Xander Harris

[quote name='natetron46']A word of warning to you: college IS NOT the real world. People try to say it is. It is not, you live in your own special world, a biosphere cut off from everything else.[/quote] Yeah, I'll agree with that. But it is a fun time, and I really am enjoying it. Hopefully it will prepare me properly for 'the real world'...

I'm passable with Spanish, but not fluent. I'm trying to learn a little Japanese.

RPG.net currently publishes my column "The Deeper Well". It deals with storytelling techniques and their application to RPGs. [url]http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/collists/deeperwell.html[/url]

Some people in my home town call me stuff like Jimmy and Jim. At college most everyone calls me Peachfuzz. Why? The RDs randomly assigned nicknames to the freshman this year, and my nickname stuck.

I generally find Tim Burton to be a mixed bag. Sometimes brilliant, but many times simply very strange. I didn't much care for the first Willy Wonka. A bunch of prop/set comedy without any real intelligence to it. Some vaguely catchy songs. And an irritating cast. Why would I want to watch a remake of this?

I live, eat and work in a massive "inspirational womb" composed of cow bladders strung up in a spherical pattern. A disco ball made from human fingernails provides my only illumination as I eat the protein pills provided by my guardian tortoise and give birth to great, world-changing ideas which I dictate to a room full of genetically altered hobos. Seriously? I live in Iowa. There's a lot of corn here. Some people there. More corn. Some cows. Plenty o' corn. More rival churches than you can shake a cow-prod at. Corn. Corn. Corn.... OOO! Look! A sheep!!! Forgive me. I'm in a strange mood tonight....

Haven't settled on a career yet. Most people's jobs will change many, many times over the course of their life anyhow. I want to be the best follower of Christ that I can, a good husband to an attractive women (crosses fingers), and get paid for writing in some capacity. Beyond that, we'll see.

Farto! You're posting again! Yayness! Just wanted to say that, but so I don't get accused of spam.... [quote name='Farto the Magic][FONT=Century Gothic][COLOR=DarkOliveGreen] It would also be helpful for guys to have a clue what to watch for.[/COLOR'][/FONT][/quote] I'd rather not. Honestly. Different girls are attracted to different things in guys, and I've wasted too much of my life trying to alter my personality for them. If a girl likes me fine, if she doesn't and I wish she did, I'll find a way to deal. Besides, it hasn't come up yet, but it inevitably will, that many females find confidence to be the most attractive quality. How is one supposed to have confidence when one is constantly 'watching for' ways to make oneself more attractive? Obviously, everyone should bathe, do their best to deal with their acne, and work out from time to time. Beyond that, it's out of your control. Be yourself is the most cliched advice on the matter, but still the best. Carry on... Oh, and welcome back Farto my man!!!

[QUOTE=JJRiddler][Color=DarkBlue][size=1] Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Seasons 1-7: I can't believe no one's written this. Am I the only Buffy fan than has parents who like it too? [/size][/color][/QUOTE] I own Buffy 1-7 also. My dad loves Buffy too, but my mom thinks it's too scary.

[QUOTE=Attimus331]Parental advisories aren't only used for cursing. The message is very important. Listen to some of the lyrics. They say f * * * America! That's not exactly what i'd want my kids to hear (when i get kids). There's more, that's just one example. All of that aside, i must say i do like Green Day. They rock. Later.[/QUOTE] I'm fairly certain the lyrics say that the media tries to mind-******* America, not "******* America" Not that I'd condone giving music with F-bombs in it to little kids anyhow lol. But that's not the band's intended audience.

Meh. It would be kind of funny if I ran into someone from an internet message board some day, but it's not really high on my list of things to do in life right now.

Didn't we just do this, like, a week ago? Ah, well. Abortion I feel is murder, and I am against it in all forms except when having the baby would kill the mother.

[QUOTE=ShadO MagE][color=silver]Ok, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not real relegous. With what you just said about sin and such it means that it is a choice is relevant. Because if its a sin, it must a be a choice, because one has free will. I just want to get this cleared up to be sure i understand this completely, not trying to derail this thread, into a theological disscusion. But I am quite confused on how weather it is a choice or not is irrelevant. Edit: So from your last sentence, your saying homosexuals want to be "cured"? [/color][/QUOTE] I don't think this is hijacking the thread. I am attempting to impart understanding of the worldview a significant percentage of this nation holds, but articulates poorly and often in a distorted manor. I think that understanding the position one of the most vocal sides in the debate is highly relevant to the thread. Sin is rebellion against God. We are all born with these rebellious tendancies, because all of humanity has rebelled against the Lord. We are born with tendancies toward sin. Yet we can decide whether or not to act on those desires. Every human has invariably chosen to indulge in their sinful nature. There is not one among us that is blameless. That's why we need a Savior. Sin is both inherent in our natures, a part of the Fall. It is also a choice. Sometimes it is more one or the other, but it is always wrong, as it goes against the will of our Creator. Yes, some homosexuals do want to be cured. Not all. Do all gossips want to be cured? Do people who lust want to be cured? Do those who feel hate for their fellow man want to be cured? Does anyone ever want to be cured of their sins? Without God, no. It takes the intervention of Him in your life for you to even be able to desire the life he offers. Do all homosexuals want to be cured? No. Very few do. They are, after all, human like the rest of us. The idea that homosexuals should just accept Jesus and suddenly change is both rediculous and unbiblical. Sanctification is a process for them as much as it is for any of us. Some of them might strive with homosexual inclinations until the day they die. The point of the conclusion of my last post was that Christian homosexuals need support from their Christian brothers and sisters as much as any of the rest of us. It isn't an easy process for them. It isn't an easy process for any of us. But we can rest in the fact that the One who created us and died for us will give us the power we need to change. And that in the end, He who began a good work in us has promised that He will bring it to completion.

:( ( Well, this is embarrasing. I just managed to double-post.... My reply is on the next page. (can a mod delete this post, please?) :blush:

[QUOTE=ShadO MagE] [color=silver]A very liberal look at the whole gay marriage thing, and yes I do agree with it. But as to beuing homosexual, its not a choice your born that way, and yes you do insult them when you tell them its wrong, its not a choice, its not liike my friend woke up one day and thought "oh i'll be gay". Because if you think abotu it being gay has been around for ever, just more accepted now, so more people are coming out, because they're not thought to be sinners and persicuted, well if they come out i doubt they'd be persicuted because fear goes along way to keeping some one in the closet. (ok i know that was a little confusing) What i was trying to say is, it is obviously not a choice because people were gay when they were executed for it, and if your going to be executed for something why would you do it if it was a choice? (Well I'll edit this if i re-read it later and dont have any idea what I was trying to say, I have a feeling it was very convuluted.)[/color][/QUOTE] Note: I am explaining why I think it is possible to be opposed to homosexuality, but not hate homosexuals from a Christian perspective. If you think the Bible has no bearing on this, your opinion is duly noted. I don't think people properly understand the position that Christians such as myself take, so I am going to elaborate. Bear with me, or ignore this post. Whether or not homosexual tendancies are a choice is irrelevant. The doctrine of Origional Sin is that we are all born with tendancies toward sin. Ever since Adam fell, sin has been a part of human existence from the moment we enter this world. I was born with a tendancy toward grudge holding, selfishness, dark thoughts, hedonism, lust and pride. Others may have indeed been born with tendancies toward homosexuality. The idea within Christian thought is that when we accept Christ's payment for our sins, the Holy Spirit begins to work in our lives to remove our sins. However, this process will never be completely finished in this world. We have daily to strive against the sinful nature. If someone is a homosexual and a Christian, the Spirit will work within them to bring about change. Perhaps the change will never be complete in this life. Perhaps they will struggle with it for the rest of their lives. I know I will continue to struggle with the sins I was born with until the day I die. It is not insulting to me for someone to point this out. Homosexuals who become Christians need support and help with their sins as much as anyone else. The primary problem I see with many Christian's attitudes toward homosexuality is that they are viewed as enemies rather than fallen people in need of help like anyone else. Homosexuals have been needlessly villified to the point that some seem to view them as evil incarnate. And we should not point out the speck in our brother's eye while we ignore the log in our own. O.k. Theology over. Practically, I think that whether or not gay marriage is legal has little bearing on the mission of the Church to help heal homosexuals. America is not a theocracy, and I don't think homosexuals threaten the Church nearly as much as some people seem to point out. We should be there to help those who either have fallen into (or were born with) homosexuality, instead of attacking them.

[quote name='Morpheus']Yes, you do. With that very statement, you have insulted them. You are a Palestinian, Chabichou. I am of european descent. I was born European, you were born Palestinian. I cannot change myself, and neither can you. What if I said that being a Palestinian is wrong? How would you feel? These people are born how they are, so you ARE judging them and you ARE insulting them.[/quote] Hmm. I don't think that is necessarily true. Is it insulting a murderer to tell him killing people is wrong? Is it insulting to a gossip to tell them to quit picking on people behind their backs? It seems to me that if one believes homosexuality is NOT an integral part of people's beings, but rather a behavior (and yes, I include thoughts within 'behavior'), then it seems to me that it is completely possible to tolerate without accepting. Or rather, to love the sinner but hate the sin. I believe homosexuality is wrong, but I am not out actively railing against people who do so, or calling for all sorts of laws to regulate them. Honestly, whether or not gays can get legally married impacts me very little, and although I disagree in principle, I practically do very little about it. And I certainly wouldn't advocate restricting gay's civil rights or locking them up or something. There seems to be a belief running through this thread that those who do not agree with homosexuality are all interested in active and malicious persecution of those who do, or that they [I]hate[/I] the [I]people [/I] who partake in homosexuality, which is simply untrue.

I greatly enjoy Zim (MEATS OF EVIL>-> lol) Haven't seen Johnny The Homicidal Maniac, but I do enjoy good dark humor, so maybe I'll check it out... is it a comic book or a cartoon show?

[quote name='Blayze']Sounds fun! And if you need some villains, then you can definitely count on me![/quote] Yay! Another villain! I was wondering when my allies would finally start to show up. Welcome to the fold, Blayze my man...

The great thing about Napolean Dynamite is that it sets up immensely entertaining characters, and then just revels in these great characters they've created for two hours. Few films let themselves do that in America. And it is consistantly hilarious from beginning to end. Thumbs up. Way up.

I honestly didn't like Crouching Tiger, but I loved Hero. The artistic style of the fights was breathtaking and powerful. And the themes and dillemas presented at the end leave one with a lot to think about. A movie like this would never be made in America. It gives you some interesting insight into the underlying themes of Chinese civillization. I thought all the acting was top-notch. The actors and actresses did a great job conveying emotion with their eyes, and the facets of their personalities came out in the battles nicely. I found myself caught up in the emotion of this film. Several times toward the end I almost cried. Brilliant. I give Hero 4 stars and highly recommend it to everyone.

Well, I have no plans for New Years Eve. But on New Years day I'm having some people over for a roleplaying game mini-con that should last about 12 hours. Should be good times, and it will be my first time trying to run a live-action game...

[Quote= MyOtaku] Shopping for my family was interesting this year, since the main department store available to me was the Pamida a few blocks away from my dorm room. My Dad's Christmas present was a breeze to buy. He loves "O brother Where Art Thou?", and Pamida was selling a whole bunch of "O Santa, Where Art Thou" CDs. Problem solved. Next up was my sister. Hmmm. What to get for the girl who's too old for Barbies? That's actually pretty easy. Music. Abby loves playing music and dancing around with her best friend. There was a CD of Christian Alternative Rock from 2003 that I had been eyeing for some time. However, I figured I'd take a few moments and keep looking, in case there was something better I was missing. I came upon some of those awesome new little pillow's that feel like their stuffed with artificial sand. There was a lady there with a little sun who was thrilled about the pillow's. I asked the lady if she thought the pillows would be appropriate for a 14 year old girl. "Oh, I think she'd love this cute heart one! Is it for your girlfriend?" I bought the CD. Finally, my mom. My mom is nefariously difficult to shop for. A squishy wrist-rest for her to use while typing? Good idea, but it's debatable whether or not she would actually use it, and it's quite expensive for a bunch of gelatin in a soft plastic casing. Maybe a book on needlepoint crafts? I'm sure she'd enjoy it, but it was in the bargain bin of Pamida for a reason. The poor thing looked like it would fall apart if you looked at it the wrong way. What did I get her last year... Decorative Socks! My mom loves socks. Back to the clothing isles I go... Bras, Bras, Bras, Panties... feel..manhood... slipping away... ah, there we go, socks! Yay! ...huh... They're white. In packs of twelve. That's it. Turning around, feeling defeated, I am confronted by what appears to be sexy Christmas lengerie... sized for a three year old. I'm out of that aisle before you can say 'holy women's undergarmets, Batman!' Silverware? She has plenty of that. Towels? Decorated with hideous pictures of fruit. How tacky is that. A decorative ceramic snowman made tastefully by Jamaicans in sweat-shops? Already got her that a couple years back. Desperate, I decided to try the pillow displays again. Ooo. A pillow with an elegant picture of horses in the snow. My mom loves horses, and who doesn't like pillows? Sold!!! Pamida, I love you. And my mom loved the gift. Mission accomplished! [/Quote] Merry Christmas, everyone, and a happy New Year!

[QUOTE=ScirosDarkblade] Oh, and Xander Harris, the example you gave yourself is of something where the government oversteps its bounds. These bounds are enforced by the electoral process. My point is that these bounds define what we *entrust* our government with. What we trust them to properly and accurately represent. That's what "representative" in representative democracy means. The elected are supposed to represent the will of their constituents. In the case of something like abortion, I don't see them accurately representing the will of those who their decisions will affect, should they impose whatever restrictions on it.[/QUOTE] For the most part, senators and representatives tell you up front whether they are pro-life or pro-choice. If the limits on representatives are the bounds the people entrust them with, then if their constituents choose a pro-life representative (or vice versa), and then that representative votes in a pro-life (or vice-versa manor) then they ARE representing the will of their constituents, since their constituents voted for them knowing they were pro-life (or vice versa). What could be more 'accurate' of the will of their constituents than that?

[QUOTE=ScirosDarkblade] Xander, your representational democracy argument is completely empty. In fact it is so utterly empty that you could replace "abortion" in that paragraph with "spying on your kids 24 hours a day" and it would make just as much, or as little, sense.[/QUOTE] Representational democracy ceases to be such when those in power cease to be held responsible by the citizens. Therefore, you CAN'T put anything in there. You could not put in, say "congress passes a law that says they have absolute power, can never be removed from office, and they are summarily disbanding the judicial and executive branches of the government." You can, however, put in that 'they pass a law that says all kids are to be spied on 24 hours a day'. I doubt many people are going to like that, and when the next election rolls around the senators and representatives that voted for such a ludicrous course of action will be ousted. New leadership will come in that will overturn the law. Again I say welcome to representational democracy.

[quote name='Siren']How many people here eat scrambled eggs? This question does relate to the topic at hand, too.[/quote] I eat them. And adult chickens as well. Typically broasted, with a side of potatoes and perhaps some pizza. Humans and animals are different things, imho. Are you trying to turn this into a debate about vegitarianism? Start another thread. As to the idea that legislators don't have the right to decide on the abortion issue, this is a complete load of bullcrap, unless you are a socialist, in which case it makes perfect sense. Welcome to representational democracy. Let's make one thing clear: A murderer thinks he is doing a good thing. That ***** deserves it for cheating on him. Bank robbers think they are correct. Society owes them the money. The issue is not how the person commiting the act FEELS about it, as some have tried to say. The issue is whether or not said behavior is morally correct.