Slashdot Mirror
Howl-o-ween
qaz submits a story about a
remote-controlled graveyard. Supposedly this site is another computer-controlled setup, but it's not responding at the moment. Still looking for a pumpkin carving pattern (the Ellen Feiss pattern is nice too)? Or perhaps you'd prefer yet another punkin-chunking machine, a new model which has several news stories about it: here and here. And if spooky stories are more your style, everything2 is running a scary story contest (see last year's for ideas).
goatse !!!
Smile, don't click...
The Ripley's museums have those silly graveyards inside, and Ripley's also has those Haunted Adventure places. Somewhat similar.
Loomis
"The television is the retina of the mind's eye" - Videodrome
Has everyone seen today's FoxTrot?
"I feel like I should send Microsoft some of this."
Heh.
-Russ
Me
Here is scary halloween-reading for geeks :)
The problem in the world today is communication. Too much communication - Homer Simpson
The original story is that people were trying to keep the spirits away from your house. I don't understand why people dress up to go to others houses. This is nothing more than the candy manufacturers way of getting extra dough into their pockets.
Forget about ellen feiss. Id rather have everyones favorite poisonous potato with this pattern
No one posted this? Weird
.5).
http://hiptop.bedope.com/
It's a halloween scavenger hunt. The objective is to use your Hiptop mobile device, and take pictures of as many things on the list as you can. There are 5 teams (which are closed, sorry johnny-com-lately's), each vying for the fabulous prizes being awarded to the one team that score the most points (each item on the list has a point value. McDonalds is 1, White Castle 2. George W. Bush is 8, Al Gore is
Th
Is anyone bothering to dress up?
I'm in college, so I wasn't planning to, but I found out everyone else is getting into the spirit, so I need a costume quick.
I combed the shops this morning and this was all that was left to buy: stage blood and various color face paint. Any ideas? If I can't think of something cool I can make quickly, I just going to mix up a grey-green paint and go as a zombie.
uuuuhhhhhhhhhhhh brrraaaaaaiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnn
Anyway, I just want to know what cool costumes everyone else did.
Cogito ergo sum in Slashdot.
Bristoe, a 42year-old electrician and mechanic from Ellettsville, estimates his cannon's range at about five miles.
We only live 5 miles from the border between Canada and the USA. The drug dealer in my city should get one of those. Then they can drive along shooting their product over the border.
Got Extra Money?
The do this yearly a little south of where I live. If your in the Delaware valley, you have to check it out. Theres nothing like watching a pumpkin travel a mile!
/ 20 01/11/02itsahighflyingf.htmlm pionshippunkinchunkin.com/
http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local
http://www.worldcha
Check out this guy's carvings... http://www.grumpkins.com
He carves giant pumpkins, and they don't look like the standard run-o-the-mill jack-o-lanterns, thats for sure!
Skiers and Riders -- http://www.snowjournal.com
move along
I like halloween, but I like the weekend before that, Fall Back, even better!
I am all about an extra hour of sleep:)
I should have picked out the nickname Demosthenes!Tecumseh.
Hopefully complaints will be filed, and you'll be arrested for threatening someone's life. WTF, dumbfuck, you can't just shoot kids (or even wave guns at them) just because they ring your doorbell. Put a sign on the door or turn off the lights and go out and get a life tonight.
Hmm. The tux pumpkin is a helpful tutorial, basically it says to make a pumpkin with tux on it all you need is:
1.A Pumpkin
2.Artistic Ability
3.Expensive Software
4.Something called a light board (sounds arty)
Wow! Simple!
you know, if i could draw tux i wouldn't need a kit...
Acutally Microsoft is hoping people will dress like this
Come see the fun at the World Championship Punkin Chunkin in delaware this weekend.. ( http://www.worldchampionshippunkinchunkin.com/ )
Air cannons are no fun..(you can't see the pumpkin from the air cannons!) medieval technology is much more interesting to watch.
old machine: http://www.onager.net/page103.htm
Going bigger this year.. Look for the Mankiller Mark II.. ask for James..
All those in favor of moving Halloween to August, so it's Pre-9/11 say Aye!
Besides, it'd be warmer then, so the kids wouldn't have to dress up so warmly.
Stupid Redneck wannabe Christian who can't even read his own Holy Book...
Well, let's see...we saved your sorry asses from total annihilation in ww2, and now our businesses want to export holidays to make a few extra bucks.
Seems like a small price to pay for not having been blown to smithereens.
So, shut the fuck up you whiny eurotrash cocksucker.
Here's a list of the scariest geek movies.
That's nothing compared to the world-record-holding Aludium Q-36 Pumpkin Modulator (A "Marvin the Martian" reference for those who don't watch enough Warner Bros. cartoons).
another story about the pumpkin cannon.
;-)
5 mile range?!
quote "This is way too much fun to stop."
'nuf said! lol
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Heh, this isn't on-topic really other than it's about Halloween and /.'s favorite company, MS.
Check out today's Foxtrot, Im sure most of the ppl visiting this site will get a chuckle from it.
"Derp de derp."
I love satin! Soft, smooth, shiny. Satin is definitely not "pure evil." Pure lux, is more like it. What's this AC's problem with satin?! Where would the post 9-11 world be without satin pajamas?! We must fight for the love of satin or the terrorists will have already won!
Uh... he probably meant "Satan." Whatever.
When I lived in the US, Americans seemed to call Halloween a holiday. Why? I though this very odd as I'm normally given a day off work on a holiday, yet I never observed any statutory requirements for this.
Instead it seemed very clever marketing by companies wanted an extra cash boost in October had brainwashed everybody... perhaps through manipulation of parents by advertising at their children.
Bah, the French would have came back from behind eventually.
Oh, wait, you're not talking about football (soccer), are you?
Europeans that hate Americans are the funniest lot, because they forget that they're country sucked enough for people to go across oceans to avoid.
I hate nationalism.
Dan
It's true.
We even beat them at soccer. Oh-- I'm sorry. Fútbol.
http://www.artbell.com/images/fun-pumpkin01.jpg
And don't even get me started on rayon!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Give it up for the likeness of my head carved into a pumpkin!!!!!!
*Hates feeding a troll, but I have karma to burn*
I am assuming that you are American since you are using 9-11 as your excuse (as are too many other radicals and blood suckers in our society) for this post.
Do you understand that the U.S. has FREEDOM OF SPEECH??? It is great that you have your beliefs on this matter, but don't go pushing your feelings and beliefs onto others!
Besides, you take halloween too seriously if you really believe that crap. Halloween can be a time to have fun, dress up as your favorite movie character, super hero, or monster if you prefer. It is a time when you can act goofy and not have people think too much less of you. IT is also a great excuse for getting together with friends and getting drunk!
Besides, this post isn't just about halloween
Lighten up man - and realize that although this instance of this equipment is being used "for evil", it could also be used "for good"!
(Obviously, I'm not trolling since I'm not being a coward by not posting anonymously, so please don't mod me as so
HallmarkOrnaments.Com
Gee whiz, don't be so negative.
You don't need a day off to have a holiday. Some holidays are just for fun. Are all of the holidays in your country _serious_ holidays? Don't you just want to go out and play sometimes?
Not everyone in America celebrates halloween so extremely. It's mostly celebrated by people 35 and under (with many exceptions), and is a big holiday for many college kids, geeks, artists, and people who veer from the mainstream.
I'll give you a perspective from someone in the San Francisco, California area. Halloween is a holiday because:
- It's fun
- It's creative. I get to exercise my creative juices by decorate my house in spiderwebs, skeltons and blacklights. Next year I'm planning Robotic flying ghosts in my front yard.
- It's an excuse to dress up
- The children love it
- It's an excuse to party. Halloween is by far the biggest holiday in the San Francisco area. In the city, you'll have parties that stretch for 10 blocks, with tens-of-thousands of people dancing and having a good time.
- Day of the dead is tomorrow (Big holiday in Mexico and here in California).
Now, there are historical roots to the trick-or-treating, and the dress up, and pumpkins, and the day of the dead, but I won't go into that now. (Wait, looks like you're from the UK. You should know the roots already!)
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
Congradulations. You are hereby awarded the "worst grammar" award.
Please bash your head into the nearest wall to claim your prize.
Not all Americans are that way, but too many of us that act that way.
Oh shit! Slashdot is haunted! And it has a hook for a hand!!!
*runs screaming*
Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
You're absolutely right. I mean, I've seen at least 4 Jango Fett constumes already. That mofo is eeeeeeevil.
Ahh, behold the power of Satin.
Attention deficit disorder is a complicated issue, spanning several major... HEY LET'S GO RIDE BIKES!
i would get an old russian military uniform and a fake moustache and go as JOSEF STALIN
so.. what's the deal with this ellen chick. why is everyone obsessed with her.
.. I Want To Believe ..
do people think she's cute?
i guess she's cute but a little too young to get the hormones moving. and well, a little too stupid.
she must appeal to the "help the drugged-out cute dumb girl with her computer" instinct present in all geeks.
just curious
" celebrates pure Evil and the power of Satin"
If I had enough rolls of satin I could make a dress to fit the whole Earth, and the entire planet would look like a woman! Mwuhahahahhaah!
Next year: the diabolical plan involving silk.
graspee
My Dad went to see it and was very impressed. I have seen the photos--I want one.
For those in New England, this thing is in Greenfield, NH
there are 3 kinds of people:
* those who can count
* those who can't
''I intend on shooting in competition, and I'm going to change my barrel size to regulation so I can compete with the other big guns,'' he said.
The fact that there is a "regulation" barrel size for a pumpkin shooting competition scares me.
Maybe you should educate the morons of tomorrow so they'll stop believing the leaders of tomorrow. - Dogbert
...but are there other Europeans that are sick 'n tired of this holiday being introduced (back) in Europe?/i?
"This is europe. We do not allow fun. Creativity belongs in an art museum. Now take off that costume, go back to your cafe and have your serious discussion. God is dead. Good night."
If things are so great over there, WHY DO YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE KEEP LEAVING FOR OTHER COUNTRIES???
Note to all young Europeans. Come to America and celebrate Halloween with us. Bring your language, bring your culture, but just get away from that pompous additude.
You misunderstand me... I don't hate americans, I just don't like commercialism that forces a long-dead holiday (locally, in the US it is big and I respect that) through my throat. You can do whatever you want, I respect Japanese holidays, American holidays, and Pygmy holidays... but you don't need to force me to comply to any of them just under the flag of "making a buck"
And I'm not french.
Do they? Really?
That's funny, I know quite some Americans who'd like to leave the US and go to Europe. Honestly, I don't know anyone who left Europe for the US.
It is not that we do not allow fun or something like that, we have our own holidays and pushing halloween will make those holidays die. That is in essence a "loss of culture" due to greedy commercialism. So you are all in favour of losing diversity in human culture? Nice, I'm not for it at all.
No, you should be modded -1, IDIOT.
Grass is always greener, Mr. Troll :)
They got Conan O' Brien to be part of the graveyard!
Did you ever notice that *nix doesn't even cover Linux?
A pagan, in simple terms, is a non-Christian. Satan is only acknowledged by a subset of Christians. Therefore, pagans will never celebrate or worship Satan, especially the atheists.
(Side note: A Satanist would have to be a subset of Christianity because they acknowledge a christian entity.)
(Side note 2: a non-pagan, depending on context, could even be Muslim or Jew, or simply be monotheistic.)
(Side note 3: a more cynical definition of pagan would be "one whose beliefs contradict my own")
TodayTM BillyJoelTM GoogleTMd for StitchTMes due to WindowsTM while RollerbladeTMing with an AppleTM and a PopsicleTM
You guys must do halloween differently over there. Here nobody is forced to participate.
If you don't want kids at your door, turn off the goddamned porch light.
If you don't want to dress up, don't.
Fun is optional.
--
pants ahoy
Do you understand that the U.S. has FREEDOM OF SPEECH??? It is great that you have your beliefs on this matter, but don't go pushing your feelings and beliefs onto others!
The parent poster hasn't "pushing" his beliefs on you - he was simply stating them publicly. That's freedom of speech.
You also have the right to ignore him...
Well, I don't really know why you tell me this. I know that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I was actually replying to an AC that claimed so many young european people leave Europe to go to the US. Now, while I didn't see any evidence of it, it still might be true. (Links are appreciated)
Anyways... Even though my handle says I'm a Troll, I really am not. I really *do* dislike the commerical pushing of a holiday just for the sake of profit. Oh, and my original post got modded Troll and Flamebait, just because I was being truthfull to my own culture. I get called a nationalist, people use WWII against me etc... Now, while my statements may not be popular around here, they certainly have a core of truth.
No hair on my head thinks of moving to the US. I was there, it's nice for a holiday...and I suspect many Americans think that about Europe too. I do respect Americans, but the way Halloween has been introduced here is really not a thing to be proud of. Heck today, at the gas-station I was served by a witch! Why? I just don't get it, it's not going to make me buy more gas or so.
Luckily, the trick 'n treating hasn't yet started here...nobody came at the door. How many years till they will? I don't know, it's only the last three years that halloween has been commercialised here. So give it another 3 years, and some kids will have it "embedded" in their mind, and will find it "normal". That is something I want to avoid at all costs.
I know that opinion on Blizzard is divided around here, but anyone who plays Warcraft III should check out the MP3 they have on their home page. It's the WC3 units having a Halloween party, and most of the voices are the standard ones from the game, the ones you hear when you click repeatedly on the units. "Where's my drink? There's my drink. Get in my belly!" It's great!
"Common Sense Ain't" -Unknown
In the "Discomforting amount of attention paid on a teenage girl, leave her alone and start meeting some adult women already" sort of a way.
Could you make that Ellen Feiss one with an open mouth?
but isn't halloween that night kids throw rotten eggs at your window (the "trick part") if you don't open of fake not to be home. That makes it hard not to participate because if you don't, you have to clean your house the next day. Fun eh?
This doesn't really happen. If it does happen, it's a prank: Done by some teenagers (Teens do not usually go trick-or-treating), it'll happen weather their's candy or not, it might happen any night of the year, not just halloween, it's usually something less damaging like toilet paper, and it's usually the house of someone you know (like a coworker or a teacher or the principal). In short, it's a prank. An annoying prank.
Most kids are too polite to pull tricks like this. If there's no candy, the kids usuall shrug their sholders and go on to the next house.
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
The only people who would consider this a troll are Americans who are so brainwashed and so closed-minded that they can't see the truth. I am an American, but if I had the ability to leave this cesspool, I would. Here are the problems I see:
1. Americans are overweight (so the poster is correct in saying we're fat) with many of them being dangerously obese. I could stand to lose 10-15 pounds myself.
2. Americans have become locked into an obessive and unhealthy relationship with money and property due to the capitalist system. In America, the only value a person has is the amount of "stuff" that they own. This is immoral.
3. Americans are woefully out of touch with regards to the rest of the world due to the lack of true news reporting and cultural education in general. See this link for a great rundown of American failings.
4. Due to the propaganda that passes for news in this country, Americans (incorrectly) think that the rest of the world is out to get them. It isn't true folks. Wake up and join the rest of the world.
5. Americans are too eager to see an enemy around every corner. Even if it is unwarranted. This is evidence of how scared most of our population is. The very fact that so many fools believe they need to own a gun, further illustrates the point.
In general, Americans need to grow up and become aware of what is really going on in the rest of the world. America is NOT the greatest nation on the planet. The American century is over. Accept it.
While capitalism might be the best thing going right now... that doesn't imply that it will always be the best thing. I believe it's nearing the end of it's usefulness because it only encourages greed, ruthless competition and fear. It's time for a change. Keep in mind, the best way to travel used to be a horse drawn coach at one time, I'd challenge anyone here to say that it still is.
The capitalist system is the root source of most of America's problems in and out of the nation. Why did the "terrorists" hit the Twin Towers? Because WE are interfering with their culture solely to make a profit. Why did the "dot.com" bubble burst? Because a bunch of greedy bastards thought that they deserved six figure salaries for having no business model other than "It's really cool and it'll use the internet". Why do we have such a huge disparity between the rich and the poor? Because the rich have the money to pay people to make them richer. The poor actually have to work.
So, as much as I would love to defend this country, I find myself wanting to walk away, quietly and ashamed, from all the things it currently stands for. Until this country and it's populace decide to pay attention to the real world instead of the one they see through the filter of capitalism, we are doomed to be mocked and attacked. America is being controlled by the wrong people: lawyers and business interests. The only people those two groups benefit are themselves. They just throw the illusion of wealth at people like you and me.
I make $45,000 a year working as a network admin/programmer in the non-profit (major metropolitan public library) sector because I believe in doing something for my fellow man. I could have worked in the private sector and made a lot more money, but who would that be helping? It wouldn't help those who really matter (the children in the inner city, the unemployed and underpriveledged). That is how I can view my country this way. The peopple who have been deluded into thinking that they are wealthy and important because they own stuff, are morally bankrupt.
For those whose pumpkin tastes runs less towards throwing and more towards... well... intimacy, there's Punkin Lovin.
>>>That's funny, I know quite some Americans who'd like to leave the US and go to Europe. Honestly, I don't know anyone who left Europe for the US. Honestly, I don't know anyone who left Europe for the US.
Funny, I thought every European-American had european roots. People have been coming here for along time.
I have a dozen young European immigrants in my neighborhood.
All European Americans came from Europe some time in the last 400 years. They left for many reasons.
My mother was chased out of Europe. Fun stuff.
That is indeed very informative. I didn't know that, but guess what: most of my knowlegde about halloween comes from american series. Now, while I know that series are not a good reference on American behaviour, I suspect that most kids will get their "halloween basics" from television series too. So they just might think the throwing of rotten eggs is part of it (just, as I did). Unfortunately there will be no stefanlasiewski to teach them how Halloween really works in the US.
Homestar Runner's Pumpkin Carving Contest!
http://www.homestarrunner.com/halloween2002.html
I swear by MacOS X. Although I use to swear *at* MacOS 9...
qaz submits a story about a remote-controlled graveyard. Supposedly this site is another computer-controlled setup, but it's not responding at the moment.
You mean -gasp- it's dead?
Ehm, if you have been more tham 20 years in a country and adapted yourself to the local customs you are no foreigner anymore. None of these European immigrants you talk about, still think of themselves as Europeans. At most "from European descent". Heck, I'm an immigrant in the country where I live too. I have been living here for over 20 years and do not consider me of my original nationality anymore. When I went for my studies back to my country of orgin I was considered a foreigner. They didn't call me by my first name, but I was "The Luxemburger". Nice, eh? Once you leave your country, get ready to rip out your roots forever.
If you take it your way, we are all Africans (provided the theories of human origin are correct).
Badass Pumpkins here
;-)
This guy has way way way too much time on his hands
Wait, so do I.
-S
We Apprentice Developers and Designers
True there are lot of ignorant Americans, and we have our shortcomings, just as every other nation, but we must obviously be better than most every other place out there, or else we wouldn't have thousands upon thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Mexicans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Pakistani, etc etc come into this country every year.
I'm going as a pregnant BSD cheerleader!!!
http://ironorchid.com/jjinux/daemon/index.html
Wired got it wrong though!
It isn't NitrozaK.
It's Nitrozac. With a "C"!
I once saw, spraypainted in white paint on the side of a barn:
WORSHIP SATIN
"Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
Chevy: Emily.
Emily: Yes, Cheddar?
Chevy: Irish settlers. Irish settlers brought Halloween to the US in the 1800's.
Emily: Oh, that's different. Nevermind.
(With apologies to Gilda.)
Boobies never hurt anyone. - Sherry Glaser.
Well, like everything, Halloween is in the eye of the beholder. It's what you make of it.
Halloween here IS way too commercialized, but that doesn't make Halloween a bad thing. There's a whole halloween subculture out there dedicated to creating cool halloween effects. The best costumes and the best decorations are the homemade ones.
If there's one thing that Europeans are good at it's resisting corporate culture (Well, ok, maybe mostly the Europeans who are 20+. I was shocked at the amount of American TV I saw while in Germany this summer...).
When Halloween becomes more popular in Europe, hopefully you'll be able to keep the commercialism in check. Turn off the TV, come up with your own traditions, and create your own flavor of Halloween...
Because like it or not, Halloween is in Europe to stay.
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
I want to stick my wang in the feiss pumpkin.
The problem is that we actually have holidays that are suppsed to be the equivalent in Europe. Well, at least for collecting the sweets. I just know about 2 on top of my head: Liichten (2nd february) and Three Kings (6 january).... The first is in Luxembourg and the second in Belgium (dutch part, I think). Both, is kids going around then they sing a song or two and get sweets in return. A third one would be "Sint Maarten" in The Netherlands, but I'm not that sure about it. They have much less commercial value, and hence are bound to die in favour of Halloween. Or worse: kids get to collect sweets twice a year.
Look at what happened to "Sinterklaas" or "Kleesjen" which was traditionally done here on the 6th december (5th in The Netherlands). He is being replaced more and more by Santa. Back in the day I got my presents the 6th december, now you just give sweets for that day and the presents on Christmas. I might sound a bit old by complaining about these things, but I'm really just 25. The problem is that I have been witnessing these changes. When I have kids there is always the risk they won't even know about the "real" (or local) holidays. Teaching them would serve no good, because of course they would be laughed at in school.
I will try to keep up my cultural identity but the influence of the US might destroy everything I have known as "my culture", not in my generation, but definately in the next. It's nearly sad to admit it, but resistance is futile.... I'll keep resisting.
Where I live they cancelled Halloween.
FoundNews.com - get paid to blog.,
Hehehe... no "Bush backers" willing to take this guy on? Typical. In the face of cold fact, the conservatives ignore it.
-"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
look at who they voted in to govt
To their credit, the voters of the USA did not vote in the person you describe. He came second but, due to democratically incomaptible activities, he got the job.
What activities? Well he had a family member in a convenient place to help sort out electoral rolls in advance and get votes counted the way he wanted. I think he got less votes than the looser. That doesn't sound democratic to me.
Americans didn't vote GW Bush in. The oil companies did.
Chuck as to throw, launch, or propel whimsically or informally. (Also a tool or part of a tool.)
/. editor through ignorance, misunderstanding, or reliance on bad, informal sources (gee), however common (or popular) that misuse may be.
Chunk as to actively produce pieces of misc. size or a piece from the result thereof.
Now, while chucking may produce chunking as a side effect, the use of chunk should be reserved for those machines that automatically remove the pulp from a pumpkin and, for the more sophisticated, also cut the face.
Maybe a definition under slashdot effect besides flooding web sites should include the propagation (repeat) of word misuse after a story is posted by a
an excellent site to find out about Samhain and other pagan holidays is witchvox
What could be scarier then bobbing Barbra Streisand heads in all four corners of the screen?
Or are you just reflexively anti-American?
"Yet they believe they can control the world"
We do. it's as simple as that.
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
You can't manage to get out of America but you make $45,000 a year? If it's financial then I'm sure would could take up a collection or something.
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
Is that some hybrid of Hello Kitty and Halloween?
slashdot!=valid HTML
Too many exposures to "The Truth is out there" eh?
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
The *graveyard* is only a 10 minute drive away from my house! Only 1 hour till the next show! But damn it is cold around here. Maybe I'll take pictures but where should I post them (IE a place that can take a slashdotting?)
.noitacidem deen uoy siht daer nac uoy fI
but we don't start attacking countries on a whim because we disagree with them.
Um, name one country that the US has attacked "on a whim" only because we "disagree" with them.
$45,000 a year SHOULD be enough to get by with... But it isn't thanks to the incredible prices one must pay to live in this society. As it is, by then end of each month after paying my mortgage, car payment, utilities, and grocery bill, I am left with about $100 for myself. And no... I don't live in a beautiful house. It's costing me $85,000 over 30 years. At $740/month, + $233/month for my car (nothing fancy, just a used Nissan Sentra), just that alone is almost half of what I take home per month. So... although it should be plenty, it isn't. And why? Because the rest of the world is so greedy that they've raised the prices of so many things sky high. I'm still willing to live with that since, I know that it's the price I pay to work in the non-profit world. But it doesn't allow me to leave this country. And, who's to say that things might not improve. If enough people get fed up with George, and the elections don't get fixed again, we might get someone sensible and intelligent in office. Not everyone is so happy with that dork.
The same could be said for all the Clinton bashing that happened when he was in office. You Bush lovers weren't so easy on him. But it's far too easy for you to turn a deaf ear to any facts about your beloved moron. Clinton was a far more honourable man than Bush is. His only vice was having smoked some pot once and a little nookie on the side. I don't see how that would affect political decisions. Bush's closet is far more alarming. Cocaine, alcoholism, avarice, etc... I'd far rather have a pot smoking, philanderer who has the expertise to be a statesman, than a coke head (a far more heinous drug) with an unstoppable appetite for money in office. Face it... you're just a stupid fucker who's been duped by conservative rhetoric. Wake up from your fantasy world.
What is your response to the charge that the poster above made that Mr. Bush was AWOL? He didn't honorably fulfill his requirements, his daddy (far more intelligent and dangerous than his idiot son) pulled some srings so he could get the honorable discharge. All that proves is that he's got connections. Don't change the subject. Address what the poster above was referring to. I'll bet you didn't go so easy on Bill Clinton.
-"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
You could always use LOGO to carve a pumpkin. =P
You are a mother fucking idiot. It's people like you who give the US it's bad reputation abroad. You are arrogant without reason. At least I, as an American, am willing to admit that the US doesn't have the power that most dupes have been conned into thinking that we do. With fools like you and the current administration jumping around acting like schoolyard bullies and claiming their superiority, things are only going to get worse. We don't deserve to have that kind of power anyway. But, thanks to you, we are doomed to have more things like Spet. 11th happen. I'll bet you're one of those fucks tht drives your sorry ass to work in an SUV as well... You've done far more to further finance terrorism in that fucking monstrosity than any drug dealer has. What a lame ass. You are an embarassment. Leave my sight now.
I really doubt that a majority of slashdotters are 12, so really ... lay off the creepy comments about little old girls.
It's called Chechnyan Hijacking. But the real terror is, it is the very same Russians that were supposed to rescue people from the theatre MURDERED all but one of the civilians they are supposed to save. Do you want to support a government -- which you voted for and paid taxes to -- that can and will kill you just because you are strategically THE WEAKEST LINK??? Don't think it won't happened to America, because it will happen more often all over the world.
In another note, the victims of Washington-area sniper had just finished their first volume of scary stories. They may even have time to publish their works just before the perpetrators' executions.
Several of my coworkers grew up in Europe, many in what are now EU countries, and I know many academics who came to the US from Europe. No Americans I've known personally have moved to Europe permenently (though some have gone temporarily, I know an American who's currently a graduate student in Germany for example.)
Almost all of the toll roads I've been on in the US were automated. (I've never been on a toll road west of the Mississippi, where I've been most of my life; the toll roads in Illinois and New York I've driven on were all automated, I recall only once traveling on a non-automated toll road, in Boston, and I suspect it wasn't automated only because it was a temporary bypass during construction) Your anecdotal evidence is all at odds with my anecdotal evidence. But, more to the point, I suspect that the per capita number of government jobs (as private industry doesn't often support such waste) is generally higher in Europe.
I lived in Canada for a few years, I was quite happy to move back to the US.
One can hope it will recover. I think American culture may appeal to one or two generations, but it is ultimately shallow and alien, so it is possible there will be a backlash from later generations, and a desire to return to ones own culture.
There is something of an analogy in the attitude towards European culture found in much of the Third World. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, people all over the world were emulating Europeans in most respects (e.g. educated people in the Third World increasingly adopted European dress, habits and custom), but this was reversed when following generations sought to rediscover their own cultures.
I am glad to hear that at least one person tries to give me hope. So far I only got flames and lack of understanding.
I hope you are right, I hope.... But I won't live to see it.... I will fight, as long as I can.
Had you said the same thing about Clinton my response would be no different. It would still fall on the deaf ears of a fool though.
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
Europeans that hate Americans are the funniest lot,....
Erm thats most of us. Well we mostly hate American culture and the nation in general. I've liked almost all individual Americans that I've met so far, (the naivety can even be cute).
However when Americans can elect senators who are quoted as saying "Israel is for the Jews, God said so, it's in the Bible -read it," and then complain about the evils of other peoples' religious fundamentalism, there is little wonder the rest of the world has no respect for the USA. That coupled with your nation's supreme arrogance/cultural imperialism, tends to lead to hatred.
because they forget that they're[sic] country sucked enough for people to go across oceans to avoid.
If the first (white) americans hated europe so much why did they name all their cities after european ones? Methinks they left for a number of reasons, they were: misfits, adventurers, opportunists, anarchists and yes people trying to avoid religious persecution, and the other evils in Europe at the time.
The main reason was that the Americas were huge, full of natural resourses with a very small poorly armed local population.
I make $42,300 per year working for county level goverment and I could leave this country with relative ease.
I pay on a house that ran a little over 123K, sits on 2.8 acres, and that I have financed on a 15 year note. I'm paying $890 month for this privilege. And no folks, it don't have wheels nor is it "doublewide".
I make payments on a 2001 Regal GS that I bought last year at 0% (just doing my part to fight terrorism) and have utilities, groceries, and the standard set of bills that come with being alive in America.
You're doing it wrong kiddo. Not sure in what way but you're without a doubt doing it wrong. I have plenty of money leftover for myself.
It's more like the price you pay for living in America and not knowing how to work your budget correctly. Blame it on the rest of the world, blame it on Dub'Yah, or whatever else you can think of but get one thing straight. If you can't manage to live comfortably on that salary you're the one to blame, no one else.
I think you just don't want to trade in your home and quality used Nissan Sentra for the possibility that your big move abroad might prove nothing more than that you were better off here than you thought and you're a moron.
Note I said "possibility". You might not be a moron. Maybe you bought your house at a high interest rate and live somewhere where 45K ain't enough to rent a decent shopping cart. It's possible.
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
Well, most Americans hate American culture in general, but there's nothing they're willing to do about it.
:-)
Your polititian reference is a good one, though, a lot of people are unwilling to look at fellow "people of the book" and realize that there is a lot of shitty stuff done on both sides of that conflict.
I don't see what you mean by arrogance, but whatever, why doesn't everyone hate the French?
That was a joke, it's really the Quebec'ers that are that bad.
That was a joke, too.
I don't see arrogance, but, if I may be so bold, I don't watch much TV. Perhaps some of your countrymen and women should follow that example.
Dan
I'm not in your sight. I'm on your monitor.
Your lame comments addressed (out of boredom at the moment) in sequence follows:
"You are a mother fucking idiot. It's people like you who give the US it's bad reputation abroad. You are arrogant without reason."
Well I can think of 12,000 reasons called warheads that might be considered cause for arrogance so granted. I'm arrogant. If you say I am then I must be right?
I live in a country that's pretty much capable of doing whatever it wants to in regards to the majority of the rest of the world and I admit it. It's not that I completely agree with it but it's a reality. People who claim it isn't aren't looking at the world around them. We call the shots or can call the shots in more places than any single other nation on earth. Dispute that for me. You can't. It's just true. Arab nations don't want the US to go to war in Iraq. Aside from the yea or nay of it being right you can bet your ass that if we want it then it will happen.
Is it right? Probably not. Will it happen? No doubt about it if the US says so.
Personally I think it's poor tips from tightwads that give the US a bad reputation abroad but that's just me. You might have something there.
"At least I, as an American, am willing to admit that the US doesn't have the power that most dupes have been conned into thinking that we do"
This is stupid. We have the power to level entire nations. We have power your tiny little ass has never even dreamed of. We have the ability to equal the worlds production capability in a pinch and we can cut off the food of hundreds of millions of people around the world in the blink of an eye (or rather the time it takes for one man to sign a piece of paper and/or verbally give an order). Do you have any idea how many countries economies freakin vanish if we pull our citizens off of the teet of cheap gas? Once again man, not necessarily right but almost impossible to refute. Ok, that one simply isn't right. Hell even I can see that. Still true though.
"With fools like you and the current administration jumping around acting like schoolyard bullies and claiming their superiority, things are only going to get worse. We don't deserve to have that kind of power anyway."
My ass never left my seat when I typed that (so you can't say I was jumping around. You can say it but it ain't the truth) and you don't have to be a Republican to think the US is the country pushing the buttons and pulling the levers in the world today. The Democrats take care of it when the Republicans aren't doing it and they do it just as well. Actually if you read the FUCKING NEWSPAPERS or watch the news on the TELEVISION, or even go to a news site on the internet of your choice OTHER THAN SLASHDOT then you would see that no one does any claiming of superiority. It wouldn't do for public consumption and it makes us look, well, just like "schoolyard bullies". The US seems to prefer to take a "we're just one of the guys" approach to world domination and we even go out of our way to pretend that all of these other so called powers get to feel like they are being consulted and part of "the team".
No one is fooled by this, except perhaps you, but it would be poor form to simply come out and say "Everyone get out of our way or prepare to get your ass kicked". What can we say, we don't want anyones feelings hurt over this whole "we got the balls and you got the sack" thing.
Oh and deserve has absolutely nothing to do with it. Never has, never will.
"But, thanks to you we are doomed to have more things like Spet (?) 11th happen. I'll bet you're one of those fucks that drives your sorry ass to work in an SUV as well... You've done far more to further finance terrorism in that fucking monstrosity than any drug dealer has. What a lame ass. You are an embarassment. Leave my sight now."
I caused "Spet 11th"? No shit? Well damn, I'm sorry and I'll do whatever I can to try and make it up to everyone....
Know what? Fuck you instead. I don't own a friggin SUV so by your logic I'm innocent of the whole mess. September 11th was caused by (pay close attention you shaved fucking ape) A BUNCH OF ASSHOLES WHO DECIDED TO KILL PEOPLE. That's the whole story. Nothing more to see here, move along.
Damn near everyone on the planet figures the US is the source of some problem they have. Most of them are wrong but we make a convienient target. We're big, we're bad, and we inspire plenty of fear since we're the biggest and baddest thing on the block.
Knucklehead monkeys praying to Allah (equal opportunity offender here, I think your basic Christian type "God" fellow is just as much of a joke) and living their lives by 12th century rules crack me up. They talk about how bad we are and how we're so friggin evil. If we were as evil as they think we are their countries would be black glass and bones. We'd get the oil the old fashioned way. We'd kill the indigenous population for it and/or enslave them. Just like back in the day when England was leading the pack all the other western nations would line up for their share of the pot too. And just like they all kissed ass up to England then they would be lining up to be our little something special today.
Arrogant, yes. Running the show, yes. More powerful than anything else on this planet, of course. Right, I kind of doubt it. Inevitable, oh yeah.
"How High? - The United Nations when we say jump.
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
Americans traditionally are regarded as fat, loud and arrogant, rich and stupid none of which are fair to most of those that I've met, but that's the general sterio-type in the 4 continents I've surveyed. (One is generally treated better when travelling when one explains one is not American).
The USA's hypocritical stance on human rights(prisons etc)/ police brutality, and general belief that the US is above international law could possibly be construed as arrogant, as could the failure to agree to the Kyoto agreement etc.
However this is the best snippet that I found on google when searching for
'American Arrogance'
It's an old one, but I'd love to believe it's not urban myth, and they may have been french Canadians (which should keep you happy).
Ahh yes - I'd heard that in the land of the free, there were so many channels, that you were all too busy switching through 100s of channels to watch any TV
The company is Pumpkin Masters.
Unfortunately, I don't have any of my pictures on the web at this point, but I have used their tools and patterns for the past 5 years now with no failure.
Mordor...a magical, mythical land where women are more rare than dragons--but where every man would rather find a dragon
From the pumpkin gun story:
A story about the cannon published last week in The Herald-Times of Bloomington was picked up by The Associated Press, leading to calls from reporters as far away as Great Britain.
I actually saw a TV news spot on this thing here in Japan...(probably from the AP spot)
Hahahaha... You fell for it sucker.
Well said. In fact, Clinton smoking some dope and getting off with a few ladies may not be an appealing political argument, but it demonstrates to me that's he's a REAL GUY.
i brought the stuff in from last nite, left it in the foyer. the brave dog comes around the corner, sees the skull-in-black-cape thing and starts barking [at four in the morning]. shit. so i get my little puppy to come down there with me. she doesn't notice it, and is playful. brave dog inches closer; finally closes in for a sniff, and runs back upstairs. some dog. ___ mod me down; i don't care.
Hardly, I felt like writing and bitching and did so. I enjoyed myself too. What's not to love?
Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
SOMETIMES THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD is so overwhelming, I just want to throw
back my head and gargle. Just gargle and gargle and I don't care who hears
me because I am beautiful.
-- Jack Handley, The New Mexican, 1988.
- this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...