Groundhog's Random Banter of Weather Prediction and Anti-Gopherness #120

[Recaiden]

Did I miss something? Since when was Sneak Atreyu?

Since he used a voodoo doll to steal his soul. Get with the times!

[KilltheToy]

I put ketchup on EVERYTHING.

Yeah, name one thing that I wouldn't put ketchup on.

Insomnia? That's not a thing: that's a disorder from which I am currently suffering, you crazy voice in my head...

Everything? Even that? Wow, that's....amazing.

I'm okay with ketchup. It's good on burgers and hot dogs and on really crappy fries. Other than that, I don't eat it that much.

[Dragonrider]

I think ketchup is of the devil.

[TwoBitWriter]

I think ketchup is of the devil.

I prefer mustard myself.

I avoid Mayonnaise like the plague.

[cycoris]

I think ketchup is of the devil.

Hear, hear!


I prefer mustard myself.

I avoid Mayonnaise like the plague.

Mustard is yummsie, but for that last comment, you must die a horrid and mayyonaise-y death. :smallbiggrin:

[TwoBitWriter]

Mustard is yummsie, but for that last comment, you must die a horrid and mayyonaise-y death. :smallbiggrin:

:smallyuk::smallyuk::smallyuk::smallyuk::smallyuk:

My ideal hamburger:

1) Whole-Wheat Bun
2) Hamburger Patty cooked Medium (Or Black Bean Patty, I usually don't eat red meat often)
3) Grilled onions
4) Lots of pickles
5) Mustard

Not a good burger to have on a date (mustard and onions make for bad kissing) but it itself is a most excellent meal.

[Castaras]

I don't mind ketchup. It's tasty on chips and burgers.

Although I like pretty much any flavouring or dressing. Mustard, mayonnaise, horseradish, mint jelly, salad dressing... pretty much anything except brown sauce, which while I can stand, I do not particularly care for it.

[Dr. Bath]

Man. Twobit there is something wrong with you. A BLT without mayonaise is a travesty. And a life without proper BLTs is worse.

Your burger lacks protein. There should be at least three sources of protein and fat in a burger! Minimum!

Alan Bennet has the lovliest voice ...sigh. :smallsmile:

[TwoBitWriter]

I forgot about Bacon. I do love having some nice bacon topping my burger.

As for cheese... EGADS! I forgot cheese too!

my goodness...

Okay, new list, official.

My ideal hamburger:

1) Whole-Wheat Bun
2) Hamburger Patty cooked Medium (Or Black Bean Patty, I usually don't eat red meat often)
3) Grilled onions
4) Lots of pickles
5) Mustard
6) Cheddar Cheese

Sometimes I will throw on sauteed mushrooms and swiss instead of cheddar, but that depends on a number of factors.

Oooh... and avacado. I love avacados...

[randman22222]

Sometimes I will throw on sauteed mushrooms and swiss instead of cheddar, but that depends on a number of factors.

Oooh... and avacado. I love avacados...

Sautéed mushrooms make burgers. lookatmeihadmyspellcheckmaketheeaccentedimsocultur ed :S Swiss cheese helps.

There's a Mexican restaurant here in town that makes the best guacamole I've ever had; it's mouthwatering; they put lemon juice, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, heaven, and major seventh chords in, and it turns out amazing. Actually, it tastes more like an entire key unto itself. Not sure what, but one built on a minor chord.

Weirdest quasi-synaesthesia ever.

[Jacklu]

Man Twobit, to think I used to look up to you. v.v

The ideal burger according to Jacklu:

1. Sesame seed bun
2. burger cooked medium rare with a mild BBQ sauce marinade
3. crisp, fresh onions
4. lettuce
5. one tomato slice
6. pickles
7. A dash or ketchup (not very at all really)
8. relish
9. one slice of provolone cheese
10. A minimum of two friends to admire the above burger shortly before it is eaten (envy adds a tangy spice of superiority to any meal)

.... Ok, I think I am going to go break out the grill and make lunch...

[Jack Squat]

I don't think burgers need much more on them than canadian bacon, a good BBQ sauce, swiss cheese, horseradish, and fries; but I realize I'm in the minority on that.

[Nameless]

I are here to socialise with my fellow nerdlings!
GREETINGS AWESOME ONES!

[TwoBitWriter]

I are here to socialise with my fellow nerdlings!
GREETINGS AWESOME ONES!

What is your ideal burger? We must know! :smallbiggrin:

[Nameless]

What is your ideal burger? We must know! :smallbiggrin:

Tripple three-quarter pounder beef burger with strong melted cheddar cheese, pork gratings, pickled gherkin slices, humus, ketchup, chips, BBQ sauce, pork sausages, streaky bacon and any other kind of meat product you can fit in between two buns.
…
With meat sauce.





…
And lettuce.

EDIT: OH! And it has to have one of those umbrella things stuck at the top with an olive on! :smallbiggrin:

EDIT II: And some rabbit meat.

[randman22222]

EDIT II: And some rabbit meat.

:eek: Microfiller.

[Nameless]

:eek: Microfiller.

So soft and tender... :smalltongue:

[Dr. Bath]

:eek: Microfiller.

What? Rabbit is really tasty. Can be a bit gamey though. I prefer it in stew. (or pie)

[Nameless]

What? Rabbit is really tasty. Can be a bit gamey though. I prefer it in stew. (or pie)

Too true.
Allas, I cannot find any here.
We only have boreing meat like chicken, beef, pork and if you're lucky some duck. But I don't like duck. :smalltongue:

[Dr. Bath]

Too true.
Allas, I cannot find any here.
We only have boreing meat like chicken, beef, pork and if you're lucky some duck. But I don't like duck. :smalltongue:

Duck is good in pancake, but I'm not super keen otherwise. It is often dry if not prepared correcly, and then it tastes pretty awful.

Now jellied eels... they are surprisingly ok. A little slimey mind.

[randman22222]

Nevermind; was an attempt at humour.

Anywho, I don't much like duck. I don't actually mind gamier meats; I really like wild boar. :smallbiggrin:

[Kaelaroth]

I like rabbit. And squab!
Though, agreement with Bath must be given, much of duck can be prepared dryly. Eek.

[Nameless]

Duck is good in pancake, but I'm not super keen otherwise. It is often dry if not prepared correcly, and then it tastes pretty awful.

Now jellied eels... they are surprisingly ok. A little slimey mind.

I know something even better. Octopus Tentacles. Especially in the Japanese cheese balls things. *mega-drool*

And speaking of Rabbit, I think we have a Rabbit in the Platground we can cook up. >w>

[Dr. Bath]

Nevermind; was an attempt at humour.

Anywho, I don't much like duck. I don't actually mind gamier meats; I really like wild boar. :smallbiggrin:

Boar piglets are the cutest thing ever. So cute! I want one.

Boar is nice too. Tastes suspiciously like pork. I smell a conspiracy.

@^ Eh. I prefer squid. Fried squid in particular is delicious. Although it can taste like rubber. :smallyuk:

[Nameless]

Boar piglets are the cutest thing ever. So cute! I want one.

Boar is nice too. Tastes suspiciously like pork. I smell a conspiracy.

@^ Eh. I prefer squid. Fried squid in particular is delicious. Although it can taste like rubber. :smallyuk:

That might be because a boar is basecaly just a wild pig... with a few difference obviously. :smalltongue:

Squid is usualy used in sauces mainly for the texture more then the flavour.

[Dr. Bath]

That might be because a boar is basecaly just a wild pig... with a few difference obviously. :smalltongue:

Really?! THE FIENDS.

[Nameless]

Really?! THE FIENDS.

INO! :smallmad:

[CurlyKitGirl]

Rabbit and most game birds are better in stews or pies. I'm not really a fan of duck though, 'course, I've not really tried it a lot so *shrug*

I despise tomato sauce, tartare sauce, salad cream, mayonnaise in most situations and in fact, the majority of sauces.
It's a Curli thing.

As is being ill only at night apparently. I have a few couple of coughing fits - nothing severe, just feeling like you're shredding your own throat with a coarse cheese grater - in the daytime, but at nighttime?
I can barely breathe two minutes at a time without coughing so badly that
a) my mum, who sleeps downstairs and three doors away can hear me
b) I think I can feel something suspiciously like throat shreds floating around in my throat and
c) I couldn't sleep for hours
Oh well. Sleepover tomorrow night!
Ice cream, movies, books, movies and more movies, talking, some more movies and town.
And a very long movie marathon. Best Friend said her parents might even be going out for the night so we can do whatever we want.
I hardly ever go to sleepovers. This will be awesomesauce on toast.

[randman22222]

Having eaten pork and then wild boar side by side, there is quite a noticeable difference. I can't put my hand on what the difference is. :smallconfused:

@^: Sleepovers are fun. Even though it's been ages since I've been to one. :smalltongue:

[Lucky]

As is being ill only at night apparently. I have a few couple of coughing fits - nothing severe, just feeling like you're shredding your own throat with a coarse cheese grater - in the daytime, but at nighttime?
I can barely breathe two minutes at a time without coughing so badly that
a) my mum, who sleeps downstairs and three doors away can hear me
b) I think I can feel something suspiciously like throat shreds floating around in my throat and
c) I couldn't sleep for hours

Ever been tested for allergies? Because the coughing fits you describe are quite similar to the ones I have, and I'm allergic to a hell of a lot of things.

[Nameless]

Having eaten pork and then wild boar side by side, there is quite a noticeable difference. I can't put my hand on what the difference is. :smallconfused:

@^: Sleepovers are fun. Even though it's been ages since I've been to one. :smalltongue:

Boar is slightly tougher the pork and a tad dryer.
It's kinda like the difference between Chicken and Turkey... almost. :smalltongue:

[randman22222]

Dryness and toughness depend on how it's cooked and how it's killed respectively. The taste difference is surprisingly accurate, even though the analogy was intended for else.

EDIT: Sting in surround sound + subwoofer turned way up = fun. :smallbiggrin:

[CurlyKitGirl]

Ever been tested for allergies? Because the coughing fits you describe are quite similar to the ones I have, and I'm allergic to a hell of a lot of things.

I am allergic to nothing!
Aside from red food colouring - but that only makes me slightly hyperactive; midge bites - small - turning - to - large swellings and that's about it.
I'm generally disgustingly healthy.

I think it's just a leftover from a chest infection that I had four flamin' years ago. It surfaces from time to time to drive my insomnia to near homicidal proportions and to eradicate my body clock.

[randman22222]

Curly? For some reason, it really seems that your avatar should take the place of mine, using my avatar's background. It looks like it'd work out well. Yeah... Vampires need noirish, starry nights. :smallconfused:

[Jacklu]

*drops dead pig on the table*

This is a pig. That *points at the prince* is a wild bore.

<.<

>.>

Sorry...

I like bear and moose. Both are surprisingly juicy. Also, has anyone here ever tried raccoon?

[TwoBitWriter]

*drops dead pig on the table*

This is a pig. That *points at the prince* is a wild bore.

<.<

>.>

Sorry...

I like bear and moose. Both are surprisingly juicy. Also, has anyone here ever tried raccoon?

No, but I've had Alligator. It was quite yummy.

And my Dad ate Monkey Brains when he was stationed in Southeast Asia during that nasty Vietnam business.

[Nameless]

I am allergic to nothing!
Aside from red food colouring - but that only makes me slightly hyperactive; midge bites - small - turning - to - large swellings and that's about it.
I'm generally disgustingly healthy.

I think it's just a leftover from a chest infection that I had four flamin' years ago. It surfaces from time to time to drive my insomnia to near homicidal proportions and to eradicate my body clock.

Strange, I used to have something very similar to you until I sorted it out... mostly. Until I did my own research a few months ago, Doctors told me for years I was allergic to Dust Mites.
I used to get the fits in the evenings after I had eaten dinner and all through the night.
I actually sorted it out by going for "Alternative" healing and it's mostly gone now, but I still have other symptoms of what I know I have. Darn you Marfin Syndrome and Pectus Carnactrum! :smalltongue:
At least the coughing is gone though.

[Lucky]

Darn you Marfin Syndrome and Pectus Carnactrum! :smalltongue:

I'm quite familiar with Marfan Syndrome, but Pectus Carnactrum I have not heard of, and apparently neither has Google.

[Nameless]

I'm quite familiar with Marfan Syndrome, but Pectus Carnactrum I have not heard of, and apparently neither has Google.

Maybe I misspell is then. try searching "pigeon chest syndrome", something might come up. :smalltongue:
It's basically a symptom of Marfan syndrome that usually effects women that have it, but for some reason it affect me. It mean that your ribs grow too long, and therefore stick out a bit in the middle. It gives me asthmatic symptoms like coughing, shortage of breath etc. Oh and there's a chance I might have heart problems when I get older. Yaaaayyyy.

Funny thing is, one of my best friends has the exact opposite, where the ribs are too short and you’re therefore left with a slight dent in the middle of your chest.
He’s my puzzle buddy! :smallbiggrin:

[Lucky]

Maybe I misspell is then. try searching "pigeon chest syndrome", something might come up. :smalltongue:
It's basically a symptom of Marfan syndrome that usually effects women that have it, but for some reason it affect me. It mean that your ribs grow too long, and therefore stick out a bit in the middle. It gives me asthmatic symptoms like coughing, shortage of breath etc. Oh and there's a chance I might have heart problems when I get older. Yaaaayyyy.

Funny thing is, one of my best friends has the exact opposite, where the ribs are too short and you’re therefore left with a slight dent in the middle of your chest.
He’s my puzzle buddy! :smallbiggrin:

Pectus carinatum is what it appears to be called. I'm sadly well aware of the heart issues that can be caused by Marfan Syndrome, but I do know that they have made great strides in the management of the condition.

As for your friend, seriously, what are the odds of that? :smallconfused:

[CurlyKitGirl]

Curly? For some reason, it really seems that your avatar should take the place of mine, using my avatar's background. It looks like it'd work out well. Yeah... Vampires need noirish, starry nights. :smallconfused:

The Great Bath does my avatars, I leave all artistic Curly stuff to him. Speaking of, I'm terribly worried about my Smudge, who has featured in every one of my avatars ever; she's getting older, iller and probably even arthritic. She's around thirteen now, and she's always had health problems.
I don't know if she's going to make it past Christmas.
All I do know is that when she dies, Curly's avatars will no longer contain a cat.
:smallfrown:
Why can't my Kittencat live forever?

[Nameless]

Pectus carinatum is what it appears to be called. I'm sadly well aware of the heart issues that can be caused by Marfan Syndrome, but I do know that they have made great strides in the management of the condition.

As for your friend, seriously, what are the odds of that? :smallconfused:

Yeah, I should really speak to my GP about it actually.

Yeah, it's really creepy actually. I can't remember what it's called but it's Pectus something-or-other.
Small World I guess. :smalltongue:

[Lucky]

Yeah, it's really creepy actually. I can't remember what it's called but it's Pectus something-or-other.
Small World I guess. :smalltongue:

Pectus excavatum, I found that one when looking up the other one. It doesn't seem to have a pleasant name like "Pigeon Chest" to call it. :smalltongue:

[Dr. Bath]

'Hole chest' or 'dent chest' is what we called it. There was a guy in my Judo class who had it. There's a guy in my year who has the pigeon chest thing too, but only a little, so he doesn't really have any respiritory problems.

[Castaras]

The Great Bath does my avatars, I leave all artistic Curly stuff to him. Speaking of, I'm terribly worried about my Smudge, who has featured in every one of my avatars ever; she's getting older, iller and probably even arthritic. She's around thirteen now, and she's always had health problems.
I don't know if she's going to make it past Christmas.
All I do know is that when she dies, Curly's avatars will no longer contain a cat.
:smallfrown:
Why can't my Kittencat live forever?

*hug* All you can do really is just let Smudge live out her days in as much comfort and happiness as possible.

And you never know, she might do what my cat did, aka look like she's at the edge at 14 and then finally die 3 years later. :smallsmile: Don't start counting her days yet, she may still live for much longer than you could imagine.

[CurlyKitGirl]

*hug* All you can do really is just let Smudge live out her days in as much comfort and happiness as possible.

And you never know, she might do what my cat did, aka look like she's at the edge at 14 and then finally die 3 years later. :smallsmile: Don't start counting her days yet, she may still live for much longer than you could imagine.

She'd better do.
*shakes fist*
*glares affectionately at the Kittencat curled up by her knee*
I have plans for my seducer of devils.

[Coidzor]

...Interesting.... Very interesting. Have you two actually... chest bumped or whatever to confirm this?

...and squicky that you would subject your poor cat to that, Curly.

Isn't Boar to Pork as Mutton is to Lamb? The big, old, nasty, unneutered, insanely violent SOBs as opposed to the gelding, 1 or 2 year old hogs that care more about you being in the way of the food than that you're another living being they want to kill and eat.

My grandfather had some stories of half-feral(or fully feral, depending) hogs that ran wild in the hinterlands of Alabama and Florida when he was working for the US Geological Survey collecting samples of the soils from all kinds of places... The most memorable being when he was walking through some tall grass and ended up being ripped off of his feet and tossed enough that he thought a bear had him. If he hadn't been wearing aluminum snake-bite garters, then he probably would've lost his leg just below the knee, as it was he needed some help getting the garters off and out of him.

For things like bears, it really, really depends on what they've been eating, or so I hear...

[Nameless]

...Interesting.... Very interesting. Have you two actually... chest bumped or whatever to confirm this?

Yes, yes we have. :smalltongue:

[Quincunx]

I have just received a pastiche of a purity list written in the style of Green Eggs and Ham. It is a cheery little bit of prurience and I deeply regret being unable to share it with you and mostly unable of telling which of you are too young to understand all the implications. Not that far into being a shameless old lady. Yet. Path's been there for years, hurry up already. Only a few thousand more such witticisms to collect before I can pay my dues and enter. A laugh's as good as blowing smoke into your face--although, with smokers whisked to the less glamorous outdoors (unless under a mysterious street lamp, see also randman22222's avatar), that cultural signal will soon decay. Will "flick your Bic" also die? Will "got a light?" fall into the same abyss as offering a snuff-box for a pinch?

[Thufir]

I have a few couple of coughing fits - nothing severe, just feeling like you're shredding your own throat with a coarse cheese grater - in the daytime, but at nighttime?
I can barely breathe two minutes at a time without coughing so badly that
a) my mum, who sleeps downstairs and three doors away can hear me
b) I think I can feel something suspiciously like throat shreds floating around in my throat and
c) I couldn't sleep for hours

I had something like that a few years back. My mum reckoned the problem was the air being too dry, and solved it by putting damp jay cloths on the radiators.
It kinda worked. Reduced the coughing to managable levels at least.

[Monkeyking]

I just got the Mutants and Masterminds books, now to read in depth and try to formulate a game from them.....mwah ha ha ha ha ha /evil DM laugh of evilness

[Nameless]

I just got the Mutants and Masterminds books, now to read in depth and try to formulate a game from them.....mwah ha ha ha ha ha /evil DM laugh of evilness

I play that, it's a great game. :smallsmile:

[Cristo Meyers]

Finding myself getting annoyed at the oddest things lately.

Did a lot of reading over my vacation. One of the books is a novel by a Russian writer called Night Watch. Was turned onto the novel because I found the PC game a while back, but I never got around to playing the game in depth until recently. Now apparently they got a different translator for the game and I find myself wanting to strangle the translator every time they refer to the Gloom (think parallel world) when it should be Twilight and Zavulon when it should be Zabulon (nothing like misspelling the name of the BBEG...)

Guess this is close to what those fanboys feel every time a movie gets something wrong...

Finished of Neverwhere (in a matter of hours, a personal record) and Good Omens too (finally).

[Phase]

Hello, my little moths. Guess who met a certain artiste named Sander Cohen today. Go on and guess, my little moths.

[Cristo Meyers]

Hello, my little moths. Guess who met a certain artiste named Sander Cohen today. Go on and guess, my little moths.

Atreyu? It's Atreyu, isn't it?

[Recaiden]

I'm not a moth. And my money's on Sneak. That's where he's been.
So what did you think of the books, Cristo? I really liked them, but you never know. And thank you for believing/not believing in me. :smalltongue:

[Cristo Meyers]

I'm not a moth. And my money's on Sneak. That's where he's been.
So what did you think of the books, Cristo? I really liked them, but you never know.

Night Watch: it's a slightly different style than I'm used to, but I loved it. Reading Day Watch now.

Good Omens left LadyMeyers constantly asking "What are you laughing at?" :smallbiggrin: Poor Dog...

Neverwhere...I'll let the fact that I reading the entire thing in less than 6 hours speak for itself. Gaiman is my new idol...


And thank you for believing/not believing in me. :smalltongue:

Refresh an old cynics memory...:smalltongue:

[Recaiden]

It was in an SMBG. "Don't not believe in yourself. Believe in me, who doesn't believe in you!
<<
>>
I'll shut up now."
Something to that effect. See my sig.

I was really surprised by the ending of Neverwhere. I was totally expecting it to be soul-crushingly depressing, but it wasn't. :smallsmile:

[Cristo Meyers]

It was in an SMBG. "Don't not believe in yourself. Believe in me, who doesn't believe in you!
<<
>>
I'll shut up now."
Something to that effect. See my sig.

Oh, rightrightright...I remember now...:smallbiggrin:

The Caribbean sun burned my memory there for a moment...



I was really surprised by the ending of Neverwhere. I was totally expecting it to be soul-crushingly depressing, but it wasn't. :smallsmile:

I loved Vandemar and Croup. There was so much wit in their dialog, even outdoing the Marquis.

[mercurymaline]

I dunno what my friends were griping about; I just got back from Terminator, and it was awesome.


I blew a spider off my hand, so yay, no more spider. Except now it's somewhere in my room, and I don't know where. So, boo, I guess.


That is all.

[SweetLikeLemons]

Moose is delicious and Neil Gaiman is a terrific writer.

Spiders are creepier than I like to admit.

And I am not tired at all. I am not sure whether this has more to do with the fact that it is still not dark outside or the fact that the light-blocking curtains were far too effective this morning, leading me to sleep until nearly 11 AM.

[Mordokai]

Spiders are creepier than I like to admit.

Brings back memories of high school, when one of the classmates was afraid of spiders and we used to scare her with plastic ones that bounced if pressed just the right way. It was always fun seeing her jump afterwards :smallbiggrin: And the spiders just kept getting bigger...

Yes, I was immature back then. I'm a little better now. But I still like spiders. They are kinda... neat. Not cute or anything, but there's a certain appeal to them.

Not to mention I appreciate all the work they do with flies and other bugs.

[Fredthefighter]

Brings back memories of high school, when one of the classmates was afraid of spiders and we used to scare her with plastic ones that bounced if pressed just the right way. It was always fun seeing her jump afterwards :smallbiggrin: And the spiders just kept getting bigger...

Yes, I was immature back then. I'm a little better now. But I still like spiders. They are kinda... neat. Not cute or anything, but there's a certain appeal to them.

Not to mention I appreciate all the work they do with flies and other bugs.

Yep, spiders do some pretty cool stuff. Like turning the insides of their victims to goop and draining them like a vampire. :smallbiggrin: That's probably the coolest thing they do.

[randman22222]

And I am not tired at all. I am not sure whether this has more to do with the fact that it is still not dark outside or the fact that the light-blocking curtains were far too effective this morning, leading me to sleep until nearly 11 AM.

Hey. That sounds like what happened to me. I slept into 1130 this morning, and the only reason I woke up is because a friend who's at the beach with a ton of other friends called me to tell me how much fun they're having. :smallsigh:
He interrupted a dream in which I was flying, and had two new effects pedals for my guitar, plus two more wah wahs. Tremolo and flange were the new ones...

[SweetLikeLemons]

I don't hate spiders, and I can appreciate their unique talents and niche in the ecosystem (eating mosquitoes is definitely appreciated). Fake ones don't usually get to me at all, but waking up to find a REAL LIVE SPIDER IN MY BED is not nice at all. It is a clear violation of the Don't Bother Me And Stay Out Of Sight Truce, and has brought the spider-human relationship in my apartment to such a state of tension that at the very least eviction (if not eradication) is in order for any spiders who are anywhere outside of the darkest and dustiest recesses.

[dish]

Yep, spiders do some pretty cool stuff. Like turning the insides of their victims to goop and draining them like a vampire. :smallbiggrin: That's probably the coolest thing they do.

And then we wonder why they're such a maligned and feared species.

(Are spiders a species? Sorry, biology fail.)

Anyway, it's rats I hate. But I believe that I've ranted about that one at length several times before.

[randman22222]

And then we wonder why they're such a maligned and feared species.

(Are spiders a species? Sorry, biology fail.)

Anyway, it's rats I hate. But I believe that I've ranted about that one at length several times before.

They're a bajillion species. :smallsmile:

[Fredthefighter]

I don't hate spiders, and I can appreciate their unique talents and niche in the ecosystem (eating mosquitoes is definitely appreciated). Fake ones don't usually get to me at all, but waking up to find a REAL LIVE SPIDER IN MY BED is not nice at all. It is a clear violation of the Don't Bother Me And Stay Out Of Sight Truce, and has brought the spider-human relationship in my apartment to such a state of tension that at the very least eviction (if not eradication) is in order for any spiders who are anywhere outside of the darkest and dustiest recesses.

Yeah, that isn't nice when you find bugs in your bed. The truce thing applies to the whole human race (except people who study and collect spiders).
Another truce you could have is the Be Nice Or I'll Squish You Truce, but not many people are mean enough to use that one.

EDIT:

And then we wonder why they're such a maligned and feared species.

It's a mystery. Spiderman is making good progress with spider-human relations though (Superheroes are real! I know they are! :smallbiggrin:)

[Mordokai]

I don't hate spiders, and I can appreciate their unique talents and niche in the ecosystem (eating mosquitoes is definitely appreciated). Fake ones don't usually get to me at all, but waking up to find a REAL LIVE SPIDER IN MY BED is not nice at all. It is a clear violation of the Don't Bother Me And Stay Out Of Sight Truce, and has brought the spider-human relationship in my apartment to such a state of tension that at the very least eviction (if not eradication) is in order for any spiders who are anywhere outside of the darkest and dustiest recesses.

One of them once found itself near my face. But as soon as I woke up, the poor guy was gone. You wouldn't believe how fast these things can be.

Which leaves me questioning... am I really so scary when I woke up that even spiders are running away from me? :smalltongue:

[SweetLikeLemons]

One thing I am very glad about is that I live in a climate that is inhospitable to scorpions. Spiders are one thing, but scorpions creep me out on a whole other level. *shudders just thinking about them*

And that spider on the bed? This wasn't just crawling across the sheets or anything, that little bastard was actually huddled next to me for warmth or something. I sat up in bed and he went scurrying off from right where I had been sleeping. Most audacious.

[Fredthefighter]

One thing I am very glad about is that I live in a climate that is inhospitable to scorpions. Spiders are one thing, but scorpions creep me out on a whole other level. *shudders just thinking about them*

And that spider on the bed? This wasn't just crawling across the sheets or anything, that little bastard was actually huddled next to me for warmth or something. I sat up in bed and he went scurrying off from right where I had been sleeping. Most audacious.

Yeah, Scorpions are like Spider-Mutants with attitude. They're cool, but creepy.
The spider in the bed-huddled up for warmth thing is like the creepiest thing I've ever heard.

[Castaras]

The spider in the bed-huddled up for warmth thing is like the creepiest thing I've ever heard.

Funny, I thought it was kinda cute...:smallredface: :smalltongue:

<3 spiders. ^.^

[Mordokai]

Yeah, but you're a drow. You're nothing if not biased :smalltongue:

[Castaras]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh...

>.>

[Vizen]

It scares me when there's no spiders in my room, because it makes me think "If there's no spiders here, then there must be something lurking somewhere around here that hunts them". :smalleek: Such as the larger, more deadly, spiders.

[Nameless]

Funny, I thought it was kinda cute...:smallredface: :smalltongue:

<3 spiders. ^.^

Spiders are scarey as hell. ._.

[randman22222]

Y'know, there are species of spider that are incredibly cute. :smalltongue:

http://s2.buzzfeed.com/static/imagebuzz/terminal01/2009/1/13/12/cute-spider-6062-1231867814-3.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p123/x_dressed_4the_funeral_x/cutespider.jpg
http://www.craphound.com/images/w1kspidersquirrel.jpg

[Vizen]

Y'know, there are species of spider that are incredibly cute. :smalltongue:

http://s2.buzzfeed.com/static/imagebuzz/terminal01/2009/1/13/12/cute-spider-6062-1231867814-3.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p123/x_dressed_4the_funeral_x/cutespider.jpg
http://www.craphound.com/images/w1kspidersquirrel.jpg

Aww, I'd take that spider home and pat it alllll day!

[Eldan]

:smallbiggrin:

That made me smile. I mean, you could almost believe that the first one was real.

On topic: spiders are awesome. But so are all arthropods. And pretty much every animal. Oh, and microorganisms. And some plants.

[Nameless]

Y'know, there are species of spider that are incredibly cute. :smalltongue:

http://s2.buzzfeed.com/static/imagebuzz/terminal01/2009/1/13/12/cute-spider-6062-1231867814-3.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p123/x_dressed_4the_funeral_x/cutespider.jpg
http://www.craphound.com/images/w1kspidersquirrel.jpg

That's still scarey. :smallfrown:

[randman22222]

:smallbiggrin:

That made me smile. I mean, you could almost believe that the first one was real.

On topic: spiders are awesome. But so are all arthropods. And pretty much every animal. Oh, and microorganisms. And some plants.

The second one is real; not sure about the first. :smalltongue:
EDIT: Okay, yeah, the first isn't real either.

[Dr. Bath]

Personally, I like the smiley face spider:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2315679597_28e468337b_o.jpg

:smallbiggrin:

[Eldan]

That thing is awesomely (awesomly?) cute. :smallbiggrin: Got any more interesting spider pictures? Otherwise, I'll have to go get my camera and find the institutes spiders, wherever they are hidden now.

[Vizen]

Personally, I like the smiley face spider:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2315679597_28e468337b_o.jpg

:smallbiggrin:

Notice how the spiders eyes also form a smiley face? :smallbiggrin:

[randman22222]

Notice how the spiders eyes also form a smiley face? :smallbiggrin:

I don't really see it. :smallconfused:

@V: Arc? :smallconfused:

[Vizen]

How can you not? Its got six eyes, two of them look like eyes, obviously, but the other 4 form a rather smile-like shape. Oh gods, its 2am and im forgetting what that shape is called...

[Nameless]

Personally, I like the smiley face spider:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2315679597_28e468337b_o.jpg

:smallbiggrin:

Well at least I know that when I’m running away from it, it will be mocking me. :smallannoyed:

[Thufir]

I now have a keyboard/digital piano. It's longer than my table. :smallbiggrin:

However carrying it from the shop to the car has left me incapable of clenching my right hand into a fist without it trembling uncontrollably.

[Vizen]

I don't really see it. :smallconfused:

@V: Arc? :smallconfused:

Yes! YES!! *jumps up and down excitedly*

...Maybe I should lay off the sugar for a moment here.

@Thufir: Photos? =)

[randman22222]

I now have a keyboard/digital piano. It's longer than my table. :smallbiggrin:

However carrying it from the shop to the car has left me incapable of clenching my right hand into a fist without it trembling uncontrollably.

Oooh, nice! Does it have a patch called "Fargo", and do you know the song "Tom Sawyer"? :smalltongue:

[Thufir]

@Thufir: Photos? =)

Since it's a birthday present, I may have to wait until my birthday before taking it out of the box.

@randman: No on both counts.

[randman22222]

Since it's a birthday present, I may have to wait until my birthday before taking it out of the box.

@randman: No on both counts.

Hm. Okay. Just wondering, because on Yamaha keyboards, the patch that opens that song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7DFsBcVMDA) is called Fargo. But I think what Geddy Lee originally used was a bit different. He customised it, maybe?

[Quincunx]

Why are we ALL wasting our time on this when the world is like. . .

. . .well, that. Unjust and unfair. Why did we think we could ever afford such leisure when there is so much more to be done?

[Vizen]

Happy birthday in advance then!

What can you play on the piano? I have a friend that can play the Morrowind theme on his keyboard..

@^ Because some of us would rather be spending our time on making happy memories and overall just enjoying themselves rather then pursuing a long term goal which in the end they may or may not achieve? :smallconfused:

[randman22222]

@^: So your version of enjoying yourself comes at others' expense?


Why are we ALL wasting our time on this when the world is like. . .

. . .well, that. Unjust and unfair. Why did we think we could ever afford such leisure when there is so much more to be done?

Because we're more likely to save the world if we've got our outlets with which to remain sane? And because a good portion of rescuing humanity occurs in people's heads? It's not like this is a complete waste of time. Just about a 95% waste of time. That gender thread going can attest to this, no? (By 'this', I mean that it's not a complete waste of time.)

But that was a rhetorical question, wasn't it?

I wonder if I can continue making all my sentences into questions?

[Vizen]

Not entirely..More like, I'd much rather be happy via the looking at the smaller picture. That is, hanging out with my friends, or hopefully in the future settling down and having a family, you know? Its not a big life changing for everyone thing I want..Just a simple, happy, life.

But yeah, I think Quincunx was being rhetorical as well. Something you wish to share with us, Quin? :smallsmile:

[Eldan]

Because all my dreams are so completely unrealistic that I don't actualyl think I'll ever achieve any of them. And yes, being the first man on mars is still up there.

[randman22222]

Not entirely..More like, I'd much rather be happy via the looking at the smaller picture. That is, hanging out with my friends, or hopefully in the future settling down and having a family, you know? Its not a big life changing for everyone thing I want..Just a simple, happy, life.

But yeah, I think Quincunx was being rhetorical as well. Something you wish to share with us, Quin? :smallsmile:

That's a bit selfish, don't you think? To live your life hiding from any hint of Quincunx's mentioned injustice and unfairness? It may 'work' for a two year old that doesn't want to go to bed, that puts a paper bag over their head thinking that if they can't see it, it must not exist, but how do you think your living happily - blindly - will help anyone? Your 'simple life' suggests something pastoral, or suburban. Care to explain?

[cycoris]

Good morning, minions.

Today, we are going to listen to Rissy gripe about idiotic English teachers. Should be a treat, no?

Long story short, I have to submit these portfolios to my teacher, and each one includes a list of 25 words from our required reading that we don't know the meaning of, and we're supposed to write out what we think the word means in context, what it really means, part of speech, and make a sentence with it.

That'd be swell except that there is not a single word I don't know in any of the required reading.

So now I'm stuck making up weird definitions for words I already know, because I know the teacher well enough to know that she'll make me do it even if I explain my situation to her.

ARGH.

[/rant]

*walks of whistling "On the Good Ship Lollipop"*

[Eldan]

Take the words "I", "to be", "you", "it" and so on. Then try to define them. It's harder than you think. Bonus points for using ridiculously complicated words to do the defining.


Yes, I did that once when we read a book. I think it was "The Time Machine".

[randman22222]

Good morning, minions.

Today, we are going to listen to Rissy gripe about idiotic English teachers. Should be a treat, no?

Long story short, I have to submit these portfolios to my teacher, and each one includes a list of 25 words from our required reading that we don't know the meaning of, and we're supposed to write out what we think the word means in context, what it really means, part of speech, and make a sentence with it.

That'd be swell except that there is not a single word I don't know in any of the required reading.

So now I'm stuck making up weird definitions for words I already know, because I know the teacher well enough to know that she'll make me do it even if I explain my situation to her.

ARGH.

[/rant]

*walks of whistling "On the Good Ship Lollipop"*

Heh, I remember doing that. :smalltongue:
So long as you sign up for the super awesome advanced English courses in your later years of high school, you should be able to avoid that kind of nonsense. Nonetheless, I think you ought to try emailing the teacher and asking her if you sti— No. That won't work. It's all about putting down grades in a grade book. If not, it's still about images. "Do all of our students (appear to) receive an education that turns them into a well-rounded individual capable of succeeding (whatever that means) in the twenty first century? (Because success is a function of now, right? There was no such thing as 'success' two hundred years ago, right?)"

I'm no fan of school systems as they are now. There's nothing guaranteeing that students get any smarter. It's hit and miss, and depends too much on the teacher's personality, and willingness to deviate from the system. My best teachers— No, that statement doesn't work. The people from whom I've learned the most can't be called teachers. They exist only partially inside the school system as it is. How can a teacher who doesn't really care if you're learning new words be called a teacher, if 'teacher' is supposed to indicate a person that helps others to learn? :smallannoyed:

I wish my thoughts were more coherent now, but I do know how you feel.

EDIT: Also, if you have a rebel child streak in you, Eldan has some great advice there. That'll probably get you in a bit of trouble, but... every once in a while, that can be fun. Not entirely productive, as once you antagonise yourself to (from? which preposition? :smallconfused:) the teacher, they're less likely to listen to you.

[Eldan]

Meh. The only thing in english classes that I didn't already know from watching english/american television were some of the more exotic tenses.

[Vizen]

That's a bit selfish, don't you think? To live your life hiding from any hint of Quincunx's mentioned injustice and unfairness? It may 'work' for a two year old that doesn't want to go to bed, that puts a paper bag over their head thinking that if they can't see it, it must not exist, but how do you think your living happily - blindly - will help anyone? Your 'simple life' suggests something pastoral, or suburban. Care to explain?

Yes, it is rather selfish, ill give you that, but im not saying that I won't help people, it just won't be on a large scale, it won't be something that'll take care of unfairness or injustice, it'll be something simple like shouting a homeless person a meal, then giving them $50 before going about whatever business I was going about before.

Why? Because I like dealing with things that I actually have somewhat of an ability to solve. Neighbours need help moving houses? Sure, ill pitch in. Neighbouring country is having severe droughts? Good gravy, why are you telling me? I can't do anything about that.

I'm not sure whether I'm explaining my point clearly enough at the moment.. Ill get some rest and get back to you on this.

[randman22222]

Meh. The only thing in english classes that I didn't already know from watching english/american television were some of the more exotic tenses.

So on English television, you learned what synechdoches (just the first thing that came to mind) are, how and why they add to themes in a piece of literature? Or wait, have your English courses only gone into the technical aspects of the English language? :smallconfused:

[cycoris]

Take the words "I", "to be", "you", "it" and so on. Then try to define them. It's harder than you think. Bonus points for using ridiculously complicated words to do the defining.


Yes, I did that once when we read a book. I think it was "The Time Machine".

I seriously considered defining only prepositions, conjunctions, interjections, and pronouns.

But I can't afford and/or am too chicken to tick her off and get a bad grade, so I'm sucking it up and defining words like "perfunctory" and "emaciated".

BLEH.

@Randy, thank goodness next year I'll be done with this. And most school systems suck, though I don't usually say that seeing as both my parents are teachers and have totally bought in to the "people can't learn without structure, discipline, and someone telling them what to learn and how" deal.

[Sub_Zero]

I don't think I've actually learned any grammar(er?) from my english lessons really. It was just something we were meant to pick up, I've learned more about sentence structure from foreign languages. All we do in english is study poems and books, which is good and all but it only shows us as being capable of using one skill. I just generally don't like english.
My teacher was great though, or he was before GCSE's anyway. He's fun and what he did teach us he taught really well. I think that's the problem a lot of teachers have, their lessons aren't fun enough and so the children don't care and don't pay attention.

[cycoris]

EDIT: Also, if you have a rebel child streak in you, Eldan has some great advice there. That'll probably get you in a bit of trouble, but... every once in a while, that can be fun. Not entirely productive, as once you antagonise yourself to (from? which preposition? :smallconfused:) the teacher, they're less likely to listen to you.

I do have that rebellious streak in me, but too many things are hanging on my grades this year (like my staying with DeeRee next year and taking college courses) for me to want to throw it all away in a fit of "this is so stupid I don't even care anymore".

[TwoBitWriter]

I do have that rebellious streak in me.

Why do you think I have to watch you so darn closely? :smalltongue:

[Pyrian]

Why are we ALL wasting our time on this when the world is like. . .

. . .well, that. Unjust and unfair. Why did we think we could ever afford such leisure when there is so much more to be done?I call this a false dichotomy. It is a well-established fact that productivity drops off badly after ~40 hours or so - and that drop off is severe enough and prolonged enough that for most people spending more time working and less time on leisure pursuits will actually diminish their overall productivity.

So, as a person who spends a full work week making the world a better place, I claim my leisure time as indirectly contributing to that cause via keeping me productive. :smallcool:

[randman22222]

I do have that rebellious streak in me, but too many things are hanging on my grades this year (like my staying with DeeRee next year and taking college courses) for me to want to throw it all away in a fit of "this is so stupid I don't even care anymore".

Yeah, I know how that is as well. I have all these rebellious thoughts go through my head, but I know that they're not in my best interest. There are times and places in which I can more constructively disagree with how things are. :smallconfused:

And then there are those rare times in which I have less self control then that, and my friends step in then. :smalltongue:


Yes, it is rather selfish, ill give you that, but im not saying that I won't help people, it just won't be on a large scale, it won't be something that'll take care of unfairness or injustice, it'll be something simple like shouting a homeless person a meal, then giving them $50 before going about whatever business I was going about before.

Why? Because I like dealing with things that I actually have somewhat of an ability to solve. Neighbours need help moving houses? Sure, ill pitch in. Neighbouring country is having severe droughts? Good gravy, why are you telling me? I can't do anything about that.

I'm not sure whether I'm explaining my point clearly enough at the moment.. Ill get some rest and get back to you on this.

Actually, those examples convey quite well what you're trying to say.
Firstly, small scale help is admirable. For that (if you keep your actions on par with your ideals, something I find incredibly hard to do) you're already leaps and bounds above most people.

Aside from that, people underestimate what they can do... Even if one person lacks the intellect to help in any way with some... situation like you mentioned, even if they don't think that they can help, they can always advocate help.

The sum of what I'm trying to say is that while a person may not be able to do anything about something, the only thing that they can do that worsens that something is to say they can't do anything, or advocate inaction or blindness. Concisely and more coherently: Choosing to "make happy memories" or "enjoyment" is all good and well, but at the very least, keep these "long term goals", even if destined to fail. Just don't let the failure or sense of failure spread to you.

[Quincunx]

Philosophical mutterings while setting myself a physical yet equally endless task--that is to say, I thought while I mopped.

Play refreshes the spirit, yes, but when I enter back into this endless fight, be it housework, human injustice, or unspeakable evil, I have found myself no more able to withstand the endlessness of it. Humor is a weapon, and that is here in play; camaraderie is armor, and that is here in play; the play itself is only the absence of the fight. It's the deep, almost addictive attraction of the play which worries me. The sword is not here. . .

The floor is dry but not clean. Apparently one pass is not enough if you take your tea with sugar. More thoughts later.

Thank you, Vizen. Thank you, Pyrian. Thank you, randman22222, who will be abbreviated as 'two to the fifth power' once I work out where the caret is hidden.

[cycoris]

Why do you think I have to watch you so darn closely? :smalltongue:

Did I mention that I snuck out last night to set the courthouse on fire?

[Cristo Meyers]

Did I mention that I snuck out last night to set the courthouse on fire?

SHHHHHH! You'll get us both in trouble!

...it was a pretty blaze, though...

[TwoBitWriter]

Did I mention that I snuck out last night to set the courthouse on fire?

As long as it was an edifice of capitalist oppression and not some structure belonging to a member of the working class, then it's okay. :smallamused:

Edit: @^: Such a good uncle.

[unstattedCommoner]

Did I mention that I snuck out last night to set the courthouse on fire?

I set the fire station on fire. It was the best Arsonists' Anonymous meeting ever.

[Cristo Meyers]

As long as it was an edifice of capitalist oppression and not some structure belonging to a member of the working class, then it's okay. :smallamused:

Edit: @^: Such a good uncle.

Hey, this uncle gig only mentioned being a role model, it never said anything about being a good one.

[cycoris]

SHHHHHH! You'll get us both in trouble!

...it was a pretty blaze, though...

:smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin::smallbiggrin:


As long as it was an edifice of capitalist oppression and not some structure belonging to a member of the working class, then it's okay. :smallamused:

Don't worry, I only toe the line. I don't actually jump across it.


I set the fire station on fire. It was the best Arsonists' Anonymous meeting ever.

Oh yeah. It was awesome.

[randman22222]

Pyromaniacs...

...What? I'd never set stuff on fire because fire looks beautiful, because I want to bring the Earth closer to entropic death, because the heat gives me fuzzlies, because fires crackling is like music, because the smell of burnt woods is more exotic than any scent worn by man... :smallsmile:... :smalleek: :smallannoyed:

[TwoBitWriter]

Hey, this uncle gig only mentioned being a role model, it never said anything about being a good one.

I wouldn't expect anything more from you, honestly. :smallamused:


Don't worry, I only toe the line. I don't actually jump across it.
You are already better off than me. Who says kids can't learn from their parent's mistakes?:smalltongue:

[dish]

Philosophical mutterings while setting myself a physical yet equally endless task--that is to say, I thought while I mopped.

Play refreshes the spirit, yes, but when I enter back into this endless fight, be it housework, human injustice, or unspeakable evil, I have found myself no more able to withstand the endlessness of it. Humor is a weapon, and that is here in play; camaraderie is armor, and that is here in play; the play itself is only the absence of the fight. It's the deep, almost addictive attraction of the play which worries me. The sword is not here. . .

The floor is dry but not clean. Apparently one pass is not enough if you take your tea with sugar. More thoughts later.

Thank you, Vizen. Thank you, Pyrian. Thank you, randman22222, who will be abbreviated as 'two to the fifth power' once I work out where the caret is hidden.

Mop the floor once with some kind of soap in the water. Then mop it again with bleach in the water. Then mop it again with a dry mop to dry it and ensure no streaks are left.

Housework depresses me too. There is nothing like mopping a floor, washing the dishes, or ironing to have me considering the futility of our actions in the fight against entropy.

(On the plus side, my husband is a liberated man - and also borderline OCD - so he does almost all of the housework. I work much longer hours and bring in most of the money. The cats provide the entropy. We all seem reasonably satisfied with this arrangement.)

[SDF]

I played my trumpet for the first time in over a year. I was playing great! I am thinking about saving up for a new trumpet in a while. I'm already planning my next guitar and keyboard/workstation so it will probably come after those, oh and an inexpensive epiphone electric mandolin. :smalltongue: Gearing up to start writing an album or EP for my solo project sometime this year. I'm pretty excited! I'm not ready to drop $10k on a Monette, but I might try some different trumpets at local music shops soon. I've had my current one for 13 years.

[Fredthefighter]

Hello everybody.
Today, is a pretty good day for a number of reasons.
1) Maths went okay this morning and was sort of worth the effort of getting up an hour or two earlier than I would usually do on a day where I don't have to go to school.
2) Nothing bad happened today.
3) Thanks to someone who used to go to my school, I was able to laugh at a teacher (not hurtfully.... sort of)
4) I realised that I am the ONE AND ONLY nerd at my school. That fills me with pride and joy.
5) DFTBA

So how are all you wonderful people today?

[CurlyKitGirl]

Night Watch: it's a slightly different style than I'm used to, but I loved it. Reading Day Watch now.

Good Omens left LadyMeyers constantly asking "What are you laughing at?" :smallbiggrin: Poor Dog...

Neverwhere...I'll let the fact that I reading the entire thing in less than 6 hours speak for itself. Gaiman is my new idol...

*nods sagely*
Told you so!!
Did you like Adam? And the Four Bikers of the Apocalypse and the Other Four Bikers of the Apocalypse?
I wuv Dog. Even though he is a dog and not a cat.
Also: Aziraphale and Crowley rock.
ALso also: all the above statements are completely true. As are the below ones.

Angel Islington is flippin' men'al. As is the Earl of Earl's Court.
And the Marquis has some of the best dialogue. And how amazing is his Back - Up Plan In Case of Emergencies?

Here endeth the Gaiman squee.
I lie.

So, went to the big town with Best Friend today (more about that later) and we went into Waterstones. I went over to the graphic novel section and read a bit of The Sandman. Must. Buy. Soon.
Oh! And I saw Coraline (again), this time in the cinema in 3D (I now have 3D glasses :smallsmile:) and oh by Nuggan there was this kid we were sitting next to in the queue outside the screening room who was so cute, if hyperactive.
He knows that rocks can talk and conspire against humanity to humiliate them. And that they're trolls.
Unfortunately we didn't get to sit next to the little mite - seat arrangements and all that jazz - but we ended up sitting in between these other tiny five or six year old munchikens.
At Coraline.
An adaptation of a Neil Gaiman book.
The one to my left was crying towards the end and wanting to leave the room. And he near screamed when the hand; the one on Best Friend's side was terrified by that too.
Also the naked old ladies voiced by French and Saunders.
Great film, and to think she was dubious about seeing it. Converted her.

Sadly, the sleepover isn't as Best Friend's attending a funeral tomorrow so I'm back at home. :smallfrown:
Still. Went to the pictures for the first time in eighteen months. 'Twas good.

[TwoBitWriter]

I have read nothing, nothing, I tell you, by Neil Gaiman.

I just don't read anymore, sadly. :smallfrown:

Last book I read was when I re-read All Quiet on the Western Front back in September.

[Cristo Meyers]

I felt so sorry for Dog. It's got to suck being turned from a massive Hellhound into a mongrel toy dog thing...

Adam was awesome, the whole thing was awesome, really.

I loved the Marquis as soon as he appeared.

[Fredthefighter]

I have read nothing, nothing, I tell you, by Neil Gaiman.

Neither have I (I want to though)


I just don't read anymore, sadly. :smallfrown:

Last book I read was when I re-read All Quiet on the Western Front back in September.

You. Don't. Read? Is that even possible?

The last book I read was Shadowplay (Shadowrun book) a few days ago. Deciding between a book called Excalibur and Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz.

[Cristo Meyers]

For Shadowrun fiction you're much better off skipping anything that has the word "Shadowrun" in it and going straight to the source: Neuromancer and the like.

Shadowrun just doesn't make very good novels.

[Fredthefighter]

For Shadowrun fiction you're much better off skipping anything that has the word "Shadowrun" in it and going straight to the source: Neuromancer and the like.

Shadowrun just doesn't make very good novels.

Well, that was the 9th Shadowrun book I've read (Started with "Never Deal with a Dragon") and I must say I've enjoyed them all. Not as much as Pratchett though (Nerdfighters thanked the world for Pratchett, yay!).

[Cristo Meyers]

psh, screw never dealing with dragons, never deal with Harlequin.

...bloody two-faced ancient elf...

*grumblegrumbleIneededthatleggrumble*

[Fredthefighter]

psh, screw never dealing with dragons, never deal with Harlequin.

...bloody two-faced ancient elf...

*grumblegrumbleIneededthatleggrumble*

Never trust an elf was another book I read. Yeah, definitely listen to that advice.
Ghost-Who-Walks-Inside is probably one of my favourite characters from the books ever. He's just cool.

[TwoBitWriter]

For Shadowrun fiction you're much better off skipping anything that has the word "Shadowrun" in it and going straight to the source: Neuromancer and the like.

Shadowrun just doesn't make very good novels.

I enjoyed one Shadowrun book called Fade to Black but only because it featured a Racoon Shaman... and Racoon was always my totem of choice.

But as for Neuromancer, I'm sorry. I know it was groundbreaking and created cyberpunk and yadda yadda yadda. But it was boring! The only good parts were the rated "R" sections.

[Cristo Meyers]

Never trust an elf was another book I read. Yeah, definitely listen to that advice.


All of the "never trust a..." eventually got condensed down into one golden rule:

Never trust anyone

'Course, "trust" usually means "I'm not going to shoot you in the face right now, but I probably will later."

[TwoBitWriter]

All of the "never trust a..." eventually got condensed down into one golden rule:

Never trust anyone

'Course, "trust" usually means "I'm not going to shoot you in the face right now, but I probably will later."

What is the most dangerous phrase a shadowrunner can hear?

It's a toss up between the following:

"You can trust me."

and

"It'll be easy."

[Cristo Meyers]

Cruellest player moment: someone once said "Trust me" in a Shadowrun game. I shot him dead on the spot and said "There, now I trust you."

You just don't say that in Shadowrun. It's like saying "I wonder what that sound in the basement is?" in a horror flick. As soon as you say it, someone's gonna die.

[TwoBitWriter]

Cruellest player moment: someone once said "Trust me" in a Shadowrun game. I shot him dead on the spot and said "There, now I trust you."

You just don't say that in Shadowrun. It's like saying "I wonder what that sound in the basement is?" in a horror flick. As soon as you say it, someone's gonna die.

That is one of the best Shadowrun stories I've heard in a while. :smallamused:

I always got more paranoid when a Johnson told me "It'll be easy."

Like hell it's gonna be easy. There is always that unexpected visit from a Wage-Slave mage or decker that manages to jump outta the woodworks just when you think you got the lowly sec-guards neutralized or are just about to take down that Black IC guarding some hot data.

[CurlyKitGirl]

I have read nothing, nothing, I tell you, by Neil Gaiman.

I just don't read anymore, sadly. :smallfrown:

Last book I read was when I re-read All Quiet on the Western Front back in September.

You. Disowned. Now.
Read something for heavens sake. Even a short story on the internets! And Mrs. Writer's away for a few days.


I felt so sorry for Dog. It's got to suck being turned from a massive Hellhound into a mongrel toy dog thing...

Adam was awesome, the whole thing was awesome, really.

I loved the Marquis as soon as he appeared.

But he gets to chase cats. Better than chastising souls in Dis. The loss of the powers would've been galling though.
Adam rocks.

The Marquis does too. And the Lamia. And the Seven Sisters.
I'd reread it, but I've leant it out.

[TwoBitWriter]

You. Disowned. Now.
Read something for heavens sake. Even a short story on the internets! And Mrs. Writer's away for a few days.

:smallfrown:

I know it's the biggest reason why my writing is so... dry. It's because I can't bring myself to read anymore, like I did in college.

[The Rose Dragon]

Gaiman is a writing god.

He somehow made Good Omens tolerable, as in it didn't make me want to rip my eyes out not to read more of it, unlike Pratchett's other works. If a man can do that, he shall be worshiped until the day all else is unbound.

[Dr. Bath]

Gaiman is a writing god.

He somehow made Good Omens tolerable, as in it didn't make me want to rip my eyes out not to read more of it, unlike Pratchett's other works. If a man can do that, he shall be worshiped until the day all else is unbound.

I thought you hadn't actually read any Pratchett? (Or at least not much) I recall you making such a statement before and then revealing that you didn't really know what you were talking about (Although I could well be mistaken)

[The Rose Dragon]

I tried. About five pages. Maybe if it was the translation, but it was just not good.

I keep reading these things at bookstores, so my view may be biased.

[Nameless]

The next thread shall be:
"Nameless' Random Banter... Of DOOOOOOOM!!!!11ONEONELEVENTY
:smalltongue:
Just thought I'de let you all know. :smallbiggrin:

[The Rose Dragon]

The next thread shall be:
"Nameless' Random Banter... Of DOOOOOOOM!!!!11ONEONELEVENTY
:smalltongue:
Just thought I'de let you all know. :smallbiggrin:

I'll pay you five hugs and two strands of my hair to name it "Random Banter #121".

[Dr. Bath]

I tried. About five pages. Maybe if it was the translation, but it was just not good.

I keep reading these things at bookstores, so my view may be biased.

Yeah... Forgive me if I don't give your view much credit.

@Nameless: DON'T DO IT MAN. Down that path lies madness. You'll be sucked in by their Eastend Ska musical stylings! There is no escape.

[Mr. Mud]

I'll pay you five hugs and two strands of my hair to name it "Random Banter #121".

Doesn't Rawhide have the next RB? Square Number and everything, though I never got white that would matter, nor why he/we do it.

[Dragonrider]

@SDF, page top (taking up musical instruments again): I'm really happy to be back on the piano. Last weekend I was at somebody's house and I sat down at their (out of tune) piano. Now, I stopped playing for two years so I only really know three songs, and of those I know one and a half (working on that half) from memory. But the one I know really well is "Many Meetings" from the Fellowship of the Ring. So I played that.

Next thing I knew, a whole bunch of people were gathered around behind me and one had picked up a guitar and was strumming it along.

It was cool. :smallbiggrin:

@Freddyfoo: DFTBA!

I just painted that on the back of one of my shirts.

[The Rose Dragon]

Doesn't Rawhide have the next RB? Square Number and everything, though I never got white that would matter, nor why he/we do it.

Why would he? I don't know if it was Ronald or him that got #100, but that was a special deal.

Also, I take that as a challenge to read an entire book of Pratchett other than Good Omens. Take your best shot that is not the Colour of Magic (cause that is out of print).

[Castaras]

Why would he? I don't know if it was Ronald or him that got #100, but that was a special deal.

Also, I take that as a challenge to read an entire book of Pratchett other than Good Omens. Take your best shot that is not the Colour of Magic (cause that is out of print).

I'd say Night Watch, which is probably Pratchett's best book, but you'd need to know the other Vimes books.

So I'd say take your pick of Wyrd Sisters or Guards Guards.

[The Rose Dragon]

I'd say Night Watch, which is probably Pratchett's best book, but you'd need to know the other Vimes books.

So I'd say take your pick of Wyrd Sisters or Guards Guards.

I'm not listening to you until you get on IM, you neglecting little sister.

Or else there will be nose-touching (no, not really, I just wanted to use that as a threat).

[SweetLikeLemons]

Why would he? I don't know if it was Ronald or him that got #100, but that was a special deal.

Also, I take that as a challenge to read an entire book of Pratchett other than Good Omens. Take your best shot that is not the Colour of Magic (cause that is out of print).

You know, he did write some very good young adult ones.

Don't take that the wrong way, I just find that he seems to hold his plots together a bit more in those, and perhaps the slightly simpler language would translate better. And The Wee Free Men is absolutely hilarious.

And TwoBitWriter, have you read Snow Crash? I liked Neuromancer, but I liked Snow Crash a lot more.

[cycoris]

I'd say Night Watch, which is probably Pratchett's best book, but you'd need to know the other Vimes books.

So I'd say take your pick of Wyrd Sisters or Guards Guards.

Or The Fifth Elephant. :smalltongue:

[Nameless]

Doesn't Rawhide have the next RB? Square Number and everything, though I never got white that would matter, nor why he/we do it.

IRRELEVANT!

[The Rose Dragon]

Or The Fifth Elephant. :smalltongue:

See, maybe that's why I don't find Pratchett funny. That pun simply wouldn't work in Turkish, since elephant is "fil" and element is... "unsur".

I have no idea why he is not interesting.

[Haruki-kun]

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll190/Haruki-san/Emotes/mediafbpratchett.png

[Eldpollard]

Why would he? I don't know if it was Ronald or him that got #100, but that was a special deal.

Also, I take that as a challenge to read an entire book of Pratchett other than Good Omens. Take your best shot that is not the Colour of Magic (cause that is out of print).

Colour of magic certainly isn't out of print. Seeing as all the discworld books are insanely popular there's no way one would go out of print. Plus I'm sure almost every charity shop has a copy, it's like the law. Same with Mills and Boon books.

[Nameless]

*hugs Pratchett*
It's okay, ignore the mean meanies.

[cycoris]

*hugs Pratchett*
It's okay, ignore the mean meanies.

Hear, hear!

*strokes bookses*
Don't worry, I won't let them hurt you! I promise.

[Nameless]

*Cuddles vopy of "Reaper Man"*

[The Rose Dragon]

Colour of magic certainly isn't out of print. Seeing as all the discworld books are insanely popular there's no way one would go out of print. Plus I'm sure almost every charity shop has a copy, it's like the law. Same with Mills and Boon books.

You live in the United Kingdom. I don't. I asked around, it's out of print.

[Haruki-kun]

You live in the United Kingdom. I don't. I asked around, it's out of print.

That's weird, because I recently got one at a Barnes & Noble in a tiny city I visited in the US, and it was brand-new.

Either way, I wouldn't tell anyone to start with The Colour of Magic. As far as Pratchett books go, you can do much better.

[The Rose Dragon]

I live in Turkey. A country where there is a single book (not a single copy of a book; a single book) for about 5 people.

It's out of print. Honestly.

I mean, why would I lie?

[Haruki-kun]

I live in Turkey. A country where there is a single book (not a single copy of a book; a single book) for about 5 people.

It's out of print. Honestly.

I mean, why would I lie?

I didn't think you were lying, I just thought you might be wrong. People are wrong occassionally, doesn't mean they're lying.

[Dr. Bath]

You live in the United Kingdom. I don't. I asked around, it's out of print.

It could be out of print in Turkish. Although reading humour books that have been translated never seems like a particularly good idea (particularly not Pratchett which is filled with puns, references and accents) unless they are translated really well, which I don't know if they will be into Turkish.

(it is Turkish isn't it?)

[The Rose Dragon]

It is Turkish, yes. The problem is, those who translated Monty Python translated their humor well; why not Pratchett?

Also, since reading H2G2, I'm taking anyone who says good things about British humor with a mountain of salt.

In that case, the puns were translated well, as I later had the chance to read an English copy briefly. It still wasn't good.

((Also, for some reason, I like Monty Python but not Douglas Adams. Even though they worked closely together.))

[Monkeyking]

It's so sad he has a brain problem. His books may stop soon, if they haven't already.....

I loves me my pratchett

[Haruki-kun]

It is Turkish, yes. The problem is, those who translated Monty Python translated their humor well; why not Pratchett?

There are good translators and there are bad translators. N

Not much else to be said.

[wadledo]

((Also, for some reason, I like Monty Python but not Douglas Adams. Even though they worked closely together.))

Wierd, I love Douglas Adams and Pratchett, but I hate Monty Python.

[Dr. Bath]

Also, since reading H2G2, I'm taking anyone who says good things about British humor with a mountain of salt.

In that case, the puns were translated well, as I later had the chance to read an English copy briefly. It still wasn't good.

Well obviously you're an idiot. :smalltongue: Hitchhikers' Guide is amazing. (although my favourite book is the third in the trilogy)

[The Rose Dragon]

Well obviously you're an idiot.

No, obviously you have no taste.

Wait, it's a trilogy? How come it has five books?

[Jack Squat]

¿sıɥʇ xıɟ oʇ ʍoɥ ʍouʞ ǝuoʎuɐ˙˙˙ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ʎɯ ɥʇıʍ ƃuoɹʍ s,ƃuıɥʇǝɯos ʞuıɥʇ ı

[Nameless]

¿sıɥʇ xıɟ oʇ ʍoɥ ʍouʞ ǝuoʎuɐ˙˙˙ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ʎɯ ɥʇıʍ ƃuoɹʍ s,ƃuıɥʇǝɯos ʞuıɥʇ ı

Yes, don't use Word to get that font. :smalltongue:

[Jack Squat]

ʇı punoɹɐ sƃɐʇ [ʇuoɟ/][ʇuoɟ] ǝq p,ǝɹǝɥʇ 'ǝɹǝʍ ʇı ɟı˙˙˙ʇuoɟ ɐ ʇou s,ʇı

[Fredthefighter]

@Freddyfoo: DFTBA!

I just painted that on the back of one of my shirts.

Dinosaurs Failed To Beat Asteroid. :smallbiggrin:
Best. Acronym. Ever.
Don't Forget That Brains Attract. :smallbiggrin:

Also, the shirt thing is cool. Very cool indeed.

TRD, I'm giving you 10 minutes to take back what you said about Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. They are both absolutely freakin' fantastic writers and you know it. :smallannoyed:

[Mr. Mud]

¿sıɥʇ xıɟ oʇ ʍoɥ ʍouʞ ǝuoʎuɐ˙˙˙ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ʎɯ ɥʇıʍ ƃuoɹʍ s,ƃuıɥʇǝɯos ʞuıɥʇ ı

Woah There. I thought this was an image... Something is definitely wrong.

:pǝsnɯɐןןɐɯs: ¿[ןɹn/]ǝɹǝɥ[„ןɯʇɥ˙sɹǝʇʇǝןuʍopǝpısdn/ʎɐןd/ɯoɔ˙sǝɹıʍuǝʌǝs˙ʍʍʍ//:dʇʇɥ„=ןɹn] punoɹɐ ƃuıʎɐןd uǝǝq noʎ ǝʌɐɥ

OR

Have you been playing around here (http://www.sevenwires.com/play/UpsideDownLetters.html)? :smallamused:.

[The Rose Dragon]

TRD, I'm giving you 10 minutes to take back what you said about Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. They are both absolutely freakin' fantastic writers and you know it. :smallannoyed:

I'd normally wait ten minutes to post this, you know.

But no, they're not.

((It may have been a case of Seinfeld is Unfunny, but unlike Seinfeld, they are for some inexplicable reason still considered to be good to date.))

Anyway, I suspend my opinion on Pratchett for the time being.

My opinion on Adams remains firm.

[Fredthefighter]

I'd normally wait ten minutes to post this, you know.

But no, they're not.

((It may have been a case of Seinfeld is Unfunny, but unlike Seinfeld, they are for some inexplicable reason still considered to be good to date.))

Anyway, I suspend my opinion on Pratchett for the time being.

My opinion on Adams remains firm.

I disagree. Both Adams and Pratchett are great writers who deserve the respect and fame that their books have earned them.
And I can't believe I missed International Towel Day on May 25th. Damn.

[Jack Squat]

Woah There. I thought this was an image... Something is definitely wrong.

:pǝsnɯɐןןɐɯs: ¿[ןɹn/]ǝɹǝɥ[„ןɯʇɥ˙sɹǝʇʇǝןuʍopǝpısdn/ʎɐןd/ɯoɔ˙sǝɹıʍuǝʌǝs˙ʍʍʍ//:dʇʇɥ„=ןɹn] punoɹɐ ƃuıʎɐןd uǝǝq noʎ ǝʌɐɥ

OR

Have you been playing around here (http://www.sevenwires.com/play/UpsideDownLetters.html)? :smallamused:.

Yeah; I found that site about a week back and was cleaning out my favorites just now.

Something else I was reminded of is some people care way too much about hot dogs (http://www.hot-dog.org/)

[Mr. Mud]

Yeah; I found that site about a week back and was cleaning out my favorites just now.

Something else I was reminded of is some people care way too much about hot dogs (http://www.hot-dog.org/)

Heh, you clean out your favorites? Hell, I barely clean my car... Or my facial hair :smalltongue:.

[Jack Squat]

Yeah, most of them are products I was looking at getting one time or another or stuff for school that I no longer need. I know it doesn't really save a ton of memory to trim the list down, but it does make finding things easier.

[Haruki-kun]

I'd normally wait ten minutes to post this, you know.

But no, they're not.

((It may have been a case of Seinfeld is Unfunny, but unlike Seinfeld, they are for some inexplicable reason still considered to be good to date.))

Anyway, I suspend my opinion on Pratchett for the time being.

My opinion on Adams remains firm.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l266/Revolos55/Macros/LebowskiOpinion.jpg

[Mr. Mud]

Yeah, most of them are products I was looking at getting one time or another or stuff for school that I no longer need. I know it doesn't really save a ton of memory to trim the list down, but it does make finding things easier.

Meh, I have a weird OCD habit of typing in the URL of sities... E.G. Facebook, ESPN, Google, YouTube, and of course Giant and the Playground :smallbiggrin:.

[The Rose Dragon]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l266/Revolos55/Macros/LebowskiOpinion.jpg

Who said it wasn't?

Also, unlike most people, I think Lord of the Rings was actually a good novel series.

You are of course free to disagree with me.

Even if you happen to be completely wrong. :smalltongue:

[Haruki-kun]

Also, unlike most people, I think Lord of the Rings was actually a good novel series.

......"most people"? Fifty years after it was released and people still consider it one of the pillars of modern fantasy, but "most people" disagree?

[The Rose Dragon]

Weird. Everywhere I go on the internet I keep reading how it sucks. Repeatedly.

Maybe I just frequent the wrong places.

[wadledo]

Never trust the Internet.

Trust people who sit in universities and do nothing but write essays in the hopes that someday they too, will have tenure.

[Jack Squat]

I think it's really just that people are more apt to complain about something rather than praise it.

I may as well state that I can't get through the LotR series. I really liked The Hobbit, but practically fell asleep the third chapter in to FotR. It's a great world he's created, he just probably wasn't the best person to convey it.

[Quincunx]

Colour of magic certainly isn't out of print. Seeing as all the discworld books are insanely popular there's no way one would go out of print. Plus I'm sure almost every charity shop has a copy, it's like the law. Same with Mills and Boon books.

Sometimes, the charity shop book sorters aren't as careful as they might be. I was flicking my eyes over a wall of the usual pulp--soft colors, rounded fonts, female authors--when one cover stayed my eye. I wriggled it out of place, the lavender book cover (serif font, male author) sandwiched between two pulp novels of deeper purple: A Storm of Swords, Part II. I was tempted. The heavens know I was tempted, but the imagined pleasure of a pulp-novel afficionado scooping it up in her net trumped the anticipated pleasure of rereading. That is a weak justification; it has not prevented my skimming off the cream of other charity shops' bookshelves, nor do I leave notations in the borders of my novels for future readers' benefit, though I will correct a previous writer's wrong scribblings. Whoever last owned All the King's Men was no philosopher and not one who took pleasure in fingering the twice-used metaphors drawn from the lowest common denominators of an English education, nor even that wag who scrawled "turn back before it's too late!!!" on the first page of Heart of Darkness. Whoever that was, that mind showed a finer appreciation of genre than did the charity shop sorters.

[Haruki-kun]

Weird. Everywhere I go on the internet I keep reading how it sucks. Repeatedly.

They call that "trolling". They do it because they enjoy it. Most of those people who say that actually have huge posters and figurines of the books in question.

In fact, I know a huge Final Fantasy fan who contantly posts in 4chan saying how much it sucks.

[Dragonrider]

People are weird.

[Recaiden]

Who said it wasn't?

Also, unlike most people, I think Lord of the Rings was actually a good novel series.

You are of course free to disagree with me.

Even if you happen to be completely wrong. :smalltongue:

It was a good novel. But most people agree with you. It's just that with anything, the people who dislike it are more vocal.
@^: Definitely. But it makes them interesting.

[Rutskarn]

Yeah. Nobody on this forum has voiced an opinion of Douglas Adams lately; most take his genius for granted. The only voice I've seen is a dissenting one, but this doesn't mean the majority of people dislike Adams.

(For the record: Pratchett and Adams are gods. Tolkein, while also a god, did not write novels that I personally enjoy. Except for The Hobbit.)

[Darkcomet]

It's just that with anything, the people who dislike it are more vocal.

This is very true. I once saw a game board where the most vocal people often despised the game in question relative to the others in the series.

>.>
<.<

I was never here!

*flees*

[Coplantor]

First: Loved lord of the rings.

Second: I got a little mad today when a fellow student told me that Harry Potter was far superior to Lord of the Rings because LotR makes no sense and it's stupid.

Third: Any writer here? I was planning to start writing a book and I have no idea of where or how should I start. I have a plot at least. Any advice guys?

[Rutskarn]

First: Loved lord of the rings.

Second: I got a little mad today when a fellow student told me that Harry Potter was far superior to Lord of the Rings because LotR makes no sense and it's stupid.

Third: Any writer here? I was planning to start writing a book and I have no idea of where or how should I start. I have a plot at least. Any advice guys?

What I find works with my stories is, I figure out what the highlights are, and don't plan beyond them.

Don't lay out plans that are too detailed. Almost every author finds, in the course of the story, the characters refuse to cooperate with what's planned out for them to do. You're better off just figuring out a point A and a point B, and figuring out as you write how the character would most probably get there.

Also: if you think of something clever to say, and I cannot stress this enough, write it down dammit. Trust me on that.

[Coplantor]

Also: if you think of something clever to say, and I cannot stress this enough, write it down dammit. Trust me on that.

Oh, I know, millions of ideas wasted because I couldn't remember them the next day always remind me of writing things down.

[Assassin89]

First: Loved lord of the rings.

Second: I got a little mad today when a fellow student told me that Harry Potter was far superior to Lord of the Rings because LotR makes no sense and it's stupid.

Third: Any writer here? I was planning to start writing a book and I have no idea of where or how should I start. I have a plot at least. Any advice guys?

Quite ironic considering that the rules of magic for Harry Potter are not well defined while they are better defined in LotR. A second thing is that the so called wizards in Harry Potter are actually sorcerers as their powers are inherent and they cast without preparing spells.

[Pyrian]

A second thing is that the so called wizards in Harry Potter are actually sorcerers as their powers are inherent and they cast without preparing spells.:smalltongue: Using a distinction invented in 3rd edition D&D to complain about terminology in an altogether different setting strikes me as absurd.

[Rutskarn]

On that token, the arms manufacturers really dropped the ball. Paladin missiles can't detect evil at all.

[Phase]

Blargh, Phase is feeling under the weather for the first time in six years.:smallyuk:

And I enjoyed The Hobbit, but I literally fell asleep while reading Lord of the Rings. I am also, of course, a fan of Gaiman, Pratchett, Adams, and DeCamp.

[Coplantor]

My biggest problem with Harry Potter is Harry Potter, that bastard. He never gets what he deserves, spoiled brat, when the professor told him not to fly on his broom or he would be expelled, he did flied, and what did he got after ignoring an order from a proffessor and puting his life and his friends in danger over a silly toy? Did he got expelled? No, he joined the quiditch team, something that 1st year students are not allowed to. So yeah, let's reward his misbehaviour. Also, has anyone ever said something like "Oh, Ron, thanks for saving the school/magic world/me?" Or "Hermione, your bravery, wit and intellect were a fundamental key in order to defeat voldemort"? No! Even though those two had risk their life just as much as Harry, but it's all "Oh Harry this, and Harry that and how cool he is, and did you know he is an orphan? Boo hoo". Thos two live in the shadows while Harry Takes all the credit, heck, in the first book, Voldemort would've never ever had a chance to actually get the stone if not because of Harry, and seriously, all he had to do to defeat him in that occasion was to trip over him. And you cannot blame the slitherin guys for turning into the dark side, have you seen how they treat them?

Dumbledore: "And the winner of the four houses championship is... Slitherin" Slitherin guys: "Wooo hooo!"
D: "But, after recent events involving Harry Potter ignoring school laws, placing himself and his friends in danger as well as the safety of the magical world and all that resulting into a good ending... The winner is Griffindor! Suck on that Slitherin"

Harry Potter represents the abusive upper classes living out of the hard work of the lower classes!

[Phase]

Harry Potter represents the abusive upper classes living out of the hard work of the lower classes!

Of course! It's so clear now! Harry Potter has now been upgraded from reading material to literature.

[Coplantor]

Of course! It's so clear now! Harry Potter has now been upgraded from reading material to literature.

Touché...

Or it could be me beign paranoid. Speaking of wich, I think my cellphone company is playing a joke on me, to send a text message here you need the equivalent of 4 american cents. You know how much credit I have? about 3,96 cents, and the lowest monetary unit we have equals, more or less, 0,04 cents! I hate fractions in the very specific situation when it involves money and me not getting it!

[Haruki-kun]

Third: Any writer here? I was planning to start writing a book and I have no idea of where or how should I start. I have a plot at least. Any advice guys?

Have a plot, major characters, and know the ending. Build the story out of key scenes along the way from the beggining to the end of the story.

You don't have to plan out every excrutiating detail, like the flavor of the ice cream the character had in chapter 17, but it helps to know that he did, in fact, go to get ice cream.

That's one way to do it, anyway. There's a million ways to. This is just the way I like.

EDIT: Also, I agree, Harry's a bastard. I love the story, though.

[Dragonrider]

I know my dear itP-sis Koorli dislikes both LotR and Harry Potter, but they were staples of my childhood. I don't think comparison between the two is in any way useful, however; they're different styles and worlds.

[Fredthefighter]

I know my dear itP-sis Koorli dislikes both LotR and Harry Potter, but they were staples of my childhood. I don't think comparison between the two is in any way useful, however; they're different styles and worlds.

*Hi-fives*
HP and LotR are both great series of books (and some of the first books I ever read)
Although I do think that LotR is better than Harry Potter, even if they are different styles and based in different worlds.

[Quincunx]

On that token, the arms manufacturers really dropped the ball. Paladin missiles can't detect evil at all.

Given the number of closet nerds in the military, I never thought those were anything other than sarcasm hidden in plain sight. As the single deadpan doublethink remark dropped into the speech, as the duck-footed swirl of the ideological waters as Bill Buckley was compelled to modify his former remarks in an essay, so are the names of the missiles enclosed and overshadowed by their true purpose. It takes subtlety to speak your mind within the confines of military life, and it's not a bad choice to study them and how they accomplish it, if you want to learn how to unfetter your tongue while remaining within the rules of a forum, of an argument, of speaking to a group.

[Felixaar]

People are weird.

Yes, but you already knew that, didn't you?

As for me, I like LotR, but I didn't enjoy reading it. I think the plot is good but I don't enjoy the writing itself - I think it was far too verbose and the olde-timey speaking didn't do much for me either. It's nice every now and then but for three tomes it was a little "my head, my head." To be honest, I'm some times tempted to rewrite Lord of the Rings to make it a little more modern and fix some things with the pace and rythm. But that's just me. I'll admit I enjoyed the movies a lot more than the books.

Not sure where I'm going with this, so bye bye for now, everyone.

[Fredthefighter]

Yes, but you already knew that, didn't you?

As for me, I like LotR, but I didn't enjoy reading it. I think the plot is good but I don't enjoy the writing itself - I think it was far too verbose and the olde-timey speaking didn't do much for me either. It's nice every now and then but for three tomes it was a little "my head, my head." To be honest, I'm some times tempted to rewrite Lord of the Rings to make it a little more modern and fix some things with the pace and rythm. But that's just me. I'll admit I enjoyed the movies a lot more than the books.

Not sure where I'm going with this, so bye bye for now, everyone.

I'd put the movies on par with the books really.
Although The Hobbit outclassed LotR in my opinion.

[averagejoe]

Harry Potter represents the abusive upper classes living out of the hard work of the lower classes!

I have to disagree. Hogwarts itself is basically a trade school; the education is focused on technique and application, and any classes that are theoretical, historical, technical, or anything that isn't directly teaching how to work magic either simply don't exist or are derided as useless and generally acceptable to skip or gloss over. Hogwarts isn't a school for academics, for all the trappings of decadence that magic allows them to provide.

The entirety of the wizarding world is lower class. The objects of power that they use to blend in with the nonmagical world are often pieces of junk, like old shoes, and the places where they interact with the nonmagical world are low places, like dive bars and houses in disrepair. They hide from the muggles; in fact, the muggles can't even see much of what they do, the same way people can't see a beggar on the street. Wizards go out into the muggle world not as themselves, but in poor imitations of the society around them, the customs and manners only barely grasped by the wizards in question. One doesn't see this sort of behavior from the upper classes, who never try to imitate those beneath them, but in the lower classman invited to a fancy dinner or formal party, whose dress and manners are, at best, a parody of what is considered proper in their society. The wizards can do things of great amazement and use-the way a man who has lived alone in the woods can do things of amazement and use-but they lack many of the conveniences that we take for granted, and have little to no idea how to use them, or even what they do, even if they do seem to fulfill a function better than magic.

Harry doesn't represent the upper classes. He is a living folk hero, a boy whose birth was surrounded by astounding coincidence, which the uneducated masses took to be signs of greatness; added to this he has a charisma, and seems to attract loyalty from unexpected places. His place in the wizarding world wasn't based on merit, but on superstition and supposition. He is, in short, the false prophet set up to lead and control the uneducated masses, to stop those subversive elements from rising up, revealing themselves to the world, and throwing off the oppression of the upper class.

[Rawhide]

Yes, but you already knew that, didn't you?

As for me, I like LotR, but I didn't enjoy reading it. I think the plot is good but I don't enjoy the writing itself - I think it was far too verbose and the olde-timey speaking didn't do much for me either. It's nice every now and then but for three tomes it was a little "my head, my head." To be honest, I'm some times tempted to rewrite Lord of the Rings to make it a little more modern and fix some things with the pace and rythm. But that's just me. I'll admit I enjoyed the movies a lot more than the books.

Not sure where I'm going with this, so bye bye for now, everyone.

You're going to write an abridged edition?

[Vizen]

You're going to write an abridged edition?

I hope its just as entertaining as this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9-3mzm9MEw).

[Nameless]

Are we... Are we arguing about Harry Potter? :smalleek:

[averagejoe]

Are we... Are we arguing about Harry Potter? :smalleek:

We? I haven't seen you present any arguments. :smalltongue:

[Nameless]

We? I haven't seen you present any arguments. :smalltongue:

By "we" I mean you of course. :smalltongue:

[Castaras]

Who said it wasn't?

Also, unlike most people, I think Lord of the Rings was actually a good novel series.

You are of course free to disagree with me.

Even if you happen to be completely wrong. :smalltongue:

LotR is a good set of books for its time. It still is, it's just some of the content doesn't hold up to the traditions and beliefs of nowadays.

[Fredthefighter]

LotR is a good set of books for its time. It still is, it's just some of the content doesn't hold up to the traditions and beliefs of nowadays.

Exactly.
And a friend of mine keeps sending me quite hilarious spam mail.

[Rawhide]

I hope its just as entertaining as this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9-3mzm9MEw).

The Hobbit (http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/tolkien.hobbit.shtml)

The Fellowship of the Ring (http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/tolkien.fellowship.shtml)
The Two Towers (http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/tolkien.twotowers.shtml)
The Return of the King (http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/tolkien.returnking.shtml)

[Vizen]

The Hobbit (http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/tolkien.hobbit.shtml)

The Fellowship of the Ring (http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/tolkien.fellowship.shtml)
The Two Towers (http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/tolkien.twotowers.shtml)
The Return of the King (http://rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/tolkien.returnking.shtml)

That was the best summary of the books I have ever read. +1!
I especially enjoyed The Two Towers one. Whoo boy that was detailed.

[Zar Peter]

I tried to read the comparison of "The two towers" but it's a bit too long... :smallbiggrin:

[InaVegt]

I have to disagree. Hogwarts itself is basically a trade school; the education is focused on technique and application, and any classes that are theoretical, historical, technical, or anything that isn't directly teaching how to work magic either simply don't exist or are derided as useless and generally acceptable to skip or gloss over. Hogwarts isn't a school for academics, for all the trappings of decadence that magic allows them to provide.

The entirety of the wizarding world is lower class. The objects of power that they use to blend in with the nonmagical world are often pieces of junk, like old shoes, and the places where they interact with the nonmagical world are low places, like dive bars and houses in disrepair. They hide from the muggles; in fact, the muggles can't even see much of what they do, the same way people can't see a beggar on the street. Wizards go out into the muggle world not as themselves, but in poor imitations of the society around them, the customs and manners only barely grasped by the wizards in question. One doesn't see this sort of behavior from the upper classes, who never try to imitate those beneath them, but in the lower classman invited to a fancy dinner or formal party, whose dress and manners are, at best, a parody of what is considered proper in their society. The wizards can do things of great amazement and use-the way a man who has lived alone in the woods can do things of amazement and use-but they lack many of the conveniences that we take for granted, and have little to no idea how to use them, or even what they do, even if they do seem to fulfill a function better than magic.

Harry doesn't represent the upper classes. He is a living folk hero, a boy whose birth was surrounded by astounding coincidence, which the uneducated masses took to be signs of greatness; added to this he has a charisma, and seems to attract loyalty from unexpected places. His place in the wizarding world wasn't based on merit, but on superstition and supposition. He is, in short, the false prophet set up to lead and control the uneducated masses, to stop those subversive elements from rising up, revealing themselves to the world, and throwing off the oppression of the upper class.

Close, but no sugar.

Wizards represent an ethnic minority that could theoretically pass as the majority, but is entirely unintegrated into the larger whole.

Yes, they go to trade school, but it's an elitist type of trade school, muggles are not allowed to enter, even if they wanted, resembling religious schools in Europe.

They try to imitate the larger culture when they need to interact with it, because they fear the results of being seen as said ethnic minority.

Due to these circumstances, they are low class, but not the general representatives of the low class, as normally, the low class is the majority.

Voldemort is a parallel to Hitler, bearing a shame of ancestry. Voldemort is a half blood, Hitler was the incestious child of a bastard. Not to mention the reasonably common misconception that Hitler was half-jew.

Harry Potter is a parallel to Churchill, being a mixed blood between a great family and a stranger/foreigner. Even some of Harry's most describing trait are present in Churchill.


Independent and rebellious by nature, Churchill generally did poorly in school, for which he was punished. (Ed: this is about Churchill's earlier schools, of which harry's parallen we know little except that he was punished often.)
(...)
He earned high marks in English and history and was also the school's fencing champion.
(...)
He was rarely visited by his mother (then known as Lady Randolph), and wrote letters begging her to either come to the school or to allow him to come home. His relationship with his father was a distant one, he once remarked that they barely spoke to each other. (Ed: Distant parents, you don't get more distant than dead.

[Nameless]

Bleeehhhh, I did one of my usual DIY fringe-cuts at about 1am today and I accidentally cut too much off. D’:

[Rawhide]

Bleeehhhh, I did one of my usual DIY fringe-cuts at about 1am today and I accidentally cut too much off. D’:

If you've cut it too short, try cutting it a bit longer.

[Nameless]

If you've cut it too short, try cutting it a bit longer.

I can't tell if you're being serious or not. :smalltongue:

[Dragonrider]

And I'm amused at how seriously people take the whole Harry Potter thing. :smalltongue:

[Nameless]

And I'm amused at how seriously people take the whole Harry Potter thing. :smalltongue:

It is rather funny. :smallbiggrin:

Harry Potter is just a CIA cover up to prevent humanity from believing in the real Hogwarts! The whole book is full of subliminal messages! O_e

[Rawhide]

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (http://www.rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/rowling.stone.shtml)

Twilight (http://www.rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/meyer.twilight.shtml)

[TwoBitWriter]

And I'm amused at how seriously people take the whole Harry Potter thing. :smalltongue:

I second that.

Why don't I start comparing Star Trek captains while we are at it... :smallamused:

[Cristo Meyers]

I second that.

Why don't I start comparing Star Trek captains while we are at it... :smallamused:

'Cause then I'd have to hurt you...

[Nameless]

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (http://www.rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/rowling.stone.shtml)

Twilight (http://www.rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/meyer.twilight.shtml)

And we can't forget My Immortal and Twila- DA GURL HO FEL IN LOV WID DE VAMPIR!

[Castaras]

Twilight (http://www.rinkworks.com/bookaminute/b/meyer.twilight.shtml)

http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs42/f/2009/134/4/2/42ffadb227bbfd20c2c62f5ea2e8d599.gif

[Nameless]

http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs42/f/2009/134/4/2/42ffadb227bbfd20c2c62f5ea2e8d599.gif

It's so true... :smalltongue:

[Dragonrider]

http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs42/f/2009/134/4/2/42ffadb227bbfd20c2c62f5ea2e8d599.gif

I feel like it should be spelled epically, though.

:smalltongue:

[Castaras]

Oh well. :smalltongue: It's a stamp which speaks the truth however.

[Coplantor]

Well, yeah, we have sparkling vampires, but to keep the balance of the universe, we have the best unicorns (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/280260) ever!

[randman22222]

http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs42/f/2009/134/4/2/42ffadb227bbfd20c2c62f5ea2e8d599.gif

QFT.

I actually read the book to see what the fuss is about. It's... Social blech trends I-don't-think-using-my-brain-think-for-me-society. The book simply wasn't written well. The average stone you find on the ground has more character than the characters in the book. :smallsigh:

[Coplantor]

I just found a fantastic specimen here, in my class. Seems like she is a big BIG BIG fan of Twillight, but the best part is, she is also the kind of person who wears Jack the Pumpking King T-shirts without actually knowing who Jack is... Tim Burton must be rolling on his grave.

[Cristo Meyers]

Tim Burton must be rolling on his grave.

...and screaming "Let me out! I'm not DEAD yet!"

[Coplantor]

...and screaming "Let me out! I'm not DEAD yet!"

Probably yes. But he looks like the kind of man who would enjoy it.

[Cristo Meyers]

Probably yes. But he looks like the kind of man who would enjoy it.

Yeah, but who doesn't enjoy a good roll in the grave?

[randman22222]

After reading The Night Watch I've been thinking lately; what would becoming a zombie be like? Assuming your body doesn't decompose, making you more or less immortal, how well could what was once human, obviously changed, cope? There's the instant answer that's been put forth in literature and elsewhere, saying that death is essential, and that we can't cope with immortality, but I wonder if that isn't true. Then you have social reactions to zombiehood. How would you explain to your family and friends that after they buried you, you decided to walk to earth a little longer?

...I really have been thinking about this since that book. Sometimes I love being me. I'm just so weird. :smalltongue:

[unstattedCommoner]

...and screaming "Let me out! I'm not DEAD yet!"

Rolling on his grave. Not in it.

[Coplantor]

Rolling on his grave. Not in it.

Whoopsy, sorry... bad typo I guess.

Do you think you can Rick roll in a grave? Because if it is possible, my funeral is going to be awesome!

[Jack Squat]

I'm sure you can get a sound system and power supply wired into a coffin.

[Coplantor]

I'm sure you can get a sound system and power supply wired into a coffin.

Cool, this goes right into the list of "Things to do (probably by someone else) after I die"

[The Rose Dragon]

I'm going clubbing soon. With any luck, I'll find someone to talk to. With more luck, I'll find someone to do... other things with.

So, wish me luck.

[wadledo]

I'm going clubbing soon. With any luck, I'll find someone to talk to. With more luck, I'll find someone to do... other things with.

So, wish me luck.

You shouldn't hurt baby seals, its not nice.:smallmad:

[SDF]

I've been listening to this band called The Seal Cub Clubbing Club. It's fantastic!

[averagejoe]

Close, but no sugar.

Wizards represent an ethnic minority that could theoretically pass as the majority, but is entirely unintegrated into the larger whole.

Yes, they go to trade school, but it's an elitist type of trade school, muggles are not allowed to enter, even if they wanted, resembling religious schools in Europe.

They try to imitate the larger culture when they need to interact with it, because they fear the results of being seen as said ethnic minority.

Due to these circumstances, they are low class, but not the general representatives of the low class, as normally, the low class is the majority.

Voldemort is a parallel to Hitler, bearing a shame of ancestry. Voldemort is a half blood, Hitler was the incestious child of a bastard. Not to mention the reasonably common misconception that Hitler was half-jew.

Harry Potter is a parallel to Churchill, being a mixed blood between a great family and a stranger/foreigner. Even some of Harry's most describing trait are present in Churchill.

Interesting. Well the English are well known for having a nearly religious obsession with Churchill, so one must favor any theory that includes him. I don't quite buy wizards as an ethnic minority though, because if that was the case they'd be noticed and feared, not glanced over and ignored, and would be much more successful in imitating nonmagical culture. The wizards don't fear for themselves except in so far as they want to maintain the masquerade. They're afraid that nonmagical people will want magic to solve all their problems-in other words, being noticed means being put to work.


And I'm amused at how seriously people take the whole Harry Potter thing. :smalltongue:

:smallconfused: Who's taking it seriously?

[Dragonrider]

I guess I'm just not sure that metaphor extends as far as it's being made to or that it even exists. Admittedly Rowling is pretty good at sneaking subtexts in, but insofar as using the wizarding world to represent the lower class and/or a racial minority, I don't think that was her intent. I know this is the age-old English debate (whether it matters what the author symbolically intended, because if that symbolism can be found, then it exists), but...I dunno. Parallels can be drawn, sure, but I don't know what merit lies in them because my suspicion is that they're basically just in the eye of the beholder and Rowling didn't intend the wizarding world to mirror any social class. :smalltongue:

[Fredthefighter]

I guess I'm just not sure that metaphor extends as far as it's being made to or that it even exists. Admittedly Rowling is pretty good at sneaking subtexts in, but insofar as using the wizarding world to represent the lower class and/or a racial minority, I don't think that was her intent. I know this is the age-old English debate (whether it matters what the author symbolically intended, because if that symbolism can be found, then it exists), but...I dunno. Parallels can be drawn, sure, but I don't know what merit lies in them because my suspicion is that they're basically just in the eye of the beholder and Rowling didn't intend the wizarding world to mirror any social class. :smalltongue:

Or is that just what Rowling wants you to think? :smallbiggrin:
My paranoia is taking over, soon I shall be as jaded and cynical as the rest of the world. Damn, I better make the most out of optimism and enthusiasm while I still have them. :smallsigh:
Everything is wonderful! The world is awesome! The internet is awesome! You people are awesome! YEAH!

[Edge]

Everything is wonderful! The world is awesome! The internet is awesome! You people are awesome! YEAH!

No, only our internet personas are[/EvilDeedForTheDay]

Urgh. I have been doing far too much Classics and Religion revision. My brain has turned to mush, so I came on here today to relax a bit.

And I only got myself involved with the Bleach in the Playground thing that's going on in FFRP at the moment.

:smallsigh:

Must... utilise... better... judgement... in... future.