SunfallE

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]I'm sure many of you know all about Black Friday as it's often called. The crazy busy shopping day right after Thanksgiving. Even though it's often super busy, I still like to go out with friends and enjoy the madness a bit. Mainly because by then I have all of my shopping for the holiday already done so it's more of a get together with people kind of deal. So we always have fun. Though for some odd reason, it was less busy around here this year. o_O Some areas had no one waiting in line at all. Which I found surprising since it's the first time I've seen it so quiet on black Friday. I know last year was anything but quiet, I even fought crazy traffic just to go to a Christmas Concert with Darren. ^^ Anyway I thought nothing of how quiet it has been this time (at least here that is). Then I came across and read this article here: [URL="http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/290353/36/"][U]Black Friday Death[/U][/URL] and all I can think is how sick and sad is that? Pushing and shoving to the point that you end up killing someone in your haste to save a few bucks. So, your thoughts? Crazy stories of your own for this year? [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=#9933ff']I wonder if there's a youtube clip.[/color][/quote]Of course. Hehe. I love how even he's laughing a bit at the end there. =P [CENTER][YOUTUBE="Macy's Thankgiving Parade Day Rick Roll"]xWw46X-83xs[/YOUTUBE][/CENTER][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]When someone tells me they're emo, all I think is: oh you're depressed. Or if someone tries to tell me it's a statement, it looks more like some fad or craze that kids are using to try and be different. I also see it as something they'll grow out of when they get older. It's hard to have much of an opinion since the [I]emo[/I] phase started long after I was out of High School. Back then ([SIZE="1"]yes I'm old, lolz[/SIZE]) they called themselves Goths. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]I heard from someone that the series was, to be blunt, a joke. A total mutilation of the actual story, characters and book in general. Since I watched the show out of curiosity and cause it didn't seem all that great, I got the first book and read it. My verdict, I agree. It was utterly trashed and turned into a [I]dramariffic soap opera[/I]. The book was fantastic and the show was anything [I]but[/I] that. :/ Now that I've read the first book and enjoyed it. I've started on the second one and I don't plan on returning to the TV series. The things I liked about the book were gone so I don't see a point. [I]*waits for [COLOR="Indigo"]Indi[/COLOR] to rant next*[/I] You know you will. =P[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Just some humor because the thread needs it. =P [CENTER][IMG]http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/gaymarriage.gif[/IMG][/CENTER] Seriously though, other than to disagree with not allowing them to marry, I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said many times. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][COLOR="RoyalBlue"]Walking is my preferred method of exercising. When it's warm enough, outside, when it's not, inside on a treadmill. Sure cold air is nice and gets you going. But I hate black ice and falling. I've done that a few times so I stick to the inside once it's really cold out. ^^ I enjoy hiking too in the summer, along with swimming if I get the chance. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]This is for my friends who are on the [I]OMG he scares me[/I] bandwagon. =P Pity none of them are members here... [CENTER][IMG]http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/11/12/128710048016353795.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Well I'd encourage you to post in The Lounge Shishou, but a quick look around will show you that we're all nuts in here. ^^ Don't let that hold you back though! Sometimes the madness is actually fun! That or we pretend it is. [I][SIZE="1"]*is kidding*[/SIZE][/I] Anyway, welcome aboard or rather welcome back. =P[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]So if I comment just to blame Allamorph for my latest post in the main thread is that spam? Or just to giggle over what I found at DeviantArt while not showing the rest of you what I found... is that spam too? lolz Anyway, we still need to have someone dressed like a ninny for Lucia or Phaidra to take out. (preferably a woman since that makes the most sense) =P She'd be one of the upcoming villain's circle of associates or lackeys I'm assuming. I've looked for something to fit, but so far I haven't found anything that would do. (DA connection to previously hinted at stuff!) XP Just as I'm not completely sure on how either one of them would run into said person. Though I'm still musing on that one... Oh and for the record, I love how Nathan's tendency to wear nothing but blue keeps coming up in people's posts. Don't need to know his name, just that he's the one in blue! [SIZE="1"][I]*shot*[/I][/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][CENTER][B][SIZE="3"]Waiting for the Night [/SIZE][/B][/CENTER] Normally Lucia didn?t care if humans saw her out and about. But since the floor to her place wasn?t quite large enough for the warm up moves and stretches she had learned, she had taken to using the open space along the lake shore. Humans did like to gather for walks and other reasons alongside the lake, but not here in the industrial district where the buildings were offices for various businesses. Nothing had been done to prepare the area for recreational use. Still even if it had been turned into a more leisure area, she would have done the same. If Ruby hadn?t made such a nuisance of herself over her getting some form of training, she wouldn?t even be out here in the early morning. But here she was, running through first warm up stretches, and then the various moves she had learned followed up by practice with her scythe. Lucia could have tried going back to her own original mentor to ask for assistance, but she positively loathed the woman. With her constant speeches on how it was such an honor to be chosen and so forth, all they had done was bicker. The constant arguments, since she had been trying to get her appointment dismissed, had nearly brought her to the end of her patience. That had been another thing she owed Ruby for. She didn?t have a familiar yet, since she had not felt the need to seek one. Going to the other side, it was almost mandatory and in this case Ruby had taken it upon herself to practically order Lucia to accept her, backing it with the logic of telling her to wait a week and then she could say no. Logic was something she could accept and she had agreed to her demand. By the end of the week she had ended up taking Ruby?s sage advice to not only accept her as a familiar but to accept the assignment and move on. It didn?t mean she had to give up on protesting it. It only meant she needed to stop fighting with people who had nothing to do with it in the first place. But that left her in the position of wondering who she could ask for help now that she required better training on how to fight. Lucia didn't want to talk to the others. So instead, she had done like she did with the investigation process; she had looked into what the humans had to offer. In time she had found someone to get her started on the training Ruby insisted that she needed. She didn?t know if it was enough or not, so after learning what she could from one, she?d move to another. The hardest part had been finding someone who would work with the odd shape of her scythe. To do so she had been required to make a replica since humans couldn?t touch a scythe; they were incorporeal by nature and nothing more than the focus of her will. But anytime she showed someone the replica, it had been met with an instant attempt to get her to use something more practical. She couldn?t explain to them why she had to use that shape. Lucia didn?t fully understand why it took that form to begin with. She could see how other forms of the same type of weapon were better, but she couldn?t change the shape of hers. If doing so was possible, she had no idea how to go about it and she didn?t feel like asking around to find out. It had taken a while, but she had finally found someone willing to do so. Once they had realized she was serious, progress had been made. At least she thought it was progress. The thought crossed her mind that perhaps talking to Nathan about it would be a good idea, but like always, she shoved it aside. Even though she was certain he would be able to tell her if it was doing any good. Lucia didn?t bother to look at the balcony to her place; she knew that Ruby was watching like she always did. At least once she got use to doing it on a regular basis there had been a good side to it. Focusing on the moves and practicing resulted in stilling her mind in the same way that visiting scenic spots did. Though she never told Ruby that. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]The thing that keeps me from getting fed up or sick of it or feeling out of sorts in regards to the election, is staying informed. If I know what's going on, then it's pretty easy to tune things out and focus on other stuff. So in the end, win or lose, it makes little impact on my day to day life. That or I've been around for enough elections that I no longer get worked up over them. This made the seventh presidential election for me (where I could actually vote that is, not the first that I actually remember) so it's lost all the hype that it use to have. I still enjoy being a part of it, but it's ceased to have the same power to get on my nerves that it once had.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]This whole thing has been very exciting, even if most of my neighbors are depressed. ^^ Ironically, while the US government has taken a serious swing into the Democrats favor, locally where I'm at, we didn't gain any ground at all. XP [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Other than to get rained on... nothing exciting happened. I voted, even though Utah is a Red state. XP Now I just have to hope that the projections are correct. I really want Obama to win. I know I'll be watching the news off and on all evening. ^^[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Welcome to OtakuBoards HelloKittyLover, I'm sure you'll have a good time here. If you ever have questions, just let me know. ^_~ And welcome to everyone else newly arrived as well. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]I assume by disaster you're referring to the financial crisis? I'd only say that Obama and McCain really have nothing to do with that anyway, so it's not really something that colours my view of them as candidates. Both men at different times have stood for improvements to transparency and accountability in different fields, too. I mean compared to George W. Bush and John Kerry...this election is so different. The election between Bush and Kerry was, in my view, about the lesser of two evils. Whereas I think this election is about the better of two men.[/font][/QUOTE]I mean that and more. In some ways, even though the fear is irrational, people have lost faith in the system or anyone's ability to address the issues that the next president will face. I'm not going to get into specifics, but it's not that I doubt McCain has the ability to lead, it's that his policies and direction he wishes to go are a path I am not interested in. I have looked into what he has in mind so I'm not just saying this. I also see Obama as having the unique challenge of over coming some of the unavoidable backlash from being black. So if he wins, it's going to, in some ways, be a battle for him to get acceptance. Again, it's not a capability issue, but that kind of nonsense will play into things, even though I wish it wouldn't. I won't argue that the last election really was a flop, but at the same time, I'm not overly impressed with our current candidates either. I know quite a few people who are so disgusted with both (though admittedly I think they are poorly informed on the issues) that they won't be voting at all. I find that a little sad actually. Even if I have doubts, I still like to vote for the one I think will do the best job. Even if I thought it really was a choice between the lesser of two evils, I would still vote. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]I have all of the basic banners in PSD format still. I'd probably need to make new backgrounds for a few, if we wanted customized banners, but I could do that if you guys really want them. It would require more image extracting but that's not too terribly difficult since I'd only have to do the characters/familiars that I haven't done yet. Since obviously I still have the ones I've already done in the original files. As for a saying for you Sabrina... I'll have to think about that since I'm not sure at the moment. It would be nice if you had your own saying though. :catgirl:[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='Korey'][FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]It looks like your worries may come true Beth, as Obama was ahead in the most recent poll I saw. While I do find that people will tell you all sorts of stuff to influence your decision on voting for Obama (his name, his race, his college roomates, where he grew up...etc) it's ultimately up to you. I'm not a fan of McCain or his policies. He has almost unamiously supported any War on Terror Legislation or stance George W. Bush. Stay the Course isn't in my agenda. [/FONT][/QUOTE]Hmmm, I guess I can see how my statement wasn't clear. I'm not worried about him becoming president, in fact he's who I'll be voting for. What I'm worried about is people deciding last minute to bail on the idea of voting for him. So I'm concerned that he will lose when I want him to win. Guys, I think it's a given that when someone is referring to the Bible Belt, they're referring to those who are on the extreme side of things instead of every single Christian in general. Though I'd say using the word everyone was in poor taste Darren, since sweeping generalizations don't help anything you know. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]But I must say, in this election America is lucky. Rather than choosing the lesser of two evils, you're able to choose the better of two great candidates. Despite the individual disagreements people have with one candidate or another, it must be said that both McCain and Obama are incredibly talented and I think both make strong candidates.[/font][/QUOTE]If only I shared that sentiment. BUT! Some of that comes from living here and seeing the utterly awful disaster we've had to face the past couple of years and most sharply in the past few months. It's hard to not see it as a lesser of two evils to be honest. However, that won't stop me from going out and voting... and then hoping the one I voted for actually wins. If only I didn't live in what's considered a Red state. I'd love it if my vote actually mattered. :animesigh[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]There's always someone who's unhappy with the current president so hearing about this sort of thing doesn't worry me too much. I'd love to see people be more mature about it, but I don't see that happening just yet. I'm sure that if he's elected, the government will be doing what's necessary to prevent anything like that from happening. In the long run, I'm more worried about him actually winning. The other, having people attempt to kill you or pull some stupid stunt, seems to be pretty standard. Unfortunately. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][CENTER][B][SIZE="3"]Lost[/SIZE][/B][/CENTER] Lucia followed along just behind Phaidra and Sarvel, though her mind was more on what she had picked up.[I] Now that?s an interesting thought I?ve never scanned for traces that are magical in nature.[/I] She hadn?t really considered it before. Other than Phaidra she didn?t really know many arcanists. Her research didn?t extend into that field, but if what she had picked up was from a trap that was magical in nature? she filed the information away in her mind, like she often did. It was something that would be worth looking into later. The pair in front of her came to a halt when they were about twenty feet from the first point on Lucia?s scanner, the one just to the right side of the actual home. It was clear no one was living there anymore since her scanner wasn?t picking up anything at all, not even the residual traces that would indicate there was power running to the residence. The only thing it was missing was one of those 'for sale' signs the humans would put up. She looked over to Phaidra when she spoke. ?[B]Please wait here for a moment. I want to take a look around.[/B]? She waited for both Lucia and Chris to nod in agreement. ?[B]It?s important that you don?t go in there. It feels like a trap, but I?m still not sure yet, just as I don?t know what would?[/B]? ?[B]Go on,[/B]? Chris interrupted. ?[B]We?ll wait until you?re done.[/B]? Phaidra nodded and then with a quick glance at Sarvel, she started circling the place. Phaidra did so in a counter-clockwise circle while Sarvel did the same only clockwise. Both of them were being careful to avoid straying into what could be considered the actual trap zone. ?[B]Can you tell if it?s a trap or not?[/B]? Lucia asked Chris once the pair was out of hearing range. Other than what she had picked up on her scanner, Lucia couldn't feel anything at all. ?[B]You mean a magical one?[/B]? Lucia nodded. ?[B]Usually I can identify a ward or trap.[/B]? ?[B]Usually?[/B]? Chris continued to watch the pair as they moved around the home. ?[B]It depends on whether or not it has been cloaked or shielded.[/B]? ?[B]So, is this one?[/B]? Lucia prodded when she didn?t continue. "[B]A ward or a trap.[/B]" ?[B]I?m not sure,[/b]" Chris shrugged. "[b]There is something there, but it feels wrong.[/B]? ?[B]I don?t understand, what do you mean it feels wrong?[/B]? Chris spared her a brief glance before looking back at the two who were almost finished circling the place, she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before responding. ?[B]It feels like a poorly made shield,[/B]? She turned and looked at her directly, grinning briefly, reminding Lucia of Nathan. ?[B]I?m sure we?ll find out soon enough.[/B]? She said before turning back to face Phaidra and Sarvel who were talking among themselves as they approached. [I]What did she mean by a poorly made shield?[/I] Lucia wondered. [I]I really need to learn more about this kind of stuff.[/I] ?[B]Perhaps you should take the time to learn a little about how magic works Lucia,[/B]? Ruby said just loud enough for her to hear, echoing her thoughts. ?[B]What did you find out?[/B]? Lucia asked the pair the moment they were back.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]?[B]You?ve become uncharacteristically quiet Celestia.[/B]? Celestia ignored the observation, after the fuss back on the [I]Creator[/I], she had been too afraid to say anything. Now, she didn?t know where they were taking her and lately, she just didn?t care anymore. ?[B]I don?t see anything wrong with your scans,[/B]? Doctor Matheson continued before she turned the scanner off and pocketed it. ?[B]But this continual silence on your part is not normal.[/B]? ?[B]Don?t you think you should leave it alone Doctor?[/B]? Jason spoke on her behalf. ?[B]Nothing we ever say makes a difference. Unless the New Alliance wins this war, we have nothing but centuries of slavery to look forward to.[/B]? ?[B]Are you no longer interested in what happens to the two of you?[/B]? ?[B]Of course we are.[/B]? Jason shot back. ?[B]But as you already know, it?s really just you people telling us where we will go, what we will do and so on. You may as well just hand us a list instead of pretending to care.[/B]? He sighed before placing his arm across Celestia?s shoulders. ?[B]If you have something to say, just say it and send us back to our quarters or whatever.[/B]? Doctor Matheson leaned back against the wall. ?[B]We?re taking you back to the capitol; you?re being reassigned to work under James again.[/B]? ?[B]And your point is?[/B]? Jason prompted. The Doctor gave him a peculiar look. ?[B]You?ll find out soon enough.[/B]? She finally answered before calling for the security to escort them back to their quarters. ?[B]I don?t understand,[/B]? Celestia finally spoke up once they were alone again. ?[B]Why did she make a fuss just to tell us who we?re being assigned to?[/B]? She sat down on the tiny sofa in their room. ?[B]Why do I get the feeling that she wanted to say more and didn?t?[/B]? Jason shrugged. ?[B]I don?t get it either. Honestly, I feel like all we do is go in circles here. It feels like nothing will ever change.[/B]? Celestia nodded and said nothing. What he said was true, there was nothing new to talk about, nothing new to discus. All they ever did was see the same pointless duties being taken care of again and again. It was like her will to live was being taken; the specter of being stuck in the same never-ending cycle for the next couple of centuries had her wishing she didn?t exist. She didn?t know how to fight the emptiness she felt so she did the only thing she could. She simply said nothing at all. [CENTER]-----------------------------------[/CENTER] William was paying little attention to the duties of his crew as he reviewed the current batch of messages he had received. One in particular had his attention completely. It was by far, one of the most startling things he had read in quite some time. He had been certain that the party given this assignment would find a means to complete it. The actual method was a bit unusual though and the implications and opening for him to do something that was completely unethical? He shook his head at the thought and re-read the message again to make sure he was reading it correctly. Surely there had to be some mistake. How could it be possible to do what was being suggested in the message? What would he actually include in the 'programming' if he did give the go ahead. He put it aside and worked on other things, he definitely agreed with the second option since it saved them the trouble of hanging on to a problem they didn?t need. Doing it in the manner suggested would have the dual benefit of keeping the knowledge of what they had gained in the dark. It was true that they hadn?t gotten anything just yet, but he would be surprised if it didn?t happen. And though he put it aside for the moment, in the back of his mind, he knew he?d end up giving the go ahead. They had come this far, as much as he knew he?d regret the decision later, he had a feeling he would regret doing nothing even more. Decided, he worked on something else, once he was done; he would make his decision as to what would be done and send the order off. It would be his decision and his alone. Sauvage might be the one to carry it out, but as a leader, the responsiblity for giving the order in the first place was completely his.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='Crimson Spider'][CENTER]Stuff Goes Here[/CENTER][/QUOTE]Others have already given you what's needed to see it, you simply refuse to do so. I can't help you there I'm afraid. That's something you have to do for yourself. So until you do that, I am done wasting my time in here.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='Crimson Spider']My mother and I have the same position. If you are debating against me, you are vicariously debating with my mother; a rape victim who has much more "credibility" than me on the issue. [/quote]You are also debating with a person who was a victim of rape and I do agree with allowing an abortion in this type of situation. You're conveniently glossing over that fact here. As others have pointed out repeatedly, each case will be different, no matter how much you argue otherwise. And by your own logic, I have more "credibility" than you do on this issue. If you are trying to argue that your mother somehow has the ONLY acceptable view on what should be allowed or how this kind of situation should be handled, then your point falls back into attempting to force your morals and values on others. I do not share that narrow minded way of thinking nor belief that making abortion illegal for rape victims is acceptable. It is my unfortunate experience in that respect that tells me to deny someone who has been harmed in this manner the ability to abort the pregnancy, is what would be wrong. As I said before, my stance on abolishing it for rape victims will not change. Case by case evaluation as [COLOR="Indigo"]Indi[/COLOR] already pointed out, is the best solution instead of blindly thinking you or anyone else know what's best for another individual. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"][quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]I'll say this one more time. Read this carefully: [i]nobody is saying that an abortion would cause a rape victim to forget being raped[/i]. I'm not sure how you glean this from my statements or the statements of others.[/font][/QUOTE]I've been wondering that myself actually, where the notion that abortion makes someone forget rape is even possible. o_O That's like an oxymoron right there. Unless something happens to change your mental state, like an accident or a stroke... you [I]can't[/I] forget. I can't speak for others, but it's been 30 years for me and I haven't forgotten. There was no abortion issue involved (I was too young to get pregnant) but still, rape isn't forgettable and like James just pointed out, that's an assumption that you've pulled out of thin air CS, I say thin air since no one has made that claim. [quote name='James'][font=franklin gothic medium]It is ironic that a male would sit here and make generalizations about the experiences that a woman has. My underlying point all along was that I'm in no position to arbitrarily decide what "degree" of suffering for a woman is acceptable or how she "should" react to that. It's incredibly arrogant to do so - and if I were a woman, I certainly wouldn't want that directed at me.[/font][/QUOTE]Exactly. It's incredibly easy to look in from the outside and think you know how someone should react. It's quite a bit different to be on the inside of that situation and looking at things from that direction. Which is why I will [I]never[/I] support a blanket law to exclude that rare exception caused by rape. I know what kind of hell that is. Just as I know that depending on the factors involved, there will be cases where abortion will be the best solution. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Since I'm in here... [CENTER][IMG]http://punditkitchen.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/political-pictures-mccain-pull-out.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/FONT][/COLOR]