Maully

[color=green]PT wasn't referring to his opinion on stem cells, I don't think... I think he was tlking about his abuse towards Baron, who is very capable of defending himself. As to S-cells, I think it is agreed that great things can be done with them if research is continued. I think PhoenixFlame did raise one good point...Is it right to give up an entire life for some one to extend someone elses life further?? this is a question that reaches beyond this subject, really and one that must be personally faced by everyone. I am all for research on existing cell, and as Drix pointed out, on cells that are harvested without a sacrificial lamb (is that bad terminology?) Yes, fetal cells are the most reliable way to get them, but it is not the only way...stop taking the shortcuts...[/color]

[color=green]I do not mean to be rude, but PhoenixFlame, do you know what stem cell research is?? As to you last post, paralysis is one of the things they think stem cells may help cure. I don't understand your posts, myself. Maybe that's my own stupidity...maye not... I agree with Drix, although I hate to sound like a follower. Abortion is a touchy subject, and so, in turn is this one. They are not the same, but they are connected. I made a point earlier that there was talk about monetary compensation for an aborted fetus. Don't hold me to it, but I think it was $800 plus cost of the abortion. How much is a human life worth?? Let the scientists tell you... Craig, as to your saying if there are so many aborted babies... I am uncomfortable with that statement, and I can't really pinpoint why...It just seems like an excuse. After a staement like that, I was slightly surprised the hear your stance on abortion overall.[/color] (off-topic)Baron, I like your new avi and banner.

[color=green]Rem was ok, and everyone agreed to go home and tonight's events would be discussed at the meeting tomorrow night. Metta, Tara and Garm went back to Selenay's house where they were supposed to satay. they found that Dango, Godric and Selenay had not returned. "No boy wonder for you tonight, Metta," Garm said as he walked past her into the house. Metta flew into a rage, and set his hair on fire. "You jerk!! Aren't you in the least bit worried about them, where they may be, what's happening?" "Sure, I mean after all, I can't protect my, how was that? 'My precious Selenay,' I believe. What was that all about, anyway?" "Do not ask me stupid questions, Garm. In fact, do not ask me questions at all." Metta was once again feeling stupid. She just didn't know what to when she was around Garm, but she was pretty sure setting him on fire had been a bad idea. She went up to Selenay's room and closed the door. "Garm, you idiot. She likes you. You know Metta has somewhat stunted social skills. Your pining for Sel had hurt her and she doesn't know what to do about it. Not to mention, she has to deal with the fact that she doesn't want to be jealous of her friend. Be careful, Garm. Hell hath no fury..." Tara also went into the house and left Garm with his thoughts. Garm slumped on the porch steps, "Likes me? What, is she in third grade that she just can't flirt with me or hit on me, she has to [i]set me on fire?![/i] She doesn't make any sense. She's sixteen years old for gods' sake. Do I even need to do anything to figure this stuff out? The floor for me tonght."[/color]

[color=green]Metta had stayed behind, but was surprised to see Godric leave. She was alone with Tara and Garm. Kitty came wandering up to the house with a stranger no one recognized. "Rem...Rem is in trouble, she needs our help." Metta was kind of relieved for distraction, though she was still tired. "Why is it that trouble always finds [i]us[/i]? I go with you, Kitty. Garm, will you watch Rue, he is in the backyard." With that Metta and Kitty took off into the night. Kitty led Metta directly to the place where she had left Rem, but she wasn't there. "Where did dhe go??!! I left her right here!!" Kitty was sobbing. Neither of them knew what to do. Akira pointed to the west, "She went that way, we need to go." The three of them were scouring the forest when they heard her scream. They found her moments later. She was unconcious, but otherwise seemed ok. They tried to pick her up, but they couldn't touch her. There was some kkind of barrier around her.[/color]

[color=green]Metta felt stupid. She was also still worried about Dango. Sure, he's a loner, but things are really stressful for him now, and who better to understnd a loner than another loner. "He's going to be ok, you know." Godric said. "Who?" "Dango. He'll be alright." At that moment Metta heard Dango [i]someone help me![/i] "No, he's not." She stood up and went to find Selenay. "I heard it too, we gotta go." The two of them and Flip went to the front yard. [i]Dango, where are you??[/i] Selenay tried to contact him. Metta was not getting through to him and she was hoping Sel was having more luck. "Metta, we've gotta find him," Selenay had tears in her eyes.[/color]

[color=green]The others returned to Selenay's house without incident to find Tara and Garm waiting. Everyone had been contacted and agreed to the meeting tomorrow night. They also knew that the three of them were running the show. "We shouldn't have any trouble tomorrow, everyone knows it's important," Garm said. Then he caught site of Godric, "Whose he?" "That's Godric, Dango's older brother. He is also staying tonight. that makes six of us." "Six? Oh gods, is Dango coming too?" "He's supposed to, but we don't know where he is." "Metta, can I talk to you over there for a minute?" Metta was surprised by this request, and strangely nervous. Her nervousness around Garm was getting worse, and she felt stupid about it. "Metta, who is that guy, [i]really[/i]? Do any of us know him? He could kill us in our sleep, and we're just inviting him in to do it. I think it's stupidity." "Garm, he's with me, he can stay locked in a room with me, and away from all of you, if you want. He has enough of my trust to stay the night. You can stay in the damn living room and protect your precious Selenay." Metta walked into the house in a huff and Garm just looked after her confused. "Come on, Godric, Let's see to Rue in the backyard." She touched his arm on the way into the house, in a way that Garm noticed was not just to lead him into the house. [/color]

[color=green]Metta was getting tired, and she was actually rather glad everone was going to Selenay's. She hoped that Garm and Tara had contacted their members. Rue kept sniffing at the ground as they walked, and then he suddenly ran off into the woods with a snarl. "Rue!" Metta yelled after him as she ran behind to catch up. Godric and the others were soon after her. She had lost sight of Rue, and was worried, Garm was not here to save him again. Flip passed her, then Godric. [i]Why should he care about Rue so much?[/i] She doubled her speed and saw Rue in a tangle with something else. She was at their side in a second and her staff came down with a decided [i]Thwack![/i] Rue yelped and limp to her side as the assailant vanished into the night. Godric picked up Rue, who was not hurt too badly. "It'll just be fasster if I carry him, he's limping. We need to get out of this forest, [b]now.[/b] Everyone agreed, and they started moving. "Where's Dango?" Metta asked as she noticed her friend was nowhere to be seen. "He's been disappearing a lot lately."[/color]

[i]I agree, vicky, sometimes I think no one reads the details...[/i] [color=green][size=1]Chance was dead. Everyone seemed satisfied except Dango. "It is their law, Dango, there was nothing any of us could do. " Metta tried to use logic to console him, but to no avail. "I came here looking for you. Garm, Tara and I are holding a meeting tomorrow, at Selenay's house at 7, although, I think Chance may be what we need to discuss. There have been random animal killings, accompanied by large burn spots in the forest...I think this display may explain it." "No, Chance may hate humans, but I do not thinkk he wouls have been killing animals. I think it was something else, especially since Rue, who you say was attacked last night, did not react adversely to his presence. I think it was something else," Godric said in a concerned voice. "May I attend your meeting?" he asked the group of warriors. "I don't know. We've never had an outsider present. I thik we need to put that to a full vote before we say yes or no. Tara is staying tonight, as is garm, Selen-" "The HELL he is! Not unless I am too!" Dango interrupted Metta. "OH, a sleep-over, I thought I was done with those in fifth grade. Oh well, it will be fun," Selenay rolled her eyes. "Let's go to my house, [i]all[/i] of us. Happy Freakin' birthday to me..." With that, they set off, but Godric held Dango back from the opthers for a moment. "I want to go to that meeting, Dango..."[/color][/size]

[color=green][size=1]Have you never seen that picture? It is a human ear that scientists got to grow on the back of a mouse. I don't actually remember if it was grafted on or what, but it continued to grow once attached. It is a really strange picture though. I always wondered if the mouse could hear out of it...I think it was a couple of years ago. It was after the sheep cloning though. If you search the Newsweek archives, I'm sure you could find it, it was on the cover of one. Poor cheesy... As for cloning saving lives... are you talking about partial cloning, like growing a liver from a person's cells, or full-on cloning? How are you saving my life by making a copy of me? I could use the clones organs, I guess, if I needed some, but then she might die. Is that Ok since she's a clone? Is her life less precious? And life being precious... stem cells come from fetuses, those of aborted or still born babies most often... what about the lives they aren't going to have? I don't want to get into an abortion debate, this isn't quite that thread. But let me leave you with this... at the beginning of the whole stem cell debate, there was talk of paying women for their aborted fetuses for research... How precious is the life of terminally ill patients? It may cost the life of a potentially healthy person. [/color][/size]

[color=green][size=1]Scientists have been playing God for years. I myself am very torn on the subject all together. It is beneficial, really, it is, but I am a rarity, and that is a liberal democrat pro-lifer. Strange, I know, it's the small amout of Catholic my parents were able to instill in me... Scientists cloned a sheep, and a cow, and an elephant I think, or they were working on it. They grew a human ear on the back of a mouse. Playing God is not an issue for scientists anymore. It's an issue for the rest of us. They'll do it, unless their funding gets cut or there are laws against it. Even then, they will just go to a country where there aren't laws against it and do it there. I think Bush may have actually made a not awful decision when he said go ahead and use the ones we already have, but don't harvest anymore... We'll see how that holds up though. BTW--that episode of South Park was gross, yes. But I also found it hilarious.[/color][/size]

[color=green][size=1]I am a big believer in the ergot poisoning theory. Although that can't be blamed for all of the hysteria. People get this gang mentality, and that is to blame for a lot of it, I think. Some people see things because they are hopped up on Ergot, a mold which grows on rye, and can have the same effects as LSD, think they see something, convince others they saw it, and BOOM! you've got an angry mob. Also, a lot of people accused were people in powerful positions that a lot of people would benefit from their being out of the way. What an easy way to get someone out of the way for good? Kill them, and have someone else do it legally. She's a witch, Burn Her!!! Although they really didn't burn many of them... There are LOTS of theories, really, but those two are my favorite, drugs and jealousy...[/color][/size]

[color=green][size=1]Selenay cringes at the dark form. Just then she heard a snarl. Chance jumped over the bush at lunges at the darkness. He attacked with a viciousness the Selenay had never witnessed in anything before. Meanwhile Garm, Metta and Tara parted. Metta could not contact either of her friends through telepathy. [i]They're blocking me out. Gods, always when there are important things to do. I guess I'll start with Aeris.[/i] Metta found him with little trouble and he quickly agreed to the meeting. She promptly left him, "Rue, I need you to find them. Knowing them, they're probably together. What a birthday for Selenay. Poor kid." Rue put his nose to the ground and barked. He loped off in the direction of the woods. "Oh gods, they should know better." Metta quickly followed her companion, but before they reached the woods, she ran into Godric.[/color][/size]

[color=green][size=1]I love Autumn, but Winter is my Favorite. When it bothers to snow, it can be so beautiful. I am definitely a cold weather person. Also, my birthday is in the end of Dec, so bring on the winter, it means presents![/color][/size]

[color=green]PT and Harry are right, you're not going to make a difference there even if you are elected, so just k=make fun of others and have fun. PT is also right about Slughterhouse Five. If you want to make a difference, join the paper, and take it seriously. A kid in a high school a town or two over from mine found out that the Superintendant (oh god, that's spelled so wrong) of schools had embezzled half a million over his tenure. He printed it in the school paper... Stories of it ran nation wide, sure, page 12 or 16 in places, but there you go. He made a differrence, at least for a few weeks. StuCo does nothing but think up stupid themes for dances and what to put in your vending machines, let the preps have it if they want it.[/color]

[i]Sorry, Kitty... I didn't mean to be cold...[/i] [color=green]What was that all about? Everyone is so strange now. I think that she's right though, Tara. I really think you should stay here. Between me, you Sel and Rue, I'm sure we'll all be fine. I really think we should try this meeting thing again. We just need to have order. It's hard seeing as we all think we're the leader, but everyone need to know this stuff. I think we should have it here, tomoorow night." "You're right," Garm said," and we should divvy up and tell everybody. I'll get Kitty, Rem and Sasha. Tara, you get Nisha, Euri and Ares. Metta, you get Sel, Dango and Aeris. That's everyone. Tomorrow night at 7 right here in this house. Tara, I agree, you should stay here, and so will I, just to keep you girls safe." Garm ended his statement with a smirk. "Garm, do you really think that Selenay's mother will let you stay with a bunch of girls?" Tara was skeptical. "Do you even have to ask after seeing the 'lovers' fiasco?" Everyone nodded. "Alright, we need to spead the word. No phones, either, go and tell them: tomorrow at seven, and I'll see you ladies tonight."[/color]

[color=green]"It's not really wether you want to or not. Tara and Garm are here, and they've got some really important news. We may need to have another meeting, soon." Selenay unlocked the door and let Metta in. "Selenay, I know you don't want to hear it, but just remember, Dango is going through a lot right now, I don't think he means to hurt you." [i]"He didn't!"[/i] Selenay almost growled at Metta. "Why are the others here?" "Tara's found some burnouts in the forest and there are dead animals too. A lot of them. They seem to have been attacked in the same way as Rue, deep slashes to their torsos. It's really gorey, Sel. We need to find out about it, right away. I'm also kind of worried about Tara, being alone in the forest." Selenay cleaned up, and met the others downstairs. Tara looked like she hadn't slept, though she was trying to hide it, and Garm looked angry, as usual.[/color]

[color=green]Godric and Metta were left just standing there. "Selenay's crying, I can hear it in my head. I really am no good at comforting, I just don't know how to do it. Do you want to get some coffee? Rue will stay with Sel." "Sure, why not. I can get anything done when he's like that either." Metta and Godric went off to get coffee, all the while talkig about how she met Dango and his powers and hers. She told him that she was Sagitarrius, a fire type. She didn't have big powers, though. SHe was much better at actual fighting than magic. She can control fire and with her staff she can ignite fire. When she tried to turn the converstion to him, he was avoidant. She finally persisted, "What are you doing with Dango after all this time. I've known him all these years, and he's never mentioned a brother. It's just [i]really[/i] strange. Personally, I think he's pretty upset by the whole thing. He's not himself." "Can you blame him. I have just laid a bunch of stuff on his back he never thought he'd have to deal with..." Metta interupted, "Don't you think that was a little selfish of you. Dango had done just fine without you guys for a long time, and now you are sneakinghim off into the night, giving him all this stress..." "Don't think I never considered that. I just happen to think that it will be better for him in the long run, even if it's hard right now. Besides, we need him, he's important." Tara was suddenly in Metta's mind,[i]Metta, I think we'd better meet at Selenay's house, you, me, Garm and Sel. Something has happened in the forest I think we need to discuss, [b]now.[/b][/i] "I have to go back to Sel's house, um, good luck finding Dango. Thanks for the coffee!" Metta yelled as she jogged down the street.[/color]

[color=green]I don't really matters. I think CHarles had it right when he said that separating genders is as silly as raacial segregation. It doesn't make much sense, in my opinion. Having been a girl in a co-ed school, I will tell you that I found the girls much more distracting than the boys, actually. I always got along with the boys fairly well, but I always felt the girls were conspiring something against me. That goes to my own experiences though. I find that there are a lot of other issues that are more "distracting" in schools than those of opposite gender. [/color]

[color=green]"I am not a snitch, I just felt it was important that she know. Godric, nice to meet you in the light," Metta quipped. He laughed. "So, are you the guy I saw out the window yesterday, the one that just dissappeared?" "I didn't think that anyone saw that. You've got good eyes." "Are you the guy that grabbed Kitty? She was really freaked out," Selenay asked. "Of course he's not!" Dango said before Godric could answer. Metta and Selenay look at each other. they both realized that his answer had been very hasty. "So, I didn't think we'd be seeing you for a while, Dango. What with the way you appeared and disappeared last night. What was going on? I still don't know what you were doing there." Godric noticed Rue," Is he yours?" "He doesn't belong to me, but we do travel together and take care of each other. He's my companion." Godric looked at Dango, " I think she should meet him."[/color]

[color=green][b]I love this movie![/b] It is so great. Not only does it have Steve Mcqueen, but James Garner, and so many others. I first saw it many years ago, and even before I became obsessed with movies, I could appreciate that one. I really have a connection with Garner's character, comparable to Red from the Shawshank Redemption, the man who can get anything. Maybe not a connection, but I love that character.[/color]

[color=green]The next day after school metta dutifully met Selenay outside of school. "Hey, how's it going? I'm sorry I didn't stay last night. It seemed you had plenty of people to deal with, and I didn't want to get in the way. I'm no good with listening to people and their problems, you know that." "That's fine. I understand, really. Did you stay at Tara's? Tell me [i]everything[/i]." "Funny you should say that, because there is [i]lots[/i] to tells!" The girls laughed as they started to walk to Selenay's house. Sel listened carefully as Metta told her about Rue being attacked and Tara finding Garm to help him. Selenay laughed at Metta. She could tell, even after not seeing her for more than a year that Metta had feelings for Garm. "Always the bad boys, huh Metta?" Metta's face turned a deep red. "The strangest thing, though, was Dango." "Dango?" "Yes. Tara, Garm and I were talking at the campfire and suddenly Dango was there behind me in the bushes...with his [i]brother[/i]. "[i]WHAT?![/i] Brother? Father, brother, how much family does Dango have? We're going to his house right now!" "I don't think he's there. They seemed to be going somewhere, sneaking off into the night." Sel's mom had cookies ready when they got there as usual. Rue laid on the floor, occasionally scratching the place where his wound had been while the girls talk about all the things the meeting should have been about. "I don't know what happened, things just went crazy yesterday. You're staying tonight, aren't you, Metta? Of course you are." All of the sudden the doorbell rang.[/color]

[color=green]Metta just watched after dango very confused. "Did you find anything?" Garm asked as she returned. "No, nothing. What did I miss here?" Metta noticed the fire was dimming so she gave it a shot with her staff and it flared. The blaze was as bright as day. "A little nervous, Metta? What's with the sun in the front yard?" Tara laughed at her. "Sorry, I guess I am a little on edge. Garm, are you staying here? Don't you have school tomorrow?" "Ha, like you of all people should worry about school. You've gone like, what, a week out of your whole life? No, I'm not staying, I better be going." Garm got up to leave and Metta and Tara went inside. Metta tossed and turned. Something was really bothering her, she just couldn't put her finger on it. [i]Metta, are you there? Why did you leave. I told you you could stay. Is everything alright?[/i] [i]Selenay, I'm sorry. You just seemed [/i]really[i]busy. I'll be by tomorrow., I promise. Are you alright?[/i] [i]Nothing that won't wait. I'll see you tomorrow. g'night.[/i][/color]

[color=green]If you agree all the time with your significant other, things get boring. I Get along much better with people who have different opinions than I do and voice them and back them up legitimately than those who either just agree with me or do not take the time to make opinions. I rarely agree w/my boyfriend on such things, but it opens up to discussion. Sometimes it leads to fights, but that in turn leads to making up...[/color]

[color=green]Metta sobbed as held Rue. His tail wagged and she looked up. Tara had returned with Garm. How was she was [i]always[/i] able to find him. "What the hell happened? My God, he really torn up." "Can you do anything?? Save him, please." Garm Took out his his claws, and they flared up, and Rue was as good as new. "Tonight just gets weirder and weirder. what happened, I though Rue was pretty indestructible. Are you still going to Tara's cabin?" Garm actually sounded concerned. " I can walk you guys there, if you want." All four walked to Tara's cabin. There Metta made a fire in the front and talked long into the night. [/color]

[color=seagreen]They tried to tell you it didn't exist?? That is strange, I wonder what they will tell you when you go back in a month. Metatron, it is not nice to make her cry... I think you need to share with the rest of the class. I gues that we will all have to learn Japanese...[/color]