Reminds me of one of the funniest scenes from "The Critic."
"Who's flying the plane?!" *Runs to the cokcpit to discover a penguin in a pilot hat flying it well* "Phew... hey, wait a second, penguins can't fly!" *plane starts to go into a nosedive*
Oh, wait, no, no... What if our Earth-conquering desires are constantly defeated by a combination of poor luck, gross incompetence, underestimating and overestimating the competence of the general public, and lack of communication?...Troz!
I still disagree. People can always make stories about how things came to be. Much in the same way how we tell young children that the "stork" leaves babies on your doorstep instead of explaining the complex workings of sexual reproduction. These are still "stories" to explain an origin, but very flawed ones.
Perhaps I was a bit too angry when I wrote that, but I was aiming it at "Creationist Scientists," which I mentioned several times. These are the people who create the images of Adam and Eve amongst dinosaurs. These are the people who claim ALL creatures ate plants before "the corruption" at the Garden of Eden. The type of people who commissioned and designed the creationism museum.
Honestly, I don't care what people believe. I don't care if they like to think these things. But when they try to spread these falsehoods into the public, which they certainly are, I have a serious problem with it. I attack the people who try to get Creationism taught in a science class, and label biology textbooks to say that there are other "reasonable alternatives to evolution." There are none. (This is not to say that our view of evolution is 100% accurate, because I assure you, it's not, but I trust that the scientific community will attempt to update and improve the theory with new evidence.)
Otherwise, if people want to believe that God causes evolution, or God planned it from the start, or whatever, hey, the more power to them. But intentionally spreading misinformation I do not take lightly.
Ugh. You're killing me here. I'm reminded of all the times I've heard "Creationist scientists say dinosaurs ate leaves and used their sharp teeth to grind leaves."
No. Just... no. No, no, no, no, NO!
Honestly, I'd LOVE to see a T-rex or an Allasaurus or another obvious carnivore TRY to eat leaves with a mouth like that. We KNOW today that flat teeth are used for grinding plants. I mean, it's basic instinct. When you eat meat, you use your slimmer and pointer front teeth to tear it into slimmer pieces. When you eat a salad, you don't use your front teeth at all, and simply let the back teeth grind the leaves.
It's pure bullshit, and it's easily debunked by anyone with two brain cells to rub together. Same for sharks. They have rows upon rows of sharp, serrated teeth. Are you going to tell me they ate kelp?
Not to mention that we see hundreds of cave drawings of bison and deer and other roaming mammals... yet does anyone find it strange that no caveman decided to draw a HUGE monstrous death machine roaming the lands? I mean, not ONE SINGLE MENTION anywhere in all of human culture until we discovered their bones?
No, I am no a biologist, archaeologist, or any other professional, but I think my evidence stands as is. I'm sure a real scientist could provide FAR more examples.
Creationism science is an oxymoron, because Creationism is the polar opposite of science. You start with a conclusion (God made the Earth and the Bible shows how he did it) and then proceed to find evidence that supports that, as opposed to finding evidence and then making a conclusion based on the evidence.
The Bible is not literal. Period. It is a series of stories and ideas put into writing in ancient times to explain, back then, how they thought things came to be.
To me, believing in Creationism is like saying "I believe the sky is green." It's just wrong. Yes, there is a degree of uncertainty in it, such as how "green" something is before it's green, but with science, we can break down light and find its wavelength and say "This light is blue." You can still believe that it is green, just as you can believe men walked the earth alongside dinosaurs, that a man with a boat carried two of EVERY species of animal on Earth for over a month after a God gave him the designs for it, and the first woman came from the ribs of the first man.
But you'd be wrong. "Believing" that 2+2=5 doesn't change the fact that it's 4, even if you call it an "opinion." Facts do not care what you think.
(Note: Yes, I know the Parent was joking. But this stuff SERIOUSLY pisses me off)
I thank you, truly, for the kind words and advice. You are well spoken and clearly sincere.
Honestly, that does sound wonderful (albeit intimidating from the vantage point of the inexperienced, but I suppose that's the point). But on the other hand, take a minute to look at the responses I get. I've had nearly 30 of them, last I checked. I've received advice ranging from "fuck everything that moves before you're old, wrinkly, and so are they" to "take it slow and just try to make friends" and all points in between. Different strokes, folks, etc.
The idea of pleasuring someone else, and not just myself, seems wonderful, but I still feel I have a long way to go before I reach that point. I'm trying, may be not hard enough, but it's a start. I have a friend, a girl my age (10 days older than men in fact) who I met online, and lives in Spain. Last summer she actually came to live with my family for a couple of weeks and next summer, I hope to spend time with hers.
It's slow progress, and I'm willing to bet a lot of what I say are excuses and the like. But it's my life, and as they say, sometimes the only way to get it right, is to get it wrong. Mistakes are how you learn, and if my mistakes end with me getting a few less years of tail, well, that's not the worst thing in the world.
I understand your point. But I'm not worrying so much. I understand sex is a crucial part of life (Thank you, Captain Obvious. Sex = life. So, uh, yeah) but... I'm just not all that worried. It'll happen. Unless it doesn't. In which case, it didn't, so what does it matter?
I don't think I'm depriving myself or repressing myself. I'm just not a social person... at all. As i said in my original post, I have a minor case of asperger's, and with some help, I've been learning more, and I'm most certainly better off than I have been. But I'm still too shy and unsocial for such a large leap, and I don't want to screw the first person willing to spread her legs for me just because the chance is there. I mean, yeah, it'd feel good, but I'd rather just make friends first. Life is short, but that doesn't mean should rush through it, trying to get in as much as possible.
Sir, your use of exclamation points, lack of capitalization, and emoticons have persuaded me where others have failed through reason and discussion. I salute you.
I should point out that when I say "getting caught" I mean by my/the girl's parents, or someone who would relay the message of said fornication to said paternal figures.
It's not that I fear our act would be immoral in the sense of we were doing an injustice or hurting someone, etc. etc. but rather one of punishment via these figures. Just because an act is natural does not mean these people will be so accepting of the said implications. Granted, in the long run, their opinions add up to jack and shit respectively, but given that "screwing their rules" would result in me needing to move out and manage to afford my own place...
Well, I've lived on my own for a short while (my previous college was not local, my current one is) and I deem it possible, most definitely, however, for the time being, I'd like to lazily take the path of least resistance and stay here until I finish up schooling (I have no intention of being a 30-year-old living in his parent's basement playing D&D all day, but see no reason to give up an essentially free ride while my school and job are nearby).
Thus, if it came down to it, no, my parents (nor hers) would really have any say in our decision making, but getting on their bad sides would just be an unnecessary burden.
And I get that "I was like you once" comment a lot. A LOT. And while it does say to me "I might be missing out on something," I also notice these people do manage to "turn themselves around," which is more than can be said for most people. I also like my philosophy: "Life and death are far too silly to be taken as matters of life and death." If I miss out on something nice in life... it's just life. It comes, it goes, c'est la vie.
The "disgusting" part has more to do with the exchange of fluids and internal biology... That and genitalia tend to be rather creepy on both sexes. Hair, fluids, and excessive blood flow... I don't know.
I've considered the gay part, and think I'm at least bi-curious, but on the other hand all the problems I listed with girls extends to guys. Basically, people, on the whole, creep me out. I don't mean "Oh no, they're weird and they say weird things and act way too spontaneous." I mean acting like they have a death wish. Or want to get arrested. Or they like to sit around all day doing drugs. (As far as I'm concerned, life is already too surreal for drugs to be needed)
I've no interest in bat-shit crazies. I don't care if people say they're the best lays in the world. I don't care if God came down and said I'd like it, I just don't trust them. Not to mention that most of them... well, ALL of them, from what I've seen, are morons. Stupidity is a turn off. Period.
I don't really give a fuck (ironic word choice?) about what society thinks, but my concerns are my own. There are pros and cons to sex, much like everything in life, and if thinking them through is "wasting a chance," I'll take them.
And no, I will not change my major. I'm an engineering major because it suits my skills and interests well. I'm not in school to get laid! I'm in school to get a good job, and there's no way in Hell I'd be in the humanities. (I'd like a JOB when I graduate, and skills that will have some sort of actual use)
Does anyone else get this tingly sensation on their spine when they think about the problem there? The less intelligent are less likely to consider the durability and effectiveness of their contraceptives (WARNING! Generalization! I know that!). This is likely to cause the stupid ones to just buy the less effective condoms and, as a result, spread STDs or get pregnant. Now, assuming these STDs are fatal, as long as the STD rate were higher than the accidental pregnancy rate, it'd be one thing, but most STDs I know of are mostly harmless (much like the Earth) save for uncomfortable/embarrassing/disgusting side-effects. So this further increases the need for durable contraceptives. Again, though, the people who need these the most won't be getting them.
I am a 20 year old engineering major male white college student. I have a case of asperger's syndrome (And before anyone accuses me of being self-diagnosed, I'd not even heard of it until a therapist diagnosed me). And, not to sound egotistical, but I like to think that I have above-average intelligence. I'm not a genius, nor a whiz at anything, nor do I have Mensa begging for me to enroll, but I do feel I have sufficient evidence to suggest I'm smarter (using a definition akin to "able to interpret, recall, and use information) than the average 20 year old.
Do I even need to add that I'm a complete virgin? I've never gotten to second base. Or first base. Hell, I didn't get up to bat. I'm not even a benchwarmer. (I just used up all my sports analogies.)
My social skills have improved since grade school, and I'm nowhere near as shy as I used to be (But then again, it's no substitute for real interaction, but spend years online and you do tend to develop a tolerance to mockery and jerks.)
But I've still never had a girlfriend. Not even close. I feel this is due to both a lack of interest, a lack of experience, well below-average social skills, and a lack of eligible bachelorettes (see: Engineering major).
Quite frankly, in my free time between classes at my college I go to the lounge, where I meet a vast number of different people. Most of the females are: A: taken B: incompatible with my nature (I don't mind someone having different interests and ideas than me, but SOME common ground is nice.) C: Bat-shit crazy demons I wouldn't touch with a 39 and a half foot pole, let alone my bare hands.Many of these, in particular, I strongly suspect, are carrying a multitude of STDs, given how much they broadcast the sex they have.
On top of all this lies a series of moral dilemmas, such as giving in to carnal desires when I know the risks, the necessity of intimacy, the risks of getting caught... It just seems too complicated and risky to be worth the effort, especially outside of a relationship. (Not to mention how DISGUSTING sex is, when you REALLY think about it. I mean considering the biological processes involved. Though I'm sure this is lost "in the heat of the moment," it doesn't really make me any more disposed to seeking it out)
On the other hand, take my brother. Bless his soul for all the hard manual labor he does, and helping my father with his business so we didn't go OUT of business when he was injured, etc. But I use more brain power before 6am than he does all day. He admits proudly that he HATES to think and just acts. He's gone through girlfriends like candy and I'm sure has gotten laid more than a few times.
Ultimately, it seems to me that love and sex are purely animalistic and primal desires with little to no logic to them. Thus, those prone to analyzing their actions OVER analyze these things and have less success or less desire or both.
That, and my brother is currently out doing things. I'm on slashdot and going to go play City of Heroes in a while. That may have something to do with it, too.
How, exactly, is using your body without your mind any different from the average person?
In all seriousness, convenience is a double edged sword. I can see some practical uses. Say, starting your car from inside on a cold winter morning. Or maybe turning on a speakerphone or flashlight in case of an emergency. But a TV remote? That's when laziness just comes in. I consider myself to be rather lazy, but I'll still at least walk across the room to get something, or even get up and LOOK for something rather than just shouting for someone else to do it.
Though the day we can get full prosthetic bodies like The Major from Ghost in the Shell... What fun THAT shall be!
I think the problem with your viewpoint isn't that you're against illegal immigration, but your intensity of it.
Having a lack of sympathy for someone whose crime was illegally crossing a border getting maimed by a truck? That's cold. A punishment far worse than the crime.
Only if we're surprised to think that people can lie, cheat, threaten, and extort college kids, generally one of the poorest demographics around, for the sake of a couple thousand dollars when they already make millions/billions.
In other words, as much as I'd like to be, I can't say I'm shocked in the least. At this point, the MAFIAA is little more than an extortion ring, trying to squeeze money from wherever you can. "Well, Mr. Dean, you have such a lovely list of students at this college. It'd be a SHAME if a dozen of them were to suddenly drop out because they were sued into oblivion, all because you wouldn't cooperate..."
This isn't about copyright anymore. This isn't about Intellectual Property anymore. This is about a group of thugs in suits trying to use the judicial system to make a quick buck wherever and whenever they can, regardless of the legality or morality of it.
As you said, event B requires event A. Event B precedes event A.
Let's say event A occurs when I press a button, just for the sake of simplicity. So if this formula is correct, event B will happen BEFORE I press the button. This is hurting my brain a little, but I think this would imply that event B could not happen unless I was truly planning on pressing the button. I can't "fake" the universe out by pretending to hit it, witness B, and then stop. Because if I were to do that, B would never happen. And... uhhh...
OW. See, as much as I support the fields of science and research into all things, I'm concerned about screwing with time. It makes my head hurt and the possible consequences scare me a little. Teleportation gives me similar worries.
Why? I said we were always at war with Eurasia. That's what I originally said. Big Brother says it's what I said. Or are you questioning the Party? Why do you support the terrorists?
Re:Sony BMG does nothing to hurt their reputation
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Sony Sues Rootkit Maker
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· Score: 5, Funny
But Big Brother said it would enable us. You have been reported to the Party.
Personally, I'm a solo gamer (I live in a small, middle-of-nowhere town where vidya games and them thar compooterizing things are new fangled gizmos), and I haven't really played mine in a while. I mean, I've used it to finish up some old Gamecube games I didn't complete...
But I'm still happy with my Wii. I don't expect a new Must-Have game every month. I enjoyed the hell out of Zelda, Trauma Center, DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, and Super Paper Mario. It also gave me a chance to relive some classics from my youth, like Streets of Rage 2, Super Mario World, and Zelda: Link to the Past.
And coming soon, I get another Smash Bros., I'll try to pick up Wario Ware, and I'm awaiting a few more titles for the Virtual Console (namely Mario RPG).
Really, considering it's not even been a year, I think that's a good deal. I may be what I consider a "hardcore gamer" but I don't expect my entire free-time to revolve around one system. Plus, the little multiplayer time I've had has been a blast. If Nintendo can get some decent online matching up, it'll be worth the wait.
Besides, if you're a "real" gamer, I'm sure you've got a backlog of games for other systems. I know I do. DS, PS2, PC, GCN...
Please note, this does not mean I didn't wish there weren't more immediate goodies, but... Jesus, patience, people.
I find the title of this article, for that reason, to be pretty silly. OF COURSE Microsoft is going to "display confidence" in a public venue. When has there ever been a headline like "Sony says Holiday season will be 'meh.'" Or "Nintendo says 'no new games for a while, so, just relax and enjoy what you've got.'"
I know we'll never hear it from any company, ever, unless they're already announcing their bankruptcy, but I'd like some realistic reports on game systems from their makers.
And if they can't give me that, I'd much prefer to just hear about what amazing game I will lose immeasurable hours of life to next.
"The Recording Industry Artists of America is a corporation that refers to itself as 'a brave warrior, combating the tyranny of horrible pirates who would deny artists their rightful payment for their years of hard labor.'
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy refers to the Recording Industry Artists of America as 'a bunch of right bloody bastards who will be second against the wall when the revolution comes.'
Coincidentally, a freak wormhole opened up and dropped down a future version of The Encylopedia Galactica defined the RIAA as 'A bunch of right bastards who would have been second against the wall when the revolution came, but attempted to sue the wall for "illegal use of silence" before said wall fell on them and crushed them to death.'"
Yeah, I play Civ4 (though I did play III for a long time... often while forgetting to eat. Oops!).
I can't say my playing style is all that complicated. I hate war, and avoid it at all costs. Instead, I focus almost all of efforts on culture and research. With a little luck and patience, I usually end up a full time-period ahead of the competition. Inevitably, someone will attack me, and I can immediately switch focus to all-out military, and use my vast gold supplies to quickly form an army and strike back. It's much easier to win a war when your only goal is not to lose. Inevitably, even though the opposing armies are many times larger, my tech and defense bonuses prevent any large-scale losses. Sometimes I end up with enough power after the initial attacks to take a border-city and claim more resources.
Thus, military focused strategies don't appeal to me. I find happy and productive citizens to be a greater weapon than any sword. So, I'll take my +2 health over generals with +2 maces of history.
Slashdot Mirror
While I most certainly agree with this, I think that's a little harsh on the US.
I'm sure ANY country would kill its own people to keep its secrets.
Hell, forget the government. I'd say the same of many people on the street. (As for me, my only secret is that everything I say is a lie.)
I was thinking maybe NASA didn't think the crew was very good.
Let me tell you, "You're fired" has a whole new meaning when you work for NASA.
Reminds me of one of the funniest scenes from "The Critic."
"Who's flying the plane?!"
*Runs to the cokcpit to discover a penguin in a pilot hat flying it well*
"Phew... hey, wait a second, penguins can't fly!"
*plane starts to go into a nosedive*
If these monkeys were "in the closet," though, would they be going after WOMEN?
Egad, BRILLIANT hcdejong!
...Troz!
Oh, wait, no, no... What if our Earth-conquering desires are constantly defeated by a combination of poor luck, gross incompetence, underestimating and overestimating the competence of the general public, and lack of communication?
I still disagree. People can always make stories about how things came to be. Much in the same way how we tell young children that the "stork" leaves babies on your doorstep instead of explaining the complex workings of sexual reproduction. These are still "stories" to explain an origin, but very flawed ones.
Perhaps I was a bit too angry when I wrote that, but I was aiming it at "Creationist Scientists," which I mentioned several times. These are the people who create the images of Adam and Eve amongst dinosaurs. These are the people who claim ALL creatures ate plants before "the corruption" at the Garden of Eden. The type of people who commissioned and designed the creationism museum.
Honestly, I don't care what people believe. I don't care if they like to think these things. But when they try to spread these falsehoods into the public, which they certainly are, I have a serious problem with it. I attack the people who try to get Creationism taught in a science class, and label biology textbooks to say that there are other "reasonable alternatives to evolution." There are none. (This is not to say that our view of evolution is 100% accurate, because I assure you, it's not, but I trust that the scientific community will attempt to update and improve the theory with new evidence.)
Otherwise, if people want to believe that God causes evolution, or God planned it from the start, or whatever, hey, the more power to them. But intentionally spreading misinformation I do not take lightly.
Ugh. You're killing me here. I'm reminded of all the times I've heard "Creationist scientists say dinosaurs ate leaves and used their sharp teeth to grind leaves."
No. Just... no. No, no, no, no, NO!
Honestly, I'd LOVE to see a T-rex or an Allasaurus or another obvious carnivore TRY to eat leaves with a mouth like that. We KNOW today that flat teeth are used for grinding plants. I mean, it's basic instinct. When you eat meat, you use your slimmer and pointer front teeth to tear it into slimmer pieces. When you eat a salad, you don't use your front teeth at all, and simply let the back teeth grind the leaves.
It's pure bullshit, and it's easily debunked by anyone with two brain cells to rub together. Same for sharks. They have rows upon rows of sharp, serrated teeth. Are you going to tell me they ate kelp?
Not to mention that we see hundreds of cave drawings of bison and deer and other roaming mammals... yet does anyone find it strange that no caveman decided to draw a HUGE monstrous death machine roaming the lands? I mean, not ONE SINGLE MENTION anywhere in all of human culture until we discovered their bones?
No, I am no a biologist, archaeologist, or any other professional, but I think my evidence stands as is. I'm sure a real scientist could provide FAR more examples.
Creationism science is an oxymoron, because Creationism is the polar opposite of science. You start with a conclusion (God made the Earth and the Bible shows how he did it) and then proceed to find evidence that supports that, as opposed to finding evidence and then making a conclusion based on the evidence.
The Bible is not literal. Period. It is a series of stories and ideas put into writing in ancient times to explain, back then, how they thought things came to be.
To me, believing in Creationism is like saying "I believe the sky is green." It's just wrong. Yes, there is a degree of uncertainty in it, such as how "green" something is before it's green, but with science, we can break down light and find its wavelength and say "This light is blue." You can still believe that it is green, just as you can believe men walked the earth alongside dinosaurs, that a man with a boat carried two of EVERY species of animal on Earth for over a month after a God gave him the designs for it, and the first woman came from the ribs of the first man.
But you'd be wrong. "Believing" that 2+2=5 doesn't change the fact that it's 4, even if you call it an "opinion." Facts do not care what you think.
(Note: Yes, I know the Parent was joking. But this stuff SERIOUSLY pisses me off)
I thank you, truly, for the kind words and advice. You are well spoken and clearly sincere.
Honestly, that does sound wonderful (albeit intimidating from the vantage point of the inexperienced, but I suppose that's the point). But on the other hand, take a minute to look at the responses I get. I've had nearly 30 of them, last I checked. I've received advice ranging from "fuck everything that moves before you're old, wrinkly, and so are they" to "take it slow and just try to make friends" and all points in between. Different strokes, folks, etc.
The idea of pleasuring someone else, and not just myself, seems wonderful, but I still feel I have a long way to go before I reach that point. I'm trying, may be not hard enough, but it's a start. I have a friend, a girl my age (10 days older than men in fact) who I met online, and lives in Spain. Last summer she actually came to live with my family for a couple of weeks and next summer, I hope to spend time with hers.
It's slow progress, and I'm willing to bet a lot of what I say are excuses and the like. But it's my life, and as they say, sometimes the only way to get it right, is to get it wrong. Mistakes are how you learn, and if my mistakes end with me getting a few less years of tail, well, that's not the worst thing in the world.
I understand your point. But I'm not worrying so much. I understand sex is a crucial part of life (Thank you, Captain Obvious. Sex = life. So, uh, yeah) but... I'm just not all that worried. It'll happen. Unless it doesn't. In which case, it didn't, so what does it matter?
I don't think I'm depriving myself or repressing myself. I'm just not a social person... at all. As i said in my original post, I have a minor case of asperger's, and with some help, I've been learning more, and I'm most certainly better off than I have been. But I'm still too shy and unsocial for such a large leap, and I don't want to screw the first person willing to spread her legs for me just because the chance is there. I mean, yeah, it'd feel good, but I'd rather just make friends first. Life is short, but that doesn't mean should rush through it, trying to get in as much as possible.
Would they? I doubt it, but when they found my brother was, granted he was something like 17 at the time, my parents were rather upset by it.
However, that still leaves the matter of the girl's family, who may vary...
And at the very least, I find my sex life, should it come to exist, would be a private affair, and I imagine I'd like to keep it that way.
Sir, your use of exclamation points, lack of capitalization, and emoticons have persuaded me where others have failed through reason and discussion. I salute you.
I should point out that when I say "getting caught" I mean by my/the girl's parents, or someone who would relay the message of said fornication to said paternal figures.
It's not that I fear our act would be immoral in the sense of we were doing an injustice or hurting someone, etc. etc. but rather one of punishment via these figures. Just because an act is natural does not mean these people will be so accepting of the said implications. Granted, in the long run, their opinions add up to jack and shit respectively, but given that "screwing their rules" would result in me needing to move out and manage to afford my own place...
Well, I've lived on my own for a short while (my previous college was not local, my current one is) and I deem it possible, most definitely, however, for the time being, I'd like to lazily take the path of least resistance and stay here until I finish up schooling (I have no intention of being a 30-year-old living in his parent's basement playing D&D all day, but see no reason to give up an essentially free ride while my school and job are nearby).
Thus, if it came down to it, no, my parents (nor hers) would really have any say in our decision making, but getting on their bad sides would just be an unnecessary burden.
And I get that "I was like you once" comment a lot. A LOT. And while it does say to me "I might be missing out on something," I also notice these people do manage to "turn themselves around," which is more than can be said for most people. I also like my philosophy: "Life and death are far too silly to be taken as matters of life and death." If I miss out on something nice in life... it's just life. It comes, it goes, c'est la vie.
The "disgusting" part has more to do with the exchange of fluids and internal biology... That and genitalia tend to be rather creepy on both sexes. Hair, fluids, and excessive blood flow... I don't know.
I've considered the gay part, and think I'm at least bi-curious, but on the other hand all the problems I listed with girls extends to guys. Basically, people, on the whole, creep me out. I don't mean "Oh no, they're weird and they say weird things and act way too spontaneous." I mean acting like they have a death wish. Or want to get arrested. Or they like to sit around all day doing drugs. (As far as I'm concerned, life is already too surreal for drugs to be needed)
I've no interest in bat-shit crazies. I don't care if people say they're the best lays in the world. I don't care if God came down and said I'd like it, I just don't trust them. Not to mention that most of them... well, ALL of them, from what I've seen, are morons. Stupidity is a turn off. Period.
I don't really give a fuck (ironic word choice?) about what society thinks, but my concerns are my own. There are pros and cons to sex, much like everything in life, and if thinking them through is "wasting a chance," I'll take them.
And no, I will not change my major. I'm an engineering major because it suits my skills and interests well. I'm not in school to get laid! I'm in school to get a good job, and there's no way in Hell I'd be in the humanities. (I'd like a JOB when I graduate, and skills that will have some sort of actual use)
Does anyone else get this tingly sensation on their spine when they think about the problem there?
The less intelligent are less likely to consider the durability and effectiveness of their contraceptives (WARNING! Generalization! I know that!). This is likely to cause the stupid ones to just buy the less effective condoms and, as a result, spread STDs or get pregnant. Now, assuming these STDs are fatal, as long as the STD rate were higher than the accidental pregnancy rate, it'd be one thing, but most STDs I know of are mostly harmless (much like the Earth) save for uncomfortable/embarrassing/disgusting side-effects. So this further increases the need for durable contraceptives. Again, though, the people who need these the most won't be getting them.
Charles Darwin, where are you?!
I am a 20 year old engineering major male white college student.
I have a case of asperger's syndrome (And before anyone accuses me of being self-diagnosed, I'd not even heard of it until a therapist diagnosed me).
And, not to sound egotistical, but I like to think that I have above-average intelligence. I'm not a genius, nor a whiz at anything, nor do I have Mensa begging for me to enroll, but I do feel I have sufficient evidence to suggest I'm smarter (using a definition akin to "able to interpret, recall, and use information) than the average 20 year old.
Do I even need to add that I'm a complete virgin? I've never gotten to second base. Or first base. Hell, I didn't get up to bat. I'm not even a benchwarmer. (I just used up all my sports analogies.)
My social skills have improved since grade school, and I'm nowhere near as shy as I used to be (But then again, it's no substitute for real interaction, but spend years online and you do tend to develop a tolerance to mockery and jerks.)
But I've still never had a girlfriend. Not even close. I feel this is due to both a lack of interest, a lack of experience, well below-average social skills, and a lack of eligible bachelorettes (see: Engineering major).
Quite frankly, in my free time between classes at my college I go to the lounge, where I meet a vast number of different people. Most of the females are:
A: taken
B: incompatible with my nature (I don't mind someone having different interests and ideas than me, but SOME common ground is nice.)
C: Bat-shit crazy demons I wouldn't touch with a 39 and a half foot pole, let alone my bare hands.Many of these, in particular, I strongly suspect, are carrying a multitude of STDs, given how much they broadcast the sex they have.
On top of all this lies a series of moral dilemmas, such as giving in to carnal desires when I know the risks, the necessity of intimacy, the risks of getting caught... It just seems too complicated and risky to be worth the effort, especially outside of a relationship. (Not to mention how DISGUSTING sex is, when you REALLY think about it. I mean considering the biological processes involved. Though I'm sure this is lost "in the heat of the moment," it doesn't really make me any more disposed to seeking it out)
On the other hand, take my brother. Bless his soul for all the hard manual labor he does, and helping my father with his business so we didn't go OUT of business when he was injured, etc. But I use more brain power before 6am than he does all day. He admits proudly that he HATES to think and just acts. He's gone through girlfriends like candy and I'm sure has gotten laid more than a few times.
Ultimately, it seems to me that love and sex are purely animalistic and primal desires with little to no logic to them. Thus, those prone to analyzing their actions OVER analyze these things and have less success or less desire or both.
That, and my brother is currently out doing things. I'm on slashdot and going to go play City of Heroes in a while. That may have something to do with it, too.
How, exactly, is using your body without your mind any different from the average person?
In all seriousness, convenience is a double edged sword. I can see some practical uses. Say, starting your car from inside on a cold winter morning. Or maybe turning on a speakerphone or flashlight in case of an emergency. But a TV remote? That's when laziness just comes in. I consider myself to be rather lazy, but I'll still at least walk across the room to get something, or even get up and LOOK for something rather than just shouting for someone else to do it.
Though the day we can get full prosthetic bodies like The Major from Ghost in the Shell... What fun THAT shall be!
I think the problem with your viewpoint isn't that you're against illegal immigration, but your intensity of it.
Having a lack of sympathy for someone whose crime was illegally crossing a border getting maimed by a truck? That's cold. A punishment far worse than the crime.
Only if we're surprised to think that people can lie, cheat, threaten, and extort college kids, generally one of the poorest demographics around, for the sake of a couple thousand dollars when they already make millions/billions.
In other words, as much as I'd like to be, I can't say I'm shocked in the least. At this point, the MAFIAA is little more than an extortion ring, trying to squeeze money from wherever you can. "Well, Mr. Dean, you have such a lovely list of students at this college. It'd be a SHAME if a dozen of them were to suddenly drop out because they were sued into oblivion, all because you wouldn't cooperate..."
This isn't about copyright anymore. This isn't about Intellectual Property anymore. This is about a group of thugs in suits trying to use the judicial system to make a quick buck wherever and whenever they can, regardless of the legality or morality of it.
To me that sounds like changing the past.
As you said, event B requires event A. Event B precedes event A.
Let's say event A occurs when I press a button, just for the sake of simplicity. So if this formula is correct, event B will happen BEFORE I press the button. This is hurting my brain a little, but I think this would imply that event B could not happen unless I was truly planning on pressing the button. I can't "fake" the universe out by pretending to hit it, witness B, and then stop. Because if I were to do that, B would never happen. And... uhhh...
OW. See, as much as I support the fields of science and research into all things, I'm concerned about screwing with time. It makes my head hurt and the possible consequences scare me a little. Teleportation gives me similar worries.
Why? I said we were always at war with Eurasia. That's what I originally said. Big Brother says it's what I said. Or are you questioning the Party? Why do you support the terrorists?
But Big Brother said it would enable us. You have been reported to the Party.
Also, we've always been at war with Eastasia.
Personally, I'm a solo gamer (I live in a small, middle-of-nowhere town where vidya games and them thar compooterizing things are new fangled gizmos), and I haven't really played mine in a while. I mean, I've used it to finish up some old Gamecube games I didn't complete...
But I'm still happy with my Wii. I don't expect a new Must-Have game every month. I enjoyed the hell out of Zelda, Trauma Center, DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, and Super Paper Mario. It also gave me a chance to relive some classics from my youth, like Streets of Rage 2, Super Mario World, and Zelda: Link to the Past.
And coming soon, I get another Smash Bros., I'll try to pick up Wario Ware, and I'm awaiting a few more titles for the Virtual Console (namely Mario RPG).
Really, considering it's not even been a year, I think that's a good deal. I may be what I consider a "hardcore gamer" but I don't expect my entire free-time to revolve around one system. Plus, the little multiplayer time I've had has been a blast. If Nintendo can get some decent online matching up, it'll be worth the wait.
Besides, if you're a "real" gamer, I'm sure you've got a backlog of games for other systems. I know I do. DS, PS2, PC, GCN...
Please note, this does not mean I didn't wish there weren't more immediate goodies, but... Jesus, patience, people.
I find the title of this article, for that reason, to be pretty silly. OF COURSE Microsoft is going to "display confidence" in a public venue. When has there ever been a headline like "Sony says Holiday season will be 'meh.'" Or "Nintendo says 'no new games for a while, so, just relax and enjoy what you've got.'"
I know we'll never hear it from any company, ever, unless they're already announcing their bankruptcy, but I'd like some realistic reports on game systems from their makers.
And if they can't give me that, I'd much prefer to just hear about what amazing game I will lose immeasurable hours of life to next.
"The Recording Industry Artists of America is a corporation that refers to itself as 'a brave warrior, combating the tyranny of horrible pirates who would deny artists their rightful payment for their years of hard labor.'
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy refers to the Recording Industry Artists of America as 'a bunch of right bloody bastards who will be second against the wall when the revolution comes.'
Coincidentally, a freak wormhole opened up and dropped down a future version of The Encylopedia Galactica defined the RIAA as 'A bunch of right bastards who would have been second against the wall when the revolution came, but attempted to sue the wall for "illegal use of silence" before said wall fell on them and crushed them to death.'"
Yeah, I play Civ4 (though I did play III for a long time... often while forgetting to eat. Oops!).
I can't say my playing style is all that complicated. I hate war, and avoid it at all costs. Instead, I focus almost all of efforts on culture and research. With a little luck and patience, I usually end up a full time-period ahead of the competition. Inevitably, someone will attack me, and I can immediately switch focus to all-out military, and use my vast gold supplies to quickly form an army and strike back. It's much easier to win a war when your only goal is not to lose. Inevitably, even though the opposing armies are many times larger, my tech and defense bonuses prevent any large-scale losses. Sometimes I end up with enough power after the initial attacks to take a border-city and claim more resources.
Thus, military focused strategies don't appeal to me. I find happy and productive citizens to be a greater weapon than any sword. So, I'll take my +2 health over generals with +2 maces of history.