Retribution

[size=1]I immediately think of New York [b]City[/b], the Empire State Building, Broadway, taxis, an urban jungle of sorts. And then the feeling of euphoria overtakes me. I love that city so much it's ridiculous.[/size]

[size=1]The opposite gender exists outside the classroom. Why not prepare students for any possible "distractions" in the future by keeping the classes co-ed? These "distractions" are in college/the workforce, so why try to avoid them now when you can be exposed now and adapt to them? Looking back on this post, it's a muddled mess. Sorry.[/size]

[quote name='Raiyuu][FONT=Trebuchet MS']There's a marked change in the wind coming anyway, at least in the UK. Models whose Body Mass Index is below World Health Organisation standards are being banned from catwalks; a recent survey showed that 'normal, healthy-looking models' are actually more effective at selling products. People seem to have noticed that filling magazines with unnatural beauty gained through excessive dieting or surgery is detrimental to public body image - and that rake-thin-with-botox-frozen-face is totally last year, and not attractive in the least.[/FONT][/quote] [size=1]I agree with the idea, I don't agree with what happened. That aside, I generally think plastic surgery is fine. It's your body, do what you will with it. However, it pisses me off when people become obese, then get plastic surgery to get the pounds off. If you didn't want to be fat, don't be a glutton. [quote name='2006DigitalBoy][COLOR=DarkOrange']You DON'T have a sense of humor (as you've proven time and again)... OR even remedial intelligence judging by your opening statement... plus, this is WAY off topic.[/COLOR][/quote] Simmer down, lol. No need to toss around insults here. [QUOTE][COLOR=DarkOrange]Angelina Jolie creeps me out... end of story.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] This means war. No quarter will be given.[/size]

[size=1]Let's see... I think of that catchy song "I come from the land down under," Steve Irwin, and kangaroos. And for some reason, the word 'belligerent' comes to mind as well. Don't ask me why.[/size]

[size=1]I attended homecoming freshman year, and senior year (last night). I didn't really bother with sophomore or junior years. Freshman year my experience was lukewarm, which is why I didn't go to the next two, but this year was great. The music was mostly rap, but that made it even more fun. Who wants to jump up and down to Fall Out Boy when you can learn steps? I wore a black suit with a white shirt, and a mostly green tie with white stripes. Pretty much everyone looked sharp, which was cool. We had a powderpuff football game, spirit week, and the actual homecoming game. I didn't attend any of those activities (save spirit week), mostly because I had no transportation. Anyway, the dance is a huge deal at my school... we sold out of tickets, and about 700 people came (my school has 800 people). And my favorite homecoming experience was last night. Towards the end of the night, my friends and I danced like fools, and that was very fun.[/size]

[QUOTE=Sandy]Except, most of the Al Qaida involved in 9/11 were [I]Saudi-Arabians[/I] (including Osama Bin Laden), not Iraqis or Afghans. But of course the US couldn't attack the Saudis, because that's were all Bush's partners in oil business are. :P Instead, the US attacked Afghanistan and Iraq (because, surprise, bad people also live there) , throwing their whole culture upside down, destroying homes, killing thousands and torturing at least dozens of innocent people, all in the name of FREEDOM (and there were oil too!).[/QUOTE] [size=1]...No. Al-Qaeda has been in Afghanistan since the Cold War, and we definitely invaded the right country after 9/11. They were based in Afghanistan at that point (as well as Osama), and attacking their stronghold was the best we could do; we know how hard it is to fight an insurgent force. To insinuate that the US was in Afghanistan for oil is absolutely stupid. If the Saudis actually were responsible, why not go after them? They produce and export MUCH more oil than Afghanistan could even hope for. And here's a bit of background info: we went there immediately after 9/11 -- of course it wasn't a retaliatory attack, it was for the oil, because that's what was first and foremost in everyone's minds then! [QUOTE]What does North Korea has to do with any of this? Well, it could be next, just because there are bad people there, too. Perhaps oil as well.[/QUOTE] Here's why were not going to invade N. Korea: - They could deal serious damage to S. Korea if we attacked. - Kim isn't dumb enough to do anything crazy enough to make the US invade. - We don't have enough people (see: [i]Iraq[/i]). [QUOTE]If you say I'm condemning a whole nation for the acts of few, then remember that your nation is destroying entire civilizations for the acts of few.[/QUOTE] Iraq, granted. Afghanistan, no. Read up on what was going on before the US invaded.[/size]

[QUOTE=DeathKnight][color=crimson]In this one, in the end, a decision was made to nuke two cities to destroy whatever willpower they thought the Japanese had and avoid having to amphibiously assault the home islands. One more event in the nightmare that was World War 2.[/color][/QUOTE] [size=1]Yeah, I've really struggled with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The reason I see those actions as a necessary evil is because the Japanese had no intention of giving up. They were willing to fight us door to door, every man, woman, and child until there were none living. So despite our warning of "Seriously guys, just give up," they insisted they would continue to fight. And they got seriously crippled as a result. It's truly tragic to think that thousands of people died and suffered because of this, but in the end I think it was the right choice. Basically, it's not fair to compare the US' use of nuclear arms against Japan during WWII to N. Korea arbitrarily attacking others. Although I do acknowledge how it is rather two-faced of us. We get the weapons and others don't. The reality of the situation is that those with the weapons make the rules, and I'm grateful N. Korea doesn't have (or probably doesn't have) nuclear weaponry.[/size]

[QUOTE=Red]No, he's going to let his people go without food and continue to blame outside sources for the problem, with a view to stay in power. I didn't propose a course of action. Just said that maybe restricting millions from the basics isn't necessarily going to effect his regime when the 'facts' in N. Korea point the blame at others.[/QUOTE] [size=1]Perhaps you're right. On the other hand, N. Korea would collapse without provisions, no matter who Kim blames. [QUOTE]Not sure if it could carry a nuclear bomb, but they had a failed missile test. That doesn't mean they're anywhere near a viable delivery method. And even if they did, what bombs are they going to launch? It's not even been proven they have any, and a kiloton is hardly world ending.[/QUOTE] You can't shut your ears to the possibility of a nuclear attack, no matter how unlikely. [QUOTE]Does he not care? There I was thinking his government [i]does[/i] fabricate or twist outside actions/news/statements to benefit him, such as the always imminently invading Americans sitting on the border.[/QUOTE] He cares, which is why he fabricates that information. If he wants to bolster his popularity, he can have the press write whatever he asks them to, with or without outside action. The public is being forcefed whatever information Kim wants them to consume.[/size]

[size=1]Please credit the creator of the wallpaper both in your request and your signature. It's not really fair to the artist if someone uses his work without permission, right? Thanks. :)[/size]

[quote name='Red']I wouldn't call getting the entire world to play right into your hands stupid, but each to their own.[/quote] [size=1]It's stupid from a sane person's point of view to destabilize a region because of your own pissing contest. [QUOTE]Sanctions seem like the worst possible thing anyone could do, as at the end of the day he's still in power. Stopping sales of goods in China would be worse. Whatever is taken away will be blamed on the foreigners imposing the restrictions, not Kim, as he will appear to be the one trying to help.[/QUOTE] So then what course of action do you propose? Honestly, he's been a child long enough, and it's time he paid for his idiocy. What's he going to do if China stops selling them food? Cry about it? He's still not insane enough to bomb S. Korea or any other country (IMHO), because he knows it would bring about the immediate end of his country. Basically, the guy needs a political pimp slap. [QUOTE]The detonation of the 'nuke' was estimated at one kiloton, and even if N. Korea had a gajillion Tsar Bombas, they'd have no way to attack with them. It seems like Kim wants the Americans to stick around, maybe bolster numbers & introduce some influence from other countries, so he can bolster his position at home. The wonderful tag team of Blair & Bush have found the latest scary man who's plotting to kill us all, so they still get something out of it.[/QUOTE] Well, didn't they have that mid-range missile test (failed, true, but regardless) that could carry a nuclear bomb? And who cares what the N. Korean public think? He could fabricate any news he'd like and they wouldn't know the difference, so outside actions have reduced effect. [QUOTE]As I said up there, the US/UK are prime examples of how fear is used to justify anything - the huge wiretapping project that went on in America & EU banks giving financial information to US intelligence agencies comes to mind. All justified by the war on terror. Just like Kim can sit there and say the big bad just-about-to-invade foreigners are the reason for everything go down the drain domestically.[/QUOTE] And what will they do at that point? I think Kim would have a hard time with himself going to war. Let's be honest here... it'd bring about the collapse of his country, and I don't think he's willing to do that. China & Co. just need to put him in place. Edit: Where's Europe during this? They seriously need to get involved in putting pressure on N. Korea if they're not already.[/size]

[quote name='Delta][COLOR=#656446']So to answer the thread's title: No. Not a danger to the world. Dear Leader's being an attention whore... again... for the nth time this year.[/COLOR][/quote] [size=1]Perhaps, but in the process he's completely destabilizing the region with his stupidity. We can't act like it's another one of his bluffs, because what if it werent? Basically, I think the world's doing basically all it can at this point. Multilateral talks and sanctions seem to be the best we can do. Although if China were to stop selling N. Korea goods and open their border to people wanting to immigrate, I'd say N. Korea would collapse.[/size]

[size=1]I think the saddest part about people wearing Che Guevara t-shirts is that they have no idea what the man represented. To put it simply, he was evil. In an interview with the Daily Worker (British newspaper), he said that if the missiles had been under Cuban control (see [i]Cuban Missile Crisis[/i]), they would have fired them against major U.S. cities. And yes, he is considered a pop icon (well, that one famous photograph of him). He represents revolution, which is why teenagers buy the shirts without actually caring about what he stood for.[/size]

[quote name='DarkFactor']My girl friend whom I've spent the past year with is very confusing on the issue. She's an increasingly independent person. She works and she's going to college full time. She's so busy, somehow we spend alot of time together. Allready I play the roll of Mr. Domestic. I'm the one cooking, cleaning, ironing. She pays for things. It's just an understood relationship. I worry about the future of it because I don't know how it will be for our children. Our kids deserve to have two stable opposite gender parents who love eachother and model classic wholsome gender rolls for them. That's exceedingly rare, and I want them to have that. I also don't want them raising themselves like so many families where both parents work often. I'm not trying to be negative about anyone's life style. This is very much the type of world my g/f and I grew up in. But I see her being so much like her mother (who is definately not the nurturing one in their home) and I just want my kids to have a mother who loves them. And I want to have kids for sure. I am very devoted to this girl.[/quote] [size=1]I'm sure that your future children will turn out just fine if the societal-approved gender roles are reversed. If she can provide, you should not only respect that, but praise her for that. If you can contribute on the homefront, that's also great. [QUOTE=Derald][FONT=Trebuchet MS][SIZE=1][COLOR=Navy]Well, in the mall in my town, there works an Albanian girl which I often converse with and have a good time. However, when I asked her out to the Homecoming dance this past Saturday she declined. When I asked her why, she responded that her parents are already looking for some Albanian guy for her to marry when they eventually return to their home country. So, this means that she can't go on dates with guys here (she even gets yelled at whenever she is seen hanging around with other guys) and I seem to have become attracted to her...(I haven't told her yet, though). So, this is really quite sad.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE] I had that same general situation happen to me last year. Tough luck is all I can say. As a Westerner, I'm opposed to arranged marriage. It's my understanding that Islam supports arranged marriage, but either party has the freedom to say no. In any event, the issue is largely cultural, and if everyone in that culture supports arranged marriage, go for it.[/size]

[size=1]Charles said it best. If you're going to post satire, 1) be informed about what you're saying and who you're saying it about and 2) make it funny. I'd also suggest that you read the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/rules.php][b]Official OtakuBoards Rules[/b][/url] for clarification on what is and is not acceptable. Thread closed.[/size]

[quote name='Kakashi306']i gave it a 4 cause... frankly, it scares me. it's realy good work, but i'm just not into it[/quote] [size=1]Kakashi, why does it scare you? Why is this really good work? Next time, try something like: I find the dark themes of your work scary (spiky hair, ravens, dark things). However, the proportions, shading, and coloring of all these are amazing. For your graphic design works, try making the images sharper; right now they look blurry and unfocused. See how that gives cancer specific things he did well, in addition to things he could improve upon? A comment like that helps the artist out a great deal -- instead of a compliment, they have a compliment, what specifically they did right, and what they could do better next time.[/size]

[quote name='Aaryanna][COLOR=DarkOrchid']So how does one go about detaching their spirit from their body? They don?t.[/COLOR][/quote] [size=1]That sounds more like a statement of fact than the presentation of an opinion. It's the only reason I posted in this thread. Sure, there is a "But that?s just me" tossed on at the end, but it's a mere afterthought. The entire point of my subsequent post was to say that you can't say that "They don't" astral project.[/size]

[quote name='DeadSeraphim][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]How do you know they have? What you're asking me to do is give you proof when the counter argument offers no proof except for anecdotal evidence to begin with, which doesn't work. It's an opinion.[/font][/color'][/size][/quote] [size=1]An opinion, like Jesus Christ is the world's savior. You can't back up the fact that Jesus is actually the savior without falling back on faith and ultimately, the lack any 'real' evidence. [QUOTE][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]I don't think it's a real thing, just like atheists don't believe Christ is real and I don't see you jumping down their throat about it. Think of it like faith - I don't give Hinduism the time of day because I have faith Christianity is right. I don't know [i]for certain[/i] that they're wrong, but I don't have to, since I have utter faith in Jesus Christ. Similarly, I don't give this the time of day for the same reasons. I don't know for certain that they aren't leaving their bodies, but hey, I'm pretty certain in myself that I don't believe it and don't think it's possible from any perspective, and all the semantics you bring up in the world isn't gonna make a difference to that belief.[/font][/color][/size][/QUOTE] I honestly would've had no problem with this had you not been so brusque with me.[/size]

[quote name='DeadSeraphim][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]I don't think it's possible. Like Aaryanna said, if it was real more people would be doing it - and on top of that, those who say they've done it just sound dodgy. They spend hours meditating then suddenly coming back and proclaiming they'd seen something wonderful; I'm more inclined to believe they just had a particularly lucid dream than actually forced their soul out of their body to go tripping in a winter wonderland. In any case, astral projection gets the thumbs down from me.[/font][/color'][/size][/quote] [size=1]How do you know they haven't? How is astral projection any less valid than religion? Both are based on little to no scientific evidence. Born-again Christians claiming to have seen the divine light of Jesus Christ are on the same level as self-proclaimed astral projectors. Both are claiming the unprovable. Just because not many people are doing it means absolutely nothing. Perhaps there is certain criteria for an astral projector and it just so happens most people do not fit that criteria? Saying the divine is possible, impossible, dodgy, or incredible means nil.[/size]

[size=1]I sincerely hope you want people to post their comments on OB and not on dA. Please reply to confirm this, or I'm closing the thread. Recently we've been having problems with people advertising their site and leaving.[/size]

[QUOTE=Aaryanna][COLOR=DarkOrchid]To be honest, I think it?s a bunch of nonsense. And to answer the next question, no I have not experienced it. And since I think it?s not possible, I doubt I ever will experience it. So how does one go about detaching their spirit from their body? They don?t. If it was something that was really possible I think it would be something that pretty much everyone knew how to do. Since if it were really possible I would imagine that lots of people would want to do it. I?m sure that?s part of why people believe in it. They want to think that it?s possible for their spirit to roam freely. But that?s just me. [/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1]Can you offer any counterproof aside from "I don't believe it"? Considering spirituality and religion are usually not grounded in scientific principle and/or logic, there is no way we can confirm or disprove the existence of astral projections. I have a friend who claims he can astral project. I'm skeptical about it, but that doesn't mean anything.[/size]

[size=1]I encourage you two to expand upon your compliments. From what you said, he has no idea what he did right, and no idea of what he could improve upon.[/size]

[quote name='Sara][color=#b0000b][size=1]At what point in this thread did the conversation move from discussing the death penalty to attacking Aaryanna_Mom for her perceived lack of political involvement?[/size'][/color][/quote] [size=1]When I realized her only legitimate reason for supporting capital punishment was the fact the current laws were inadequate. I told her to fight for more stringent laws to try to counter one of her points.[/size]

[size=1]I paraphrased your title because it was long and awkward. Hope you don't mind.[/size]

[size=1]Advertising and linking to adult material are not allowed. Read the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/rules.php][b]Rules[/b][/url] if you'd like to actually become part of this community. Thread closed.[/size]

[size=1]It's cool. But whatever you do, don't expect for us to finish pieces in two days... I'm really busy this weekend.[/size]