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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 14, 2006 23:12:46 GMT -5
Nice hemisphere, T. Edit: ahahaha Frederick Maryland? What is that like the lamest city in the lamest state in the entire country? I dunno.. I'd be more embarrassed to live in Washington, DC. If only because I'd have to explain to everyone why I always faintly smell of flung mud.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 14, 2006 23:55:30 GMT -5
That's gotta be something in your computer... hm.. you might try reinstalling the drivers for your sound card. Don't know if it would help, but it couldn't hurt and they might even be in need of an update.
Other than that... *shrugs*
You might try checking out whatever customer support or troubleshooting services that go with your computer/sound card.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 14, 2006 23:15:33 GMT -5
Hm.. do you have any other speakers/headphones you could try? If what Blaze said is true, it might just be the speakers. If you had some headphones you could give it a try and see if it cleared up. If it does, then more than likely you just need new speakers.
If, however, it doesn't, then it's something to do with your computer and may require a new sound card.
Not that I know much about this kind of thing, but that's where my logic takes me.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 14, 2006 14:27:56 GMT -5
Do you have any special audio management software?
I have, for my sound card, a program called Philips Sound Agent 2, which is just a little program that lets me set up what I want my sound card to be doing. One option is for echo effects of various kinds. At various times I've had this inexplicably turn on and had to turn it off again.
If you have such a program, you might check it out. That could be the answer.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 13, 2006 18:52:20 GMT -5
Games: Animal Crossing Wild World New Super Mario Brothers Music/CDs in general: Soundtracks to Star Trek IV and VI Soundtrack to Back to the Future Trilogy Soundtrack to Ghostbusters Soundtrack to Batman (the first movie) Beatles Anthology Any collections of Ray Stevens, The Monkees, The Beatles, or John Denver that I don't have. Unabridged audio book of The Two Towers and/or The Return of the King as read by Robbert Inglis Books: good copies of Around the World in Eighty Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Journey to the Center of the Earth Any of the Cat Who series that I haven't already bought Toys: a Classic Megman Figure to complete my set of Megaman X, EXE and Zero. Classics Jetfire and Megatron DVDs: Corpse Bride Basically any episodes of MST3K I don't already have (of which there are way too many). Any collections of The Red Skeleton Show, The Jack Benny Show, or The Abbot and Costello show I don't already have. Other stuff: A good set of fake daggers to go with my Black Mage cosplay setup. Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves Oh yeah and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 13, 2006 15:11:03 GMT -5
All these social groups in school suddenly seemed like classes from an RPG. ...I want to play that RPG. Well there's The Sims and it's sequel, you know. Although that's not quite the same thing. Heh.. I'm a level 10 Geek with a +5 Hard Drive of Memory Storage. They'd better have multi-class options, because otherwise it would be way too limiting.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 13, 2006 13:24:53 GMT -5
I think the problem is not so much the labels themselves but that there is a certain contingent of people who only know labels and demand that the people around them fit those labels or they're "not really" what they claim to be. Like saying you're not really a gamer if you don't own all the latest systems, for example.
That said, I tend to reject labels, if only because they tend to be too easily misunderstood or misconstrued, when one's view point on a particular group does not match up with another persons. Consider the 'Furry' label. Some people think that the 'Furry' label instantly means that those people are into bestiality and/or think they are some sort of animal in human skin, while others think of it as just someone who identifies with a more animalistic side of the human psyche. To some, the Furry label would make a person, who, in all other situations would be completely unobjectionable, in to a horrible animal-fancying pervert.
For that reason, I don't tend to think in labels. It's too easy to be misunderstood or misunderstand a person, if you allow labels to become definitions. Rather, I look at each person as a unique case and decide my opinion on them without applying any labels that might bias my opinion. They are just who they are, and nothing gets in the way of weather I like them or not.
As I said above, though, generalizations are a good thing, to a certain extent. Truth probably lies somewhere in the middle acceptance of labels without relying entirely on them for decision making.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 13, 2006 12:38:02 GMT -5
This is a conclusion I came to a few months back and it really does make you wonder.
But, it should be said, the human mind tends to work with categories. Generalization is one of the key elements of our mind, it allows us to identify potential risks without specific experience. Just imagine what it would be like if we had to experience everything before we could make a decision. We'd never get anywhere.
That said, though, I think the media in particular is responsible for the modern proliferation of these stereotypes. Since television is usually made for the lowest common denominator, characters often take on a very stereotyped, cookie-cutter personality. This in turn becomes what people think of when they think of those groups. Combine that with the supposed celebration of individuality and you get people who celebrate their adherence to social stereotypes.
It's a sick twist of the individuality movement that it has created more people who lack individuality. Somehow instead of letting everyone be what they want to be, we now insist that everyone choose some sort of social cast and stick with it. Even the so-called outsiders of society are part of a cast. Rejects are now a class unto themselves. The only people who are outside the stereotypes are those who steadfastly refuse to associate themselves with a social class at all.
I remember one experience in school in particular. They were doing a survey about what social classes were strongest in the school. The students doing this eventually got 'round to me and I was faced with the following choice: Do you think of yourself as: A - a preppy, B - A jock, C - A Nerd, or D - An outsider(by which they meant a Reject).
Or options to that effect. I effectively said I was E - Myself(AKA none of the above), but that seemed to not go over well, so I just said to put down D and they were happy to have a form answer to give. That experience really put things into perspective for me at the time. All these social groups in school suddenly seemed like classes from an RPG. Something that people pick and choose from a list, rather than just being by nature.
So, yeah. You're right. It's stupid. Just be yourself and like whatever you want to like and who cares what cast you fit in.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 13, 2006 18:57:52 GMT -5
I keep looking at that Sonic X cover and wonder how low they think the readers IQ is. I mean, sure the quality of the image is good.. but the duologue just reads like it was written by... well... an Archie writer. The tag just makes it worse. Not only is it a bad joke, but they feel like they have to explain it to you too.
I wish someone would cater to the older, more intelligent audiences.. I'm starting to feel neglected.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 13, 2006 12:14:08 GMT -5
Spaz has really lost his touch when it comes to cover art for the main Archie series. That's a pretty weak cover for Sonic X, too. I don't deny Spaz is still great at drawing, but his composition has been suffering for years now. It's obvious he's simply out of ideas on how to draw Sonic for the main series anymore. His Sonic X covers are generally better, but not this time. That or Archie is being ass as usual. It feels more like someone is saying "Ok, Spazz, we have this list of things you have to have in the cover image. We had a focus group and we think if you draw Sonic really large on the cover on a white background, our readership will go up by at least 13%" "But it'll look like ass" "Spazz, I can see you don't understand marketing." I'd really be surprised if he had much creative control at all.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 15, 2006 16:57:46 GMT -5
It's been on the news almost everyday for ages now, I was thinking about practising my martial arts training on his ass Ahh, but first you must attract his attention. There's only one thing for it, then. Dress yourself in womens clothing and pretend to be a hooker. Assuming you don't get arrested for massive public indecency, you should have him right where you want him.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 14, 2006 14:25:26 GMT -5
Well, it's certainly not me. In theory... ...unless you secretly have urges to blend into the night and strike fear in the hearts of your enemies and have been trained in ninja/murder/assault tatics as a result, and are only using your subperbly awesome ninja powers to trick us into denying that it could be you! ...but it's probably not you. Or she could just put on a pair of glasses.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 13, 2006 13:35:32 GMT -5
Yeah, basically some guy is going around Ipswitch killing hookers. However, didn't Jack the Ripper send body parts to the police? As far as I know, this guy hasn't done that... yet. *resists urge to make Monty Python joke involving 'Ipswitch' and dead parrots* Good luck to the police in catching him.. or her. Could be a her. Never know.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 12, 2006 11:11:05 GMT -5
I've been to Disney World, but never Disney Land. Found Disney World good for short visits, but if I spend any long time there (like if you actually stay there for the week) I find my brain starts to make this little shrill screaming sound and I have the urge to run screaming for the hills.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 10, 2006 21:06:58 GMT -5
well, if you got a Wii, then you'd better hurry over to the bathr*KILLED TO DEATH*
Happy birthday at any rate!
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 11, 2006 23:50:52 GMT -5
Or just do a search for the previous MB topics. But I'm going to fiddle with Tiny so it has a page for it. I'm not going to do the "Visitor" animation anymore, after all. And Star Wars is overused. :( And I don't like it THAT much... but Star Trek music, on the other hand... Go with the Star Trek: Voyage Home theme, somehow the over-dramatic music seems perfect.. I dunno why XD This is great. I found myself laughing out loud (in the literal sense) more times than last time and it was a little bit more coherent, informative and interesting. good work!
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 8, 2006 5:50:04 GMT -5
I saw it...
it is one of the most visually stunning movies of all time.
the rest of it... eh.
It's like they have too many messages going in too many directions. Good messages, don't get me wrong. About environmentalism, racial equality, about being different, with a definite dose of anti-establishment sympathy. But in the end? It just doesn't work. It feels like it alternately hammers you on the head with whichever message it's trying to convey at that one moment and then seems to go off in a totally different direction the next moment.
I would say it's worth seeing at least once, just because it's a beautiful move and has some good things to say. There are some great bits with Robin Williams, but nothing you wouldn't have seen in one of his stand-up bits. Elijah Wood does a great job in the lead role. Also notable because Steve Irwin does a voice for it, though I didn't recognize him until the credits.
I probably wouldn't go back to see it in theaters, and I more than likely wouldn't buy the DVD until it is on sale.
Also.. tap-dancing penguins aren't as wonderful as you might expect... if you've ever seen Mary Poppins, you might know what to expect. One word: awkward.
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 7, 2006 20:43:16 GMT -5
Somehow... this doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. I haven't checked out the accompanying videos yet, so maybe they explain more, but a little more description of the actual theory of 'nullity' would be helpful. I mean, if school children can understand it, it can be that complicated.
I did, however, find this quote to be highly entertaining: The theory of nullity is set to make all kinds of sums possible that, previously, scientists and computers couldn't work around.
I can just imagine the accountants of this world wetting themselves at the very thought XD
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 8, 2006 19:47:14 GMT -5
I am almost positive that the tax break was across the board, so you did see it. It's just in the nature of tax cuts that the less money you pay, the less you get back. So basically exactly what I said. The people who benefit from this are the ones who are pulling in large incomes (like, oooh, the people who passed the law) and the ones who benefit from it the least (if at all) are those of us who have to stretch our paychecks just to have enough gas to get us to and from work every day. Thus ensuring that we can't put together enough funds to actually threaten the status quo of "Rich getting richer and poor getting screwed"
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Post by Keith T. Hemari on Dec 8, 2006 19:21:06 GMT -5
Yeah, with the US, the tax comes in after sales are totaled.
So, like...
Snickers-1.00 Advil-----2.00 -- Subtotal-3.00 Tax------0.15 Total----3.15
The actual amount of tax depends on what state/county you live in, ours in Indiana is generally five cents on the dollar, but certain counties have six and even seven cents. That just sales tax, though. Additional taxes, such as luxury tax and so on usually are part of the price. So a pack of cigarettes might cost a real price of $5.00, but after state, county and city taxes, could wind up being a, pre-sales tax price of $7.00, then they add on sales tax.
Yeah, the Bush tax cuts were on, I believe income tax (in which the government (national, state and local) takes about a quarter of what you earn), however, if I remember correctly, the tax break was only really good for those who were pretty well off in the first place.. so.. yeah.. any of us regular worker types would never see it.
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