Retribution

[quote name='chobitslover90']What you fail to realize is that the world has relied on other peoples suffering from the beginning. There was slavery in the u.s. but that was only a more popular form of suffering.Tthe world is a basically evil place and money is the source of alot of it.so even if you did give it to some organization the govrnment would take it and **** it away. Evil will always be present until the earth falls into the sun or something to that effect.[/quote] [size=1]Does this make it right or acceptable? Does this make things impossible to change? I would hope not. I would hope that we would strive to help our fellow man, that we as a world would try to stop the suffering of our bretheren. It is this indifference in the world that perpetuates the cycle of suffering.[/size]

[size=1]Well, here goes, folks. It's 10:25 PM EST, and I just finished my image. After a total time of four hours working on this baby, there's not much to show for my toil. I hope you enjoy it. Decypher your own meaning for it; it'll mean more, then. I'd like to shout out to all those who helped me critique - Reiku, Imi, Generic NPC #3, Stuie, you all rock. Thank you so much. Good luck, to you Baron. I'm pretty damn nervous, facing you and all, though. [center][b]Broadway[/b] [img]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/broadway4.jpg[/img][/center][/size]

[size=1]Before I started taking Ethics in school, I would've answered just as many of you did. Give half away, indulge myself with the other half. But now, I realize that my personal wants are pretty much nil when compared to the suffering of those in say, Sierra Leone, or Haiti. I wouldn't help the Hurricaine victims out. They have it made like kings when compared to those in aforementioned regions. I can't blame any one of you, though. It's one of those issues that's sort of "out of sight, out of mind." Where do the price-cuts for Wal-Mart come from? Cutting labor costs, of course. Not giving workers health benefits. From paying them a dollar a day. Where do the diamonds come from that "are forever?" From Sierra Leone, where children are exploited just so that the government can cash in and keep the aristocracy in business. So much suffering in the world... and I had no idea about it. Really, 1 million wouldn't do much, but it's a start.[/size]

[size=1]Choosing death over life is a very hard choice for me. While I would like to believe my Faith is strong, what if I'm wrong? What if I'm greeted by a black abyss of nothingness after I die? The horror. I could just choose to live eternally, but that doesn't seem too exciting, especially when there's the chance to live in an eternal paradise where nothing goes wrong. I would choose to live in a divine kingdom where life is perfect and untouched by worry or pain or anguish. Yes, it's a leap of faith, but it's one I'm willing to take.[/size]

[size=1]I usually stay at home, cleaning the house in the morning and setting up for when my relatives come over to eat with us. However, Alzheimers in my grandfather has made us decide to have Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house. That happens at about 1 PM, because my [i]other[/i] grandparents can't see in the dark - they need light to drive back home. After all that, we come back home and eat a bunch of leftovers for dinner. I want to see Harry Potter tomorrow, too, but I doubt that's gonna happen. ;_; All in all, though, it's a pretty good holiday.[/size]

[size=1]In case people have been wondering where Retri has gone, here's some info on what's been going on with me. So, I bought FFXI, and that game was pretty addicting, so I stopped really using the computer for much aside from the game. But soon after, I realized that I needed to buckle down on my studies - so I stopped using the computer for anything by academic purposes during the weekdays. On the weekends, I checked up on OB, but no topics really struck my fancy. During all of this, my graphics became really, really stagnant. I don't have any inspiration, although I have been keeping my skills [relatively] sharp with little doodle bits. Please, don't think that I've died, or that I'm giving up graphics! I'm just going to be working overdrive on this bloody Broadway piece (*verbally shakes fist at Dagger*). I want to give Baron a run for his money, at the very least. Expect my best. So feel free to IM / PM me, because it's really great just shooting the breeze with you OBers. I'll probably post more work this Thanksgiving Break.[/size]

[size=1]You totally showed me this image like ... two months ago, and it looks no different. But it's pretty good overall - I will say that much. The main buttons are a bit too small - you want them to stand out for easy access when surfing through the page. You also want them big enough to easily click, rather than have to fiddle around for a few extra seconds. Yes - we come from the era of the soundbite, and if things are easy, they aren't used. I'm also not too fond of the gray patch just randomly sitting to the right of Link. Finally, the area where you put the information looks really bland in comparison to the jazzy header. Try to add in the brush texture in places to jazz it up. Aside from that, I'd say you're in business.[/size]

[quote name='Lunox][color=darkslateblue'] I'm sure a lot of the people here aren't evil beings trying to suck money out of their parents. It's just a... list. [/color][/quote] [size=1]I completely agree with you, Lunox. And I think it's great that you help others less priviledged than you. I wasn't really calling anyone evil or anything, I just thought that the premise behind posting a list would be "Look at what I want! I hope I get it!" While the intention wouldn't be to be greedy, it comes off like that... And thanks for the PMs, they made me smile. ^_^[/size]

[size=1]You know, I really don't want to sound like a square or a party-pooper or some groutchy hermit or something, but... This thread feels really, really greedy. It seems that no one is really caring about what Christmas is about. It's not about the gifts, it's not about the turkey or the tree, either. At the very least, please take this time to help others out, give to the poor, do something you don't usually do, as I'm sure that none of us are Mother Theresas. Even if you're Atheist or just don't believe in Christ/Christianity, at the very least, contain your lists until after Thanksgiving. Our consumer culture markets this crap before Halloween. I mean, we get bombarded with this enough - could we stop the vicious cycle here, please? ;_; Here come the flames.[/size]

[size=1]I believe that when someone dies, they go straight to heaven or hell immediately. As Gavin briefly mentioned, I don't believe there is a way to return to the physical realm. The idea of Angels and Demons being able to leave their respective realms also seems a bit ... unlikely to me, however the idea of God Himself is rather unlikely, so I won't really expound upon that either. Heh. All ghost movies/documentaries and bogus! :p[/size]

[size=1][quote name='New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin']How do I ensure that New Orleans is not overrun by Mexican workers?[/quote] So we're all going to overlook this, giving Major Nagin the benefit of the doubt, and sweeping this under the rug? That's the spirit. Of course he didn't mean anything mean, or God forbid, [I]politically incorrect[/I]. He was talking to a group of African American businessmen - he's black himself. I think that his comment stands alone. He never mentioned [I]illegal[/I] Mexican workers. He just didn't want any Mexicans overrunning New Orleans. Can't you hear it? Can't you see the undercurrent of race just brewing the situation along? Really - someone post here, telling me that the quote above was made completely independent of race-allegiance. I understand what you're saying, Tony. It makes perfect sense. However, it's the fact that the major never really specified that he didn't want any illegal Mexican workers coming - he just blanketed all Mexicans with the statement that they were overrunning his city.[/size]

[size=1]The concept of a counter-vote is nonexistent in the OBGT. They mean nothing. In short, disregard those who have casted them, as they don't do anything.[/size]

[size=1]I remember seeing some guy from New Orleans talking about how he didn't want the Mexicans to take all the Black's jobs and whatnot. I just hung my head in shame. They sound exactly like those Whites who didn't want to give civil rights to Blacks "We don't want no n***** here, go back to where you came from!" It's saddening, that my people would forget a lesson so dearly learned so quickly.[/size]

[size=1]To Katana, please, pretty please, post the first action in our battle. I don't really have time to do it myself at the moment, and your starting it would be much appreciated. Thanks alot. I hope that this really takes off - it sounds fun![/size]

[size=1]Did he say "[i]These are the end times[/i]", or that the end of the world is on the horizon? If he said the first, no one should be getting worked up over all this - it's certainly what Christians believe they live in. The "end times" is all time after Christ's passion, death, and crucifixion ... and that basically any moment after that is fair game for the end of the world as we know it. However, if he said that the world is going to end soon, just don't listen. I think Tony said it pretty well, that he's using scare-tactics to make his flock repent or whatnot. As for those who think that the book of Revelation is a book about the end of the world - I will say that it is a book about what has already occured, IMHO. All of the events are clearly symbolic, and while I don't feel like going into great length or detail, I think that the past pretty easily shows these symbols.[/size]

[QUOTE=Lady Katana][color=darkblue]Not true. If other kids can't pick on clothes, they'll pick on shoes, accessories or whatever else they find to just demean someone. I went to both an elementary and middle school where uniforms were required, and they did nothing to help bring down the percentage of teasing (which is one of the main reasons why uniforms were implemented in my school, though I don't know if that holds true for other places.) Uniforms, while they may be able to help students abide by a dress code, just don't work to keep kids from getting picked on. Kids are cruel and they'll always find a way to make someone feel absolutely horrible about themselves. It's unavoidable.[/color][/QUOTE] [size=1]Hm. I think it's the complete opposite way around with uniforms in private school. All my life, I went to public schools without uniforms, and now, I go to a Catholic high school. I've noticed that there's not really any teasing at all about what others are wearing. This is because you can't wear any shoes with a logo in sight, and there's no variation you can really put on it. This is certainly a relief and a welcome change after middle school, where kids would be mortified for not wearing Jordans or a 'fresh jersey'. That's not to say that people still don't get burned by one another based on just facial features and behavior. *shrug* As for if there should be uniforms - I really don't care anymore. After two (and then some) years in a private school with uniforms, it feels pretty comfortable to me, and I look good in a suit and tie, so I'm not complaining. On top of it all, I don't need to worry about what I'm wearing.[/size]

[size=1]I always question the effectiveness of these petition "fight-for-your-right" sort of things. In all reality, your one voice won't really be enough among the din of politics and conservatism in America to change anything. That, however, isn't to say that people shouldn't participate in our government - if no one did, nothing would get done. But most of all, the country is run by Republicans who don't share your point of view. If they want it done, it'll get done, and there's nothing you can do about it. True, you can get your representative for where ever you live to vote against such a bill, but it's one in the sight of many. All we can [i]really[/i] do, is just wait until the next presidential election.[/size]

[size=1]My name is rather straightforward. Go look in a dictionary, and you'll see it. By the way, you pronounce it the AMERICAN way, not the British way. Silly Brits. But what do I know? I'm only a Yank... Heh. But in case you're wondering, you pronounce "Retri" like "Rhet-tree" only ... well ... yeah. The 'I' makes an 'e' sound. "Trib" is pronounced exactly how it looks. Not Tribe, but Trib. And for the record, I prefer Retri to Trib. I was thinking about changing my name again a month or so ago, but the itch subsided, and Retri's here to stay.[/size]

[QUOTE=Adahn][font=Trebuchet MS][size=2]Being a man, I see myself as capable of fighting. I also think that if I were engaged in combat with a woman roughly my age, I would be able to defeat that woman effortlessly. Women are structured to be physically weak in America. There are exceptions, but not enough for me to think that more than 1% of the female population could fight me and win.[/size][/font] [font=Trebuchet MS][size=2][/size][/font] [font=Trebuchet MS][size=2]Mentally, I don't see myself as inferior or superior to women, in general. Everyone has a fair chance to be intelligent, and I can't judge people by their sex.[/size][/font] [font=Trebuchet MS][size=2][/size][/font] [font=Trebuchet MS][size=2]Being a man means I will get a job, make money, and support a family. I will protect my family, and raise my children with my wife. My wife will be my equal, a complement to me that will complete me. Without her, despite my strength, I am not whole. Physical strength is my claim as a man. All other strengths depend on the person.[/size][/font] [font=Trebuchet MS][size=2][/size][/font] [font=Trebuchet MS][size=2][/size][/font][/QUOTE] [size=1]Yeah, I'll pretty much give you an Amen on that. I don't really pride myself on my strength, but ... you get the point. I hope that my wife wants to be my equal - that's how my mother and father operate. There's no male dominance or anything - they both politely listen to the other's opinions, and then they compromise. But I don't feel like I need a woman to complete me; I can operate just fine on my own. I mean, I'd be lonely, but I don't crave a relationship. I think that's a good thing in a person. When I come across someone who's emotionally dependent on another, I just have that feeling that they're going to crumble when (not if) the relationship ends. I've seen it so many times before. Women could rule the world, if only they knew the power they possessed. :p [/size]

[quote name='Lafleur][COLOR=DarkRed']The Protestant Chruch has always seemed so... diluted. Basically it was founded by people who disagreed with the Catholic church... basically saying 'What? No masterbation? Screw that! I'm gona go make my own church! With condoms! And divorce!'. A lot of Christian sects seem to be like that, a bunch of people who disagree with somthing or other and go and found their own church based on their own rules. Christianity is so diluted, who knows which sect is the supposed 'true' one? [/COLOR][/quote] [size=1]Why does it matter if it's 'diluted?' It's all about people getting together to praise God. Everything else is just details. Really, I wish people would stop their bickering and praise whatever Diety they place their faith in. The fact that there are disagreements over things are all well and good, but they shouldn't lessen someone's faith in a religion. But I do support reasons that some people split from the Catholic Church, especially 500 years ago.[/size]

[size=1]Eh, I can't really remember all of my costumes, but I'll try to list some. - [B]Frankenstein[/B]. Jeez, I still have the mask, and when I put it on, breath hard, and walk rigidly, my little brother (age 5) freaks out. Good times, good times. - [B]Robin Hood[/B]. He was cool like that - nuff said. - [B]Peter Pan[/B]. And yes, I did in fact wear the tights. Beat that. - [B]A Karate Man[/B]. I just wore my Gi and belt, and got candy. I think I did this costume a few years running because it was so easy to do. - [B]Batman[/B]. I just remembered that I was Batman one year, sitting here typing this up. Anyway, my friend was Spiderman, and it was a fun night. - [B]A Soccer Player[/B]. This was my lamest costume by far, as I just threw it together a few minutes before my family left to go Trick-or-Treating. This year, I'll probably do my homework and eat the candy that my family gives out to kiddies.[/size]

[QUOTE=infern0fox]I'm a Christian and I've been one all my life, I have no intention of changing... Lafleur... I'm sorry to hear you used to be a christian, and I will pray for you. Christianity is based on faith, so there can't be scientific evidence to prove it or disprove it.[/QUOTE] [size=1]Don't. Why should you pray for him? Because he's not part of the faith? So what? It doesn't hurt anyone - not even himself. I believe that he'll go to heaven if he lives a good life, no matter his religious views. It's my personal opinion that to think that any non-(fill in the blank) will go to Hell solely based off of religion is very Pharisaical (if that's a word). That would mean Ghandi is burning in hell now. I would like to think not.[/size]

[size=1]Yeah, I'm gonna post this to get this over with. I have a long, busy weekend, and I doubt I'll have time to do this later. [b]Purity[/b] [URL=http://img472.imageshack.us/my.php?image=waterobgt9zo.jpg][IMG]http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/306/waterobgt9zo.th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The stock is the only thing I'm going to credit, as fonts are freeware thingymabobums. The image is done by [url=http://www.deviantart.com/view/20935572/][b]*w3sr[/b][/url] of deviantART. As for the text, I realize it might be hard to see on some monitors, but rest assured, it's just your monitor. If you can't see it correctly, it's mostly blue, and the water is a deeper tone, whereas the typography is white. For reference, the quote used is from Bruce Lee. "Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend." Good luck to everyone else.[/size]

[QUOTE=René][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]The problem with iPods is that, lately, it seems as soon as you get a model they release something new and smaller. Also, they're somewhat overpriced, especially when compared to other alternatives (Creative have always been a fantastic alternative) and, put simply, the Shuffle is a complete and utter joke. Only Apple could think they'd get away with an mp3 player without even a rudimentary screen, honestly. If you want to be cost efficient, try something Creative puts out. They're comparable, and much better value. Otherwise, apart from questionable sound quality and some Apple particulars that are somewhat irritating, iPods are okay. I'll never buy one though.[/font][/color][/size][/QUOTE] [size=1][B]Don't. Ever. Buy. A. Creative. Product. Ever. Never. Never. Ever.[/B] I bought a Zen Micro, thinking that it would pwn the heck out of an iPod Mini. What I failed to do was check the support forums at Creative, and see that there is a manufacturing default with the headphone jack. Apparently, it's not properly soldered, and it falls out after approximately one month of usage. I treated mine like a newborn baby, and it still stopped functioning. I've been dealing with their horrible support about it... *grumbles* Besides, the headphones the Micro came with broke on day three. The right earpiece didn't output sound anymore. Creative fails. Don't buy it. Go to its support forums, and read the eighty page topic complaining about the headphone jack defect. You'll change your mind.[/size]

[QUOTE=Syn]Mmm, thanks for that everyone, and in all honesty, the top right corners only there because I ****** up and needed something to cover it with ._. But yeah, im still exploring the program, its like being totally new to it again x_x But anyways, thanks again.[/QUOTE] [size=1]Well, if you use layers, then you can just delete the layer that you messed up on. It also makes editing easier too. Just go to layer > new layer (I think), and you'll have a new, transparent layer on which you can add stuff onto. If you mess up, just delete that layer, so that the entire thing doesnt' suffer.[/size]