Retribution

[size=1]To be honest, I didn't expect that much positive feedback for this bit. I'm also very grateful that people liked a few of my jokes, as I'm not too humorous in general. Now my only fear is that we might not be able to keep living up to such high praise and expectations. We'll keep cranking out the scenes, but be warned. The ones coming up will be rather confusing, as we'll be leaping around. In addition, there'll be a few more roles (minor and major) that'll be coming up in the following scenes. Be ready for those. ;)[/size]

[CENTER][IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/otakufiction.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER] [size=1][B]Otaku Fiction Scene 3 EXT. THREAD BUILDING FIRST PAGE - MORNING.[/B] Retribution and The Boss in their freshly pressed black and white business suits walk through the first page of the decrepit and decaying thread. The Boss What's her name? Retribution Ezekiel, also known as Jay. The Boss And how exactly did Onix meet her? Retribution I?m not sure? Instant Messenger? Maybe RPGs? She was pretty into those a while back. The Boss Did she RP in anything big? Maybe Kill Adam or something? Retribution I don?t pay much attention to the Arena, so I wouldn?t know. She?s a mod now, though. The Boss Wonderful. The two enter the thread with their guns drawn and loaded. [B]Otaku Fiction Scene 4 INT. FIRST PAGE (THREAD BUILDING) ? MORNING.[/B] Retribution and The Boss quickly stride through the unkept, rotten first page and wait for the elevator to take them to the higher pages. Retribution You remember Kuja? The mod who was banned? The Boss The hell does that have to do with anything? Retribution Just answer the question. Christ. The Boss I remember the guy. What about him? Retribution Well the guy was IP banned and deleted by James, and word has it that it was because of Jay. The Boss Damn, what?d the man do? The elevator arrives and the men step inside. The Boss punches the page button and the doors close. [B]Otaku Fiction Scene 5 INT. ELEVATOR - MORNING.[/B] Retribution He allegedly made an off-color joke about Jay in a chat. The Boss A joke? What the hell? Retribution Yep. The Boss That's all? Retribution Yeah. Word has it that Onix is an under-the-table mod, so it wasn?t too hard for Kuja to get the axe. The Boss And what did he do to Kuja? Retribution He and a couple of guys found Kuja in a spammy thread where he was neglecting his duty and kept things open. Onix and the boys took him to the top of the building, shot him a few times in the knees and tossed him off onto the street. The elevator doors open, Retribution and The Boss exit. The recheck their guns and walk down the hall. The Boss Heh. That's a damn shame. [B]Otaku Fiction Scene 6 INT. THREAD BUILDING HALLWAY - MORNING.[/B] Retribution and The Boss walk down the hallway quickly, their conversation now quieter than before. The Boss I gotta say, though. You play with fire, you get burned. Retribution What are you talking about? You can?t be serious. The Boss All I?m sayin? is don?t fuck with Onix?s girl. It?s common sense. Retribution You don't think he overreacted at all? The Boss Don?t get me wrong, he shouldnta done what he did, but he shoulda expected something from Onix. It?s like kicking a pit bull and expecting him to wag his tail. Retribution It was a joke. People get too worked up over stupid shit. The Boss It?s still messing with Onix?s girl. It?s not flaming her, but it?s in the same ballpark. Retribution stops The Boss for a moment. Retribution Whatever, man. Not even close. There?s no way a joke and flaming are the same thing. The Boss Not the same thing, the same ballpark. Retribution It?s not the same ballpark, either. How is a dirty joke anywhere close to bombing Jay out? The Boss If you go disrespecting the future wife of Onix, your own future is in jeopardy. How Onix The Vigilante responds to such disrespect is a matter of chance. A joke and flaming can both be percieved disrespect, dig? Retribution Yeah? whatever. He starts walking down the hall. The Boss, smiling, walks a little bit behind. Retribution Fuck you. I want my gun back when we?re done. The Boss Oh no, don?t flame me! Retribution Dude, shut the hell up. This is the door. The two men stand in front of the door titled "Post 132." They whisper, crouched, with their guns at the ready. Retribution What time is it? The Boss Seven-twenty-two in the morning. Retribution It?s not quite time. Hold off for a moment. They move a little away from the door, facing each other, still whispering. Retribution Look, just because disrespect can vary doesn?t mean that it was enough to shoot, torment, and throw the guy off a fucking building. That?s some seriously sick shit, man. The Boss I?m not sayin? he did the right thing, but you?re sayin? a joke doesn?t mean anything when it obviously does. You can?t tell me with a straight face that if someone did that shit to your girl you wouldn?t give a damn about it. Onix gave two shits about it. Perhaps one shit too many, but you see what I?m sayin?? Retribution Alright, I get it, but let?s get into character. The Boss What's her name again? Retribution Jay, also Jamie or Ezekiel. Why?re you so interested in her? The Boss Well, Onix has to travel to a different site for a while, so I have to take care of her while he?s gone. Retribution Take care of her? Making a gun out of his finger and placing it to his head. Retribution You?re suicidal, aren?t you? The Boss Nah, not that! Take her out, show her a good time, make sure she isn?t lonely Retribution So you?re gonna take her out on a date then? Are you hearing yourself? The Boss It ain't a date, damnit. It's like chatting with a buddy?s girl for a while. It?s nothing like that, just having a good time, you know? Retribution just looks at him. The Boss It's not a date. Retribution just looks at him, slowly raising his eyebrow. The Boss I'm not gonna do any of that. Retribution shakes his head and mumbles to himself. Retribution That girl is gonna kill more guys than time? The Boss What was that? Retribution Nothing. Let's get into character. The Boss What'd you say? Retribution I didn't say anything. C?mon, it?s almost time. The Boss Don't play with me, you said somethin', now what was it? Retribution Do you wanna do the job or not? The Boss Repeat what you said. Retribution That door's gonna open in about thirty seconds, so get your shit together. The Boss ?I am ready. Retribution No you?re not. Get your mind off her and get in the fucking game.[/size]

[size=1]This is what happens when requesters don't have "anything specific in mind". You get something really, really random. [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/scavengerhunt1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/scavengerhunt2.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/scavengerhunt3.jpg[/IMG] I'm fine with modification or a complete overhaul. As for the rest of you artists who take requests, you're a shame to the Art Studio. This was more a royal decree from heaven, not just a request, and you failed to answer. Great job. :p[/size]

[quote name='Raiyuu][font=trebuchet ms']I have a card that makes them discard half their deck! :devil:[/font][/quote] [size=1]Oh, I remember people like you. Those evil blue players. They couldn't defeat me because of my green-white trample deck. Crush of Worms, Exoskeletal Armor, and Explosive Growth... good times, my friend. [QUOTE][font=trebuchet ms]I also used to be into Warhammer 40,000 - I was an Eldar player, with a nicely-painted, well-rounded army and no sense whatsoever of appropriate battle tactics. I'm not sure if I won a single game, but I enjoyed painting and building the miniatures. I still have them in a box somewhere - I don't have the drive nor the opponents to actually play any more, but I can't bear to get rid of them after I spent so many hours assembling...[/font][/QUOTE] Whoa, seriously? I have a Tau Army that my friend helped me assemble. I found that the battle part was the best, and that the building was more annoying and restricting for someone who wanted to play the game. I had a pretty good grasp of my army's tactics... those were fun times. Mine are also in a box where I haven't touched them in two years. I'll probably give them away when I have no other choice.[/size]

[size=1]Well, I'm late getting to this thread, but... [spoiler]I'm seriously glad Brazil lost. They were terrible and acting like children trying to draw a foul within the box. I'm also glad that Italy beat Germany at home. That shot of the little girl crying over the German loss is priceless. Absolute gold. I have my money on the French, although I could definitely live with the Italians winning it all. Despite the fact they robbed Australia, they've been pretty strong throughout. But for Zidane's sake, I hope France takes it.[/spoiler][/size]

[quote name='indifference][COLOR=Sienna]And ignoring part of my post is an equally annoying stance. I'm getting a little tired of people putting words in my mouth for me. I never said I was ignoring people's suggestion. I've already said that I'm all for the idea of it being an option. The comment about using AIM or other services was and is a suggestion, not a final judgment. Even if I was the one making the final decision I'd still want people to have the right to choose. You and others think we should allow swearing and I've said that so long as it's an option so I can have the filter on I don't mind. I wish people would quit focusing only on my opinion that I think it's not necessary. No where in there did I say it shouldn't even be considered. [/COLOR'] :animesigh[/quote] [size=1]So I ignored the part about "If it's an option, then I'd be for giving that option," but in the grander scheme of your post, the rest really didn't corrolate. In any event, I wasn't trying to single only you out, your post just happened to be the one I saw first, so I replied to it. I was saying that in general, everyone telling me to use a different medium of communication if I don't like it is just overlooking the problem. That's what I meant by the 'love it or leave it'. Sorry if I sounded accusing or something. As for everyone bringing up the possibility of some evil person sending you an offensive PM, I'd like to ask you how often does that happen? I believe I got one, and that's because I deleted someone's post. For the great majority of OBers who are [b]not[/b] moderators, when would someone give you a profanity-riddled message? I just think everyone's blowing the mere possibility of recieving [i]one[/i] angry PM from someone, and deciding to just censor PMs based on that extraordinarily low possibility. I have a total of 1,155 PMs. If 1,153 of those are clean, then that means that 99.8% of them are unoffensive PMs. Is that 0.2% really enough to censor all PMs? It's ridiculous to do so for fear of that one fateful PM. I can understand being offended by profanity. What I cannot understand is why everyone thinks someone's going to mail them anthrax or something. [quote name='Aaryanna_Mom']Now a number of people are getting offended by the suggestion to use other mediums; instead of accusing those who suggest it of being all high and mighty, keep in mind that if the filter is turned off then those who do not like swearing are left with no protection. It?s the same situation of they would have to turn around and use something else to communicate with their friends to avoid receiving ugly PM?s just as you would have to use other mediums so you wouldn?t be censored. Nothing high and mighty about that, you both want the same thing, the right to either swear or to not swear.[/quote] I don't believe I called anyone high and mighty if you're referring to me, the only one 'offended' by being told to use IM/e-mail. Truth be told, I'm not offended, just a bit annoyed that people are trying to dance about the heart of the matter by suggesting that 'solution.' What are you being exposed to if the censor is turned off? Will your friends (who are the only ones in my experience who PM you) begin to start spouting vulgar language into your inbox? Please, someone tell me how often you recieve these said 'ugly PMs?' And to my knowledge, if you're talking to a friend, they won't curse at you if they know you're offended by it, and therefore there would be no reason for them to use IM/e-mail to avoid such profanity. It just strikes me as an irrational fear to worry about a very select few of PMs offending you.[/size]

[size=1]After much thought and collaboration between the Art Studio and the Underground, us moderators have come up with an interesting idea to help those requesting graphics for an RPG. [B]This is not a rule.[/B] It is a suggestion given for your use. However, if you are requesting graphics for an RPG (a banner, background, character designs, etc.), include [B][RPG][/B] in the title of the thread. This allows for artists to more easily identify those who want help with pictures for an RPG. An example of this would be: [B][RPG] Hybrid Vigor[/B] I believe this to be rather straightforward, but if you have questions or concerns, please contact a moderator via PM/IM.[/size]

[quote name='indifference][COLOR=Sienna']Well seeing that swearing and offensive words in any format is considered spam, why allow it in private pm?s? Even if the pm?s are private, the pm system is still a part of the boards. It?s not like there isn?t plenty of other formats for sending such information. If it?s casual information, there are plenty of services like AIM and MSN that are free. Though I don?t know if they censor things or not.[/COLOR][/quote] [size=1]Swearing is not consider spam in the Arena to let people have more creative liscense or what have you. It's not like swearing is forbidden all across OB, as if they're a black plague. In addition, words like [B]Damn[/B] get through routinely. Don't tell me to "just use IM" or "why don't you e-mail?". I'm PMing the person the message for the exact same reason everyone else uses the PM function, and relegating my problem to a "love it or leave it" stance really annoys me. Why have the PM function at all if you're just going to ignore a suggestion and tell me to get IM? What if they don't have IM? What if they're never online because of timezones? A PM is like leaving a voice mail -- you're not talking to a live person, but the message still gets there.[/size]

[quote name='Sandy']If you want to send aforementioned stuff to each others, why not use other methods such as e-mails?[/quote] [size=1]The aforementioned stuff really is inconsequential. Whatever this 'stuff' is could be casual conversation. I just think that the number of PMs you recieve from a random jerk is infinitely smaller than the number you get from a friend. The point is that it's annoying, and if some jerk were to send you a PM, delete it. I also think that DeadSeraphim's idea for the censor option would be a good one, but I'm not certain how easy it would be to code it.[/size]

[size=1]Am I the only one who heard Bush bark at N. Korea and say "There will be consequences if you fire any more missles"? What consequences are we talking about, and did he just say that so he looked "tough on foreign policy"? In any event, I highly doubt a bomb will land on American soil. While it takes three minutes for our missle-defense systems to lock onto it, once that's done we [supposedly, anyway] have Star Wars which will in theory launch ballistic missles to destroy the N. Korean one. I also know for a fact that Kim Jong knows that we will annihalate his country if he tries anything. In short, I don't think anything will happen. And although I live near the biggest target for any nuclear bombing (Washington, D.C.!) I feel the safest. I know that the government has taken extra precautions to protect the effective brain of the country.[/size]

[size=1]?Father, why would God create us, a creature so inherently flawed and capable of evil, and give us free will? And why would he then damn us if we were to give into the flaws he bestowed upon us? These flaws are not slight; they are fatal, Father. Murder. Adultery. Greed. Neglect.? He gave a shallow sigh before continuing. ?I?m sorry, I don?t really expect you to have definitive answers. I suppose it is my belief that true light does not come from heaven, but from the human heart itself. But the problem is that the human heart also has quite a bit of potential for evil.? To this, the Father nodded pensively with a look of interest laid plainly on his face. ?Care for a drink?? he asked with a joking smile as he held the bottle of wine, pouring himself a glass. He knew full well that priests were completely forbidden to have any alcohol. Gratzner picked up on the sarcasm, returned the smile, and humored Alex. ?Oh, no thank you.? ?Are you sure? Under such circumstances, would it be so bad to sin a bit. Considering the rest of the human race is probably gone and the end is upon us, it wouldn?t hurt to live it up, would it?? Alex gave a thin grin, and then downed the entire glass in a swift gulp. The alcohol was slowly taking over, warmly washing across his choking mind.[/size]

[size=1]Well, I was PMing a friend with a script we're working on which is riddled with profanity. Needless to say that the script was hacked to death by the OB censor and the script was pretty difficult to understand when you had to fill in the correct word with the number of asterisks. In any event, I would like there to be no censoring of PMs, as it's an entirely personal function. There's no offending other people since it's not a public forum like a thread, and I really can't see any drawback by letting people have freedom of speech in their PMs. I await the verdict.[/size]

[quote name='visualkei']Anyways, all this suffering comes from desire. If people would just be content, then they'd be happy. Now I'm not saying desire is bad and be content with the minimum like living in a cardboard box or something, I'm just saying that people keep wanting more and more things, bigger and "better" things, and forget the things that truly matter in life. And really destinguish between what you want and what you need.[/quote] [size=1]You see, it's very hard to stop desiring and start being content all of the sudden. It's like asking a smoker "Just quit if you're so addicted." The 'just quit' part is much easier said than done. It's a long, painful, unpleasant process, and if we can avoid all that we will. I'm going to come clean and admit that I want quite a few things that aren't necessary. I want a new laptop. I want an iPod. I want my computer fixed so I can use Photoshop and iTunes again. I don't [i]need[/i] any of these things. I want them. I feel as if I would feel happier with them in my life. This is a year after my other mp3 player broke and several months after my computer died on me. I wouldn't consider myself one who craves for the biggest and best, nor would I consider myself one who confuses 'need' and 'want.' However, I believe that these items would allow for me to further enjoy life. I walk alot, and an iPod would enhance that. I use the computer alot (namely Photoshop) and not having it is like taking a cigarette from a smoker.[/size]

[QUOTE=alshaimaa][COLOR=RoyalBlue]Hi, i loved this banner alot and i think it's great. I liked alot the mixing between red and purble ;) Good done [/COLOR] :wave:[/QUOTE] [size=1]You're on the right track, alshaimaa, and I'm glad you're trying to add in positive comments about specifics. However, I'm sure that's not all that Blase did well and I'm also certain she didn't make it perfect either. What can be improved? In addition... that was her signature as she herself just pointed out.[/size]

[size=1][B]OOC:[/B] Here you are, Gavin. Perhaps a bit more than you asked for? Haha.Out of the haze of emotion and music, Alexander gazed at a lone priest sitting at a table alone. Although Alex himself was slightly tipsy, he craved answers, human interaction, stability. [I]My mother always told me to go to mass. I just don?t see why, though.[/I] Reluctantly, he stood up from his isolated table and made his way towards the priest. With total disregard to the dancers, he strolled across the dance floor where he bumped into a stunning young lady. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he raised his hand and closed his eyes to say ?forget about it? before he kept moving. The jovial music slowly became a mere throbbing sensation in his head as his mind continued to sink in the whirlpool of panic. Upon reaching the priest he had a look of total shock etched across his face once more, and all he could do was mutter a pitiful greeting before collapsing into the chair across from him. ?I? I?m Alexander. You must be a priest.? It was more of a statement than a question, but the man took it in stride, choosing to introduce himself. ?Yes, I am Father Gratzner. Pleased to meet you, Alexander.? His expression was one of genuine worry and calm reserve. ?Are you well?? ?Oh, yes Father. It?s just I think my family is dead and my country is conquered, and by the way, I haven?t been to mass in twenty-five years. Not even for Easter.? His sentences poured out of him like water did from a broken faucet. Patiently, silently, Father Gratzner waited for him to end his rant. ?I respect you, really I do. And I think that it takes a strong man to be a man of faith, but I don?t see God, Father. Where is God? If we are God?s children, and we created the Hybrids, does that mean that the Hybrids are God?s children as well? And if they are, well,? he paused, blinked a few times to stem the blood rushing to his head, then continued, ?why would God create something to kill his children?? Awaiting a response, he stared blankly at the table, then back at Gratzner and back again in a rhythmic pattern. The thoughts of his refused to be quieted. The blood kept rushing to his head, giving him the distinct feeling of vertigo.[/size]

[QUOTE=Gavin][SIZE=1]I think it will eventually happen, maybe not in my lifetime or even in the next century, but given the social movements and improvements of the last hundred years it's bound to happen eventually. Perhaps it will be a benevolent dictatorship, perhaps a theocracy, who knows. As for communism, an excellent idea on paper, but add a human element to the equation and it can never work, some people always want more than they have and that's never going to change. [/SIZE][/QUOTE] [size=1]Well, I'm assuming you're going off the conventional definition of utopia. And if you are I highly disagree with you. There is no such thing as a benevolent dictatorship. Sure, there can be one, perhaps even a few Philosopher Kings, but all it takes is one ambitious, greedy person to screw everything up. And trust me, humans have plenty of those to spare. That, and theocracy are exactly like communism in the respect that if you add the human element, their flaws are tragic.[/size]

[QUOTE=liamc2][SIZE=1] [FONT=Trebuchet MS]I'm going to loosely quote/paraphrase PM Margaret ("Maggie") Thatcher. The only possibility for a utopian society to survive or be created would be through the guidance, and absolute control, of a benevolent dictatorship. One can interpret the means of this in a variety of ways, religiously, politically, whatever. Communism is basically the unloved backwards cousin of Utopia, as was Nazi Germany to a certain extent. Unfortunately, such positions of power can easily be abused by the opportunistic, as we can see from both those cases I outlined. Power corrupts otherwise unflawed individuals.[/FONT][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [size=1]Yes, the Philosopher King is the only way a utopia is possible. And although I dislike Thatcher, I have to say I agree with her on this one. However, I don't think that absolute power corrupts absolutely. I think it does in an overwhelming number of cases, however I also believe that the goodness of some people's hearts is more powerful than the temptation for corruption and greed. I just think that the folks at the head of Communist regimes got there because they were corrupt in the first place... they had the dog-eat-dog mentality it took to get to the top. We may as well close the topic now. Utopia is impossible for an inherently flawed creature to attain.[/size]

[size=1]Now I don't really want to play the blind idealist here, but... Well, the world's been getting better as time goes on. People are no longer serfs to corrupt Lords. People are no longer enslaved in America. The world's corruption, while still rampant, is not nearly as widespread as it was say 200 years ago. As countries become more industrialized (China, for example) the country becomes less and less destitute and more productive. The quality of life goes up with the economy. Right now, a countries with sweatshops are slowly becoming industrialized. While us developed countries profit off their exploitation and they grind away for us, they are progressing, albiet slowly. There's no clear-cut solutions, but here are some of my opinions: - End worker exploitation. This means paying people a living wage. This would be extremely complicated, and costs of goods would rise, but it would be the difference between suffering and 'making it'. - Get other countries more industrialized. I know this is mostly the country's responsibility, but once all countries are industrialized with infastructure and exportable goods, qualilty of life will rise all around the world. Again, this will take a while, possibly hundreds of years. War will never end. Poverty will never end. Corruption will never end. However, we can seriously limit them. It's not hopeless if you aim to keep improving life for the future. It's hopeless if you aim for perfection.[/size]

[quote name='The13thMan][FONT=Century Gothic] [COLOR=DarkOrange]I believe they got rid of filibusters, though i'm not sure. Anybody know?[/COLOR'] [/FONT][/quote] [size=1]I'm not sure, but I highly doubt it. I believe recently the Democrats were filibustering on the amendment to make marriage between one man and one woman. I only remember it because the Republicans got really riled up about it. Heh.[/size]

[size=1]I'm going to ignore the whining without a solution and cut to the important stuff. [quote name='Farto the Magic][COLOR=DarkGreen']Yes, but shouldn't it be altered so such things don't happen? There is no need for people to berate a grieving family, freedom of assembly or not.[/COLOR][/quote] If you alter the law for one specific case, all bets are off. You can't just arbitrarily change the law because you don't like the way a group is expressing their freedom of assembly and/or speech. The most you could get them for is disturbing the peace or protesting without a permit, but other than that, there shouldn't be any curtailing of civil liberties. The "no need" is a subjective, opinion-based assessment. All I'm saying is that you can't really pick and choose which laws you like and which you don't and just change things all of the sudden. What if I don't agree with you? Shouldn't I be allowed to change it back since [i]I[/i] don't like it? It's just a completely blind and idealistic idea you have. [QUOTE][COLOR=DarkGreen]Yes, but its such a dog-eat-dog system. Its a system based on greed. I don't have any other alternatives at this point, but I'm just pointing out that its a flawed system. Its like pointing out that someone's car is smoking, though you don't know what's wrong. You don't want to read it, I'm not making you.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] It's not flawed at all in this case. I want to get money. I see alot of people like buying clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch. I open my own store to compete with them (which is the basis of all capitalism) and I call it American Eagle. Of course there are small changes to add incentive to shopping at my store versus another store. Without this, you'd be forced to buy from one specific store -- there would be a monopoly. Now imagine several clothing stores that you liked all opened in a mall near you. Would you be so oppossed to the options given to you, or would you be so staunch and nihilistic? I'm not going to deny that there are problems with capitalism, but these problems aren't easily solved. Worker exploitation is the most important and pressing matter, but no one really cares about it so nothing will be done. The fact that Old Navy and The Gap opened up in the same mall really is unimportant. It sounds more like venting than anything else, to me.[/size]

[size=1][url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spriting][link][/url] Usually it's in reference to creating a character with approximately 8 to 16 bit resolution (NES, Sega Gensis).[/size]

[size=1]1. As far as I can tell, most democratic countries have a bicameral legislation and it works fine. The things that slow down the democratic process are completely organic, and I don't think it's possible for them to be destroyed. Honestly, I don't really see the problem with it. Congress seems like it gets things done if it is truly the will of the people, and if it's not then things tend to slow down or halt. What do you want to have happen? Saying "I wish it were faster!1" is great and all, but if you have nothing to give except empty complaints, suck it up. Have a solution before you voice your grievances. 2. Well, the formation of parties was an organic thing as well. Everyone and their mother knows that Washington was fervently against them, but the democratic system is engineered so that it would happen. I support View X, and since Group 1 consistently supports my View X, why don't we just band together so that our guys get into office? If there's united voting power, then our views will be represented. That's called a party. A party rarely stands for all your beliefs, but you go with the one who most closely resembles your views. It's just a pick of the lesser of the two evils, which is why everyone is so party-line. Sure, calling yourself a Democrat or Republican isn't necessary, you're right on that. 3. Are you kidding me? The President has only grown in power since the conception of the United States. He can arbitrarily declare war, since he has control of the military and is the "Commander-in-Chief," an the sheer weight he carries is enough to tip the poltical scale. There's also this thing call a veto, where if he uses it on a bill, it has to [b]re-pass through Congress with a 2/3 majority[/b]. If that's not power, I don't know what is. Furthermore, the President usually has his cronies in the Congress with him, so any proposed changes go through relatively quickly if he supports it. 4. Well, the people who protest at soldier's weddings do anger be quite a bit. They're abusing the civil liberties, and that's regrettable, but you can't take those freedoms away from everyone because a small percentage are being idiots. It's the freedom to assembly; picking and choosing becomes dangerous when you're deciding which liberties get the axe because they're just "not right." Basically, the term "better" is just so subjective that you can't place your complete trust in the government. I can't just say "oh, they have my best interests at heart, I trust you." You should question the government's every move; if you don't, you might end up sliding towards 1984. Trusting a government to operate behind closed doors is completely foolish. You get something like wire-tapping and the PATRIOT Act and it's all in the holy crusade against "terror". I'll be damned the day that the government tells me how many children I can have. That's ridiculous. And the other stuff you're talking about, that's capitalism and laissez-faire. If there's a demand, there'll be a supply. Get over it.[/size]

[size=1]I'm done, I believe. [b]Name:[/b] Miyamoto Keiji [b]Age:[/b] 17 [b]Gender:[/b] Male [b]Appearance:[/b] [url=http://hyung-taekim.org/displayimage.php?album=8&pos=11][link][/url] Keiji stands at average height with a sinewy yet toned physique, the result of years of arduous training. Heavily tanned from his life in the Sand Village, his skin matches his brown eyes and dark hair. He is usually seen wearing a white cloak to protect his body from the frequent sandstorms and harsh sun of his native village. Underneath his cloak he wears a simple combination of a sleeveless shirt and brown pants, both of which are adorned with minor plates of lightweight armor, useful only to deflect small attacks. He wears a simple leather necklace with a coin attached that bears the Sand Village insignia upon it. [b]Alliance:[/b] Sand [b]Personality:[/b] Keiji is the product of seventeen years of responsibility, regimented training, and intensive studying; in short, he is an extremely controlled, obedient, and reserved person. Rarely ever expressing his views on a matter unless asked, he can come off as overly quiet or introverted. It is not, however, in his nature to remain so silent, and as a result, he is constantly battling with his conditioning. Within a combat situation, however, his personality shifts to a more objective-oriented approach. He immediately assumes initiative; be it becoming a makeshift leader or simply informing others of what is going on. He is a valuable teammate in battle, able to follow orders or give them out as necessary. Beneath it all, however, is a roaring determination, bestowed upon him from his parents, to be one of the best. Beneath his blank façade is an unexplainable craving to become stronger, to prove himself worthy of respect, and to survive. [b]Biography/Character Snippet:[/b] [I]My upbringing was by no means a conventional one. My father was an Anbu for the Sand Village while my mother took care of me and my sister, I being her senior by four years. I was taught to strive for excellence in all that I did by my father, yet it was my mother who bestowed upon me the desire to become not only excellent, but one of the best. It is because of her I turned out to be such a disciplined person.[/I] ?Ten more, then switch jutsu. You?re slowing down, pick it up!? [I]Ever since I was able to walk, my mother took it upon herself to train me to become a great shinobi. It is a hypothesis of mine that she is trying to relive and correct her past failings as a ninja through me, however it does not matter. Our relationship was symbiotic ? she confronted and revisited the past through me, while I became stronger under her tutelage. I grew exponentially through her while I was but a child, graduating from the Academy in two and a half years. However, once I graduated, she was of no use to me. It was then my father had to begin training me. It was then I truly became a force to be reckoned with.[/I] ?Now destroy all three,? Gin said, sending his doppelgangers to attack Keiji. The drunken clones surrounded him, unleashing a flurry of fluid punches and kicks. The attacks were blocked by equally fast parries. Moments later, he was airborne, shooting down a hail of fireballs, followed by a final great-fireball to finish off the opponents. ?How?d I do?? ?Pretty good I guess,? Gin replied nonchalantly as he stared off at a passing cloud. ?Your chakra use is efficient and your speed is respectable,? he finished with a smirk. Even Keiji acknowledged the inhuman speed of his comrade, and took it as a compliment that he was even considered ?respectable? by him. ?Thanks. Do you want to try?? ?Nah, I?m alright. Let?s head back and eat,? he said, glancing at the setting sun. The sky glowed a soft purple in the distance as it sunk beneath the innumerable sand dunes. The vista was a relaxing one after their grueling workout. ?Good idea,? he said under his breath, following Gin back to the Sand Village. Their training had been continuous when they realized that they were the only competition for one another, and rather than let their friendship be torn apart by the rivalry, they decided to strengthen it through relentless practice and sparring. And with smiles on their faces, they kept their new abilities and talents hidden from the Village eyes, content with their self-improvement. [b]Techniques:[/b] - [i]Amaterasu (Shining Heaven):[/i] Flames jet forth from the palm (or both if desired) of Keiji?s hand, incinerating all within its path. The jutsu is a relatively swift one, executed and ending in an very short window of time. As a result, it is more of a melee attack. - [I]Great Fireball:[/I] Used in conjunction with the fire scroll, Keiji shoots a massive ball of flame from his hands (approximately 10 m in diameter). This is usually used during team combat, when he?d have ample time to properly execute such a complex jutsu. - [I]Lesser Fireball:[/I] A smaller version of the Great Fireball (0.2 m in diameter), the lower expenditure of chakra allows for a massive onslaught to be unleashed upon his foe. This attack launches faster and weaker attacks, giving Keiji the edge in battle. - [I]Incendiary Gasp:[/I] The most lethal and fearsome of Keiji?s techniques, it is still in its experimental phases. It is executed through Keiji inhaling as if he were to expel a fireball from his mouth, but then exhaling slowly. A deadly, invisible toxin is then airborne and directed towards his opponent. If inhaled, the lungs are ignited. If ones eyes are exposed, a fierce burning ensues, followed by almost eminent and permanent blindness. Such an attack can only be executed at very close range, as the toxin dissipates as it diffuses through the air. Note: The intensity of Keiji?s attacks can be increased through the use of fire seals. The increase in power is directly proportional to the number of fire seals used. [b]Fighting style:[/b] After years of being taught conventional and highly technically methods of combat, Keiji was eager to adopt aspects of any new and innovative style he came into contact with. Most noticeably influential is his sparring partner and best friend Gin?s speed and unpredictable attack patterns. Awed by the potential of such a style, he incorporated the aspects that particularly impressed him, those being the ability to counter-attack from any position and raw speed. However, that is not to say that his childhood years had no impact on his current style either. Keiji is also a cunning tactician who employs even the most basic techniques in battle. His sheer mechanical prowess in executing and utilizing simpler jutsu and attacks leave him well grounded in the basics and as a result, an able fighter. [b]Weapons:[/b] Fire scroll, fire seals.[/size]

[size=1]Alshaimaa, please read the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=52171][b]Art Studio Rules[/b][/url] for what is expected of you as far as critiquing art goes. While your effort was good, you should strive to be specific and explain in detail what you mean. Secondly, we stress using periods [.] instead of elipses [...] and using upper-case where appropriate. Sorry if I sound a bit nit-picky.[/size]

[size=1]For your first sig, it's very good work. That being said, there is definitely room for improvement. The text, for example, is hard to read and relatively weak. I'd recommend pushing it up just a bit, making it more legible and perhaps changing the font ([url=http://www.dafont.com][b]DaFont[/b][/url] has great ones). The background is good for a beginner and the dark effect is more advanced than I expect for your first signature ever. However, the red looks a bit like brick and too solid for this fluid, shadowy banner. Try out some effects on it to see what looks good. The stock (the character) is actaully well-done. His placement is good, and the only thing I have a problem with is that he's hard to see. I know it might be intentional, but the main focus should be visible. That, and consider putting on a one pixel border. It really makes things look more finished and professional. Keep up the good work, keep experimenting, and read lots of tutorials. [url=http://www.pixe2life.com][b]Pixel2Life[/b][/url] is one of the best tutorial sites out there.[/size]