Hamtaro

Is that the same Seguin who played for the Plymouth Whalers? I'm pretty sure my brother brought him over to play cards once because my brother's best friend's family "hosts" a Whalers player for season tickets every year. He seemed like a nice enough guy, assuming he's the same person. In relevant news, the Wings finally snapped their losing streak and high school hockey season begins this week :thumbup: .

For you retired RuneScape veterans, there was a fictional in the Tip.It Times a few months ago that reminded me of a creepypasta. I think it was set sometime between 2005-2007, so it takes place while many OT-ers still played. Run, Escape, and I will Find You

WH 40k?

Halo had a decent plot and music second only to Legend of Zelda. Check some of these songs out. [spoiler=Songs]Halo 2 Theme Song: Earth City: Blow Me Away: First Movement of the Odyssey: Halo 3 Theme Song: Finish the Fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd1Z4ZEy0Kk&hd=1 Halo Reach Theme Song: Tip of the Spear: There are a lot more good songs as well, but they really only go well as a whole album (kind of like Dark Side of the Moon). I can't say the same of other Xbox games. You're definitely right about focusing too much on one aspect of the game, though.

Yes, yes of course you're not *cough*. I can see what the issue is here. It's called me, myself and I. If you really want to stimulate debate and take your good ideas further then make it shorter and more suited to the audience you're trying to involve. I fail to see any merit in your criticism. In case you didn't notice, you're the only one who seems to have a problem with the way Croce writes. Yet, you make this assumption that all users share your own (lack of?) attention span for an article that happens to be relevant to every user on this forum. With respect to "more suited to the audience," I can't help but read that as, "Everyone on TIF is stupid but me." Yet here you stand alone in complaining about how it was written rather than what was written. For your cute little comment about the EP, we make the judgment of what is published. Everyone on the EP knows how to write well, knows conceptual and practical English, and doesn't seem to have any difficulty in reading an article longer than the length of the chat box on RuneScape. Croce puts his all into his articles and is never going to change his style. The common denominator in all of his articles is trying to enlighten users of an often overlooked or downright unknown idea and he does a damn great job every single time. If someone looks at one of his articles and thinks it's too long or whatever else you were suggesting, they're missing out on a great piece with some knowledge that will benefit them beyond RuneScape and Tip.It. If you alone think his articles are too long or educational, you're reading the wrong editorial, buddy. If it's short abominations of the English language you were hoping to see, try Reddit.

Relevant: http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Suggested_Reading and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn59FJ4HrmU

My vote will ultimately go to Xbox for Crackdown as it was the best console exclusive game from this console generation. Portal was really good too, but multi-platform, so I can't consider that an Xbox game. Never attempted to play PS3 because it has no games that seem interesting to me. The Wii doesn't really have any console exclusives that particularly impress me. Brawl seemed like a rehash of Melee in the same way COD, FIFA, and Madden are and Twilight Princess is also on the Gamecube, so not really a console exclusive. PC isn't really a console, btw. It's a platform and without generations, so it probably shouldn't be part of the poll. That's not to say it doesn't have amazing games (because it does), but it doesn't really have any limits for its generation. Really, though, Crackdown, Portal, Halo 2, Ocarina of Time, and Windwaker are my standards I hold all games against. Because my expectations are so high, I am usually disappointed with the games I play now, so I really haven't played video games since June.

Michigan State played very sloppy last Saturday against overrated Michigan. I read that Michigan advanced more yards on MSU from penalties than by offensive yards. If MSU plays as bad as they did against Notre Dame or Michigan, then the game won't even be close. Wisconsin definitely has a great team this year and I think they'll be able to come out on top this game. Hopefully Wisconsin's offense and MSU's defense will be able to provide a great game, though. I agree with you on the BCS rankings, by the way. I have to admit that Big 10 teams have a nasty habit of being overrated, even if it is my favorite conference.

"Statues, Scythes and tents? Think I took a wrong left Where am I?" - RS Facebook I think it might possibly be the Halloween event. IDK, though. One of the comments suggested it's the new Carnival quest, so it's probably that :rolleyes:

I'm sure all of the terrible decisions made in Atlanta with the franchise will be fixed within the next few seasons. I think playoffs by 2013/14 would be a good goal for the team. You need to remember that the team was bleeding cash in Atlanta and it certainly doesn't lack a fanbase in Winnipeg. I'd imagine that Winnipeg already has more fans than San Jose outside of the playoffs.

I just thought that the second article didn't give any consideration to the casual gamer. Seems like he assumed that all gamers are gaming in almost all of their free time. Granted, I've practically quit video games altogether, so I am biased on this. I've heard a lot of talk from my PC gamer friends about how consoles will be dead in a few years and everyone will exclusively be using PCs for gaming. I couldn't disagree with this more over the fact that most gamers are casual gamers and these casual gamers want simplicity (hence, the popularity of FIFA, Madden, and Call of Duty over quality games). RuneScape is, in essence, simple. You don't have to upgrade your graphics card yearly to play it. You don't have to feel obligated to play thousands of other games because there's so much content packed into one familiar environment. You're familiar with the content and those you enjoy it with. RuneScape is intended to be a casual and social game. It's the same reason why I'm inclined to facepalm when I see someone who has played for only 6 months match almost everything I've done in my 7.5 years.

It wasn't exactly my intent to say that someone would dedicate their entire life's achievements to RuneScape. It was referring to those of us who grew up with the game and would be kidding themselves if they believed that they walked away from RuneScape having gained nothing other than mindless entertainment for X years. I didn't comment on clans seeing as I haven't been a part of a real one since 2007 and it was an overall negative experience for me. My perspective on this isn't intended to be perfect or complete, but rather a reminder that the game isn't just a worthless waste of time. I don't play RuneScape because it's beneficial, I play because I enjoy it. I know for a fact that you are correct in saying there would be far better things to do to acquire those lesson, but how many kids (not to be confused with teens or young adults) would gain those lessons from anything but a game? More likely than not, there would be no one without a strict parent structuring their every move in life. I happened to be blessed with trusting parents and I have yet to betray their trust. Perhaps you are correct that my perspective is skewed - everyone else has some tyrannical parents but me? I'm inclined to believe that isn't the case and I have accomplished what I intended to write about :-P.

There should be one shortly.

Yeah the Leafs definitely look like an improved team this year. Montreal didn't play too bad either, but it looked like they just couldn't finish tonight. The best news is that hockey is finally back :thumbsup:.

So are the Lions. I really want to see the undefeated Packers face the undefeated Lions on Thanksgiving. Would be the game of the past decade for me.

^ Lol @ Michigan ranked #9 Too bad we only have a one man defense of Mike Martin. MSU will probably beat us again this year and knock us out of the Top 25. Every year our rank is inflated by playing teams with no money, and as soon as we get into the significant Big 10 games, :thumbdown:.

@magekillr [spoiler=For once, we are in agreement then. ] On the note of the anti-abortion protesters, they have been lobbying for the flat out repealing of Roe v. Wade and a straight ban (no exceptions). I thought I was pro-life until I went on the March for Life last year. That was my first real exposure to disturbing radicalism and I have avoided the issue entirely since. In fact, that's about when I gave up on the Republican Party (read: Tea Party). Luckily, they've been relatively unsuccessful on the national level. The fundie-dominated South you mentioned is a whole different story, though. On-Topic: Hackers plan to take down Wall Street on October 10th I like the sentiment, but with the job crisis in the U.S. and the debt crisis in the E.U., this seems like very bad timing to cause people to lose faith in the market.

[spoiler=Relevant] I can't help but see the whole movement as a joke. It's as if they think standing outside the NYSE or blocking traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge will suddenly cause a change of heart amongst CEOs and bankers to distribute their wealth. The protesters in Washington? Sorry, but if the roughly half a million anti-abortion protesters who have gathered in DC once a year since 1974 can't change anything, it's unlikely that a few thousand stoned hippies or pizza-faced basement dwellers can either. Now, I'm not saying their intent is wrong - in fact, I'm inclined to agree with them. However, the only way to actually take the money out of their hands would be a successful and widespread boycott of the goods of the CEOs' companies and the services of the fat cats' banks and begin to use small local businesses and credit unions/S&Ls (at the potential cost of tens of millions of jobs, of course). I'd like to see one protester put his money where his mouth is if these people are as serious as they claim to be. inb4 "I never support the evil big corporations [sent from my iPhone 5 @ Starbucks]." Slightly off-topic, but I can't be the only one reminded of the song when he hears the zealots preach about the severity of this, right?

I trust Mike Ilitch, but it's Bettman who won't keep his word. I hope the Wings move to the Atlantic, the Devils move to the Southeast, and Winnipeg moves to the Central. Knowing Bettman, though, he'll want to still give the Penguins a free ride to the playoffs while [bleep]ing over Canada again by moving the Wings to the Northeast. I'm just looking forward to more away games (especially playoffs) in EST and more Original Six match ups. Not constantly losing to a team that chokes in the semi-finals every year would be cool too.

Wings are moving to the Eastern Conference next year: http://www.detnews.com/article/20110930/SPORTS0104/109300378/1128/sports0103/Ilitch-on-the-Wings--%E2%80%98We%E2%80%99re-gonna-have-a-new-arena%E2%80%99 Yay, no more playoff games at 10 PM next season.

The only time I saw Zezima was back in 2006 or 2007. He was ranging imps south of Fally (presumably for a Champion's Scroll) and people were picking up his arrows and trying to sell them. I don't know if any trades were actually made, but the fact that someone thought the item, although identical to all like it, was somehow sublime was just sad. It's a sad reality that this does (or at least did) happen. Although maybe not so severe, I have fallen victim to this behavior in the past too. Back when I actually made YT videos, seeing one of the "famous" video makers in game was like a supernatural experience to me then. I've since grown up a bit, but that's not to say there aren't many who still feel that way at present. Croce's article is spot on. @h3art You spelled, "im a atheist so i think im smarter then u if i tells u this outside of off topic!!!11eleven1!" wrong. Grow up.

It's definitely Confirmation. When you're of age (anywhere from 12-16 based on your diocese), you choose whether you want to fulfill the promises made by your Godparent(s) at Baptism (this could be forced like it was in my case, but it's technically not valid as it was against my free will). Baptism doesn't make you a member of the Church, it supposedly fills you with God's grace. It's not even forced anyway. I haven't been to Church in like 6 years except for my Confirmation, a wedding, and school masses. I'm sure many other OTers were also Baptized and Confirmed, but will still consider themselves atheists on legal documents. You can only be forced into it if your parents literally isolate you from all other beliefs and education until adulthood like you see among Southern Creationists (and seeing as I'm on the internet right now, that's obviously not the case for me).

I already discussed how the CDC and WHO studied the health benefits of circumcision in that thread about San Fransisco, but I guess opinion blogs > science (and I won't discuss it further here). Anyway, Baptism doesn't lock you in. You're thinking of Confirmation at 14/15 years old where you choose whether or not you want to become a member of the Church and if you accept your Baptism. I would agree that that age is a horrible choice as my parents made me against my will. 22 would be the ideal age to choose imo. There is "historical" evidence, however, for infant Baptism in the Church. 1 Cor 1:16, Acts 16:15, 16:33, 18:18 say that whole households were baptized. We can safely assume that infants lived in these households. The theological justification is supposedly that it shows that our life is initiated by God, just as our natural life is at birth.

Baptism is said to have matter (physical) and form (spiritual). Matter would be the water, the immersion, and pouring it three times. The Form assumes the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit when the minister says, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Baptism must be performed by a deacon or priest except in the case of an emergency (a dying child), in which case even Richard Dawkins or Osama Bin Laden (but usually a nurse at a hospital) could "legally" baptize the child. This actually reminds of Matthew 28:19-20 (go and baptize all nations), which explains all the overly preachy people.

It's a Catholic belief that Baptism is absolutely required for salvation. The Church, however, recognizes the baptisms of protestant churches (Baptists, Lutherans, etc.), but not of Reformations (Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter Day Saints, etc.). I would like to believe that if a heaven exists, that God is understanding and allows genuinely good people in, but that's contrary to Catholic belief. Edit: I guess I learned a lot of useless information from 13 years of Catholic school.