop action extraveganza featuring two of my favorite stars.
That was, without a doubt, the WORST ACTION MOVIE OF ALL TIME. I've seen Chuck Norris movies that weren't that bad. It was so pathetic, even Lain was disappointed! *Shudders*
I could make a better film than that after recieving a drunken narcoleptic lobotomy. Infant woodland creatures are born posessing moviemaking skills that far surpass those of the "director" squeezed out.
...And don't even get me STARTED on Sum of All Fears... ; P
...
meeeeeeeeeeeeow!!!!!!!!! yeah. it was really bad. from whence your taste in movies, GB? if you want something shiney, go see the new james bond movie.. mmm what could be better than bondage..? *ignores gunjacks mantra of "diamond shrapnel!! diamond shrapnel!!!"

tony>> <<It ended in a smiley face!.. that a good sign>> yes, and with very good reason.. :) <<You two sound very married!>> heh.. maybe thats cause we are ;)


lain and gunjack
Monday, January 6, 2003 02:08:07 AM
IP: 65.93.74.26

Gunjack and Lain - Check your email regularly.

Green Baron - <And if we're using lifers, we can give them really dangerous assignments. After all, they're serving a life sentence, so all we have to lose is the bill for some jailbird's room and board.> First of all, I believe in a mandatory review of all 10 year old murder cases where there was no eye witness testimony or video camera showing the crime just to re-examine the evidence with new technology to re-establish or deny guilt. All convicted rapists should have a chance to have DNA confirm or deny their guilt if existing evidence makes that possible. Essentially, we want to ensure justice is just. Anybody who provided testimony that was knowingly false to convict an innocent person keeps 10 times the punishment that person would have got. Only take the prisoners whose guilt is absolute and beyond any possibility of being wrongly accused for use as prison labor.

Green Baron - <"NEW" Cows & Politics> Gotta love it. <Sacry things is, this is his hobby.> Sadly, next week I go back to college so things change. I finally got a response back from the federal government.

Fire Storm - thank your for explaining that.

Airwalker - <Goliath and Elisa was way way too fast for my taste> That was in November 1999 and the series started in 1994. What would you have prefered Goliath and Elisa never mate up in the series?

One more thing, before I forget: Gunjack and Lain - Check your email regularly.

DPH
AR, USA
Monday, January 6, 2003 01:22:42 AM
IP: 204.94.193.81

Vashkoda - Yay!!!! Thanks for the heads up. I'd have missed the new Buffy and Angel's otherwise. All is gratitude *^_^*

Gside - Actually it is a defined term, in that the hidden goodies in a DVD *are* called Easter Eggs. My definition simply didn't include ALL definitions and broadest spectrum descriptions of Easter Eggs. The point of giving ANY definitions for EEs was to point out what they were not, such as the trademarks/traits of a Japanese anime or manga. :: blows another rasberry at Gside :: :P ~~~~

Bristopher - Interesting name. Sort of a derrivative of Christopher? GNL stands for Gargoyles New Legends, which is a new fan produced continuation of Gargoyles, not connected to TGS. GNL is on it's second episode, with episode three due out in Febuary. Click the name at the bottom of this post to go to the GNL website.

Gargoyles New Legend's story premise is a continuation of Gargoyles beginning right after Hunters Moon. It disregards The Goliath Chronicles, but will incorporate the many of the ideas and concepts planned for Gargoyles that Greg Weisman mentioned in forums such as Ask Greg on Station 8. Our Brooklyn won't be time traveling though.

GNL debuted last Halloween, and our schedule is one episode every 6 to 8 weeks. We have an excellent group of writers and artists, if you are interested in taking a peek at our work. Comments are welcome, and there is a Comment Room set up for GNL as well. Links are on the home page.

Mooncat
>^,,^<

http://members.cox.net/lunafelis/Index.html

GARGOYLES NEW LEGENDS
Monday, January 6, 2003 12:02:36 AM
IP: 68.102.23.36

Captain I'm reading strange weather ahead. I nice sunshine and yet freezing wind, what's going on with this place? Ah missed last weeks posts.

Saw Star Trek this weekend. It was good but I thought that if they had made it longer or made a two parter type of thing then it would have been better. They had too many stories going at once.

ARG! Gotta go
Later.

Jaden - [jaden1444@aol.com]
Sunday, January 5, 2003 11:55:06 PM
IP: 172.191.55.137

TODD> <<Madoc was designed as being a sort of "Satan-equivalent", though in a manner that made him actually more evocative of a Tolkienesque Dark Lord>> Interesting that you should say that. I always made a small anology in my head with Madoc being Morgoth and Nicholas II being Sauron.

SPACEBABIE> <<My Dad agrees with you>> And you don't? <<They off such a class?>> I wish. More along the lines that I follow his work, read his online posts, etc. << The Complete Book of Scriptwriting by J. Michael Straczynski.(((I still have it)))>> I have a copy of that book myself.

AIRWALKER> <<Its one thing when it plays into a plot on Fate/Destiny (which it did to a point in BABYLON FIVE on many occassions and does in a lot of TGS stories too even if its not always emphasised) but on the other hand a little mystery is good too. It makes things more realistic>> Well, you don't know everything, there's still a lot left that we haven't revealed. A hell of a lot more has been left a mystery than has been revealed. You don't know what made Demona an outcast among her own race in the future. You don't know how Lex becomes what he does in 2198. If you were to take what we did reveal and weigh it against what we didn't reveal, well you get the idea. <<it lost track of Brooklyn for a while especially when dealing with Jr. Lite.>> All done for a reason, nothing is done by accident (well, occasionally a line here and there). <<Its not about the future or the little bit he might glimpse here and there, its supposed to be about Brooklyn (and family of course) and how they react and deal with that little bit they manage to learn as he tries to get home.>> it's always been planned since season one for Brooklyn to spend a long time in the future. We had to develop the world there and it's characters or else no one would give a damn about them. <<Jr. Lite>> Okay, I gotta say this; please call him by his damn name. It was cute for a while, but it's not funny anymore (PS: for those who can't tell, I'm not bitching, or yelling or anything when I say this, just conveying a message from Nick II. I know this sounds strange but the characters, especially the ones I've worked hard on developing are constantly having conversations in my head).

DEZI> <<'Cause Oberon's clearly not perfect>> No one is... except me ;)

GB> <<Now we just have to get rid of the other Kennedys. I think we should get them a ski resort and get the stoned before they ski. Drugs and skiing are both good ways of eliminating worthless Kennedys :)>> You and I should team up and just get rid of all politicians, we can arrange this sort of thign for the Kennedys, and also arrange for the Bushes to drown in oil. Gore loves the environment so much, we drop him off in the middle of the Amazon and leave him there to die. Lott, we nail him to a cross and for a KKK ralley and let him get burned on it ;)

So, anyone else have any deaths for politicians in mind that are poetic justice?

"Welcome to Babylon 5, the last best hope for a quick buck! I mean this is demeaning. We're not some... some 'Deep Space' franchise, this station is about something!"
-Commander Susan Ivanova "Babylon 5"

Greg Bishansky
Sunday, January 5, 2003 11:23:59 PM
IP: 216.179.5.130

Mooncat> <<blows rasberry at Gside>>: Eh, just saying the definition wasn't that specific, and if it were, it would not be with DVDs.

Heather> <<female names mainly are two parts while male names are mostly one word>>: Well, Mu Tsu is from a female dominated tribe, but Xian Pu and Ko Ron wouldn't make sense ther.

Imzadi> <<And those are just the known ones>>: Exactly. For examlple, I've recently started dating myself.
<<Sounds like a short book>>: You'd be surprised.
<<I think "don't know how to make love" is funnier>>: I take it that's from a text adventure?
<<What will he do with those?>>: Make friends.
<<So put him on a stool in front of the tympani>>: As I said, percussion's easy, but for a low string or woodwind (and the occaisonal brass), you need at least long arms.
<<If we were, God would have given us an inch of blubber and shaggy fur>>: We weren't?

Hyperion> <<No, you can't go back to Constantinople>>: And I believe we're back where we started. Good.

Vashkoda> <<here are some interesting things to spot if you're going to see TTT movie again>>: And don't forget the Rohirrim wearing sunglasses when they ride away from Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas.

Na zdorov'ya.

Gside - [gside@eden.rutgers.edu]
Fair Haven, NJ
Sunday, January 5, 2003 10:54:46 PM
IP: 68.38.240.227

Todd<<I don't see Oberon as a TGS "God-equivalent", of course.>> Good good. 'Cause Oberon's clearly not perfect, or that much of a god-figure for that matter. That was the part that was confusing my observation.

As far as Easter Eggs, on Sim City2000, if you type in just about any four-letter curse words, a bunch of little churches pop up in your residential areas (which are non-profit and multiply like rabbits and generally screw you over). There were also some other words that would trigger easter eggs, but I can't remember them right now. One of them had something to do with a superhero flying around.

Dezi
Sunday, January 5, 2003 10:38:03 PM
IP: 68.58.158.101

Hi guys! I'm looking for an artist, who would possibly be interested in doing a bit of work for me. I'm the owner of a Gargoyles online RPG and I was looking for a decent artist to do pictures of the member's characters. If anyone is in need of a challenge or something like that, I'd love to see your work and possibly recruit you! Thanks!
Manda - [Princess.Manda@verizon.net]
MA, USA
Sunday, January 5, 2003 10:19:30 PM
IP: 141.154.68.40

Hi all

I just a little lost. Just recently finished reading all the seasons. Does anyone know when the new seasons are due to start. Also whats everyone's thought on Lex and what happened to him in the timedancer series. It looks like the rest of the trio got mates and are cool, but he got screwed? Last thing what is GNL
Bristopher - [Bristopher@cox.net]
Topeka, KS
Sunday, January 5, 2003 10:17:19 PM
IP: 68.102.184.207

Asking "What makes Oberon and Titania lord and lady of the Third Race?" is rather like asking "What makes Elizabeth the Queen of England?" Tradition... family lineage... followers and allies willing to back your claim to power. The social order of fay society just has a very organized feudal structure, just like many human societies did throughout history. He who carries the biggest stick rules the kingdom. Some fay have more magical ability than others, and Oberon and Titania are both right up there at the top. Together, they must have what it takes to keep those of lesser power in line. And that's probably a good thing, since so many of the fay seem very carpricious and existential in their outlook on life. Without Oberon's magically-backed edicts to set limits for them, there'd be chaos.

"It's good to be da king." - Mel Brooks, "History of the World, Part 1"

Patrick Toman
Sunday, January 5, 2003 06:52:38 PM
IP: 67.38.248.157

DEZI - Madoc was designed as being a sort of "Satan-equivalent", though in a manner that made him actually more evocative of a Tolkienesque Dark Lord (out to conquer the world) than the traditional Christian Satan (out to corrupt the world more from spite than from personal ambition). The main inspiration for him, of course, was the medieval legend of Merlin being the son of the Devil but one who had rejected his father's evil. I don't see Oberon as a TGS "God-equivalent", of course.
Todd Jensen - [merlyn1@mindspring.com]
St. Louis, MO
Sunday, January 5, 2003 06:31:16 PM
IP: 67.28.89.173

Just a heads up to those who don't know: the next eps of Angel and Buffy are both new, and Angel has been moved to Wednesdays 9/8c.

Easter eggs> You may already know about this one, but the extended FOTR DVD has a hidden TTT trailer in the 'scene selection' section when you go beyond scene 48. And here are some interesting things to spot if you're going to see TTT movie again. Two of the Rohan kids huddling in the caves are Peter Jackson's kids. You may also recognize them from movie one, where they played hobbit kids. Viggo's (Aragorn's) son also has a cameo--he's the other kid in the shot where you see Viggo examining a boy's sword. Alan Lee (concept artist) has a brief cameo when Legolas is talking about how they're all going to die. Lee is also one of the nine kings you see holding up a ring in movie one. And Peter Jackson (director) has two cameos: one as a wild man standing near Saruman as he's giving his speech, and one as a Rohan soldier throwing a spear through a gap in the wall as the orcs are about to ram down the door. His cameo in movie one was the burping man in Bree.

Vashkoda
Sunday, January 5, 2003 05:25:59 PM
IP: 129.98.123.136

Well, I had something witty and insightful to say based on some current event...but I cant' seem to find that file anymore. Damn.
Oh, look. The Islamic Jihad bombed Israel again. Good work there, o disciples of the Religion of Peace. Yawn.
Actually, what was funny was the "Bomb explodes in Israel. No information available about how was responsible" banner on CNN. Like, did they think the Buddhists suddenly decided to throw us a curve ball or something?
*BOOM*
Islamic Fundamentalists: Wait! That wasn't us!
Buddhists: Ha! Maybe now you'll take us seriously!

Oh, look. It's snowing. Hey, that's somewhat interesting. Or at least, it warranted a two page spread in our paper about the formation of snowflakes. Hey! It’s *ice* you idiots!

Let's just move on.

lain/gunjack> <wine> Well, now...hold on. Some types of wine are good. Naturally I don’t' know what kind of selection y'all get up there in Canuck-land, but, if you get the right kind, it's a treat. I've had some wines that were orgasmically good, but they're probably out of your price range.
Unless, of course, you're one of those weirdoes that just doesn’t like wine, in which case I'll treat you to a bottle of Jack.
<hes as romantic as a box of sawdust> Does that mean he's never offered you a romantic massage by candlelight? Tsk. Let me know when he finally shoves off and I'll show you how a man should treat a lady of your distinction. *wink*
<that I will NOT be celebrating sex> Fine, I'll take your portion.

Josh><Are you often unsure?> After some of the parties I've been to, yes.
<I know at least one person> They're probably lying.
<And if I was> I don't know…I've never actually seen the movie I was quoting from.
<that's like $450 canadian, right>What? I never said anything even remotely like that. You're slipping, Josh m'boy. Go have some coffee and try again.

Fire Storm><DIE YOU JERRY LOUIS LOVING MOTHER F@#$ER!>Well, come on, with all the frogs legs they eat, you'd think they could jump at lest a little bit. I mean, who can't jump higher than a 52 ton tank? It's not like the tank can jump.
<Berserker in England with TWO axes> But, but weapons are illegal on England! How could this BEEEEEEEEEE!
Sorry, anti-gun control side breaking though for a moment.

Gside><Can you take me back to Constantinople?>No, you can't go back to Constantinople, 'cause it's Istanbul, not Constantinople...

<its (I’d assume) insulting to people who do believe in the native religions> oh please, everything you do today insults someone. Someone was insulted at McDonalds when I ordered a (McDonalds equivalent of) a hamburger. When ask why, if this was so insulting, she was standing in a McDonalds in the first place, she replied she was "raising awareness" of vegetarianism. Several people did laugh when I yelled, "Darwin alert!"
Anyway, just give up, already.

Green Baron><"NEW" Cows & Politics>Very amusing. I have printed it out for future reference.
<I think the idea would be good as we can save a fortune with prison labor. And if we're using lifers, we can give them really dangerous assignments. After all, they're serving a life sentence, so all we have to lose is the bill for some jailbird's room and board.> Sold! Just don't make them build new prisons. That's just a mistake waiting to happen.
<at least they don't have Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend> True. But the gun-control laws still suck. Hey kids! Here's a fun home game to play! List the state with the lowest numbers of crime, then list the state with the least restrictive gun-control laws. Compare. Can you draw any conclusions? (HINT: Washington DC, the "murder capital of the world" has the most restrictive gun-control laws in the nation)
<Drugs and skiing are both good ways of eliminating worthless Kennedys :)> So's STDs. Get them a few Vietnamese hookers.

****************************************************
"Sure you know where you are going?"
"Of course. I have an excellent memory."
"Positive?"
"Abso-fragging-lutely-dammit. Since our last discussion I have been studying your use of language. Do you approve?"
"Well, we'll talk about that later. Left or right?"
"Left. .. I believe."

Hyperion
Sunday, January 5, 2003 04:35:32 PM
IP: 151.199.238.118

Poor Spacebabie! :: Were-goyle Jon and Jason chibis parade in with bowls of hot chicken soup, glasses of orange juice (or vitamin C drink of choice), followed by other chibis bearing arrays of toasted sandwiches, hot cocoa with melting marshmellos, smutty reading material, and Godiva chocolates ::

Get better soon!
MC

Mooncat
Sunday, January 5, 2003 03:57:42 PM
IP: 68.102.23.36

Hi all.
Spacebabie, I feel your pain. I came home sick from work yesterday, and spent the rest of the day drowning in Sunny D (which my boyfriend so graciously got me in an attempt to boost my vitamin C). Also watched TV without my contacts on, which was very very weird for me. BTW Aleve cold and sinus 12 hour completely sucks. It is useless. Generic Walgreens Sudafed is much much better.
My Dad, who's in the Army, decided it would be a good idea to tell me that Congress had passed a bill about all males having a mandatory two years of military service, just to see what I would think about my brother and my boyfriend having to go off to war. I had heard of the bill but not heard any resolution of it.-This just occurred to me while typing- Congress isn't even back in session till tomorrow! *smacks forehead*
Anyway, I told him the government can HAVE my brother and do with him what they please. As for my boyfriend, he'd probably declare that we're moving to Canada. My dad called me back this morning to tell me he had actually lost sleep over that one. ;) "No draft-dodger is gonna marry my daughter!" Then I taught my five-year-old little sister to tell my dad "O Canada." She did what she was told and then asked my dad what a canada is.\
She has been corrupted by the wonderful movie Lilo and Stitch, and is driving everyone nuts by acting like Lilo, especially the scene where Lilo has an argument with her sister Nani. What a wonderful little prodigy. :)

Tony<<why is Lord Oberon called LORD. What makes him so special aside from that he has more powers than the rest of the fay? Why is every other fay considered “Oberon’s children”, are he and Titania their parents?>>
I think he is lord, like the lord of the manor, or something like that. Titania is also called Lady. It sounds to me like he comes from a line of more powerfull fay (Avallech and Danu)that have been around so long that they just can boss around the other fay. Maybe like the Pharoah was supposed to be like a god, or that the Pope is supposed to be infallible *probably unintentionally opens up a can of worms* the other fay just take his orders. I dunno *defers to the writers here* but that is just what I got out of it.
I also got out of it somewhere (but can't remember where for anything) that maybe it is the humans who start calling the fay Oberon's Children. Some of them really are the children of the two, but the rest are just subjects of him.
One question that has risen in my mind: If Madoc is always being referred to by the humans as the prince of darkness, is that anything like Madoc being the devil and Oberon being god? *can of worms opens further* Not looking for a argument or religious lecture or anything, but keep in mind that just as Christians can look upon other religions as myths, then followers of other religions can look upon Christianity as a myth too. I was just wondering if that tone was intentional or not.

The basilisk is dancing the funky chicken, while the San Diego Chicken is dancing the macarena.

Dezi
Sunday, January 5, 2003 01:50:37 PM
IP: 68.58.158.101

Not much has happened here as usual. I saw Ballistics on Friday night and that was good. I loved Lucy Liu's character as Severs. Perfectly ruthless :)

Mooncat> Glad you're feeling better. I had a flu back at the tail end of 1999, and I coudl not eat anything. I was visiting a friend in Mid-Tennessee and it was just my luck that the flu was going around that area. Luckily Jane took care of me and she had internet for me to use while I was so sick :)

Tony Elliott> <<Calling a Dodge a “German” car would be an insult to BMW and VW>> After spending almost two years in Germany, I've seen that BMW's and Benz's aren't all fancy cars. In fact, I can buy a BMW for $1,500.00, though it would be 10 years old :)

When I do buy a car, probably when I return to the US, I'll go for a used Japanese, with good fuel efficiency. I just wish we could get rid fo those stupid tarriffs on Japanese cars. This is the 21st century and we need to dump all these stupid antiquated protectionist policies.

Since I am a Finance soldier, I use a computer for work. I am able to use it at night as long as I take care of everything and don't leave the office open.

Imzadi> <<Yes there is. It's called racism and affirmative action. Long story, but the way things are right now, special interest race groups won't ALLOW the kind of unity that exists in Star Trek.>>

Speaking of race-baiters and otehrs who profit from racism, Al Sharpton is planning to run for President. I think he should run as an Independent with David Duke as his running mate :)

It's reassuring Sharpton has no chance of winning, as can be shown by Pat Buchanan's low performance in his Presidential run.

Another New Year and I spent it working. Oh joy!!

Niamhgold> The unit from New Hampshire enjoyed your greetings.

DPH> <<Let them work up to 10 hours a day. Let them work in the kitchen, under close supervision, etc eliminating the need for so many paid employees.>> I meant 14 hours a week. Even Lain and Gabriel think a 14 hour work week is too soft for prisoners ;)

I think the idea would be good as we can save a fortune with prison labor. And if we're using lifers, we can give them really dangerous assignments. After all, they're serving a life sentence, so all we have to lose is the bill for some jailbird's room and board.

<<I agree. I like the idea of school vouchers.>> I do, too, but I am concerned that it may provide a back door for Governments to infiltrate private schools and begin tehir evil micro management there, as they have fouled teh public school system so thoroughly.

Hyperion> <<IN a related note if anyone has seen "Vampire" wine, imported from Transylvania, (no joke, they call it "the blood of the vine") I can't really recommend it for human consumption, but I'm sure it would make a fine oven cleaner.>> Coming from a former Communist country, I am not surprised. That reminds me of a joke I will now share. It involves cows:

"NEW" Cows & Politics
DEMOCRAT:
You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You vote people into office that put a tax on your cows, forcing you to sell one to raise money to pay the tax. The people you voted for then take the tax money, buy a cow and give it to your neighbor. You feel righteous. Barbara Streisand sings for you.
SOCIALIST:
You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.
REPUBLICAN:
You have two cows. Your neighbor has none. So?
COMMUNIST:
You have two cows. The government seizes both and provides you with milk. You wait in line for hours to get it. It is expensive and sour.
CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE:
You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.
DEMOCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE:
You have two cows. The government taxes you to the point you have to sell both to support a man in a foreign country who has only one cow, which was a gift from your government.
BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE:
You have two cows. The government takes them, shoots one, milks the other, pays you for the milk, and then pours it down the drain.
AMERICAN CORPORATION:
You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one. You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up.
FRENCH CORPORATION:
You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows. You go to lunch. Life is good.
JAPANESE CORPORATION:
You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school.
GERMAN CORPORATION:
You have two cows. You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour. Unfortunately, they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.
ITALIAN CORPORATION:
You have two cows but you don't know where they are. You then see a beautiful woman. You break for lunch. Life is good.
RUSSIAN CORPORATION:
You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You have some more vodka. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 12 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka. You produce your 10th five year plan in the last three months. The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.
TALIBAN CORPORATION:
You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two. You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts. Then you kill them and claim a U.S. bomb blew them up while they were in the hospital.
POLISH CORPORATION:
You have two bulls. Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.
FLORIDA POLITICS:
You have a black cow and a brown cow. Everyone votes for the best looking one. Some of the people who like the brown one best vote for the black one. Some people vote for both. Some people vote for neither. Some people can't figure out how to vote at all. Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which is the best-looking cow.
NEW YORK POLITICS:
You have fifteen million cows. You have to choose which one will be the leader of the herd, so you pick some fat cow from Arkansas.

<<Nifty! Now if only MD didn't have draconian weapons laws I could live there comfortably.>> Well, at least they don't have Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend, aka the Blair Witch as their next Governor.

Now we just have to get rid of the other Kennedys. I think we should get them a ski resort and get the stoned before they ski. Drugs and skiing are both good ways of eliminating worthless Kennedys :)

Warpmind> I have created my own nation at that site :) My firt move was to abolish tarriffs ;)

Godiva> Thanks, but I really can't have anything that spicy. It burns my throat rather badly.

Lain> Did you get that email from Karen? I take it you're back to using the Newfie shack ;)

Gunjack> <<...And from the looks Lain's giving me, it would appear that I will NOT be celebrating sex.>> LOL!!

<<It seems that every time I try to celebrate something, I find out the Pagans invented it first.>> And this bothers you? I see it as why reinvent the wheel when making a holiday.

Also, I see no reason to celebrate May Day. I am appalled Germany has it.

Imzadi> <<I'll do it: DPH GET A HOBBY.>> Sacry things is, this is his hobby.

Fire Storm> <<Kama Sutra for the Broom>> Sounds like that Harry Potter broom that young girls are getting. Well, it's cheaper than horseback lessons ;)

Shannon> ::hugs:: It's been a while.

Greg X> The journey is the best part. I can read a website with some spoilers on Harry Turtledove's Great War saga, but how everything occurs is a whole different matter.

Spacebabie> <<The boy came over and wanted to borrow my new DVD…Dumbass didn’t check to see if Disc 1 was in the case. He had to come back for it.>> Way to go, brokedick :)


Green Baron - [greenbaron@hotmail.com]
Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
Sunday, January 5, 2003 12:47:22 PM
IP: 136.216.75.6

GREG BISHANSKY - You wrote: [It's not the end of the story that is important, it's the journey getting there that's interesting.]

I see the point that your driving at and in general I largely agree that the journey to the destination is the meat of the story and is what is largely interesting. I just also think that the destination doesn't have to be revealed in advance. Its one thing when it plays into a plot on Fate/Destiny (which it did to a point in BABYLON FIVE on many occassions and does in a lot of TGS stories too even if its not always emphasised) but on the other hand a little mystery is good too. It makes things more realistic.

You wrote: [We know that in twenty years, Londo will be Emperor, a puppet of the Drakh, and that he and G'Kar will die at each other's hands as friends rather than enemies. Doesn't kill any suspence at all. The journey getting to these events is what's interests me.]

True; but in the beginning of BABYLON 5 they only had bits and pieces of that future. It was questionable if it was the future, if it was going to happen that way or not. It played into a subplot on Fate and Destiny. As things went on it became more apparent that it was going to happen that way but even then until it happened it was up in the air. It played into the developing journey and the suspence that was being developed.

Now in the example I was running with of Mary Sefton and Merlin, the revelation that they end up getting married, having a family, and living happily till she dies isn't the end of the world. It doesn't kill any of the story that will probably develop in PENDRAGON about how they get together and get to that point. I don't even mind it that much; I'm just using it as an example.

But it doesn't really play into that story of Mary and Merlin's relationship other than to give people a sort of chance to skip to the end of the story and see that things turn out alright more or less and feel good about it. (I have that bad habit - I tend to skip to the end of the book to see how it turns out. I hate doing that but still do it. Lack of Patience I guess. :-) ) Its not playing into a Destiny/Fate plot and it wasn't even there as commentary on their relationship in PENDRAGON; it was thrown out there to support the background of a completely new character in another series. With Gkar and Londo, what we knew about the future fed into their relationship, our understanding of it and its development. Our knowing what happens with Mary and Merlin doesn't do more at this point in furthering any understanding of them as characters or furthering their development as characters and relationshipwise.

(That can change in the future as TGS is constantly changing and developing; I don't know what track will be taken with the next seasons of PENDRAGON and TIMEDANCER. I can only comment on the material that is currently around. And right now a future married Merlin and Mary doesn't really say much about current Merlin and Mary and how they got there other than "The two of them end up married! Let's all feel good about it!")

You wrote: [You don't like some of the future being revealed, then don't read "Timedancer".]

Again its not so much the revelation of the future that bugs me so much as it is that its not really serving a larger purpose for the characters in question. Besides I don't read TIMEDANCER to see the future as much as I do to read the TGS version of Brooklyn's adventures and development. The main plot with him as I see it are a combination of Destiny/Fate and Responsibility; the time and place don't really mean that much. The last TIMEDANCER season may have gotten locked into the Time/Place idea too heavily - it lost track of Brooklyn for a while especially when dealing with Jr. Lite. Its not about the future or the little bit he might glimpse here and there, its supposed to be about Brooklyn (and family of course) and how they react and deal with that little bit they manage to learn as he tries to get home.

You wrote: [Cause we're not going to apologize for the story. It's your problem, not our's.]

I didn't ask for any apology and I didn't say the story was bad or badly written because it wasn't. I'm just saying how I see things - I never said I was right and you were wrong or that you have to do things my way. I'm just stating my opinion. You don't have to get upset about it. I'm not trying to bash TGS or anyone in particular. I'm just commenting.


TODD - You wrote: [And Nicholas II will be an additional tragedy for Merlin, I agree - but on the other hand, he and Mary also have Angelica for a child, and that will ease much of the pain there.]

I don't think that the ruin of his eldest child will be offset much by the success of his youngest. Even with Angelica, Jr. Lite has to be an open sore on his heart, just if he's looking at it as a parent.

Of course it might not have to be like that- I got the impression from the flashbacks in TIMEDANCER that when it came to his son, Merlin was a bit tougher and more distant than he was with his daughter. That does make it a little easier to swallow the estranged relationship between the two on its own and why Jr. Lite would be more willing to turn to a stranger like Garlon to look for a Father figure rather than immediately confront Merlin. It also makes it more likely and realistic that Merlin with his tendency to be a bit self-centered can just write off his son easily and without taking it really personally. (He does basically give up on him but giving up on him as a person and as a son are two different things. I didn't get the feeling that he had given up on him as his son although I could be wrong about that.)

Airwalker - [airwalker9999@yahoo.com]
Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, January 5, 2003 12:35:26 PM
IP: 12.88.161.120

Grrrrr Argh!

Went to bed last night with a sore throat woke feeling the infected hand of Pestilence on my shoulder.
:Notices a white gargoyle that resembls Brooklyn sigh and slap his hand over his forhead:
No not that Pestilence! I’m talking about the original horseman not your clone brother Death. :::The white “borged” clone gives out a hew while Spacie feels another hand on her shoulder. She turns and stares into the lecherus eyes of Pest.:::

One year and three months straight with no illness…that is pretty good. Took some Dayquil and now I’m taking medicine with the Doctor…A lil Amaretto in a can of Dr Pepper.

Dad had some bad luck Friday night. He broke his glasses and the next morning the clutch in his car was broken. He has a back up pair and his car is fixed now.

The boy came over and wanted to borrow my new DVD…Dumbass didn’t check to see if Disc 1 was in the case. He had to come back for it.

Replies:
Todd<<<Ents was his wanting to do the Birnam Wood scene in "Macbeth" properly>>>“This time Birnam wood come to Elsenore, methinks its selling door to door.”

Revel>>>Kisses him back.

Heather<<<Because now we can actually talk TGS again>>>We can always talk about TGS if we want to.

GXB<<<Haven't watched an episode in a couple years, but damn, this is still hands down, no room for debate, the greatest sci-fi series ever written.>>>My Dad agrees with you.<<<Please, kill me.>>>Don’t worry someday your Dominique Destine will come.<<<I'll be up front and say that I attended (still am attending actually) the "J. Michael Straczynski School of Writing">>>They off such a class? I’m serious they offer neat classes these days like Lain’s Star Trek class and the Tolkien class that they are offering this semester at my campus. I think of sort of took the Straczynxki course when I took Scriptwriting. My professor was a big Sci-Fi fan and out text book was The Complete Book of Scriptwriting by J. Michael Straczynski.(((I still have it)))

Lain and Gunjack>>>Oooh festive…Lain’s red flame and Gunjack’s green letters.<<<If only men would listen…>>>LOL!<<<thats pathetic.. oh wait..*sniffs gunjack pillow* mmmmmmm.. uh.. nevermind..>>>Ha! Now I know why all of you get sappy…cause we are walking on endorphins.<<<Pity that they had to wrap her in a walking tank to keep the hormone levels under control…>>>Nintendo Power drew her for a mini comic series they did. They combined Ripley from Aliens with princess Leia.

Josh<<<Today I baked for the first time ever, this yummy tunnel of fudge cake>>>Is that like a lava cake?<<<Cursed spa jacked up their rates>>>Revel gave me a wonderful massage for free…oh wait…you don’t want to hear…eh forget what you don’t want to hear :P<<<Why so soon? >>>He has his job at his local grocery store and UCF starts it’s spring semester on the sixth.<<<Geeks.>>>What do you do if you have member fro the CR over?<<<Actually no it would rule equally if it were a guy.>>>But it’s better caus it’s a girl.<<<Damn saps.>>>:P

Firestorm<<<Ah, I understand. LM and I are just forgetable!>>>Naw it’s that I was so pumped.

Leo<<<I think watching "Moulin Rouge" has messed up your mind.>>>Well we did watch the movie and then went to Circue De Solei right after…that’s sensory overload!

14.”How can you hesitate? Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth.”~ Kathrine Mansfield

Spacebabie - [LadyAndromeda@smstars.zzn.com]
Orlando, FL, U.S.A
Sunday, January 5, 2003 12:32:43 PM
IP: 67.25.49.227

AIRWALKER - Well, from that angle, I suppose that the real problem was that we started with "Timedancer" this season, with "Pendragon" coming after it. I suspect that the problem would have been less severe if we'd done Season Four of "Pendragon" first - but too late for that, now.

And Nicholas II will be an additional tragedy for Merlin, I agree - but on the other hand, he and Mary also have Angelica for a child, and that will ease much of the pain there.

Todd Jensen - [merlyn1@mindspring.com]
St. Louis, MO
Sunday, January 5, 2003 07:37:35 AM
IP: 67.28.89.18

13th - a good superstitious number – its bad luck to be superstitious!

Guardians (TGS-Gargoyles-Season1) was a great episode. I hope to see more of Sharon in the future as a regular character. Beth’s encounter with Coyote was interesting. However, in this episode and even back in “Cloud Fathers #54”, I never liked the idea that the Native American religion is based on schemes and meddlings of fay. Two reasons for this, 1: its (I’d assume) insulting to people who do believe in the native religions; and 2: Coyote, Puck, Oberon, and the rest of ‘em are not worthy of religious devotion or worship. At best, they are as just greedy, selfish, and “human” as anyone else; and with that power, they could cause a lot of trouble.
One thing I’ve been wondering about since I first saw the show years ago was how the fay are supposed to be part of Gargoyles universe, and why is Lord Oberon called LORD. What makes him so special aside from that he has more powers than the rest of the fay? Why is every other fay considered “Oberon’s children”, are he and Titania their parents?

Aside from TGS fic, I’m glad Mooncat & her crew cranked out another good GNL episode. I’ve only read part 1 so far (saving the rest for later), and am surprised that Brook is interested in Delillah. If the relationship works out, it’s much more practical than throwing Brook around with the phoenix gate to find a mate. I keep mixing up the plot lines from TGS and GNL; so every time I start reading a story, I need to mentally back track which events happened here and what happened in the other story… very confusing at times, lol.

I’m not going to get too involved with the easter egg / fan service debate, but I will say this. The best movie ever, well at least in the last few years, was “The score” with Rob DeNiro. It had a great plot, a few twists, no one died, and it didn’t have any of the little gimmicks that sell so many movies. It was just a well written, acted, and produced movie; and I wish more movies, TV shows, and stores were written like it. Laurence, good luck with your Montreal based RPG. By the way, The Score takes place in Montreal too. I’m giving a gargoyles RPG a try: groups.msn.com/GargoylesGuardiansofEdinburgh . Anyone else ever try a Gargoyles RPG before?

School starts back up tomorrow, I envy all of you students who still have another few weeks off.

Replies…
---------------------------
Josh
I found your first post, Thursday, February 22, 2001. Do you still have that engineering jokes file?
<Do you often drive a Z3, you bastard?>
Now now, no need for insults… yet. Yes, it’s my grocery getter; the weekend vehicle is either the Lamborghini or the Leer Jet.
**Tony doesn’t think Josh believes him**
So click my name for a few proof pix :)
< Anyone have an opinion of Honda's service/quality? I'm thinking about a new Accord>
Do you mean new to you, or do you mean brand new 03’ Accord. My dad just got a 03’ Accord and the car is just as nice, if not nicer than the Lexus LS400 he had 8 years ago. I cant vouch about service since it hasn’t been serviced for anything yet. Although I will be the first to bash Dodge/Chrysler (see what I mean, I have no reason to say that, but I really wanted to). But for the same money, if you lease, you could probably get the Honda S2000 coupe… that’s one of the few cars I’d rather have over a motorcycle.

Dezi
<Personally, I like it cold in January. It gives balance to the seasons. Indiana's lack of balance is really throwing me off, and that's only 50 degrees in January. I went home to north western Illinois for Christmas and it was a lovely 20-some degrees as the high. Ahhhhhhh. I need some snow.>
Winter sucks! Humans were not designed for winter. If we were, God would have given us an inch of blubber and shaggy fur. *My minds eye is seeing a planet Chewbaccas* Spacebabie has it all figured out, live in Florida; the state where you don’t need to own a 5 lb coat. I’m gona’ move there as soon as I’m out of college… just another year and a half till I’m out of Wisconsin!

Laurence
<As for Elisa's garter belt... whoo boy do I remember that. ;) >
What episode was this?

Greg Bishansky
<okay, so that experience did not happen to me, but as far as I'm concerned, when I pay $200 for this poster and signature, I own the story as well.>
I wonder what Sirtis would do if someone brought her a Demona poster at Trek convention. How much do you think a autographed cell would go for?
Everyone - have any of the voice actors ever been to a gargoyles gathering?

Spike / Christi
I looked at your art page and saw some of your cat-mans/feline-sapiens. Have you ever seen Miri from “Magic the Gathering”? Click on my name for the pix. I think the one in the bottom left is best - the craft, use of space, and pose.

lain and gunjack
< tony elliot>> mail soon! (likely tomorrow night) :) >
It ended in a smiley face!.. that a good sign. No one else here knows what were talking about. If all goes well, they will eventually. Take your time Lain, I was just starting to get worried that I fell through the cracks; but I’m not worried anymore.
<*snatches back keyboard* forgive the lout. he doesnt even know how to spell hallowe'en. *huffy* like a typical man, he appears to have forgotten that valentines day is our anniversary... tommy gun indeed. i think someones going to be spending a very romantic evening alone and cold sleeping in the BATHTUB! *hmph!*>
LMAO - You two sound very married!

Tony Elliot - [h664e34@hotmail.com]
Milwaukee, WI
Sunday, January 5, 2003 04:21:50 AM
IP: 65.29.159.249

Went to the LA auto show today. Pictures will probably not be posted, but they had lots of cool stuff.

Anyone have an opinion of Honda's service/quality? I'm thinking about a new Accord.

Airwalker: <<Probably; after all they can't see or hear anything when they are stone>>: So could they be destroyed by a human's magic fireball while in stone sleep? <<or just casual sex?>>: Casual sex is the bastion of the immoral...therefore its reserved for bad guys (George Harrison and Hyena). <<he's gotten too old for that>>: NEVER!

Todd: <<I very much suspect that their relationship in "Bad Guys" would have been even stormier than Merlin and Mary Sefton's>>: I wouldn't call Merlin/Mary's relationship "stormy". They call each other names on occasion. <<entering a same-sex relationship with an adolescent male wizard,>>: Out of curiosity, where did this come from?

Fire Storm: <<"Toy Soldiers">>: Great movie! <<LM wasn't too happy about that>>: I don't get it. <<AUTO SHOW carpeting? Low quality lube? A single 60 watt bulb for lighting?>>: The latter might be good if the people involved are also of low quality ;-) <<Get 'em while they are young, I always say>>: You eat babies, dude! <<me and my sisters are all between the ages of 16 and 21 and have NEVER been with a man before>>: Welcome to Santa Anthrax. <<There are just too many couples to remember in here>>: And those are just the known ones. <<Unless I decide to get REALLY smart a$$ and give a math lesson>>: Are you qualified to do that? <<I know a way to find something. Vocate venti fortunate>>: Yeah, that'll find something. Technically. <<just try getting that into the store!>>: One wheel at a time. <<Kama Sutra for the Broom>>: Sounds like a short book. <<Then lock the main door to the dungeon, pump in pheromone gas, let the cameras roll and make a pay web porn site>>: And blackmail the heros I've imprisoned there, for even more cash!

Leo: <<That movie gets three stars for killing Will Wheaton>>: And not waiting till the end to do it! <<you mean Ford EXCRETION>>: Its awful big to be a shit 8-)

Gside: <<One well-known early Easter egg found in a couple of OSes caused them to respond to the command `make love' with `not war?'>>: Very clever. But I think "don't know how to make love" is funnier. <<Very good, young pedant>>: We can all aspire to be there. <<When I offer my nuts around the suite, no one wishes to partake>>: Try roasting them first. <<And she's hot>>: of course. <<Will he at least have a rock and a stuffed coyote>>: What will he do with those? <<She's even uncapped your name>>: Does that mean he's not important? We were always taught that you capitalize important things. <<I like red meat off the bone, and the concept of malt beer>>: As do I. But the arrows are too cool. <<You need height to get good bass>>: So put him on a stool in front of the tympani. <<Even with the prisoners you've kept locked in solitary for the majority of their life?>>: Especially with those.

Mooncat: <<wonder what kind we might find in the upcoming Gargoyles DVD>>: Whatever they are, you can bet we'll be discussing them in here 8-)

Greg: <<It's not the end of the story that is important, it's the journey getting there that's interesting>>: I call shenanigans! If that were true, we'd know a lot more about how the story turns out.

88. If a group of henchmen fail miserably at a task, I will not berate them for incompetence then send the same group out to try the task again.

Josh - [ATkicktothenutsDOTcom]
Encino, CA, US of A
Sunday, January 5, 2003 02:29:19 AM
IP: 67.117.14.152

AIRWALKER> About this whole, "revealing the fates of characters debate". I'll be up front and say that I attended (still am attending actually) the "J. Michael Straczynski School of Writing"

It's not the end of the story that is important, it's the journey getting there that's interesting. To, again, use the "Babylon 5" anology; "War Without End" We know that the Shadows are defeated, we know that Sheridan and Delenn get together and have a son. We know that in twenty years, Londo will be Emperor, a puppet of the Drakh, and that he and G'Kar will die at each other's hands as friends rather than enemies. Doesn't kill any suspence at all. The journey getting to these events is what's interests me.

You don't like some of the future being revealed, then don't read "Timedancer". Cause we're not going to apologize for the story. It's your problem, not our's.

Greg Bishansky
Sunday, January 5, 2003 01:48:06 AM
IP: 216.179.5.130

10th in the name of the Fay!

MC

Mooncat
Sunday, January 5, 2003 01:44:14 AM
IP: 68.102.23.36

Oh, 9th!
Airwalker - [Airwalker9999@yahoo.com]
Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, January 5, 2003 01:35:06 AM
IP: 12.88.162.180

TODD - You wrote: [I had planned from the start, when working on "Pendragon" Season Three, that the two of them were going to be a "permanent" couple]

I don't mind that; its more that whenever I read the stories I get the feeling that everything tends to move too fast. Sometimes its completely unjustified. In this case I go from the end of the last season of PENDRAGON where they finally get around to kissing and then leap to the flashbacks of TIMEDANCER where she and Merlin are living together married and completely domesticated. Its a bit jarring.

You wrote: [Call it soft-heartedness, but I thought that, in light of all the tragedy that Merlin had had in his life, he needed a little happiness in it.]

I can see what you see when I look at it like that; after the life he's lead he could use some happiness although if thats the point then it does seem a bit cruel to give him Jr. Lite for a son thus tainting the memories of some of his life with Mary and throwing some more guilt on top of everything he has up to this point.

I was really looking at it more from the viewpoint of Mary Sefton rather than Merlin. When I read the stories I tend to lean more towards her viewpoint since she's the "normal" character coming into the "secret" PENDRAGON world and is having to deal with it. Its hard to identify with a Medieval Sorcerer even if he's trapped in the body of a teenager. And most if not all of Mary Sefton's difficulties tend to have developed around the time she came into contact with Merlin.

You wrote: [I'll admit that "Two Roads Diverged" killed a little suspense there, but truth to tell, I hadn't planned on any suspense over whether they would stay together past the end of Season Three]

Maybe its not so much suspence that I was thinking about; I think that in TGS once two people couple up then tend to become way too happy and largely peaceful when dealing with each other. Once they pair off they tend to have reached the peak of their development and just spend their time looking at each other with googly eyes. :-)

I don't mind if they pair up and stick with it; I know people who have done that. But at the same time it terms of story I don't think that the idea should be dismissed even if its not going to be used; especially when your dealing with easily angered and hot blooded characters like Mary Sefton and Merlin.

You wrote: [Greg Weisman did much the same when he mentioned in "Ask Greg" that there'd be descendants of Dingo and Robyn Canmore in the 22nd century in his MasterPlan]

But we wouldn't actually be seeing the two of them in a flashback married and domesticated; we get to see the relationship form and develop in BAD GUYS and then in the future in G2198 we see descendents who might have some silly family stories passed down to them but nothing more. (And with Dingo and Robyn, odds are that we would only see one or the other - either the relationship or the faroff result but not both, not within a short time of each other, and the future would probably not emphasis the two specific modern day characters as much as they would the descendent appearing in that series.)

Its not so much knowing that Mary and Merlin get married just as it isn't so much knowing that Dingo and Robyn have descendents - there is still tons of leeway to develop them and have the relationships grow. Its more seeing the jump from the very moment of getting together to suddenly seeing them broken down in a flashback in the future. Maybe it wouldn't stick out to me as much if there had been more space between the two, if the relationship had been given some development time in the present before we see the ultimate fate later on.

You wrote: [But I believe that this is one area that we'll just have to agree to disagree on.]

I don't even really think that they have to break up; I just think that the threat or idea of it shouldn't be easily dismissed as if it isn't a possibility (even if it is a very, very remote one). Actually given the way the two characters are in PENDRAGON they pretty much deserve each other. :-) I think that especially early on the options should be kept open even if the option isn't really an option.

You wrote: [But don't worry that much about Mary; this upcoming season of "Pendragon" is going to show that there's a lot more to her than the future "Mrs. Merlin".]

Good; to be honest I'm a bit tired of seeing every single TGS couple get tamed once they hook up. (That doesn't mean that I'm looking to see them all start endless arguments or just fight for no reason; but some conflict would be nice once in a while.)


LEO - You wrote: [I have to disagree about that. I thouhht Nemesis was trying to hard to be a "Wrath of Kahn".]

I got that feeling too! Every Trek Fan I know said the same thing. Still I think that the movie was alright; I wasn't looking for rocket science after all, just some entertainment at the movies. The movie entertained me and to me was worth the time I spent to see it. What I want to see now is the DVD release with the hour of footage that they cut out.

Airwalker - [airwalker9999@yahoo.com]
Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, January 5, 2003 01:33:58 AM
IP: 12.88.162.180

EIIIIIIGHT!!! WOOOO!!!
Gunjack and Lain
Sunday, January 5, 2003 12:19:05 AM
IP: 65.93.74.26

Coyote & Ravyn: Finally someone replies to me! I miss the old group. Anyway, I just wondering about the Chinese clan's naming system. I've been looking on some websites and it seems female names mainly are two parts while male names are mostly one word: Would this work the name way with the Chinese clan?
Heather - [Kheetor84@cox.net]
Warner Robins, GA, USA
Saturday, January 4, 2003 11:30:53 PM
IP: 68.99.148.20

Top Ten!

*huggles GB*

Shannon(Bronx)&Leslie
Saturday, January 4, 2003 11:24:20 PM
IP: 64.12.96.138

Top ten!!

Heather: You're welcome. Incidentally, if you're looking for the 3X3 Eyes character, her name is Mei Hsing Lung, and she appears in one of the earlier parts of the story (in the anime, it's on the second tape of the first collection).

Coyote and Ravyn
Algonac, Michigan
Saturday, January 4, 2003 11:16:53 PM
IP: 216.234.126.63

I take the Fifth again!
Spacebabie
Saturday, January 4, 2003 10:49:42 PM
IP: 67.25.49.195

Fouth!
Wheeeeeee!

Dezi
Saturday, January 4, 2003 10:43:25 PM
IP: 68.58.158.101

3rd!! Top 10!!
DPH
AR, USA
Saturday, January 4, 2003 10:23:11 PM
IP: 204.94.193.38

2nd
Leo
Saturday, January 4, 2003 10:21:57 PM
IP: 68.96.8.12

TOP TEN!

1st!

Heather - [Kheetor84@cox.net]
Warner Robins, GA, USA
Saturday, January 4, 2003 10:20:27 PM
IP: 68.99.148.20

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