Lady Macaiodh

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]As some of you might have heard, American prisoner-of-war Paul Johnson was beheaded by Al-Queada in Iraq on Friday. Then, on Monday, a South Korean prisoner was also beheaded, after publicly pleading for his life, because SK would not pull back troops from Iraq. Needless to say, these acts were extremely barbaric. But what the media is talking about lately is: should these events get the media coverage that they are? What is being shown is: Johnson blindfolded with a gun to his head; masked men making demands; the South Korean Man begging for his life; the SK man crying in front of multiple masked Al-Queadas; Johnson bound and gagged moments before death; graphic pictures of both men beheaded all over the internet. The question is, should the media be allowing these images to be getting out? Aren't they giving the terroritsts exactly what they want in giving them this attention? Isn't this very intimidating to Americans? Or doesn't the media have the responsibility to report what's going on? Should there be a limit to what images are shown and how often? What do you think? And have those of you in other countries seen this?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Actually, that's my "good friends only" name, so you should all feel very special. :) [/COLOR]

[color=darkblue]Of course love is real. In fact, I'd go so far as to say love is a tangible force to be reckoned with. I've certainly never felt or experienced anything like it. One day, when I'm a physicist, I'm going to find out if it can be measured and studied, if it is a quantum force, like light. I'm almost positive it can. Something like [i]chi.[/i] Either way, it seems to be some type of force, rather than just a feeling. How else can you explain why so many people have done so many crazy things in the name of it? I think that people experienced this [i]thing,[/i] and they felt it, so they called it a feeling, just like you feel energy, even though energy is really a force, and they needed to come up with a name for it, so they called it love. But there's really much more to it. Just my opinion. As for expressing it, if you're sure, just tell the person. It's nothing to be ashamed of. People need to learn to love for the sake of loving, not for being loved in return. Simple as that.[/color]

[color=darkblue]Now that I am getting divorced, I recently moved back home. The real ***** of this is that my parents, in some ways, are treating me like I am a teenager again, such as they don't want me to drink alcohol, ever. So I feel your pain.[/color]

[color=darkblue]When I was in high school I was Head of the Outcasts and sort of flaunted it. Yeah, it got to me sometimes, but mostly I didn't care. Of course, I ended up having to have a lot of therapy... [/color]

[color=darkblue]I know that when I fall in love, knowing the name, thinking the name, speaking the name, etc., of the person gives me the ultimate rush and makes me feel powerful. But this isn't what you mean, I think. I know that in circles of the Craft, a person's name can be used to perform spells. But whether those spells work depends on if you do them right. >.~[/color]

[color=darkblue]This is exactly why I never go on AIM anymore. This and messages from tons of people saying "Hi, will you be my friend?" and I think to myself, "Now who the hell gave them my AIM name?"[/color]

[color=darkblue]I remember the first time I saw anime, it was Dragonball Z. I was walking through the linging room, and my brothers were watching it. I just stopped in my tracks, literally. I was like, "Whoa... that guy is punching really [i]fast."[/i] The art and the action just sucked me in. I'd never seen anything like anime before, or since. I like the aspect of anime that it is typically seen as a child's medium, but with adult action and storylines. I think it has even brought modern cartoons to a more adult level -- matured them, you could say. Anime has brought entertainment to new horizons.[/color]

[color=darkblue]Alright, just hold on, now. I don't get this anit-Relena/Heero thing. Heero was a trained killer. You are all just mad because Relena ****** him all up, in a way. And why? Because his love for her was so powerful. Relena was not weak. I will never forget the scene where [spoiler]she stood at the foot of his gundam, staring straight up at him, knowing he could kill her at any moment. But she was totally fearless. He slammed the gundam's hand down hard, but instead of crushing her, it landed right beside her, and she didn't even flinch. This was after they'd danced together, and Heero was still in his tux. The blow was so powerful, it cut into the ground and the wind from it blew into Relena's hair and blew through her skirts. And she just looked up at him, right in the face. And he pounded the control pannel with his fists, yelling "What's wrong with me?!" be cause he knew right then that he couldn't kill her, that he could never kill her. He was the perfect killer up until he met her. And that was true love.[/spoiler] So that's why Relena saved Heero from himself. Before her, he was nothing but a machine. So there![/color]

[color=darkblue]It depends. I usually enjoy the subs much better. They are more graphic, for one thing. The dubs tend to be more edited. I like seeing a ****** or a "****" or spurting blood or nudity every now and then. It's the animal in me (sorry Asuki). Plus, I find that with the dubs, they sometimes change things. But, then again, it can get annoying reading the words at the bottom of the screen. I can't focus as much on the action if I'm reading the whole time. If I'm really familiar with the story, it's a moot point, though. The voices: Vegeta, I have to say, sounds much sexier in English. Sorry, that's just the way it is.[/color]

[color=darkblue]Body image and self-image are two completely different things. If anyone gives her any more diet or excercise tips, I will personally beat them. Girl, you could never eat again. You could do crunches until you pass out. You could run a marathon until you are 80 years old. But that doesn't mean you would like yourself. There's something deeper behind all this. Your body image problem and the eating disorders are just symptoms of a larger self-esteem issue. Until you figure out what that is, you will never be content with yourself. And forget about that guy. You shouldn't need him to reaffirm that you are beautiful, especially from what you've told us about yourself in this thread. "This, too, shall pass."[/color]

[color=darkblue]I understand completely. Having been raised in a rigorously Christian environment while having beliefs that were somewhat, shall we say, anti-establishment, and being an incredibly vocal person, I was extremely ostracized. Of course, I was a glutton for punishment and relished this sort of thing, even though I complained about it all the time, as well as used it to my advantage. Right, folks? Just ask anyone here. They've all heard about it. I'll give you two pieces of advice: 1) Do what I did and relish your difference. In fact, revel in it. Or, 2) Learn to be a little less obvious about it if you don't like people's reactions. High school and church are not good places if you don't like sticking out. Once you get a little older, you will find your niche, and it won't matter so much how you act. And Cloricus! How dare you quote Tyler Durden! I can't believe we actually have something in common. I must now poke out your eyes, for we have seen the same thing and loved it.[/color]

[color=darkblue]Hence the wink. Saying it's not perfect is an understatement, though. But I'm the last person to say I have a clue about the subject. *scratches head in utter confusion* The subject of sex really depends on the parties involved. Parenting is much the same. It's not like a driving permit, where you can do it as long as you pass a test. It takes maturity, practice, and just plain winging it as you go along. It's something you really have to get used to to get right. I'd have to agree, though, that 15 and 35 is a bit of a stretch. Oh, well, as long as the whole thing remains fiction. [/color]

[color=darkblue]I do wonder one thing, though. Who decided that eighteen should be the age of consent? It's not as if a maturity switch is thrown in the brain on one's eighteenth birthday. *wink*[/color]

[color=darkblue]I just remembered another one, which I'm sure you will all make fun of me for. Yesterday morning, I was really bored and flipping channels and I saw... Saved By the Bell. Who could ever forget the greatest couple to ever exist, Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski? My brother and I were talking about a year ago, and he admitted to me that he still watches that show nearly every day on his lunch break. This was before teenagers were portrayed as real people, folks. Go ahead and laugh, that show was a classic.[/color]

[color=darkblue]I don't care what anybody says, Ronald Reagan was the greatest president to come along in my lifetime (and I was born during the dreadful Carter years, when Reagan was handed one of the worst economic situations in recent history) and when he died I was depressed for days. I feel better now, but for those of you who criticized him, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Reagan performed some of the greatest presidential acts since Kennedy desegregated public schools. A celebration of Reagan's political career is a celebration of what makes America great. And don't start on about how screwed up America is, because I don't want to hear it. I'm so sick of the spoiled, bratty attitudes around this place. You'd think we were living in a third world country, the way you [i]kids[/i] complain about America and politicians all the time. Well, guess what. It's not easy running a government this big. There's just no way for it to be peachy perfect all the time. People make mistakes. But most of them are trying to do the right thing. So thanks a lot, people. What should have been a nice tribute has turned into a childish bickering match. If the argument hadn't been about the death of a truly great man, I wouldn't have said anything, but this is pathetic. If you don't like Reagan, just have some respect for the dead and stay away from the thread, [i]kids.[/i] For those who tried to defend, I'm not talking to you.[/color]

[color=darkblue]I think that for a female one or two [i]at most[/i] tasteful tattoos are very attractive, as long as they are in the right spot. They shouldn't get them in places where the skin can easily sag and stretch in the future, such as arms, stomachs, and lower backs. As for piercings, go for it! As long as there's not a horrible infection, you can take it out and no one will be the wiser once you get bored with it. In fact, I love a tattooed, pierced male, as long as he's not gone overboard. For guys, the shoulders and biceps are the sexiest places for a tattoo. I like tribals the best.[/color]

[color=darkblue]I've actually faced death before. Before that, I didn't fear it, but I do now. I always thought I was invincible, that I'd have plenty of time to rectify my mistakes and make peace with God. But now I know that's not the case. Awhile back, not so very long ago, but not recently either, I took a bunch of pills to get high. As they took effect, I literally felt my life slipping away. My heart was not beating right. I felt like my soul was not attached to my body right. I woke up the next day in the intensive care unit with a failing liver. Thank God the doctors were able to save me and that my mother found me in time. I fear my death because I don't want to put my mother through the agony of it. I fear it because I don't know what will happen to my soul. If I knew I'd just cease to be, or that I'd go to heaven, or that my mother would not be hurt by it, that'd be one thing. But I don't know those things. One thing's for sure... I want her to go before me. She's already lost her brother to suicide. No mother should have to bury her child. I know that from when I had to bury mine.[/color]

[color=darkblue]First of all, Kurt was just sort of naturally short and scrawny to begin with. He got picked on by jocks a lot in high school. Second, he was very poor and starving before he got famous. Third, he was a notorious pill junkie and had bad ulcers, so it was hard for him to eat anyway. Fourth, he was a heroin addict, and heroin addicts don't eat much. Being probably the biggest Nirvana fan you'll ever meet, you can safely assume what I say is true when I tell you that Kurt never wrote any mainstream song about anorexia. He might've written some obscure B-side about it that I've never heard of, but I doubt it. I'm wracking my brains, but I really can't think of any. If I'm wrong, I apologize.[/color]

[color=darkblue]Oh, yeah! I remember those Snick shows, though I was more of an adolecent when they came out and not so much a kid anymore. I watched 'em all. My favorite was Clarissa Explains It All. I loved that one. Dick Van Dyke, that was good. Mostly I remember the shows I [i]wasn't[/i] allowed to watch, for some stupid reason or another, because they were against my parents' religious beliefs. I know I've mentioned this before. There was Scooby Doo, Pee Wee's PlayHouse, Smurfs, Masters Of the Universe, Care Bears, about a million others... oh yeah, we had to change the channel when the Count came on on Sesamee Street. Oy.[/color]

[color=darkblue]Yes! I am in love with Brad and Jen. They are the perfect celeb couple. But I don't know. I'd be hard pressed to find a more perfect celeb than Will Smith. Let me think... Denzel Washington is pretty perfect. Not only is he the first black man to win an Oscar, he is a huge role model for black children. He grew up in the ghetto and is an advocate for the Boys and Girls Club (he was a member as a kid). I don't know much about his personal life, though. Beyonce Knowles is pretty well-rounded. She sings, acts, and is a model. She does lots of charity work. If I think of anyone else, I'll let you guys know. We need to get some white people up here in this list![/color]

[color=darkblue]I have a few faves, here: [b]Brad Pitt:[/b] Okay, I know what you're thinking, but I actually don't find him all that physically hot. It was only until I saw Twelve Monkeys that I recognized his true genius. Then I saw my favorite movie of all time, Fight Club, and I was a goner. Tyler Durden is my all-time favorite character. [b]Edward Norton:[/b] [spoiler]See above[/spoiler] He was also wonderful in American History X, very sexy. He was especially powerful in that shower scene right after he has gotten out of prison, with the water is washing all over him and you can tell he hates that Nazi tattoo. [b]Jim Carrey:[/b] The funniest man this side of the galaxy. He is so crazy, just so completely out there, that no one even has the capacity to perform his roles the way he does. And have you ever seen him interview? It's insane! He would be so much fun to be friends with. Or lovers, heheh. [b]Bruce Willis:[/b] Without a doubt, hands down, the sexiest man I've ever laid eyes on. That's just all there is to it. [b]Drew Barrymore:[/b] Just a great enduring actress, wonderful personality. She would also be great to party with.[/color]

[color=darkblue]I do remember this: my absolute favorite show as a kid was The Patty Duke Show. Gotta love that Nick at Nite. But of course there was Voltron, Thundercats, Silverhawks, and Belle & Sebastian. Anyone remember Belle & Sebastian? The White Monster! Now that I think about it, why was everybody so afraid of Belle? She was just a damn dog.[/color]

[color=darkblue]Oh, if only Navi were here. I recently picked up [i]Children of the Mind.[/i] Haven't started reading it yet, but I have new motivation now. I am a [i]huge[/i] fan of these books. I am so hyped to see this movie. The books are so intense and superb, I don't see how the movie could possibly live up, but I guess we'll see. Terra, you ought to read [i]Shadow[/i] as soon as you can. In my opinion, it is a lot more warped and twisted. Bean grew up a lot differently than Ender did. Also, it tells the story from a group dynamic, not from the leader point of view. Even though Bean and Ender are similar personalities, they experience the war in completely different ways.[/color]

[color=darkblue]The main thing I love about a guy, as long as he's [i]reasonably[/i] attractive, is a sense of humor. If he can make me laugh, if he's smart and witty (not goofy), that will make me fall for him in an instant. The main physical feature I go for is a big, beautiful smile.[/color]