SunfallE

[QUOTE=MistressRoxie][size=1][color=#9933ff] I don't think clueless is the right word for everybody, either (okay, in the following paragraph, don't include the MSBlaster thingy, which, according to my knowledge, attacks your system when you turn it on for the first time, or something like that). [/color][/size][/QUOTE] Well I know you said don't include MSBlaster, but....it does apply to this situation as what it does is shut down your computer when it connects to the internet if you don't have a firewall running or the patch installed, not when you turn the computer on. :animeswea And I agree, clueless is the wrong word to use. A better one would go along the lines of un-educated. Not that people are dumb, just unaware of what they need to do to protect themselves. [QUOTE=MistressRoxie][size=1][color=#9933ff] The generation of people grown up with computers constantly in their lives - the way the telephone (a piece of "technology" if you will) was always there for those WWII vets, more people will know how to use their machines, and schools - even primary schools will have more of a chance to offer more and more computer 101classes and such. I mean, just recently, my school district for grades K-8 set up the curriculumn so that the teachers could teach their students how to properly evalutate websites for content & use databases of originally print material as more reliable sources. When I went through the system just a few years ago, I had none of that. So it will take some time before it's second nature for everyone to always run anti-virus, spyware detecting programs & firewalls, but they'll get there, eventually. [/color][/size][/QUOTE] Yeah, it will take a while. :animesmil And it doesn't help that the technology keeps changing at a rapid pace. They didn't have any basic computer classes when I was growing up, but my father was a computer science theory teacher at a university when I was a kid so I ended up having computer in the home for over a decade before they became more common in the home. I think once people get more use to how it works like you said, running anti-virus, spyware programs and firewalls will be second nature. ;)

[QUOTE=Corey][size=1]If I could get away with it, I'd eat only once a day with a muffin or something inbetween, but unfortunately I'm hypoglycemic, or however you spell it. If the glucose level in my body drops too low, I either get really angry and irritated, or apathetic and antisocial. I have to eat, at the minimum, every eight hours or so while I'm awake. I skip breakfast though. I get the whole nausea thing if I eat in the morning too. It also desn't help that my lunch hour is at 10:12 in the morning.[/size][/QUOTE] Like Corey I'm Hypoglycemic as well. Skipping breakfast isn't an option. I don't actually get hungry, I just start feeling terriable and become angry, irritable, or the apathetic and antisocial. I can eat a full meal and one hour later my blood sugar is back down in the need to take in food level. :animesigh It took quite a bit of trial and error to finally find a routine that works for me. I actually have several protein shakes and protein bars throughout the day. That works really well for me. I'm not talking about body building shakes though. I had to hunt around to find something that kept me going. Ironically most processed food just makes me sick. I can eat it, but get no energy from it.

Although the era was a huge leap in 3D for game consoles, I remember quite well that there already was games before that playing quite well on the computer in 3D. Like the Tomb Raider games for PS1. The computer versions were awesome. When PS2, Xbox and Gamecube came out, It was gratifying to see that game consoles were finally catching up with computers. And since computer have gone way beyond that, I'm early awating the next phase in game consoles. I agree with Bloodseeker in that although the graphics have improved and it's moved to 3D format, it was definatly a bit lacking in the RPG story type of games. I mean they did put out some good ones, but not enough for me. :animesmil

[QUOTE=Red] Judging by the amount industry loses every year (an estimated $10-15 billion in 2004) to virus attacks [i]alone[/i], I very much so doubt that within the realm of technological possibility a company would be able to send a virus out for financial gain without it either affecting them at some point, or it not being traced back to them. [/QUOTE] Well I can't argue with that. My earlier statement was a bit generalized. After all when the Blaster virus hit Microsoft had to dish out quite a bit of overtime pay for us to work on the problem. In that respect the additional pay would overshadow any gain. I don't suspect Microsoft, I'm only using them as an example to why your statement is accurate. :animesmil [QUOTE=Red] At the core of it all, developers are what eventually allow malicious software to do it's thang, so to speak. When creating software more security testing needs to be done (especially as applications grow larger and more complex), but this costs time & money, something which big companies are not too fond of. If anybody's interested a far more comprehensive computer health guide will be stickied in [url=http://otakuboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=14]PC/Mac[/url] in the coming days. The current one is rather dated. ;)[/QUOTE] Amen to that, I've only had a few programing classes and it takes a lot of time just to make a small application secure. The idea of doing so for something more complex like an operating system is just mind boggling! Thanks for the info about the upcoming PC/Mac information. I'll be looking foward to it! :animesmil

That's a tough choice! I have a dog and a cat. For being down right cute and cuddly my dog wins. I have Bichon and they are the type of dog who are in your face with a "Love me, Pet me, Hold me, Rub my tummy!" attitude. Even my dad who isn't big on animals loves her. As for my cat, well....... I had to give him the middle name Lucifer because he did turn out evil! LOL You hear the stories about how the dog destroyed this or that, well in my case it's the cat! We finally had to fix a room with almost nothing in it and keep him in there. We can't let him roam as he chews on any and eveything, his personal favirote being powercords. :animesigh Though sometimes I'm tempted to just let the little rat get electrocuted. Heck, we even had to remove posters off the walls of the room he was in as he would pull the tacks out with his teeth and then proceed to start chewing the poster off the wall! We keep him though as my dog and him have been together since they were babies. And it's very entertaining to let them both loose in a room to play. :animesmil Though truthfully, after this cat I think I'm going to stick with dogs.

[QUOTE=JenniKate]I used to work in tech support and I don't think I have ever worked so hard as I did when the blaster virus hit! It was hell. From that day alone I have cursed all people who create virus's. I don't understand what the thrill is ooo you created something that caused millions of people to get peeved and yell at the poor tech's that are just trying to help :mad: Anyways it now seems that spyware is the new thing people like to build. Our tech guys spend half their time recommending spyware removal programs just so customers can get their machines functioning so they can use the Internet again. I'm with you SunfallE, I think there are companies out there that are causing problems so people will buy their software to fix it.... I just wish they'd give us some of the profit's for recommending them ;)[/QUOTE] Yeah, I remember it all to well when the blaster virus hit. We were putting in 60 and 80 hour weeks to keep up with the calls. I only got some time off as I had already applied for vacation before hand and it was already approved. After two weeks of living at work, three days off was like being in heaven. I agree, we recommend so many software programs to people and yet they get all the profit. Sure you might pay $35+ for Tech support, but many techs don't really get paid to much. In Utah your are lucky to get between 10-15 an hour. Many companies only pay around 8 an hour here. Utah wages suck! :animeangr [quote name='Godelsensei]Simple solution: [b]get a freakin' Mac.[/b'] There's a certain smugness that attaches itself to one after being told that file that was not compatible with your operating system was some kind of hard drive-destroying son of a ***** worm or whatever.[/quote] Well, hate to tell you but there are viruses that are designed to attack a Mac Operating System. I've friends who have Mac computers that have gotten a virus. The only smugness that you can count on is that most virus creators are primarily interested in getting as many people as possilbe. Since the market is mostly PC based, most viruses are written to affect that type of system. If the market was primarly Mac's then the argument would be to get a PC and not a Mac as the virus creators would then be targeting Mac's instead of PC's. They don't really care which type of computer you have, they only want to get as many people as possible. And another thing, alot of people get viruses because they lack the knowledge to protect themselves from being attacked. There are preventive measures that one can take to minimize the chances of being comprimised by a virus. Take the Blaster Virus. Microsoft had issued the patch at their update site for over 3 weeks before the virus even hit. Since many people don't update regularly, they were open to attack. Then many people don't even use a firewall, which would have protected them from the virus even if they didn't have the patch installed. As a tech, the main solution we were telling people to do was to enable the firewall that comes with Windows XP and then directing them to the update to install the patch. Many of my friends think computers should run without any maintaince, but would you drive your car forever without putting any gas in, changing the tires, or having oil changes done? It's the same with a computer. it needs regular maintaince to keep it running smoothly. :animesmil

That's a shame that England doesn't have much anime or manga. Ironically after anime British TV series are my favirote. I love their comedies like Are You Being Served, Keeping Up Appearances and Allo Allo. Hopefully you can get what you want online. I often have to do that here. Although Anime and Manga are available at a few stores, it's not super popular here so quite often I have to order what I want either directly from the publisher or from amazon.com.

Look a little further in the theads and you will find one about "How straight are you?" and one titled "Coming out stories" You just have to look further than the first two pages of threads to find them. :animesmil I don't think we need to have tons of threads on this topic to discuss it.

[quote name='x kakashi x']I'd feel prety bad to if I had to pay a computer technician $90 an hour to fix my computer. It wouldn't surprise me if they made the viruses themselves and sent them out. The more problems for other people, the more money for them. I'm so diabolical :D[/quote] LOL to tell the truth, those of us who were on the bottom rung so to speak often wondered. After all programs like MacFee only upgrade for a year and you have to go buy another version. :animesigh It wouldn't surprise me to find out some of the virsus actually came from companies that produce anti-virsus software, or any other company that would get a financial gain from the virsus causing problems. :animesigh I'm cynical enough that not even the president is free from being suspected. ;) Mind you I'm not a conspiracy theory type of person, but I fimly believe in the corruption of large corporations. :animesigh One of the areas where I am not proud to be American. :animesigh

Personally I haven't had many problems with spyware or virsus, but most of my friends have had lots of problems. I know since I'm usually the one who fixes their computer for them. :animeswea I agree with [COLOR=DarkGreen]Lord Dante and Bloodseeker[/COLOR] people who create virsus are basically [B]losers[/B] I've done computer tech support and I remember when the Blaster virsus hit, we were so busy helping people get their computer working again. I felt bad for them as it was so frustrating for them to have problems and yet have no idea how to fix it. They had to waste hours of their time on the phone waiting for a tech because some lowlife loser wrote a virsus. Personally I think if they manage to catch them that the penality isn't strong enough. I think most of them don't even end up serving any jail time.

Well I'm 5.7 though with the boots I wear it's closer to 5.8 and a half. Personally I like my height. All the girls in my family are 5.1 or shorter and when I was little I was determined to be taller than all of them. So I was happy to be half a foot taller than all of them. :animesmil Though I'm not sure how I ended up being the only girl to be taller in my family.

I've seen it, but never considered writing a review about it. I personally didin't care for it. Not that I didn't think it was interesting, only that it's not the type of anime I find fun to watch. It was very interesting how at first you were following peoples thoughts in regards to what was going on, and perhaps that is what turned me off so quickly on the series. I mean other than one character practically everyone was [spoiler]self-centered and mean, Or so it seemed to me. And the guy who attempts to rape the woman and only one person tries to stop him. It may be realistic but I don't care for that in shows.[/spoiler] Anyway, please don't take my comments personally, okay? :animeswea

[quote name='NashvilleDream']My greatest fear is being alone; having everyone leave me. To me, that would be the worst thing in the world, and I always fear that it will happen. So many people hate me and I'm not the best sort... I've had friends leave me before.[/quote] I guess that would be me too. I've had people I love die and it's unbearably painful getting use to the fact that you will never see them again. I mean pictures just aren't the same. :( I know that everyone will die someday, I just don't look foward to it. *though I'm sure no one does*

The only person I have met is the author of the Shannara series Terry Brooks. He turned out to be a really nice guy too. So many people showed up to get their books signed that he stayed an extra four hours in order to meet everyone. I was really glad he did as I was near the end of the line and wouldn't have gotten to met him if he hadn't stayed.

[quote name='Baron Samedi][size=1]Aah, the blissful ignorance of your average American :p There does exist a world outside of America. And in it, many countries drive on the [b]left-hand side[/b'] of the road.[/size][/quote] I wouldn't call it ignorance, :animeswea But I do admit that when I first learned that alot of other countries drove on the left side it did seem really strange. :animesmil [QUOTE=Zombie_Nosh][RIGHT] [COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=3][FONT=Garamond]I don't really like baths so much. Well, I do, but I always feel . . . dirty afterwards. Something about bathing in my own filth, doesn't do it for me. BUt, hey, whatever you're into, right ? .[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/QUOTE] I personally prefer taking a bath, but I learned from my aunt that you shower first to get the dirt and grime off. Then you fix your bath as hot as you can stand it and soak to relax. And believe me it's very relaxing. :animesmil [QUOTE=Gelgoog Pilot][B]*shakes head* I see your point James, but think of it this way...If you're taking a shower and someone who was going to the bathroom flushes....wow...it's a rude awakening. Water that was once cozy and warm, now becomes frigid and evil :animedepr . Not to mention the possible smell reprocussions...you'd still get then since the rooms are usually close to one another, what with piping and all. Maybe you guys are more fortunate and you have a seperate line for your toilet and shower...me I live in an old house. I'd rather have the toilet in the same room that way I know nobody will get devious and flush the toilet while im in there. Which brings up another use. Not only is it for torturing cats, but by either flushing the toilet or turning on a faucet you can torture your roomate! :animesmil[/B][/QUOTE] Yeah, having the water turn cold isn't any fun. When we remodeled the bathroom we had the plumer put in the type of shower that doesn't change temperature when water is turned on elsewhere in the home. You may lose some of the water pressure, but at least the water doesn't go hot or cold on you. :animesmil

Well since I don't even know my own bloodtype I could care less what another's actually is. The only thing I don't like in a relationship is if the other is deeply religious. Not that I have anything against someone being that way. It's just that usually when I date someone like that they keep trying to change me because I am not religious. So it gets really annoying. It's like they become fixated on getting me active in whatever religion they belong too, even though from the very begining I was honest about the fact that I don't want to be part of a religion right now. Oh yeah, I won't date someone who smokes. I have sinus problems and smoking makes it ten times worse. :animesigh And I don't like drinking either since my brother was killed by a drunk driver. Mostly I look for personality traits when I am considering being more serious with someone. :animesmil

Well I haven't been to alot of places. Sure I've traveled through California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Montana and many western states, but the visits there were just my job to deliver stuff. :animesigh I didn't actually go there on vacation or anything. Proably the only places I have ever really traveled to have been Utah, the state I live in as there are 5 national parks and I have visited all of them at least twice. And then I guess I could include Oregon as my brother lives there and we went twice to visit. But primarly the main place I have been to is Yellowstone National Park. It's like a family tradition to go there. I think I have visited that place 16+ times and we are going there on vacation again next month for a week. Though truthfully, I love going there, the park is so huge there is always something new to be seen. :animesmil

[QUOTE=Skye][size=1][color=red]Well, I'll do [b]^.^[/b] since no-ones done you yet. You are not afraid to let your childish side take over once in a while, and seem pretty carefree. You are an open book most of the time, and are not afraid to say what you mean. Yeah. And for [b]SunfallE[/b], you seem like a nice person, but someone searching for something. You need answers, and seem lost without them. You?re afraid of what you don?t know, but you don?t let that fear hold you back from discovering the answers to your questions. ^_______^ I?d do others, but I think I?ll only do people I don?t know already. (We sound like we're doing quiz results. XD)[/size][/color][/QUOTE] Wow! Another one that is so me! :animesmil In many ways my life has been a huge search for answers. As for you [B]Skye[/B] I think what [B]Kairi[/B] said neatly sums up what I had thought as well. :animesmil

Well this is a strange topic! For myself, which stall I use depends upon how clean the bathroom is. I try to pick one that is at least moderately clean. I don't worry about catching diseases as it's alot harder to catch something from a public bathroom than most people think. Ironically when I'm on the road driving the only bathrooms available to me are public bathrooms. I lack the willpower to hold it for over a week, since I'm usually on the road at least a week at a time. :animeswea As for horror stories, well when I was in 4th grade I attended a brand new school they had built in my neighborhood. The very first day of school the power went out and naturally it happened when I was in the bathroom. Since the school was new and they hadn't worked all the bugs in their systems out, the emergency lights didn't come one and this bathroom had no windows. It was pitch black in there and I had to try to feel my way out as I wasn't familiar with the layout. I ran face first into a wall twice trying to get out. LOL It scared the heck out of me. :animesmil

hmmmm... That's a tough question to answer, on some level I would die or take a bullet for anyone. I just can't stand by and watch something go down if I have the power to stop it. However, I would prefer that it be for someone I love or care for. Not that I don't care for others, it's just that my feelings are more deep for them than they are for a total stanger. Truthfully I hope I never have to face such a decision.

[QUOTE=No-One][B]SunfallE[/B] You are a dreamer who takes courage in fear. If you fall you get up again. You truly value friendship but have a shadow you guard with all your heart. :animeblus does that sound like you? This is a fun game OOOooooo someone do mine! lol[/QUOTE] Wow! That's so me it's downright scary! LOL Okay [B]No-One[/B] You are a person who understands just how hard true happiness can be. You too value friendship and know just how hard it can be to feel like you don't exist. Your friendship once earned is eternal. :animesmil

Well it's past 4-23-05 but if you need the info here it is :animesmil 1. Age:- [COLOR=Green]30 and above[/COLOR] 2. Gender:-[COLOR=DarkGreen]female[/COLOR] 3. Where are u from? (nationality, country) [COLOR=DarkGreen]America[/COLOR] 4. How did u come across anime? [COLOR=DarkGreen]friends[/COLOR] 5. Do you think Anime influences u as a person? Explain [COLOR=DarkGreen]no I don't think it influences me, I am more inclined to say it fits my personality[/COLOR] 6. Research shows that anime is increasingly popular with the western world. Why do you think this is so? [COLOR=DarkGreen]I think alot of people are tired of the same type of stories and shows being show in the western world. Anime is in many ways quite different and that uniquiness is what attracts viewers[/COLOR] 7. What attracts you to anime? [COLOR=DarkGreen] it?s different[/COLOR] 8. Is your interest in Anime, in any way related to an interest in Japan or to learn about Japenese society? [COLOR=DarkGreen]no, I've been interested in Japan long before I saw anime, I love their art and gardens and the unique culture. I've been planning to visit Japan long before I became an anime fan[/COLOR] 9. Have you taken a Japanese language class or been to Japan? [COLOR=DarkGreen]no[/COLOR] 10. Have you learned anything about Japanese culture, and if so, give 3 specific examples? [COLOR=DarkGreen]I honestly don't know, which is part of why I've always wanted to visit, to learn more about the culture[/COLOR]

hmmm.... [B]NashvilleDream[/B] You to me seem very calm and always open towards others. You also seem to have many dreams and cherish the uniqueness in yourself and others. Like your avatar, always a hand out in welcome. ^_^

Well it's been a while, but I hated High School. The problem was that when I started my family lived in Dallas Texas and I was attending one of the top 5 school districts in the entire US. *It was number 3 at the time* Then my family moved to Utah and the school sucked big time. I was so far ahead of the other students that at first my teachers assumed I was stupid and tried to put me in special education classes. I kept trying to explain to them that it was just [B]boring[/B] but they didn't think a mere High School student could possibly be smart enough to realize that their classes were lacking. It wasn't until one teacher got the bright idea to have me take an assesment test by the local college that they figured out I was already at a beginning college level. I still had to endure two years of classes that bored me to tears though. :animesigh Even the honors classes were boring. My mom tried to pull me out of High School and have me attend college but the schools insisted that I attend High School and wouldn't allow it. I was so glad to finally get to College. :animesmil

Well I started reading Manga because I saw part of Yu-Gi-Oh and thought that it can't possibly be that stupid. Parts of what I saw just didn't mesh so I was sure it had to be majorly edited. So I got the first few books to see if my assumptions about it being edited were correct. I was totally surprised by the differences between the show and the manga. I really liked the manga so I started looking at other series too. Now I like reading it to see the differences between the manga and the anime. Series like Detective Conan, Fruits Basket and Pretear are fun to read as there are differences or extra stuff that wasn't put into the anime. :animesmil