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Gside: <<First day of work tomorrow, should be interesting.>>
I feel the same way about my first day of college tomorrow. Where are you working and what do you do?
Tharos
Monday, August 23, 2004 12:11:00 AM
IP: 165.190.89.139

First day of work tomorrow, should be interesting.

Fire Storm> <<Just haven't felt much like posting. Just more lurking>>: Not much to do about that.

Lynati> <<Oh, a little from column A, a little from column B...and socks>>: So is that very little leather on only your top half or bottom half? And it doesn't seem like the weather for warm socks.

Happy birthday Todd.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@comcast.net]
Fair Haven, NJ
Sunday, August 22, 2004 11:43:40 PM
IP: 69.141.212.54

Happy belated-Birthday Todd.

I was just thinking about something from ST:DS9 that Quark said to Jake about how he views himself (a businessman) and was wondering if that was the same way that Tony Dracon viewed himself (a businessman - albeit with fewer restrictions on what activities are thought bad).
DPH
AR, USA
Sunday, August 22, 2004 11:30:49 PM
IP: 67.14.195.23

Finally got my Gathering photos scanned and posted! Click or go to http://www.eskimo.com/~vecna/g04_pics_main.html
Christine - [<--- Now with PICS!]
Sunday, August 22, 2004 05:17:07 PM
IP: 67.136.137.126

Yes I was, probably playing DotA Allstars on Warcraft III. x.x
But that shouldn't stop you from leaving a message though. I usually check MSN often enough. =P
Ironically, now that I'm not busy, you're status says Away. xD
Murphy's Law I suppose... >.>
Aria The Insane
Sunday, August 22, 2004 01:49:22 AM
IP: 216.113.222.73

Gside: Oh, a little from column A, a little from column B...and socks. My feet are cold.

greeeeeeat. I'm finally online, and Aria is busy.
Lynati
Sunday, August 22, 2004 12:28:44 AM
IP: 4.139.33.194

Actually, I am on a 2 week break from school.

Just haven't felt much like posting. Just more lurking.
Fire Storm
Sunday, August 22, 2004 12:14:28 AM
IP: 65.114.91.3

Not much to say today. Gunjack's off on a conjugal visit, Fire Storm's off busy with work and studying, Warpmind's allegedly busy with Norwegian type things, and Wilek's gone. Where have all my geeks gone?

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@comcast.net]
Fair Haven, NJ
Saturday, August 21, 2004 10:57:03 PM
IP: 69.141.212.54

Thank you ever so much for the DVD info! I now know what I will be doing on December 7th.
"Gargoyles" is such a involved series and I know many people are wanting to get all the episodes in one place and in order.
Again, thank you for all the time and effort you put into this site and the information you have provided. Keep up the good work and Long Live the Gargoyles!

Beth - [BCElfrink@cs.com]
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Saturday, August 21, 2004 12:55:44 PM
IP: 64.12.116.144

Patrick:<<Because I know how much this fandom enjoys countdowns... let's start a new one.>>
Oh thank God. Something new to look at everyday when I get online!

<<Gathering Journals>> I really would post one, if I would have been there. Should I just ramble on about how boring my life was for three days and post it in "Ask Greg"?

So I'm in college now. Home for the weekend because I'm 'tarded so I forgot some vital stuff (such as the power cable for my computer - I missed this place from Monday to Friday). I think that means I should be a better contender for the weekly countdown, since I don't have to get up early on Mondays anymore. :)
Tharos
Saturday, August 21, 2004 12:33:53 PM
IP: 69.40.140.112

Correction, I checked some statistic websites and New York City's population (around 8 mill.) is approx. twice as large as British Columbia's population (around 4 mill.).
Yikes!
Aria The Insane
Saturday, August 21, 2004 03:59:36 AM
IP: 216.113.210.58

Well, monday I become a working stiff.

Lynati> <<oh, you know, the usual>>: I can't decide if that means nothing at all, or a quarter of a yard of leather.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@comcast.net]
Fair Haven, NJ
Saturday, August 21, 2004 02:23:22 AM
IP: 69.141.212.54

DVD: I never bother pre-ordering anything, I just go to the store and buy it on the spot since it's usually on sale the first day it's out. Then again, it's easier to get away without pre-ordering when you live in a province that's population is smaller than New York City... >.>;
Aria The Insane
Friday, August 20, 2004 11:21:23 PM
IP: 216.113.222.81

My two cents on the DVD pre-orders...

I think it would be better to wait until closer to the release date to attempt a timed mass-purchase on Amazon. The closer to the actual release date that it gets bumped up to the top of the list, the more I think that spike will help the over-the-counter retail sales.

109 days left until the Gargoyles DVD is released on December 7, 2004!
Patrick
Friday, August 20, 2004 10:14:48 PM
IP: 68.170.199.45

Lynati: You bet ;)
Aria The Insane
Friday, August 20, 2004 09:25:07 PM
IP: 216.113.210.94

Aria : well, right now what TGS needs is help re-reading all the previous Gargoyles stories and coming up with insightful ideas for how, and what, needs to be worked into seasons 4 and 5. we have all the big stuff- its the little things that have dropped through the cracks that we want help in tracking.

and we could use some help in edits, eventually, but right now there isn't much to edit. Pretty much all the writing is still in progress.

still interested?
Lynati
Friday, August 20, 2004 07:30:20 PM
IP: 138.88.13.111

Lynati: Well actually, I have both writing and drawing skills, I also do proof-reading and similar editing-related stuff, or I'd like to at least, only thing I've ever done for someone other than myself would be proof-reading Nabiki's The False Chronicles, which was really fun. *snickers at the memories*
I'm interested in lending TGS a hand since you guys are so backed-up, and since I'm kind of a "jack-of-all-trades" person, I'd like to think there's more than one way I can help.
I don't really enjoy writing much, more from lack of writing anything in a while than anything else. Oddly enough I find that drawing is a come-and-go skill. So in the end, it's more of a "What does TGS need" thing, than a "What do I want to do" thing.
I've never actually done any Gargoyles related writing, and very little related drawing, so it would take me a bit to make anything to send in.
Aria The Insane
Friday, August 20, 2004 07:01:04 PM
IP: 216.113.209.230

Ah. Yes. Politics...constantly reminding me of why I avoid the real world. I'll leave the Politics to those who actually know what they are talking about, do my part by helping vote Bush out of office, and do a badly-timed post on the happy, since Beth asked.

The DVD is up. We are trying to arrange a fandom-wide time and date for ordering/pre-ordering in an attempt to bump the DVD statistics up to a noticeable level. Keep your eyes peeled for this, in the forums and ask Ask Greg itself.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002W4SY0/qid=1093025572/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-9218780-0469407?v=glance&s=dvd

Gside: oh, you know, the usual...

Aria : resumes? if you are a writer, send us a sample of your writing or a link to where you have your work archived. same deal if you are an artist. wait, don't send it to the TGS address- lain usually watches us for that and she's stuck in lack-of-computer land. Send it to me, and I'll forward it to the TGS list. Lynati_1@hotmail.com
Lynati "I'am actually writing a con journal this year, I swear" Kshudra
Friday, August 20, 2004 06:17:51 PM
IP: 138.88.13.111

Reply to Whitborne:
It's frighteningly amazing how easy it is to turn a group of otherwise good and well meaning people into brutal, cruel and barbaric mobs, kinda like the Quarrymen, don't you think? And I wonder who is playing the role of our Jon Castaway, or who is pulling Castaway's strings?
Anonymous
Friday, August 20, 2004 01:40:24 PM
IP: 24.20.243.55

Hello to Everyone at TGS!
I have a question, it sounds rather silly, but here goes: I am a faithful follower of "Gargoyles" on Toon Disney (10-11pm central time) and I have seen several episodes which I cannot find in the Archives. The episodes are: "Awakenings, pt 1-4, "Angels in the Night", "Seeing is Believing" and "The Thrill of the Hunt". If someone could please tell me where to find these in the Archive, I would appreciate it. Also, any word on the DVD?
Thank you for your time--Long Live Gargoyles!

Beth
Beth - [BCElfrink@cs.com]
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Friday, August 20, 2004 11:38:02 AM
IP: 205.188.116.144

I feel for you Whitborne. I'm a communications major and I've watched with dismay and disheartened cynicism as the mass media has taken a 'see no evil, hear no evil' approach to the affair. I'd like add more the just a 'me too' to your comment. It is obvious we as individuals need to act. We know better, we should act it.
Taleweaver
Friday, August 20, 2004 11:09:12 AM
IP: 209.179.168.52

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Lancet, August 19, 2004

Quote:
------------------------------------------------------------
Confirmed or reliably reported abuses of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan include beatings, burns, shocks, bodily suspensions, asphyxia, threats against detainees and their relatives, sexual humiliation, isolation, prolonged hooding and shackling, and exposure to heat, cold, and loud noise.1,14,19,24,33,34 These include deprivation of sleep, food, clothing, and material for personal hygiene, and denigration of Islam and forced violation of its rites.19 Detainees were forced to work in areas that were not de-mined and seriously injured.34 Abuses of women detainees are less well documented but include credible allegations of sexual humiliation and rape.13,14,35

US Army investigators concluded that Abu Ghraib's medical system for detainees was inadequately staffed and equipped.8,11,13,16,17 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) found that the medical system failed to maintain internment cards with medical information necessary to protect the detainees' health as required by the Geneva Convention; this reportedly was due to a policy of not officially processing (ie, recording their presence in the prison) new detainees.16,34 Few units in Iraq and Afghanistan complied with the Geneva obligation to provide monthly health inspections.17 The medical system also failed to assure that prisoners could request proper medical care as required by the Geneva Convention. For example, an Abu Ghraib detainee's sworn document says that a purulent hand injury caused by torture went untreated. The individual was also told by an Iraqi physician working for the US that bleeding of his ear (from a separate beating) could not be treated in a clinic; he was treated instead in a prison hallway.20

The medical system failed to establish procedures, as called for by Article 30 of the Geneva Convention, to ensure proper treatment of prisoners with disabilities. An Abu Ghraib prisoner's deposition reports the crutch that he used because of a broken leg was taken from him and his leg was beaten as he was ordered to renounce Islam. The same detainee told a guard that the prison doctor had told him to immobilise a badly injured shoulder; the guard's response was to suspend him from the shoulder.21

The medical system collaborated with designing and implementing psychologically and physically coercive interrogations. Army officials stated that a physician and a psychiatrist helped design, approve, and monitor interrogations at Abu Ghraib.15 This echoes the Secretary of Defense's 2003 memo ordering interrogators to ensure that detainees are "medically and operationally evaluated as suitable" for interrogation plans.6 In one example of a compromised medically monitored interrogation, a detainee collapsed and was apparently unconscious after a beating, medical staff revived the detainee and left, and the abuse continued.22 There are isolated reports that medical personnel directly abused detainees. Two detainees' depositions describe an incident where a doctor allowed a medically untrained guard to suture a prisoner's lacertation from being beaten.22,23

The medical system failed to accurately report illnesses and injuries.34 Abu Ghraib authorities did not notify families of deaths, sicknesses, or transfers to medical facilities as required by the Convention.34,36 A medic inserted a intravenous catheter into the corpse of a detainee who died under torture in order to create evidence that he was alive at the hospital.37 In another case, an Iraqi man, taken into custody by US soldiers was found months later by his family in an Iraqi hospital. He was comatose, had three skull fractures, a severe thumb fracture, and burns on the bottoms of his feet. An accompanying US medical report stated that heat stroke had triggered a heart attack that put him in a coma; it did not mention the injuries.38

Death certificates of detainees in Afghanistan and Iraq were falsified or their release or completion was delayed for months.24,39 Medical investigators either failed to investigate unexpected deaths of detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan or performed cursory evaluations and physicians routinely attributed detainee deaths on death certificates to heart attacks, heat stroke, or natural causes without noting the unnatural aetiology of the death.40,41 In one example, soldiers tied a beaten detainee to the top of his cell door and gagged him. The death certificate indicated that he died of "natural causes . . . during his sleep." After news media coverage, the Pentagon revised the certificate to say that the death was a "homicide" caused by "blunt force injuries and asphyxia."24

In November, 2003, Iraqi Major General Mowhoush's head was pushed into a sleeping bag while interrogators sat on his chest. He died; medics could not resuscitate him, and a surgeon stated that he died of natural causes.42 6 months later, the Pentagon released a death certificate calling the death a homicide by asphyxia.42 Medical authorities allowed misleading information released by military authorities to go unchallenged for many months.24 In 2004, the US Secretary of Defense issued a stringent policy for death investigations.43

Finally, although knowledge of torture and degrading treatment was widespread at Abu Ghraib and known to medical personnel,13,41,44 there is no report before the January 2004 Army investigation of military health personnel reporting abuse, degradation, or signs of torture.
------------------------------------------------------------

I feel betrayed. I feel like I've been slapped in the face by these pieces of human filth. These are members of my chosen profession who've spit on their oath, who've violated the trust between physician and patient, who've put their patients lives in danger and covered it up in the name of patriotism. This is a huge black stain on the honour of all doctors, everywhere. We're supposed to be better people than this.

What am I supposed to do? I'm planning on joining the Canadian forces to help pay for medical school. Does this happen here? Am I going to have to sign a waiver declaring that I won;t help abuse and torture prisoners? Am I supposed to have the BBC and Amnesty International on speed-dial so I can blow this open if I witness it? How am I supposed to feel proud about being a military doctor knowing that it can lead to this?

Last night I was enraged. This morning, my heart is broken. This afternoon, I'm signing up and joining Amnesty International to protest this, and I encourage everyone to do likewise. Find an organization that promotes and protects human rights, and support it.

Not in my name. Not in my profession's name. This has to stop. Now. We're all on a post-Gathering high, euphoric about Gargoyles and the good time we had, but there's another world out there where things like this happen, and we need to work as hard at stopping madness like this as we do at promoting the DVD.
Whitbourne
Friday, August 20, 2004 08:00:19 AM
IP: 142.177.159.114

Taleweaver - I'm torn between praising WB for having shows with depth and complaining about WB not going deep enough.

That's a real dilemna. How often do we see shows targeted for kids with real depth? Seriously, how often? and of the shows I was semi-praising, almost all of them are Japanese imports. Aside from Gargoyles, can you name anime made in the USA with depth? I was thinking maybe Fox's Spiderman series came close, but that was working with an established fan base. How many new shows made in the USA could compete with Gargoyles for character depth? Also, high likely is it that such a show can get a successfull sales pitch and last a minimum of 2 seasons?

I hate reality television, but it's cheap to produce and has very high profit margins; how can we expect a new show to come along with really good writing, good actors, and character depth when the profit margins aren't typically as good?

**WARNING: INCOMING RANT**

America's obsesssiveness with greed is killing ourselves, literally. When skilled jobs start getting out-sourced to overseas, we're killing our future. Not less than 15 years ago, computer programming jobs were the big thing and they're already being shipped overseas. It's doom and gloom time. There's nothing wrong with making a profit and possibly shipping unskilled jobs overseas, but when you start shipping skilled jobs overseas, you're hurting the American economy. If high paying jobs are being shipped overseas, how can any of the children born today expect to find any high-paying jobs after they graduate high school and decide to go college?

Yes, I'm an extremely big believer in corporate responsibility. If the average earnings of the American worker fall because of loss of high paying jobs, how can big business hope to maintain its current earnings in America when people are being paid less? And worse, I'm going to be even more critical. How about those companies give money to charity in America but also ship American jobs overseas? Anybody besides me see the irony in that? Please, the hard line Republicans don't seem a problem with it and the democrats actually like encourage it because it's helping developing nations or worse, increase the taxes on those people making the big bucks so they don't want to live here.

**END RANT**
DPH
AR, USA
Friday, August 20, 2004 04:36:39 AM
IP: 67.14.195.36

Well, it looks like tomorrow I'll know where I'm going to work, even if I have to give up a good opportunity for a definite thing.

Aria> <<does anyone know where I can find these "resume requirements"?>>: I think it was just send a writing sample to someone in the project.

Happy birthday Greg.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@comcast.net]
Fair Haven, NJ
Friday, August 20, 2004 12:08:51 AM
IP: 69.141.212.54

Happy Birthday, GXB!!
DPH
AR, USA
Thursday, August 19, 2004 07:58:46 PM
IP: 67.14.195.42

My computer died and it was hard to do anything! I still tryign to work out the bugs. Damn thing. I still want to bash my computer in and throw it out the window. It always has a mind of its own I swear!! I'm hoping the net will stay intact as i write this. Now i have to go and make sure idon't lose my files...


DPH >>Only a few? <<
sacrasmis my best friend. lol

Tharos:
>>Um... isn't that something you can say about every country and society ever? >>
Yeah I was implying that.

MadHellcat
Thursday, August 19, 2004 09:45:29 AM
IP: 205.251.135.66

Hey everyone!

Been awhile since I've posted, I know. Things here have been somewhat less than fun and I've been feeling burnt out. So I did the only logical thing: I went to New Zealand for a vacation. I had a great time and I didn't really want it to end, but I still have these last three semesters before I'm done with my BA so I figured that I finish that. I'm just a little tired of being stuck in this place.

But enough about me, what have I missed? Anthing interesting happen? Come on, don't spare the details!

Later.
Jaden - [jaden1444@aol.com]
Thursday, August 19, 2004 02:04:36 AM
IP: 4.5.250.239

Hey,
TGS was looking for new people to help out a while back and they had a resume requirement kinda thing, does anyone know where I can find these "resume requirements"?
Aria The Insane
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Thursday, August 19, 2004 01:54:08 AM
IP: 216.113.210.88

Revel> <<we were on the 287 heading for the Tappan Zee>>: Heh, when we have to go to the Tappan Zee, we take the Parkway up to the NY Turnpike. Everyone uses 287 during rush hour.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@comcast.net]
Fair Haven, NJ
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 11:44:42 PM
IP: 69.141.212.54

Gside- Yeah, we were on the 287 heading for the Tappan Zee.
Revel
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 07:15:43 PM
IP: 68.119.237.207

A message from Greg that was posted on the Station 8 board:

* * * * *

Todd informs me that 21 of you have posted Gathering Journals over at ASK GREG.

I'm very grateful to you guys, but that's less than 14% of this year's attendance, which frankly is kinda pathetic.

Please, PLEASE, take a few minutes to write up your journals and cut and paste them at

www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/

And if you've already done it, pressure those who haven't and or spread the word.

This isn't a whim. I need the numbers to show the PTB.

Thanks.
Greg Weisman
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 04:35:33 PM
IP: 4.232.51.128
Patrick
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 05:04:43 PM
IP: 68.170.199.45

Taleweaver>> Altough, the one good thing I can say about those shows, is that they give me so much material to make fun of.
Wolfman
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 01:37:51 PM
IP: 195.186.133.185

Taleweaver<<All of these shows fail to engage me, because they never illustrate why it is important for the hero to be #1. Being the best pokemon trainer or the best net op or king of games has as much significance to these preteens as being an astronaut when you grow up. Not because its a calling, but because its something to do. I know that's a lot of depth for a kids cartoon, but if we're going to sit through 100+ episodes (and in Pokemon's case 250+ eps) slipping in genuine character motivation would be nice. >>

They must not pay the trained monkeys they use to write the episodes enough. :)
Wolfman
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 01:35:33 PM
IP: 195.186.133.185

damien> Michael Phelps is on the US Olympic team - he was the youngest male Olympian since 1932 when he got on the US team in 2000 (he was 15).

During the medal ceremony the other night, when he got the gold medal for the 200 m butterfly, the camera went to show his parents - and Mom immediately phoned me and told me to turn the TV on.

So I did, and nearly choked when I saw that his mom was none other than my 6th grade Home Economics teacher. :)
Mandolin
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 10:38:01 AM
IP: 199.173.224.24

Damien> Michael Phelps is a US swimmer competing in the Athens Olympics. He's already won four medals; two back to back. Check out my link to go to the Olympics official website.
Taleweaver
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 10:18:53 AM
IP: 209.179.168.51

ok i'll bite: who's Michael Phelps?
damien
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 01:46:46 AM
IP: 205.250.247.23

Gunjack> <<Leaving early tomorrow morning for the wondrous land of no internet and plenty of Lain>>: Enjoy the nookie, if there is a lack of porn.

Taleweaver> <<If Static is standing on the ground he shouldn't be able to do jack>>: All depends on what kind of shoes he's wearing. That, and if it's control of electrons or control of voltage.

Revel> <<there were some bad spots of Northern New Jersey>>: Yes, northern. Though I did have a bad experience today on 287.

Lynati> <<Just in case inquiring minds wished to know>>: Actually, these inquiring minds wanted more to know what you're wearing. If anything.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@comcast.net]
Fair Haven, NJ
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 12:26:33 AM
IP: 69.141.212.54

Just got into Maryland.
I'm downstairs, in my (former) bedroom, on dial-up, on my own computer.

Just in case inquiring minds wished to know.
Lynati
Tuesday, August 17, 2004 11:45:57 PM
IP: 4.139.51.149

<<And finally who endured the trip through Hell to get to the Gathering? >>

*raises hand* Oy, customs took forever and I didn't have any problems...

<<What did the DVD interviewers ask? Anyone step up to the mic? >>

For me, mostly standard stuff like who my favorite character was and why I watched the show and what's unique about the fandom... generally incoherent responses ensued. Wasn't feeling well.

(Guh. Would post more, but I just NOW discovered that Michael Phelps is also the same Michael Phelps whose mom was my 6th grade Home Ec teacher. She appeared on TV and I did a spit take. My last brain cell is about to fail completely.)

Mandolin
Tuesday, August 17, 2004 10:34:35 PM
IP: 68.55.87.89

<< And finally who endured the trip through Hell to get to the Gathering? >> - We all did. The first circle of hell is also known as the customs line at Montreal's Trudeau (formerly Dorval) airport.

The DVD crew must have shot over 40 hours of footage and interviewed at least 75% of the people attended the con. So I'm sure they're having fun now trying to mash it all down to fit their 15-minute documentary allotment on the DVD.

Because I know how much this fandom enjoys countdowns... let's start a new one.

There are currently 112 days left until the Gargoyles DVD is released on December 7, 2004!
Patrick
Tuesday, August 17, 2004 12:38:37 PM
IP: 66.93.14.153

Taleweaver- Best wish I had a cam moment: My digital camera actually does have mpeg capability, just no sound. but I think the best I wish I had a cam moment for me was the suicide jumper. Mostly because you had to actually see this to believe it.

DVD crew: They were always about, and would raise the camera for anything you wanted to say, be it about the show, the fandom, or yourself. They knew they could just edit it all later. They did ask to see Aaron's tattoo after rumors of it reached their ears. I'm sure I'll see myself in fragments, made no effort to hide but I didn't have a one on one interview.

Hell..??? well there were some bad spots of Northern New Jersey and an incredibly nasty rest stop outside Slidell, Louisiana. Most of the trip was fine, I think we did just fine.
Revel - [samrx5@msn.com]
Tuesday, August 17, 2004 11:58:01 AM
IP: 68.119.237.207

DHP> I'll take a stab at the WB programming. Not being snarky. I see your trying to get some discussion going so I thought I'd add to it.

***Can these be WB spoilers? I mean this is the tail end of summer AKA rerun season***

Static Shock> Static is a bit behind the times. This would have been big in the early '90s. Back when the idea of a brooding superhero was foreign and a fresh cut, wholesome superhero still had appeal. After Batman, Wolverine, even Xena, we're used to heroes dealing with their own problems with more depth than Static can muster. As a former engineering student, I'm tires of Static using powers on thngs that don't have a bipolar moment. Electricity isn't going to open a glass jar of pickles or lift paper flyers or banners. And I won't even get to ground. If Static is standing on the ground he shouldn't be able to do jack. In short, too much magical thinking and not enough science fiction.

Mega Man NT, Yugi-Oh, & Pokemon> I see both Mega Man and Yugi-Oh trying to capture the marketing tsunami that Pokemon once generated. Pokemon is in that same nadir occupied by the Power Rangers. It still makes some money, so the powers that be still franchise it, but no where near its height 5 years ago. Thus you have Yugi-Oh and the lesser Mega Man to try and hook into the collectibles/game market.

I know I've passed beyond the veil. Because Yugi-Oh is boring for me. The card battles drag on for episodes, seesawing between duelers because of one card or another. And the boasting and bragging that goes on is interminable. Kaiba could be a really bad dude, if he just played his hand and didn't say anything. Like in other games of strategy, it is the silent ones you have to look out for. Joey, Yugi and their assortment of cheerleaders could also learn that silence is golden. Joey not as much. Being loud and full of himself is his character. Yugi does seem more introspective save for the yelling out attacks. I think the show could go further if it embraced the fact that this is a card game rather than try and pretend its some monster battle like pokemon.

Mega Man combines all the worst elements of this subgenre. The wide-eyed twerpy punk who believes spirit and ambition will make up for lack of discipline, training or talent. The gaggle of sidekicks who have even less ambition that he does. Bad guys who have no purpose or plan, other than being speed bumps on the heroes path to glory. And the reticent punk who has skill but will always lose to the hero. All that's left is slapping the label Mary Sue on him and calling it a day.

All of these shows fail to engage me, because they never illustrate why it is important for the hero to be #1. Being the best pokemon trainer or the best net op or king of games has as much significance to these preteens as being an astronaut when you grow up. Not because its a calling, but because its something to do. I know that's a lot of depth for a kids cartoon, but if we're going to sit through 100+ episodes (and in Pokemon's case 250+ eps) slipping in genuine character motivation would be nice.

***End of my WB rant***
Taleweaver
Tuesday, August 17, 2004 11:22:40 AM
IP: 209.179.168.32

Chalk up another daring story involving my cats.

They seemed to have acquired bravery against a raccoon while I'm around. I'm not sure which motivation applies: 1)they want to protect me from the raccoon or 2)they know if the raccoon goes after them, I'll go after the raccoon.

I caught one of my cats pretty high up a tree. I think it was sleeping there.

After installing an antivirus program and spending several hours downloading updates for it, I think my pc is finally clean and virus-free.

That means I can get back to work on releasing a new version of JSSE which is what I used to finally create an image of that nice maze I designed for a game a while back.

GSide - <No, you're not, there's only one path, so no dead ends just makes it an endurance trial, not frustration.> Hmm. That was the 1st maze I did in my head. Of course, you kinda tell that it was done in my head by a certain spot that's kinda thin in the wall. <Netto's father is a research scientist who's bonded a soul to the navi, and Enzan owns his own company. The main characters in a show like this are always some type of chosen one.> Sadly, yes. I sorta like how Pokemon started off with Ash being less than even a novice and built him up slowly. In YuGiOh, the more interesting angle is watching Joey gradually get better. Kiba is pretty much static in skills. I would say that Yugi starts off with about 3/4 of the skill level of Kiba (over-relying on fate until he builds up the experience). Still, by the time he finishes his duel against Pegasus, he's only a slightly better duelist. Dueling against the rare hunters improved Yugi's skill level by giving more loads more experience with cards that aren't around that much. Both Yugi and Kiba get a better grasp of the depth of each other's deck during their last duel together in the tournament. I think Kiba and Yugi have reached the point where their amount of experience is about the same which is helping to level the playing field. Still, I have to wonder who would fair better: Kiba using Yugi's deck (no god cards) or Yugi using Kiba's deck.

Gunjack - < Leaving early tomorrow morning for the wondrous land of no internet and plenty of Lain.> **crosses finger that his internet access eventually will return**

Mecord's cat - <First for kittens!> How many?

**WB Spoilers**

Static Shock - Where in heck was Superman during the Static Shock/Justice League crossover? Afterall, wasn't Brainaic originally Superman's villain? Speaking of that, I remember a comment Batman made about throwing Brainiac in a black hole to get rid of him. I just have a couple of stupid questions: 1)Why bother keeping Brainiac around? Seriously, unless there are multiple versions of Brainiac around in space, why not simply destroy him? 2)What's wrong with dropping brainaics remains in a tank full of extremely highly corrosive acid? Wouldn't that be a much more reliable means of killing Brainiac?

**End WB Spoilers**
DPH
AR, USA
Tuesday, August 17, 2004 06:36:11 AM
IP: 67.14.195.9

Welp, here I go. Leaving early tomorrow morning for the wondrous land of no internet and plenty of Lain. I probably won't be back before the beginning of next month. In any case...

PEACE!!
Gunjack "Ignition Zero" Valentine
Tuesday, August 17, 2004 12:59:19 AM
IP: 4.7.27.148

Fire Storm> <<Which of the following is NOT a means used for controlling harmful insects?>>: Is that asking which is not a currently used means, or is not an effective means? If it's the first, E is the answer, if it's the second, E isn't the answer.
<<How can you know the dance and NOT the words?>>: Very easily, when it's something like YMCA.

DPH> <<Yes, I'm cruel>>: No, you're not, there's only one path, so no dead ends just makes it an endurance trial, not frustration. And you need to make every square of one color only one pixel in size.

Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@comcast.net]
Fair Haven, NJ
Monday, August 16, 2004 11:10:25 PM
IP: 69.141.212.54

Alright, after all of these years, I can finally show off of a maze designed a few years ago.

http://www.cei.net/~dphofrules/glad/SCEN122a.bmp (slightly over 1,305 kb) Yes, I'm cruel; I put the starting point right next to the end point and you have to go all the way around to get the end point.

*slips back to engaging in thermonuclear war against a few trojan virii who decided to invade his pc*

I should have reinstalled my anti-virus software after I installed the new hard-drive, but I still pass a great deal of blame to Microshaft's Service Pack #1 which I recently downloaded. I think it created more problems than it solved.

Now, if only the computer would hurry downloading all the updates for my antivirus program.
DPH
AR, USA
Monday, August 16, 2004 10:46:30 PM
IP: 67.14.195.50

<< What was the best "Wish I had a camera/video cam" moment? Keep it PG-13 folks. >> If I have to keep it PG-13, it would probably have been during the karaoke, when two dozen people got up to dance to "Y.M.C.A." and not a single one of them knew the words. How can you know the dance and NOT the words?
Patrick
Monday, August 16, 2004 06:27:35 PM
IP: 68.170.199.45

Which of the following is NOT a means used for controlling harmful insects?
E: Use nuclear fusion to destroy colonies.

Test questions are funny!
Fire Storm
Monday, August 16, 2004 06:04:53 PM
IP: 68.252.125.240

Ok! Now that the top ten is out of the way and folks are posting their journals time for some dishy stuff.

What was the best "Wish I had a camera/video cam" moment? Keep it PG-13 folks.

What did the DVD interviewers ask? Anyone step up to the mic?

And finally who endured the trip through Hell to get to the Gathering?
Taleweaver
Monday, August 16, 2004 04:25:17 PM
IP: 209.179.168.53

10th!
Fire Storm and Lady Mystic
Monday, August 16, 2004 03:48:02 PM
IP: 68.252.125.240

Ninth, I hate it when I hit the enter key by mistake.
Vinnie - [tpeano29@hotmail.com]
Marquette, Michigan, USA
Monday, August 16, 2004 02:10:21 PM
IP: 216.234.101.179

...
Vinnie - [tpeano29@hotmail.com]
Marquette, Michigan
Monday, August 16, 2004 02:08:17 PM
IP: 216.234.101.179

Eighth!
Leo
Monday, August 16, 2004 02:06:13 PM
IP: 68.231.241.236

Seventh?
Gunjack "Outa Here" Valentine
Monday, August 16, 2004 01:31:58 PM
IP: 4.7.27.148

...
Gunjack
Monday, August 16, 2004 01:31:25 PM
IP: 4.7.27.148

Sixth, in the name of Rock and Roll (just to be creative).

I posted my Gathering Diary in Ask Greg last night. It's been interesting to read all of them, and find out what happenings and hot gossip I missed in Montreal. ;)
Patrick
Monday, August 16, 2004 12:25:13 PM
IP: 66.93.14.153

5th.
Na zdorov'ya.
Gside - [gside@comcast.net]
Fair Haven, NJ
Monday, August 16, 2004 11:51:42 AM
IP: 69.141.212.54

Top Ten...possibly 3rd or fourth.

Cleaning up this mess the hurricane left.
Spacebabie
Monday, August 16, 2004 11:42:00 AM
IP: 12.78.66.90

3rd

Vash- People are probably still writing them
Revel
Monday, August 16, 2004 11:40:34 AM
IP: 68.119.237.207

Wow, what an odd time to clear the room. Anyhow, 2nd/3rd!

I counted 30 Gathering journals so far. Really hope we can get the 100-or-so Greg's asking for.
Vashkoda
Monday, August 16, 2004 11:37:12 AM
IP: 129.98.125.57

First for kittens!
Mecord's Cat
Monday, August 16, 2004 11:32:31 AM
IP: 216.160.224.49