TheShinje

[quote name='Katakidoushi']I doubt fisher price has an Islamic agenda, but it does sound eeriely like "islam is the light" but like drizzt said I wish I would have just heard the doll before I heard anyone's opinion because I expected to hear it. What happened to being upfront about brainwashing children? Oh wait here we are, talking bible dolls. And yes I have seen these in the store and they're even more ridiculous then they appear here: [URL=http://imageshack.us][IMG]http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1739/mofgrouprev710x374el6.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/QUOTE] I await the connection between making toys in line with ones beliefs and brainwashing children, a serious allegation. There is a difference. :animesigh Those toys are pure tack. I doubt their hypnotic capabilities, I don't deny their laugh factor though!

I would vote for Obama. I'm usually conservative and Republican leaning, but while McCain is a decent candidate who can hold his own, Obama's message is more inspiring. Perhaps I've been worn down over the last 8 years, but I feel that the Republican have had a good go, and it's time for change. Oh, and Democrat administrations seem to make more progress with New Zealand interests, and it can't hurt our free trade goals.

This is like those times mothers are convinced thier tot has spoken, but it is merely coincidental cooing. Another example is backmasking, the art of listening to a record backwards and applying some imagination to the garbled gibberish. I'm not worried about it. At worst it's a message of peace from a religion different to mine. Bleh.

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']o_O Now this is just... creepy. O_o [CENTER][IMG]http://punditkitchen.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/political-pictures-sarah-palin-resistence-futile-assimilated-look-a-like.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/QUOTE] But it does happen. I was Palinated the other day just by watching the VP debate. Palination is painfully awkward when you're a guy, who can't wrangle moose.

The background is too busy. Ideally you want one that doesn't distract from the text whereas this one steals the show. I give you credit for using the background transparency option, which elevates it above all those horrid, unreadable hashjobs. I also like the animation of your links sliding in, but you should look at setting it so it doesn't repeat.

Spice World: The Game makes E.T Atari look like GTA IV! I don't just say that because I dilike the Spice Girls, the game was a piece of happy crappy pap where, even if you sucked at the game, it always let you win. I played it ONLY for my sister's sake. Ergh.

I just find spam funny. I get a lot of requests from alleged American banks asking me to provide my login information for this reason or that. They don't seem to get the fact that I'm way over here in New Zealand and I'm wasting their time by providing fake login and password info. :animesmil Nigerian banking scams are always good for a laugh. Being asked to launder an amount of money twice the GDP of many small countries, well, you wonder just how gullible people are, to believe that some bajillionaire wants to put money into your bank account. Good to see some of these ratbags get their comeuppance, even if they do provide the smarter of us with our daily comic relief needs.

[quote name='TimeChaser'] I was not aware of that. However, that was someone explaining the concept in a divine term, which was the only viewpoint they knew. We know now it has nothing to do with God, but is a natural process of heat and the nature/composition of water and the atmosphere. It was only a matter of human understanding advancing far enough to explain the process in natural, scientific terms.[/quote] Well I wouldn't say that the water cycle has nothing to do with God. While a person living in the BC era would prefer to refer to the hands of God literally drawing up the water, science has expanded on that to show us just how God has made the water cycle so. We know it is heat that evaporates water, etc, whereas for simplicity the Bible would just say the hands of God. I get, however, why that is an untestable theory in the scientific realm. :animesmil

Who likes 80's music? I haven't always been a fan of 80's music but I've come to toally dig the stuff now. Everything from 80's Metallica to a Flock of Seagulls to Run DMC. Synth pop is my favourite, In some cases it can be tacky but in most cases the songs are done well, and are a good source for some groovy, tacky, happy fun. :animesmil Not to mention Alf comes from this decade, which automatically makes it the coolest. decade. evar!!1!1

[quote name='TimeChaser']In the century and a half since Darwin first came out with the discovery of evolution, it could have been overturned many times by each new discovery science made. But each discovery reinforced it and added to it, giving us the understand about genetic mechanisms Darwin had no knowledge about. We share something like 98% or more of our genetic code with chimps. We share high amounts of genetic code with other species. Life is more interconnected than we ever thought before. The evidence points over and over again to evolution. There has been more solid, verifiable evidence for evolution than Intelligent Design, which has not come up with any hard evidence that science has not refuted. All it does is make claims than cannot be backed up by data.[/quote] Intelligent design and the biblical creation story lean to the fact that life is interconnected, because it came from one source, God. I fail to see how this can be used to prove the evolution theory any more than it can be applied to the creation story. I like to see the two, science and faith, as compatible. Look at the DNA strand, which is unique to every individual. Either this is the product of time, chance and natural selection, or it is a defining characterisitic given to us by a God who declared us to be "fearfully and wonderfully made." The scientific discovery of the water cycle is not at odds with the Bible either. In Job 36:27-28 it details the nature of evaporation, condensation and rain as being the work of God, thousands of years before such a discovery was made. Sometimes, it's not a case of the Bible making unverifiable claims, it's the scientific method playing catch-up.

[IMG]http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/9/13/128658131545724482.jpg[/IMG] Now I couldn't let a picture like that go without a Star Wars reference. Second best idea: Pope Barack I

I'm grabbing popcorn and a tall glass of soda for Ken's response. :p

I'm fine with it so long as they don't force churches/mosques etc to perform a ceremony that they are against.

[quote name='James'][FONT=franklin gothic medium] Anyway, I do think those girls make good mascots for OB... I'll make sure to check out that Wikipedia article. [/FONT][/quote] [SIZE=1][COLOR=Black][COLOR=crimson]Oh, please, God, no. I tried the Caramelldansen skin on for 5 minutes, before I had to change it back because of the dizzingly annoying animation. I know I'm less frquent around here nowdays, but I'd be less than less frequent if the Caramelldansen girls graced the top of every skin on OB. I say, bring on Otakubot, give him a true go a mascot-dom. Just don't make him dance. -_- [/COLOR][/COLOR][/SIZE]

[B]1. If you believe in God, why do [I]you[/I] believe?[/B] I have no reason not to. God is real to me because I have experienced his grace through my faith, and felt his prescence. His guidance overy my own foolish thinking has also been a mighty blessing. I have also come to an understanding of endtime prophecy through endtime ministries, and through seeing prophecy come to pass (real specific stuff once you understand it) It has steeled my belief that the Bible is the ubshakeable word of God. Faith is also essentially good. Christianity is not only about personal salvation, it's also about mission. Help the needy, clothe the poor, do good to those who harm you and yes, pray for your enemies. True Christianity is counter-cultural to the selfish human position and when fully understood is more uplifting and inspiring than the critics paint it. [B] 2. Why do you think [I]others[/I] believe in God?[/B] Various reasons. Some people believe in God, simply because they believe it's a cushy ticket to a better life, others have a more substantial faith based on a true understanding of the gospel (which promises anything but a crutch to lean on, or breezy life.) The sad thing about the former believer is, when the going gets tough and the storms of life roll in, it means God isn't there for them and they lose their faith. [B] 3. The most popular conflict between faith and reason is usually on the evolution/creationism controversy. What?s your take on the issue? Can science be compatible with belief? Do you accept evolutionary theory?[/B] They are compatible to an extent. Obviously there is some science out there that contradicts what God says, but there is science that does not. I see science which claims we came out of a big bang, and a Bible which says God spoke and light instantly appeared. I do not think that the big bang theory is necessarily anathema to "the God soultion" (instead of delusion, see? :p ) [B] 4. What do you think are the most compelling arguments to [I]not[/I] believe in God? Or, what do you think are the greatest challenges to peoples? faith.[/B] The most challenging thing would be peoples perceptions of God. I often hear of people falling away because they "prayed for God to get them a job" or "a better social situation," they have this unbiblical notion that God is nothing more than a celestial genie who should grant their every whim, and that's dangerous. It is by no means the only reason why people fall out of faith, but it is the most common one I've experienced. [I][quote]for instance; some people think the existence of evil, in light of an all-powerful, all-good God, is a tough question that theologians don?t have a clear answer to and may lead people to non-belief[/quote][/I] That's free will. A God who wants people, not robots. That's why we will be called to account for our lives ont he last day, and those who have accepted Jesus' sacrifice will emerge trimuphant. [B] 5. Do you think there is such thing as ?reasonable faith?? Or, do you think they are in conflict? [/B]I have reaosnable faith. A faith that's not blind to science which is compatible with my beliefs, a robust faith which is able to handle crit, without me having to resort to blind ignroance or insluting the opposite side of the debate. [B] 6. Lastly, if you believe in God. What evidence do you have in favor of your belief? [/B]Evidence is in creation. There is too many similarities between animals on this planet for it to be mere coincidence. All animals have eyes and ears, most have two of each, most have one nose. Evolution by it's nature should have thrown up more variety, I think. Then there's DNA, this ultra-complex code completely unique to the individual that makes us who we are. Science, in discovering the DNA strand, has uncovered the artists signature. You see, it's not in the Bible because the Bible is not here to give us the nitty gritty on how the earth turns, it's essential message is salvation. I believe that we were meant ot use our God-given brains and our creator intended us to uncover how he made this world work. It' more rewarding than knowing from the start!

Because changing the DNS to .jeremiah would be [I]waay[/I] cooler.

We have this cross-denominational Eastercamp down here, and I spent my easter volunteering to help keep things running. It's an awesome outreach camp that has over 100 church youth groups and about 2000 kids involved. After 8 years of going to them they are still amazing, it's such a privelige to see young people come to know Jesus through a message that is relevant and inspiring to them.

He should have played his cards right and come over here, where it is legal to pay for sex. I kid you not. We passed that hurdle on the road to hell years ago. Many of us wish we didn't, but the liberals run things 'round 'ere.

Here is my entry... [URL=http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=parachutdw5.jpg][IMG]http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/1970/parachutdw5.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] It took ages to get the thign lookignt he way I wanted it to. The preceedign image wasn't too hard to follow and I hope mine isn't. Despite the busy-ness of the center, I've kept the very edge rather simple.

Some people are genuinely nice though. I'd go with my gut and trust them until I have my trust broken by them, if that ever happens. Despite finding the odd loon who uses "nice" to get a nasty advantage, it's worked for me. ;p

[B]Jeremiahs Nominations:[/B] [B] Who is it?[/B] Rachmaninoff [B]Why is he nifty?[/B] See Aaryanna_Mom's post. She says it better than I could! [B]What is it?[/B] Final Quest for Glory 2! [B]Why is it nifty?[/B] Because it is an RPG that encouraged it's members to take the game into the forum at large. Wether you were a terrorist or an agent out to stop them, you were at home as much in the game thread as you were taking it to the Caption Contest. It was the first RPG to be run after the Naps the Cat saga, which had a definite influence on the game, it was the game that took the concept of Ultra-Fun to new levels and gave rise to the return of the !Padded Room Paryi But what really made the game was the innocent OB members who were ignorant of the game and were bemused by the impact of it on the forum at large. Case in point; the "Hentai and Bigger Stuff!" thread. More soon!

[quote name='Lunox'][font="trebuchet ms"] The whole "a democrat will win because no one wants to vote for a Republican" thing still holds some power, I think, but not to the same extent it did a year ago. As time goes by more people will realize that it wasn't having a republican in office that created all the mayhem, but W. Bush and Cheney. Granted, I personally want to see a Democrat in office now... Republicans have held the power for too long now. [/font][/QUOTE] I don't think it does. An America disillusioned with the war in Iraq still re-elected president Bush in 2004. I predict that the actions of Bush will not necessarily dent the republican hopeful as much as you might think. I'm predicting that the presidential campaign will be a Giuliani/Obama race, and Obama will win. He's mad popular right now. :D

I call the spot after Ninjah.

[quote name='MistressRoxie'][color=#9933ff]The Catholic Church consistently condemns any movies that challenge the authority of the Church or promotes witchcraft or "blasphemy" or what-have-you, [/quote] Well, of course they would. They believe that that stuff is bad for you, and what kind of organisation would they be if they allowed themselves to be ripped to shreds and didn't do something about it? The books are the polar opposite to Narnia's quasi-religious fantasy, and in these books, God is killed, and the people set up what is regarded in the last line of the third book as the "republic of Heaven." While I don't necessarily think that these books will end the world, yeah, I can see why the church is getting hissy about them. Free speech allows for lobby groups to push for a books ban. If it is unreasonable, like trying to ban Harry Potter or the Golden Compass, it will simply be shrugged off. Wanna see real restriction of free speech? Try publishing an anti-Islam book in Tehran.

[quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium] Even though it's become a bit of a tradition, I will look at holding a different competition to make up for it. Any suggestions? I'm thinking that we can still incorporate banners, but perhaps we can feature different banners or something. I'm sure we can build something fun around that.[/font] :catgirl:[/QUOTE] I'd be interested in an Easter banner competition. Other than that, you could always do a generic (ie. anythign goes) banner competition, even if their primary use is to launch a new skin or gather ideas for one. I'll hold my Christmas banner idea close to my chest until I can enter it this year. ^_^;