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

View Full Version : Groundhog's Random Banter of Weather Prediction and Anti-Gopherness #120

Pages : [1] 2 3 4 5 6

Groundhog

2009-05-07, 03:14 PM

Random Banter!!!

For everything you want to talk about, but don't want to start another thread for. Also for completely random things that you feel the need to share with everyone. And maybe even some discussion of these random things--I think that's a good idea, how about you?

That being said, there are rules. Which are laid out below. If you are not familiar with them, please read them. If you are already familiar with them, fine, don't, it's your choice. (But you'll only have yourself to blame if you forget one of the rules and accidentally break it. :smallsmile: )

Rules

1. Spam. For the purposes of RB, one word posts are generally considered spam. Likewise, posts that are nothing but *actions like this* are also be considered spam. Remember that the quality of the post's content is much better than the speed of your response.

2. This isn't the Play by Post or Town forum, nor is it the Silly Message Board Games or Structured Games forum. Please avoid continuous roleplay or mock battles and fights such as the "competition for control of the universe".

3. If it's already a thread, don't bring it to RB. RB has such a huge range of subject matter even restricted to the little snippets that probably don't warrant their own thread, it doesn't need legitimate thread topics cluttering it up as well. The exception to this is to bring something that is off-topic from one thread, but on-topic for RB and the subject doesn't warrant a thread of its own.

4. Don't advertise other threads in RB. Just because these new threads move at speeds more appropriate to a message board than an IM session doesn't mean you need to come over to RB and brow beat people into posting in your latest brainchild.

5. Please don't post single line posts alerting us to your current status -- as in "I'm back." This is Random Banter, not "How to stalk Random GitP forum members."

6. Don't poke, kick or bump the thread. It will move at whatever pace it wants to. Also, please refrain from Captain Obvious comments akin to "My, the thread is fast today."

7. Random Banter can only be as good, or as entertaining, as you make it. Demands to be entertained will fall on deaf ears unless you can add something more meaningful to the conversation.

8. As this is a public forum, where the current topic is nicely recorded for you, and not a conversation where you could have missed the beginning, please refrain from asking something to the effect of "What's the topic?". Please take the time to read up a bit first.

9. Thread Creator must include the words "Random" and "Banter" as well as the thread #. Try to be concise as well.

10. Every post should contain two visible, legible complete sentences, Subject and Predicate. C'mon, make your old English teachers proud.

11. Remember, Random Banter is not your IM client. If you want to have a back and forth discussion with just one person, look in their contact information for IM details.

12. Whenever a new thread is created, all "first post", "first page", and all posts of that nature will be deleted by the administrators. Please avoid doing this, as it is frustrating for them to deal with one-lined posts like this.

13. Double-posting is not your friend. We have edit buttons for a reason.

And here, linked for your convenience, are the previous incarnations of this thread.
Previous Threads:

Amotis' Random Banter #1 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13484)
Dhavaer's Random Banter #2 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13401)
PhoeKun's Random Banter #3 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13319)
Rei Jin's Random Banter #4 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13205)
Toxic Avenger's Random Banter #5 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13146)
Jibar's Random Banter #6 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13026)
Ego Slayer's Surrogate Random Banter #7 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12939)
Sneak's Random Barroom Brawl #8 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12918)
Sophistemon's Solemnly Random Banter #9 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12855)
Vaynor's Very Random Banter #10 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12834)
Bookman's Blathering Random Banter #11 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12809)
Gralamin's Glorious Random Banter #12 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12785)
Rilik's Resplendently Random Raillery #13 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12766)
Gezina's Growling Grazing Random Banter #14 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12747)
The Zerglings Utterly And Geeky Random Banter #15 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12740)
jaqueses Truthfully Randomly Fireside Banter # 16 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12735)
Jack Squat’s Jubilantly Quixotic Random Banter #17 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12693)
Cardel's Banter of Cookie Jubilation #18 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12668)
Archonic's Chaotically Random Banter of Rods #19 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12657)
The Rod's Inanimate Temple of RANDOM banter #20 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12638)
Lucky’s Loquaciously Loud-Mouthed Random Banter#21 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12630)
Deckmaster's Divinely Delightful Random Banter #22 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12614)
Saithis' Soliloquy of Random Banter #23 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12598)
Loveable Lianae's Ludicrous Lampooning Lottery #24 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12578)
NEO|Phyte's Neolithic Nest of Weasel Banter #25 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12544)
Target's Random Banter of "non-violence" #26 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12533)
Tarnag40k's Random banter of "grammar errors" #27 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12515)
Kyrian's Random Banter of ADHDness #28 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12507)
El Jaspero's Random Drunken Ramblings #29 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12503)
Boss Smiley's Eloquently Eggy Banter #30 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12494)
Lykan's Looney Explosionarama & Random Banter #31 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12482)
Iames's Iambic Yarn of Yammering #32 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12468)
Dispozition's Deviously Distressed Banter #33 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12458)
CP's Copiously Combusting Banter of Carnage #34 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12445)
Alarra's Altar of Random Banter #35 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12432)
Eloquent Rune's Electrifying Rambling Banter #36 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12423)
E_P's Very Own Quite Popular Random Banter #37 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12419)
Hydrogelic's Foolish Mortal Random Banter #38 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12413)
Ink's Smudgy Splotchy Random Banter #39 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12405)
Azrael's Big Black Book of Banter #40 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12397)
The Logic Vampire's Rational Random Banter #41 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12387)
Shiny's Shimmering Space-hitchin Random Banter #42 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12376)
ZombieRockStar's Random Banter #43 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12360)
Nostrabel's Realm of Cookies and Random Banter #44 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12342)
Charity's Cheery Chatter Circle #45 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12328)
Samiam's Spontaneous Scintillating Soliloquy #46 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12310)
LLama's Masked Mysterious Random Banter #47 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26599)
Ravishing Rydia's Recumbentibus ^_^ Random Banter #48 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27622)
Penguinizers Perilous Random Banter #49 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28083)
Death's delightfully morbid surrogate random banter #50 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28444)
Wayril's wonderfully weird surrogate random banter #51 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28990)
Rawhide's Deck of Random Banter (52 Cards) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29697)
Korith's Sorrogate Random Banter of Zombie Killing #53 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30353)
Surrogate thread of random Bor-dom #54 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31109)
Rex Idiotarum's Painfully Pogoing Thread #55 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31512)
The Wrath of KHAAAAAANtalas’s William Shatner Flavored Random Banter # 56 (Surrogate) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32080)
EmeraldRose's Random Banter of Lashing Wit #57 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32494)
Captain van der Decken's Surrogate Ship of Random Loot (Banter) #58 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32847)
SDF's Neverending I-Don't-Have-an-OotS-Avatar-Yet Story Banter #59 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33465)
Mauril's Surrogate Dwelf Banter of Fantasy Race Confusion 60th Edition (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34165)
Rockphed's Dice Rolling Toga Party of 61 Drunken CIA Analysts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34568)
var Lord_Magtok = Random(Banter*62) + Surrogate (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34801)
Jibar's Retro Random Banter #63 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35014)
Malina's Random Spanish Banter #64 of morphical annoyance (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35256)
Mr. E's Random Banter #65 of Cane Toting and Hat Tipping (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35418)
Ego Slayer's Hellishly Random Banter #66.6 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35596)
Purple Gelatinous Cube o' Doom's bowl of bantery j-e-ll-o randomness #67 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35859)
Zephra's Random Banter of Ghostly Wailings, and Howling Fun#68 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36317)
Cobra Ikari's Random Banter #69 of Rampant Hugging, Guttermindedness, and ;-) Kinky. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36977)
Scorpina's Random Banter #70 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37480)
Raistlin1040's Super Special Awesome Random Banter #71(Now with 20% more tacos) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37824)
Uberblah's Random Banter #72 Of Caffeine And Sleep Deprivation Induced Randomness (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38225)
Lucky’s Random Banter #73 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38987)
Castaras's Random Banter #74 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37836)
D'anna Biers RB #75 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39495)
Zeb The Troll's RB#76 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39801)
Egdpollard's RB #77 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40128)
Gezina's and Calamity's Random banter #78 of double entendre and doom (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40410)
Random Banter #79 In Loving Memory of Hexa_Regina (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40909)
Zeratul's random banter #80 of throwing puppies off bridges (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41778)
Vespe's Random Banter #81 of singing dolphins and mostly harmless planets. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43254)
CSK's Giant in the Playground Forums Addicted Anonymous, Random Banter #82 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44919)
Iames's Ramblingly Erratic Belldandy-Charged Random Banter #83 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47592)
Serpentine's Scintillating Sensually and Sinuously Seductive Stochastic Satire #84 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49048)
Radikalskippy's Random Banter #85 of lost ideas and where to find them... (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50658)
Moon Called's Random Banter #86 of Sexy Anime Boys and Fangirl Squeals (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51825)
Lilly's Lovely Random Banter #87 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52783)
FdL's Fuzzbox-Fueled Random Banter #88 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54612)
SweetRein's Sugary Restrained Random Banter #89 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59668)
Midnight's Mutant Motorcycle Madness Random Banter #90 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62430)
Em's Extremely Extraordinarily Epic Random Banter #91 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65645)
Dragonrider's Random Banter in Conjunction with the Weighted Cube #92 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67629)
Bushranger's Bodaciously Buffed Random Banter-y Rooster #93 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69425)
Haruki's Historically Hilarious Honey-covered Random Banter #94 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71161)
North's Maple Syrup Flavored Non-Alliterative Random Banter #95 Eh? (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73464)
Wadledo's Weirdly Warbling Watercress Watching Washing Machine Only Random Banter #96 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75946)
SMEE's Random Banter #97 of gender bending and closet bursting (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78694)
Raiser's Rambunctiously Rambling Random Banter #98 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81626)
Dr. Bath's Random Banter, dripping with daring deeds of dastardly deipnosophists #99 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84068)
VOTE, the Democracy Demon's Devilishly Devious and Decidedly Diabolical Desultory Derision (Random Banter) #100 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84914)
Jack Squat's Justlessly Juxtaposed Random Banter #101 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87577)
Dallas-Dakota's Dundering Dandelion's Devilish Damsel's Distress Random Banter #102 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4790602#post4790602)
Destro Yersul's Dangerously Distracting and Doubtlessly Disturbing Random Banter #103 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4903962#post4903962)
Aziraphiles Actually Alliterative and Awesomely Affluent Random Banter #104 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92718)
Cristo's Consistently Confusing and Constantly Casual Random Banter #105 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94491)
Dish's Delightfully Deranged and Deliciously Deliquent Random Banter # 106 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95905)
Slayer's Seemingly Sweet and Socially Silly Random Banter # 107 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97703)
Zero's ambrosial and aberrantly adventitious, abstemiously erudite Random Banter #108 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99100)
Coplantor's Completely Creative Cautious and Contemplative Random Banter #109 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100414)
Rutskarn's Roly-Poly Rebellious and Rejected Random Banter #110 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101156)
TwoBitWriter's Tubular Tracts of Thought-Talking Random Banter #111 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5600540#post5600540)
Phase's Phully Phormed, Phalangeal, and Phantasmagorical Random Banter #112 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101988)

Wolfbane's Wonderfully Wacky and Wildly Wandom Random Banter #113 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102865)
The Kiwi's Kinkily Knotted and Kookily Kickass Random Banter #114 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103674)
Jude's Judgmental Jugular Jab and Jibber Jabbery Random Banter #115 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104480)
The Throne of Thufir's Thoroughly Theoretical and Therapeutic Random Banter #116 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105584)
Random Banter #117 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106698)
Dragonprime's Dynamically Dangerous Dextrous and Destructive Random Banter #118 (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107882)
Farmer Felix's Fantastic FRandom FBanter #119 (may contain traces of fnuts) (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109007)

As stated above, this thread is for random discussion, not random chit chat. That is to say, this is a forum, not your IM client. People have set up an unofficial IRC chat thingy for that sort of thing. Not only will you not annoy the people here, you will also help increase the popularity of the IRC chat.

Now start talking! :smallbiggrin:

Fredthefighter

2009-05-07, 03:25 PM

There's that new thread smell. It's wonderful.
Hey everybody, how are you all today? I myself am doing wonderful, I.T work is done, Drama will be done by Monday morning, English will be done by May 19th, it's all good. *Does small happy dance*
All coursework is done, only thing left is exams. Which actually don't worry me much (well, except for English Lit and French, although I always worry about languages for some reason).
In short, w00t! :smallbiggrin:

Alteran

2009-05-07, 04:03 PM

How much ground would a groundhog hog, if a groundhog could hog ground?

Uhh...never mind.

I'm pretty good, I suppose. I have an important bell-ringer test for biology tomorrow, so I'll be studying for that for most of the evening. And then I have only 3 more weeks of school, but they're going to be pretty busy weeks. Then exams, then summer! I guess I'm at the point where summer vacation is close, but there's still a 50-foot wall of work separating me from it.

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-07, 04:57 PM

Too many exams for too many people.
:smallsigh:
It's always the same this time of year.
Way too many practice exams here.
Six this week for French.
Two for E Lit.
One for Classics.
One for M His.
One for E Lang.
Plus oral work.
It seems like all I do for the first two and E Lang any more is exam technique and exam practice. Just because we finished the syllabus ages ago.
On the plus side: got my coursework mark back for E Lang today. It is good.
Diachronic change: 25/25.
Spoken language: 22/25. And I detest spoken language. I swear, I jumped up six marks from draft to final. So yeah, another A.
I only need an E in my final E Lang exam to get an A overall. At least I can drop marks on the spoken language question.

I mean, I can see the logic behind exam practice and technique and constant, mind numbing revision but it's so dull and I end up daydreaming a lot or (as in yesterdays second E Lit lesson) get caught reading another book instead of paying attention to the lecturer.
It was a good book too. And I was ten pages from the end and finding out who the murderer was and how the crime happened.
Mmmm, the bookstops were good to me this week. On Wednesday I picked up six crime/mystery novels set in C14th London and they're very good both as stories and historically accurate too.
Of course, the author has two degrees in History from Liverpool and Oxford and did his doctorate on the time period so it's to be expected.
He paints a very vivid picture of life back then. I swear I can almost smell London sometimes as I read.
Shame I'm on the last of them now.
Meaning I've exhausted my library again. I guess I could go reread Pratchett?

Haruki-kun

2009-05-07, 05:18 PM

There, there, Curly. We've all been there.

So school's back up for me. Turns out the suspension of classes forced my school system to push back the end of term date one week. Really sucks, but at least that means I have an extra week to work on pretty much everything I have to do...

It's been pretty tight around here, though... I'm currently wearing a wristband marking me as "clean" from the flu. They put it on when I walked through the gates this morning and there was a group of doctors or nurses checking for signs or symptoms... :smalleek:

Phase

2009-05-07, 05:21 PM

Thirty days of school left, then... I get to go to work in a lab? No rest for the weary I suppose.

Haruki-kun

2009-05-07, 05:39 PM

Thirty days of school left, then... I get to go to work in a lab? No rest for the weary I suppose.

Rest is for the weak.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/uncyclopedia/images/9/92/Coffee.gif

Deathslayer7

2009-05-07, 05:40 PM

I get to take my last exam today. :smallbiggrin:

then i got to go look for a summer job :smallsigh:

Assassin89

2009-05-07, 06:40 PM

I have exams in about two weeks, ending at May 22.

My plans for after exams? Going home, going to Disney World, try to learn how to drive, and maybe look for a summer job.

UncleWolf

2009-05-07, 07:11 PM

Speaking of finals and endings, I have about...

*counts*

17 hours before I leave for summer break and leave you guys.

You guys have made a lot of difference for me after I joined, helped me pass my time, cheered me up, and generally kept me going.

I plan on coming back as soon as possible, but in case I can't come back for the three months, thank you.

*hugs all around*

Alteran

2009-05-07, 07:16 PM

I don't really know you personally, Wolfbane, but I'm sure you'll be missed in the playground. We'll be waiting for you to return. And if you're to be stuck with no internet for three months, make sure to buy a lot of books! Or video games? Both, just to be safe.

Dragonrider

2009-05-07, 07:18 PM

Have to go to karate and I just got on to FB for the first time in days.

Miss you guys.

:smallbiggrin: I so hate posts like this one. I feel dirty now.

EmeraldRose

2009-05-07, 07:20 PM

New thread party time!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Hmm....I seem to be too tired to party at this time. Please try back later, or leave a message after the beep.

*beep*

Llama231

2009-05-07, 08:18 PM

I predict that the sky will be pink.

Everywhere. :smallamused:

Make sure that you wear your ponchos.:smalleek:

Sneak

2009-05-07, 09:10 PM

I'm sad.

Not only has my laptop slowly been deteriorating (it's crashing more often now, several keys on the keyboard, including the delete key, no longer work, and apparently almost my entire iTunes library became corrupted and will no longer open), but the screen just cracked today, rendering almost half of the screen unusable. Well, not really, it's only impossible to use about 1/5 or 1/6 of the screen...but the entire right side is covered in colored lines.

And apparently fixing the screen for a MacBook costs around $500 at the cheapest, and I don't think I'm going to get a new computer...so now I pretty much just have one ****ed up lappy.

Sweet. :smallsigh:

And this has been a really busy week.

Also, I still can't stop listening to The Monster (http://www.last.fm/music/Gene%2BKrupa%2B%2526%2BBuddy%2BRich/_/The+Monster) (P.S. Thanks go to Freaks & Geeks for bringing it to my attention).

Phase

2009-05-07, 09:21 PM

And apparently fixing the screen for a MacBook costs around $500 at the cheapest, and I don't think I'm going to get a new computer...so now I pretty much just have one ****ed up lappy.

Sweet. :smallsigh:

Sorry to hear that. At my school, we have a warrantee system so that we never have to pay to fix our own computers. Do you have a desktop computer?

Jack Squat

2009-05-07, 09:34 PM

And apparently fixing the screen for a MacBook costs around $500 at the cheapest, and I don't think I'm going to get a new computer...so now I pretty much just have one ****ed up lappy.

Sweet. :smallsigh:

My laptop screen is busted too...though mine just has colored lines going around randomly. I'm told I'm too hard on technology, like this is something I don't already know.

The good news is that replacing screens isn't too bad (I've taken my laptop apart a few times to try cheaper fixes), and depeding on the macbook, a new screen may be as little as $150...though they all should be around then.

...and keyboards are around $40.

*makes note to order screen sometime in the near future...lines are annoying*

Recaiden

2009-05-07, 09:43 PM

Have to go to karate and I just got on to FB for the first time in days.

Miss you guys.

:smallbiggrin: I so hate posts like this one. I feel dirty now.

I feel hated now.:smallfrown: You've been missed as well, Dri.

Sorry about that Sneak. I've never had monitor problems. That seems like a really, really high price though.:smallconfused:

And my poncho got shredded hiking, so that's too bad there. And it's exam season at my school. I usually do pretty well, but I'm worried.:smalleek: /i don't feel like I know the names of enough things.

@Wolfbane: In case you can't come back soon, have a good summer. You'll be missed. You were one of the best things about the playground to me, renewed my faith in people, and are just generally a great playgrounder. I hope you can stay.

Sneak

2009-05-07, 09:56 PM

Sorry to hear that. At my school, we have a warrantee system so that we never have to pay to fix our own computers. Do you have a desktop computer?

Well, not really. I have an old unplugged G4 Cube (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Mac_G4_Cube)...I don't know computers very well, but I'm thinking there's probably some way I could just hook up my computer with the Cube's monitor. The only problem with that is that it kind of negates the whole portability aspect, which is pretty much the whole point of a laptop...but eh, I'll take what I can get.

In any case, several of my friends are computer nerds, so I'm pretty sure I can get them to help me out there.

My laptop screen is busted too...though mine just has colored lines going around randomly. I'm told I'm too hard on technology, like this is something I don't already know.

The good news is that replacing screens isn't too bad (I've taken my laptop apart a few times to try cheaper fixes), and depeding on the macbook, a new screen may be as little as $150...though they all should be around then.

...and keyboards are around $40.

*makes note to order screen sometime in the near future...lines are annoying*

Hmm. Well, I'll have to look into that, then. The keyboard isn't really bothering me so much, as I've pretty much just gotten used to using Shift+Left Arrow+CMD+X when I want to delete something (or just Shift+Left Arrow and typing over it).

As far as being hard on technology goes...I hear ya there. I've broken my headphones twice, my earbuds twice, my old tablet, and now my laptop is broken...blehh. It's probably my fault, but it still sucks. I've gotten used to broken things, though. For example, my broken headphones still work, you just have to adjust the wire occasionally so that the sound comes through both ears and not just one. And for my screen break, I'm just pulling all windows to halfscreen and working on that side.

I feel hated now.:smallfrown: You've been missed as well, Dri.

Sorry about that Sneak. I've never had monitor problems. That seems like a really, really high price though.:smallconfused:

And my poncho got shredded hiking, so that's too bad there. And it's exam season at my school. I usually do pretty well, but I'm worried.:smalleek: /i don't feel like I know the names of enough things.

Don't worry about it, Reco. Exams always make you nervous, but they usually end up being pretty easy. At least at my school. The thing is, finals are less focused on knowledge of specific details and more focused on general knowledge of everything.

I'm sure you'll do fine, you seem like a smart guy. :)

UncleWolf

2009-05-07, 10:19 PM

@Wolfbane: In case you can't come back soon, have a good summer. You'll be missed. You were one of the best things about the playground to me, renewed my faith in people, and are just generally a great playgrounder. I hope you can stay.

Wait...I renewed your faith in people? :smalleek:

*runs away screaming*

Recaiden

2009-05-07, 10:30 PM

Wait...I renewed your faith in people? :smalleek:

*runs away screaming*

Don't be afraid. But yes, you did. Knowing that there were people like Wolfbane out there, even if they hated me, meant that humanity as a whole wasn't so bad.

As a contrast, my technology tends to develop problems but then stubbornly hang on to life long past when it should.

Icewalker

2009-05-08, 02:41 AM

randman22222

2009-05-08, 02:47 AM

I just got a new computer a little while ago, my old one was just getting out of date, not broken.

...it's a good thing I reread the instructions on the way in here, I haven't dropped by RB much, and I was definitely about to just make a post mostly trying to get people to go check out my friend's book Colorshock, which I already made a thread for.

Aaaanyway, exam season! What've people been taking/studying for? I just had a Calculus AP test yesterday, and Physics coming up on Monday...

Well, so far I've taken the first paper of my English HL, which I think I did quite well on. Not average, not amazing, but quite well. I've done all my bio HL papers, which I OWNED. I just came back from my second maths HL paper, which, like the first, was hell that I probably passed anyway. Go figure. Still have third maths paper, second English paper, and three physics SL papers left.

This isn't as stressful as I'd imagined. :smallconfused:

dish

2009-05-08, 03:09 AM

Weather prediction: Hot and only getting hotter.

Summer arrives in Shanghai with all the subtlety of a skip* to the head.

Good news: Husband's SAD cleared up overnight.
Annoying news: I have no time to buy summer shoes before leaving for a weekend of work.

* I think Americans might use the term 'dumpster'.

Edit: Panic over - I found the gold wedge sandals from last year. Now I just need a pedicure and I might actually look reasonable at work.

Phase

2009-05-08, 05:25 AM

Summer arrives in Shanghai with all the subtlety of a skip* to the head.

I think it says something about me when I read this as Summer Glau arriving in Shanghai...

Recaiden

2009-05-08, 07:08 AM

I just got a new computer a little while ago, my old one was just getting out of date, not broken.

...it's a good thing I reread the instructions on the way in here, I haven't dropped by RB much, and I was definitely about to just make a post mostly trying to get people to go check out my friend's book Colorshock, which I already made a thread for.

Aaaanyway, exam season! What've people been taking/studying for? I just had a Calculus AP test yesterday, and Physics coming up on Monday...

Spanish AP a few days ago, USA History AP in about an hour. All my other AP tests and my Econ and Physics SLs coming up in the next 2 weeks.

@dish: You call it a skip?:smallconfused: Also, congratulations on the sandals.

Quincunx

2009-05-08, 07:17 AM

When you love someone, set them free. . .and then puzzle over what the heck to do with them when they come back. I am a social anarchist, darnit--or perhaps just a natural lieutenant instead of an alpha--with little desire for my own dog-headed pack. Alackaday, the spark has struck, which makes the moment of white light something I can strike as well as see--fitting, as I've got two-way fittings. It should be a positive development, but the lament stays.

Also my more philosophical website is down, after a flicker and surge of activity. That'll quench it.

Eldan

2009-05-08, 07:20 AM

Well, I just filled my holidays with a practical entomology course. And since our exam are at the end of the holidays, it's sixth semester, I was stupid enough to take advanced neurology and we get our bachelor's degrees after these exams, I won't have much free time. Which isn't all that bad, really, because after about a week I tend to get enormously bored, especially since all my friends moved to other countries.

Icewalker

2009-05-08, 08:55 AM

I think it says something about me when I read this as Summer Glau arriving in Shanghai...

It certainly does. The question is whether it qualifies as a bad thing. :smallwink:

...oooh, neuroscience. That's what I'm intending to study as a field.

UncleWolf

2009-05-08, 09:34 AM

Well guys, today is the day. I will see you all either at the end of the summer when I get back to college, or before then, if I somehow get Internet.

Thanks again.

I leave in a few hours.

Groundhog

2009-05-08, 09:59 AM

How much ground would a groundhog hog, if a groundhog could hog ground?

Quite a bit, actually. Have you ever seen what my kind can do to a front lawn?

Well guys, today is the day. I will see you all either at the end of the summer when I get back to college, or before then, if I somehow get Internet.

Thanks again.

I leave in a few hours.

Here's hoping that you get internet at home soon. But if not, see you in the fall!

Mando Knight

2009-05-08, 10:14 AM

So, I have a question:

Why aren't people questioning me (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6078312#post6078312)? :smallconfused:

On finals: I've got a few early in the week, then one on Friday in the morning. And it's the one class that I'm sure I'm doing well in. And yet it's the one that's keeping me at school for a few extra days. :smallsigh:

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-08, 01:25 PM

I have finally figured out something irksome. Wolfbane and rand have almost exactly the same avvie and has been confusing and driving me slightly crazy.

And I now have a very English teacup on my right forearm for no particular reason.

And Best Friend thinks I have some deep musculature/sub - muscular (or something similar) bruising on my right arm which is why it's so hard for me to pick up my bag, hold a book, pen or bottle or even bend my wrist.

I am also planning homicide. French lecturer you know.

Oh!
And in E Lang we were meant to be finishing off our exam paper from yesterday. But we got sidetracke after we saw E Lang Lecturer on Google and 'Oop (nickname for a guy in class) said that Google was meant to be named after the number, but they got it wrong.
This lead to us finding out what a googol and a googolplex was.
And then wondering how many peas would fit into our classroom.
So we made some assumptions:

The peas are frozen and remain frozen throughout. They are exactly 5mm3 for the sake of this theoretical experiment.
Now, 'Oop is about 2m tall, give or take. So we worked out that the classroom is roughly 10mX10mX3m.
So, muddling through by mind, paper and absolutely no passing mathematical experience beyond GCSE (which was two years ago) we worked out you could fit roughly 24 billion peas into our classroom.
Then we kind of estimated that a googol of peas would fill our entire building.
It was a crazy fun weird lecture.

And that is how Google becomes peas.

UncleWolf

2009-05-08, 01:35 PM

I have finally figured out something irksome. Wolfbane and rand have almost exactly the same avvie and has been confusing and driving me slightly crazy.

Well, you can tell the difference because mine has a muzzle and is black and white. :smalltongue:

Phase

2009-05-08, 05:43 PM

We'll miss you, Wolfbane.

And have a good weekend, guys. I'll be back sunday-ish.

Night.

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-08, 05:57 PM

Well, you can tell the difference because mine has a muzzle and is black and white. :smalltongue:

Not at first glance!
Copycat people probably did this on purpose didn't you? Trying to make me go batty eh?
Well it didn't work!

Much.

Icewalker

2009-05-08, 06:38 PM

How much ground would a groundhog hog, if a groundhog could hog ground?

How many nuns could a nunchuck chuck if a nunchuck could chuck nuns?

Felixaar

2009-05-08, 09:11 PM

Sigh.. for those few beautiful days, I had my own Random Banter thread :smalltongue: Oh well!

Also, I'll miss ya wolfy. Have fun and stay away from chiggers.

Alteran

2009-05-09, 01:03 AM

How many nuns could a nunchuck chuck if a nunchuck could chuck nuns?

I'm going to estimate...say, 3 or so. Maybe 4.

randman22222

2009-05-09, 02:32 AM

Not at first glance!
Copycat people probably did this on purpose didn't you? Trying to make me go batty eh?
Well it didn't work!

Much.

We didn't do it to drive you batty; we're well aware that few forces on Earth could possibly further your battiness. We did it (unconsciously) for the heck of it.

Thufir

2009-05-09, 04:03 AM

I had a really weird dream last night. What do you know about the time-distortion effects of lampposts?

Vizen

2009-05-09, 04:16 AM

I had a weird dream last night too. A regular to our Lotto department was in it. She's a special regular as she pays for everything IN TEN CENT COINS. On a regular basis after she's left im at a counter double checking that she did, in fact, give me $18 worth of 10 cent coins.
Anyway. In the dream she was at a slot machine and ten cent coins were pouring out of it.
Many other people were in that dream too.

Also, Phase, I pointed out how your avatar keeps changing depending on the stage the moon is in to my mum, and she thinks your an awesome person.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-09, 05:59 AM

Hello everybody, how are all you wonderful people today?
I'm great right now, the sun is shining, it's saturday and I have NO work to do.I don't count revision as work, it's more of a chore really.
Drama will be all finished by Monday morning and then..... school. Unfortunately I don't get the rest of the day off. However, I do get to spend the entire day in costume. :smallbiggrin:

dish

2009-05-09, 06:05 AM

So, I have a question:

Why aren't people questioning me (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6078312#post6078312)? :smallconfused:

Sorry, didn't access the forums until it was too late. I'll ask you a question now, though: Did you enjoy your time on Get to know a Playgrounder?

Also one for Fred: Which costume are you wearing?

Fredthefighter

2009-05-09, 06:10 AM

Sorry, didn't access the forums until it was too late. I'll ask you a question now, though: Did you enjoy your time on Get to know a Playgrounder?

Also one for Fred: Which costume are you wearing?

I'm dressed as a californian surfer-dude. (The performance of my group's own creation).
So I'll be wearing shorts, trainers and a T-shirt. I'll also have my hair spiked up. (Two members of the group have to come in with orange faces :smallbiggrin:)

Eldan

2009-05-09, 07:25 AM

Since this also the thread of weather prediction...

Our local weather had me really scared these past few days.

It was sunny.

Three days in a row. No clouds. Not a drop of rain. No mist.

This can't be.

I was fully expecting meteors, tsunamis rushing down the hills and tornadoes ripping houses apart by today.

But now it's raining again. The world is normal again.

Graymayre

2009-05-09, 07:28 AM

agramsan efu nar

Anagrams are fun

The Rose Dragon

2009-05-09, 08:19 AM

My computer doesn't seem to have Garamond as a font and assigns Times New Roman whenever I see something in Garamond. How do I assign another font to it?

Eldan

2009-05-09, 08:25 AM

It's been a while since I've done it, but basically, you have to download a font file (don't know the exact name anymore) and put it into your font folder. That's buried somewhere in the windows directory, but search should find it.

The Rose Dragon

2009-05-09, 08:27 AM

I have found the font folder, but I don't know how to reassign Garamond to the downloaded font file which is in the folder, sitting there, doing nothing.

Also, I use a Mac.

randman22222

2009-05-09, 09:11 AM

EmeraldRose

2009-05-09, 09:15 AM

A random question: What does "FABRICATI DIEM PVNC" mean? I googled it, and found many references to Discworld. I see the Latin word for 'day' in it. Fabricati looks like fabricate, but "PVNC" is where I'm lost. Fabricate day punk? :smallconfused:

From Wiki: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh-Morpork_City_Watch)
The Ankh-Morpork Watch & Ward was founded in AM 1561 by King Veltrick I. They had full copper armour and a copper shield inscribed "Fabricati Diem, Pvncti Agvnt Celeriter" ("Make the Day, the Moments Pass Quickly", Veltrick's motto).

The Watch's current motto is "Fabricati diem, pvnc". This is nonsense in Latin, and doesn't actually mean "Make my day, punk", although it looks as though it ought to; this is the nature of most "Latatian" in the books, and is not unusual. Fred Colon insists it means "To protect and serve".

randman22222

2009-05-09, 09:19 AM

From Wiki: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh-Morpork_City_Watch)
The Ankh-Morpork Watch & Ward was founded in AM 1561 by King Veltrick I. They had full copper armour and a copper shield inscribed "Fabricati Diem, Pvncti Agvnt Celeriter" ("Make the Day, the Moments Pass Quickly", Veltrick's motto).

The Watch's current motto is "Fabricati diem, pvnc". This is nonsense in Latin, and doesn't actually mean "Make my day, punk", although it looks as though it ought to; this is the nature of most "Latatian" in the books, and is not unusual. Fred Colon insists it means "To protect and serve".

Can I pretend it means "fabricate my day, punk"? I find that quite awesome. :smallbiggrin:

EmeraldRose

2009-05-09, 09:21 AM

I'm sure that would be fine :smallbiggrin:

The almost-Latin is one of the fun parts of Pratchett...Especially reading as the various characters are trying to figure it out. There are some amusing ones.

Eldan

2009-05-09, 09:26 AM

What was that other one...

"Ab hoc possvm videre domvm tvvm?"

The Rose Dragon

2009-05-09, 09:36 AM

The almost-Latin is one of the fun parts of Pratchett...

Wait... Pratchett books have fun parts?

My mind is blown!

Thufir

2009-05-09, 09:52 AM

Can I pretend it means "fabricate my day, punk"? I find that quite awesome. :smallbiggrin:

I'm pretty sure Sir Terry intended it to look like "Make my day, punk" when he wrote Guards, Guards! The full motto Emerald Rose referred to came later, in one of the editions of The Discworld Companion, when I guess he thought it should make some internal sense as well as being funny.

Wait... Pratchett books have not-fun parts?

My mind is blown!

Fixed.

The Rose Dragon

2009-05-09, 10:36 AM

Fixed.

Well, of course they have non-fun parts. E.g., the parts between the two covers of the book.

dish

2009-05-09, 10:36 AM

Well, considering Sir Terry's output, it is not surprising that there are funnier and less funny parts. But still, overall, extremely funny, and TRD is just being obstinate* on this one.

*And should actually try reading them before dissing them.

unstattedCommoner

2009-05-09, 10:43 AM

I had a really weird dream last night. What do you know about the time-distortion effects of lampposts?

Fairly severe, if you hit one at a significant fraction of c.

wadledo

2009-05-09, 11:09 AM

Fairly severe, if you hit one at a significant fraction of c.

In the 1950's, the British were actually considering harvesting lamp-posts to make a quick buck, but religious protesters stopped them.

It's true, I swear. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magician%27s_Nephew)

Fredthefighter

2009-05-09, 02:45 PM

In the 1950's, the British were actually considering harvesting lamp-posts to make a quick buck, but religious protesters stopped them.

It's true, I swear. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magician%27s_Nephew)

I read that book. To be honest, when I first got the set, I thought that the Chronicles of Narnia would be a good read. How wrong I was. I barely enjoyed the first one and after that, I could not physically muster the willpower to read the rest (I got a few chapters into "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" and then got bored).
C.S.Lewis disappointed me.

Rutskarn

2009-05-09, 02:53 PM

I myself was never much for Lewis.

Graymayre

2009-05-09, 03:10 PM

Strangely, Lewis and Tolkien were in a critiquing group together. Tolkien disliked Lewis' "magical wardrobe" stories.

The Rose Dragon

2009-05-09, 03:13 PM

Strangely, Lewis and Tolkien were in a critiquing group together. Tolkien disliked Lewis' "magical wardrobe" stories.

Weren't they, like, great buddies once?

I forget. I read something like that somewhere.

Phaedra

2009-05-09, 03:14 PM

The Rose Dragon

2009-05-09, 03:16 PM

Same with Lord of the Rings. Tedious to the extreme. I fully expect to be lynched for this opinion, since apparently I can't say this anywhere in real life without being called an idiot, but nevertheless, I found it dull.

Well, I read it years and years ago (like, 10), so I cannot say whether they were good or bad. However, they were my first novel series and I liked them very much (I was like 9).

Fredthefighter

2009-05-09, 03:21 PM

Lord of the Rings I could read, oh yes, most definitely. Although I did find the Hobbit to be a better read than LotR. :smallcool:
What a waste of £27.99 the Chronicles of Narnia were. :smallannoyed:
The films based on Narnia aren't bad in my opinion though. (Although theys kipped both "The Magician's Nephew" and "The Horse and His Boy")

As for the whole Tolkein-Lewis thing, I am unsure on it.
I do have a book explaining the inspiration, etc, etc, etc around Narnia.
It does reveal some rather nasty things about Lewis though.

Graymayre

2009-05-09, 03:27 PM

Fredthefighter

2009-05-09, 03:50 PM

I had gotten that info on the Tolkien-Lewis critiquing group from a local librarian. That was a year ago, but I think I recall her saying they were good friends.

I found the Hobbit to be an easy and fun read. LOTR was a harder endeavour. I only got through 1.5 of the books, but what I did slug through was hearty and filling.

Good.
I actually don't see where people say "It was hard to get through LotR", I got through all 3, The Hobbit and 3 parodies of Tolkein (The Soddit, Bored of the Rings and The Sellamillion) rather easily.
Harry Potter was another easy one to get through.
The David Eddings books (except for Polgara the Sorcereress) were also books I found it rather easy to get through.
I do find graphic novels (Shonen Jump's Yu-Gi-Oh mostly) too easy to get through.

EmeraldRose

2009-05-09, 03:54 PM

Is it wrong to just put the screaming baby into his little chair and let him scream? Because that's where he is. And he's still screaming. But he was screaming when I was holding him too. :smallsigh:

Zar Peter

2009-05-09, 04:00 PM

As long as he can't fall of the chair I find nothing wrong with it... settle down a bit and than you can try to pacify him again.

EmeraldRose

2009-05-09, 04:03 PM

Nah, he can't fall out. It's one of those baby chairs with a seat belt and toys and stuff. He's even got his little blanky. We'll see if it works...

EDIT: Slept for a little bit, played for a little bit...now he's screaming again :smallannoyed:

Rawhide

2009-05-09, 07:44 PM

I read that book. To be honest, when I first got the set, I thought that the Chronicles of Narnia would be a good read. How wrong I was. I barely enjoyed the first one and after that, I could not physically muster the willpower to read the rest (I got a few chapters into "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" and then got bored).
C.S.Lewis disappointed me.

You've read it in the wrong order. If you had read it in the right order, you could have at least enjoyed one of the books.

[T]he original publication order reflects Lewis's strategies for drawing readers into the world of Narnia. Lucy Pevensie's original discovery of the wardrobe, Narnia and a mysterious lamp post in the woods in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe creates a sense of suspense about an unknown land she is discovering for the first time. This suspense is absent if the reader has already been introduced to Narnia in The Magician's Nephew and has already discovered the origins of Narnia, the wardrobe and the lamp post. Indeed, the narrative of the The Magician's Nephew appears to assume that the reader has already read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and is now being shown its beginnings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magician%27s_Nephew

I'm not going to pretend it was a brilliant series, but I did enjoy all of them to varying extents (except for the last in the series).

As for the movies, they didn't exactly skip those two and may indeed still produce them, if the money is right. In fact, the two they have produced have so far followed the publication order.

Good.
I actually don't see where people say "It was hard to get through LotR", I got through all 3, The Hobbit and 3 parodies of Tolkein (The Soddit, Bored of the Rings and The Sellamillion) rather easily.

There are six Lord of the Rings books.

InaVegt

2009-05-09, 07:48 PM

There are six Lord of the Rings books.

To clarify: There are three tomes, each of which old two books inside.

Eldan

2009-05-09, 07:58 PM

There's also the copy I have, which is one huge 1300+ page tome. It's also red, which is only fitting.

Rawhide

2009-05-09, 07:58 PM

To clarify: There are three tomes, each of which old two books inside.

To clarify: There are six books, often published in three volumes. I myself have the one volume edition.

lord of kobolds

2009-05-09, 08:07 PM

Lewis and Tolkien were, at the very least, acquainted with eachother. Lewis did some commentaries in Tolkien's "The Lays of Beleriand", a book set in Middle Earth, but which is really only known to the major LOTR fans.

Phase

2009-05-09, 09:13 PM

Also, Phase, I pointed out how your avatar keeps changing depending on the stage the moon is in to my mum, and she thinks your an awesome person.

Must... Resist... Urge to make... Yo mama joke...

Vizen

2009-05-10, 01:35 AM

Haha, yes, resist. Your above that. I hope. :smalleek:

So. Today a regular to our Lotto department came into our store, as you know, regulars tend to do. He win first division...Scared the heck outta me.

SDF

2009-05-10, 01:38 AM

Must... Resist... Urge to make... Yo mama joke...

Hey, it's Mother's Day so go right ahead. ... I'm sorry, "Yo Mama's Day."

Rutskarn

2009-05-10, 01:39 AM

Phase: Let me cover this one for you. Nothing specific--just a general "yo mama" to clear the air.

*one minute of stretching*

*clears throat*

That, good SIR, is what YO MAMA said. LAST NIGHT.

...

IN BED.

WHILE READING A BOOK.

AND DRINKING A GLASS OF WATER BEFORE TURNING IN EARLY.

Vizen

2009-05-10, 02:07 AM

Rutskarn

2009-05-10, 02:10 AM

That's right. You got told.

Vizen

2009-05-10, 02:17 AM

It's all good.
Now if you excuse me im resisting the urge to make an offhand reply about someone close to you and connecting it to something kinky. I'm sure a more vocal playgrounder can make that kinda reply.

But they won't because your made of awesome. Curses!

Ill go back to texting my mates now..

Fredthefighter

2009-05-10, 07:28 AM

Hello everybody, how are you all today? :smallsmile:

Assassin89

2009-05-10, 08:17 AM

Hello everybody, how are you all today? :smallsmile:

Doing fine. My plans for today are preparing to take down a loft in a dorm room, and my parents are coming in order to help me do it. Not much going on otherwise.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-10, 08:22 AM

Doing fine. My plans for today are preparing to take down a loft in a dorm room, and my parents are coming in order to help me do it. Not much going on otherwise.

Sounds good. Good luck anyway. :smallsmile:

Rawhide

2009-05-10, 08:57 AM

Doing fine. My plans for today are preparing to take down an empire, and my parents are coming in order to help me do it. Not much going on otherwise.

Fixed it for you.

KilltheToy

2009-05-10, 09:04 AM

Groundhog

2009-05-10, 10:41 AM

Hello everybody, how are you all today? :smallsmile:

I'm doing just fine. Especially since I've just discovered that I don't have to take one of my final exams.

dish

2009-05-10, 10:54 AM

Back from a weekend of work. Six hours to get from Hefei home.

J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis friendship - they were actually best friends for quite a while (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkein#Friendships) (but not forever).

Between the ages of about seven and nine, the Narnia Chronicles were some of my favourite books. Have to agree with Rawhide though, you must read TLTWaTW first. After that, my childhood delights were The Magician's Nephew, A Horse and His Boy, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Little known fact: Diana Wynne Jones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Wynne_Jones), who is, in my opinion, the best childrens' fanatasy author writing today, studied under both C.S.Lewis and J.R.R.Tolkien when she was an undergraduate at Oxford.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-10, 10:56 AM

I'm doing just fine. Especially since I've just discovered that I don't have to take one of my final exams.

Cool. I know that I've got 11 exams left to do. :smallfrown:
1 for English Literature, 2 for Maths, 3 for History (USA 1910-29, USA 1929-90 and Germany 1919-45), 2 for Graphic Products, 1 for Science and 2 for French (Reading and Listening).
But, I'm only actually worried about 3 of them (English and the two French exams), but I always worry about language-based exams for some reason.
I worried about my last English exam and got an A, and I was only predicted to get a B :smallbiggrin:

EDIT: Wow. I've never read Howk's Moving Castle (or seen the film), is it any good?

dish

2009-05-10, 12:26 PM

Cool. I know that I've got 11 exams left to do. :smallfrown:
1 for English Literature, 2 for Maths, 3 for History (USA 1910-29, USA 1929-90 and Germany 1919-45), 2 for Graphic Products, 1 for Science and 2 for French (Reading and Listening).
But, I'm only actually worried about 3 of them (English and the two French exams), but I always worry about language-based exams for some reason.
I worried about my last English exam and got an A, and I was only predicted to get a B :smallbiggrin:

EDIT: Wow. I've never read Howl's Moving Castle (or seen the film), is it any good?

Good luck with all those exams.

I loved the book of Howl's Moving Castle. The only thing that could have improved the experience for me would have been getting the chance to read it when I was a member of the target audience (ie a child or young adult). But, sadly, that could never have been.

I found the film very annoying. Miyakai does produce an excellent visualisation of the image of a moving castle, but he's completely changed the plot and the characters by adapting them to his own themes and ends. In my opinion it would have been better if he had just made up his own characters and used them in his own story about a moving castle.

That said, if you've never read the book, you'll probably find the film - at the very least - visually delightful. (But you SHOULD read the book, cos it's great. And also the sequel/companion book "Castle in the Air", which is wonderful too. The other sequel, "House of Many Ways" is also reasonably good.)

Fredthefighter

2009-05-10, 12:28 PM

Good luck with all those exams.

I loved the book of Howl's Moving Castle. The only thing that could have improved the experience for me would have been getting the chance to read it when I was a member of the target audience (ie a child or young adult). But, sadly, that could never have been.

I found the film very annoying. Miyakai does produce an excellent visualisation of the image of a moving castle, but he's completely changed the plot and the characters by adapting them to his own themes and ends. In my opinion it would have been better if he had just made up his own characters and used them in his own story about a moving castle.

That said, if you've never read the book, you'll probably find the film - at the very least - visually delightful. (But you SHOULD read the book, cos it's good. And also the sequel/companion book "Castle in the Air", which is very good too. The other sequel, "House of Many Ways" is reasonably good.

Well, I've got Snakehead (Horowitz), a Shadowrun book and another Percy Jackson book (Rick Riordan) to go through before I think of other books. But I shall look into them.
Thanks for the recommendation. :smallsmile:

Phase

2009-05-10, 01:28 PM

Quincunx

2009-05-10, 03:41 PM

Meeting and speaking with one of your favorite authors, even as one friend to another, is difficult. I wonder how the (rightfully IMO) esteemed Sir Terry manages to have conversations with equals and not folk tripping over their own tongues in awe. It must be as lonely as those panelists at the conventions, trapped behind a desk and above the desires of their fanbase. Some wits would point out (again, rightfully IMO) that it's much more difficult to approach, as one friend to another, a poor writer, but the usual platitudes for an ill-met friend can be applied to a poor work without noticeable tweaking. It was best when I met the friend of an author, all unknowing, and flattered the author's story; the friend could be happy for another without any pride or self-consciousness.

Recaiden

2009-05-10, 07:40 PM

Good luck with all those exams.

I loved the book of Howl's Moving Castle. The only thing that could have improved the experience for me would have been getting the chance to read it when I was a member of the target audience (ie a child or young adult). But, sadly, that could never have been.

I found the film very annoying. Miyakai does produce an excellent visualisation of the image of a moving castle, but he's completely changed the plot and the characters by adapting them to his own themes and ends. In my opinion it would have been better if he had just made up his own characters and used them in his own story about a moving castle.

That said, if you've never read the book, you'll probably find the film - at the very least - visually delightful. (But you SHOULD read the book, cos it's great. And also the sequel/companion book "Castle in the Air", which is wonderful too. The other sequel, "House of Many Ways" is also reasonably good.)

It had little in common with the book. Even moreso than most film adaptations. It was still good, but it's completely different in feel from the book.

dish

2009-05-10, 10:04 PM

It had little in common with the book. Even moreso than most film adaptations. It was still good, but it's completely different in feel from the book.

Which is why it is so annoying. I'd have preferred it if he had just made up a completely new story rather than ruining the wonderful original. The only thing I enjoyed about the film was the visuals. If you want a film about wars and flying machines and stuff, watch Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind instead.

Phase

2009-05-10, 10:12 PM

By the way, nice new avi, Recaiden. Very nice.

cycoris

2009-05-10, 11:29 PM

Hello everybody, how are you all today? :smallsmile:

I'm either sick or having allergies (again). The nasty thing about moving from Southern China to the Pacific Northwest is that I get a double dose of the nasties. Cottonwood and willow, what would I do without you? I might run short on those lovely hay-fever induced hallucinations in which I have hope for humanity. But then I see the Wal-Mart express lane sign that says "12 items or less" and a little piece of me dies.

And I already have whatever DeeRee had a couple of weeks ago. Sharing a room is definitely conducive to sharing germs, or viruses, as the case may be.

*wonders if anyone missed her, or if anyone even knows of her existence*

How are you fine folks doing?

And I, too, like Recaiden's new avvie. Not that it matters.

Rutskarn

2009-05-10, 11:41 PM

Phase's perception of Sir Terry Pratchett after he learned that Sir Pratchett is both a TMBG and Half-Life 2 fan:
God amongst those who are gods amongst gods.

Sauce, please.

banjo1985

2009-05-11, 03:40 AM

And I, too, like Recaiden's new avvie. Not that it matters.

Agreed, it is rather spiffy. I feel like I recognise the design from somewhere...

Quincunx

2009-05-11, 05:17 AM

How many of you have met an author whose work you liked, or am I talking about an experience not shared?

banjo1985

2009-05-11, 05:24 AM

I've met Terry Pratchett once, who whilst not my favourite author anymore, I have a healthy respect for. It was quite a strange experience to be honest, but he was a friendly guy.

Phase

2009-05-11, 05:25 AM

Sauce, please.

He says he likes Half-Life 2 here. (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=143656)

And I heard about "We're Certainly Dwarves" from here (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheyMightBeGiants)

Citation, citation, citation...

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-11, 06:44 AM

Phase's perception of Sir Terry Pratchett before five minutes ago:
God amongst men.

Phase's perception of Sir Terry Pratchett after he learned that Sir Pratchett is both a TMBG and Half-Life 2 fan:
God amongst those who are gods amongst gods.

Koorly nods.
Exactly!
One of my favourite authors ever, and certainly one of the most enduring of my reads.
Narnia's the same. I read it in publication order for the first time when I was six. How do I know? A relative wrote 'Merry Christmas 1997' on the inside cover.
I read it at least once every year.
Can't stand Lord of the Rings.

Okay now . . .
I'm making a desparate appeal for help. I've got my French oral on Thursday and I need more arguments for my debate.
I am: For nuclear energy.
So I need reasons/stats for why it's good.
But also reasons/stats why it's bad so that I can refute them.
Halp?

Thufir

2009-05-11, 06:54 AM

And I heard about "We're Certainly Dwarves" from here (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheyMightBeGiants)

It's spelled 'dwarfs'.

Rawhide

2009-05-11, 08:40 AM

I'm doing a practice exam for an upcoming Microsoft Exam in the case study "testlet" format.

The current case study is about a fictitious hotel chain called DreamSuites. Seems harmless enough in itself, if you will forgive the mild pun.

Now, the company has programmed their own room reservation software, which the writer of this case study has chosen to call SuiteDreams. Not only should the writer be shot for lack of creativity. I'm afraid to say that that pun is so bad that, nope, it's just not redeemable at all.

randman22222

2009-05-11, 08:44 AM

Koorly nods.
Exactly!
One of my favourite authors ever, and certainly one of the most enduring of my reads.
Narnia's the same. I read it in publication order for the first time when I was six. How do I know? A relative wrote 'Merry Christmas 1997' on the inside cover.
I read it at least once every year.
Can't stand Lord of the Rings.

Okay now . . .
I'm making a desparate appeal for help. I've got my French oral on Thursday and I need more arguments for my debate.
I am: For nuclear energy.
So I need reasons/stats for why it's good.
But also reasons/stats why it's bad so that I can refute them.
Halp?

I'm afraid I can offer no French help, but I picked up a Pratchett book for the first time, read forty-four pages of it, and checked it out. Night Watch. I like it so far. :smallsmile:

Cristo Meyers

2009-05-11, 08:59 AM

I'm afraid I can offer no French help, but I picked up a Pratchett book for the first time, read forty-four pages of it, and checked it out. Night Watch. I like it so far. :smallsmile:

Every time someone mentions Night Watch I always have to remind myself that they're probably not talking about the Sergei Lukyanenko novel...

I'm over halfway through Small Favor and devouring it at my usual Dresden Files fanboy rate. Either Neverwhere or Good Omens is up next...

Dallas-Dakota

2009-05-11, 09:05 AM

Things to do before I die :

Climb the mount everest.
Attend Indy Gencon.
Attend a hippie hut meeting.
Attend a England meet up.
Visited atleast four continents.
Write out three stories in either book or webcomic form.
Develop a language and get atleast three people to be able to speak/write it.

Hmm, prolly a couple more things.

CKG : From a french standing point? For, because the french sell it to the dutch, its a good part of the energy export economy profits.

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-11, 01:07 PM

I'm afraid I can offer no French help, but I picked up a Pratchett book for the first time, read forty-four pages of it, and checked it out. Night Watch. I like it so far. :smallsmile:

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN FRENCH!
I can translate fine!
I need stats, reasons why, why not, reliability of nuclear versus renewable, effects of fossil fuels on the environment versus nuclear effects, social, economic and political things!

Koorly can translate.
She just needs numbers and stuff.

ALSO: it doesn't have to be about France at all. I know that Northumbria's coast is being turned into the Energy Coast of Britain f'r'example, so I'm mentioning that.
I'll take anything.

Also: Night Watch is one of Pratchett's best Discworld books. Even reading it as in introduction to the Disc is still very powerful. It's even better if you read it in Watch order because you learn how everyone got where they are.
Night Watch equals excellent.

@DD: thank you! *yoinks*
Fact eleven.

randman22222

2009-05-11, 01:22 PM

Before I nip off to bed:

Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor: 24 000 000 Megajoules per kilogram. Compare to natural gas's 53 or so Megajoules.

Cristo Meyers

2009-05-11, 01:26 PM

I need stats, reasons why, why not, reliability of nuclear versus renewable, effects of fossil fuels on the environment versus nuclear effects, social, economic and political things!

Generally cleaner than fossil fuels, but whenever there's a problem it can be a PROBLEM. Then there's the whole waste issue. On the whole, nuclear is the cleanest short of wind, solar, etc. Though you get more energy out of a nuclear plant than a wind farm or solar plant and it's certainly cleaner than, say, coal or oil burning plants.

I can tell you that in any debate concerning nuclear power you're going to run into the detractor bringing up nuclear incidents: Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, etc. Be prepared. Pointing out that France is the King of Nuclear Power and have yet to have a major incident would help.

Economically speaking: nuclear plants are EXPENSIVE and take quite a while to build (I believe the lead up time is about a decade here in the US). You'd need to contrast that to the normal lifespan of a nuclear plant, which I don't know off the cuff.

The major environmental issue is the storage of the waste. It's hazardous, it's toxic, and no one wants it around. There's a number of solutions (underground vaults, etc), but none of them are ideal. Contrast this with the fact that most of the waste from a coal plant is going straight into the air.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-11, 02:15 PM

URGH! ANGRY FRED IS ANGRY!
I just looked at the topics (books) that we could've studied for GCSE English Literature. These were what we could have studied but didn't.

Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde
Frankenstein
Great Expectations
Jane Eyre
Lord of the Flies
Pride and Prejudice
To Kill a Mockingbird
The book we actually studied, was "Of Mice and Men".
Damn. There are quite a few books in that list that I would have absolutely jumped at the chance to study (mainly because I haven't read any of them).
Okay, rant over. Calm now. :smallsigh:
It's still a shame though.

The Rose Dragon

2009-05-11, 02:18 PM

Urgh.

I want pizza, but I already had two yesterday and it is kind of expensive.

Should I get pizza?

dish

2009-05-11, 02:19 PM

How many of you have met an author whose work you liked, or am I talking about an experience not shared?

Authors whose work I admire that I have met properly (and not just seen from the audience at a reading or talk):

Iain (M) Banks - I got so freaked out that I ended up not saying anything and just running into the office to announce, "Iain Banks is here, Iain Banks is here..." My colleague had to actually let him in the door and set him up for the reading.

Vikram Seth - I also freaked out and lost my opportunity to say anything.

Ben Okri - Marked a turning point, I was actually able to talk to him. We agreed that magic exists all around us.

Neil Gaiman - We had a very non-literary discussion about the practicalities of living in China and why I once painted Mitch Benn green.

Edit @ TRD ^^: No, they over-charged you yesterday. Eat something else.

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-11, 03:03 PM

Before I nip off to bed:

Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor: 24 000 000 Megajoules per kilogram. Compare to natural gas's 53 or so Megajoules.

Love you!
*copies down*
Now to translate Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor. At least I know the last two words. :smalltongue:

Generally cleaner than fossil fuels, but whenever there's a problem it can be a PROBLEM. Then there's the whole waste issue. On the whole, nuclear is the cleanest short of wind, solar, etc. Though you get more energy out of a nuclear plant than a wind farm or solar plant and it's certainly cleaner than, say, coal or oil burning plants.

I can tell you that in any debate concerning nuclear power you're going to run into the detractor bringing up nuclear incidents: Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, etc. Be prepared. Pointing out that France is the King of Nuclear Power and have yet to have a major incident would help.

Economically speaking: nuclear plants are EXPENSIVE and take quite a while to build (I believe the lead up time is about a decade here in the US). You'd need to contrast that to the normal lifespan of a nuclear plant, which I don't know off the cuff.

The major environmental issue is the storage of the waste. It's hazardous, it's toxic, and no one wants it around. There's a number of solutions (underground vaults, etc), but none of them are ideal. Contrast this with the fact that most of the waste from a coal plant is going straight into the air.

Love you, semi - assumed that, knew and have stuff about Tchernobyl and TM Isle, didn't know that. I did know that France has (as of 2008) 59 nuclear reacters which is roughly one reactor for every one million people. Didn't know that, but I know decommisioning time (thirty odd years); knew the last para though.
*pinches*

Authors whose work I admire that I have met properly (and not just seen from the audience at a reading or talk):
*snippage*
Neil Gaiman - We had a very non-literary discussion about the practicalities of living in China and why I once painted Mitch Benn green.

:smalleek:
:smallfrown:

*cries*
I has envy of dish.
Lucky person.
Never met any famous authors. Never.

@Fred: C'est la vie. Teachers tend to pick easy rather than interesting. Case in point: Lord of the Flies - very symbolic, virtually everyone is Jesus In Purgatory, but hardly riveting.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the people here?
Because I do.
A lot.
I love you all.
Even you.
So amazing and stuff.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-11, 03:13 PM

@Fred: C'est la vie. Teachers tend to pick easy rather than interesting. Case in point: Lord of the Flies - very symbolic, virtually everyone is Jesus In Purgatory, but hardly riveting.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the people here?
Because I do.
A lot.
I love you all.
Even you.
So amazing and stuff.

At least she picked Heaney and Clarke over Duffy and Armitage. Lord of the Flies was one that I would've liked to have a look at, but so were Frankenstein, Jekyll and Hyde and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Highlight of today: Final drama performance went brilliantly! Apart from grazing my knee in the second scene. I had to fall over quite clumsily and had to resist saying "ow" because it hurt quite a bit. Darn wooden floors. :smallsmile:

Mauve Shirt

2009-05-11, 03:13 PM

On the topic of meeting Neil Gaiman
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2798_522272000888_32700374_31331993_2131937_n.jpg On the left is my sister. Lucky b**** :smalltongue:

The Rose Dragon

2009-05-11, 03:16 PM

Well, prettiness runs in the family?

Also, you can say bitch in the boards. It's considered to be a milder form of swearing.

Oh, I ordered pizza. Not only did they overcharge me, but they forgot to put in one of the toppings.

When I go there the next time (in person), I'm gonna tell them how they suck.

Then order another pizza.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-11, 03:20 PM

When I go there the next time (in person), I'm gonna tell them how they suck.

Then order another pizza.

Seems slightly ironic. Or is that the point?

Dallas-Dakota

2009-05-11, 04:28 PM

Love you, semi - assumed that, knew and have stuff about Tchernobyl and TM Isle, didn't know that. I did know that France has (as of 2008) 59 nuclear reacters which is roughly one reactor for every one million people. Didn't know that, but I know decommisioning time (thirty odd years); knew the last para though.
*pinches*

Yeah, but see. France also expert some of it. As I said.
>.>

Recaiden

2009-05-11, 06:08 PM

Nuclear reactors do last a long time. Or so I thought. 40+ years. I believe that a fast breeder reactor is one that uses no moderator (necessitating a rich fuel) and creates more of another type of fissionable things than it uses up.

I have met no authors.:smallfrown:

And my internet has been very sketchy recently. I wouldn't be surprised if it stops working completely soon.

And, we got pet dogs on Saturday. We had been planning to for a while, and finally did.

@Mauve: Very. How did she get to do that?

@Fred: We read Great Expectations and Of Mice And Men and To Kill A Mockingbird in our English courses. Great Expectations you're not missing anything by not reading.

Pyrian

2009-05-11, 08:55 PM

For some reason I've only met famous authors I dislike. Not really intentional, just happened.

Phase

2009-05-11, 09:13 PM

For some reason I've only met famous authors I dislike. Not really intentional, just happened.

I can imagine how awkward it would be.

"Oh, er, hello, miss Meyer... Um..."
"Did you read my books? DID YOU?!??"
"Um, I have to go...":smalleek:

dish

2009-05-11, 11:59 PM

*cries*
I has envy of dish.
Lucky person.
Never met any famous authors. Never.

Neither had I until I went to university, so don't worry, you'll meet heaps of them at Oxford.

I had to fly to Beijing to see Neil Gaiman...

And I tried to post this last night, but the forum ate it:

Anti-nuclear power: Uranium is a non-renewable and, thus, finite resource. At the present rate of usage, all known uranium will be used up in 100 years. (Of course there's probably more that hasn't yet been discovered, but eventually we'll be forced to recycle previously discarded waste to get our nuclear fuel, and when that's all gone...)

RS14

2009-05-12, 12:38 AM

I met Salman Rushdie once. Unfortunately, I'm more of a math geek than anything else, and I've not read any of his work, so I didn't have much to say.

Felixaar

2009-05-12, 01:23 AM

On the topic of meeting Neil Gaiman
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs004.snc1/2798_522272000888_32700374_31331993_2131937_n.jpg On the left is my sister. Lucky b**** :smalltongue:

He looks like someone shouted "OI! NEIL!" right before taking the photo.

Btw, can anyone remind me of the difference between 'blond' and 'blonde'? Is there a grammatical rule or is it an aesthetic decision?

edit: and no one say "one of them has an 'e'" or some other witty statement like that, unless you're cute enough to get away with it.

Rawhide

2009-05-12, 02:36 AM

http://www.mydisguises.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/wait-here-lolcat.jpg
The letter 'e'.http://encefalus.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/happy_lolcat.jpg

Ashtar

2009-05-12, 04:32 AM

Curly,

On the subject of Nuclear power, you can find here a document by Axpo (a leading swiss electricity provider) which talks about the state of electricity supply until 2020. In it, you have some hard fact charts which could be useful to you.
http://www.axpo.ch/internet/axpo/en/medien/perspektiven/unterlagen.html

I suggest you download the 13 Mega "Presentation Electricity Prospects 2020" and maybe have a look at the numbers from the last PDF on the list. "Stromproduktion in Europa [CH: 2003 / EU: 2005] (118.00 kB)" which shows detailed %ages of electricity production in Europe. The text is in German, but the pie charts are still understandable.

In Presentation Electricity Prospects 2020, I suggest you look at slide 9, estimated costs in cents of Swiss Frank per kWh of new technologies. Comparing it with cents per kWh on slide 12 (5.5 cents / kWh for nuclear, including waste disposal costs). The whole presentation is interesting, anyway. Also, Axpo have a lot of information on their website, with some in English / French, but mostly in German.

Also, it might be interesting to note that the current installed fleet of Nuclear reactors installed around the world are Generation II nuclear reactors, developed at the lastest in the mid 1970s. The current Generation III (approved and used by Japan and begin built in the EU - 1990s design) and the upcoming Generation IV reactors are much safer, more efficient and produce less waste.

I can also find other numbers / documents if needed, but I would need more time for that.

Edit:
On the French nuclear power plants, you might want to read up on Superphénix (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superph%C3%A9nix), the infamous fast breeder... They had... a few... problems... hum.

Phase

2009-05-12, 05:26 AM

http://www.mydisguises.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/wait-here-lolcat.jpg
The letter 'e'.http://encefalus.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/happy_lolcat.jpg

Rawhide, stop having pictures for everything. Any more awesome and I'm going to have to buy sunglasses.

Well, time for half a day of school sanctioned charity work followed by regular school, as opposed to the usual half day of charity work then we get to go home. :smallannoyed:

Eldan

2009-05-12, 05:36 AM

Congratz. You made me smile with that second cat on a day that started off absolutely horrible. Thank you.

Thufir

2009-05-12, 06:19 AM

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-12, 06:42 AM

Btw, can anyone remind me of the difference between 'blond' and 'blonde'? Is there a grammatical rule or is it an aesthetic decision?

edit: and no one say "one of them has an 'e'" or some other witty statement like that, unless you're cute enough to get away with it.

I know!
Because I take French!

It comes down to French adjectival rules.
If you're male you're blond. No agreements on the end.
If you're female you're blonde. When it comes to most adjectives, add an 'e' and it becomes feminine.
Adding an 's' pluralises it. So: two blond men. There are two women who are blondes.
When English became drowned in Norman - French after Hastings we kept the French inflection for most plurals - 's'. The feminine inflection 'e' seems to have disappeared for agreements. Technically you can use blond for both, but it doesn't really look right, so it's mostly aesthetics.
Well, most would say that.

By the way, Rawhide does escape punishment because it was very cute when he did that.

Also:
Ashtar: Thank you thank you thank you!
And we also have to mention a couple of our sources in the debate/discussion I'll love bringing up that source name. And having the following exchange:
"J'ai trouve (up accent on 'e') un document allemand qui dit - "
"Vous lisez allemand?"
"Alors . . . pas exactement, mais j'ai des amis qui parlent et lisent allemand, et le document est suisse donc [ommitted]"

:smallsmile:
Oh, I second dish's demand to know how Mauvey's sister ended up there.

unstattedCommoner

2009-05-12, 06:44 AM

He looks like someone shouted "OI! NEIL!" right before taking the photo.

Btw, can anyone remind me of the difference between 'blond' and 'blonde'? Is there a grammatical rule or is it an aesthetic decision?

edit: and no one say "one of them has an 'e'" or some other witty statement like that, unless you're cute enough to get away with it.

"blond when used of a boy or man and often blonde when used of a girl or woman" (http://mw1.m-w.com/dictionary/blond)

InaVegt

2009-05-12, 06:48 AM

Don't you guys love it when you feel like your stomach is trying to commit suicide?

Ashtar

2009-05-12, 06:55 AM

Also you can see http://www.ambafrance-dz.org/IMG/Energie_nucleaire.pdf which contains some background information on the French nuclear power plants (curtesy of the French ministry of foreign and european affairs), it is also filled with links to legislation and other reports. Sadly some are out of date, but a google search should find the documents.

Or you can get some information directly from EDF (Electricité de France), but I find their website a bit childish. http://energies.edf.com/

--

Ina: You mean when you feel like you were emtied by a vacuum pump and are curled tightly in a fetal position because that's the only position that hurts the least? And you have muscles cramps from the loss of electrolytes combined with severe cold shakes? Yes, I absolutly hate that. Food poisoning is evil!

Groundhog

2009-05-12, 09:38 AM

Ina: Yeah, had that. I was on a big weekend trip with my friends, right before dinner I start feeling sick. I couldn't eat a bite of the delicious feast that we got, and spent most of the rest of the weekend curled up in bed drifting between dreams and the excruciating stabbing pains in my stomach and intestines.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-12, 01:29 PM

dish

2009-05-12, 01:40 PM

Neil Gaiman was on Blue Peter today. His hair is really crazy or something. Also, cool guy. I may have to go read Coraline and maybe even watch the movie at some point.

EDIT: Green Day's new album is amazing. 18 new songs and all of them are frigging fantastic. http://www.ukgreenday.com/ (You have to scroll down a bit until you find a post headed "Listen to the complete new album" then click the play button)

Have you tried any of his other books? Stardust is lovely, The Graveyard Book is neat, and I'm mightily fond of Anansi Boys. (I also like American Gods, but that opinion is not universally held.) Oh, and of course there's Sandman, and his short story collections...

General notice: If anyone has ever felt the urge to ask me a question, then please act upon said urge in the next twelve hours. Cos that's how long I've got left in Get to Know a Playgrounder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100120&page=19).

Mauve Shirt

2009-05-12, 01:42 PM

Oh, I second dish's demand to know how Mauvey's sister ended up there.

She goes to a fancy school (fancy = expensive, they don't actually try to keep their campus nice or anything) with one of the best writing programs in the US. Neil was there as a guest speaker or something, and to sign books. As for how she ended up with that seat, I've got no flipping clue.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-12, 01:48 PM

Have you tried any of his other books? Stardust is lovely, The Graveyard Book is neat, and I'm mightily fond of Anansi Boys. (I also like American Gods, but that opinion is not universally held.) Oh, and of course there's Sandman, and his short story collections...

General notice: If anyone has ever felt the urge to ask me a question, then please act upon said urge in the next twelve hours. Cos that's how long I've got left in Get to Know a Playgrounder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100120&page=19).

I've seen the movie "Stardust", I'm guessing that the film was based on the book. :smallbiggrin: Other than that, Fred is an uneducated and uncultured oaf.

dish

2009-05-12, 01:54 PM

She goes to a fancy school (fancy = expensive, they don't actually try to keep their campus nice or anything) with one of the best writing programs in the US. Neil was there as a guest speaker or something, and to sign books. As for how she ended up with that seat, I've got no flipping clue.

It was Recaiden's request, actually, not mine. And my guess as to how she ended up with that seat is: Neil is a genuinely nice person who really cares about his fans. It's quite possible he asked her to sit there himself.

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-12, 01:58 PM

Marry me Ashtar! I've got bucket loads of notes now (read four pages) plus what I already know. No way I'm going to lose that debate. Thank you so much.

Have you tried any of his other books? Stardust is lovely, The Graveyard Book is neat, and I'm mightily fond of Anansi Boys. (I also like American Gods, but that opinion is not universally held.) Oh, and of course there's Sandman, and his short story collections...

General notice: If anyone has ever felt the urge to ask me a question, then please act upon said urge in the next twelve hours. Cos that's how long I've got left in Get to Know a Playgrounder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100120&page=19).

Haven't read yet.
Read, loved.
Read, loved.
Read part of it, then got kicked out the shop - closing time.
Haven't read yet. Apparently our local library has the full collection though. And it's nealry study leave . . . Stuff revision!
Read some.
All very good. Very, very good. As is Good Omens.

To GtKaP!

@Fred: yes. You are unsophisticated and uneducated. Now go better yourself! Quickly lad. Quickly! Before time runs out.

@Mauvey: :smallfrown:
Lucky, lucky, lucky.
Still. I have three years of uni. Guest speakers will happen. Just hope they're good one.

Cristo Meyers

2009-05-12, 02:00 PM

Lucky bloody people meeting fantastic authors...*grumble* :smalltongue:

I've got Neverwhere sitting on my desk, taunting me...but I promised I wouldn't start it until vacation. Hadn't expected to finish Small Favor so dang quickly...

Fredthefighter

2009-05-12, 02:30 PM

@Fred: yes. You are unsophisticated and uneducated. Now go better yourself! Quickly lad. Quickly! Before time runs out.

But the library is so far away. And there are only two computers there. And I have to revise for an English exam on Tuesday. And I already have a book that I'm reading. Urgh, too many excuses.
Well, at least none of you intelligent and cultured people here decided to beat me with the pointy sticks again. I don't like the pointy sticks. They hurt.

Graymayre

2009-05-12, 02:32 PM

But the library is so far away. And there are only two computers there. And I have to revise for an English exam on Tuesday. And I already have a book that I'm reading. Urgh, too many excuses.
Well, at least none of you intelligent and cultured people here decided to beat me with the pointy sticks again. I don't like the pointy sticks. They hurt.

Notice how all of your excuses are based around having too many educational things to do? :smalltongue:

Fredthefighter

2009-05-12, 02:40 PM

Notice how all of your excuses are based around having too many educational things to do? :smalltongue:

Yes, yes they are. Also, it's the truth. I have 11 exams to do over the next month and a half. Some of them are on the same days.
I have a total of 760 minutes worth of exams. That's 12 hours 40 minutes of exams.

Sub_Zero

2009-05-12, 03:07 PM

Yes, yes they are. Also, it's the truth. I have 11 exams to do over the next month and a half. Some of them are on the same days.
I have a total of 760 minutes worth of exams. That's 12 hours 40 minutes of exams.

Wow, you figured out how long it'll be?
I didn't bother, all I know is it's lots of money that I luckily don't have to actually pay. Hmm, you're right that it's English on tuesday, I should reeeeaaaallly be revising for these :smallfrown:

Fredthefighter

2009-05-12, 03:14 PM

Wow, you figured out how long it'll be?
I didn't bother, all I know is it's lots of money that I luckily don't have to actually pay. Hmm, you're right that it's English on tuesday, I should reeeeaaaallly be revising for these :smallfrown:

We were given a sheet with all our exam info on (exam type, duration, level, exam board, date, etc, etc).
I added all mine up to 760mins. Damn.
Also, yeah, I should be revising english as well. I have two more english lessons before the exam.
By the way, which book did you study?
As a final thing, Sub_Zero is back! How have you been buddy?

Dallas-Dakota

2009-05-12, 03:18 PM

Dude, I got most of my exams in a total of one week. And a couple of them in the two weeks after.

Sub_Zero

2009-05-12, 03:18 PM

We were given a sheet with all our exam info on (exam type, duration, level, exam board, date, etc, etc).
I added all mine up to 760mins. Damn.
Also, yeah, I should be revising english as well. I have two more english lessons before the exam.
By the way, which book did you study?
As a final thing, Sub_Zero is back! How have you been buddy?

I got the sheet but I didn't add it all up. Just dind't think to.
We studied Lord of the Flies, but the second set did Of Mice and Men, I've never read that but they don't seem to mind it. I liked LotF until we studied it in English though...
Someone noticed my absence...neat!

Fredthefighter

2009-05-12, 03:35 PM

I got the sheet but I didn't add it all up. Just dind't think to.
We studied Lord of the Flies, but the second set did Of Mice and Men, I've never read that but they don't seem to mind it. I liked LotF until we studied it in English though...
Someone noticed my absence...neat!

*Points to self*
We studied Of Mice and Men. Just a little bit monotonous.
I've never read Lord of the Flies.
I was a bit "gutted" when I saw what we could've read.

@DD: That does seem like quite a bit, I think you've got more than I do, not sure. I've got 2 next week, 4 more in 3 weeks time after whitston week (3 of them on the same day), then 3 more another week after those (2 of those on the same day) and finally 2 more in the week of my birthday. (fortunately, none of them are on my birthday)

EDIT: Goodnight all. Bye-bye. See you tomorrow. :smallsmile:

Sneak

2009-05-12, 08:15 PM

Hello, ole chaps. Haven't checked in with you in a while. I've been pretty busy with end-of-the-year work lately.

For tomorrow, I have to have a topic for a Moby **** essay and 10-15 passages that I could use in my essay. I think I've almost got it figured out. I'm planning on writing about how pipes in Moby **** represent peace and serenity but also act as symbols of impending death (Queequeg's tomahawk-pipe, the whale with the pipe from Stubb Kills A Whale, how Ahab throws his pipe away and is thus immortalized through Ishmael's epic account of his pursuit of Moby D, etc.). I also plan on coming up with some big revelation to write in the conclusion about what Melville is saying about happy people. Or something.

wadledo

2009-05-12, 08:35 PM

Well,there are exactly 2 hours and 26 minutes until I can vote, smoke, and order stuff off of infomercials, all at the same time.

I'm so damned excited, I nearly can't get over the sarcasm.

Purple Rose

2009-05-12, 08:36 PM

I just finished my last final exam and am now out for the summer! It makes me very happy.

Recaiden

2009-05-12, 08:40 PM

I have 990 minutes of exams that actually matter left. And then a pre-calculus exam that's less important. And technically, also a swimming exam, which consists of "You're here. Now go home."

@Wadledo: Congratulations/ I'm sorry. Whichever you prefer.

@Sneak: That sounds like a great essay. Although I don't see how pipes connect with happiness. then again, I haven't read the book yet.

wadledo

2009-05-12, 08:46 PM

@Wadledo: Congratulations/ I'm sorry. Whichever you prefer.

I still don't know myself.
Though it would be nice if someone were to, say, I don't know, make a thread where people could post stupid pictures and wish me a pleasant day in which I caused my mother horrible pain (but she's cool with it, which is nice).

@Purple Rose: Nice.
I just completed my A.P. Psych exam, and I feel really good about it.
I'm definitely getting a 4 (85-95%-ish), though there is the off chance of a five happening, though I doubt it.

Sneak

2009-05-12, 08:49 PM

@Sneak: That sounds like a great essay. Although I don't see how pipes connect with happiness. then again, I haven't read the book yet.

Well, there are a bunch of unconnected events with various people relating smoking pipes and serenity or happiness. For example, Ishmael and Queequeg share a pipe together and are at peace with each other and enjoying each other's company. When Ahab throws away his pipe, he is essentially admitting that he can no. longer take pleasure in anything and thus rejecting happiness in favor of his quest for the Mobester. And Stubb, who is arguably one of the happiest characters because he just doesn't care, is always seen with a pipe. In fact, the fact that he always has a pipe is the only physical descriptor given about him.

I'm still working out the details of what I want to write about, though. There isn't a draft due tomorrow, anyway.

And thanks. :) I hope your exams go well. Especially that swimming one...sounds tough. :P

@Wadledo: what Recaiden said.

@Purple Rose: Awesome! Congrats!

EDIT: @Wadledo again: Nice job on the exam. Congrats.

Ashtar

2009-05-12, 09:10 PM

Marry me Ashtar!
I must say, I am touched. Thank you. It means a lot to me. In fact, I am surprised at how much this pleases me.

All the best on your Debate!

Purple Rose

2009-05-12, 09:33 PM

Thanks. ^.^ I had nothing but English courses this year, so it was a whole mess of papers. But I am feeling pretty confident about them.

Mauve Shirt

2009-05-12, 09:37 PM

I don't remember if I've already said it, but I didn't fail any of my classes and will be able to return to UMW in the fall! HOORAY! :smallbiggrin:
2 As, a B+, a C+ and a D in the class I was sure I was going to fail so I'm relieved anyway.

wadledo

2009-05-12, 09:39 PM

Hooray for not failing!:smallbiggrin:

Neko Toast

2009-05-12, 09:49 PM

:smallsigh: Thank the higher power that I'm moving home tomorrow. I'm getting sick of a few things at college right now, most of those things being friend issues. At least at home I can relax a bit, look for a job, and do some gaming that I won't feel apprehensive towards (long story, those who saw my old thread on the Roleplaying Games forum know what I'm talking about).

Anyone else about to move out for the summer?

@V: Living at home does have its advantages. You don't have to pay for housing or a meal plan. Plus, you never miss your pets. Must be nice.

Purple Rose

2009-05-12, 10:06 PM

I actually live at home right now. My college is very close by so I get to save money by not living on campus.

Alteran

2009-05-12, 10:14 PM

I just finished my last final exam and am now out for the summer! It makes me very happy.

Congratulations! I'll be done my last exam exactly one month from today, so I'm jealous. At least my exam schedule doesn't seem as bad as some peoples' around here, I only have 4 exams this year. Not counting the "in-class evaluations" that are like exams but not in the exam timeslots, of course.

Anyways...one month of school for me! Summer is just around the corner. :smallsmile:

Neko Toast

2009-05-12, 10:15 PM

Congratulations! I'll be done my last exam exactly one month from today, so I'm jealous. At least my exam schedule doesn't seem as bad as some peoples' around here, I only have 4 exams this year. Not counting the "in-class evaluations" that are like exams but not in the exam timeslots, of course.

Anyways...one month of school for me! Summer is just around the corner. :smallsmile:

Hm... You must still be in high school. I don't know of any colleges that get out that late.

Alteran

2009-05-12, 10:55 PM

High School indeed, and for two more years after this one.

Coidzor

2009-05-13, 01:02 AM

I'm so sorry. Don't worry, it's a lie when they tell you that high school years are the best years of your life. That's just them trying to give you a complex and make you more miserable because it gives them sick pleasure.

Hmm, so apparently I'm a sick, sick, little monkey for being curious about waxing my legs just to see if it's as painful as people always make it out to be. Also, Star Trek movie was fun. That pretty much sums up everything right now.

Now to skim the recap.

Hmm, nope, nothing important. Damn. And here I was hoping to be able to contribute to an ongoing conversation. :/

dish

2009-05-13, 03:15 AM

Hmm, so apparently I'm a sick, sick, little monkey for being curious about waxing my legs just to see if it's as painful as people always make it out to be.

So, was it? You did try, didn't you?

Felixaar

2009-05-13, 04:10 AM

I've seen the movie "Stardust", I'm guessing that the film was based on the book. :smallbiggrin: Other than that, Fred is an uneducated and uncultured oaf.

Actually, they're fairly simillar at the start, but the endings are wildly different in the end. As much as I loved the book, I have to admit that Septimus - by far my favourite character - was far more bad-ass in the movie.

Marry me Ashtar!

I'd do it, Ashtar. One less of the Twobit Daughters for me to choose between.

*chews on a quill, reading a list*

p.s. thanks everyone for clearing up the whole blond/e thing.

dish

2009-05-13, 04:16 AM

Actually, they're fairly simillar at the start, but the endings are wildly different in the end. As much as I loved the book, I have to admit that Septimus - by far my favourite character - was far more bad-ass in the movie.

Well, the book has a rather postmodern ironic ending, which just wouldn't have translated well into film. At least not the type of film they were trying to make.

The film ending is rather fun.

randman22222

2009-05-13, 05:02 AM

InaVegt

2009-05-13, 05:14 AM

So one of my teachers just told me to not do my best. :smallconfused:

Phase

2009-05-13, 05:31 AM

So one of my teachers just told me to not do my best. :smallconfused:

Oh those wacky teachers, always inhibiting us.

Got lots of work piling up. I hate the end of school...

Graymayre

2009-05-13, 05:39 AM

So one of my teachers just told me to not do my best. :smallconfused:

Be careful, you wouldn't want to do your best at not doing your best.

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-13, 06:35 AM

I just finished my last final exam and am now out for the summer! It makes me very happy.

Lucky, lucky, lucky. Especially as your syllabus was entirely English realted. Mine'll be like that starting October providing I get my grades.
But I did the math and I basically need to get three Es in three of my ten exams and I'm into my top choice. So English: HELLO!
Hope you did well Miss. Rose.
Technically, I leave for the summer on the 22nd of May, but my exams start tomorrow and end. Um. They end . . . they end sometime in June? I genuinely don't know when any of my exams are in June.
And I have to offically come in on the 3rd of July to collect my Leaver's Form, hand in all my books for this year (and some from the first year), get my book deposit back, my form signed twice and then leave.
I also envy the first years coming up in September. Why? Classics now does The Iliad and the Life and Time of Cicero. He is one of the original snarky, sarcastic lawyers.
And they don't do coursework which is both enviable and and worrying at the same time.

I must say, I am touched. Thank you. It means a lot to me. In fact, I am surprised at how much this pleases me.

All the best on your Debate!

It's prolly the avvie. And you've done one hell (pardon my Klatchian) of a lot to help me so you deserve it.
And thanks for the well wishes. My debate is at 11:50am tomorrow meaning not only do I have a morning exam, but I miss E Lit to have it. *grumps*
Still, an inexplicable day off today means I can learn my presentation and my arguments for nuclear power.
I can't wait to shock the Chief Examiner of the Exam Board with my slightly physics heavy French. Hehe, wait until he brings up efficiency and I can bring up des réacteurs à neutrons rapides (RNR) (fast breeder reactors) and figures.
I hate speaking in French though.

@Mauvey: hooray for passing! And for passing you your Oh - Snap - I'm - Going - To - Fail - X subject.

TwoBitWriter

2009-05-13, 06:52 AM

I'd do it, Ashtar. One less of the Twobit Daughters for me to choose between.

:smallamused:

I think you had best make your decision quick-like, son. :smallannoyed:

Don't make me git mah shotgun. :smallamused:

Mr. Mud

2009-05-13, 11:10 AM

Okay, on a completely unrelated note, Has anyone read Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku? I'm just finishing it now, and it's probably the best book I've read all year... :smallbiggrin:.

Coidzor

2009-05-13, 12:22 PM

So, was it? You did try, didn't you?

Not yet. Haven't gotten a chance to look for and obtain the necessary wossnames.

So one of my teachers just told me to not do my best. :smallconfused:

Why? Was it sort of like telling you not to keep putting your all into something as that would ultimately lead you to getting exhausted and becoming more of a knife than a person by ignoring other aspects of personhood?

...

...

How many daughters is Twobbit supposed to have again? I'm confused since I thought he was only supposed to have the threeplets...

Physics of the impossible you say? Haven't heard of it before, but it sounds interesting. The most physics-related thing I've encountered was about a year ago and involved physics and how it seemed to be confirming some things mystics have believed about the nature of the universe.

TwoBitWriter

2009-05-13, 12:25 PM

How many daughters is Twobbit supposed to have again? I'm confused since I thought he was only supposed to have the threeplets...

I have four daughters, at the last count.

Ask Curly about it. I kinda just got three all at once, and then Cycoris begged to be adopted and I just couldnt' say no.

cycoris

2009-05-14, 09:58 AM

I have four daughters, at the last count.

Ask Curly about it. I kinda just got three all at once, and then Cycoris begged to be adopted and I just couldnt' say no.

I didn't beg! I NEVER beg. I just said that logically I already was your daughter since I was DeeRee's sister, and my logic was irrefutable.

*waves hi*

I've been busy plotting your collective dooms, which is why I haven't posted much. But I think I've got most of the kinks in my plan ironed out, so I'm giving myself a break.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-14, 10:27 AM

I've been busy plotting your collective dooms, which is why I haven't posted much. But I think I've got most of the kinks in my plan ironed out, so I'm giving myself a break.

Looks like I'm out of a job then. I'll have to get rid of my robot-death squirrel army. :smallbiggrin:
Perhaps genetic self-engineering is the best way to go after all. Maybe I could combine it with bionics and cyborg technology. :smallbiggrin:

dish

2009-05-14, 10:40 AM

Space-cadet time: I've just managed to lose two pairs of sunglasses (mine, and my husband's, which I borrowed after losing mine) in the space of twenty one hours.

(To lose one could be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both starts to look like carelessness.)

Now I have no way to protect my eyes from the horrible brightness out there. And neither does my poor, long-suffering husband.

Rawhide

2009-05-14, 11:10 AM

Looks like I'm out of a job then. I'll have to get rid of my robot-death squirrel army. :smallbiggrin:
Perhaps genetic self-engineering is the best way to go after all. Maybe I could combine it with bionics and cyborg technology. :smallbiggrin:

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/funny-pictures-ninja-skills-squirrel.jpg

Fredthefighter

2009-05-14, 11:18 AM

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/funny-pictures-ninja-skills-squirrel.jpg

Awesome. Simply awesome. :smallsmile:
Also, I may have to train the robo-death squirrels in the art of ninjitsu. It may help.

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-14, 01:34 PM

I have four daughters, at the last count.

Ask Curly about it. I kinda just got three all at once, and then Cycoris begged to be adopted and I just couldnt' say no.

Curly to the rescue!

Right.

Daddy Tooby married UNKNOWN (I think, I haven't read the 'family history fics' in a while). There was a messy divorce.
His triplet daughters are:
Curly - takes turns being the eldest.
DeeRee - takes turns being the eldest.
Cassie - she spends all of her time with her mother. Third youngest.
Cycoris seems to have been adopted in and is therefore the youngest. Hehe, DeeRee's the odd one out.

We have an 'Uncle' Cristo. So probably also an 'Uncle' Mordokai. No Aunts or 'Aunts' as of yet which is surprising.

Had my French oral today. It went rather better than I thought it would. On the downside I had two pieces of toast and two M&M peanuts to eat today. Just finished dinner ten minutes ago. Stupid money haemorrhage.

Purple Rose

2009-05-14, 01:50 PM

@dish: You could do what I do and wear a hat. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Purple Rose, you crazy, crazy, delusional little girl, a hat is no match for sun glasses, and you can't really expect one to be comfortable or handy to wear while driving." Well, to that bit of self projecting criticism on my part, I have this to say: Buy a fedora. A light brown fedora. Wear it until it is worn in and fits perfectly. Not only will the brim protect your eyes from the horrifying light of the sun, but it will increase your sexitude by a factor of ten. Perhaps more. As for your husband, well, convince him to work on his grissled look and wear on too. I guaranty it will be worth having lost two pairs of sunglasses. ;)

@Rawhide: Having once fought a blind samurai squirrel once, that picture makes me want to lock my door and hide my jar of mixed nuts.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-14, 02:20 PM

I just realised something, today I could've asked any 1 of 4 different (and in my opinion quite pretty and nice) girls in my year to the prom. I don't know why I didn't. I didn't feel afraid or nervous at the time, I even went through it in my head quite easily. There wasn't even a hint of apprehension and then I just "chickened out" for no reason. The troubling thing is not that I "chickened out", but the fact that I had no reason whatsoever for "chickening out". It perplexes me quite undoubtedly.

@Purple Rose: Wow. You've actually fought a samurai squirrel? That is so cool. To fight a samurai is one thing, but a samurai squirrel, heck, even a blind one (which are often more deadly anyway) is an incredibly dangerous foe. :smallbiggrin:

@Curly: Congratulations on your french oral exam. :smallsmile:

Dallas-Dakota

2009-05-14, 04:37 PM

Curly, DD may or may not be your uncle. I may be Twobits twin, or brother. But I'm too sleepy to remember.

Thufir

2009-05-14, 04:44 PM

I just realised something, today I could've asked any 1 of 4 different (and in my opinion quite pretty and nice) girls in my year to the prom. I don't know why I didn't. I didn't feel afraid or nervous at the time, I even went through it in my head quite easily. There wasn't even a hint of apprehension and then I just "chickened out" for no reason. The troubling thing is not that I "chickened out", but the fact that I had no reason whatsoever for "chickening out". It perplexes me quite undoubtedly.

Well, Y11 prom doesn't count anyway.
Maybe on some level you didn't actually intend to do it (Thus explaining the lack of nerves), and simply followed through on this lack of intent. The reason for this might be that out of these 4 girls, you hadn't picked which one to ask?
That would be my analysis if it had happened to me.

Phase

2009-05-14, 04:49 PM

I just realised something, today I could've asked any 1 of 4 different (and in my opinion quite pretty and nice) girls in my year to the prom. I don't know why I didn't. I didn't feel afraid or nervous at the time, I even went through it in my head quite easily. There wasn't even a hint of apprehension and then I just "chickened out" for no reason. The troubling thing is not that I "chickened out", but the fact that I had no reason whatsoever for "chickening out". It perplexes me quite undoubtedly.

Meh, you're young, no one expects you to be able to interpret your own actions. Hell, I've been around longer than most forms of life, yet I STILL can't understand you goo-filled skinsacks.

Cristo Meyers

2009-05-14, 05:02 PM

We have an 'Uncle' Cristo. So probably also an 'Uncle' Mordokai. No Aunts or 'Aunts' as of yet which is surprising.

If'n you want to get technical, LadyMeyers would be an 'aunt', what with being my wife an' all.

Groundhog

2009-05-14, 07:43 PM

Why did I not realize that until you said so? Maybe because I'm socially clueless...

I have only one exam left! However, said exam is calculus, and is harder than all of my other exams combined. I'm trying hard not to panic.

Rutskarn

2009-05-14, 09:22 PM

Good night, so far. Do a little writing, do a little music listening, do a little killing things dead with a fellow playgrounder (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/member.php?u=34606). Times of good all around.

Sneak

2009-05-14, 09:39 PM

I've got the music listening part down. John Butler is the man.

How are you all this fine evening?

Mr. Mud

2009-05-14, 09:48 PM

Recaiden

2009-05-14, 10:02 PM

So I'm assuming that it's not just the fact that it's late at night, but also the new server(s) have kicked in? I cna finally load the forums!! :smallamused:

Best birthday present I've gotten 7 and a half months early EVER :smallcool:.

So welcome back to the nonsensical musings of Mrmud, playground.

A quick test provides some support for your theory. But I can't be sure. Even so I doubt that the separate servers have been set up yet, just the upgrade.

Mr. Mud

2009-05-14, 10:04 PM

A quick test provides some support for your theory. But I can't be sure. Even so I doubt that the separate servers have been set up yet, just the upgrade.

Hmmm.... It still has a few patches of lag here and there but I guess that could support a number of explanations. Heh, whatever it may be, I'm just happy to hear from you all again... How are you Rec?

(Oh, and what is the aforementioned test? just browsing around different threads :smallconfused:?)

Recaiden

2009-05-14, 10:13 PM

Mr. Mud

2009-05-14, 10:15 PM

I meant just opening up a bunch of threads and checking. Now that I check, the site seems to have at least 2 IP addresses, although that might be normal, I don't know too much about computers.
I'm mostly okay. I'm almost through with exams, just 2 more, but I'm a bit down because I feel like I'm not really connected with anyone anymore/still. Glad to see you again Mud.

Yup Yup... same feeling here. Some of my friends have sort of... drifted away... It's odd though...

And I have four more exams :smallfrown:. But I have a 5.0 in two of the classes so the instructor might let me skip them... :smallbiggrin:.

EDIT: I'm fairly sure that GITP didn't have two IPs... I never checked but it always seemed equi-laggy (new word maybe :smallconfused:?)... I'm sure there will be some official news in the next day or two.

randman22222

2009-05-14, 11:33 PM

I have finished my exams, and they went quite well. Now I've got two weeks in which I'll... Probably just teach myself more music theory and practise. :smalltongue:

Phase

2009-05-14, 11:44 PM

How are you all this fine evening?

Can't sleep, yet again. Thank Io tomorrow is Friday.

I'll be reading Arrowsmith soon, anyone heard of it? I plan on reading it after I get my new copies of the OotS backstories...

Purple Rose

2009-05-14, 11:48 PM

Congratulations randgrand! In other news, it seems that finding a second job over the summer is going to be a bit harder than usual. Any ideas for an unskilled, undergrad with a register experience?

Rutskarn

2009-05-15, 01:02 AM

Too much Left 4 Dead? No such THING as too much Left 4 Dead!

Wait. Is it...crap, it's already 11 o'clock? And my blog post isn't done?

...

Guess there is such a thing as too much Left 4 Dead.

dish

2009-05-15, 01:18 AM

We have an 'Uncle' Cristo. So probably also an 'Uncle' Mordokai. No Aunts or 'Aunts' as of yet which is surprising.

Had my French oral today. It went rather better than I thought it would. On the downside I had two pieces of toast and two M&M peanuts to eat today.

I'm TwoBit's half-sister in the playground, so I can be a 'half-aunt' should you wish.

Some 'half-auntly' (or otherwise) advice: maybe you could take a packed lunch into college when you're skint. Doing important exams with low blood sugar is not highly advised, and we want Curly to get the splendid grades that she deserves.

Phase

2009-05-15, 05:25 AM

Too much Left 4 Dead? No such THING as too much Left 4 Dead!

Wait. Is it...crap, it's already 11 o'clock? And my blog post isn't done?

...

Guess there is such a thing as too much Left 4 Dead.

Maybe there's no such thing as too much Left 4 Dead, but such thing as too few hours in the day?

randman22222

2009-05-15, 07:16 AM

I. HATE. BOW TIES.

I bought one today, because I've got a tuxedo shirt that I plan on wearing to our prom, and I looked up several websites that explain how to tie them, but cannot, for the life of me, tie one. I had my elbows locked in one position for about thirty minutes, in front of the mirror, trying to comprehend what physics-breaking manoeuvres I needed to make in order to form a seemingly simple knot, and now they're screaming at me if I don't move them, screaming at my if I do. If there is a hell, Satan makes me tie bow ties for all eternity. I'm sure of it.

:smallfurious:

Cristo Meyers

2009-05-15, 07:19 AM

Rawhide

2009-05-15, 07:23 AM

randman22222

2009-05-15, 07:38 AM

Get a clip-on?

Have one, and my demented, festering sense of dignity prevents me from using it. :smallsigh:

Jack Squat

2009-05-15, 08:54 AM

I'm sure you've probably already checked this...but Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjI-58KrBmM) has a pretty well done video or two demonstrating it

Charity

2009-05-15, 09:43 AM

http://a0.vox.com/6a00fa9681b1060002011016780808860d-500pi

...
http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/images/dress-up/acc/ties/clown-jumbo-bow-tie.jpg

randman22222

2009-05-15, 09:56 AM

http://a0.vox.com/6a00fa9681b1060002011016780808860d-500pi

...
http://www.sillyjokes.co.uk/images/dress-up/acc/ties/clown-jumbo-bow-tie.jpg

Easier expletive said than expletive done. :smallmad:

Dallas-Dakota

2009-05-15, 09:57 AM

And why not a regular tie?

Rawhide

2009-05-15, 09:59 AM

And why not a regular tie?

It's a tux, man. A tux!

Dallas-Dakota

2009-05-15, 10:02 AM

True dat.

*doesn't go to formal wear occasions*

randman22222

2009-05-15, 10:07 AM

I GOT IT!

:biggrin:

I only do formal as rarely as possible. But my normal fashion sense if faux-formal. Button down dress shirts, etc., but more as a parody of formal than actual formal.

Dr. Bath

2009-05-15, 01:39 PM

We have that exact diagram up in our sixth form common room, Charity. WEIRD. Most run about asking others to tie their bow tie for them nonetheless.

Phase

2009-05-15, 01:46 PM

Congratulations, you are now closer to a penguin than you have ever been.

Hmm... I wonder how I could work myself into this post...

Tada!

Mauve Shirt

2009-05-15, 02:14 PM

I demand pictures of Randman in a tux!

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-15, 02:47 PM

I'm TwoBit's half-sister in the playground, so I can be a 'half-aunt' should you wish.

Some 'half-auntly' (or otherwise) advice: maybe you could take a packed lunch into college when you're skint. Doing important exams with low blood sugar is not highly advised, and we want Curly to get the splendid grades that she deserves.

:smallsmile:
My itp Family's nearly as big as my RL Family.

Auntly advice has been duly noted, but I have a pet hate:
I can barely eat bread, especially if it's buttered. It makes me gag. The texture, the taste and the way it gums up and sticks to your gums it just . . . ick. I can do toast, paninis, most breadly things apart from sandwiches.
It's worst at lunchtimes. I can handle a sarnie for dinner, if I have something else to go with it. But your traditional Britlander School Packed Lunch? No.
Actually, I can't stomach butter full stop.
Plus, after going gods, thirteen years on Packed Lunch - ten of those making my own I've developed a dislike for the Traditional Packed Lunch.
And for some reason, namely that we don't do leftovers, I never cook my lunch the night before to bring in.
Also: I, thanks to my feline - inherited trait of hating waking up and mornings in general I tend to average ten to thirteen minutes between The Getting Up and Leaving The House.
Today it was four. I fell back asleep again. :smallshamedface:

But I did grab a couple of biscuits for breakfast/lunch!
And I got a mini pack of Skittles in Med His so it was all good!
Besides, seeing as nearly all of my exams are morning ones (five or six of them out of nine) I'll be sure to eat a good brekkie.

And now: the news:

FIVE MORE DAYS OF COLLEGE LEFT!
Sadly, I have an early exam on a Monday (!) so I have to get up at the ungodly hour of six am to catch the good bus in.
And it's in French. Stupid resit.
Also: I need to remember to buy myself a stamp to send a Cheery Up to a friend.

We have that exact diagram up in our sixth form common room, Charity. WEIRD. Most run about asking others to tie their bow tie for them nonetheless.

Bath!
Haven't seen you in ages!
*untensilnaps*
*chains to the boards*
You. Stay!
Pwease?
:smallkittencateyes:
:smallbiggrin:

Mr. Mud

2009-05-15, 03:56 PM

I demand pictures of Randman in a tux!

Randy? Tux?

Damn it, I always miss the beginning of something awesome beyond the laws of... everything. :smallamused:.

Groundhog

2009-05-15, 04:10 PM

I dunno, check the picture thread.

Recaiden

2009-05-15, 05:25 PM

He hasn't put up any yet. He needs to.

I'm sorry you don't like bread, Curly. I think that it's a quite delicious food. The texture is usually better than the taste, though.

And my power is back on!

Alteran

2009-05-15, 06:55 PM

Today it was four. I fell back asleep again. :smallshamedface:

I do that far too often, there's no need to feel shame. Well, maybe there is, but there's no need to feel alone in your troubles.

...I'm not helping, am I?

Purple Rose

2009-05-15, 09:08 PM

Blah. My job would be so much easier if I didn't have to deal with people all day. Sadly, working at a coffee shop prevents such an occasion. Maybe if I could just find a way to unstupefy the general masses...

randman22222

2009-05-16, 12:10 AM

Pics will be up in about... ten days. Or so. Something like that.
EDIT: 13.

Zar Peter

2009-05-16, 06:11 AM

This post is just to bring an other thread on the top of the list.

dish

2009-05-16, 06:57 AM

This post is just to bring an other thread on the top of the list.

That is a very good idea.

Is it just me, or does this problem only seem to happen on weekends?

InaVegt

2009-05-16, 07:04 AM

Why? Was it sort of like telling you not to keep putting your all into something as that would ultimately lead you to getting exhausted and becoming more of a knife than a person by ignoring other aspects of personhood?

Because it's a team project, and if I do my best, he'll be forced to fail my team mates. >.>

That is a very good idea.

Is it just me, or does this problem only seem to happen on weekends?

Perhaps it's a manual spammer who has to do more legal activities during weekdays?

dish

2009-05-16, 07:15 AM

Because it's a team project, and if I do my best, he'll be forced to fail my team mates. >.>
So, do you want to get them failed or not?

Perhaps it's a manual spammer who has to do more legal activities during weekdays?
I strongly suspect that is so. Somebody's obviously doing this as a part-time job for extra cash. I don't know...whatever happened to waitressing? Bar work? Retail?

InaVegt

2009-05-16, 07:23 AM

So, do you want to get them failed or not?

No, not really. I'm not going to do my best, it's just, being told not not to do my best is, well, a new experience.

I strongly suspect that is so. Somebody's obviously doing this as a part-time job for extra cash. I don't know...whatever happened to waitressing? Bar work? Retail?

Perhaps he's aiming at the big money?

Important thing to remember is that spammers work by quantity, if they can get one person out of every ten thousand to fall for it, they're making a profit. Manual spamming just means they either need to contact more people with less effort or need to convince more people.

Posting on very active forums like this one is a way to contact more people with less effort.

Graymayre

2009-05-16, 07:26 AM

:smallsigh:

Don't you hate it when you leave the computer on at night, only to realize next morning that it's been logged onto the playground the entire evening?

InaVegt

2009-05-16, 07:29 AM

:smallsigh:

Don't you hate it when you leave the computer on at night, only to realize next morning that it's been logged onto the playground the entire evening?

Unless you have some sort of auto-refresh script (server doesn't like it, so don't do that) or someone is using your computer while you are sleeping, no, you weren't logged in the entire night. There's merely the illusion of having been logged in the entire night.

Dragonrider

2009-05-16, 11:52 AM

:smallsigh:

Don't you hate it when you leave the computer on at night, only to realize next morning that it's been logged onto the playground the entire evening?

I think it takes you off "online" status after twenty minutes.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-16, 11:59 AM

I think it takes you off "online" status after twenty minutes.

Unless you tick the "Stay logged on" box when you log in.

Recaiden

2009-05-16, 12:01 PM

Unless you tick the "Stay logged on" box when you log in.

I don't think that that's what that box does. I think it logs you on automatically when you go to the site.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-16, 12:05 PM

I don't think that that's what that box does. I think it logs you on automatically when you go to the site.

No. It just means that if you don't click the "Log Out" button you'll "stay logged on".
I use it frequently.

Rawhide

2009-05-16, 12:08 PM

No. It just means that if you don't click the "Log Out" button you'll "stay logged on".
I use it frequently.

All it does is save a cookie on your computer to log you in automatically when you next visit the site from the same computer. After a period of inactivity the site will no longer list your status as 'online'.

dish

2009-05-16, 12:09 PM

I don't think that that's what that box does. I think it logs you on automatically when you go to the site.

That works for me in IE, but not Firefox.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-16, 12:10 PM

All it does is save a cookie on your computer to log you in automatically when you next visit the site from the same computer. After a period of inactivity the site will no longer list your status as 'online'.

How long is this period of inactivity?
Just curious as I've been away from computer for an hour+ before and I was still logged on.

CurlyKitGirl

2009-05-16, 12:46 PM

My cat?
Devil spawn have nothing on her. You know how they say a snake tempted Eve?
Well my cat is clearly what tempted Lucifer.
Suave, elegant, beautiful and intellgient this conniving feline has stunned me with her innate evil and inborn manipulative skill.
I should worship her, except thanks to a previous . . . occasion, she already owns my soul, thirty percent of my current creative production, my entire academic career and fifty percent of any earnings achieved professionally after the age of twenty two.
Oh, and my firstborn and last child.
And exclusive rights to my corpse when she raises the dead in a successful coup to turn the world into her personal plaything.
So technically I'm obliged to worship and make sacrifice to her or my life will . . . not exactly end, but I shall cease to be.

I'd say what she did, but I'm bound not to, plus I don't want any of you to suffer prematurely.
The Kittencat steals souls. Amongst other small trifles.

InaVegt

2009-05-16, 01:07 PM

How long is this period of inactivity?
Just curious as I've been away from computer for an hour+ before and I was still logged on.

No, you weren't.

You were logged out, but the system automatically logged you in again, without you needing to do it yourself again.

An easy way to tell whether you have logged out: At logout all forums are marked read.

Fredthefighter

2009-05-16, 01:14 PM

No, you weren't.

You were logged out, but the system automatically logged you in again, without you needing to do it yourself again.

An easy way to tell whether you have logged out: At logout all forums are marked read.

Okay. Nevermind then.
(Thanks for clearing that one up)

randman22222

2009-05-16, 01:25 PM

lord of kobolds

2009-05-16, 02:09 PM

Fredthefighter

2009-05-16, 02:12 PM

Well, what did you expect? She IS a cat, after all.

He has a point there.
Also, anyone here have Skype for their PC/Mac/Linux?