Sumpta

Fundamentalism is not restricted to religious fanatics. As I see it, scientist-fanatics can be/are just as fundamentalist in their beliefs. I often see striking resemblances between two completely opposite enemies: the adamant and unreasonable manner in which they stick to their guns, without considering the other party's feelings and opinions.

Casablanca's ending broke my heart. Thelma & Louise, great ending shot! Memento. The Others. Any way the wind blows (Belgian film with major flaws, but it's refreshing in these days of too well-trodden cinematic paths.) A scrap of info on http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331175/

Oh the blasphemy, but I'd like to quote from Pirates of the Caribbean: "The Code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules." The Bible is for the main part a set of metaphorical stories, which address the christian code. I studied at the university with the most renowned catholic theologists of the world. Even they are still debating and discussing about the origin, the genealogy, the interpretation and the translation (!!!!) of the Bible. The doctrine was distilled from the bible. That is not the same as the bible being a prescriptive book. There are parts (a minority) that are prescriptive, but I also think they are dated from a later period. (But I'm not an expert on the subject.) However, it's very important to know that the doctrine as we know it today, does NOT stem from the time of Jesus, but from the early and later Middle Ages. Other concerns than the pure godly played their role. Political reasons, personal power, money and a desire to control society were often just as important (if not more). It bugs me that people can take the bible so decidedly literal, while it's a prime example of the metaphorical (stories, tales) method to teach people values. Being religious is not the same as not being allowed to think. The bible is a good basis to distill values from, within the keeping of christian religion. I think the bible can be very valuable to people, to give them a sense of direction and meaning in a way which science cannot. But reading the Bible needn't exclude reason and sound common sense. Keep in mind that the basis of christianity is understanding, compassion and non-exclusion. I sometimes have a hard time finding a trace of these values in hard core fundamentalists, who abuse the Holy Book, turn about phrases and/or extract them from their context and the time in which they were written.

Thousands of cave horrors, all on assignment: no black mask. People seem to get the mask easily, but not me... Around 10.000 fire giants: no drag med, but I don't care too much about that. The black mask though, I *really really* want it.

Combine everything that is out there. Crafting is easy to get up if you combine it with ranged, mining, smithing, thieving. Flax/leather: do these until you have gained a few more levels and a lot of new stuff will open up for you. Making glass with the lunar spell book is a fabulous, superfast method. First make vials (you could get an okay profit if you find a buyer), next go for uncharged orbs. I hear making battle staves off them is great xp as well. Dragonhide (preferably blue, once you can do that). The xp isn't as good, but it renders a lot of cash. You get a good range lvl from obtaining the hides and great cash from alching. Jewellery: mine lots of gold, smithe them into bars with the gauntlets for great smithing xp and then craft them into amulets. You could also thieve gems from the rogue's den to make even more advanced jewellery. Crafting is a very nice skill to level, if you make use of the variation...

Helena - Light. Already knew that. It's Greek for the bearer of light, the one who shines, or very simply "daughter of/from Greece". Yeah, it totally suits my gloomy nature... I prefer the association "the face that launched a thousand ships" 8-)

The architecture of the Belgian Art Nouveau artist Victor Horta *drool*. If only I had lots of shiny euro's...

Whoa, this is hard. Are you talking all-time, or still living actors? I'll go for still living or recently died... Best actors: Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett, Ian Richardson, Alan Rickman, Jim Carrey (I don't like all of his movies, but that man has such a broad range, brilliant) Worst: Orlando Bloom, Emma Watson, Jean-Claude Van Damme

You beat me to it, I really like the Atomium myself (and not just because I'm a Belgian). Another mind-boggling project: Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

:roll: The irony of it all. You grammar nazis make me want to kill myself Erm, more grammar nazism coming right up. Wouldn't it be: If he had read this, George Bush might have learned something. It feels weird to me to use "read" simple past. Or, of course: If he reads this, George Bush may/might learn something. It would still be more logical to use "might" because it indicates lesser probability than "may". And low probability is obviously what you're trying to get across. *ducks from flames*

German shampoo based on cannabis. The plant, not the weed. I like it a lot, because it contains a lot less chemicals than Herbal Essences, Dove, Fructis,... Better for my hair: the ends don't split as fast, no skin irritation and my hair gets incredibly soft. The shampoo smells a bit weird though, that's the only downside. The company has different shampoos with other smells, but they only sell this one in the Hemp shop in my neighbourhood. And no, I'm not a hippie and I don't have dreads (wouldn't be washing my hair then) nor do I wear woollen socks made from goat's hair.

Whoa, everyone is so... healthy... Apart from some yoga, I never moved a muscle until half a year ago. Nugded myself into some action. I cycle to work and go the the gym for a work-out of 1,5 hours twice a week. I usually have to drag myself there, but once I'm training, I really like it. For the rest, I like to take an occasional long walk, iceskating afternoon,...

I simply love the smell of summer nights. Especially combined with the sounds of summer nights... Strawberries. Freshly baked chocolate cake. Freshly baked anything, really... Reminds me of how I got up on a Sunday as a child and the whole house would smell of something yummy my mother made. And yes, another vote for gasoline (and, in the same category, alcohol pens and glue). Yeah, I was already an addict at the tender age of 4 :?

At least economically, Russia should. It would stabilise the economy and make some sense out of inflation. It bugs me that Russia is constantly getting ignored while Turkey is still under consideration. Please, no, not yet! The E.U. has been expanding way and way too fast. Think of the poltical debacle when Poland joined. The E.U. is seriously overstretching itself, which can be no good to anyone. As for N.A.T.O., don't know about joining, but I'd love to work there...

I like the way these activists are making their point with this proposal. Getting everyone on their hind legs, there's no better way to get through to them. :mrgreen: I live in a country where gay marriage is allowed and I really don't see the problem. Nor do I see any problem in gay partners having children, apart from the whole issue of adoption/in vitro/whose kid is it if they split up/... I mean, you do need some serious regulation. Then again, many hetero couples have no choice but to take those routes as well and encounter the same problems. IMO, I'd rather have people marry the right person for them so they can build a wholesome family, than having them marry someone against their inclination, being unhappy and seriously messing up their kids. Oh and as for religion... I live in a predominantly christian (even catholic!) country, yet we have gay marriage. Officially, the catholic church does not endorse gay marriage, obviously, but many catholics -whose basis of belief is LOVE and forbearance, hello?- don't mind at all.

I think I'll pass on that cave and stick to the plateau. Either I had a pretty bad day, or those ice trolls are plain mean. They beat me up pretty good...

*cough* Lady Macbeth *cough*. (fear them) Hehe. Livia is another school example *grin*.

I think there's an analogy between Snape and Malfoy. Malfoy is on the brink of making the decision to be a death eater at the same age when Malfoy did. Snape did the wrong thing: there was no one to stop him, Malfoy will do the right: Snape looks after him. I don't believe Draco will become a death eater. He might redeem himself and live, whereas Snape redeems himself and dies. Ahhhh the theories... I'll miss all this quessing and the anticipation once book 7 comes out...

And do you realise how much less of a man saying such an inane thing makes you? You make it sound like women are a terrifying race that is after your balls and takes great pleasure in whining. Ever considered that if the surname is such a big deal to you, it might be important to your future wife as well? A wife is a partner, not a boxing opponent. 'Forced', sheesh. And if you have friends that would mock you for that, you're in need of different friends.

Snape doesn't need to redeem himself. He's always been on Dumbledore's side. In all of this "Snape is oh so good" discussions, people seem to miss out on the fact that no matter whose side he is on, he has done some pretty awful stuff. That is his tragedy... and he will have to 'pay'. I'm sure that's how he himself would feel... remember the look of disgust when he kills Dumbledore? The guy has some serious self-loathing issues.

Ugh, lots of male chauvinist pigs on this forum. I don't plan to marry (I'm telling you, marriage does strange things to people's nature), but even if I did, I would expect to keep my surname. I wouldn't mind being Mrs for formal stuff, but there is no way under this sun and on this earth that people would generally call me Mrs . Eww. I'm not a hard-core feminist, but I'm not 's property either. I wouldn't want my children to walk around double named though (think of the trouble when they get married to another double named person), so they can be Kid . I think that is very generous of me, so he'll have to give me the right of giving the kids their first name :wink:

I sense a contradiction somewhere... :D No seriously, reading helps me tons as well. Good way to get out of the daily train of thought.

Uhm. - I 'score' INFJ on Myers Briggs test, so I guess I fall in one of the above categories as well. - I'm female (yes I've said it before, but I will just keep on saying that) - People who don't know me well irl often call me an ice queen, those who do call me a vulcano and run away very fast when they read the signs of a looming eruption - I managed to make my university invest in a theatre for student theatre companies, after 6 years of whining and battling - I seem to live by the rule of paradox, which makes my life a bit complicated at times. This depresses me sometimes, yet I wouldn't want it any other way (see what I mean?) - I have a good set of brains, but rarely use them. - My real name is Helena

I often post at work, as a break or a wind-down between two different tasks.

Like Rebdragon said, sitting in a riding vehicle. I especially love trains, just sitting, watching, thinking nothing. The sound of iron on iron soothes me. Doing mindless tasks works as well. Doing the dishes while listening to sing-along music stops the chaos in my head. Or cleaning up, sorting things out. When I feel smothered, I usually go out for a long walk. I love it if my feet tingle from walking just a bit too far when I get home. I sometimes go for a swing in a deserted playground in the eve, when dark falls... just wonderful :-) Going to the fitness is another great thing. Just moving, listening to music, watching the bleeps on the trainer...