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Who are we or you to judge the blood?	March 7, 2008, 1:48AM
by: THE_FLY
i had noticed a Message that my best friend Merissa had posted due to the shock and tears that i've shed over this bulletin? i don't/won't bash her for anythign because she means more than alot to me in many ways but this message....i will share with people..... I have felt for sometime now that Obama is the one person that 'Frightens Me'. I believe the Bible has warned us that 'A man will come from the East that will be charismatic in nature and have proposed solutions for all our problems and his rhetoric will attract many supporters!' When will our pathetic Nation quit turning their back on God and understand that this man is 'A Muslim'....First, Last and always....and we are AT WAR with the Muslim Nation, whether our bleeding-heart, secular, Liberal friends believe it or not. This man fits every description from the Bible of the 'Anti-Christ'! Who is Barack Obama? Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHEIST from Wichita , Kansas. Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia. When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He also spent two years in a Catholic school. Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, 'He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school.' Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that that he is not a radical. Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education. Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta. Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran. Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegiance nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches. Do you want someone like this as your PRESIDENT? Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States, one of their own! Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?...... NOT ME In All honesty? why....why does the world, society, or let alone OUR OWN PEOPLE have to come to this?! To be BRUTALLY HONEST? when i read this bulletin....not only did it break my heart, but it made me cry, because of the fact that this not only shows RIDICULOUSLY HIGH slander towards the bible (that has been re-written more times over than Rap remix songs) but it also shows that if we go towards a path of NEVER trusting our outer countries that respect the fact that WE, THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA live the way we want and enjoy our lives the way we want THEY WISH THAT WE DON'T FORCE OUR LIVESTYLE DOWN THEIR THROAT In all honesty.....it kills me in the worst way that people would actually think like this cause this truly TRULY hurts....alot A Bible (NOT EVEN AN EXTREMELY LITERAL AUTHENTIC ONE) tells you to forgive and forget, but yet BANISH those who are not worthy Why does the majority of society BELIEVE something like this?! It's wrong....VERY wrong! Whoever becomes the leader of this decrepid nation, SHOULD NOT be bashed or banished to eternal damnation JUST BECAUSE of their religion IMO? if you choose to redundantly bash someone because of their religion when it comes to helping others see a better way that will actually make them a moderately happy person, and IN LEAGUE with being acceptable about themselves or their life? THEN YOU should be banished to your personal damnation See.....Where i live? I'm beyond BEYOND sick and tired of having to tell every segregating african american that... 1-I am not a christian, or anything within relation to the "Religion Tree of Blasphemy" (in reference towards the southern-hateful families who bash/disown everyone who's not in leauge with churches) I'm a buddhist, and i was born into buddhism, along with my younger brother. But my religion doesn't pray and chant about self-greed, we chant about victory over violence, peace, ect. 2-I dress like this because of the fact that I grew up REFUSING to look like a typical stereotype that gets bashed and bothered and claimed for something else, YET i'm obliviously different from your average "black person" 3-I have a free spirit, because my family gave it to me when i was young, and i enjoy having this life 4-I'm not a "freak" or a fucking "gothic" kid cause i don't run around within a parade of ignorance and Untalented chaos JUST to get attention in all the wrong ways. Honestly? I'll vote for obama not because of the fact that he's black/muslim, ect. it's because of the fact that APPARENTLY ALONG with ms. clint? he's got a head on his shoulders Since these campaign runs have started lately? i've realized that America STILL hasn't evolved from the "common state of inner ignorance" People bashing hillary by claiming that if she goes on her period in the chair, she blows up half the continent or saying that she would tell everyone to go buy shoes with her when she's making a peace treaty or with the obama thing? claiming that he wants to bomb america from the inside-out or saying that he'll destroy us all because he's a muslim Last i remembered? -clears throat- THEY started war with other countries just to be greedy and pessimist and in this case... Being a pessimist....DOESN'T mean you're a Realist being a pessimist in this case? only makes you seem like a common enemy with those who have cared about you more than you'll ever know -I'm not bashing GOD! i bash the people who use, abuse, and mislead the world ABOUT god in the wrong way-
topic: Various
[reply] [9 comments]

Freeganism: An Anti-Consumerism Lifestyle	March 5, 2008, 7:21PM
by: Princess
Freeganism is a lifestyle in which people use strategies that allow them to participate as little as possible in the conventional economy and consume a minimal amount of resources. They often are in tight-knit communities that help each other reach these goals, such as having community gardens where everyone is free to take from and help grow together.The lifestyle even includes salvaging discarded goods, such as unspoiled food from supermarkets and bakeries (often in dumpsters). This isn't a lifestyle just for the poor or homeless, as often very wealthy people participate as well, to avoid feeding in to a society in which they feel has become controlled by a consumer lifestyle. By dumper diving, they can feed people and animals who might otherwise go hungry, and prevent edible food from being added to landfills. Although it is often practiced in legal ways, such as wild foraging, gardening, dumpster diving, bartering and plate scraping, it also can include shoplifting and employee scams from the more extreme followers. Many do not promote lawless activities, preferring to stay as peaceful about their practices as possible. "Really, Really Free Markets" are another example, as it is a social event in which individuals give away their belongings instead of discarding them, and teach each other their skills. Other examples exist in many types of festivals, where people learn from each other and have free workshops. In my local area, we have a Tangerine festival where many gardeners, whole food shop owners and organic growers come together and give away free food, free seeds and teach how to properly plant everything from trees, fruit and vegetables. There also biking events where people give away their old bikes, so that they may be fixed up and given away to children and young adults, as well as lobbies the state and federal government for funding that allows more biking trails and safety to cyclists. They try to avoid the use of automobiles or planes as often as possible, choosing to walk or ride bicycles instead, both being more eco-friendly than the pollution caused by burning petroleum. They often carpool when they need to, train hop, skate or hitchhike when they must. Voluntary unemployment is a common trend in these communities. Many doctors, lawyers, real-estate agents, artists and people of every trade give up their regular forms of employment, or begin to work only part-time, as to no longer contribute as much to a society they do not agree with, and instead give their services for free to those who cannot afford it, or at extremely discounted rates. Rent-Free Housing is important to freegans, who often begin squatting. From a freegan website, they believe, "housing is a RIGHT, not a privilege. Just as freegans consider it an atrocity for people to starve while food is thrown away, we are also outraged that people literally freeze to death on the streets while landlords and cities keep buildings boarded up and vacant because they can’t turn a profit on making them available as housing." They often convert old, unused buildings into community centers and homes. It's easy to reduce waste in our society, to even reduce the amount of people we spend on material items and food. There are many free cycle communities online, where people can pick up items and they are given away for free. These items can range from anything such as clothing, furniture, TVs, entire bedroom and kitchen sets, food, baby items, books, music - anything you can think of you may ever need to buy, people are often giving away as they no longer need them or buy new ones. You don't need to be as radical as other practitioners to live a more mindful life, where instead of just throwing something away, you can find someone who needs it. You're keeping things out of landfills and saving money! In 2004, the University of Arizona estimated that forty to fifty percent of US edible food is wasted per year. Every year, approximately $43 billion worth of edible food is estimated to be thrown away in the US (Food Navigator). For more information on freeganism or freecycling, please visit the following sites: Freegan Info Oprah - 6 figure salary to Freegan Freeganism - Wikipedia Freecycle Network Reuse It Network Free Sharing
topic: Philosophy
[reply] [21 comments]

Social Inequality in the United States	March 5, 2008, 6:45PM
by: KLOKWERKAOS
Though many argue that social inequalities of minorities and sub-culture groups only have as much stratifying impact on a person’s life as they are allowed, it is clear that outside of the best educated regions of the United States that prejudice and discrimination are a continual problem for those societies on a macro level. Further, it can be reasoned that so long as there are identifiable differing characteristics between humans that some form of subjective bias and level of prejudice will continue to be present and generate some form of conflict. Initially the capitalist environment of the United States was set up with the assumption that personal greed would motivate the economy and the system was set up so that the rich would be taxed heavily to help maintain overall greater societal conditions. In a way this was wildly successful as well as proving to be a dramatic failure. Indeed, today’s standards of living and economic conditions are far superior within the United States that those of the year 1776, however the failing of the capitalist system was to realize that there is no maximum capacity for human greed. On this Jacobs writes: “Expansions in the size of minority populations threaten the power of ascendant groups, who respond with efforts to maintain their dominant position”. Eventually individuals able to “get ahead” economically found that they could use their wealth to maintain itself and accumulate greater wealth through oppression (though this was by no means first developed in the United States). Once this policy of expansionism and dominance was coupled with a few generations of inherited money, the initial drive and intellect that created the wealth very well could have been, and frequently was, completely absent in the individuals that possessed the wealth. This caused all kinds of breakdowns in the American governmental system. The initial ideal was that voters would be land owners and thus be wealthy and deemed in possession of the wisdom to vote in adequate representation elections as they had proven themselves able to rise above their neighbor, but as power and wisdom became less and less synonymous through generations of inherited money an increasing decentralization in government occurred as the ideals of the past were found to be bankrupt. Over time a variety of different fears such as loss of wealth and differences in culture among other things allowed those of like traits to band together in social networks to work to maintain power over other individuals. Historically certain aspects such as race and gender and religion were used to determine societal caps to wealth levels and other measures of success within the United States. Discrimination and prejudice became the norm and stratification became exaggerated due to many various factors. Wilkinson writes: “In 1944, Myrdal, Richard Sterner, and Arnold Rose wrote that ‘segregation is now becoming so complete that the white Southerner practically never sees a Negro except as his servant and in other standardized and formalized caste situations.’ Both ecological separation and racial distance were entrenched in the fabric of the nation's beliefs, values, and social class hierarchy. All housing, private and public, was segregated by custom and by law.”(1995). Though this segregation was once federally endorsed, over time racial biases were eroded due to other changes in the sociological environment concerning feminism and other decentralizing movements which called for even greater restructuring of society. These movements even began to challenge not merely the work force ideal, but the traditional family unit itself, which in turn had religious ramifications as well. As women gained more and more rights within society those in power focused less on differences such as specific ethnicity and started to broaden their discrimination zones to more generic terms of skin color. Religious affiliation was also accepted on broader terms as well, being more commonly separated through major associations rather than specific denominations. As technology increased and information became increasingly more accessible, valuable and a more common form of currency, recognition of skin tone and gender became less focused but was still an identifiable problem within the United States. To combat this, early efforts included Affirmative Action policies which caused large amounts of controversy in all directions. Affirmative Action was both supported and denounced by both advocates and assailants of discrimination as it posed an exploitable system that could be used to fight for or against discrimination depending on how it was used. Affirmative Action allowed that certain minority groups would be allowed exaggerated opportunities in concerns to work and education over that which was typically available in the past. The system was far from perfect but overall today discrimination is less of a concern than it was before affirmative action but the degree to which Affirmative Action helped or hindered the current state of affairs concerning social inequality concerning minorities is largely a matter of opinion based on selective fact analysis. Eventually efforts to create a blind system were implemented by placing restrictions on government collection of data concerning race in several instances but were determined to be inadequate. The spirit of such efforts was to denounce the idea of forcing people to even identify themselves as Black, White, Hispanic, Asian or otherwise as it would only perpetuate the idea of existence of the concept of “minorities” to begin with. Such efforts are shown to prove inadequate as although Federal policy no longer endorses discrimination that the United States has not yet completely outgrown the concept of racial inequality on cultural and class levels. Much like Affirmative Action, the post-analysis of such anti-affirmative action movements continues to show improvements in eradicating social inequality for minorities but it is unclear to what extent the movements themselves helped or hindered the cause of decentralization. One of the most important aspects to keep in mind when addressing these issues is that once Federal backing of discrimination is ceased that the ideal of discrimination based on race should have disappeared (in theory) but it didn’t. Based on information technologies increasing a lingering sense of the past is allowed to have a societal voice more than ever. As is the case, certain issues of culture and class are very often confused as issues of race or even reverted to issues of race within a given system. Although the lingering voice of the past requires that we recognize it, it does not require that we adhere to it as modern doctrine. As such, efforts are being made to utilize sociology studies to focus on broader issues that are actively effecting stratification. In this regard Downey writes: “Environmental inequality is a relatively new concept that gained national attention in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to the efforts of grassroots environmental justice activists and professional researchers. Calling into question the mainstream environmental movement's assumption that environmental degradation affects everyone equally, environmental justice activists and researchers argue, among other things, that the poor, the working class, and people of color are disproportionately burdened by environmental hazards.”(2005). Downey’s statement offers a more high powered look (and at the same time on a look on a broader scale) at the issue of minority segregation and offers that if we can take into account the factors that cause stratification, such as ethnic concentration and class hazard and learn to stop and prevent such factors on a larger level, such as eradication of class orientation, that we may be able to further decentralize society. In theory, like those that came before him, Downey’s statements seem like a nice cure all blanket statement, but as we’ve seen in the past with Affirmative Action and Anti-Affirmative Action movements as well as other decentralizing efforts that there is always an inherent backlash that pulls in all directions. Specific decentralizing efforts appear to cause both harm and good to varying degrees depending on how they are applied to the current paradigm as well as their post-interpretation results. It seems then, that decentralizing efforts could only be effective on the macro level problem if they were applied with an even macro level influence, though this is a very difficult ideal to achieve. Those in power have had generations of breeding to learn how to centralize and increase and preserve their power to create further stratification so potent that the wealthiest one percent of the United States controls 98% of the nation’s wealth. Historically such stratification has only been corrected through violent outbursts of the masses, though this becomes less likely as the standard of living increases and generations of increasing conditioning towards apathy through various media (both obvious [television and radio propaganda] and not so obvious [busy work deterrence methods and artificial accolades]) are put into place for the lower classes. As such apathy exists one has to begin to even question the validity of challenging the bureaucracy at all especially when challenging the system generally earns one some sort of miscreant label such as misfit or anarchist. As one questions the nature of the system of centralized power it becomes evident that the system works in a cycle of expansionism followed by integration and then decentralization efforts. That being the case it appears that the whole system is working its way slowly toward a universal harmony where distinguishing characteristics and identity are no longer present. Some sociologists have argued to the contrary of the bureaucracy that the stratification efforts of the ruling class may even develop a sub-human servitor race within several generations. Even still we can safely assume that given the nature of statistics that over the length of a given length of time a probability constantly approaches singularity in some fashion or another. That being the case it seems that social inequalities becoming eradicated and power decentralization is an inevitability, though the question then becomes: “In what wisdom do we trust to expedite the process?”. Historically reviewing social inequality shows us that a system of control, no matter what kind, (be it ethnic, monetary, religious, class, sex or whatnot) is an illusion that is shattered at a moment of realization. In an effort to aid such realizations of decentralized power it seems wise to administer education as the preferred alternative to restrictive systems of control, however, with such education requires the understanding that at present we recognize a need for certain restrictions for those that are not adequately educated to prevent loss of resources for humanity as a whole (assuming the goal is the universal genetic inclination to preserve humanity) until such a time as we have unlimited resources available (if such a thing is possible). Sadly this still leads us to inevitable flawed use of subjective judgment calls as we must allow that while certain regions of the United States may be technologically and sociologically ready for a totally blind system in which applications for jobs is done through submission of a social security number and a verification that minimum job requirements are met, other communities may still have such an exaggerated imbalance by contrast that trying to apply such tactics to the area would cause a large resistance and system collapse, and thus be a drastic waste of resources. In conclusion, if we are to eliminate social inequality we must be constantly striving towards appropriately educating each individual to capacity in an effort to remove defining individual characteristics and decentralize power. Until such a time as this is possible it seems appropriate to accept that conflict and inequality will remain as constants and that we can only continue to make efforts that we have no way of accurately directly accounting for the contributions of, though with increased education we can spend less energy on maintaining an optimistic view and more energy on making sound contributions to decentralization efforts. References Downey, Liam. "The unintended significance of race: environmental racial inequality in Detroit *." Social Forces 83.3 (March 2005): 971(37). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. 28 Feb. 2008 . Gale Document Number:A132872696 Jacobs, David, and Richard Kleban. "Political institutions, minorities, and punishment: a pooled cross-national analysis of imprisonment rates *." Social Forces 82.2 (Dec 2003): 725(31). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. 28 Feb. 2008 . Gale Document Number:A112645453 Wilkinson, Doris Y. "Gender and social inequality: the prevailing significance of race." Daedalus 124.n1 (Wntr 1995): 167(12). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. 28 Feb. 2008 . Gale Document Number:A16783180
topic: Essays
[reply] [32 comments]

Haters.	March 4, 2008, 7:46AM
by: lilith666
So tell me, I have been aware lately of more and more haters, slating models including myself and many other associates and friends of mine. Just because models are in the limelight for their looks it does not mean that they have pursued this career because they are arrogant and vain. Myself and many others have pursued the career because of the artistic side of it. I for one started my life behind the camera, not in front of it. I am first and foremost an artist, then a model. Models are not all dumb, they are not all arrogant and in love with themselves, etc. Bridget Marquadt and Pamela Anderson both have masters degrees for example. And yet they still get thrown into the cliche dumb model niche. Yes of course there are stuck up models, and they set a bad name for us. But the majority of models have worked hard to get where they are, its a difficult career to climb, but real models never lose sight of who they are and where they came from. Most models you will meet are just normal girls with hopes and dreams like anyone else, and they are sweet and kind. But sadly many people will take a look at their photo and judge based on looks and slate them without ever taking the time to know them. That is prejudice and ignorance. Girls will hate models they dont know, because of perhaps jealousy, or just ignorance. Not fully understanding the models work, or the model herself. Men will look at a models image and see her just as an object. Or looking at glamour models they will think she is a slut or a tramp. Which is rarely the case. Many models dont even look like they do in images. You probably wouldnt know a girl was a model just by passing her in the street. Models are covered in make up in their work, their photos have been edited, the photographer will photoshop the picture, the angles, the lens, everything changes the models looks. Dont judge a model by her photo. Judge a model by her actions, and her personality. Get to know her first. Dont hate.
topic: Life
[reply] [26 comments]

Discordianism	February 23, 2008, 6:09AM
by: KLOKWERKAOS
I'll preface this by saying I am registered as a Discordian THE TRUTH ABOUT DISCORDIASMS!!!!!111leetlolzomgwtfbbq!11one Invented by a geek and a couple of hippies in the 1950's as a cheap substitute for marijuana, Discordianism not just a seriously old meme; it is in fact a rather sneaky Illuminati trap designed to look like a religion to some, and like lulz to others. In this manner it seduces the unsuspecting based on their greatest weakness. Like all novelty religions, it is extremely unfunny and most of its adherents are friendless autistic drama club nerds who quote endlessly from Monty Python and Douglas Adams when not in the comfort of their personal hugbox. They think that by endlessly repeating a bunch of 50-year-old in-jokes they can prove how hip and original they are. Serious business angle: Discordianism is a modern, irreligion founded circa 1958–1959 by Malaclypse the Younger with the publication of its principal text, the Principia Discordia (read it here, not page 3 is intentionally left blank, it's about 50 pages and worth the read if you are a schollar). It is widely regarded as a parody religion, and has been called "Zen for roundeyes", based on similarities with absurdist interpretations of the Rinzai school. Discordianism recognizes chaos, discord, and dissent as valid and desirable qualities, in contrast with most religions, which idealize harmony and order. Eris, the Greek mythological goddess of discord, has also become the matron deity of the religion Discordianism, though such rarely regarded with any credence as it would debunk the faith. It is hard to describe Discordianism as a religion because Discordians do not have any specific beliefs or dogma that would set them apart from the practitioners of other religions. Many of the practicing Discordians believe that humanity suffers from the "curse of Greyface" (i.e, takes itself too seriously) and thus needs to be saved from this grave outlook on life. Thus the Discordians seek to reverse the "curse of Greyface" by teaching the people "to laugh at themselves and their problems/lives." This, the Discordians believe, would solve most of the problems of the world. While Discordianism is separate from modern neopaganism, a number of neopagans have incorporated elements of Discordianism into their beliefs. In addition, Neopagan author Margot Adler discussed Discordianism in her book, Drawing Down the Moon, while religious authority J. Gordon Melton lists Discordianism among various Neopagan groups in his Encyclopedia Of American Religions. (Melton claims to have excommunicated all other Discordians, based on the fact that he is a Discordian Pope. Being Popes themselves, they then de-excommunicated themselves and/or each other.) It is difficult to estimate the number of followers and correctly identify Discordian groups. The anarchist ethic that pervades Discordianism[3] is reflected in an encouragement to form schisms and cabals.[4] Additionally, few adherents hold Discordianism as their only or primary faith. Instead, Erisians tend to adopt Discordianism as a complement to other faiths. MOAR ACTUAL TROOFZ!!! Followers: Adherents of the propaganda and other crap associated with this religion/joke/ploy, notably the roll of toilet paper known as the Principia Discordia, fall into five distinct groups. It is theorized by some that these are phases that each Discordian must go through on their path through life; these theorizers are sometimes known as Wicca and are ruthlessly mocked by actual people. *Fanboys treat the words of their Discordian betters as actual, honest-to-Goddess catma, and go 'round talkin' smack 'bout No Hot Dog Buns (Hail Eris All Hail Discordia,) 23 This, 23 That. They usually do this on the Internets, since if they did it IRL they would immediately be struck senseless by how unfunny they are. *Dilettantes are able to apply a dose of Hipster Irony to their now tastefully Discord-flavoured post-modern worldview, chuckling over what were once worrisome logical contradictions in their thinking and in so doing transforming them into self-effacing badges of coolness. Many join NAMBLA at this point; other, less fortunate, ones become liberals. *Chaos Magicians spend most of their time in their parent's basement drawing nonsense symbols in the air, playing with action figures, and generally retreating from reality. Which is a good thing, because if they were forced to interact with it at this point they would be raping every man, woman, and inanimate object they could get their hands on in the ass in the name of Nazi anarchy. *Rutabagas, about which nothing fnord needs to be said. *Robert Anton Wilson. Universally regarded as the Uber-Discordian King. RAW is what all true Discordians aspire to one day reincarnate their sorry asses backward through time into. Once they have died and been reborn as RAW, the Uber-Discordian King's aspiration/fate is, quite naturally, to meet John Titor, travel even further back in time to the Philadelphia Experiment and murder Ayn Rand to test the Grandfather Paradox. Potential for Drama: Disgruntled or bored Discordians are sometimes known to perform "jakes", which is essentially a form of trolling IRL. The primary drama quotient among Discordians themselves, though, revolves around the one and only Discordian Sin; that is, Being Bothered. Discordians are required to mock any other Discordian they sense Being Bothered, and to encourage them to "just let it (all) go (permanently)" on the basis that the lack of philosophical underpinnings is a small price to pay for a feeling of self-assurance, or maybe just numbness. Anonymous??? Anonymous is said to have the answers for what Discordianism lacks and operates largely on the same principles but to a completely different effect. Where as Discordianism allows for identity (which is a sociological innevitability at this time) Anonymous requires a complete lack of defining characteristics in order to be counted among it's ranks.
topic: Essays
[reply] [86 comments]

New Feature: Site Themes	February 20, 2008, 6:23PM
by: eon
Check out your Control Panel under 'Edit Profile' for a new option: Site Themes. It's pretty straight forward. Pick a color you like and all of the site backgrounds, links, borders, etc., will be changed to suit your taste. This is good if you'd like a break from the site layout we've had for the past... oh... 3 years or so. Currently available: Original, Green, Blue, Orange, Pink and Grey. You might find some sections of the site that are not covered by the themes. IE, you might select the 'Green' theme and at some point find a page somewhere on the site that has not been changed to green (it would still have the original look). If you find such pages, let me know. There are quite a few I've had to link up and I've covered most of them but I'm sure I've missed a few. Thanks and... Enjoy.
topic: Site News
[reply] [45 comments]

So what happens when u die.	February 6, 2008, 9:52PM
by: puff13
So what really happens when you die. Do you just go into nothingness, do you go to a heaven or hell, or do you go live a new life. If you go into nothingness do you just forget everything and never forget you existed? Or do you have memories that you can think back on and enjoy. Then again you probably wouldnt want to go back to your memories since you'd be filled with anguish at the thought that you cant go back. I mean i sometimes think wow i cant go back to my old school. I'll never go back and get taught by certain teachers that i liked. And if you go to heaven or hell what happens. Is it just an eternal party in heaven or in hell is it just nonstop pain. What is each one like. If there is a heaven and hell why would god make us. Are we just his little experiment to see what would happen. Why else would he give us free will. If he wanted companions, he could've made his own to his liking. Why would we get punished for doing things wrong if he made it possible for us to do wrong. If we go live new lives would we get new personalities. I guess we would because we wouldnt have any memory of our past life. Unless this is our first life. That would be a hell. To go on living lives for all eternity with our false dreams of richness. Would we be drawn to the same things as in our past lives. If mankind were to go extinct we would run out of lives to live. Would we start living animal lives? Maybe thats where animals come from. Maybe you're the only real person. How do you know that everyone else isn't real. They don't have dreams. How do you know that everyone is made up by you so you can do what you truly want. What if you are god. you dont know it. You do have free will and control over yourself. That would be a feat. To find out that everyone is a figment of your imagination. To find out that no one thinks the way you do and your the only truly unique person would ruin it all. So who knows what happens. Thats what makes people afraid of death. Now the pain, but the lack of knowledge. It keeps people up at night.
topic: Philosophy
[reply] [10 comments]

THE BLACK SUN	January 15, 2008, 1:35PM
by: nois69
The Black Sun is a Nazi emblem consisting of three swastikas arrayed within a circle to form a sun design. The black sun symbol is found in the ornamental floor design of Wewelsburg Castle in Germany, Himmler's "World center" for the Nazi party, the headquarters of the SS. The design was drawn for Heinrich Himmler from an old aryan emblem, and was meant to mimic the Round table of Arthurian legend- each spoke of the sun wheel repsented one "knight" or Officer of the "inner" SS. "In Dante's Divine Comedy (1307-1321), the soul on its pilgrimage rises from the realm of Hell, which projects spherically into the earth, via the mountain of Purgatory and the nine spheres of the planets, the fixed stars and the crystalline sphere, all of which are kept in motion by angels, up to Paradise, where it finds its home in the white rose of heaven, illuminated by the divine light." (Michelangelo Cactani, La Materia della Divina Commedia di Dante Alighieri, 1855) Here is a magical, Cabbala-style image from the 18th Century, by one Georg von Welling. It shows the division of light and darkness in the creation myth of the Genesis story. What interests me about this is the depiction of the Dark Star as the source of all, alluded to with the imagery of the 'innermost central fire, the grim mire in which Lucifer dwells until the Day of Judgement'. Is there also an allusion to two suns in the second division of light and darkness? The Sun is 56, the Dark Star is 57. It's an intriguing possibility, that God and Lucifer are epitomised by the two Suns in the solar system; one light, one dark. "The black sun is the outer sun, whose "dark, consuming fire" brings everything to decay. After Adam's fall, tainted by Original Sin, man is made "from the black sun's fire" according to the Book of the Holy Trinity." (Alexander Roob "Alchemy and Mysticism", p234 Taschen 2001)
topic: Philosophy
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Site Poll: Tools or Rules?	January 13, 2008, 3:40PM
by: eon
The poll I'm going to link here addresses an issue that has come up many times in the history of this site, starting with the introduction of our forums and then continuing with the addition of Groups. Although this poll asks a question about the way groups and forums are used, the answer could have an impact site wide. So I'd like everyone to please take a few minutes and help out in settling this long time, hotly debated issue. The poll pretty much explains everything, so please carefully read the background section of the poll and give it some thought before voting: Take the poll: Tools or Rules? Again, I think this is something that could effect everyone, so I would encourage you all to vote! Thank you for making your voice heard.
topic: Site News
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rip vampira	January 12, 2008, 5:08PM
by: exquisitecorpse
"Vampira" Maila Nurmi 1921-2008 Finnish-born actress MAila Nurmi, who came to fame in the 1950s as horror-TV host vampira, died on January 10, 2008. She was 86. Her legacy today rests with a brief but memorable, silent cameo as the raised-from-the-dead wife of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood's cult classic Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959): she also appeared in such films as Too Much Too Soon, The Beat Generation, and Sex Kittens Go to College. Nurmi got her start as a showgirl and starlet, but when her career stalled, she disguised herself as Charles Addam's Morticia character and became a celebrity introducing horror movies on Hollywood TV. Of her most famous film Nurmi admitted. "At the time, I thought it was horrible. I knew immediately I'd be committing professional suicide." ~Eve Gordon a recipe for vampira... 2 oz. Theda Bara (vamp, vamp) 2 oz. Morticia (morbid Victoriana) 3 oz. Norma Desmond (Sunset Boulevard) 4 oz. Tallulah Bankhead (the voice dahling) 2 oz. Marilyn M. (Demons are a ghoul's best friend) 3 oz. Katie Hepburn (Victorian English) 2 oz. Bette Davis (mama, baby) 3 oz. Billie Burke (dilettante insouciance) 3 oz. Marlene D. (singing voice) 8 oz. "Bizarre" magazine pin-up Black dress moves in a blue movie Graverobbers from outer space Well, your pulmonary trembles in your outstretched arm Tremble so wicked Two inch nails Micro waist With a pale white feline face Inclination eyebrows to there Mistress to the horror kid Cemetary of the white love ghoul, well Take off your shabby dress Come and lay beside me Come a little bit closer Come a little bit closer Come a little bit closer Come a little bit closer to this... ~the misfits
topic: Life
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