Zen

[size=1] It's been a while, but I'll give it a shot. I could use the writing practice. I'm a bisexual male prostitute who belongs to the Sisterhood who also acts as an assassin and bodyguard for the Lady of a Hundred Paces. Hope that's interesting enough.[/size]

[size=1][b]Name:[/b] Jade Serpent [b]Birth Name:[/b] Gan Xingba [b]Age:[/b] 20 [b]Zodiac Sign:[/b] Fire Rat [b]Social Status/Occupation:[/b] Male Prostitute, Escort, Enforcer, Bodyguard, and Spy. [b]Affiliation/Notable Relationships:[/b] Sisterhood of the Serpent. One of few male prostitutes sold to and adopted by the Sisterhood of the Serpent in his early childhood. Jade was groomed by The Sisterhood to be an enforcer, disguised amongst the prostitute ranks; he is often selected as the Lady’s bodyguard during her social and business outings. [b]Personality:[/b] Xingba is both calmly docile and fiercely passionate. In social situations, Xingba is known for his polite, passive demeanor and androgynous mannerisms. Bisexual, and highly attractive to both sexes, Xingba is also known for his ability to switch his sexual roles from domineering and powerful to delicate and submissive, whichever pleases his lover (or customer) most. Xingba maintains this duality of ferocity and docility during combat, depending upon the given situation. An extremely gifted melee fighter, Xingba is capable of both silent assassination and one-one-one close combat. Highly faithful to his mistress, The Lady of the Hundred Paces, Xingba takes true enjoyment in his job, along with everything it entails. Apart from his occupation, Xingba takes interest in the arts, particularly music and literature, and often quotes poetry, prose, and lyrics during conversation. [b]Biography/Motivation:[/b] Xingba was sold very early in his childhood into the servitude of the Sisterhood of the Serpent under unclear circumstances, which must have in some part involved sex, money, or violence, or any combination of the three. Being as male children are rarely sold into their services, the Sisterhood took advantage of the young man’s potential and groomed him as both an assassin and an escort. Xingba, at first resistant, eventually bent to the will of the organization, and quickly took to the lessons he was taught. Due to the combination of talents and his striking beauty, Xingba has been used as both a high profile prostitute for the female and male costumers of the Sisterhood, as well as a skilled spy, assassin, and bodyguard. The mental and physical training that Xingba has undergone since childhood has turned him into a loyal agent of the Sisterhood of the Serpent. He lives in the service of humanity’s two greatest passions. Sex and violence.[/size] [url=http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/26710305/miyavi.png]Xingba 1[/url] [url=http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3558/64746126d45eyf9.jpg]Xingba 2[/url]

[size=1] The line-up is ****ing staggering. I'm even more excited than I was last year: [b][url=http://www.vanswarpedtour.com/warpedtour/bands.asp]Full List[/url][/b] Super, duper, major excited for: Bring Me The Horizon Whitechapel Parkway Drive Suicide Silence iwrestledabearonce Set Your Goals Fight Fair The Dillinger Escape Plan Emmure Confide Andrew W.K. Every Time I Die Emarosa Enter Shikari In Fear And Faith I See Stars Of Mice and Men Polar Bear Club Sum 41 I don't know what I'm going to do with myself. I'm overwhelmed by awesome.[/size]

[quote name='Lunox'][font=trebuchet ms] I mean, I guess we'll disagree on things we disagree on. I believe the Simpsons writers, obviously very smart people, could have easily created a well plotted overarching storyline if they wanted to, but they decided that's not what Simpsons is about. But yes, Simpsons doesn't have that. I think that's because they're just different cartoons, not because the talent was lacking.[/font] [font=trebuchet ms] The thing I disagree with here is I really doubt Matt Groening was trying to pander to anyone. I think he was doing what he loved, and wanted to reach a broad audience. I mean, I also just give Simpsons greater props because it was the pioneer that inspired all of the following cartoon series following. I *believe* that the Venture Bros. is awesome, and so is character development. However, the differences here probably aren't due to some sort of mass media pandering but rather the style of the show. I don't think Groening or Simpsons writers are lesser artists than the creators of Venture/Venture writers. [/font] [/size] [font=trebuchet ms] And on that note, I think Jay-Z is just as brilliant and talented as Common. He just chose to present his talent differently. I have no idea who Del is, but I get your metaphor. I just don't fully agree with it. [/font] [/QUOTE] [size=1] I'm definetly not trying to take anything away from Groening or the Simpsons as an excellent work of animated art, I'm just saying I feel that Venture Bros. is more "sophisticated". Not to say Simpsons isn't an extemely smart cartoon, I just appreciate the Venture Bros. approach more, even if its as simple as an aesthetic choice by both shows' creators. Futurama is closer to my heart than the Simpsons, because it has a style more similar to Venture Bros. in its approach. I just personally enjoy and appreciate that style, the continuous narrative, the character development, and style of dark humor, more. Its just a difference in opinion and taste I suppose. I wasn't trying to challenge your tastes or opinions, just trying to get you to re-evaluate your opinion of The Venture Bros., since I thought you kind of passed over it without a second look at what was really going on. [/size]

[size=1] The future is brighter than ever for Four Year Strong: [center] [YOUTUBE="Four Year Strong - "It Must Really Suck To Be FYS Right Now""]Gw1xoom3-8Q[/YOUTUBE][/center] FYS goes along with bands like Blink-182 for me, in that I say "**** you if you don't like FYS".[/size]

[quote name='rotlung']Yeah I was just running off a list and grouped them in there..... My bad.... Venture bros does have a unique style reminisant of the old adds from the 50s. The point I was making is the overall quality of cartoons made by american companies is ******. It's extremely rare to see a show like Avatar or Samuri Jack that has good stories and good animation. Most of the time u get things like Invader Zim, or the Fairly Odd parents where the artist literally takes a couple minutes to draw the scene and characters. It makes me feel like they are mass producing the badly draw cartoons and saying it's a style choice.[/QUOTE] [size=1] I'll stick up for Invader Zim because Jhonen Vasquez is a really original and funny guy. But I understand where you are coming from. The problem is that serious animated series' aren't really popular with mass American audiences so they rarely get made due to ratings issues. Shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond were pretty good about being both well animated and having a fascinating story line, but shows like that are few and far between. But then again, you have to realize that most of the anime that makes it to US shores are the "Batman Beyond"s of Japan. Anime for the most part is pretty bad, but we usually get the good or successful ones over here. Yeah, its definetly a more popular and accepted medium over there, but its not all high quality goodness in reality. [/size]

[quote name='Lunox'][font=trebuchet ms] Yeah, I know...but like you can find all of that in the early Simpsons as well, and probably on a broader level. Since Venture is obviously geared towards a more select audience, it's easier for its fans to pick up on the cartoon/fantasy/sci-fi allusions, but I don't think anything the Venture Bros. dishes out is significantly better than what Simpsons dished out. I'd put Venture Bros. on the same level of Futurama or something. Both shows cater towards a more specific audience and are very intelligent, but early Simpsons dominates both of them. I mean, I love Venture Bros., but would never believe that it's the best American comedy cartoon series. And in terms of cultural impact, which I don't know if you count as a factor, Simpsons is a giant that will probably never be topped. [/font][/QUOTE][size=1] Of course Simpsons' cultural impact was huge, and don't get me wrong, I love Simpsons and Futurama, deeply, but Venture Bros. just outshines it for me because it has an overarching narrative through out the entire series that is rarely broken. Even the most mundane episodes have some sort of connection to other episodes, and there's just so many unnoticed themes, allegories, and references. I think the Simpsons are great for the broader audience that it caters to. But what I feel makes Venture Bros. the higher "art" is because it isn't pandering to any of its viewers, its an honest creation from the mind's of the show's creators. Not to mention there's actual character development. Check out [b][u][url=http://toddalcott.livejournal.com/tag/venture+bros]Todd Alcott's LiveJournal[/url][/b][/u] if you really want to have your mind blown by how deep the show is. Using a really bad metaphor, I guess you could say that the Simpsons are like Jay-Z, brilliant, but mainstream. Futurama is like Common, even more brilliant, with less air play but still with mainsteam acceptance. Venture Bros. is like Del The Funkee Homosapien, underground and made with an artistic skill that often flies over people's heads.[/size] [quote name='rotlung']It's kind of sad to say but Family Guy, Futurama, The Cleveland show, American Dad, the SImpsons, [b]Venture Bros.[/b], South Park, and Robot Chicken are the "american animation" we have today. I'll agree it's funny and once in a while show some wit and humor but I feel like they could do so much more rather than copy Star Wars... I personally feel the most recent animated series that is on par with Japenese anime is Avatar the last Airbender. The funny cartoons have really came down to poop and fart jokes for a long time. I personally don't watch any of them the way I watch anime. Also what really annoys me is the quality of "kids" cartoons. If u watch Disney or CN or Nickelodin you know what I mean. Cartoons that look like a 5 year old drew them and heck every once in a while they even show how easy it is to draw them.... It just makes me mad at how they turn in into a cookie cutter for cartoons..... [/QUOTE] [size=1] You are insane if for one second you don't think that Venture Bros. is on par with Japanese Animation.[/size]

[quote name='Lunox'][font=trebuchet ms] I wouldn't go that far. Venture Bros. is basically a new spin on a giant potpourri of earlier American cartoons/comics/etc., so it's funny and nonsensical but I still think the early Simpsons and Futurama are the best comedy animated series from the U.S.[/font] [/QUOTE] [size=1] I really feel like you're selling it short. If you watch the show, and watch it from beginning to end like I have several times (DVDs, yes) its such a deep, multilayered, and I would say, epic, show. Its so complex with references and homages that it makes, it'd be impossible to catch them all by yourself. And not just to old-school American cartoons and animation, but to music, literature, history, film, etc. I mean, seriously, there's a scene where Mark Twain complain to Oscar Wilde and Sandow (strongman, father of bodybuilding) that he's "been wearing the same suit for like, two months... it's gross". Its funny on several levels and there are constantly jokes being crammed into every moments that you never get to appreciate on the first go around. Like "Showdown At Cremation Creek", where David Bowie shows up to the Monarch's wedding with Iggy Pop and Klaus Nomi as his bodyguards. At first, you're busy laughing that David Bowie is an international supervillain. But then you realize that Iggy Pop is speaking in his own song lyrics. Along with show's own mythology, which is interesting, deep, and complex on its own along with its referential humor, the Kevin Smith-esque dialogue, awesome action sequences, and great animation (for a low-budget adult swim show), Venture Brothers is one of the best shows on TV period. I love Futurama, but I guess Venture Brothers is just so much more relatable to me, so I love it as such.[/size]

[quote name='Lunox'][font=trebuchet ms] I was going to mention my favorite American tv shows (Simpsons, Futurama, Venture Bros., Avatar) but got too lazy. But yeah, Venture Bros. is awesome.[/font][/QUOTE] [size=1] Venture Brothers is the best animated series [adult swim] and America has produced as far as continuity, comedy, and originality is concerned.[/size]

[size=1] I'm so angry and dissapointed that I'm the only one who's mentioned [b]The Venture Brothers[/b] so far... [/size]

[quote name='Nomurah!'][SIZE="1"][COLOR="HotPink"]Absolutely. Have Heart is my favorite anything beside Bloc Party band. hah. It plays out fine. I believe in Muhammad's teachings, they believe in the trinity, we don't talk about it much, we just focus on the whole "love" thing. Playing music for God really makes you feel really tight, because it really is the Christian kids that will get up there and crowd around you and hardcore dance and shout out the gang shouts in my state... I have become sort of a hardcore dancing nerd since I started hanging out with my friends, hah, I love it now. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [size=1] Hardcore dancing is fun. I love it. In fact, I love all the aspects of the hardcore community. The comradery, the dancing, gang shouts, etc. My band is deathcore-ish, but I'm trying to see if I can make it a positive deathcore thing for some of it. Gallows is a real big influence on my "hardcore" approach, but my lyrics (atleast half of them) are inspired by posicore stuff like Have Heart, Four Year Strong, and Stretch Armstrong. Being Buddhist, balance and peace is a big thing, so while I can bring up some negative aspects of society to throw my "angry lyrics" at, I'm trying to throw in some of positive aspects in, though I try to be mellow about it, because my other band members aren't Buddhist. [/size]

[quote name='Xyandar']Ive been loving Death metal lately ive been listening to The Black Dahlia Murder nonstop. I love their song ''What a Horrible Night To Have A Curse'' its definitely a headbanger. Ive also been addicted to Job For A Cowboy. I got to see them last month and they were amaaazing live. Ever since ive been listening to all their albums. I also listen to other metal like Killswitch Engage, Cannibal Corpse, Cryptopsy, and Throwdown.[/QUOTE] [size=1]Black Dahlia's new album is mind-blowing.[/size]

[size=1] [b]Batman: The Animated Series The Venture Brothers Superjail [/b] Atleast as far as TV shows go.[/size]

[quote name='Nomurah!'][SIZE="1"][COLOR="HotPink"]Haha, I don't like the whole three word ___ the ___ kind of band names... I want to start a hardcore band, and perhaps call it something typical... two words... with impact.. I was thinking [B]Make Change[/B] but I have a feeling a search on myspace will come up with some results... I'm the only person in my band that promotes [I]Islam[/I], haha. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [size=1] You mean like [b]Have Heart[/b]? [i]Islam[/i]? How does that play out?[/size]

[quote name='Nomurah!'][SIZE="1"][COLOR="HotPink"]haha, I don't think I've ever heard any band's promoting Buddhist beliefs, but I would love it, I think the Buddhist way of life is so peaceful, it's nice. I'm sure it would be like a nice asian positive hardcore band.. called "The Monks" or "Buddha Tree". I'm sure that's already taken though... Buddha Tree for the win. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE][size=1] Hah, well I'm definetly not in a posicore band. We're like, thrash/punk-infused deathcore. Though I guess that'd be fun. Its always been on the back of my mind, me and a buddy have wanted to. We were going to call it "Team Up! Team Up!", after the Four Year Strong lyric. I'm the only Buddhist in my band, and I'm hardly going to promote my beliefs, though I'm going to be writing some of the songs around my belief system. Like one in which I struggle with the conflict of "I'm supposed to be loving and kind to all people, but I hate the current state of society and other people so much". I really do want to change my band name. [b]Dig The Grave[/b] is so bland. I came up with [b]Heavy Lies The Crown[/b], which is already taken multiple times over, and [b]Conflict Theory[/b], which reminds me too much of Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park. I'd like for the name to have meaning and be referential. But Buddhism hardly has any cool titles. Everything is about loving kindness. I was thinking of the name [b]Words As Weapons[/b] but I'm sure that's taken... Hm... Well, that one seems pretty free.[/size]

[quote name='Nomurah!'][SIZE="1"][COLOR="HotPink"] Haha, one band isn't enough, you know? I actually do backing vocals, before we've done dual screaming, but now they want to write a few singing parts into the mix, so I'll be singing some. We all love God, hah. We give testimonies at every show, we used to never think about any of it, but like, I got saved, then our guitarist got saved, and then we decided we should write some music that meant something, nothing insincere. We hate how the whole God thing has just become nothing but a marketing front for a lot of heavy bands (cough cough Attack Attack). Our singer's biggest influence is probably [B]Miss May I[/B]. My biggest influence is [B]Have Heart[/B] and [B]Black My Heart[/B]. Then you got the other guys in the band that like stuff like [B]For Today, Carnifex, Whitechapel, Crimson Armada[/B], all that common stuff, you know, we just make stuff that is similar to that. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/QUOTE] [size=1] That's cool I guess. I'm going to break ground on extreme Buddhacore. Or maybe Dharmacore... Zencore? I dunno. But its going to be sick. I'm not a Christian but I like a few bands that are like August Burns Red and what not. As long as the lyrics kind of dance around the religion and don't go for the straight up "I LOVE JESUS" approach then I'll usually give it a listen. Anyways, good stuff, dude.[/size]

[quote name='Nomurah!'][B]All this mess [/B][/QUOTE] [size=1] You're pretty prolific there aren't you? Do you do backing vocals for Kingdom Under Siege or are you all bass? Also is that Christian thing supposed to be a joke or are you guys going for a TDWP/War of Ages kinda thing?[/size]

[quote name='Trigun 11'][COLOR="DarkRed"][SIZE="1"] I call bull, dear friend. You and I have to play sometime, so I can prove your statement false.I am best at Pokemon games - my Eevee team is a boss. I'd like to say that my little brother is best at cheering people up when they're depressed. [/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [size=1] Tekken 6. X-Box 360. Gamertag: Mikey Militant. Bring it.[/size]

[size=1] Apart from maybe one person I am the best at extreme vocals (screaming, growling, yelling, etc). Apart from my teachers, I am the best fighter I know, especially amongst my friends. Best at Tekken. Best at dancing. [/size]

[quote name='Mr. Maul'][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][COLOR=DimGray]There was absolutely no hostility in my words. I simply voiced my opinion. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE] [size=1] Dude, you're such a jerk.[/size]

[quote name='kiba051095'][CENTER]Screamo, rock, acoustic, alternative, metal, crunk, techno... anything like that. I can't stand rap, or hip-hop. I don't know why, the only rap I'll listen to are Brokencyde and Hollywood Undead, and that's very specific songs. Lol. [/CENTER][/QUOTE] [size=1] You have horrible, horrible taste in rap and screamo if you actually enjoy anything created by either Brokencyde or Hollywood Undead, as both are horrible at both hardcore, screaming, rapping,song writing, lyricism, production, and playing their instruments. They are bad at everything they do.[/size]

[quote name='Miko Hayashi']um pardon me? :confused: um this is a Three Days Grace topic....[/QUOTE] [size=1] [u][b]Thread Title[/b][/u] Three Days Grace: Life Starts Now... who likes it? [b][u]My Answer[/b][/u] Fans of Disturbed and other bad music. Three Days Grace = Doo Doo Metal/Hard Rock.[/size]

[size=1] I just auditioned for and got into the band [b]Dig The Grave[/b] (name pending) yesterday, haha. Thrash-Death-Metalcore, I won't post the myspace because the horrible recordings don't give the actual songs justice. I'm the screamer/growler/vocalist.[/size]

[quote name='Jabberwocky'][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]Next time I have band practice, I will. Now, I recently downloaded The Great Misdirect... No words.[/FONT][/QUOTE] [size=1] Hahahaha, I knew you would be. But yeah, do that. Cut-Up is so damn catchy and fun.[/size]

[quote name='Jabberwocky'][FONT="Palatino Linotype"]That sounds EXTREMELLY promising. .[/FONT][/QUOTE] [size=1] I downloaded [b]Suicide Season Cut-Up[/b] two days ago and forgot to tell you that its freaking god damn amazing. DL it immediately. [/size]