Charles

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i] [B]As for Zelda, I totally agree. I don't want Link to EVER talk. Charles knows full well my opinion on that heh. [/B][/QUOTE] Eeee! ^_^ I on the other hand, can't wait for Link to break his long silence. I feel that it could contribute positively to the game if done properly. Although physical gestures can be powerful devices for characterization (the hand-holding in Ico is a good example), and we get some of that in Zelda, spoken dialogue is an element I want to see explored. I loved the characters in Wind Waker--they all had distinct personalities. But it felt like there was something missing in the presentation. Polish, I guess. That's not to say Link should spew one-liners like Gex at every corner, or have audible conversations with [i]every[/i] villager. What I want to impress upon everyone, is how it [i]would[/i] most definitely add significant flair to climactic scenes. As for Final Fantasy X--well, I'm probably in the minority here too. :blush: I thought the voice acting suited the game perfectly. For example, the narrative was stunning. Having a more experienced Tidus tell the story through his eyes was a wonderful direction that pulled me in. Admittedly, when I first heard about the developer's choice to include voice acting, I was skeptical. Fortunately, however, Square did an exceptional job with the casting and localization. Most of the characters spoke exactly how I would have imagined them to and with the exception of the overly soft-spoken Yuna, they did a nice job of keeping me entertained throughout breaks in the action. The FMV segments were brief as usual, with the summon spell animations standing out as the only glaring exception. There are certain scenes I couldn't imagine being as effective without the voice talent in Final Fantasy X, though. [spoiler]Tidus's confrontation with his father within Sin, is one. I thought it was very moving. The moment he shared laughing alongside Yuna is another. It was very bitter sweet. Even his miscommunication with the Al Bhed on the deck of their ship towards the beginning of the game deserves a note of mention. Or, how about when Tidus went mad on the beach and dove into the ocean after Sin?[/spoiler] This achievement was possible because we're in an age where video games [i]can[/i] have voice acting that contributes positively to the story. Many games are film caliber--or better in some cases. Back in 1997 when Final Fantasy VII first released, I wouldn't have wanted voice acting included in the package. I'm glad the game was void of audible characters. The implementation of a voice track would have been an extremely risky move. The game's quality might have suffered because of it--as was the case with the majority of console games featuring voice acting at that point in time. A lot of it seemed forced and awkward. Just look at Resident Evil. Plus, the localization process seemed arduous and drawn-out as it was. If Square couldn't port over the massive written narrative properly (within an entire year's time), I doubt they could cast proper voice talent or produce it in a satisfactory way. At least, not in a timely manner. Should there ever be a remake though--I'll be more than happy to hear the characters speak. Who wouldn't love to hear Lance Bass reprise his role as Sephiroth? As for dungeons--I prefer them more often than not. SKies of Arcadia and Zelda are terrific example of how dungeons should be constructed--as opposed to Wild Arm 3's dungeons or Final Fantasy X's cloister of trials, to a lesser extent. Dungeons should always be fun--never aggravating or confusing just for the sake of being so. It's also important that they fit into the context of the story. There's nothing worse than an out of place dungeon that shatters the illusion of fantasy created by an RPG.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Bloodsin [/i] [B]Thus the "However". Such words as "However", as here compared, have an adversative sense in reference to something referred to in the context. However is the most general, and leads to a final conclusion or decision. Thus we say, the truth, however, has not yet fully come out; i.e., such is the speaker's conclusion in view of the whole case. [/B][/QUOTE] Forgive me if this is spam, but "Huh?" O_o;; [img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?postid=527838[/img] Edit: Just to clarify something. I understand what "However" means and the point you're trying to make. It's just that the explanation you provided seems like an attempt to cover your tracks rather than logical reasoning. Just my take on it though. Also take note to one of our rules: [quote][b]"Incoherent Posts: At OtakuBoards.com, we greatly emphasize the concept of having clear, easy to read posts. This includes correct use of spelling, grammar and punctuation. If a member is posting with very poor quality, they will be asked to clean up their future posts. If the member persists in posting poorly, they will be banned from the site."[/b][/quote]

I don't believe the death penalty is state-sanctioned murder. The "You're no better than the murders" argument is popular, but transparently false. Simply put, the state has rights that the private individual does not. In a democracy, those rights are given to the state by the electorate. The execution of a lawfully condemned killer is no more an act of murder than is legal imprisonment an act of kidnapping. Case in point, if I forced people to pay me under threat of punishment, it would be extortion. If a state or government does it, it's taxation. Rights and responsibilities surrendered by the individual are what give the state its power to govern. Don't mistake me for a cold-hearted Gestapo though. I'm not very keen on the actual execution process. On one hand, it bears repeating, the convicted murderer will die painlessly. The families will have the satisfaction of seeing the murderer die, but the execution will not be nearly as painful or barbaric as the victim's death. It's not really an "eye for an "eye." On the other hand, I'd imagine the prolonged fear of awaiting one's own imminent demise may indeed be the equivalent of more harshly controlled physical pain and torture. As a matter of fact, fear is the one antagonizing common ground shared by both murderer and victim. Putting a date on anyone's death is sure to lead to a lot of mental stress. Unfortunately, the process of fulfilling the death penalty is deeply flawed, to say the least. State and local governments pay for both the prosecution [i]and[/i] defense team; much of this money is spent even if the defendant actually gets a lesser sentence. Once the case gets into Federal Court, oh boy, here we go. The United States starts picking up the defense tab and the sums can be pretty outlandish. Death cases far and away cost more than their non-capital counterparts. I'm not a fan of the endless appeals cycle either. Convictions are attacked with gusto, sure, but reviewed with more vigor. So, a lot of the sentences can be vacated. The retrials, and hearings must be hell for the families. No doubt about that. I hate the idea of criminals living it up comfortably in prison, too-- enjoying meals and what not. If you consider the appeals process and the actual time separating conviction and the eventual death penalty take years upon years, there's some work to be done. I won't be pleased until that time space is reduced! That's for sure! Uh-huh! Moving on, I sure [i]would[/i] like to see the death penalty be stepped up into something more brutal. People who do terrible things deserve to meet terrible, stomach churning, grizzly ends. But, we have to remember that many killers are [i]not[/i] like us. No sir. They're missing something on a psychological level: a conscience. So, when dealing with crimes of passion or complete insanity, I'm not sure that stricter forms of punishment are likely to prove effective as deterrents. Anyway, put 'em all to death, I say. Just find a better way to do it. I'd prefer killing murderers by way of bullet while they're trapped to the confines of their cells. That's the perfect solution, I think. Very cost efficient.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by UnsungHero [/i] [B]OK guys let's see if you can do better. My personal best in running 2.4 kilometres is 11:54. :smirk: I challenge anyone to beat that! At the end I nearly through up, my legs were stuffed and my lungs felt inflammed. [/B][/QUOTE] On a bad day, I do about three miles worth of cardio worth over 7000 strides and 580 calories. On a good day, I do over five miles. Time-wise, I'm not sure if I have bragging rights here. You may or may not edge me out. When it comes to workload, however, you've clearly been bested! :p

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Shinmaru [/i] [B]Whether or not people actually take that rule to heart is something I'm not aware. However, that's how it's supposed to be. [/B][/QUOTE] Yes, that's still how I do things.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Queen Asuka [/i] [B][color=hotpink][size=1][b][i]SECTION A[/b][/i] [b]16) When we offer a next generation version of OtakuBoards, should we continue to provide semi-regular community events in our Event Arena or a similar forum?[/b] Yes. I love the events in the Event Arena. My only gripe is that they should be more strictly adhered to. OBBII and Otaku Idol were two that seemed to be neglected by the person running them on more than one occassion.[/color][/size] [/B][/QUOTE] Eh, actually no one person can be blamed for Idol dragging out a bit. Often times Heaven's Cloud ran into great difficulty contacting the judges and getting necessary feedback. Or one of us had a personal situation to attend to that couldn't be ignored (such as my Internet problems). Plus, due to more people than we expected dropping out early, oftentimes we were forced to rework our plans entirely just to make continuing it a possibility. In the following section, please answer each statement with one of five answers: [b]A) Strongly Agree B) Agree C) Somewhat Agree D) Disagree E) Strongly Disagree[/b] [b]1)[/b] I find OtakuBoards rules easy to understand and follow. [b]A[/b] [b]2)[/b] I feel that the staff at OtakuBoards understand their job and are capable of performing it appropriately. [b]A[/b] [b]3)[/b] OtakuBoards is easy to navigate. [b]A[/b] [b]4)[/b] OtakuBoards has a friendly atmosphere. [b]B[/b] [size=3][b][u]SECTION B[/u][/b][/size] [b]Please try to keep your answers relatively short in this section.[/b] [b]5)[/b] How often do you visit OtakuBoards? [color=red]Generally two times a day, even if briefly due to time limitations.[/color] [b]6)[/b] Do you feel that the rules are too strict/not strict enough/fine as they are? [color=red]They're not too strict. Especially when you consider how leniently they're applied on most occasions considering the number of people we're dealing with.[/color] [b]7)[/b] Should we continue to uncensor the creative writing areas on OtakuBoards? [color=red]Considering it's something I was greatly anticipating--yes.[/color] [b]8)[/b] Would you rather a decentralized forum system on OB (more forums, less activity per forum) or a centralized forum system (less forums, more activity per forum)? [color=red]A centralized forum system, obviously. Why spread everyone out? If people are kept together, they become more familiar with one another and the atmosphere benefits from it.[/color] [b]9)[/b] Would you like to see a closer integration of myOtaku and OtakuBoards? [color=red]Yes. That's the future.[/color] [b]10)[/b] Are you signed up to myOtaku.com? [color=red]Yes.[/color] [strike][b]11)[/b] If you are not signed up to myOtaku.com, do you plan to sign up in the near future?[/strike] [b]12)[/b] Do you read Announcements at OtakuBoards? [color=red]Yes.[/color] [b]13)[/b] Which single Category (Category, as opposed to individual Forum) do you spend most of your time visiting? [color=red]Otaku Public[/color] [b]14)[/b] Do you think that OtakuBoards should offer an in-built chat system as part of our service? If we included a chat, would you use it? [color=red]Once upon a time, this is something I wanted to see. But, I don't think it's realistically possible to maintain the same quality in a chat system as we do on the boards. Besides, members often create AIM chats, regardless if they desire that sort of interaction. So, no I don't think OtakuBoards should offer an in-built chat system as part of its service.[/color] [b]15)[/b] If we offered an "OtakuBoards Wireless" service that would be accessible via Internet-capable cellphones, would you use it? [color=red]No.[/color] [b]16)[/b] When we offer a next generation version of OtakuBoards, should we continue to provide semi-regular community events in our Event Arena or a similar forum? [color=red]Yes. Especially since I have some interesting things planned.[/color] [b]17)[/b]If you could add one new Category (Category, not Forum) to OtakuBoards, what would it be? [color=red]I'm not sure at the moment.[/color] [b]18)[/b] If you could remove one Category from OtakuBoards, what would it be? [color=red]I'm not sure about an entire [i]category.[/i] But, I'd like to see the DragonBall Z archived. Meaning, it would be visible, so people could access the information, but posting would be disabled. It's obvious that forum will not last through another version which is planned to be long-term. Also, Battle Arena isn't worth keeping around. The posts in that area seem terrible for the most part. Then again, it does keep them out of Adventure Arena. Somehow working in a connection between the Series and Gaming forums would be a desirable move too. I definitely support that. The positives involved are great.[/color] [b]19)[/b] If you could add anything to OtakuBoards (in terms of a new forum, a technical tool/feature, etc), what would it be? [color=red]More fleshed out quick-reply options. Perhaps a way to make a person's myOtaku account act as their profile would be neat. I'm not sure if that's possible though.[/color] [b]20)[/b] On a scale of 1-10 (1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest), how would you rate your experience at OtakuBoards since you registered? [color=red] 10. Although I?m easily annoyed by certain members, this site has definitely served as a practical way to keep me reading and writing on some level. And the positives far outweigh the negatives. There are more people worth interacting with than not. To be sure, nothing can be perfect, but I've had a lot of fun here since initially joining.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Bloodsin [/i] [B]LMAO. The only thing offending about your "sarcasm" is the lack there of. No offence, but that's not "sarcasm". You're far too nice to effectively use "sarcasm". I know people who are Gods at it. At any rate. Instencts are the only mentail information stored in your DNA. If one claims that some one can be Instenctly drawn to the same gender, it's only logical to assume one can be Instenctly drawn to other species. I brought this idea to light so you can see that you can't rap on some one who doesn?t like gays(Which, in your opinion is in your DNA) while you rap on those who love animals(Which must be your DNA too, because apparently, in your opinion, DNA stores you likes and dislikes). I think both are wrong. But I also agree with Justin. He's everything I need to be. I'll take that paycheck now. I've got what you said in wrighting. Don't make me take you to court. [/B][/QUOTE] What rubbish. Perhaps ChibiHorsewoman should give you her paycheck out of pity so that you can buy a clue. You speak down to people as if you know what you're talking about. How dare you sit here and dehumanize the entire institution of marriage. How can you compare a relationship between two consenting individuals with the sexual [b]abuse[/b] of an animal? An animal cannot have a sexual [b]relationship[/b] with a person. Do you understand what a marital relationship entails? A marriage is a mutual [b]commitment[/b]--legally speaking and otherwise. An animal cannot consciously commit. There's no understanding between the parties. They operate on instinct alone. Animals cannot love the same way people do. They don't choose mates for the same reasons humans do. There's certainly no emotional bond in mind. Obviously, they can't even communicate with us by saying whether they want to be in a relationship or not. There's no clear sign that the action's coerced. Comparing homosexuality to love outside the species altogether is silly. Grow up. Lastly, animals are not citizens. They do not have civil rights and they do not get married. How can a couple consisting of a man and a horse enjoy joint parental custody or tax benefits when one is not a citizen and a horse is incapable of parenting a human child? But, bah, if you can't understand the differences between homosexuality and beastiality, there's no hope for you at all. I feel silly for even wasting my time by diving into the issue and explaining it to you. Having said that, please spare us from any further nonsense regarding the subject. I don?t even care to see you refute this--because there is no argument. I would like to see you put more effort into your post quality and posting things of value instead of inane logic unbecoming of even a three year old.

Yes, you heard me right. Those of you who have been sorely disappointed with the current crop of Dragonball Z portables have a reason to rejoice. Let's face it, this is the game DragonBall Z: Taiketsu should have been. In the short article I've provided, you'll notice that it's compared to a Capcom fighter--which is [i]never[/i] a bad thing. Considering the art style closely resembles something from Capcom's stable, I'm inclined to hope for the best. It's surely refreshing to see a two-dimensional DragonBall Z fighter handled properly. You should notice that the sprites and overall art style are more faithful to the anime than the recently released Taiketsu. I mean they're much more pleasing to the eye than the deformed-looking pre-rendered pixelated blobs Taiketsu offers. This could possibly be the best DragonBall Z fighter since Legends. Unless of course, you fancy the Budokai series (which plays more like a Virtua Fighter or Dead or Alive clone than a DragonBall Z game). Here's the link: [URL=http://the-magicbox.com/game120103c.shtml]New DragonBall Z title[/URL] The large battle area certainly sounds interesting too. These games should never be confined to one screen. I'm excited. Hopefully it will see an American release. What do you think? By the way, here are some Taiketsu images so you can draw a direct comparison for laughs. [img]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/screen0/915131_20030825_screen001.jpg[/img] [img]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/screen0/915131_20030825_screen002.jpg[/img] [img]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/screen0/915131_20030825_screen008.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by wrist cutter [/i] [B]That is a horrible excuse. How do you "accidentally" plant your seed? "Oops, my penis fell in your vagina and ejaculated right then and there. I don't know how it happened!" [/B][/QUOTE] Haven't you ever heard of a broken condom? Perhaps someone made the mistake of purchasing a condom from a men's room vending machine oblivious to the fact that they're completely unreliable because there's no knowing how long they've been in there. Maybe someone was practicing the withdrawal method and some semen still entered the vagina. Who knows? I'm disappointed. I assumed you of all people would be able to interpret a simple play on words correctly. [quote][b]And so if this woman gets pregnant, it was no accident. You had sex. You ran the risk, condoms or pills or what have you.[/b][/quote] I can only refer you to Babygirl's post. [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by BabyGirl [/i] [B][color=deeppink]I have always been pro-choice, and if I were faced with an unwanted pregnancy, I would have an abortion. I wouldn't feel bad about it because I know that my boyfriend and I are [i]always[/i] praticing safe sex. If I had done everything I could to prevent a pregnancy and still got pregnant [though highly unlikely], abortion would be the path that I would take. I don't have the income to support a child, and my future/career is far too important to me. Call me selfish for thinking of myself first, but I'd really be messing up the lives of two people -myself and my partner- by not terminating the pregnancy.[/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Bloodsin [/i] [B]So, your logic states that it hast to be [u]INSIDE[/u] you to be a parasite. You call my logic "irrelevent". Yet you state that killing something before it knows what it is, is ok. There's no difference between you and a fetus. It needs the blood of the mother, just as you need air from mother earth. No... there is a difference between you and a fetus. The fetus has done nothing wrong. It's only mistake is being a mistake. The only sin it carries is the sinful human blood that flowes through it. Now, I'm not without my own sin, so I have no right to say this. [/B][/QUOTE] Once again, you're being over-philosophical and coming across as a borderline relgious fanatic in the way you're presenting your argument. And you're missing the point entirely. The analogy was meant to get across the idea that a female, being the host of the fetus, has the right to seek an abortion under the right circumstances and no one should have the right to say otherwise. So, what is your point? Are you suggesting that you have the right to tell a woman what she can or can't do with her body? Or are you stringing together a bunch of poetic rhetoric for the purpose of sounding wise? Fine. I'll play your game. Let's compare a woman to the Earth. Let's say I meet a woman. I like her garden a lot. It's warm, moist and fertile. The grass isn't too tall and it doesn't have any bugs. So, I don't come out of it itching. If I'm lucky, she'll allow me to play in her garden exclusively. Now, suppose I accidentally plant my seed there. [i]But[/i], she doesn't want any crops growing in there. Do I have a right to tell her otherwise? After all, it [i]is[/i] her garden.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by wrist cutter [/i] [B]Of course, a two year old couldn't live in this world without its parents either. Its entire existance relies on its parents... without them, he/she would surely die. I don't care what you want to call it in technical terms it is STILL a human life. [/B][/QUOTE] No--it's just life. Your logic is faulty. A fetus is different from a two year old child in the sense that it's not a fully developed human being. If we're talking about a formed human being living inside the womb, my opinion changes. But, for all intents and purposes, I'm speaking of a bunch of cells. It's like picking a flower. There may be life--but it's not yet met the criteria it needs to qualify as human life. It isn't self-aware. Furthermore, a two year old child?s inability to exist in the world without parental supervision is based on an entirely different set of reasoning than a fetus's. Biologically, a two year old doesn't require a human host to directly draw upon as a life source. That's what we're talking about here. Of course you can go on about how a child needs its parents for financial security, etc. But that's not saying it's an unformed being that?s physically incapable of surviving on its own. The fetus I speak of has yet to even develop thought patterns. [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Bloodsin [/i] [B]All of humanity is a parasite. We consume resources with hardly putting anything back. Sucking life from Earth is how we survive. No one aborted us, so we don't have the right to say it's ok. When you get aborted, then you can tell us if it's ok or not. However, I respect your non-aborted views. [/B][/QUOTE] It's easy to be poetic or philosophical in a discussion. In a debate, the strong language may even help your argument. Not the way you're using it. Your logic is irrelevent to the point I'm making and largely a matter of opinion. The Earth isn't a species. We're not connected to it via an umbilical cord. We dont' grow inside the Earth. It doesn't make the conscious decision to "abort" us. Get out of here with that.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Transtic Nerve [/i] [B]I suppose it's alive in the sense it's a bunch of cells together, but as far as a human being, it's not alive... and if this whole debate is about murder of a human being, this is not such the case.... if you want to say you're kiling cells, well.... thats something done on a regular basis, plus they can kep the fetus's cells alive too. So... yeah.... [/B][/QUOTE] I agree wholeheartedly. The fetus isn't a developed human being. Thus, it doesn't have human rights. It's that simple. I actually initiated a discussion on abortion a long time ago. James brought up an interesting point that I [i]still[/i] remember. He said that the fetus is a parastic creature that relies on its host. So, he used "parasite" as a technical term to explain how it is the mother's right to decide whether or not she wishes to allow the parasite to live or die. Which, is a principle I agree with.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Digital Monster [/i] [B]Has anyone on this Board actually bought and/or played the game? In the UK it won't be out until the 12th Feb. I have it pre-ordered, but I really would like some decently constructed criticism. [/B][/QUOTE] :Raises hand: I don't have enough time, so I'll have to be fairly brief. It's a fairly good game. Despite the heavy recycling of Final Fantasy X material, there's enough secure FFX-2 as more than simply "Final Fantasy X Revisited." Honestly, it's difficult to say if it's truly better than its predecessor per se, but it is different. This is a much faster paced experience. The active time battle system seems faster than it ever has. People have compared it to Grandia II--and those comparisons are valid to an extent--but it's not quite as polished. By timing your attacks, it is possible to land combos and delay enemy attacks for a couple seconds, but you can't cancel them. The removal of the sphere grid doesn't hurt as much as I expected it to. The garment grid works nicely; you can equip different grids to each character that works to their strengths. The main problem lies within changing garments in mid-battle. The process is very similar to summoning an aeon. Meaning, you have to wait through cinematics that can't be skipped. It can become very tiring. Especially when you need to switch multiple times. The storyline isn't as prevalent as it was in Final Fantasy X. You won't see as many cut scenes. The plot and storytelling that is there (and there's still quite a bit) isn't terrible. It's just a different kind of storytelling since it's another person's story. In the grand scheme of things, it's not as epic (it shouldn't be either). It's still quite serious, more so as the game progresses, but it feels female. I don't know how to explain it exactly, but it just feels right for what it is. The lightheartedness works considering the circumstances. I'm not exactly sure I like having the entire map open from the start because it does serve to break up the plot. Well, unless you want to totally dismiss the side quests. In my opinion, I don't think the final product is as good as its predecessor. But, that's a matter of taste and it certainly doesn't mean this isn't a good game. It's very fun. Japanese voice acting would have probably made me hate it since I don't understand Japanese and there is no reason for America's Yuna to speak it. I'm still not sold on the idea of Yuna's character dressing like a Tomb Raider. I'm not offended by scantily clad video game women; I didn't care about Lulu's cleavage and I don't even care about how Rikku dresses. It fits their characters--just as how it isn't a stretch for Wakka's character to wear the clothes he does. You know, seeing as how he's an islander. But, innocence was the main point of characterization for Yuna. There's something wrong about seeing that face on a body wearing those clothes. I mean, the clothing isn't as revealing as I thought it would be during the game (it's only the gunner outfit too), but a woman's achievement of more freedom doesn't mean they should automatically wear hoochie mama clothes. Still, it's only one minor gripe. I'd say that the heavy use of recycled material from FFX is more of a concern than clothing or Japanese voice work. Obviously, the game takes place in the same world, but we could have visited some new lands and encountered a heavier dosage of new enemies.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Semjaza Azazel [/i] [B]Santa Claus will take over OB? [/B][/QUOTE] Actually, it's Kenny Rogers. ;) And Baron, if a topic like that (OtakuBoards fifty years from now) ever springs up, you'll see the first Charles suicide thread.

I've decided to end the speculation. James has secretly been planning a special version that is due to launch exactly ten years from this moment. He's employed me to get the project underway. I've been at it for quite some time now, vigorously tweaking what has become my pet project. We were going to call it "OtakuBoards Version Ten Years From Now" but those plans have since changed. The new name is apparent in the sneak preview I am revealing within this post. This will mark the first time a upgrade for the next upgrade has been revealed [i]before[/i] the upgrade itself. Remember you saw it here first. This is a momentous occasion. So, take a glimpse and see what the future has in store for this site with your own eyes. It ages pretty well, I think. As a matter of fact, it gets better with age, just like wine or mayonnaise

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by duorocks17 [/i] [B] I like the Eagles too, but i don't think they are doing so well... [/B][/QUOTE] They're tied for first place in the NFC; they're enjoying a seven game winning streak. That constitutes success in my book. At least as far as the regular season is concerned. ;) I would actually love to see Kansas City make it to the Super Bowl. I've been a Chiefs fan for quite some time now (going back to their acquisition of Joe Montana to be exact). They've had outstanding seasons before--13-3 seasons where they've made it to the championship game only to lose. It's impressive to see them perform so well after scraping by with a .500 record last season. Credit goes to the coach and unity of the team. For some reason, I'm a bit wary to predict a Super Bowl visit for them, though. Many of their games this season could have gone either way. They still have a tendency to play down to their opponents' level. If they [i]do[/i] make it, it'll be on the shoulders of Priest Holmes. That's what I believe, anyway. Hopefully the Eagles will finally go as well. The fans deserve it; the team can only lose the championship game so many times before [i]finally[/i] coming through for Philadelphia. I have a sneaking suspicion that Tennessee, Cincinnati, and New England could surprise a lot of people though. Especially Cincinnati. And who knows about "dem Bears." Can't count them out, oh no.

Well, I've spoken with PoisonTongue following his post (he's the one who told me about it, in fact) and it's one of the more insightful critiques I've ever read on OtakuBoards. Although I didn't have T.S. Elliot's Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock in mind when I wrote this, that piece is one of the most influential works I've read. It's a beautiful melancholy I've tried to incorporate into my own writing style (along with the simplicity of Hemmingway). Thus, although there is no [i]direct[/i] influence, that example probably did play a subconscious role in what I put down. It's a defining factor to be sure. It just blew my mind when you drew the similarities between the writing, Alex. Very nice and very much appreciated. I'm flattered to say the least. ^_^ To clarify my scene, I should say that Vampired Ed is indeed correct. These children are rumaging through a landfill. The piece begins as if its tone was positive or whimsical. But, as one pulls back the curtain and the big picture is revealed--a tragic situation becomes apparent, a situation in which survival for these two unsupervised children is ultimately hopeless. Their happiness is only temporary. They can't possibly exist in a place like this. Eventually, they'll become sick or starve. Which, is a theme prevalent in the animated film [i]Grave of the Fireflies[/i]. The skeletal structures I mentioned are abandoned homes in an urban setting. But, you see, I weave it in there in such a way that it covers both meanings I intend it to. The buildings are never specifically identified. They're shadows here. Thanks to everyone for your insight. This certainly turned out better than my Married with Children thread. Although I did get one fantastic reply to that, which makes it worth it. heh ^_^;; And, I'll try to be around more Mitch. There are only about two weeks remaining in this semester. ~_^;;

I don't believe he did it and I'll tell you why. The media has been [i]just waiting[/i] for an opportunity to pounce on Jackson since the controversial interview in which he admitted to sleeping with children in his bed (which I don't think he should be doing regardless of his intentions). Furthermore, he's been a prime target for rumors and disturbing allegations since the early nineties. People love to speculate about Micheal Jackson's "bizarre" lifestyle and appearance. Probably to the point where they blow it out of proportion. For example, I've heard that his infamous interview was even edited to make him appear worse, which doesn't surprise me. It's quite a common practice. A legal one at that. I won't sit here and claim that Jackson has [i]never[/i] had inappropriate relations with children. There may indeed be a measure of truth to the rumors. But, the media frenzy he's been enveloped in for the last decade has distorted his image so much that it's difficult to seperate facts from truth. Celebrities are often the victim of elaborate lies spun to sate our society's appetite for the latest lowdown on pop culture. It's just the way things are. You'll find ridiculous pop culture references on magazine stands, the covers of newspapers, and on prime time television. Many famous people live in a state of hell because of the world?s thirst for gossip. People don?t seem to realize that when there is no gossip, the media will create gossip by whatever means necessary. Lives are violated. In this particular case, I feel that there are too many coincidences. The child is having serious medical problems. So, there are financial issues. Factor in the fact that he's the one who requested to meet Jackson and that this whole mess surfaced upon the release of Jackson?s new album. What do all the signs point to? Dollar signs. This is all about money. That's all there is to it. Who better to accuse than Michael Jackson? People will readily dismiss the possibility that he may genuinely care for children and believe that he would take advantage of a sick kid. They?ll look the other way when the guy?s house is overrun by seventy enforcement officials. This is so reminiscent of the Kobe Bryant case, it?s not even funny. By the way, someone in here suspected that this whole thing was just a conspiracy to album boost sales because of possible refrences to the supposed molestation. Well, did you know that the television special set to air for the purpose of promoting his album was cancelled because of this crap? Seriously, how would a whirlwind of negative allegations [i]help[/i] him? Who wants to support a child rapist? Give me a break.

The sky is passion fruit, an amalgamation of blazing blush and honey yellow. It doesn?t have an aroma, exactly. Just a certain cleanliness. Its ripe nature is evident in the crispness of the air alone. The oxygen is free from the smells of man--pure, a pleasure to breathe. The skeletal outer workings of mysterious structures, otherwise untouched and probably forgotten, are brushed with its condensation, a gift of buoyancy otherwise void from their very existence. ?Can you see anything? she says. The boy presses himself so close to the window that his breathing leaves behind a cloud on the pane. With one eye open, he bites his lower lip and rubs it away with his elbow. Shoving her companion aside, the little girl imprints her face onto the window. He stumbles backwards and lands on his backside. ?It?s probably just a cat,? he says. ?It?s so dark,? she says. The boy shuffles and kicks at the dirt in front of him, quickly becoming bored now that his spot has been taken. He doesn?t wear a shirt. The morning chill doesn?t bother him. Neither does the cold ground. He sweats like a bag of steam. The bottoms of his feet are tougher than his worn-out sneakers. This place belongs to them, it?s their magical place. Their Terabithia. A world with no boundaries or rules. A life unsupervised by parents or schools. They love exploring this veritable wonderland of nooks, crannies, tight spots and mysterious things. They run splashing through puddles and slushing in mud. They stack columns of tires alongside sagging mattresses and discarded couches (heavy with rain water) transforming them into fantastical fortresses. It?s as if the world has blinked and they are able to exist in a place removed from thought. Their laughter rings out, disturbing quiet afternoons as they build their kingdom piece by piece.

Welcome to OtakuBoards. Visit the OtakuBoards Information Center at the top of the page. It's obviously there for a reason and this is a prime example of why members should take the time to read through it before posting. If you have any relevant site-related questions direct them to the Suggestions/Feedback forum or private message a staff member. Also, you may want to browse the forums so you have an idea of what goes on here and how things operate before you post again. Once again, welcome. I hope you follow my advice and enjoy your time on OtakuBoards.

My Thanksgiving gaming was dedicated to Tony Hawk's Underground. I was able to sit down with my brother and cousin; we played quite a bit of story mode. The Tony Hawk games have always been great for that sort of thing. It's like a middle ground for us. We don't agree on many games--but we've have always enjoyed the Pro Skater series immensely. [center][img]http://therob578.250free.com/tonyhawk.jpg[/img][/center] Originally, I wasn't going to bother with THUG because I didn't enjoy last year's effort too much. But, the level design in this year's product is somewhat of a throwback to the roots of the series, so we were able to hit some sick lines without being distracted by tennis or monkeys throwing feces. Since the days of Goldeneye have passed, we've not really been into holiday gaming (at least as far as multiplayer goes). When it's all said and done, that game probably provides me with many of my fondest multiplayer memories. It's a great example of what a first person shooter should be and it proves that split screen console gaming can be very entertaining. Perhaps I should have busted out the dusty old Nintendo 64 for today. heh Too bad I haven't run into Semjaza online. I'd like to force him into a game of pool. That also easily trumps most multiplayer games.

Heh, most members on OtakuBoards probably don't have bank accounts or personal assets of their own that would be obtainable through identity theft. Hence: [quote][b]Internet identity thieves don't need to steal your credit card number to defraud you. They can build a profile about you, just by using your information available on the Web. For example, your employer might list your name, job title and business contact details on their Web site. Criminals could check this information against your listing in the White Pages to confirm where you live and work. They could use this information to create false business accounts or postal addresses under your name.[/b][/quote] Most of that probably doesn't apply to the general membership here. Tony said it astutely. Those lurking about gather information and stealing identities would probably look elsewhere. Their priorities would be mixed up otherwise. An example doesn't come to mind where someone became a victim of identity theft on this site. It's safe to say it's either never happened or at the very least it's never been brought to our attention. Thus, a sticky thread or amendment to the rules probably isn't necessary from where I sit. Especially when you consider that most are able to make a conscious decision about how much they want to reveal about themselves without being reminded by us. Right? Because truthfully, no one is [i]forced[/i] to participate in discussions that call for personal information. It's all up to the individual and what they feel comfortable in disclosing to public eyes. Edit: :Feels kind of embarrassed for bothering. heh

We couldn't possibly celebrate the holiday without a new avatar from the house of Charles. This one isn't necessarily an accurate reflection of my opinions, but I find it a bit funny nonetheless. Some of the scenes are pretty neat; I'd say it falls somwhere in the middle in terms of quality compared to some of the others I've posted. That's not to say it's bad. It's just not cutting edge creativity. Fortunately, it is as silly as a good majority of my ava-things. Even if it is only playing off current events. What do you think? [url]http://therob578.250free.com/WackoJacko.gif[/url]

I agree with KOTR. There's not much of a point in leaving this thread open for discussion when it's clearly not intended to be a therapy thread (as explained by Alex himself). Which, is good considering a thread about suicide and depression is not an effective means of stopping [i]other[/i] threads in the same vein from popping up. That's like fighting obesity with fast food. It's just not going to work. The best remedy for the solution as far as OtakuBoards is concerned, is for members to take the situation into their own hands and create more upbeat discussion. Generally speaking, if that's what you want to see-then by all means, take the initiative to bring it to the Lounge. It'd be swell. Otherwise, just don't visit depression threads if you're not interested in them. Unless you're a staff member assigned to this area, there's no obligation for you to do so. This thread will still be visible for anyone who feels PoisonTongue can cure their depression, though. But, because most of the depression we see around here is merely teenage angst as opposed to, you know, [i]real[/i] problems, I think the only one I'm going to feel sorry for is PoisonTongue if people do indeed begin to approach him on IM. ^_^;;

Welcom back, Mr/s. T. ^_^ We've had quite an abundance of threads relating to this exact question. You could literally find handfuls of threads (quite large) that would give you most of what you're looking for here (and variations of the same questions). Otherwise, our Awards aren't too far off. So, they should meet your populatiry-serving needs. I've basically never seen the merit of these discussions anyway. Popularity on a message board is quite fleeting. It comes and goes with different members every year.