Retribution

[font=Arial]I once attempted to define the purpose of my life, and while I didn't answer all my questions, I made a lot of progress. More or less, what keeps me motivated is the idea that the purpose of my life is to contribute to the human collective. I want my efforts on this earth to improve the quality of life of others in one capacity or another, and I want to help the struggle to keep the wheels of progress moving. Everyone can do this in different ways. Janitors cleaning floors well is part of this. Philosophers writing and inspiring others is a part of this. Scientists discovering and inventing is a part of this. For me, I want to become a politician. Not a corrupt bureaucrat, but one that is genuinely concerned with the welfare of others. All things I do in life are working towards the end where I will be influential enough to change the world. Getting into a good college was a step. Graduating is the next step. Going to law school after that (for the qualification). Working in DC after that. Running for local election within my state is after that. This is just one possible path in my life, and of course I can positively influence the world in innumerable ways. However, I will consider my life wasted if I do not pave a path for those who come later to tread more easily.[/font]

[font=Arial]Only [i]Untitled 2[/i] is the result of fridge magnet poetry, but very good catch! Haha. Are there any points I could improve upon that you see? While I do appreciate the compliments, I'm also looking for some genuine criticism.[/font]

[font=Arial]On white lies: I would say they're extremely beneficial, especially in the early stages of any social relationship. In the beginning, both people are trying to get a feel for the other person, acquire first impressions, and form a base of opinion on the person. This is not the time for brutal honesty. At this point, the truth might come off as rude and hurtful. The following are examples: - No, your cooking isn't that great. - I totally disagree with your political opinion. - I cannot relate with you on this. At all. Once there is a firm relationship between the two, the truth-telling can begin. At this point, both people have formed more or less static opinions of the other, and blunt truth can be digested more easily. I'm sure everyone would feel more comfortable with their best friend telling them their outfit is hideous than a new acquaintance. There's just more history there. If white lies heavily distort the picture of the speaker, they are definitely bad. They deceive, and if these deceptions are uncovered in the future, the relationship probably can't even be salvaged. An example of this would be telling a 'friend' you love death metal, and once you two have based your friendship off this fact, breaking the news that you really can't stand it and prefer R&B. A white lie, certainly, but it ruined everything.[/font]

[quote name='SunfallE'][COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Retribution: I didn't say drive, I said get into a car. I was talking about exposure to danger itself. Not the dangers of learning to actually drive. I meant in general. :p Also, the article doesn't say if the girls parents were limiting her exposure to the Internet or not, so for all we know they were. After all, if she was on medication for depression then it's obvious that they were actually doing stuff to help their daughter. [/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Because there are still degrees of emotional stability, my point still stands as valid. Certainly her parents aren't superheroes and they probably did the best they can. But speaking generally, if she felt emotionally hurt by this "boy" to the point where she was considering suicide, it seems like she should have stopped communication with him. Delete him as a friend, ignore him, stop using myspace altogether. The fact that she continued to have contact with someone like that (someone who intends [i]no good[/i] for you) does lend credence to the idea that maybe she shouldn't have been on myspace.[/font]

[font=Arial]It doesn't make sense for the 'bully' to be charged as a murderer or anything of the sort. Emotional manipulation, while extremely hurtful and terrible, cannot and should not be construed as any form of homicide. As previously mentioned, it opens the door for extremely dangerous legal precedent. The argument "she wasn't ready, so she shouldn't have gone on the internet" isn't necessarily a fallacy. If her parents knew she was severely depressed and emotionally unstable, it is not unreasonable to think they should have taken steps (within reason) to protect their daughter from further emotional hardship and damage. Making a 10 year old learn to drive is different from making a 15 year old learn to drive. While both are "not ready" to drive in the fullest capacity, one is closer to that full capacity than the other for a slew of reasons... in short, it is a matter of degrees. In this sense, Konata's statement is not entirely ridiculous or fallacious. All this aside, it's sick there's been no statement of apology... but should we honestly expect one? I mean, this is the same woman who antagonized the girl... are we to even vaguely assume she would have the remorse to apologize?[/font]

[quote name='Andy'][FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="2"]Woah, slow down there, dude. Why don't you read the Otakuboards Rules and learn how to post a thread first, [I]then[/I] we can figure out how to get teh girl's. ^_^[/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Why don't you stop playing mod first, hm? skullinton, it'd be helpful if you gave us some information about yourself, perhaps the girl you have your sights on. Without any of this, we can't give you any useful advice.[/font]

[quote name='Lunox'][font="trebuchet ms"]-And everything from [i]Ralph Lauren Rugby[/i]. Curse Atlanta for not being NYC! >_

[font=Arial]Recently I've been wanting to write, but I'm really rusty. Any criticism is welcome and much appreciated. If you want to talk about a specific poem or in general, go for it! [b]oh grow up[/b] oh come on im not a kid anymore i took a while ago no longer do i cry for mommy i stand alone, manhattan is my island don't shove me through those-- your-- rusty cracks in the sidewalk i can take the agony, rob me leave me to die i'm no longer a child i can walk on my own don't put your glass in my path i-- i want to shatter but i can only pitifully congeal [b]Untitled[/b] i have always been missing a certain axe within velocities and densities too small to bother calculating Napoleonic conquests I am living at waterloo. Perpetuality, a finite entity i play dress up with you you settle for tea and silence i play along -- earl grey or morning? like you give a shit [b]Untitled 2[/b] & I urge the drunk woman could she want them taking hot chocolate smell her wet dress rain hit my gorgeous blue petal [b]Mother[/b] when you are old and frail, i will pick you up in my arms and love you[/font]

[font=Arial]My group of friends are the same more or less for all that I do at school. I guess I'd consider us a sociable, party-going group that stays in on a friday night to play guitar hero every once in a while. But generally we go to typical college parties, sometimes downtown to shop for clothes or hit up clubs, but always living life to the fullest. Three of my buddies in this larger group go to karate with me. One of my friends I love to debate with simply because he can play semantics really well, which can be entertaining. One of them is my room mate, and I've met most of my friends in college through knowing him. He's extremely extrovert, and while I'm not generally a quiet guy he's really forced me out of my comfort zone and into talking to people. Good times all around. Our weekend hobbies include, but are not limited to: - Hookah (generally in the dying days of summer) - Drinking - Talking to girls - Partying - Getting with girls - Buying clothes - Playing videogames when there's nothing else left to do A very meaningful existence, indeed.[/font]

[font=Arial]Only a few words here: [size=4]FILE FOR FINANCIAL AID[/size] Seriously, only a small percentage of the nation can afford to pay for the full tuition at most colleges in the US. Colleges acknowledge that. Talk to your guidance counselor about how to go about getting financial aid. Generally what they'll tell you is to check with your prospective school. Usually they'll explicitly request a form for financial aid for you to submit with your application. It'll probably be FAFSA. I go to school at Columbia in NYC, and it costs about 50k per year, but they gave me a substantial percentage of the tuition off. Meaning I don't have to pay it back or take loans for that amount. They take everyone's specific financial situation into account and decide these things on a case-by-case basis. If you do end up going to Pratt or NYU or Tisch or some other NYC art school, let me know so we can meet![/font]

[font=Arial]I know I'm pretty late on the topic, but I'll post because I think this is a fun topic. Onwards! To be honest, I feel inadequate as an artist. I detest my most recent things, I'm embarrased of my past creations, and I'm generally afraid of showing others my work. I think it's because I'm comparing my current work to students who are majoring in the visual arts (and in some cases even grad students). I have yet to reconcile my desire to actively pursue art with my art as a hobby. This angst is good for me though. It's greatly humbled me. When I used to post my art actively here, I got high praises, and this led me to post more... not to get more criticism, but to get more praise. Of course there were instances where I actually did push myself, but I realize that had I continued fighting upwards I would've become much better than just soaking up the "great job"s. But a hatred of your own work is healthy ... to a point. So long as you actually work to a product you can be satisfied with, keep going.[/font]

[font=Arial]I was not arguing that the form of protest is intelligent, logical, or effective. I was arguing that protest should be allowed on public grounds. And yes, this could set a startling precedent. Who's to say protest will be banned within x-hundred feet from a federal building after this? Would not this be a logical law to make, if the grounds of this one is "For the common decency"? Certainly you can see the ridiculous loopholes that could be exploited from this. I understand that it is a protest done in terrible taste, but restricting free speech in this respect doesn't seem right to be. I agree that the protest should be stopped if it's done on private property, but I'm extremely wary of limiting civil liberties after the Bush Administration.[/font]

[font=Arial]Because doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, I believe they're supposed to do whatever is in the best interest of the patient, everything else be damned. In this case, I think saving the girl was definitely the right thing to do, especially since she was not a legal adult (and thus able to make the decision for herself).[/font]

[font=Arial]While initially I agree with the ban, closer inspection leads me to oppose it in some respect. If they are protesting off private property, I thoroughly oppose a ban against protest within a certain distance of said area. Not only does it have far-reaching constitutionality rammifications, it sets a dangerous precedent for future protests, and I think that's the thing we all need to keep in mind. Sure, it is common decency to keep hateful and homophobic protesters away from a fallen soldier's funeral. However this sets a precedent for banning protest from places like outside a court-house or legsilative building, with no better citation than "for the common welfare" or some such thing. And that is truly frightening. I am not defending the Phelps' position or their despicable acts. But I think it absolutely paramount that we also consider the future legal precedent this sets.[/font]

[quote name='Neuvoxraiha'][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]To Former Staff Members: Would you return to your post? Hell no. God no. Please. No.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Pretty much seconded, although less emphatically. :p My brief tenure in the Art Studio was fun while it lasted. I'd like to think I was a zealous mod (and admittedly overzealous at times) who dedicated a lot of time and energy to the place without qualm. But when I saw myself neglecting basic tasks, I knew I just wasn't into it anymore. I think it's natural for a lot of members to put modship on a pedestal. I guess it takes a brief step into the shoes for disillusionment.[/font]

[font=Arial]The rules you drafted seem to be reasonable, so long as they're agreed on by everyone. It goes without saying that slight compromises are what make coexistence possible. My room mate is pretty good about staying on top of cleaning and such. I'm not really a neat-freak, but I do vacuum semi-regularly, and he obliges whenever I deem a cleaning necessary.[/font]

[quote name='The Blue Jihad']Discuss the literal presidential race. If Rudy, Hilary, and Obama were to compete in the 100-meter sprint, who would win, and by how much?[/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Not only is Obama a decade or so younger than the rest of the candidates, he's half Kenyan... which probably wouldn't translate too well into short-distance running, as Kenyans (and Eastern Africans, for that matter) are generally good at long distance running, but it's better than Rudy/Hillary. He also goes to the gym every day he's in Washington, true story. I got my money on him.[/font]

[quote name='James'][color=#606060]Well, I believe that the US did the Iraqi people a massive favour by removing a dictatorship that the Iraqis wanted gone (and could not remove on their own).[/color][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Yes, we did them a massive favor... for the time being. We'll see how the political destabilization of the region goes, and what exactly happens in the future before we judge the invasion to be a fundamentally good thing. Granted, Iraq is crippled despite the fact the US has poured in twice the amount of money Japan used to rebuild Nagasaki/Hiroshima post-WWII (dollars were indeed adjusted for inflation), and there still is no electricity in many parts of the country. [quote][color=#606060]Having said that, you are 100% right in saying that it isn?t all dandy. Anyone who thinks that transitioning an entire political system is [i]easy[/i] is definitely misunderstanding how it all happens. But anything like this ? and often anything worthwhile in general ? is tough.[/color][/quote] Perhaps we misunderstand how political systems are transformed effectively in the first place. Invading with the noble intention of "bringing democracy to the Middle East" without understanding the sociopolitical intricacies that existed on the ground, and failure to understand that these intricacies present themselves as massive barriers to the goal is [i]never[/i] prudent. [quote][color=#606060]As for your questions, I do think the coalition was justified to go in, but my problem is with how the occupation was handled subsequently.[/color][/quote] On what grounds? I'm curious. [QUOTE][color=#606060]And as for pulling out, I agree ? you can?t go into a country and then suddenly pull out when it all gets too hard. We are really obligated to stay until the Iraqi security services are in a position to operate 100% independently. They are certainly on the way there (certain parts of the country are entirely under Iraqi security control). But yeah, definitely plenty more to do. [/color][/QUOTE] This is a great goal, but it flies in the face of the vast majority of sources on Iraqi 'progress'. I speak primarily of the Baker Report and the marginal impact of the US "surge".[/font]

[quote name='Rachmaninoff']Seriously, real relationships are where it's at.[/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Nah, random hook-ups are when it's at, but that aside I more or less agree with your points. :p I don't think that robots will ever be human by simple virtue of the fact the word "human" is not synonymous with "intelligent and anthropomorphic". It's sort of like the following predicament -- when video games have graphics equivalent to real life, who's to say that video games don't carry lives of their own within them (to the players, say of an MMO)? Robots/graphics are simulated and constructed, while humans reproduce sexually. However John brings up the important point -- considering our brains are just a bunch of firing neurons, and our bodies are a sack of bodily functions, what truly separates us from a robot? Very little, it would seem. I don't have intimate knowledge of robotics and the like, but is it possible for a robot to feel fear or happiness? Certainly both humans and robots would have a "programmed" response to it, but humans have the ability to truly feel it and not simply exhibit the facade of the emotion, if this makes any sense. This also begs the question of "what is the mind?" Is the mind a deux ex machina, does it exist at all? If it is a deux ex machina, well, I guess a sufficiently complex computer would be able to have a mind, although I doubt we'll approach that complexity for several hundred more years. Erm, yeah. Enough musing on that for me.[/font]

[font=Arial]Did yoru PS2 come with a warranty? If so, is it still valid and applicable to this situation? If your warranty is good, do not cut the wire, which would probably void your warranty. Instead, get it fixed/returned or whatever. If your warranty isn't valid, or you don't have one, I have no idea what you should do.[/font]

[quote name='DeathKnight'][color=crimson]I know, think about the crazy **** that could happen if an actor was president. They might try to put weapons in space or some other random crap, you know?[/color][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Did I tell you how much I love you? Pure gold.[/font]

[quote name='Lunox'][font="trebuchet ms"]Lastly, I'm loving Ron Paul's rise in popularity right now. [spoiler]VOTE FOR RON PAUL :-D[/spoiler] I've leaned a lot towards being a Libertarian lately, and since Paul is one, I've looked into what his stances are. I agree with his ideas, in general, and I think he's only running as a Republican because it was his best shot at getting the nomination. I'm pretty sure he was the only Republican candidate that fully supports immediate withdrawal from Iraq, which was just funny to watch at the Republican debate. He has the greatest internet popularity, I think, because people on the internet mostly happen to be Libertarian lol. He beats most other candidates in YouTube popularity and search term. [/font][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]What "rise in popularity" do you speak of? Has his support broken 5%? To be frank, the biggest thing that turned me away from Paul was his desire to abolish all bureaus that aren't expressly outlined in the Constitution. His ideals are great, you know, uphold the Constitution, but he's taking it to a ridiculous extent. I more support Barack Obama. Yes, he is experienced, and yes he is young, but I don't see these as negatives. Meeting with rogue states? Excellent. It's not like the silent treatment actually solves anything in the real world... we need to get away from that Bush Doctrine. Taking nuclear weapons off the table? Great. Do I honestly need to say why? He opposed the Iraq War from the start, which shows to me a strong foresight and lucidity. Why should I want people who were on the war drum just a few years ago in the white house? I don't hate Hillary. I've always tried to figure out why, and people have given me "I don't know, I just get that vibe from her". I would more say that I'm frustrated she uses his husband's accomplishments and political experience to say "Look, I'm experienced too!" but I guess that's part of the game. To her credit, she's an excellent debater. Edwards seems to be the candidate people go to when they're too afraid of a black/inexperienced candidate or a woman candidate, which ends up being a fair amount of Southern/Midwestern Democrats. I'll vote for Obama, but if I had to guess, I'd say a Hillary/Edwards ticket is in the works.[/font]

[quote name='Mage17']Vodka Drink - White Russian 2 Ounces Wodka 1 Ounce Coffee Liqueur 3 Ounces Light Cream Pour Codka and Coddee Liqueur over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with light cream adn serve. [IMG]http://www.polarbearvodka.com.au/images/whiteRussian.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]You took the words right out of my mouth. White Russian is by far my favorite drink. I don't really see the appeal in drinking something that burns on the way down, or induces dry heaves. [QUOTE]Beer - Coors Light Hey, it was the first beer I had and its one I personaly find to be alright, I've had others but this one brings back god memories of beer pong :)[/QUOTE] You have no soul, my friend. Corona with a lime slice is where it's at. I mean, Coors isn't the bottom of the totem pole, but it's only a slight cut above natty ice.[/font]

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]She turns one way.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] [font=Arial]That's what I think too... clockwise, if I'm not mistaken. I simply don't see how it's at all possible for someone to see it the other way.[/font]

[quote name='Dagger']INYC is just 1.5 hours away by train, which makes weekend trips easy.[/QUOTE] [font=Arial]Visit plz?? :) [quote name='Lunox'][font="trebuchet ms"] That's disgusting. You're disgusting. [spoiler]You should apply to work in the admission office and sneak me in.[/spoiler][/font][/QUOTE] I'm far too lazy to work in the admissions office. But you've got an excellent shot, considering your scores are way higher than mine were! [quote name='Rachmaninoff']Am I the only one looking at that and cringing at the stark flat horizon and mainly nothing but buildings to the right? I do love how the actual buildings for the school looks, but the lack of mountains in the background? That would seriously bug the hell out of me. lol[/QUOTE] The New York City skyline is to die for. I can't adequately put all my love for this city into words that would do my feelings justice. I went to Colorado for a week and while the mountains were placid and beautiful, it doesn't hold a candle to the magnificence of Manhattan.[/font]