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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:00:47 GMT
So first off and most obvious... I'd like to apologize for the wait. There's no excuse and the Herald staff did an amazing job this month getting it good and ready to go on time. For that, I can't even begin to thank them. I hope you'll make sure to impress upon them the amazing job they did this month- even after having the setback of starting so late right off the bat. I'd also like to welcome our two new members of the staff, Lamaenic and Ryan. As you can see by glancing at the cover image's table of contents, they have already made their presence known. Make sure to check out their articles and give these young writers some feedback... as well as a general thank you for producing so much quality work in such a short time. So other than reiterating my apology and promising it will not happen again, I'd like to say the usual; welcome to the november edition of the Herald.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:01:25 GMT
This month's member of the month is Lamaenic. Biased as I may be towards our new Herald member, Lamaenic is hard to miss around the board. With the obvious dwindling of activity around SSD, Lamaenic's contributions to Chillout and other parts of the board do not go unappreciated. In addition to simply being an active member, Lamaenic has also made a real effort to contribute to the community as well. His addition to the Herald has already been extremely appreciated. Most importantly, Lamaenic embodies what every member of the month should have: potential. Abstract Brushes 27 by kaZu is an awesome collection of abstract brushes. With just the right combination of highlights and shadows, these brushes can be used alone or together to make a detailed background or add texture to an otherwise plain interface. The brushes themselves have elements of grunge to them, but are very much suited to abstract work as the title hints. These brushes would certainly work well as an addition to a 3D render. Unfortunately this set is not compatible with Photoshop 7, only working in CS and upwards, which is disappointing for those who haven't upgraded yet. Take a look at kaZu's other brush sets for similar styles or more grunge orientated themes. "The door was right in front of him, yet as he placed his hand on the solid oak, about to step in, he stopped, half-turned and looked back down the path which he had been treading for so long. Although he was beyond tired, exhausted and weary down to his very bones, he stood in silence. He gazed off into the forest, followed the path, replaying every single one of the trillions of steps which had brought him to this point. He looked into the forest, and then beyond it, through it and far over the horizon, racing over leagues upon leagues of land, until it at last stopped at one thought; the golden memory of his childhood, a lost time from a forgotten land."~ excerpt from 'A Trail's Tale' by 'Jyn. I chose this story because of it's maturity of theme and its eloquent execution. I'm hoping to see more work from 'Jyn soon, and I urge you to follow the link to 'A Trail's Tale' and travel its path. Well done, 'Jyn! This month's Photo of the Month is Sand Drip, a deviation by GadgetGuy. The photo itself is part of his sillhouette series and is beautifully composed. Not only does the sun glint in a way that is almost impossible to catch without ruining the rest of the photo; GadgetGuy has also managed to capture an amount of detail and color that's droolworthy. "Well the Irish claim that Irish whiskey has more in it hence the extra letter.
While the Scottish maintain that the Irish could never spell and neither can the Americans."
"I am an American whose family is from Ireland, and my spelling is sooperb."
"....quoted for evidence. QUOTED FOR EVIDENCE!"- Bryanic, Pandora & .fatal ecs."Lawrie, Your complete apathy and sarcasm is not "Cute" or "Funny" it is STUPID. I think you should think about saying something with a little thought behind it before you say ANYTHING."- Vincent Fury."Seems I can't just get by on my winning personality and dashingly good looks anymore."- Bryanic, in response to Vincent above."Steam Punk was the only one I liked. This was a fairly lackluster release, to be honest."
"
Well, we can't please everyone...
but we can please most of them, so go and get t-bagged fool. "- Gerad and EthanOriginal: "Now I know that is just a bunch of statements. Ill fix that later. Im just running out of time before I have to get off."As read by Pandora: "Ill fix that later. Im just running out of time before I have to get off."- Vincent Fury, after describing a beautiful girl in a Lit Board thread."You shouldn't put wars on your tab."- The Baron."the title of this thread has a Russian Accent."
"I was hearing German
Vwat is ze best plac zo create vebsite at?
Meh. I guess I can accept a Russian accent though."- Combo & Vincent Fury."Vincent's sounds more like a Transylvanian accent."- Pandora in response to above."plus, i dun near wish i cud spel gud nuf ta mak da fansie herald riting croo"- Knighty."you is back.
i is better.
vb board now.
Hello Shadow! "- The one & only eternally cool Kai."If it was then it'd be an extremely expensive sham. o.O"
"So many shams are. One day you are happily married with a wife and beautiful kids then you book a 10k holiday to Hawaii, and goshdang when you are there you see some pert asses - male asses. Unable to come to terms with your sexuality you take to drink.
Eventually your marriage implodes and your children hate you and homosexuals for the rest of their lives. A messy and expensive divorce later you are drinking high commissioner on a street corner when you see a male prostitute hitch up the knee across the way, and all those repressed feelings come right back up and because you never really addressed them you kill the prostitute and rape the body in a drunken psychopathic rage.
Then you go to prison for the rest of your life.
Hooray!
And thats why you should always be honest with yourself - and possibly it might also be a good idea not to be psychotic.
Think carefully about your engagement."- Bobby & Bryanic."/overly darkly dramatic
In reality... everything would happen except the killing of the prostitute... because it's more fun when there's no rigormortis... of most parts...>.> I would imagine.
And then he'd only go to jail for approximately life for "rape", since it's really kind of hard to rape the willing... so maybe theft? lol
And he'd meet Bubba as he bent over to pick up the soap...
>.>
I think we all know how this story REALLY ends."- Saknika, in response to above."[edit] And if you ever call me "Gmizzle" again I'll put a Gmuzzle on you."- Pandora, in response to ><Lamaenic><.And the quote of the month... "Nuh uh, I just didn't call her Gmizzle again cuz I didn't wanna find out what a Gmuzzle was. Gosh."
"My guess is that it is a muzzle in the shape of a G, and would work like this:
"- ><Lamaenic>< and Obsidian.Throw out an alarming alarm clock. If the ring is loud and strident, you're waking up to instant stress. You shouldn't be bullied out of bed, just reminded that it's time to start your day.Sharon GoldI'm the only person I know that's lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year.... It's very character-building.Steve JobsScience has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without any proof.Ashley MontagueThe things you own end up owning you.Chuck PalahniukTo be always intending to make a new and better life but never to find time to set about it is as to put off eating and drinking and sleeping from one day to the next until you're dead.Og MandinoIf we can connect in some tiny way with a human that doesn't agree with us, then maybe we won't blow up the planet.Nancy WhiteThe real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else.Umberto EcoI disagree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it.Tom StoppardWhen they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not Guilty.'Theodore RooseveltTechnological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal.Albert EinsteinThe difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.Tom ClancyExperience is a dear teacher, but fools will learn from no other.UnknownIf you cannot be the master of your language, you must be its slave. If you cannot examine your thoughts, you have no choice but to think them, however silly they may be.Richard MitchellOutside of a dog, a man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.Groucho MarxWhen Michelangelo finished the painting of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, he spent the rest of his life trying to remove the paint that had poured into his sleeve.Francois Cavanna"My name is Alice, and I remember everything."Oops, wrong tagline- "We fought the infection. We survived the apocalypse. And now, we face extinction."Here it is, the third and supposedly last installation of the Resident Evil movies. Alice (played by Milla Jovovich) returns with more zombie-slaying action. And this time, she's armed with a pair of kukhri knives. However, beyond all the new costumes (Jovovich-Hawk designed) and special effects, I wonder how this is any different from Resident Evil: Apocalypse at all. The third installation seemed to have a weaker plot than the previous. I sat in the theater, holding my bag, waiting for the climax to come. But then only the credits came. Simply put, it felt boring throughout. No doubt there are some scares here and there, but I actually expected more action, more zombie slaying, more plot. And the final battle was boring. The climax build-up wasn't really good enough and I didn't really feel the tension. Alice seemed devoid of depth and too perfect- typical Mary Sue character. There are redeeming points, of course. The special effects are not bad, and Jovovich did do some cool moves. Still, I felt the film could have been better. Apocalypse was great. Extinction isn't. The ending leaves much to desire and if this indeed is the last installation, it leaves too many questions unanswered, in my opinion. I left the theater thinking, "What the?" That's not really a good sign. All in all, I felt it wasn't too bad a movie, but don't expect too much out of it. If you have some cash and two hours to spare, catch the show. Don't bother with the DVDs though; to me, it definitely isn't something I would sit through again. I feel that avatars and sigs are a sort of representation of ones personalities. I know people by their avatars more than I know them by their names. So here, after careful consideration, are the avatar and signature of the month. Avatar of The MonthIt was a hard choice; there were several nice avatars that I came across this month. I really liked dlt's avatar: It is small, colorful, and it just looks good. However, if I would pick one thing that made me choose his, it would have to be the size. It isn't overbearing, and it looks beautiful. Congrats dlt! Signature of The MonthSignature of the month has to go to Tao; he did a great job with this. I love the colors and the different effects he used here. He displayed the text really well, and the sig is a perfect size. Congrats Tao!
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:01:45 GMT
Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday dear November-people Happy birthday to you - Ryan's Dog
sometime in November
[/i][/li][/ul] To those of you who didn't tell us your birthday: Don't worry, we know who you are. Nevertheless, a happy birthday to anyone having a birthday in November who isn't listed here! Wondering how to get your name here? You will find a birthday thread in The Herald board each month. Simply post there telling us the date of your birthday (if it is in the upcoming month), and you'll have your name put here, all nice and pretty-like.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:02:06 GMT
November was the ninth month in the original Roman calendar; the name comes from novem meaning "nine." It was, when first introduced, 30 days in length but was reduced to 29 when Numa came to power before becoming 30 again when Julius reigned. Today, November is the 11th month, and is the month that waves out autumn and welcomes in winter in the Northern hemisphere. In this month trees are barren of their leaves and patchy snow sometimes attempts to cover the fields. Anglo-Saxons referred to November as the blood month due to the amount of animals they killed in order to take them through the winter. Topaz is your birthstone if you were born in November, and the flower of the month is the chrysanthemum.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:02:28 GMT
Six days after shooting, Cleveland school opensRight, teacher Michael Grassie talks about his relationship with the shooter, Asa Coon, and the result of being shot in the abdomen. Image courtesy of myfoxcleveland.comCLEVELAND, Ohio - A 14-year-old student walked into SuccessTech Academy with two revolvers after being suspended from the school for fighting. After shooting four people, two teachers and two students, he shot himself. He was the only casualty. The shooting has caused Cleveland Public Schools to install metal detectors in all 110 of its school buildings and hire a larger security force to protect the 50,000 plus students. Mother stabbed in front of childLYNN, Massachusetts - Esther Kinyanjui, age 31 and mother of 2, was stabbed and killed in her basement apartment with her youngest child nearby. Her sister, Margaret Kinyanjui, was injured in the attack and is now speaking for the family. Patrick Waweru, the father of Kinyanjui's two children, was ordered to undergo 20 days of observation at Bridgewater State Hospital. Click here to read the full article.500,000 evacuated from southern CaliforniaFires burn in Chula Vista, south of San Diego. Image courtesy of cnn.comSAN DIEGO, California - More than 500,000 people were evacuated from their homes as wildfires threaten the majority of San Diego County. Since the weekend, 17 wildfires have burned 425 miles from northern Los Angeles to southeastern San Diego. Fire crews are reporting that they do not have the manpower and equipment to fight these fires. Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers, has become a temporary refugee camp for people who have been evacuated from their homes. Click here to read the full article.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:02:50 GMT
As you open the door of Shed B, a curious wave of chilly air smacks you in the face. The searing 80-degree summer weather seems to have no effect on this non-air conditioned, non-ventilated shed. Despite the horrid smell of cabbage mixed with peppermint mixed with seawater, you find yourself drawn into it. You hear the crackle and crunch of leaves beneath your feet, the sound of your own breath and heartbe-- wait... why would there be leaves on the floor? Oh, goodness! Watch out! There's a dog-sized bat-thing-that-isn't-really-a-bat-at-all lying at your feet! Oh, dear! What's that? A fish-like-thing-that-also-isn't-really-a-fish! And yet, you have no other way of describing them. The bat-that-isn't-really-a-bat dons a single large, glazed eye, a few patches of fur, and no legs. The fish-that-isn't-really-a-fish seemingly has no eyes at all, only a mass of tentacle-looking-things for a head and a few gill slits on its sides. You glance around the shed, hoping to find a conveniently located bucket to upchuck your guts into. Instead, you find yourself staring into the trunk of the Buick Roadmaster, the car that has been stored inside the Shed ever since you can remember. The cabbage-peppermint-seawater smell seems to get stronger the nearer you get to the trunk. You slowly inch closer and closer to the trunk, mulling over the thoughts of the open trunk looking more like a crocodile's mouth. Leaning over cautiously, you prepare yourself for the unimaginable horror of... nothing.
This was the first book by Stephen King that I have ever read. If you've never picked up one of his books before, you'll find his tales to be quite twisted and imaginative. From a Buick 8 was especially such a tale. Throughout the book, an 18-year-old boy by the name of Ned Wilcox visits the barracks of Troop D, a local Pennsylvanian police department in fictional Statler County. The boy's father, Curt Wilcox, had recently been killed while on the job. Ned discovers a-- no, scratch that-- Ned discovers the 1954 Buick Roadmaster stored inside Shed B, one of the storage sheds belonging to the Troop. Almost immediately, he begins to question the officers of Troop D. Why would a car be stored in a shed rather than being impounded? Where did it come from? Was there any chance that it was involved in his father's death... somehow? With a dashboard console that's mostly fake, an oversized, non-steering steering wheel, and tires that repeal anything put on them (rocks, water, mud- anything), how could there not be some elaborate plot with some elaborate conclusion? Sandy Dearborn, the main narrator of the story, opts to tell Ned about the Buick: its vanishing original owner, the "lightquakes," the bat-that-wasn't-really-a-bat, The Year of the Fish. Ned becomes insistent on the Buick having to do something with his father's death, refusing to simply believe the fact that no one fully understands how the Buick works. However, the story of how far Ned decides to take his investigation during the last few pages is not for me to tell. Stephen King's imaginative storyline about a simple car is wonderfully horrific... and I'm generally not one for horror. If you don't mind the unknown, bats-that-aren't-really-bats, fishes-that-aren't-really-fishes, and stubborn boys, you should probably head over to a bookstore and buy this one. I'd definitely give it a hefty 4 out of 5 stars.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:03:08 GMT
It was difficult to decide which angle to take for this review. We’ve got a cartoon band from the brain of Brendon Small. We’ve also got a five piece metal band complete with background stories. When I reviewed the band once upon a time, I played Brendon’s game and treated them as a real band and their background stories as plausible. This CD is going to get a more serious approach. All vocals, guitars, bass, and keyboard are played by the man himself, Brendon Small. I’m impressed. Gene Hoglan is credited with “insane drumming”, and Emilie Autumn adds violins to the track “Dethharmonic”. As impressive as it is that he practically IS the entire band, what is more impressive is the love with which this album was embraced. I tried to purchase the CD on its release date, but it was sold out in every store. Talk about the industry underestimating the project. Knowing it would be stocked again soon, I left the mall smiling. I, for one, am pleased with Small’s success. He’s certainly put the work into it. Now he is reaping the rewards. Songs like “Murmaider” and “Birthday Dethday” get lodged in my head and I find myself headbanging before I know it. EVERY song on this album is gory, dark and exquisitely tongue in cheek metal. And the songs are GOOD. That’s the best part of album. The songs. Go figure! The fans seem to love how he sticks to his guns that Dethklok is manned by five metal musicians, and a force to be reckoned with. The show that is the launching pad for Dethklok, “Metalocalypse”, is brutally hilarious, so it’s fun to play along, especially since each and every song is gold. The only negative thing I have to say is that I’m jealous of the success. You see, many years ago I was in a band, The Affected. That band had an alter ego called Vengeance Threshold, which was an exaggerated metal band. We painted our faces and teased our hair and gave ourselves new names. Mine was Bernadette Cruiser. But alas, we were god awful, so success was never had. I think it is enough for me to know that we weren’t the only ones with a desire to respectfully mock the metal genre. I applaud Small’s efforts and proudly paid full price for The Dethalbum. 6 out of 5 stars.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:03:33 GMT
Hootie and the BlowfishAn oldie but a goodie. Hootie and the Blowfish have some of the nicest sounding acoustics I've ever heard. Formed in 1985, they are still a very popular band with many songs being played constantly on the radio. They have had 6 songs in the Top 100 Billboard. Although they are on a decline now, their music will live on forever. Download this: Let Her Cry; Only Wanna Be With You Citizen Cope A recent band with some awesome songs. The fact that most intrigues me about "them" is the band only consists of one member, yet it has widespread popularity. I really envy Clarence Greenwood, the sole member of the band, because of all the effort he puts into his profession. He has promoted his album with many concerts, even touring with Nelly Furtado. He's had a couple of songs in the Top 100 Billboard, but he isn't done yet. This band has amazing potential. Download this: Son’s Gonna Rise Ne-Yo The most talented singer/songwriter out there. I am going to throw an incredible line out: Ne Yo has written music for Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias, Britney Spears, Corbin Bleu, Craig David, Usher, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson, and Michael Jackson. He finally released his own album in 2006 with big success. He has done multiple duets with top singers, and has many of his own songs in the Top 100 Billboard. Download this: So Sick; Because of You; Hate That I Love You (Rihanna) BostonA band that was at its peak during the 70's and 80's, but is still good to listen to once in a while. They are a true American Rock Band. They have compiled some of the best guitar solos ever to go along with their already appealing sound. The vocals are very unique and fun to sing along with. If you like rock and roll, and for some reason haven't heard of Boston, you need to check out the songs below! Download this: Don't Look Back; More Than a Feelin'; Peace of Mind The Jonas BrothersNot one of my favorite artists, but they seem to be very popular amongst the teen girl population; their song SOS was #1 on iTunes for awhile. They are very new; their first album came out in '06. They have sung many songs for TV shows targeted more at children. Just as their name states, they are all brothers. They have been playing together since their childhood. They are a young band with a clean sound. If you like pop music, then this is an ideal band for you. Download this: SOS; Year 3000
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:04:31 GMT
Skate by EA Sports (Demo for Xbox 360) Personally, I purchased my 360 because I wanted to be able to play THP8 any time I wanted. Now I find that I'm playing Skate's 30 min. demo over and over. I love the idea behind thumb stick controls. The left stick controls the body (rotation) while the right stick controls the board. The left and right trigger are used for grabbing the board with the left and/or right hand respectively. With the new game play it could be seen that the learning curve would be steep, but in actuality, after a small mandatory tutorial in the game, I found my self pulling off quad kick flips with ease. Landing them was a different story. Nothing beats a great 1,000,000 pt combo in Tony Hawk much like nothing beats a really smooth and clean 4,000 pt line in Skate. The graphics are truly stunning. Even the railings have a real time reflection of the world, of course its only truly visible if you completely beef a landing. The players movements are works of art. Every detail down to the flick of the foot for the kick flip is nearly exact to RL. The physics in the game are just astounding. No longer can you rely on jumping from one grind trick to another to increase your speed such as in the Tony Hawk series. If you stay on a rail for too long you will lose speed, and not enough momentum could be the deciding point between your face and the pavement. Pure enjoyment. But that's not to say this beauty doesn't have a blemish or two. With great beauty comes great glitches and flaws. One major flaw that will hopefully be fixed for the release date of September 24th is the camera. From the demo it shows no choices for alternate camera angles. Nothing is worse than crashing a great line do to the camera not getting back to position from a manual in time for you to see the 2 foot ledge bearing down on you. I feel that a TH angle should be implemented as a choice. A steeper angle and at a little more distance. After camera angles come the unexpected little glitches such as landing a trick you know could NEVER have been accomplished. While playing I was able to land a trick on my back then in some magical turn of events had a 90 degree rotation to land on my board. Although if the board has powers it would explain the occasional (few and far between) board flying into your chest as you sky rocket 6-7 feet into the air due to gravity no longer existing in-game. Again, amusing, but needs some tweaking. Not really a glitch as much as poor programming, is the A.I. of N.P.C.'s. Don't get me started on how the A.I. will show up, literally, out of nowhere to block your way in the bowl when you are about to attempt a vert trick. If you are a die-hard Tony fan you may find the new controls a bit awkward and difficult to learn, so this game may turn you off from pulling insane combos and over the top tricks. Try it out and decide for yourself if it's worth your paycheck. But if you are like me, you want to see a change in skateboarding games and don't mind learning a whole new style of playing. Whether this be the final product or not, it's going to be a definite buy.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:04:50 GMT
Cult. What images does the word bring up in your mind? Blood sacrifice? Brainwashing? Fanatical leader? Drugs? What else? Be careful, because even before you read the article, we are slowly brainwashing you. Removing your lines of defense. Ever wondered why it's so difficult to leave SSD? Ever wondered why people who left eventually came back? You think you can control yourself, so you click register. Then you make your first post. And you are lost. The green, the green you once hated, slowly creeps into your mind. Why green? Subconsciously, an association is made between green and SSD. And you wonder why you think of SSD when you look at that grass field outside the window. Or why when you watch Harry Potter, you remember Oliver. Then before you know it, it starts to bleed over to your real life. You find yourself yearning, yearning for someone you've never met. You fell in love, or so we made you believe. A suggesting statement, and soon the prophecy fulfills itself. Now you're completely gone. Completely hoodwinked by us. You want to resist. You think you can resist. So you leave. But like cancerous cells, SSDism stay within you, slowly waiting and biding its time. Then it strikes. And you're back again. And you're lost.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:05:32 GMT
October 12, 2007After being nominated for the Nobel Prize in Peace, former Vice President Al Gore had an exciting day today as he received news that he had in fact won the award. Gore, and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate have been working tirelessly on raising awareness about global warming. Gore was born on March 31, 1948 to Tennessee Senator Albert Gore Sr. Graduating from Harvard University with honors in 1969, he enlisted in the Army and was a reporter in the Vietnam War. He was a congressman for 8 years and a Tennessee senator for 7. He was elected as Vice President under Clinton in '92, and failed to win Presidency in 2000. He and his wife Tipper Gore, have four children and 2 grandchildren. When asked about his big win, Gore responded- "I'm deeply honored," and then said, "The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity." Gore plans to donate his entire half of the $1.5 million to the Alliance for Climate Protection, an organization founded by him that tries persuading people to cut emissions and reduce Global Warming. The award ceremony will be held December 10, in Oslo, Norway. CNN: A source involved in Gore's past political runs told CNN that he definitely has the ambition to use the peace prize as a springboard to run for president.
But he will not run, because he won't take on the political machine assembled by Sen. Hillary Clinton, said the source. If the senator from New York had faltered at all, Gore would take a serious look at entering the race, the source said. But Gore has calculated that Clinton is unstoppable, according to the source. A great edition to the receivers of the Nobel Prize, Al Gore plans on expanding his goal and denies that he will run, but "Draft Gore", a couple of democrats trying to make him run, made a full page ad in The New York Times to change his mind - "Your country needs you now, as do your party, and the planet you are fighting so hard to save," the group said in an open letter.
"America and the Earth need a hero right now, someone who will transcend politics as usual and bring real hope to our country and to the world."Praised as being "one of the world's leading environmentalist politicians", Gore also gained an Emmy for "Current TV," a TV show co-created by Gore, which "describes itself as a global television network giving viewers the opportunity to create and influence its programming." Gore is ranked among great politicians to receive the Nobel peace prize, including Presidents Carter and Roosevelt. Perhaps his time is coming up, and one day we may be able to say he is among the list as "President" Gore. Only time will tell.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:05:59 GMT
Despite not looking like it, my previous article actually touched on many interesting aspects of the human brain. Subliminal messages- "common need" (money). Hidden messages inside a message. Despite our conscious brain not picking up the subliminal message, our subconscious might have seen it. Nike's logo is a great example. The swoosh displays movement. Yet it also signifies approval. Deep down inside one's mind, there is a thirst for approval. The swoosh, in the shape of a tick, satisfies that subconscious need. Another interesting aspect is the "Intelligent Memory" of the brain. Our brain has two different memories- the normal memory where day-to-day activities are chronicled, and the Intelligent Memory. The Intelligent Memory is something like the Search feature in Windows Vista or Finder in Mac OSX. It basically "remembers" associations, so that the next time you need that piece of information, the Intelligent Memory is able to bring it to you. An example: Describe an apple. Instantly, your Intelligent Memory brings up an image of a red round fruit, maybe with that stem and a single leaf. Here's an exercise to show how useful the Intelligent Memory can be. In the list below, look at the question and then the word after it, then answer whether it's a True or False. The following word is in uppercase: | apple | The following word is in lowercase: | mouse | The following word is in uppercase: | KEYBOARD | The following word is in lowercase: | internet | The following word is in uppercase: | firefox | The following word is in lowercase: | VISTA | The following word is in uppercase: | leopard | The following word is in lowercase: | opera |
Now, cover up those words and try to answer the questions. How many can you remember? Now try this: Is this a brand of computer? | Apple | Is this a kind of food? | Mouse | Does this word rhyme with bored? | Keyboard | Can you use this to fish? | Internet | Is this an animal? | Firefox | Is this a type of mammal? | Vista | Is this a carnivore? | Leopard | Do you like this? | Opera |
Again, cover up the words. How many can you remember now? The number of answers you remember should be more than the previous one. Why? Unlike the previous questions, this set of questions require you to think more. Hence your Intelligent Memory sets in, and remembers the association. And lastly, how our brains process memory. Cover up the two lists above. Did I include "Windows' as part of the list of answers? Yes? Look again. Because the list of words describes all IT related stuff, our Intelligent Memory makes an association with all of them and, quite mistakenly, added "Windows" into it, because there exists an association between "Vista" and "Windows", or "Apple" and "Windows". So remember: our brain is very powerful. Learn to master it.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:06:21 GMT
Link to parts iv, v, vi and vii: Click viii. “We have to share this information,” Tree said on the way back. “What do we really know? We still don’t know what it is, or why the clouds are swirling. Where is the center of the…..vortex?” I couldn’t think of a better word than vortex. “Maybe if we share this information, other Citizens can help us answer all the questions we haven’t been able to answer. This is too big for just the two of us.” “Yeah…I know. Let’s make an appointment with the council,” I said. “Now that I see the swirling pattern, I can’t un-see it. I’ll probably see it in my nightmares.” The night sky was a thorough black by the time we made it back to the base. ix.
From the base of the hill, one man watched two figures melt into the black of the night. He pondered whether or not to seize them now or to follow their research progress closely. What did they really know? Not enough to see the big picture. Not yet. They weren’t even the first to see the expansive swirling pattern. Without a means to communicate over long distances, each of the Citizens’ bases were isolated and left with more questions than answers. The man tried to tell himself that it was best to let them go instead of stirring up suspicion. Who could tell how many of the Citizens’ Council knew what those two were studying out here, and why? If they seized every Citizen who studied the sky, they would know the Government was hiding something integral to the war’s outcome. ‘But what if the bases had a secret means of communication that the DOGS had been unable to observe?’ He dismissed the thought immediately. ‘No way. The Government controls the skies, radio waves, satellites, etc. They’re watched secretly, monitored very closely. They’ll never put the puzzle together.’ The man also tried to convince himself that his familiarity with the girl had nothing to do with him letting them go. She still had the same ideals, stolid front, and the same innocent eyes he remembered from childhood, except they looked stronger and more capable, more intelligent than ever. He smiled and bowed his head before heading back to his superiors. “Belle,” he said out loud, “You are still an idealist. You are the same little girl you were five years ago. You still insist on standing up for the underdogs, the less fortunate, the lower caste. They’ll drag you down, Belle. You deserve better.” Martin made sure he wasn’t followed as he started back on the path to his own outpost. x. The meeting with the Citizens’ Council was casual. They listened to our words intently, and the mood of the room was grave. Our base had three Council members, three very fair individuals who believed in the flow of information and treating all Citizens with dignity and respect. Even when crimes were committed, the criminals were heard. Punishment was reasonable. The legal system was now very simple and personal out of necessity. “Please, step outside while we confer. Thank you for your efforts. You took a risk for all of us. Let’s just hope it helps.” “Oh, Tree,” I said after the door was closed behind us. “I’m so tired.” “Me too. We’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.” “No, I mean my brain is tired. My soul and my spirit are tired. So much energy we just expended to find out what? Some tiny piece of a puzzle too big for any of us to see clearly. It’s exhausting.” Judging by the circles under Tree’s eyes, I knew he understood me all too well. The door opened after only a few minutes of waiting. “We talked and we all agree. The two of you are to be given an assignment, one that requires you to take a vow of secrecy. We will swear you to this oath now, and the council bears witness.” “I swear on the revolution,” I said, hand on my heart. “I swear on the revolution,” Tree echoed. “We are sending the two of you to a base in New York State. Most of the way can be traversed by means of an underground tunnel. There will be times when you must detour to the surface, and the risk will be much greater than that of this evening’s excursion. There are underground check points so that we may track your progress. Runners are at every checkpoint. If you need to get us a message, that will be the way to do it. “Sleep tonight. We will be waking you before dawn to prepare you. Tell no one.” We were dismissed with more gratitude and handshakes. They didn’t offer medals for our bravery. They didn’t offer a ceremony. They’d given us a way to perhaps make sense of all our hours of research. We had before us an opportunity at a slight chance to turn the tide of this war. xi. That night I had a very long dream. The Government took the final step and eradicated every Citizen base. The vortex began swirling furiously and lightning bolts sporadically lit the sky from within the clouds’ mass. Our base was obliterated, but for some reason I was the only one to see it happen, the only survivor. I awoke at 4am sweating, gasping. The first thought in my head was, ‘What is stopping the Government from doing just that?’ Our defenses couldn’t match theirs. We had a perimeter guard, but they could have mowed us over like so much crabgrass without a thought. The only answer I could conjure was, ‘They aren’t threatened by us.’ I never felt smaller than I did in that moment. “Rise and shine, rebellious one. We’ve got work to do.” Tree was shaking my shoulder to wake me. “I’m awake already!” The nightmare images flew from my mind. Someone from the bunk in the far corner angrily shushed us. “I sympathize,” I whispered, stifling a giggle. Every minute of sleep during training was like gold. I couldn’t help but be excited about my first assignment. I’d been working hard and steadily improving my fighting, tracking, studying and endurance skills. It was all for this journey. I was finally doing something as important as what my parents did when they housed refugees. They would be so proud of me, somewhere in the ether. I savored my hot bath, which would probably be the last one for a while. We hit the armory after we were clean and dressed. Our packs were weighty, but manageable. We had enough food, first aid, water, batteries etc. to get us from Scranton, PA to Ithaca, NY, just shy of 110 miles. We were given a map and the names of the people we would meet at each checkpoint, along with a password for each stop. The passwords were not written, but given to us verbally, to be memorized. The female Council member approached us. “You’re ready. You will work at our sister base, with people just like you who are trying to uncover the truth and help build a land that is ours once more. Their library will make your jaw drop.” She smiled as we departed. I turned and waved and smiled back. I think she would have gone herself if she were my age. The saga continues next month...
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:06:44 GMT
Meet the Newbie: Paralyzer"I am dope."Name: Brad Age: 19 Sex: Male Website: p13designs.com What made you join Solid Snake Designs?I wanted to learn, grow and develop as a graphics designer. You manage a designing forum. What is that like for you?It's interesting, to say the least—mostly, it has its up and down moments. It's only been recently reopened (hence the low member base), and I've been using it, for now, to test a few features of phpBB. It's fun, overall, though, and gives me a place to vent some of my boredom. What is your favorite thing about designing? Do you have any other hobby, such as coding or writing?I enjoy the freedom, and the fact that you can create (to a degree only limited by yourself) anything that you can imagine. Otherwise, I do a bit of coding (just learning) and writing (seldom, albeit). Do you have a role model or hero? If so, who?As cliche (and corny) as it might sound, I'd have to say my friends; they're the main reason I strayed into graphics design, and they are the pillars I use to improve myself. Wouldn't be where I am now without them, honestly. Is designing something you would choose as a career?Yeah. Actually, it is my career; I'm in college for Design, and I plan on pursuing that wholly. I want to hit advertising first, then move on to eventually owning my own design firm. What is your favorite...- Color? Green.
- Drink? Coke.
- Food? Lasagna.
- Movie genre? Action.
- Reading genre? Fantasy.
Anything interesting you would like to add?I am dope. Hi2u. Finally, if there was one SSD member you could choose to be, who would it be, and why?Tough question; it's hard to say, really—I don't want to get jumped by the other members—but I'd probably have to go with: Project #22329. I haven't been around here the same time as he, but I have browsed a few old categories, and seen his (her?) work; it's dope. I want those talents. >_< Though, I must admit, I just answered in the sport of fun; if left entirely up to me, I'd remain as I am.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:17:00 GMT
Although "unknown," I am not responsible for any falsities you may find in these facts. (If you do find one, however, go ahead and share your knowledge in the comments thread.)Music- The brass family of instruments include the trumpet, trombone, tuba, cornet, flügelhorn, French horn, saxhorn, and sousaphone. While they are usually made of brass today, in the past they were made of wood, horn, and glass.
- Most toilets flush in E flat.
- Dark Side of The Moon (a Pink Floyd album) stayed on the top 200 Billboard charts for 741 weeks (14 years).
- No one knows where Mozart is buried.
- The Granny Smith apple was used as the symbol for the Beatles' Apple Records label.
- Verdi wrote the opera Aida at the request of the khedive of Egypt to commemorate the opening of the Suez canal.
- The Beatles played the Las Vegas Convention Center in 1964. Some 8,500 fans paid just $4 each for tickets.
- Jazz began in the 20th century, when bands in New Orleans began to apply the syncopated rhythms of ragtime to a variety of other tunes. In the first days of jazz, ensemble playing was emphasized. Only gradually did jazz come to be based on improvised solos.
- Beethoven's Fifth was the first symphony to include trombones.
- John Philip Sousa enlisted in the Marines at age 13. He worked as an apprentice in the band.
Myths- One legend claims stealing someone's shadow (by measuring it against a wall and driving a nail through its head) can turn the victim into a vampire.
- In Dante's "Inferno," the Ninth Circle of Hell is reserved for those who betray family or country. The denizens of this deepest circle, who are frozen in ice, include Judas (betrayer of Christ) and Cassius and Brutus (betrayers of Julius Caesar).
- Some people consider the $1 bill unlucky because there are so many 13's on it: 13 stars, 13 stripes, 13 steps, 13 arrows and even an olive branch with 13 leaves on it. Of course the $1 bill is unlucky-- if it was lucky it would be a $100 bill.
- When christening a ship, instead of using champagne, the Vikings would sacrifice a human being.
- An artificial spider and web are often included in the decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees. A spider web found on Christmas morning is believed to bring good luck.
- When visiting Finland, Santa leaves his sleigh behind and rides on a goat named Ukko. Finnish folklore has it that Ukko is made of straw, but is strong enough to carry Santa Claus anyway.
- Crossing one's fingers is a way of secretly making the sign of the Cross. It was started by early Christians to ask for divine assistance without attracting the attention of pagans.
- One sign of rain that farmers once searched for was for their pigs to pick up sticks and walk around with them in their mouths.
- One superstition says that if a girl leaves her house early on Valentine's Day and the first person she meets is a man, then she will be married within three months.
- Superstition says that the left side is the wrong side of the bed.
Language- "Fan" is an abbreviation for the word "fanatic." Toward the turn of the 19th century, various media referred to football enthusiasts first as "football fanatics," and later as a "football fan."
- The word "snorkel" comes from the German word "schnoerkel", which was a tube used by German submarine crews in WW2. The subs used an electric battery when traveling underwater, which had to be recharged using diesel engines, which needed air to run. To avoid the hazard of surfacing to run the engines, the Germans used the schnoerkel to feed air from the surface into the engines.
- The verb "cleave" is the only English word with two synonyms which are antonyms of each other: adhere and separate.
- Incredible means not believable. Incredulous means not believing. When someone's story is truly incredible, you ought to be incredulous.
- A "syzygy" occurs when there is an alignment of three celestial objects (sun, earth, and either a planet or the moon).
- Punctuation was not invented until the 1500's.
- The "glair" is the white or clear part of an egg. The word glair comes from the Latin clarus, meaning "clear."
- When Coca-Cola began to be sold in China, they used characters that would sound like "Coca-Cola" when spoken. Unfortunately, what they turned out to mean was "Bite the wax tadpole."
- A coward was originally a boy who took care of cows.
- When two words are combined to form a single word (e.g., motor + hotel = motel, breakfast + lunch = brunch) the new word is called a "portmanteau." However, it can also mean "a large traveling bag made of stiff leather."
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:17:26 GMT
First and foremost, I understand that Avatar is not a genuine anime program, but I choose to review it for it's unique plot and classic American-Anime style. Just some of the Characters . . . - Aang- a young 12 year old air bender who just so happens to be the Avatar
- Katara- a 14 year old water bender from the Southern Water Tribe
- Sokka- a 15 year old warrior from the Southern Water Tribe, Katara's older brother
- Toph- A blind earth bender of 12 who becomes Aang's tutor
- Prince Zuko- Prince of the Fire Nation, exiled. He will only be accepted back if he captures the Avatar.
- Uncle Iroh- Zuko's wise retired uncle, who was a general when the Fire Nation tried to overtake Ba Sing Se.
- Princess Azula- Zuko's snobby younger sister.
- Fire Lord Ozai- Lord of the Fire Nation, Zuko and Azula's father.
Avatar is an intriguing new American-Anime show currently airing on Nikelodeon. Introduced in 2005, it is sure to raise some eyebrows. With an interesting and unique plot, the world on this show is split into 3 sections. The water tribes, with the ability to control water, the Earth Kingdom, with the ability to control earth, and the Fire Nation, ruthless tyrants with the ability to control all things fire. Once upon a time, There were the air nomads, a collection of people with the power to control air. Among these people is the Avatar, master of all four of the elements. After disappearing for a hundred years, young Avatar Aang is found by brother and sister Sokka and Katara. Together they set out on a journey to hone Aang's powers so that he can stop the tyranny of the Fire Nation, while at the same time avoiding the futile attempts by Prince Zuko, son of the Fire Lord Ozai. Along the journey they are joined by his new tutor Toph, a young blind earth bender capable of bending even metal. Together with their giant air bison Appa and sidekick Momo, the young heroes face death, love, and danger. Synopsis aside, I enjoyed watching the show. Each new episode was different, and it never had the clichéd plots that many other Anime programs do. However, though it is early into its third season, it won't last longer than a fourth, since the series is set. With each new episode Aang learns something new, and it is refreshing to see a new kind of Anime out there other than Pokémon or Naruto . Viewers will be on the balls of their feet watching Aang make wondrous achievements, meet old friends, and find out what being the Avatar is truly all about. In conclusion, I find this program very fulfilling and is a great show.
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:17:43 GMT
Thanksgiving Day makes me think of my family. I’m not the best daughter, or sister, or aunt. I’m a very private person, and I spend a great deal of my free time writing, thinking, being a bit anti-social. It leaves my family wondering how I am since I become a ghost to them, sometimes for months at a time. Thanksgiving Day makes me a bit ashamed because it reminds me of how little I show my gratitude to them. It is easy to distance yourself when you are separated from your family by 1200 miles, lack of vacation days, and zero funds to plunk down on a plane ticket. I am incredibly grateful for my family. They taught me and raised me and kept me safe. I love them. I KNOW I should tell them that more often. I expend all my energy on the philosophy, “If you can’t be with the one(s) you love, love the one(s) your with.” My boyfriend, my friends and my co-workers get to see my generous, caring side, my social side, my silly and fun side. By the time I’m ready to settle down into my private thought time in the evening, I’ve no more desire to be on the phone. *sigh* Maybe for Thanksgiving this year I’ll actually give thanks to those I’ve neglected. I plan on writing long letters of gratitude and mailing them to my brothers and sisters and parents. Maybe it will be a new tradition for me. A few Solid Snake Designs members have shared their own feelings on gratitude and memories of the turkiest of holidays, and I in turn am sharing them with you. Enjoy. What I am most grateful for are "Mein Angelheins", german for My Angels. They are the 12 people I love more than anything in the world. I am eternally grateful for them because they have been there for me in times when others just turned their heads. ~Vincent FuryMy family is really big, and usually it is only us, my Cousins, and the Grandparents. Yet we still manage to pull off 20+ people, and things can get very hectic. One year, after my Grandfather's death, things were really crazy, extra crazy. He died about a month before, and a lot of us were still hurting. Even with everything going on, it still proved to be a wonderful Thanksgiving. We decided to all get together at my Grandparents house and eat over there. My Grandma is Italian, and makes the BEST food, and boy, does she make a lot. Pasta, Chicken, Turkey, Stuffed Mushrooms, Potatoes, Acorn Squash, you name it, we most likely had it. This particular year was like those Thanksgivings you see in the movies; everything went wrong. The Turkey burned, the Pasta was overcooked, there weren't any Cranberries, and it seemed like a real disaster. My Grandma though, man, she really pulled it together. She stood up extremely well considering, and it had to be one of the best meals I have ever had. Everyone being there and everything only made it better. So, that is my story of one of my best Thanksgivings. ~Ryan/GimliYou know, when I think about what I am thankful for it is my ability to write a poem. So this is my contribution. The thing I am most thankful for, the memory I most adore is finally standing on the shore Of Hilton Head Island. I'd never before been by the sea, and what a wonder it was to me I was all I'd ever want to be On Hilton Head Island. We ran amok the soft wet sand; to me this was my promise land. Nothing here could count as bland this was Hilton Head Island. I look back now upon that date, And realize it wasn't all that great But I know in my heart That my thanks goes in part To that fateful day by Thailand I go back to Hilton Head Island. ~LamaenicWhat am I grateful for? Freddy Mercury had his fat bottomed girls, Layne Staley had his smack...What can a poor farm boy from east Plockton like me be grateful for. Wine? Women? Song? No...I've got something better...I've got '...'. .... is like sex, only better - and without the unnecessary social fallout. Fucking a girl over 400 pounds? It’s true you can roll her up in flour and aim for the wet spot...but then eventually you are going to run out of flour. Scag’s all right, if you are into that, but when you can't see your kitchen floor for tinfoil and you have more used syringes than spoons...you know you might have a bit of a domestic emergency on your hands. So what can I say? Forget the rest and go for the best. '...' is the best. It makes your whites dazzling white, your teeth shine like Las Vegas, and those wittle crow's feet around your eyes smooth right out. '...' is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I can't contain my love for '...' Give it to me now. ... is life. Leave grateful for the Native Americans. ~Bryanic(Who says gratitude has to be couth? ) HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYBODY! Image from blessed2bless.us
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:18:41 GMT
Día De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead as it is more commonly referred to in English speaking territories, originated more than 500 years ago. The Spanish Conquistadors who landed in what is now Mexico encountered a native ritual that seemed to mock death. Today, the ritual has been fused with Catholic theology, but many people who still practice it use methods developed by the early Aztecs. Calacas, or wooden skulls, are worn as the participants dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The skulls are also used to symbolize death and rebirth. The Spaniards considered the ritual sacrilegious, and in an attempt to convert all the natives to Catholicism, tried to eradicate the process. The ritual refused to die, so the Spaniards moved it closer to All Saints Day so it would be more "Christian." Today, the ritual is still practiced throughout Mexico and many parts in the surrounding areas of the southern United States. Source: www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:19:03 GMT
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Post by The Herald on Nov 3, 2007 8:19:18 GMT
Name: Sissorelle Age: 17 (18 in November) Interests: Anime, Metal, Video Games, RPG's, Mangas, books and reading... lots of other stuff I can't think of! Graphic Design and Website creation. Website: godofrage.proboards38.com I just recently shut this down though, and am in the process of creating a new website: lustcraftclimax.proboards77.comOne of the most interesting things about you, that not many people may know, is you wrote and developed the whole RPG for your forum Novayne by yourself. I envy anyone who can develop one as original as that. Was creating the concept hard at all? What advice would you offer to people doing the same?It was difficult and I still wasn't finished after nearly 3 years of creating. Just remember to start out small and expand on the things that work; don't go all out right away as you'll end up scrapping whole projects. I am a bit at a loss on how I did it. I'm really not sure to be honest. It just came to me and I just kept building on. I guess seeing as how the concept wasn't a story based RPG made it so original. When I first came to ProBoards I never knew that there were RPG forums out there, so when I created Novayne I had nothing to get ideas from. I think that's why it was such a hit. What do you think led to the continuing success of your forum? Well as I said earlier, I did shut Novayne down, not because it was failing, but because of the changes in my life. College is just around the corner and the amount of time it took to keep it running became too great. However, I know it would've continued if I hadn't closed it down recently. I would just have to stick with the things that work. What is your favorite part of being an administrator?My favorite part would be when you have a big juicy update up your sleeves and you're just waiting to release it to the rest of the forum. It's a great feeling after a good amount of work that you can bring a nice update to the public. Not only are you an excellent admin, but you are also becoming an excellent designer. Which do you think is easier of the two? Honestly designing is much easier. Being and admin is difficult work: You can't slack off and you can't be absent for days and days at a time. You have to motivate the whole forum to post and you have to keep things interesting all the time. Correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure you are a PSP user, as am I. Why do you use this program instead of the "superior" PS program?It's cheaper, but besides that I think PSP is just as good as Photoshop. I do have access to Photoshop CS3, but I choose not to use it. I think that Paintshop Pro has the same features and can do exactly the same things as Photoshop can. All you have to do is learn what effects do what, and by combining them you can get the same result as you would in Photoshop. I really gets me riled up when the mighty Photoshop users belittle Paintshop Pro when usually they haven't really tried it or used it enough. What style of art do you prefer to design? What appeals to you about it?I'm not sure what kind of design I really make. I guess I am more of a grunge and texture kind of designer. I love making signature, even though they are probably the most useless of graphics out there. Making sigs is loads of fun. I'd rather make them compared to UBBC buttons and posting buttons. I think sigs appeal to me more since you can display the artwork throughout the whole forum compared to a template or a banner when it may be only seen a few times by a few people. What is your most successful project you ever worked on? What do you like so much about it?Novayne is my most successful project. Not in design terms since that credit goes to Eternity, but in the terms of the RPG and the forum itself. I love the people it brought in and the great friends I made in result of it! What is your favorite movie?Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children... best movie based off of a video game ever.
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