outlawstar69

Yes, actually. There is a movie coming out sometime soon... details are few, but from what I gathered, the movie is called, "Hagaran the Movie" (doesn't know translation for that), and takes place two years after the series ended. Is there anyone else know more information?

[QUOTE=Dagger IX1] Oh, outlawstar69, I almost forgot to ask--which characters from Scrapped Princess do you like best? Looking back, the series has a stellar ensemble cast, and I find it pretty interesting to see who different people pick as favorites. ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] Hmm... I liked Zefris and Raquel more than the other characters, but they all held appeal to me. Raquel was the older of the siblings, and the one who could most keep her head level, more so than Shannon. For Zefris, I rather enjoyed her evolution as a character, from "mysterious floating girl" to who or what she really was, and her motivations behind her actions. Who were your preferences, that you liked better than the others? ~Taurik

I think alot of the confusion here is from the fact that none of us have the same "political and culteral mindset", so to speak, because obviously we all come from very different backrounds, and were all raised differently. (Yes, I know that is a "Duh..." statement.) Chabichou, I take it that you are a Muslim who was born, or at least raised in Canada, correct? But, you have family and friends who came from the areas in the world in question, and were influenced by their views. It may be an obvious statement, but just because you haven't experienced the horrors and atrocities of a politically unstable area, it doesn't mean that you can't feel strongly about them. If your parents or older siblings tell you about how life was like over there, then of course you'd feel the same way that they do about it, with many of the same opinions that they have too. I too am a Muslim, and I was born and raised here in America. I consider myself to be a Westerner (as the world classifies to be those that live in the countires of The Americas, and most of Europe, and Autstralia.) in most respects. I have been raised here, and I consider myself an intelligent citizen, trying to keep informed about what goes on in the world. Do I align myself with Al-Queda? No. Do I think that suicide bombings are rather extreme, and don't really help the situation they blow themselves into? Yes, I think it just makes things worse. Do I also think that anywhere there is a military conflict, in which one side has all the equipement in the forms of jets, tanks, missilles, against another side that has some gunpower and stones, do I think that is a productive way of going about things? No, I do not. (There is more than one situation in the world like this, so I'm not referring to any in particular.) Going back to the topic at hand, if I heard anywhere of even a threat that my rights as an American citizen were to be violated in any way, even if it was something like a national registry, just because of my religious or ethnic backround, you better be sure to expect me to make my voice heard very loudly. I'm quite sure that if another plane were to hit a building, but this time if it were piloted by a caucasian "Right-Wing Nutjob" (apologies to those who consider themselves right wing in political affiliation)... there would be no talk of restricting rights to that particular group, would there? Would I be wrong to think that? No, I do not think so. [QUOTE]Originally Posted by natetron46 I really dont beleive this statistic though. I cant beleive (1) that people are so stupid as to think that all muslims act this way and (2) people think that it should be done, its against the Bill of Rights for God sakes! [/QUOTE] Against the Bill of Rights? Since when has that been a (true) obstical for a government that wants to get something of that nature accomplished? Some people fear that the government may in fact do something like this, regardless if it violates something, even something as important as the Bill of Rights. I have fear of that, but it is the same fear and skeptisism that every citizen of a Democracy should have, because none of us can truely say that it won't happen. I'm not saying this just as someone with Arabian descent, or as a Muslim - I'm saying this as a US citizen. When people in power want something accomplished, even if it's wrong, they usually try to find a way to get it done. Without that fear and skeptisim, there would be no political watchdog groups that make sure this sort of thing doesn't happen, after all. Governments aren't run by gods; they're the same people we are, run by people as susceptible to sin as the average person.

(I've looked in the past three pages of threads, and couldn't find one about this. So I'm thinking it's ok.) Has anyone heard about, or watched this anime? I don't want to give too much away, but the basic premise is: In a medieval world with knights and magic, 15 years ago there was a child born that fit the description of a prophecy, saying that the child would become a plague to the world, and sould be responsible for bringing about it's destruction. This child was a princess, and was supposedly killed when she was just an infant. Now, it has been found out that she was still alive, and on the run with her adopted brother, a knight and her adopted sister, a magic user. There are elements in there that remind me of the Matrix, but I can't say too much about that without revealing too many plot points. The series is 24 episodes long, and so far not many people I've talked to have even heard about it. Any thoughts? [color=navy][size=1]Next time, check the Directory sticky. ^_~ ~Dagger~[/size][/color] Thanks! I've been a member for a while now, and I didn't think to check there. Much appreciated :) .

[QUOTE=Dagger IX1]If it really is him, I'm definitely not complaining. I've always been a pretty big [spoiler]Rufus[/spoiler] fan, and he's probably one of my favorite male characters from the game. In my opinion, he would make a more interesting and unexpected "mysterious wheelchair person" than Sephiroth or even Aeris. ~Dagger~[/QUOTE] Hmm... I don't think that Aeris's comeback would be the sort to be "covered up, in a dark room, with a silver haired Sephiroth look-a-like"... I imagined some supernatural event or miracle for that. Although I agree, even if evidence in the original game's code seemed to show that the designers were planning to revive her, but just never got around to it, I wouldn't want to see her revived in the movie. It would lessen the strange impact it had on all of us who played the game, and were witness to her death. *remembers the game fondly*

[COLOR=Navy]*absorbs previous posts* A friend of mine had told me about this anime a while ago, and I copied the subbed version from him, but I had almost forgotten about it, until I read the comments in this thread. So, I went and watched it all in one sitting, and I have to say that I am quite happy with the impression that it left on me. I understand most of what happened, though I would like a few answers on some things: [SPOILER]Just what exactly are the Tohnos? It is clearly made certain that their blood is mixed with "something not human", and though Akiha is shown to be drinking the blood of the one maid, Shiki is reassured that she isn't a vampire. Akiha shows powers of some sort (that also change her hair color), but they never really touch on the subject. Is this something that is referred to in the game? [/SPOILER] Kinda makes me wish that I could read japanese, so I could play and find out. [/COLOR]

Hmm... I'll talk about what I think on prescription drugs in the US, seeing as that's part of Healthcare in general. In the US, I believe we pay far more for prescription drugs than most other first world countries, even compared to Canada, our friendly neighbors to the north. I remember hearing how the major pharmacutical lobbies tried to convince politicians here to pass legislature banning people here from buying their drugs in Canada (as some seniors have taken to doing to cut costs), by saying that because they are from other countires, the meds aren't as safe as the ones that are sold here. I think that's a load of rubbish; most of the companies saying that are the ones selling to the other countries. Plus, taking Viagra as an example, it's not even made in the US at all. It's made in a small town in Ireland I think, and it's the same stuff they sell to the people in Canada. (Or, more appropriately, to the govenrment of Canada.) Just because the country we live in is deemed more wealthy than others, does that make everyone who lives there fit to be taken for a spin by the people who make the drugs some of us need to live?

All this argument and discussion is good for communication... and I found it interesting to read about the tier system (or lack thereof), but... come on, it is just a game. A really fun, really good game but still... If anyone who plays this for hours and hours at home, you would assume they would get really good at it. If they were to play a casual player, somoene who doesn't own it... it is very likely that they would win. Drawing an parallel from Gundam, if the newtype or Co-Ordinator gets in any machine.. you know there'll be a good fight. I like this game, partly because it's so much fun to play the multiplayer mode. Sleeping over at a friend's house, and experienceing the moutain dew rush while playing this at 2 am in the morning with three other people is a memory to be treasured... not to mention the pleas of, "Stop kicking me in the air, !@#$." *cue for Three Stooges comedy act*

[QUOTE=ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet] I did tell her I really had nothing planned (stupid stupid stupid!) but my mom thinks she's up to something. I think I should bring along a friend if she calls up later in the week or just do like my mom says and say something came up. Does anyone else have other suggestions?[/color][/QUOTE] Hmmm... you say that you're grandmother shows a nice facade around other people, but around certain family members she shows her true colors? :rolleyes: I don't honestly know if it would work or not, but if you can't back out of this lunch thing, take a couple of good friends with you. That way, she'll either "be nice in front of strangers", or, if she continues to be all negative, they'll be good friends and stick with you. I happen to like my grandmother on my mom's side; the other one died before I was born. But, does anyone have this sort of problem with grandfathers? My mom's dad is one of those rural, racist, sterotypical old geezers, and I really would rather not even spend time with him... it's sad to say, but why would anyone want to spend time with someone who criticizes your religion? (same feeling alot of other people have, apparantly.) I mean, this is a guy who, around every christmas, makes some gooey marshmallow dessert. For muslims, you have to watch out for marshmallow, because most have gelatin, unless they're kosher. Well, he told me he went and got the kind we could eat (which is hard to get in our area, so I appreciated the effort), so we could enjoy it. So, I believed him, and for a number of years we'd have it every once in a while. Then, I found out he'd been lying the whole time! :flaming: I can't believe he had the gall to do that sort of thing!

I recently went to Suncoast the other day, and chanced to pick this up. Brought to us by Tokyopop, this is manwa, which is from Korea. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect: the only reason I had looked into it at all was because of a friend's obsession with anything Fairy related, and I was looking for a good manga to introduce her to. After the purchase though, I'm considering keeping this one! Besides being a Comedy Romance, the manga ka loves video games, and blends them in to the story in ways I wouldn't expect. Somehow, having the characters dressing up as Vincint and Tifa for a costume ball chapter intro image makes me want to find that shop in Japan that sells Final Fantasy costumes, and go cosplay, lol. In regards to the story, it's loosely based on a Korean fairly tale, where a lonely woodcutter meets a deer running from hunters. The deer asks for help, and the woodcutter hides him. He tells the hunters otherwise, and the deer takes him to a mountain top spring to view mystical fairies bathing. He tells the hunter that they use their magic gowns to ascend to heaven, and if one of them couldn't find it, he may finally be able to find his bride. So, he takes one, and the other fairies have to go up the rainbow, leaving the one behind. He comes out and consoles her that he'll take care of her.. and that's as far as I got from there. Has anyone else read this, or would like to comment?

[QUOTE=Mitch][size=1][color=red] Yes, I would choose the sex of my baby--and I'd make it sexless. A hermaphrodite. Just like the virgin Mary was, I'd make my baby have both of the sexual reproductive organs, both functional, thus allowing my baby to one day inseminate itself and have its own children without ever having to have sex. I might have the next Jesus Christ on my hands. I'll keep you posted. It really depends on how long I live, and if my darling hermaphrodite has a miscarriage or some other thing. I expect to be a grandpa soon enough, though. Thing is, I won't live long enough to see my grandson on the cross. [/size][/color][/QUOTE] What a coincidence... just yesterday I read a thriller by Dean Kuntz (The Bad Place) that had that very plot line tangle in it. The results of LSD, incest, and self insemination seem to be the key to all of our doom... you aren't planning anything nefarious, are you Mitch?

Hmm.. there are some interesting points being raised here. As our society becomes more integrated with the net (for example, I heard about a fridge that would keep track of what's in it, and you could have it set to tell when the expiration date is, or when you're low on something, and then order it online for you.), or like how it's standard on most, if not all job applications, to list your email address as well as your home phone number... what will be considered healthy and normal ten years from now? Something I've noticed in what you have mentioned, and with previous experience, is that some people do have a two persona thing going... or do they? They may be a shy, quiet person irl, but when you get into an IM conversation with them, they make jokes (some dirty ones at that too, ha), talk / type rapidly, and voice what they think... seemingly opposite. Are they though? Is this who they really are, or vice versa? In school or work, you can't make that comment about the boss without repercussions, you can't say or do what you really would rather do because there are so many more complications that would arise because you are in a position where your job, or grades, could be affected by what you say. In an internet society (yes, we can safely say that we have them evolving even as we speak) you aren't judged by any of the characteristics that you are in the offline world. You are judged soley based on what you say; indirectly you are judged based on your thoughts that you choose to express, what you really think, because there is no stigma based on what you say. For example, if there is a family notorious for having bad relationships. Let us say you belong to that family. If you were to say to people you think that you might have found someone you could enjoy the rest of your life with, they'd just roll their eyes, and base that it will be doomed because of your family name. Now, go on a message board, or a chat room, or on the IM programs, and say that. You will instead get, "Congratulations!" or "I hope things flower between you two :) ". Of course, there are a few people I know who are exactly the same offline, as they are online, down to their mannerisms of speech. But that's a small number, comparitivly. As time goes on, I still now believe that nothing can beat person to person, face to face communication. But... what about when it comes to the point where it can be argued that they are equal? Where, your net persona becomes just as important as the mask you wear when you leave home to go to work? Where, when the time comes that we will hold business meetings via video chat rooms as often as in real rooms, or something akin to that? I'm not even going to get into what will happen if we decide to augment ourselves with technology, via Ghost in the Shell or Matrix-esque type of things. Will any guess as to whether or not one day, the person you are on the net is just as important as the person you make yourself out to be when you're not on the computer?

[QUOTE=Eli](Hm, I wonder. Is it possible to die for yourself? I'm not talking about suicide, mind you. All the same, this is just a thought.) [/QUOTE] Hmm... that's complex. To me, the answer is yes, but it's kind of hard to explain... you see, in my religion (I am a proud Muslim), if you die for your religion, then that's supposed to earn you very high regards from God. No, I'm not talking about the people you see on the news, nor am I talking about blowing myself up. You see, in Islam, Jihad means "struggle", sort of anyway. We're only supposed to war when other memebers of our religion are being threatened, or when we're being attacked. (no, I don't know who this general "we" is referring to.) For example, let's say that in China (where religion in general is looked down upon by the government) there are a secret group of muslims, who are being persecuted by the government. Let's say I were to go there, to protest. I'd go up, bring a news crew, and try to tell the world what was going on, with cameras and everything. I'd try to show that what was happening is wrong, and if I were to die in the ensuing struggle with their police.. well, then I'd be held in more favor in the eyes of God, and earn a higher reward in Heaven. Is this making any sense to you? I'm not a religious scholar... but that's how I think it works anyway. If anyone with more Islamic knowledge than I sees a mistake in my view on this, please PM to correct it.

I agree with you Dagger. A couple of years ago, when I didn't know any better, I'd read the magazines or books at the store... then my mom told me that it was kind of like stealing, not buying them... so, there's another life's lesson imprinted on me. I'm the type who reads (and re-reads) manga or manwa many times over, to get the whole feel when you have a couple of volumes bought. So.. I think they should be shrink wrapped. Plus, then it would allow for extras to be packaged in as well :) .

[QUOTE=Katana] Okay, going way back to the first page - To the person that said Muslims make up "6 point billion" of the population must not really know their figures. [b]There are a little more than 6 billion people in the world.[/b] Of course, that was the last time I checked, which was about three years ago, so it's a little out of date. Which reminds me... [b]People Who Don't Know Their Facts:[/b] They go up there and prech to you while having no damn clue what they're talking about. ...I'm gonna leave now...[/QUOTE] *coughs* Ahem, there are somethings called mistakes... I'll have you know that I actually bothered to research that number... *looks at it.* I still got it wrong though, lol. The number I was trying to convey is around 2 billion. ([url]http://www.islamicweb.com/begin/results.htm[/url]) I don't know where the 6 came from, to be honest. Sorry if I caused any confusion.

[QUOTE=DeathBug][color=indigo][size=1][font=comic sans ms]Didja' know that forced isolation is a Geneva-approved interrogation technique? Keep the prisoner totally isolated from all people exceptr the interregator, and within a few days, the prisoner is usally willing to tell anything so that the visits with the interrorgater will last longer. So, yeah, total isolation is bad, and if it goes on too long, it can have negative affects on the human psyche. Bummer, neh?[/color][/size][/font][/QUOTE] I have to agree with you on that one, Deathbug. Some of these people don't seem to get it... If you've ever known someone who's been in Iso for a while (or, for some who work in the prison system) then you already know the answer to this question. No question, most of us could live alone on an island, if you just look at the "living life day by day" aspect. I'm quite sure most of us don't have the survival skills to actually go about it though, lol. But (and it's a very important "but", I may add), it would be a terribly lonely existance. "Even the coldest prisoners melt when they're put in the Ice Box." *shudders at the thought.*

[QUOTE=Syk3] And I have no idea if people wrote death threats to the creator, lol.[/QUOTE] From what I read in an interview with him, I understand that after he made the 25 and 26 th episodes, some people were not very happy with him. He said that he got death threats and violent letters from the many otaku he had jaded, who demanded quite strongly that he make another ending. That's why they made the alternate ending movie. He said if you look closely, there's a scene with a lot of flashing images... he put a few of the death threat letters in there (for a fraction of a second), to tell those fans he got the message, subliminably. That kind of behavior sounds a bit too dramatic for me... I mean, death threats? Although I too have yet to watch the series, it's hard for me to imagine an ending that would illicit that kind of response from grown adults.

While it is true that most people who strike out in violence in one way or another have problems long before they listened to that band, played that game, or watched that show, those things due have an influence. Not as strong as the naysayers may try to tell you, but still... Does anyone remember when the psychologists were saying that "Violent video games desensitize nation's youth!" and so on? It's true... even the US government, as part of it's newer armed forces training, uses it's own very violent game to desensitize the soldiers. And during active battle, with their com. sets, the soldiers can listen to music, and guess what some of them listen to: the ultra violent music in question. I don't remember band names, but with songs like, "Let the bodies hit the floor" and "burn mother****** burn", which they say helps them get "in the mood"... you can't deny the effect. Does that mean they should ban said forms of media? No, but would I want my 5 year old to listen to that as they ride the bus? or a 14 year old playing that game at a friend's house? No way. Would I care if they were old enough, and mature enough so that it wouldn't stunt their personality? nope.

You know those moments, when you're brain is trying to wrap itself around a concept so you can solve a problem, and it seems that you're almost at that state of information overload? No matter how hard you try to think about it, you just don't get it. Then, the clouds part, a chorus of angels sings, and all of a sudden, you get it. The pieces fit, everything makes sense, and you sit there wondering why you didn't get it before. The process of finding the answer has become an experience in itself... an epiphany. Now, I'm not talking about normal everyday things like, "Oh! I understand that sin is the negative derivative of cos!" (or something like that.) Although it's good that you got that, I'm talking about real epiphanies, ones that changes the way you look at something in life, something that alters, well, you. Not everyone has these, of course... but I'd like to ask my fellow boardmembers (in particular the older ones, seeing as we're more likely to have experienced one) if they have ever experienced one, and ask them to share it. I myself have only had one or two, but they did change the way I looked at life. For me... I was maybe in 8th or 9th grade, and I don't remember what I was doing at the time. I think I was in school, listening to some girls talk about life in general, one of those honest soul baring discussions... and it hit me. Now don't laugh, but at that moment, listening to them talk about their dreams, goals and feelings, I got that sensation of things falling into place, and it hit me that [I]they were people just like me[/I]. Don't laugh, let me explain: before then, I knew they were human, but you know how kids think. I always thought there was underlying fundamental difference that I could never get my mind around... but at that moment, when I heard some of them expressing the same exact feelings and emotions that I had, I don't know. It just hit me then, a little glimpse as to how some people can marry for life, and that some of the luckiest people in the world are those that have found their "soul mate" and stay together for decades, happy. I can't exactly describe it... except for maybe, "Eureka!", lol. Maybe some people get this before I do, but at that moment I really started looking forward to the idea of courtship.

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet']Becasue we keep hoping that some day some where. Some man will come up with a better reason than because they're there.[/color][/quote] Actually, I heard a theory that men find them so attractive because they were so important to them as infants during breastfeeding (Food! I know where it is!), and that girls don't have that facination because they have a pair to their very own selves (lol)... but that sounds so Freudian, not to mention it doesn't explain those who grew up on baby formula. For me, the point is moot: I grew up in a society where women covered up, some covered up like you see in some arab countries, but mostly all I saw were women that dressed modestly. Loose clothing, cover their hair, no makeup... not to mention no TV for a number of years, lol. Truely though, I don't see what others see. And you know what? When I moved to Pennsylvania, every girl (whoops, we're all 18 now. I mean, [I]women[/I]) has told me that they think it's a good thing that I don't think superficially, that they hope to find someone who looks for the same things that I do. Or at least, what I will look for in the not too distant future: intelligence, good faith, humor, who shares some of my interests. Is that too much to ask for? I'm not denying I don't see beauty as a factor... but judging by my male friends' reactions, and that of society's expectations, my ideals aren't the same. And I'm ok with that.

[QUOTE=Baron Samedi][size=1] Yes, but especially from our side of the fence, Islam gets a bashing. It is more like the three religions I named are...buzzword religions. They all have negative connotations. If you say 'Hey dude, I'm Christian, gimme five', no-one cares [except that you're odd]. But if you go around saying 'I'm Islamic', 'I think Satan is cool', 'I have Wiccan powers', etc. then there is a difference in attitude. I wasn't saying 'Hey Islam, Wicca and Satanism are all given a bad rap, but nothing else is'. You see what I mean?[/size][/QUOTE] Aww, it's ok now. I dub thee forgiven :) From what you said I realize you didn't mean anything in a negative manner, so don't worry about it. And CHW, how could a religion that is the second largest in the world in terms of followers, and the fastest growing not be considered mainstream? (Ok, I'm done with that bit now, just had to get it out of my system :p ) Back to what this thing is about... what country does it take place in? I believe the courses of legal action available are strongly dependent upon where the transgression takes place.

Hmmm... all the wonderous and entertaining issues aside, we (as Westerners, at least) have already gone through such a phase, with almost exactly the same connotations. Does anyone remember the Victorian era? Of course not, but you've heard of it. Back then, look at what the women (and most "refined" men) wore: full body coverings, even to go swimming. They wore hats, gloves, long skirted dresses... pretty much covered all the way. In a way, it kinda reminds me of the social situation in many parts of the middle east... anyway, back to what I was saying. Back then, it was scandelous (and arousing, so I hear) if a women even showed her [I]ankles[/I], (yes her ankles) to a strange man. Hike the skirt a bit higher, show some knee, and you'd either get a crowd whistling or a cop chasing you down for indecent exposure. Times change, and you can practicly walk around in a thong and no one cares. Well, a few do. But you won't have people holding their hands over their mouths going and whispering in embarassment. I'm holding the topic of the thread to be analgeous to how things were way back when. Does anyone else see this?

[quote name='Baron Samedi'][size=1As a curiosity question, what religion are you? I would really only expect this kind of foolish reaction with...Satanism, Wiccan or Islam. Maybe Haitian. Or maybe they'd be too scared to if you were Haitian. :p. Anyway, that is wrong. If you left your religion at home then there wouldn't and shouldn't be a problem. I'd have a little chat with that 'friend'.[/size][/quote] Say.. since when does Islam get categorized in the same category as Satanism? Last I heard, there's as much similarity between that and Islam as there is with Catholisism. I mean, I understand about racism in terms or recent event, but still... if I was more spiteful I'd try to initiate a game that they play with my autistic brother that goes something like this: "Ok everyone, let's sing a song! Look, over there. Are these the same? Lets' play the game of Which One of These Things does not Belong!" Sigh...

Speaking of the subjects of racism and ignorance, I was reminded of something. After 9/11, I had heard from family in other parts of the country that racism and race profiling was rampant, and I'd heard the stuff on the news, but none of it was in the rural Pennsylvania area where we lived thank goodness because we'd been there for such a long time (not to mention we were related to most of them... try tracing a rural valley grove of family trees and you'll know what I mean). But, here in the NY / NJ area it was completely different: My uncle told me that his car and work vans (he does construction / contracting) were repeatedly searched so many times he lost count. (yeah, they're really going to try something dangerous with building materials used for making Dunkin Donuts... come on.) At the worst point, he said that authorities were quite literaly picking up hundreds of people and hauling to prison just for looking Middle Eastern, right off the street! Keep in mind that there more than alien immigrants or hapless tourists, they also picked up American [I]citizens[/I] and held them without pressing charges, with holding access to lawyers, or even telling some of their families that they were being held. For months. That means that in the eyes of the law, it could very well have been any one of you guys (or women) who were being carted away who are residents of the US. Think really hard about that for a second... One of my uncles was deported, and the other, a father of 5 kids, all of them citizens, with an american wife (who happened to hail from one of the Carolinas or Virginias) was denied citizenship, even though he passed the test. He's thinking of packing up and leaving soon, to go back to Egypt... nobody should have to take any of that. Is that the kind of country that you would feel proud of saying you live in?

[QUOTE=ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet] What things do people do? Or even types of people or things in general just get on your nerves and make you want to scream? [b]My list: People who hold strong opinions about things they know nothing about[/b]: They open their mouths about a subject and all that comes out is stupidity. Or just one veiw on a subject and the veiw has been badly researched. Like my paternal grandmother who thinks that all Muslims think they need to kill people to get to heaven and that gay people can be reprogramed because she saw it on TBN. And the saddest part when she says this is that she's serious [/color][/QUOTE] I take it that there isn't a strong, positive muslim community where she lives that can prove otherwise, eh? Pity, if you think about it... if that was the case with the 6 point billion something number of muslims on the planet today, wouldn't you think there would be a whole lot less other people? (or, is it the case where thinking really doesn't come in to play?) As for I, something that really bothers me is when people do stupid things that can affect many other people besides themselves with the disasterous consequences... like, oh, driving drunk for example. I'm in Jersey city with some relatives now for about a month or so (as opposed to my home in rural Pennsylvania), and last night my uncle and I almost got side slammed by a drunkard driving a rented moving truck as we approached the brooklyn bridge. I know that there are drunks everywhere, including where I live, but in the crowded congestion of the city it seemed to make it that much worse to me... tsk tsk. The worst part is that people / society passivly agrees with the whole situation... think about it, how many people think it normal to have all the bars we do, or to think it's ok to have a round or two (or more, in some sad cases) after work, or before hitting the road? We may [I]say[/I] that we shouldn't do such things, yet we allow them to happen, as indicated by what we[I] do[/I].