mad4u689

Sean, you finished too? I just finished and I can't... stop... crying... :x Later edit: Okay, I've calmed down enough to speak coherently. First, I'm annoyed that the spoiler scanned page posted over half the internet was true. Second, I'd still say #3 was the best book of the series thus far, and I don't know if I'd put #5 or #6 as next best. I'm quite sad and yet what JK had to do, she had to do. Also, Draco's many fangirls will be relieved that there is hope for him yet. ;) Oh, Harry - I know you must defeat the Dark Lord, but gosh, I just don't see how you will possibly do it without the venerable "bumblebee" :( Unless of course, surprising everyone, Neville is the one the prophecy ultimately refers to - why else would there be two people in it? To merely demonstrate the power of choice in fulfilling prophecies? Dumbledore has, demonstrably now, the capability to be wrong... BOAST :D I had theories that were right and this makes me happy. I need more time before I start theorizing about the next book though.

I'd go with the Supreme Court justice one. It has more of an actual impact, and reflects the power struggle that's currently going on - as well as the fear among the "blue states" that the "red states" and their representative, Bush, are crazy evangelists. Another interesting answer would be to discuss the Harry Potter phenomenon. Although it isn't political exactly, it is news, and it says a lot about our culture.

Okie :x if you do decide to keep [bleep]ey... these are two great sites on basic info about keeping hedgehogs as pets :D http://www.hedgies.com/learn_more_about_your_pet.htm

Awww, there's lots of information on the internet about keeping hedgehogs as pets... gosh... it would be cool if [bleep]ey became your pet :D Goodbye [bleep]ey :(

My dream is to work with chimpanzees and study their cognitive abilities. :D This would mean I could talk to chimpanzees in sign language. Washoe, here I come!! (Washoe was the first chimpanzee to be taught sign language. Roger Fouts, my hero, is working with her still today :D) If that doesn't work out, I'd like to be a mathematics teacher maybe, or an English teacher, or maybe just do neuroscience-team-development work for some chemical company. We'll see :D

No offense guys, but I seriously can't see the evil Dumbledore theory being real. Rowling's fantasy world is wonderful because though different from our own, it follows a lot of the same basic principles... and the wise old headmaster being good is just something we need to accept as fact. Even when she wants to surprise us, she wouldn't take a character so basically good, someone who has been such a role model for Harry... and a role model in a different way from Sirius or from Moody, even, because he is purely good, if quirky. On that note... Dumbledore will probably die in this book. Harry needs to have a book with no Dumbledore where he will prove himself as a hero in his own right.

I think you're fated to keep him as a pet :x

http://www.hedgehogvalley.com/findvet.html explains how to find vetinarians that might treat hedgehogs, but it's not that easy. :(

Thanks for your input, grin - clears up a few things, and well-said. :D

Just to clarify, the main idea of Satanism is that it stands in contrast to Christianity. It believes that you should do what you like, regardless of some set system of "morality", if it makes you happy. It's not saying to go out and kill people. NorthernHero, I don't know that that's a religion, as much as a fad among teenagers who want to create drama. Again, calling it "Satanism" is mostly to contrast it to christianity. Satan represents what Christianity is not - indulgence, lack of spirituality, hedonism, living in the present as opposed to preparing for heaven, not "decieving" yourself with lies of God to make you feel better, etc. I am defending it as a valid philosophy, though I certainly wouldn't call myself Satanist. I just think it's an interesting perspective ^_^ And it also should NOT be confused with Wicca/witchcraft.

Omnislash, I think he meant deletion of the post itself that was causing problems? Anyway, I'm taking Sweex's "challenge" of finding five posts that I think shouldn't have been locked that were, recently within the past two weeks... and vice versa. Topics I feel shouldn't have been locked: President Bush crashes his bike. - No, not everyone was being mature, but then, people never really are. But it still was a light-hearted, fun topic, and we need more of these. Explosions in London have been confirmed as terror attacks - This was a major issue. Some of the posts within the topic weren't "good" posts, but this issue is a major one that clearly people felt needed to be discussed, and they were discussing. The Rapture- Your beliefs on how the world will end... - people seemed to be having a decent, enjoyable discussion on this. Though it was bumped from May, people were still adding interesting points to the discussion - the bump was a good post! Rate My Hearts Game - another fun post. The responses to it weren't mostly bad, but people were discussing the game of Hearts and their best scores. I don't understand why it was classified "spam" Weird car ad... Here's a topic I didn't think was that great. Mildly amusing maybe. Not a great topic. Nevertheless, there was nothing wrong with it, and no reason to lock it. Maybe I just think the best modding policy is to protect users from the worst, and otherwise let people have the free will to discuss what they like... that's why they come to the forum, after all :D A lot of topics, mods do a GREAT job with, and I want to thank you guys for your hard work in keeping the forums readable, protecting us from the crazies, and all that good stuff :D Just... if there's an interesting discussion, maybe let it be and work itself out on its own.

It's true that Satanism isn't the "kill people, commit suicide, and drink blood!" thing that most people think it is. Basically, it's kind of hedoism in the form of an organized religion. Basically, those who follow Satanism do not follow a specific deity (a god). They don't believe in the devil as he is depicted in the Christian sense. Instead, they live in the corporeal world and live life as it happens, not sinking into the crutch of those who can't think on their own that is spirituality. The fundamentals of Satanism are summed up in the Nine Satanic Statements, which are...

It's not completely pointless, no; though this topic would be locked, and understandable so. HOWEVER, the author does make a good point. especially lately, certain mods have been locking a large number of decent (even if they aren't enlightening and amazing) topics under the umbrella rule of "spam." This is a modding policy I disagree with, and maybe we could discuss it with the moderators and administrators in a constructive manner to help jointly make the forums a better place.

Thanks for saying it first, gosh. :D No way. It's obviously going to be Ginny, though Luna would be interesting!

I'm getting it at midnight too and plan to stay up all night reading it until I'm done :D I'll race... but I don't think it's fair to race against the Brits who get it 5 hours earlier... or the Aussies/NZers who get it WAAAY earlier!

I was really hoping for NYC 2012 and this disappoints me. :( Oh well... I'm more likely to be in/near London in 2012 anyway!

You DORK!!!

BUBSA! Don't you be dissing Will Smith! He's hot. And hilarious. Oh, what a man.

Actually, we aren't doing our part to help the world with financial aid, at all. The upcoming G8 summit includes Bush, and yet Bush seems to want to not address issues of poverty/3rd world debt/etc. Don't let him get away with it. Go to http://www.one.org to do your part, and make Bush listen. I signed both of them. :) But also on http://www.one.org, it says "The US government spends less than ONE percent on overcoming global AIDS and poverty" but I'm sure that 1% is probably in the billions of dollars. Also when the tsunami relief came, America was I believe the second (?) most contributor in the world... :? Only after international pressure dictated we did... after we were mocked for donating such a measly amount for a while :D And so, in the spotlight, we donated a lot. And though we donated a lot in comparison, keep in mind that our government is richer in comparison as well, due to a larger population with a high GDP. But when it comes to cancelling the debt and fighting poverty in places that aren't being spotlighted necessarily, what are we doing? Not nearly as much as the other world powers. Thanks for signing the petitions :D

Actually, we aren't doing our part to help the world with financial aid, at all. The upcoming G8 summit includes Bush, and yet Bush seems to want to not address issues of poverty/3rd world debt/etc. Don't let him get away with it. Go to http://www.one.org to do your part, and make Bush listen.

A lot of the time, people post "my country" or "our nation" and it's fine, because they are including themselves in the collective, and you can easily see where they're from in the little profile-thingy on the left. :D America does have legalized abortions, btw, even though I believe it is murder, and it shouldn't. However, I would agree that there is no way to say the United States of America is freer than all other countries. Just the fact that there's this blend of people from all different countries on this message board, speaking their minds - we all have that same level of freedom. However, maybe the author's point was that we do have more freedoms than many third world countries, and it's our duty to help them appreciate the same things we take for granted. (Not that I necessarily agree with that view)

I atually lived out east on Long Island, but I worked in a few hospitals in uptown Manhattan. I still do live there, but I go to university in Princeton, New Jersey so I'm down here most of the year. At least for the next few years. :P Are you going to Princeton University? :D My best friend is going there :D And matt, November, man! :D I have a countdown for you too on IRC ;)

My English friend is coming to visit me for a few weeks this summer, and I have to show him New York City :D However, I have lots of ideas of things to show him. The neighbourhoods, the museums, the theatre, Ellis Island, and yeah, the neighbourhoods... the shopping and the parks... shrug :D Dymed, where in the city do you live? :D

Yes, i was thinking of going alone of the lines of 'Head Of Delegation' or 'Supervisor'. :P HAHA :D That made me giggle :D