NigaiAmaiYume

I rather like the dotted/comic shaded effect on the girl - if it extended all the way done her render, it would be a lot better, of course.I like having the render on the left, and your name on the right. It leaves the middle entirely too bare, however; need something to keep that area from just being dark space. I like how you took advantage of the empty space in the background for the name; it blends into the background too much using the same colours, though. Maybe steal the pink from the bubble gum, make it "pop" a little more and add a bit of continuity to the sig?No sure what to suggest for the middle to add interest without distractive from the girl - colour the lights on the cars slightly, maybe? Just break up the monotone a bit.... And figure out what you're doing with that texture on the girl....

I don't mean to be harsh, but how are you "sure" she likes you? Have you heard it from a friend of yours? Maybe you're just seeing what you want to see....My immediate reaction to her telling you she has a boyfriend is that she's trying to let you down easy, say "No" without it being your fault.I know some girls tease and stuff like this to get the guys trying harder - but for a lot of girls, "no" really DOES mean "no".

Hum, sports.... Such a broad topic is actually harder than a narrow one, because you're faced with so many ideas, it's hard to pick just one... I'll guess I'll try a new poem type,Etheree (in the first list) to restrain me a little more. The poetry form, Etheree, consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Born, Too plain, Without grace, Without any style, Alone among crowds. But then I found myself, The glory of speed, power, Revealing myself in splendor, All shall bow before my perfection, Matured as an idol among the gods. ..... O....K.... That got abstract. o_O I GUESS it's still about sports, kinda... *laughs* Edit: Oh, I missed a day, too! Silly Nigai... I asked Albus Dumbledore for a topic, and he requested something about "death and darkness". He also mentioned at theme, but I don't want to bias this poem, since I think it is open to several interpretations. Since he wouldn't pick a poem type, I decided to do one of my favorites, Sestina. Since I didn't have access to the actual FORUMLA for Sestinas, however, it's not perfect. I might re-write it to actually reflect the traditional form. Anyway, here's the current result: The Mighty Ponders It was supposed to be so magical A world of innocent wonders It held around us the trappings of whimsy Can you condemn us for accepting its promises? What was offered had thus only been dreams It seemed a fine escape from reality. And it grew harsher every day we were forced back to reality Having lived in the fey, we too were now magical What could it offer when we had seen such wonders? It meagre pleasures seemed such meaningless whimsy But never believe what the mirror promises You will stare forever blinded by your dreams. And there is only one curse greater than being gifted your dreams And that is seeing your dreams as your only reality How can the normal ever again be magical? What is done everyday quickly ceases to create wonders You become deprived of your previous sources of whimsy And must seek out new and more grandiose promises. Then comes the curse of believing those promises Transforming yourself as the object of dreams Believing, perhaps, you can remake reality Reclaim in your conquest the long ago magical Satisfy all that comes to you and wonders Exercise away the childish, frivolous whimsy. Yet, in the end, you come to mourn for lost whimsy For no thing can ever answer all promises By being the dream-maker, you again lose your own dreams As well as the line that had defined mundane reality Did we remember that curses were also magical? Did we know horrors are also forms of wonders? And at the end of that path, one stops and wonders At the uselessness of teachings, the wisdom of whimsy Having seen all, we are left with only promises You can take nothing forward more solid than your dreams Where will we chart the new definition of reality? I curse the day I outgrew the sun being magical. And even the most magical of charms cannot remake wonders It seemed such whimsy, but how strong where the promises? Hide in Lethe dreams, until they become reality. And to garner interest, PM me with your interpretation of the poem! Best ones get 5 or more credits and are listed here! ^-^

Well, I DID ask for it... Ok, here's my poem on Bkag's theme of "gang culture".Punk vs VetYou always go onAbout how you fought for your countryWent across the worldTo fight people you had never even seen.Why do you resent meFor taking the war to my neighbourhoodFighting the peopleThat have chosen to see me.You go onAbout the friendships you madeThe bond of blood in the trenchesWith people you had hardly known.Why keep on my backThat I'm willing to die for my friendsPeople I've shared more than blood withWe chose to live as brothers!You continue to be proudOf killing and dying when you were toldWhat did you ever give upWhen you were so mindless?I'll continue to ignore youWhen you diss me and my gang.We fight for ourselves.Why are our wars less important than yours?

I miss SO much that others find obvious.There's this commercial with a kid swinging a sling, as a shadow advances. Gradually, a lot more people join in, and you find out it's a message about donating to Cancer Research.I don't know HOW often I saw it, but definitely several hundred times. Suddenly, it clued in: David and Goliath! I'd TOTALLY missed the meaning. o_OLast time I had an IQ test done (Junior high, so LONG ago...) I got in the genius range... Do well on Mensa stuff, too, so I guess I'm an example of high intelligence = good lateral thinking = poor common sense. ^-^

I like how they fairly DEMAND you go to "something productive".I know what's productive... Putting my stories online so people can read them!Oh, look, there's more Internet!

I assumed Mich was referring more to the date and month than to Hallowe'en as a holiday. The argument being that putting advertisements and decorations up in October, two months before the actual event, is extreme. Try being in Canada. Some places get stuff up before Thanksgiving - and that's the third week of October here! Talk about skipping a holiday that doesn't celebrate buying things (other than food).... I guess you can also argue the meaning of "holiday" - it doesn't mean "Holy Day" anymore, does it? Does it mean a day you get off, though, or a day that refers to a special event? Is it anything a group of people celebrate, or anything the card companies think they can get money off of? Man, tonnes of cynicism in this topic. ^-^

And it's also better to read the rules of a forum before you continue to make a fool of yourself.And I can understand basic spelling and grammar errors in a language you are unfamiliar with. I was actually referring to spacing, use of capital letters, and general flow of logic.

Of course there are other choices. You can be a slave in a fast food joint, for example. There are some advantages of the job, however. As said, at the place I worked. the shifts are only 3 hours long, spread throughout the day and on weekends, and you booked your own shifts. This allowed for a LOT of flexibility, taking advantage of gaps between classes or when children were at school, for example. If you are successful, then you can also make a LOT more than being a fast food slave. One woman was making $10 or $12 dollars an hour, and I listened in on her, she was NICE. I don't know HOW she did it. I guess she just had a trustworthy, agreeable voice. And finally, they pretty much hired me off the street. When none of my resumes were getting ANY responses, it was a good time filler. I was eventually FIRED for missing too many shifts. It's HARD to convince yourself to get out of bed on a Saturday knowing you're probably going to be KICKED OUT after an hour. If they don't want me there, why should I want me there? *laughs*

And now I know how to tell if wwn actually wrote a post, or just copied it from somewhere.If it was copied, I could READ it. o_O

Well, no one put up any topics. And I missed 5 days. Well, here's what I've come up with, using some random themes. Random themes decided by: - Picking a Forum. - Using Random.org to generate a topic (First page from number of pages, the 1 to 25 for specific topic). - Picked that topic, then used the cnet.com add at the top of the page to pick a theme to write about. Could have been a word in the description, or a feeling from the image. Meh. RhymeZone used to help with creating rhyming poems faster. Day 1: Forum: Tutorials Topic: http://forums.xisto.com/topic/24201-backing-up-and-restoring-mysql-databases/ Ad: BrightStor Theme: Bright, stars. Poetry Type: Sonnet Day 2 Topic: http://forums.xisto.com/topic/36033-looking-to-affiliate/ Ad: Rustic Steel Padlock & Keys Theme: Hidden Secrets Poetry Type: Acrostic Day 3 Forum: Music Lyrics Topic: http://forums.xisto.com/topic/5031-rammstein-rammstein/ Ad: ESP LTD RZK-600 Richard Z Signature Model Electric Guitar Theme: Music, Guitar Poetry Type: Cinquain (Inspired by Meatloaf's "Bad for Good" on his Bat Out of Hell III cd, featuring Brian May.) Day 4 Forum: SEO Topic: http://forums.xisto.com/topic/3141-are-meta-keywords-back-in-for-search-meta-tags-and-there-usefulness-in-seo/ Ad: Apple 60GB iPod Theme: Apple, fruit, temptation Poetry Type: Limmerick Day 5 Forum: Command and Conquer Topic: http://forums.xisto.com/topic/1119-zero-hour-good-or-not-expansion/ Ad: Stuhrling Original San Marco Men's Automatic Watch Theme: Automatic, Robotic, Styx's Mr. Roboto Poetry Type: Free Verse (Why is SO much of poetry depressing? o_O) Well, there you have it. Five quickly written poems on random topics. Anyone else have any ideas? I'll keep up the ad-inspired stuff until you do!!!

This is Hot News? If anything, I think it should go into What Is...?. As well, can you explain the mathematic formula a,(x)? I don't seem to remember how that works... Or is it positional? The equation doesn't make much sense if you don't know the logic behind it. ^-^

First:What is the age of majority in your country? How many more years until you are that old, legally an "adult"? The closer you are, the more leverage you might be able to get. It can be hard for parents to realize their children aren't kids anymore. Also focus on what you are doing that they approve of: How good your grades are in school, etc.Second:The hobbies you suggest can be assumed to be "childish". I say that as a 26 year old Anime, RPG, and Queen freak. I know the levels that can be found in games, music, and "cartoons". Most people don't.Is there any way to introduce your parents to some of your interests by finding varients they could be receptive to, but still within your genres? This sounds far-fetched, but I got my family a lot calmer about Dungeons and Dragons after the Lord of the Rings movies came out.If you find something they don't find AS problematic that you still enjoy, you can also focus on that while around them, and try to limit your other hobbies to being with friends and when alone. This way, you can do what you enjoy, but still reassure your parents you ARE still "their" child.For example, my grandmother is very religious, and wants me to be as well. I'm spiritual in my own way, so I start discussions with her about religion, try to be truthful in my experiences while avoiding areas I know would upset her.Third:Try to see things from their perspective.Did either of them go to college? I'm the first member of my family in University, and there's a bit of pressure on me to succeed "for them", prove what THEY are capable of because they produced someone with that achievement.Conversely, if they did go to college, it could reflect badly on them if you don't similarly succeed with your BS ECE.They can be so focused on what's "best" for your future, they are blinded to the present. And they also have a point: If you don't spend the time now, it WILL have effects for the rest of your life.But it sounds like you're doing good, so...Fourth:Their concerns Part 2.The world WAS a different place when they were younger. They probably DON'T understand just how it's changed, and how it's continuing to change. Your knowledge in computers IS important, but because it's so new, they still see it as a tool instead of a whole new world.If you've already tried to change their minds about this (Second suggestion above), then I suggest just trying to live with them.What kinds of interests do they WANT you to have? Is there anything you CAN spend more time with within that list? You might be surprised; there might be something else you will be interested in. It's always good to have a wide range of hobbies; you're less likely to be bored. ^-^Fifth:Friends. This may be hard, but try to look at your friends from their perspective. Do any of them have bad habits? Drugs, bad grades, other problems? You do start to act like people you hang around with; maybe they have a REASON to be concerned.What kind of friends DO they want? Can you find any of those with interests you share? It can be hard, but maybe the children of THEIR friends could be a source. If they already have a common link, they may be more accepting of their hobbies.If not, treat friends as you do your hobbies: something you do without your parents, but something to be put second when WITH your parents.And, VERY last:If there's no way of getting your parents to understand why you're interested in what you are, I hate to admit this, but just wait until you're on your own. As with the first about being legally an adult, some day, you WILL be on your own, making your own decisions. If necessary, wait until then to do the things your parents don't want you to do.

I got the only problem I hadn't already heard (The egg one) just about instantly. All the others I'd already heard, which is the problem with me doing riddles. LOL A friend at work gave me a page of them to do to test me, and I had to star half of them as "cheats" because I already knew the answers.For me, it's not so much an issue with "lateral thinking" - I have to work at thinking INSIDE the box. I tend to think in symbols and in general groups entirely too easily.There's this book I read for a Sci-Fi Lit course that I can't think of the name of for the life of me. A group of genetically engineered people eventually leave Earth for a space satillite, sick of the discrimination and being forced to live among "lesser" people. THEIR children, however, are exponentially smarter - when talking among themselves, they can skip several lines of reasoning assuming the others will follow the implied logic, and write using webs of symbols and plans.I had the HARDEST time understanding why the parents were so SCARED of these children - it was the first time I HONESTLY realized that how I thought wasn't the way OTHERS did. Because those webs and chains of logic - even if I couldn't understand them, it was due to the lack of knowledge about the SUBJECT, not being able to follow the deductive leaps. In short: I'm a freak. Fortunately, I've managed to find a few people that think like me as friends. Although not to the same extent; I still confuse them like ANYTHING. "A Mary story" is our slang for "something bizzare and confusing that almost makes sense, if you're INSANE". ^-^To which I add the carvet: Lateral Thinking isn't always a good thing. You end up thinking outside the box so much, you miss the obvious answers. One of the riddles on that test sheet was pretty much a basic math problem with coins. I left the answer blank, because I had gone through it at EVERY angle, trying to find a trick that didn't exist.

I want to go to Japan. I'm a big anime otaku, but I also love the culture and the progress they have done in the past century after so much fedualism.\But for vacationing, I want to go anywhere new. I love exploring new places, seeing new sites.I REALLY want to go to the Virgin Islands. My stepfather's family has a place down there, and my mom got REMARRIED down there - but they STILL haven't taken me!Stupid college happening when they vacation.... ^-^

I have to touch on one thing Pleno brought up... human nature makes it next to impossible to have one universal language. I think this page both points out what I mean, as well as demonstrating it nicely: Slang of the Fifties Basically, people want to express themselves. On the other hand, there is a incredible need to define themselves, both as individuals and as a group. Language, being a tool of expression and definition, is easily used for both needs. What this tends to lead to is the creative use of words, creating works, and literally creating sub-languages in order to exclude other outgroup people while further defining meaning for ingroup members. This is continued in the internet, with 133t speak, acronyms in chats, and a plethora of misunderstandings. I agree that a common language needs to be found and decided upon, as the Global Village becomes a greater part of everyone's life. English has some benefits, being a grab-bag to start with, but that very fact makes it down right evil to learn. My bet's on Chinese or Japanese, given current trends in Asia. When a native language is forsaken for a dominant language, however, there is almost always a loss of the native culture. Language not only conveys meaning, but creates and defines that meaning. "C'est la vie" carries with it French implications of lightness that may be missing in a more bitter English "That's life" . We need to find a way to maintain the culture and meanings of the old languages, however, without making them "dead". Catch 22. *sighs* Perhaps the common langauge will be programming code, with everyone speaking their own native tongue and communicating via computer...

Which forums are you posting in?Tutorial forums, for example, require a moderator to "accept" the tutorial before it is shown. Same with sig requests.As for seeing yourself as the "last poster" in the list of topics for a forum... It's happened to me as well. I've always assumed it has something to do with loading time or lag or something.Your post will be listed immediately, however, in the "latest activity" at the bottom of every page (When you're logged in), which is what I generally go by, anyway.

Been listening to Jonathan Coulton's incredibily wonderful and insane songs he's been doing for his Thing a Week podcasts, as well as Mike Spiff Booth's incredibily insane and wonderful WoW videos to same. It's incredible what people come up with when they ABSOLUTELY have to. Wanna help me do the same? How this works: - Post something for me to write a poem about (Within Forum limits). First post guarrentees a poem (although I may pick other people if this thing ever gets interesting) - inspirational stuff may also get a bonus entry. - If you're feeling evil, post a poem type or other restraint. - See what I come up with. - See how long I last before I break and go crazy. Sounds fun, doesn't it? Since I currently need to go to the library to get online, I may not be on everyday. If so, I catch up on the poems when I DO get on. Presuming anyone cares. ^-^ (I obviously need more sleep, or fewer stoner customers.)

I don't really know what to say to this incredible piece of work, so just read what's in the description. http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/= And when you're done checking out all other videos Mike Spiff Booth has made to Jonathan Coulton's Thing a Week songs, go take a listen to all the other fabulous insanities! Then watch Code Monkey again and marvel at the dedication of Mike Spiff Booth.

My boyfriend and his friend actually have a term for this: "BABY ON FIRE!!!" Basically, when a girl is crying, they know they're supposed to do SOMETHING, but don't know WHAT, and so end up panicing and doing the mental equivalant of running around screaming. Fortunately, they don't do the screaming part LITERALLY - anymore, at least. ^-~ Now, for the helpful part: 1. BE THERE FOR HER Most girls in my experience appriciate physical presence more than most guys in my experience can ever understand. Demonstrating mental presence ups that appriciation and helpfullness. Do do the latter... 2. Practice Active Listening Basically, active listening is PROVING you're hearing what she's saying, as well as confirming you're UNDERSTANDING what she's saying. Easiest way to do this: - Keep comfortable eye contact. If she looks away, let her; otherwise, focus on her. - Repeat what she's saying in your own words. "And he says he'd rather be friends with [X]!" "You're joking? He actually wants to go out with [X]???" - Keep asking that you're hearing her right, especially if you're worried you're lost. "It sounds like you're feeling like... Am I right?" 3. Validate her emotions You don't have to agree with everything she's feeling. But try to keep track of the emotions she's feeling by active listening, and let her know she has a reason to feel that way. If you think she shouldn't be feeling so angry/sad/whatever, offer suggestions on what to do (If you have any), unless this gets bad responses (It can! Seriously!). But she has a REASON, even if you don't understand it, and at that moment she needs to be reassured she's not being a complete idiot for feeling that way. This is NOT as hard as it probably sounds. Actually, a lot of this just what AD said, filtered through my Communication and Counselling class. Chances are, you're already doing most of this, especially if she keeps turning to you for comfort. The trick is paying ATTENTION to what you're doing. As for the relationship part: Be her friend. Invite her to movies or lunch, with friends or just you two "to hang out". Don't try to speed up the relationship. Just keep being with her, talking with her, and sharing with her. If it's supposed to happen, she'll start to notice you as a guy, and not a "guy friend". If not, don't ruin a relationship that obviously means so much to you! All else fails, she'll be a great companion for when you DO find something that's into you. You both deserve the best! Fight for it, and if she starts crying, nod, look concerned, let her talk, and agree with anything she says that's not too outrageous. "Yes, he's a *BLEEP*. Yes, he should have certain body parts rot and fall off. No, we should not toilet paper his house. Yes, ice cream is a good idea right now."

What I'm most interested in is...Who figured this out in the first place? *laughs*I mean, how many people put "Bush hid the facts" in a document, close it, then open it up again to see what happens? ^-^I'm more interested in the bug that causes this. I know nothing of programming, but wouldn't mind understanding why this glitch occurs when it doesn't seem very logical from a user standpoint...

Totally weird - https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=mail&passive=true&rm=false&continue= https://mail.google.com/mail/ sends me here: https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogimp;ltmplcache=2 Is it because I'm in Canada? Anyway, it appears I still require an invite. Could some nice person send one to paper_dolls_n_dreams (at) yahoo (dot) com? I want to start using that lovely space to cut down on the CDs I have to keep carting to the library until I get a WORKING computer... o_O

Just a random way for people to list the band/group they are most obsessed with, and ways of showing that love! All genres, just fill in your favorite and your reason in the blanks! Feel free to provide links so everyone can catch the craves! For example... You know you're obsessed with Barenaked Ladies when you can leave half-way through One Week and come back, still singing in time. I'm not 100% to this point yet - the music solo half-way keeps throwing me. ^-^ So, how do YOU prove YOUR obsession?

I like that I can actually walk home in the SUN for a little while....I work overnight. The past month, it's been dark until 7:30, half an hour after I get off from Timmies...

And here is where I wish jlhaslip a very happy birthday. Who, according to the front page, is 99 years old. Which is going to make his face very sore if we decide to follow Plenoptic's Evil Group rules. *provides jlhaslip with a papier-mache face as a birthday present to distract Plenoptic with*