Boba Fett

[quote name='Transtic Nerve']Gun Control does not exist in America, you can see that plainly by looking at the death rates involving guns of countries that do have gun control...[/quote] [color=green]Gun control does exist in America, and is pretty much in line with the rest of the world in this regard. In fact, there are more guns per capita in Canada than there are in the United States. However, there are fewer gun deaths per year per capita in Canada than there are in the United States. (This statistic is from [u]Bowling for Columbine[/u] by Michael Moore) It sounds cheesy, but guns don?t kill people, people kill people. Our Problem is not with gun control, but with gun education. American society, for whatever reason, is more violent than other countries. We need to better educate the public about safe gun use, and the consequences of gun use.[/color] [quote name='Transtic Nerve']Gun control should exist because guns are like drugs, they serve no purpose what-so-ever and we have no problem banning drugs.... And before one of you idiots that defend the second amendment come blabbering in, take into consideration that the high powered weapons of today did not exist in the late 1700s. If you would like, i would be more than happy to support your right to carry an 18th century musket, but any other gun, sorry.[/quote] [color=green]Guns do serve a purpose. Gun ownership is protected in the Constitution as a method of self-defense. While it is obvious that the Founding Fathers of our nation couldn?t have imagined our high-powered automatic weapons of today, controls and restrictions are [I]already in place[/I] to prevent combat weapons from being owned by private citizens. Take the assault weapons ban for instance, and bans on highly dangerous types of ammunition (explosive bullets, etc.) So I guess by quoting one of the most heralded documents of the free world, I?m now an idiot in your book TN? If you have an issue with gun ownership, call your local representatives. They?ll listen.[/color] [quote name='Transtic Nerve']I believe the US government should ban bullets. This would easily solve the gun problem without having to make Billy Bob over there give up all his precious weapons. Guns are for people who can't fight anyway... they are a p----y weapon.[/quote] [color=green]If you?re going to ban bullets, but not guns, that?s silly. You either allow gun (and bullet) ownership, or you take both of these rights away. There?s no middle ground. Gun?s are for people who can?t fight? I agree with you on this one. For the physically handicapped, who cannot defend themselves physically if assaulted, guns are their only effective method of self-defense. I?d think this issue would hold special significance to you, as a gay man. Unfortunate as it is, there are bigots out there who would beat up and possibly kill gay people. Take the Matthew Shepard case, for instance. He wasn?t a large man, and was beat up and killed by several more physically able persons. If he had carried a gun, he?d have been able to save his life. Guns aren?t ?p---- weapons?, they?re a method of self-defense for people who aren?t able to defend themselves in other ways.[/color] [quote name='Transtic Nerve']Guns serve one purpose, to kill. As Americans, we're trying to cut down on that, therefor there seems to be only one reasonable outcome for guns, yet... still it hasn't happened.... what exactly goes through the minds of americans? I can't figure out how so many people in one country can be so incredibly stupid.[/quote] [color=green]I?ve already explained why guns are necessary. I hope that you?ll consider my arguments?[/color]

[color=green]I'd like to see increased help with user problems. I've been trying, without success, to get help with an issue regarding my ?Edit Content? page. I simply can?t change it without getting an error message. I?ve e-mailed Adam twice and posted on the ?MyO help thread?, but have never received a response. So, for V2, I?d love to see increased user help for the less tech savvy crowd around here?[/color]

[color=green]Villainy is quite an interesting concept, one that seems to appeal to a surprisingly large amount of people. In stories, there are many character types each of which plays a role It seems that the [I]good[/I] good guy, someone who is completely ethical and ?fights? evil for the good of everyone else, has nearly vanished. These guys fight evil because it?s the right thing to do, and almost exclusively fight it non-violently. The [I]Phantom[/I], a superhero from King Syndicate?s comics, is the only example that comes to mind. I tend to find these characters boring myself? More recently, movies and novels have centered around [I]bad[/I] good guys, people you ?know?, through the story?s events, are good people but do ?bad? things. Jack Sparrow of [u]Pirates of the Caribbean[/u], Lando Calrissian of [u]Star Wars[/u] and Artemis Fowl of the series by the same name are all great examples of this character type. These characters tend to be more interesting and relatable than others. Moving back to the topic, villainy, there are also multiple types of bad guys. The [I]good[/I] bad guy is someone who isn?t evil, but rather does ?bad? things for reasons that a movie viewer or a novel reader can understand or relate to. Boba Fett from [u]Star Wars[/u] is my favorite [I]good[/I] bad guy. Finally, we come to the [I]bad[/I] bad guy. These people may or may not be likeable, but one thing is certain; they?re unquestionably bad or evil. They do what they do for personal enjoyment, as a result of boredom or just to be evil. Death, carnage and destruction of property don?t make [I]bad[/I] bad guys blink. Emperor Palpitine from [u]Star Wars[/u], most historical dictators and a majority of superhero nemesis?s fit into this category. From the stories that I?ve seen and read, it?s the [I]bad[/I] bad guys who are the masters of villainy. Their schemes may not always work out, in fact they almost never do, but the intent is there. Why people are drawn to villainy is something I really don?t understand, but I must say that I enjoy the part of the villain far more than that of the hero. Villainy is more fun, for starters. Ease is also another factor, I guess. That?s my take on villainy. Long live the Empire![/color]

[center][u][b]Witness[/b][/u][/center] It was three years ago, before I was freed from the Matrix. I?d just begun contemplating a tactful way to ask my father for permission to go into the courtyard and play, when cold, echoing words began to fill the crisp autumn air. Then the sounds of a brawl began resounding through our apartment, and my father yelled for us to get on the floor. I was scared, and a little jealous. Everyone else was in the kitchen, which had a balcony that overlooked the courtyard, which was were the fighting seemed to be taking place. I debated crawling into the kitchen to see what was going on, but knew that my parents would be furious with me if I did. So instead I waited, listening to the voices outside grunting and groaning in agony of a feirce melee. I heard the swoosh of something cutting through the air like a sword, then a eerie crunch as it made contact with a body. Most likely it was a turf war between local gangs. There was simply no other explanation for such a large fight. My attention was diverted to the kitchen, as I heard a strange noise, and muffled cries of pain. I placed my head on the floor and looked under the closed door of my room into the kitchen. A kitchen where, moments before, I was sure had been my family. Now, they were gone. Vanished from their prone positions on the floor, and nowhere to be seen. I got up, and looked through the keyhole of my door, terrified. The pounding of several pairs of shoes reached my ears as someone else walked though my house, down the back stairs, and out the door into the courtyard. It could have been several people; I was too scared to think straight. Adrenaline pounded through my veins. Curiosity overpowered fear. I opened the door and nervously peeked out. Seeing nobody, I walked over to our balcony and looked down. What lay below was like nothing I?d seen before, or since. In the courtyard below was a pile of men. They were all jumping on top of each other, as if trying to cover something beneath them. Stranger still was that all the men were wearing the exact same clothes. Upon closer inspection, they all [I]were[/I] the same. Like identical twins, only there were about a hundred of them. I blinked and pinched my arm, but the dog pile of human clones remained. A muffled voice spoke from deep within the pile, and I didn?t catch what he said. Then the others started echoing him, in a malevolent and gleeful way. Then silence filled the courtyard for the first time in what seemed like years. Nobody in the pile moved. Then a cry came from the middle of the pile. A scream of rage so loud it pierced the mound of bodies it was enveloped in. Then the mountain of clones exploded. Men in business suits went flying in every direction, one straight up into the sky for fifty feet before plummeting back to earth. Then a different figure caught my eye. One man emerged, who would have struck me as cool because of his sunglasses, if I hadn?t been completely scared. Moving with confidence and without a trace of emotion on his face, he looked around at the ?clones?. Seeming neither worried, surprised or scared that he was surrounded by a mob of identical men, the different one gazed skyward. He knelt down, and the pavement beneath his feet rippled like water. After slowly raising his head to look up, he flew away. I was shocked. He just flew away. Just like superman? In perfect unison, the clones looked up after him. They watched him, as did I, until he was no more than a speck in the distance. Then the clones began dispersing. They exited the courtyard though every available exit, all one hundred of them, in just a few seconds. I began to worry that they might come into my house, but my curiosity got the better of me and I stayed to watch. One of the clones had stayed in the courtyard. Just one. Like all the rest, but different. He began to walk towards the main entrance to the courtyard, a door behind the bench. The doorknob turned in his hand and he was about to leave when he stopped. The ?clone? raised his head and looked straight at me. It, whatever it was, stared into my eyes with a look of utter contempt and I stared back. After a moment, he left.

[quote name='George Washington']Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company.[/quote] [color=green]This is pretty much a rule to live by; only befriend people who you know are honest, respectful, hard working and share the same morals that you do. No matter how hard you try, your friends will influence you. Knowing this, make sure your friends are good people.[/color]

[quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet'] Well, on the news tonight they said that in the past 20 Security Advisors have testified in hearings and only 5 haven't. Jimmy Carter even testified about his deferment (is that the right word?) of Nixon back in the 70's[/color][/quote] [color=green]The past 20? I?ve never heard that number, and I doubt its accuracy. Can you prove that?[/color] [quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet']I guess I'm just some kind of skeptic sometimes since I feel that maybe sionce she's not going to testify she could be hiding something. Not about 9/11 persay since as someone has already said, these people were already entrenched in the united states, but maybe why we never found any WMD or why we decided to go to war with Iraq who had no ties with Bin Laden.[/color][/quote] [color=green]As Deathbug so eloquently stated above, of course Rice has things to hide. She gets briefed on almost all of the United State?s important intelligence information, which could be severely damaging for the US or our allies if released. Not to mention dangerous? I doubt that she?s hiding any of the things you mentioned above, especially the Bin Laden à Iraq Connection (Seeing as we?ve already established that connection, I can dig it up from previous threads if need be).[/color] [quote name='ChibiHorsewoman][color=darkviolet']True, we may get a biased opinion in the end, but a biased opinion is better than none at all, right?[/color][/quote] [color=green]How could we [I]not[/I] get a biased opinion? You?re talking about a partisan political hearing that calls partisan people to testify in a thinly veiled attack on President Bush. Everyone who?s on that committee and has testified before it has been biased. Some have been severely biased. That ?investigation? is nothing but bias, and should be taken with a grain of salt.[/color]

[color=green]I?ve sent an e-mail to Adam regarding this issue, but he hasn?t responded. I figured I?d have a better chance getting this addressed here. I, for some unknown reason, cannot ?Edit Content?. Whenever I do attempt to edit it, I get the number eight error message. Any ideas on how this can be fixed or where the problem may lie?[/color]

[quote name='cloricus']Do I have a reason not too? There was little terrorism when Saddam was in power, the jails were less full and there was more control. (Which I will note is far better than current conditions.)[/quote] [color=green]o_O You?re telling me that you?d rather see an entire nation living in fear, under constant threat of being killed, raped or tortured, than experiencing freedom? There is a very vocal minority of the Iraqi population who lived it up under Saddam. They?re fighting us because they?ve committed so many terrible acts under Saddam that it?s impossible for them to rejoin a free, democratic society. These groups, along with Al-Qaeda operatives, will lose favor with the Iraqi people and eventually be crushed. There?s simply no way they can compete with a free, capitalist and democratic society. Your argument scares me, Cloricus. How anyone could think like that?[/color] [quote name='cloricus']That example is not valid, iraq did nothing wrong in the first place. (Or would you like to show me proof of WMD? And I will show you proof of iraq's compliance to the UN askings plus some links to hans blix's assessments.)[/quote] [color=green][I]Iraq did nothing wrong?[/I] Where have you been for the last 10 years? Iraq, despite not having WMD, had violated numerous UN resolutions that were justification for war. They?d not produced weapons of Mass Destruction (Saddam made Weapons Inspectors play hide and seek, when they were supposed to be shown evidence of WMD destruction), were not following the rigid guidelines of the oil for food program and had shot at US planes patrolling the no-flight zone. All of these actions, under the guidelines and treaties signed at the end of the first Gulf War, were justification for a renewed war.[/color] [quote name='cloricus']Compared to civil war and all those dying from lack of food which was no so under saddam?[/quote] [color=green]Forgive me if I?m wrong, but I don?t see any kind of civil war breaking out in Iraq. Instead, I see various religious and ethnic groups backing a single constitution that will help form a new government. Also, your claim that people are dying from starvation is utterly false. Under Saddam, thousands died from starvation. This was because he was cheating the oil for food program, and as a result the necessary food was not reaching his people. Since the US invaded, massive amounts of food and other necessities from humanitarian organization have flooded the country. These are being distributed by the US military and the Red Cross, neither of which is corrupt.[/color] [quote name='cloricus']The only reasons I am against this invasion and following occupation is that 1) it was wrong, there were no WMD and the precedents that sets and 2) the unnecessary risk this puts other countries plus my own in, extremist for any religion look for any one different who is standing up to attack and cut down, attack a group of people like that just gives them more reason to attack you. Why disturb the bee's nest when there is a better way to deal with it, which there is. Please note that I am not saying Iraq had anything to do with terrorists but as you can now see the country is full of them in the vacuum of control which makes it even more of a danger than it was under saddam. [/quote] [color=green]The invasion of Iraq was based on intelligence that now seems to be flawed. However, bear in mind that every member of the UN Security Council corroborated our intelligence. Even France and Germany, which opposed military action, [b]didn?t deny that Iraq had WMD[/b]. Everyone was wrong, and Saddam played the entire world for fools. His illusion backfired, and he got what he deserved. This sets a precedent for more stringent and accurate intelligence in the future. Australia hasn?t been directly targeted by Islamic Extremists, but that?s no reason for it?s government to act like France?s and try to stay out of the war on terror. If the entire world doesn?t stand united against terrorism, it?s very likely that terrorists could take on individual nations and wreak horrific havoc all over the world. Just because Al-Qaeda decided to attack the US on 9/11, doesn?t mean that he was declaring war on just the US. Bin Laden, by ordering those terrorist attacks, attacked the entire free world. We have to fight back, and make sure that these organizations are completely obliterated; along with the conditions that gave rise to their growth. Any nation that doesn?t fight back will be judged by history accordingly. I?d be very interested to see how this whole situation will be remembered forty years from now?[/color] [quote name='cloricus']Really it's nice to think "wow the world is safer" or "in the future it will be" but the real truth is that there are now disturbing precedents, set by the western world, and a country is going to hell leaving it open to becoming a hotbed for terrorists and a source of revolt against "our way of life" as countries based on a Jewish religion.[/quote] [color=green]I?d take an Iraq that?s forming a stable government with a little chaos over a ?stable? Iraq ruled by an evil and unpredictable dictator any day.[/color]

[QUOTE=Winter]Short answer; there is little you can do. Long answer; do you think its worth it? If this friend is, then its time for you to step up and be a friend. Consul, coax, and comfort. With care, compassion, and love, your friend will find their own path to freedom. Generally, all they need is warmth to stay in the game, and keep working toward that path. But aside from that, there is little to nothing you can do. *Unless you want to get involved with authorities* Cut your losses, and detatch yourself from this friendship, unless you are ready to be pulled on a rollercoaster ride. Easiest, and some would say worst answer: realize you can do nothing, and sit back and let her die. Which will be your reality?[/QUOTE] [color=green]That disgusts me. To even contemplate dropping a friend when she?s going through one of the more difficult times in her life, so you don?t get ?pulled on a roller coaster ride?, sickens me. You sound like a real loyal friend, Winter. Mist, I?d advocate you going to see some kind of counselor, who can tell you what the best things for you to do for your friend would be. I certainly hope that your friend can recover successfully through this hard time, and that you can keep your friendship through all of this. Best wishes. -Boba[/color]

[quote name='cloricus']Off topic. Or should we look at the thousands America, or other western countries that have the death penalty, put to death each year?[/quote] [color=green]That?s one of the worst analogies that I?ve heard in a long time. Saddam killed [I]tens of thousands[/I] of his political opponents, attacked ethnic minorities and kept the majority of his country in check using horrific tactics. These included putting people through meat grinding machines, rape, disgusting torture and denying anyone even something remotely resembling a fair trial. The United States, the only modern country that still uses the death penalty, has executed a mere fraction of the number of people Saddam killed. All of the persons put to death in the US were given fair trials, lengthy appeal processes and, in some cases, two trials. These people [b]deserved[/b] to die for their terrible crimes. Your comparison sickens me Cloricus. It?s stinks of the same blatant and slanderous bias present in Michael Moore films?[/color]

[quote name='Crimson Spider][b']According to the Aethiestic scientifical studies, ORGANIZED religion didn't come until there was a civilization.[/b][/quote] [color=green]This ?Atheistic Scientifical (Shouldn?t that be Scientific?) Studies? sounds pretty laughable. After all, it?s pretty hard to have organized religion without a civilization? That painfully obvious statement seems to fit with the above-mentioned group?s acronym, ?[b]A[/b][b]S[/b][b]S[/b]?[/color]

[color=green]Jedgar hurried through the labyrinthine tunnel system, attempting to find a middle ground between speed and stealth. Were he to be too slow, the clones wouldn?t be warned in time and the humans might win the battle. If he moved too fast, it was possible a human or cave scorpion might hear him and attack. Gripping his dagger tightly as a result of his worry, the weasel clone reached the end of the small passageway that he?d been jogging down and cautiously peeked into the cavernous chamber that lay ahead. This cavern was lit by glowing moss, which cast an eerie glow over the entire area as if it were the surface. The room was dotted with further tunnel openings, which lead in every direction but up. Aside from a few dead cave scorpions, random scavengers and common insects, the cavern was empty. Wracking his brain for the right tunnel to take he failed to notice two humans sneak up behind him. Each was dressed in brown tunnel camouflage and carried unnecessarily large laser carbines. One of them clamped his hand over Jedgar?s mouth, which the other pressed the barrel of his weapon to the back of the unsuspecting clone?s head. [b]Scout 1[/b]: ?Struggling, making any sound or resisting will get you killed. Put your hands up and turn around slowly.? [I]Jedgar, still shaken by the suddenness of his capture, began to comply. They hadn?t seen his dagger, which he?d been concealing by pressing it against his chest. As his hands began to rise above his head, he began to tense. With speed that would impress all but the most physically fit human, Jedgar whipped his dagger up and pushed the laser carbine away from his head. The man who was holding it fired out of nerves and seared the earth ceiling with a blast of blue energy. His partner reached for his pistol, but Jedgar kicked out with his right leg and sent the human flying into the wall. He hit a protruding rock with a sickening crunch and crumpled to the ground, where he lay still. Without pause, Jedgar stopped pressing his dagger blade against the carbine barrel. The scout who was holding it was exerting all of his strength in an attempt to point the weapon back at his opponent. This caused him to overcompensate and swing his weapon down to the ground. Jedgar grinned, and severed his opponent?s jugular vein with deft slash from his blade. The carbineer crumpled to the ground, bleeding profusely.[/I] After wiping the sweat from his brow, Jedgar took the first carabineer?s belt and tucked the other human?s pistol into it. You could never be too heavily armed in these tunnels? Just before he entered the cavern, Jedgar heard voices coming from one of the nearby tunnels. Sure enough, out of one of the tunnels came several Chameleon clones, a Panther, a bird of some kind and an armadillo-looking creature. He only recognized one, the chameleon clone with silver amorphous bracelets. Ben.[/color]

[color=green]Al opened his apartment door, to see what all the noise in the hallway was about, and someone fell through his doorway onto the thinly carpeted floor with a thud. It was Manic who, by the looks of it, had been leaning against Al?s apartment door before it?d been opened. [b]Al[/b]: ?Oh. Sorry, Manic.? [I]Manic rolled over on the floor before grabbing Al?s outstretched hand and pulling himself to his feet again.[/I] [b]Manic[/b]: ?Thanks.? [b]Al[/b]: ?So ya?ll, what?s this ruckus in the hallway?? [b]Manic[/b]: ?Nothing, just some pa-? [I]Shinmaru walked up to Manic and put his arm around Manic?s shoulder, making Manic look suddenly very uncomfortable.[/I] [b]Shinmaru[/b]: ?Manic was just about to ask you to to the party that Smokey?s having.? [b]Al[/b]: ?A party? With food and drinks and stuff?? [b]Shinmaru[/b]: ?Yeah. Like that. We might even get a keg.? [b]Al[/b]: ?Cool.? [b]Manic[/b]: ?Yeah, so I have to go? away now. See you later.? [I]Manic scowled at Shinmaru, who was oblivious to Manic?s displeasure, before hurrying down the hall.[/I] Al took out a crumpled list from his pocket, and followed Manic to the elevator. It was time for him to go shopping?[/color]

[quote name='Dagger IX1']At this point I think it's obvious that Al Qaeda/Queda (anyone care to tell me which spelling is more correct?) espouses violence for the sake of violence.[/quote] [color=green]There are many different ways of spelling ?Al Qaeda?, due to the complicated translation of Arabic to English. Both of the above names are correct. Two random facts; Al Qaeda means ?the base? in Arabic and was formed while the US was assisting the Mujahadeen in fighting the USSR in Afghanistan.[/color] [quote name='Dagger IX1']They don't really have any kind of political purpose or agenda.... I recently skimmed a piece in Time that quoted one of their videotapes as saying, "You love life. We love death"--those words are an approximation, since my copy of the magazine is currently missing, but I think they get the basic point across.[/quote] [color=green]Actually, Al Qaeda has a few goals that they claim to be fighting to achieve. These include the complete removal of all non-Muslims from the Middle East, the expulsion of Israel from the Middle East and a worldwide Islamic state. Since non of those are likely to happen soon, there?s really no way of knowing if these terrorists will stick by their word and put down their weapons once their goals are met. I?d be willing to be that they, like the Hamaas, don?t really want peace. These organizations, like Dagger pointed out, thrive on terror and chaos. Without the terrible conditions in the Middle East, these groups wouldn?t exist. For this reason they endeavor to destabilize the region in order to maintain power. This is why Al Qaeda is in Iraq, fighting a losing battle to toss that country into civil war. They know that should Iraq become a democratic society, it will be the beginning of the end for their organizations. Arabs will see the prosperity that democracy offers, and reject hate groups like Al Qaeda.[/color] [quote name='Dagger IX1'] Like you said, Spain's withdrawal will do nothing to appease Al Qaeda. So here's my question: is removing the troops the right decision?[/quote] [color=green]Since we?re giving out awards, I?ll bestow the Neville Chamberlain Award to the new socialist prime minister of Italy. He made the wrong decision that will only inspire terrorists to continue to bully the Italian government. So much for fighting terrorism?[/color]

[color=green]Yesterday, two juniors from my high school were arrested and charged with making bombs. I?ve held off posting this so that I could sort out all the facts, which had been very difficult to do. Apparently, these two students stole chemicals from the school science supply closet and used them to make explosives. Both are taking Chemistry with the same teacher that I have, and I knew both of them because they sat in the computer lab during lunch. I didn?t talk to them, but I knew who they were. My Chem. teacher, when we asked him during class today about what had happened, grudgingly told us what he knew from Monday morning?s staff meeting. One of the students making the bomb had told one of his friends. This friend went to Mr. Barnes, our school security person, who referred the student?s names to the police. A search of one of the student?s houses revealed some extremely volatile chemical. I don?t remember it?s name, but our Chem. teacher explained that this chemical was extremely dangerous. Apparently it?s not of the nitro family, so it?s undetectable by standard bomb finding equipment. The homemade chemicals were detonated about a half-mile from the house they were found in, resulting in a sound and a tremor that was felt a half mile away by two of my friends. The school was searched last night by the area bomb squad, resulting in nothing found. Still, people were on edge today during school today. This is the kind of thing that I?m used to seeing on the news, taking place in another town or state. I never dreamed that something like this would happen so close to home. So I ask you, has anything like this ever happened to you? Have you experienced something that you thought would never happen to/near you? How did you react? What has changed since?[/color]

[QUOTE=James] [color=indigo][font=Verdana][size=2][color=dimgray]Yeah, I think that being President would be extremely tough. Even running a company is a really daunting task, but running an entire nation? Stress-overload.[/color][/size][/font][/color] [color=indigo][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]I think that being President requires a certain amount of ego (of course), but it also requires the ability to work for nearly 24 hours a day while frequently being attacked by half of the population (ie: the people who don't like your party or your policies).[/color][/size][/font][/color] [color=indigo][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]If you really think about it, it's probably the worst job on earth. And above all of this stuff, you are also a target for assassination and stuff like that. Ouch.[/color][/size][/font][/color] [color=indigo][font=Verdana][size=2][color=#696969]President? No thanks.[/color][/size][/font] [/color][/QUOTE] [color=green]It?s worth it. I?d go through at least four, hopefully eight, years of intense work with little to no privacy or free time. While in this position, I will be vilified by my opponents and have to make hard decisions all the time under constant pressure. Negotiating trade agreements, dealing with terrorism, courting our allies, appeasing my constituents and managing the US government would be extremely difficult. I could also potentially be killed. So what? My reward would be the attention of posterity. My name would never be lost to history, and children would someday learn about the events that took place under my administration. I?d never be forgotten. That?s possibly the greatest reward you can receive. Besides, I?d also get to try my hand at making the world ?the way it should be?. Despite the monumental workload, I think that being president of the United States would be well worth it.[/color]

[color=green]I like the idea, but you really need more of a plot. What exactly, is the purpose of our character in this RPG? What are we to do? [B]Name: [/B] Jedgar Nieta [IMG]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18059&stc=1[/IMG] [B]Species:[/B] Bothan [B]Disadvantages:[/B] Lazy, not skilled with computers, sullen, xenophobic, introverted and has a slight stutter. [B]Homeworld:[/B] Naboo [B]Reasons: [/B] Jedgar lives on Naboo? [B]Bio:[/B] [center][IMG] http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=18058&stc=1[/IMG][/center] Jedgar was born in Kaadara, Naboo into a Bothan trading family of great wealth and prominence. His family lived the good life, and gave Jedgar the best money could buy. He received a top-notch education from tutors of galactic renown, was set up in his own small business with a generous grant from his father, and had an arranged marriage with the beautiful daughter of another wealthy family. The rising power of the Trade Federation changed all that. Their cutthroat tactics and underhanded business dealings, along with stellar political connections in the senate, propelled them to the top of the Rim trading community. Soon, the Nemodians had run every other trading company out of business by utilizing a combination of buyouts, ruthless price undercutting and military intimidation. Only one company stood up to the Federation, the [I]Bothan Rim Traders Guild[/I]. Jedgar?s father, who stubbornly refused to submit to the Trade Federation?s demands, ran this guild. This tense situation was quickly drawn to a close one night as the Trade Federation landing force overran Kaadara as part of their invasion of Naboo. As it?s first order of business, the battle droids systematically destroyed Jedgar?s family business before his eyes. They then began to slaughter his family. His wife and child were murdered by unflinching battle droids, along with most of his relatives. During the confusion, Jedgar was able to steal a STAP and escape. He went to the mountains, where he had a small retreat. There he retrieved his pike, with which he?d spent countless recreational hours practicing with, and some other combat equipment he?d acquired. It was time for payback? [B]Equipment: [/B] Long Vibro Axe, Chitin armor boots, Stimpack B with 17 (standard number) of charges, Battle visor [B]Skills that need points:[/B] [b]Bothan modifiers: +2 Dex ?2 Con[/b] Ranged Combat: 0 (Jedgar cannot fire a blaster accurately) Melee: 12 (Jedgar is a Master Pikeman) Stealth: 3 (Jedgar is able to stay in one spot undetected, but cannot move undetected.) Grace: 6 [+1 Species Mod] = [b]7[/b] (Jedgar is very agile) Health: 3 (Jedgar can take bruises and a few broken bones, but he?s not a ?tank?) Strength of Body: 3 [-1 Species Mod] = [b]2[/b] (Below Average Strength) Strength of Mind: 2 (Jedgar is smart, but not open to new ideas) Piloting: 0 (Jedgar cannot pilot a ship)[/color]

[quote name='Mist][color=orange][size=1] Yes, it is. Especially, when it was his turn Homecoming, he decided that it would be one of those "you-pay-your-half-and-I'll-pay-mine" type deals. It's not that I expect my date to go broke over me, but I mean, c'mon, we put up with boy's idiotic banter everyday. Pamper us a bit, please. ^_^[/color'][/size][/quote] [color=green]I had to get a new job to afford having a girlfriend. It?s worth it, but sometimes? [b]More People/Things I Hate (I?m becoming a very hateful person)[/b] People who let their dogs off the leash and don?t pick up after them Couples that make out in public. Ick. Haters of country music. Members of Aryan Nation Members of the KKK Members of NOW Members of the DNC Most people who?re far left wing politically The new Spanish government[/color]

[color=green]Jedgar walked slowly onto the wharf, leading a donkey that was loaded down with cooking supplies. He?d packed spices, salted meats, canned vegetables and various breads for the voyage. Hopefully, that?d be enough. In his own pack he carried dozens of carving knives, pots, pans and his trusty cutting board. He was dressed in a crimson red cloak, which hid his stained apron and work pants underneath. His shoes were also covered in funny smelling mud that he?d accidentially stepped in. It?d been in the funniest shaped little pile on the side of the road, and he?d absent mindedly stepped in it during his hurry to the dock this morning. In any event, he was almost at the tie-up spot, he wasn?t sure what those nautical types called it, for the ship he was supposed to cook on. He scraped his shoe on the edge of the dock for a good measure, than walked over to a small crowd of people waiting on the dock.[/color]

[quote name='Transtic Nerve]And the fact also remains that the Bush administration [B][I][U]LIED[/U][/I][/B] (let me say that one more time so you can understand it... [b]LIED[/b']) about the whole reason for going to war.[/quote] [color=green]The Bush administration was mislead by it?s intelligence gathering aparatus. They, along with the rest of the world, were wrong about Iraqi WMD. To say that Bush intentionally lied to the American people about why we were going to war is pretty far out there, TN. Since you don?t have proof that anyone in the Bush administration lied intentionally to the American people, you shouldn?t go around spouting that fallacy.[/color] [quote name='Transtic Nerve']Maybe you don't get it, cause for some reason you like Bush, but the main reason people, like me, are against the war is because friends and family of people I know are dying for A LIE![/quote] [color=green]I don?t like Bush. I think he?s spent too much money, has a terrible immigration plan and has picked a terrible time to talk about going to the moon/mars/wherever. I?d love to see a whole bunch of other conservatives run instead of Bush, but none have. Since I see Kerry as far worse than Bush, being the waffle that he is, I?ll stick with Bush. He?s a necessary evil. Soldiers who are dying in Iraq are dying for a good cause. They?re making a valuable contribution to the war on terror and preventing Iraq from degenerating into chaos. It?s a sad thing to lose soldiers in any conflict, but this is a necessary battle for the United States to fight.[/color] [quote name='Transtic Nerve']Oh and where is the link to Al Queda, Bin Laden, or any other strong terrorist threat and Saddam Hussein?[/quote] [color=green] [URL=http://www.techcentralstation.com/092503F.html]Here's the link[/URL][/color] [center]--- --- --- --- --- ---[/center] [color=green]*Strays back on topic*[/color] [color=green]I don't like stereotypes, but they do save time... Punks Skater Scum Anyone who spells Skater sk8er Stupid People Inappropriately dressed women The French Socialists Evil pigdogs, i.e. The French Communist Bastards Cowboys Hippies Dirty tramps who block my locker People with BAD BO. Like, I dunno, BO-Green. Pimps and... People I just plain ****ing don't like[/color]

[color=green]Things/People I dislike strongly: [b]Social Security[/b]: I disagree with the entire concept of the government getting involved with the people?s money. If you?re going to give someone a secure retirement, sending him or her a measly check in the mail each month is not the way to do it. Social Security is an unnecessary retirement supplement that brings us closer to socialism. It?s not a terrible thing, but it strikes me as a terrible waste of government time and money as far as administration is concerned. [b]Medicare and Medicaid[/b]: Government run healthcare should be total or non-existent. The current system we have is not only unfair in its distribution of medical assistance, but represents a drastic redistribution of wealth. Both of these programs should either be expanded into government run health care, or scrapped altogether. [b]Ted Kennedy[/b]: Only is Mass. would this guy ever get elected. Ted Kennedy is one of the most radically liberal senators of all time, who takes every opportunity to bash Republicans for both real and [b]imagined reasons[/b]. Mr. Kennedy has made a habit of spouting blatantly untrue statements in order to rile up his political base. For example, he accused Dick Cheney of assisting Halliburton get US government contracts. There is no proof of this whatsoever. Also, he accused the president of concocting the war in Iraq before September 11th and doing it solely for political gain. There?s no proof of that either. Ted Kennedy is a liberal liar who, more than anyone else, deserves a big L on his forehead. [b]John Kerry[/b]: One word can sum up this man: waffle. He?s changed positions on almost every issue he ?stands on? to date. I think President Bush put it best when he said, ?The candidates are an interesting group, with diverse opinions: For tax cuts, and against them. For NAFTA, and against NAFTA. For the Patriot Act, and against the Patriot Act. In favor of liberating Iraq, and opposed to it. And that's just one senator from Massachusetts.? I don?t like waffles? [b]People who disagree with the war in Iraq[/b]: So our intelligence was faulty and there were no Weapons of Mass Destruction. The rest of the world was wrong too, as were all of Saddam?s generals. The fact remains that Saddam was an unstable dictator funding terrorists and threatening US interests in the Middle East (Israel and Oil). Not to mention he was a terrible violator of human rights?[/color]

[color=green]The flaking paint on walls of the dining hall, the cheap yellowish lighting and the stained dinner tables cast an air of mystery over the room. Victan looked around, noticing that ?Roland? and all of his assistants had disappeared as suddenly as they arrived. This ship certainly was a mysterious place? Putting on a cowboy hat, which he?d conjured out of thin air, Victan walked from the hall towards the stairs. The others were still in the room, all but Ooper were casually eating from a scrumptious looking buffet table loaded with gourmet foods. As he passed the table on the way out he grabbed a chocolate. Biting into it as he started up the stairs, Victan nearly choked as the first bits of the chocolate touched his tongue. It was cream and nougat, his least favorite chocolate. Cursing under his breath, which caused boils to appear on a passing waiter, Victan reached the top of the stairs. It was then that a scream filled the air, a high and shrill woman?s scream. Without a second thought, Victan hurried towards the cabins where the cry had emanated from. He charged down the hallway towards the stairs that lead to the next deck, conjuring himself into some Sherlock Holmes-esque attire as he ran. After getting up the stairs and finding himself in yet another seedy hallway, Victan stopped to look around. The third door down on the left side was open... In the cabin was a woman who was crying and shaking. Around her stood three men. As soon as she saw Victan, she began to talk. [b]Woman[/b]: ?You must be Victan, the sorcerer!? [b]Victan[/b]: ?How?d you kno- Why yes, I am. What seems to be the matter?? [b]Woman[/b]: ?A most terrible thing has happened! I came back to my room and found my diamond necklace missing. I left it on my dresser before I left for lunch. When I came back, it was gone. I locked the door, and the only people with keys are my husband, the bellboy and myself.? [I]Victan thought hard for a moment. This wasn?t good. He?d been drawn into a mystery. Mysteries could get dangerous, and he hated danger?[/I] [b]Victan[/b]: ?Hmmm, where to begin?? He snapped his fingers, causing the bellboy and the husband to appear in the room. Both looked utterly bewildered and slightly disoriented. The bellboy was still dressed in his deep red uniform with gold colored buttons. There were several bills hanging out of the boy?s back pocket, along with what looked to be ticket stubs. The woman?s husband had lipstick smeared on his collar and a half unbuttoned shirt. He breath reeked of beer, and he swayed slightly as he peered around the room. [I]This is going to be interesting?[/I][/color]

[color=green]I played the Star Wars Roleplaying Game for three years with friends before Star Wars Galaxies came out. Since then, we just play online. It?s a lot more fun, without the labor-intensive plot crafting. You do lose a lot of control over the plot, and it?s much more expensive, but I prefer it to the Pen/Paper game. I?d have to say my best role-playing experience was during a Shadows of the Empire themed campaign, when all five of us actually showed up and role-played all night. It was a blast, even though we got a little rowdy towards the end. My worst Role-playing memories are trying to get five people with busy schedules to meet at one of our houses for six hours a week. It was near impossible, but we met pretty much every week. I?d have to say that?s the hardest part of role-playing: getting people together to play. The main reason we moved from Pen/Paper to Star Wars Galaxies was that I moved away. We were all pretty close, so we decided to all get Galaxies when it came out and role-play using that medium instead. It?s worked out fairly well, but sometimes I miss the plot control and creativity that Pen/Paper RPGs allow?[/color]

[color=green]I?ll try my hand at this: [b]Name:[/b] Al K. Seltzer [b]Gender:[/b] Male [b]Age:[/b] 15 [b]Description:[/b] [img] http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=17921&stc=1[/img] [b]Life Story:[/b] After his parents could no longer afford to send him to the prestigious [I]Little Ivy League Prep School[/I], Al moved to the city and resigned himself to finish high school at Local High School. He?s a sophomore this year, but talking mostly junior and senior classes. Incredibly lazy, highly intelligent and laid back, Al doesn?t stick his neck out for anyone. He rarely does his homework, but manages to get Bs anyway. He rarely studies for anything but history, which is his favorite subject. Al lives across the hall from Manic, and is rather annoying. Seeing as the apartment building is rented mostly to teenagers, the management doesn?t have much to fear in the way of complaints. This led them to put only one bathroom on each floor to save money. All eight apartment occupants on each floor are forced to compete for the same bathroom each morning. Al always seems to get in the bathroom first; he also takes a rather long time showering, shaving and brushing his teeth each morning. This forces Manic to rush as fast as he can to shower before school. Al seems oblivious to Manic?s furious glares each morning as he walks back to his room. After school, Al works as a web designer from his apartment. He makes decent money and excellent websites, but doesn?t get out much. Al also wears the same yellow sweatshirt every day, as it?s his favorite (and only) sweatshirt.[/color]

[color=green]Bush has already confirmed Cheney as his running mate for 2004. As for his lack of press, that really doesn?t matter. The Vice President really doesn?t do a whole lot in our government besides breaking ties in senatorial votes and succeeding the president in the event of an assassination.[/color]