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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 8:50:46 GMT
Wow, here we are in a New Year, 2007, already! There's this celebration hosted here in Washington, USA, called First Night. At midnight, we have a round of fireworks. The cover image this month is displaying one of the photos that I, myself snapped while enjoying the beautiful colors. It may not be professional, but you all can deal. As far as the Herald this month, I've had a rough time being able to find the time to be able to get everything together. Unfortunately we are missing three articles, two by Virtuoso, and one by pandora. That is completely my fault, as it's 1:47AM and I'm exhausted. Oddly enough I made the headliners for them, but somehow managed to not add it to the list of articles, or into the edition itself. So apologies go out to those two. You will most definitely see those next month. Also, when SSDv6 releases, you will find that the following edition of the Herald will be getting a new look to keep up with times. Other than me working well into the night, (and I have school tomorrow), there's nothing else for me to say. So enjoy this short edition, (again my fault), and don't forget to throw out the normal, "Good job guys!" in the comments thread. Toodles. Oh! And a Happy New Year, from me, personally.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 8:51:21 GMT
Once again, SolidSnake Designs would like to wish the following a very happy birthday. If you have a birthday the month of January, and it is not listed, then you're tough out of luck. You should have posted. Have a great month, everyone! As many of you know, some parts of SSD can vary in terms of quality and activity. While this isn’t an ideal situation, Virtuoso has shown that all is not lost in regards to the coding area, by constantly filling requests and offering support to needy members. It is a relatively simple task that we wish more people would follow. Even if you solve a single person's problem, you have still helped someone. For all of this, we award Virtuoso Member of the Month for January. Welcome to another edition of The Herald, and likewise another signature and avatar of the month contest. This month saw fewer entries than usual, but there are still some artists worthy of recognition this month. Let's start things off with the winning avatar of the month. Avatar of the MonthThis was an easy decision, there were only two entries. Congratulations to Artos. The humor in this was great. I actually had to watch it a second time it was that good. Very simple animation, but it gets the job done. I think the teeth at the end could have had about 5 more frames too make it smoother though. Signature of the MonthThere were a few that stuck out in my mind, but congratulations to Crazy. This signature had great contrast and really showed great work with brushing and filters. Placement was near perfect and the border fit so well. Only thing I can think of is some text on the right side of the girl, overlapping her face slightly, white perferably.
Congrats to those who won and I would like to personally thank all those who entered in this month's competition. Look for next month's entry thread soon. This month, I did something a bit unusual, and chose a short story for the Lit of the Month award. This one deserved it. Pandora chose a strong message, a well known situation, and an ingenius way to time them together. It's one of those pieces of literature that will stick in your head for days after you read it. I cannot say enough about how good this story is. Nice job, Pandora. Can't Sleep, written by pandora:
I can't sleep. "If I fall asleep right now...I can still get five hours and be somewhat awake for work." I can't sleep, though, because I have very little time to buy just the right products to let my favorite people in the world know how much I love them. Then I remember. Some people don't have this problem. There are lonely souls sitting awake this night wondering where all their favorite people have gone. They hold a blank sheet of paper which should have been a list of family and friends. Cold hands shape the blank page into an airplane. From atop a building it is launched in the hopes that a child will find it and so find a few moments of joy. "If I fall asleep right NOW...I can still get 3 and a half hours. Not much, but I'll get by." I still can't sleep. This time because my stomach is growling quite rudely at me. My belly is empty and it won't let me rest. I'm so uncomfortable! Why didn't I finish my dinner? Instead, I'd scraped a great deal of it into the trash. I guess I just wasn't in the mood for it. But how many times had I performed such an atrocious act? How many small mouths could have fed from my scraps, if only I could reach them? I left my grumbling belly empty to remind me of the grumbling children who haven't eaten for days, and the mothers who feel the pain twice, once for their own hunger, and again as they watch their children fade away into the shadows, mothers whose hands are tied by circumstance. "If I fall asleep RIGHT NOW...I'll get slightly over an hour of sleep. Pathetic, but better than nothing." Why can I still not sleep!? The rain is beating on the roof. Each drop is like a hammer on sheet metal. Well, at least the roof catches the drops. I wonder how many people are soaked to the bone from a surprise thunderstorm this night. I wonder what led to their homeless night, and how many more they would have to endure. When will the rain freeze and break their tenuous hold on life? I suppose sleep can escape me this one night. My full heart and life will sustain me through the day. "If I get off my somewhat privileged ass right NOW...exactly how many lives could I change for the better?" Buchanan Street taken by C130 is a lovely abstract shot. It's not often that noise and lack of definition is combined in a shot and makes me go "Jonneh likeh!". Well done Grace The Charmed Ones by Charmed_Boy has a warmth about it that reminds of Autumn. The colour scheme of golden browns and warm oranges really helps to make this template jump out at you and the well blended images of the "Charmed Ones" really helps with this. The icons are well made, as are the gradients and I love the many layers this template has, like each piece of the forum is on a sheet of paper, laid on top of the others. The different textures help too, with the grungy feel of the banner, to the abstract in the board overlay and the tech-iness of the background. Not all the images come with this, which is a shame, but it does leave room for you to find some buttons that will compliment this wonderful template. Well done Charmed_Boy, this is a wonderful template and deserves an [SSD Recommended]. "Like, oh my God, it's Harry effin' Potter!"
"It's more like Wormtail, actually "- Artos & Ovi"The title of this thread offends me, please rename it to "Winter time-of-celebrating-whatever-one-believes-in-or-not-celebrating-at-all".
"- [dmsuperman]" ...remember a thread back in like... 2003 that was "Do you pee in the shower?" Possibly my first impression of SSD was reading that thread and thinking, "These kids may be cool with design, but they are PSYCHOS."
Then I met Oliver and knew it was true."- urban.cinderella"Artos, you look like a chipmunk who got shot in the eye with an arrow. =D
*runs*"
"404: FUNNY NOT FOUND.
Besides. Comparing me to the small, furry animal you've placed inside your lower GI is demeaning to that poor creature."- Virtuoso & Artos"Seth Green? The white and nerdy guy?"
"Don't make fun of nerds, they have feelings too.
Though, their feelings usually have pocket protectors. "- Virtuoso & Ryan.gimli"Just soak you hair in water and push it down. Force it down!
Sorry if I sound inappropriate in any way."- AI"I thought the Artos was a perfect, steaming pile of sexy just the way he is? "
"Oh, he is. He looks damn good in a skirt, too.
But even he wants to be even more lean."- pandora & Artos"Here I was thinking this was going to be a warning that Linkin park was going to excrete another record."- bryanic"Thank god. Had you shown your eyes, I should have to had say good bye to mine.
I still love you. "
"Yeah, my overwhelming sexiness would of completely over-powered them. They'd probably just explode in your eye sockets.
How sad."- Virtuoso & Luke"This is interesting. If this really happens, Apple will never be the same. Let's see what happens."
"Change your name to Captain Obvious."- AI & Ovi"Now now children play nice or mommy E will have to spank some bottoms "
"I'll sue you mom!
*runs out to spam another thread*"- Eternity & Virtuoso"Don't worry, if you fail you can always suck c*ck for a living."- The Baron"I have enough holes in my haed already, I don't want anymore; two for breathing, one for eating, and two for hearing."
"You mean to tell me you don't have eyes? OMG freak!
"- spazoid1965 & Kay"I'm not amused."
"Awww. poor Artos. *pats head*
Are you just offended because someone finally revealed your true calling? "- Artos & Kay"D: Maxy-poop! Happy Birthday my darling piece of stool. "- Virtuoso"Urban Cinderella: Great manipulator.""How fitting. Truer words were never spoken."- jongos & Artos"This thread is filled with too much sex jokes.
"
"Welcome to SSD "- Ryan.gimli & Eternity"Ohh, i kissed another guy in church once too."
"The Flying Spaghetti Monster approves."- Epic-:-Century & Artos"Happy birthday to you
AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS WHOS BIRTHDAYS ARE TODAY BUT WERE NOT ALLOWED TO RECOGNIZE"- bizmark"This is the sound of me chuckling quietly to myself and nodding in a sagely way:
"Heheheh."
"Great, now I'm deaf."- Artos & VirtuosoOK, this month has a theme. Ewww, right? Well, seeing as the New Year is upon us, I thought I'd point out who needed to make serious resolutions regarding their IQ. So the theme for these quotes will be stupidity. Stupidity has always been an equal-opportunity employer, and it shows up here. "If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight." -- George Gobel "Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life." --Brooke Shields "Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member." --Groucho Marx "Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean, I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." --Mariah Carey "I don't feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves." --John Wayne "Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?" --Harry Warner "Movies are a fad. Audiences really want to see live actors on a stage." -- Charlie Chaplin "Rock 'n' roll is phony and false, and sung, written, and played for the most part by cretinous goons." --Frank Sinatra "Gentlemen, include me out." --Samuel Goldwyn "I now have absolute proof that smoking even one marijuana cigarette is equal in brain damage to being on Bikini Island during an H-bomb blast." --Ronald Reagan "When more and more people are thrown out of work, unemployment results." --Calvin Coolidge "I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law." --David Dinkins (mayor of New York City) "The United States has much to offer the third world war." --Ronald Reagan. Nine times. In the same speech. "We are not without accomplishment. We have managed to distribute poverty equally." --Nguyen Co Thach "I stand by all my misstatements." --Dan Quayle "The police are not here to create disorder, they are here to preserve disorder." --Richard Daley (former mayor of Chicago) "We are getting into semantics again. If we use words, there is a very grave danger they will be misinterpreted." --H. R. Haldemn "[Osama bin Laden] is either alive and well, or alive and not well, or not alive." --Donald Rumsfeld I hope you enjoyed chuckling softly to yourself at these, and pretending you've never said anything dumb, while, at the same time, hoping nobody finds out about all the dumb things you've said. Capturing the rank of the number one movie in America around Christmas time, The Pursuit of Happyness is by far, one of my favorite movies of 2006. Will Smith plays the heartfelt role of Chris Gardner, a father and husband struggling to make ends meet, and provide for his family. After being left to raise his son on his own, Chris does something that a single parent usually wouldn't dream of. Taking on an internship to one of the biggest stock brokers offices in town. Wanting to impress the head honchos and still take care of his son, he goes out of his way and beyond to do so. In the end, this movie goes to show what one father will do to provide a life for his son, and a true father's love for his son. I really urge you to see this movie, or buy it once it hit stores. Rating: 5/5
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 8:51:38 GMT
Welcome to 2007 from all the team at SSD. It doesn’t seem so long ago that I was writing the January 2006 news, I’m sure I opened it with a similar sentence to that one. So what does 2007, and indeed this month, hold in store for our forum? Version 6Well, very soon SSD shall be plunged into maintenance mode, to change our skin. I realise it has taken a very long time and believe me, I wanted it done ages ago. I’ve certainly learnt a few things about how we could do better for the next time around. Our new skin will bring new community orientated features, as well as some extra little goodies. I realise of course that some parts have been leaked around and people are already judging it by previous versions of SSD, trends, and other design forums. This is fair enough, I expected that sort of thing to happen. A skin should be aesthetically pleasing and we shall aim to give you that. That said, I think many people have to look just a little bit further as to why you post at SSD. I’m sure you don’t all post because you get an erection as soon as you open the home page. Note: those who receive erections to non-pornographic forums, may do well to seek medical advice, especially if you are female. Staff Changes Luke, has been appointed moderator of the battles area. Over the last few month’s he has inhabited the area, marking out his territory by sometimes urinating on his battle opponents. As a moderator it will be his duty to lead the area, come up with ideas and keep things running smoothly. Senior Staff, there will be several important changes here. With a new global moderator and two new administrators. Some may come as a surprise but I have full confidence in them all. Look out for the announcements. Excellence AwardsThis is where we reward our members and staff, every single member has a say. The winners shall receive a little badge. If you’re that person who helps out frequently, someone who moderates an area or even if you have a cute monkey avatar, you may be in for a little award. These shall commence early January. Art GroupOur latest collection is due soon; some may say it would have been better suited for Halloween. We hope you enjoy it, and this gives me an opportunity to welcome Assassinator and Bandit! into the team. That is all for now, enjoy this edition and Happy New Year! Oliver.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 8:51:55 GMT
Alright, it's the time of the month year again. The time where everyone starts thinking back about the year, and how the year could have been better. And since it's my first article in Herald, it's almost fitting for me to write an article about the new year, no? Right, here we go. The end of a year marks the beginning of another new year, another chapter of your life, and another stroke on the number-chart we call "our age". When you look back, you suddenly realise how much you've grown, how much you've matured (That statement unfortunately does not hold true for some SSDians, sadly *eyes Kay* ). Regardless, as Edna in "The Incredibles" said, "I don't look back, darling. It distracts from the now." And indeed, the past, after all, is the past. Reminiscing brings us nowhere. But how are we to grow, if we do not learn from our past mistakes and experiences? I believe we should all look back, every now and then, and try to see our mistakes, and learn from it. That's how we all learn. The good old trial and error way. Like the butterfly breaking out of the cocoon, we all have to work our way through the cocoon. If not, how are we to fly? As some of you might have noticed, I've recently gone through some rough patches of my life. A mistake in my life, something which I'll never repeat again. I've fallen down, but I've also picked myself up. So here I am, fellow SSDians. Before this article ends, and you scroll down to feast your eyes on another article by a fellow writer of the Herald, here's a quotation for you. The past as a mirror, allows us to reflect on the present, and make a better future.Kai, signing off.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 8:59:11 GMT
There are many ways to start again. A significant era ends, and one may/must begin again. Some examples are: • A romantic relationship falls apart • Moving from one town to a new town • Leaving a job after a few years Ok, so I’m a little self-focused, considering I’m dealing with all three currently. I’ve never minded sharing what I’ve learned from important life experiences. My recent stint with starting over is no different. At least it wasn’t a complete surprise for me. Giving a notice of my resignation at work, house hunting in a town over a thousand miles away from where I’d always lived, and filing for divorce were all steps in one direction, to a new life. But starting over is never as simple as making a list of cerebral decisions and putting the decisions into action. One must also come to terms with altering life’s direction on a spiritual, emotional, and practical level. “Can I live with the choices I’ve made? Will I have reason to regret? Do I have the luxury of time to heal and be at peace with such a significant upheaval? AM I BEING SELFISH?” Oh, that last question is the one that’s tripped me the most in recent months. The answer: Yes. Is it always wrong to be selfish? No, not if lack of self awareness had turned me into someone I’m not, and not comfortable being. Basically, when someone is not true to their own self, everyone suffers. Friends, family, acquaintances, all of them suffer. I was trying too hard to be what everyone else expected me to be. The more I played the part I thought they wanted me to play, the more I began to resent those around me. Over time, I started taking out my frustrations on the ones I loved the most. I had to make a choice, and from that choice I found the need to begin again, start fresh. People got hurt, but in the long run, all will be much improved. Had I never recognized how wrong I was in trying to please everyone by being a false me, the pain would have gotten worse with time, and the misery in the future would have been much more profound. Some people don’t get the luxury of time to contemplate starting over. Some are unfortunately forced into it. Most of the readers here are students. If a parent makes a life decision, you pretty much have to go along with it, whether you like it or not. You may have to attend a new school, live without one parent if divorce is the case, make new friends, etc. Just remember, there are two sides to every story. Starting over is tough for everybody, but it can also be an unparalleled opportunity to become stronger and truer and learn how to understand and be there for the people we love the most.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 8:59:29 GMT
Resolutions | User | Resolution(s) | Saknika | somehow work my way up to be second-in-command to Artos... so that I might see my plans through...>.> | Artos | I vow to lose twenty-five pounds.
Keeping it off is another thing entirely.
To stop procrastinating. | Pandora | finish part two of my surreal autobiography, and finish at least two illustrations for it. Also, to have a job that is enjoyable and very satisfying. Oh yeah, also to actually get my divorce. It would be nice to have that done and over with. | Johnny | To not have a resolution for 5 years running.....oh f***!! | Gimli | I plan on winning this year. | elpeef | 1440 x 900. | AI | I plan on sleeping more. | Darien | To play running back again for high school football and hopefully be top three in league rushing.. hopefully |
Good luck with the resolutions, guys and gals!
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 8:59:47 GMT
Here are a few questions that readers sent in to my inbox. Feel free to send in your questions as well, and they’ll be answered in the next issue. I hope that the advice is helpful to you, and that your days are filled with splendor!
" Ok, 'nika. I have a question for you, and some others here may or may not relate.
When I make a mistake, anywhere from a simple one that anyone could make to a real doozy of a f*** up, I beat myself up over it. Even years later, something will make me remember a silly mistake I made, and I'll bash myself for it all over again. Do you have any suggestions for taking a bit of the heat off of myself?
I do learn from the mistakes, but sometimes I stress myself to the point of depression over some of them. What advice can you give me, sister?
Pandora" Dear Pandora, I think we all can relate to such a thing, and sadly these silly mistakes will probably haunt you for a long time, perhaps even to the grave. But don’t loose hope nor let them get you down! There is no need to, because mistakes are made every day, and everyone makes them. You probably aren’t the only one who’s made some silly mistake in life, like tripping over your own feet. There are others out there who’ve made the same mistake as you. Chances are, you’re the only one who actively remembers, since it happened to you. And if someone else does remember, laugh it off. It’s good to laugh. Don’t let it bother you. Everyone is human. We’re not robots. -Saknika " Dear Saknika, I just found out one of my good friends is in the hospital due to "O.D.ing" on Zanex. I’ve been very depressed since I found this out. Most of my friends do drugs and such and I’m not gonna lie I do also. The reason why I need your advice is I’m afraid I’m getting in too deep. I feel like I’m being pulled into harder/worse drugs. What should I do, also what should I do to help prevent my friends also?
Thank you, Anonymous" Dear Anonymous, Drugs are a very scary thing, and while I am sorry to hear that your friend ended up in the hospital due to an over-dose, I also hope that it scared you enough to motivate you to quit. The depression is normal, and as you work towards coming clean with drugs, it will probably lift. If it doesn’t, seek medical attention. When it comes to the drugs, I’d talk to your parents. This is a scary thing, but it might be necessary. Or, you could look up a hotline to call or see a school counselor. I also suggest going to a drug rehab center. They will help you to quit and get over the withdrawl more smoothly. And they’ll probably help you to stay clean as well. I’d encourage your friends to do the same thing. If they tell you that you’re silly to quit, or pressure you not to, get new friends. No one who truly cares about you will ever tell you to do something harmful to yourself. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope your friend recovers quickly. -Saknika
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:00:04 GMT
These are some crazy laws from around the world, and remember that a lot of them are still on the books! Makes you really rethink our culture, doesn't it? - A Virginia law requires all bathtubs to be kept out in the yards, not inside the houses. - In Cleveland, Ohio, it's illegal to catch mice without a hunting license. - In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania it is illegal to have sex with a truck driver inside a tollbooth. - In Kentucky, by law, anyone who has been drinking is "sober" until he or she "cannot hold onto the ground." - In Kentucky, it is illegal to transport an ice cream cone in your pocket. - In Louisiana, it is illegal to rob a bank and then shoot at the bank teller with a water pistol. - In Louisiana, biting someone with your natural teeth is "simple assault," while biting someone with your false teeth is "aggravated assault." - In Massachusetts, an old ordinance declares goatees illegal unless you first pay a special license fee for the privilege of wearing one in public. - In Willowdale, Oregon, no man may curse while having sex with his wife. - In Texas, sixteen-year old divorced girls are prohibited from talking about sex during high school extracurricular activities. - In Florida, men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown. - In Illinois, it is illegal for anyone to give lighted cigars to dogs, cats, and other domesticated animal kept as pets. - In Indiana, bathing is prohibited during the winter. - During lunch breaks in Carlsbad, New Mexico, no couple should engage in a sexual act while parked in their vehicle, unless their car has curtains. - A law in Oblong, Illinois makes it a crime to make love while fishing or hunting on your wedding day. - If a police officer in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, suspects a couple is having sex inside a vehicle they must honk their horn three times, and wait two minutes before being allowed to approach the scene. - In Ventura County, California, cats and dogs are not allowed to have sex without a permit. - A law in Fairbanks, Alaska, does not allow moose to have sex on city streets. - A Helena, Montana, law states that a woman cannot dance on a saloon table unless her clothing weights more than three pounds, two ounces. - Belgium is the only country that has never imposed censorship for adult films. - Chewing gum is outlawed in Singapore because it is a means of "tainting an environment free of dirt." - An ordinance in Newcastle, Wyoming, specifically bans couples from having sex while standing inside a store's walk-in-meat freezer. - In Winnipeg, it is against the law to go naked in your own home if you leave the blinds up. - Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors. - Every citizen of Kentucky is required by law to take a bath once a year. - Federal law forbids recycling used eyeglasses in the United States. - Hailed as a wonder drug in the late nineteenth century, cocaine was outlawed in the United States in 1914. - Impotence is grounds for divorce in twenty-four states in the United States. - In Alaska it is illegal to look at a moose from the window of an airplane or any other flying vehicle. - In Atlanta, Georgia, it is illegal to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole or street lamp. - In Canada, if a debt is higher than 25 cents, it is illegal to pay it with pennies. - In Hazelton, Pennsylvania, there is a law on the books that prohibits a person from sipping a carbonated drink while lecturing students in a school auditorium. - In Milan, Italy there is a law on the books that requires a smile on the face of all citizens at all times. Exemptions include time spent visiting patients in hospitals or attending funerals. Otherwise the fine is $100 if they are seen in public without a smile on their face. - In New York State it is still illegal to shoot a rabbit from a moving trolley car. - In San Salvador drunk drivers can be punished by death before a firing squad. - In Somalia, Africa, it's been decreed illegal to carry old chewing gum stuck on the tip of your nose. - In New Jersey, it is illegal to slurp soup. - In Eureka, Nevada men who wear moustaches are forbidden from kissing women. - In Omaha, Nebraska, if a child burps during a church service his/her parents may be arrested. - In Chicago it is illegal to take a French poodle to the opera, and for women over 200 pounds (90 kilos) to ride horses in shorts. - In Cleveland, Ohio, women are forbidden from wearing patent leather shoes, lest men see reflections of their underwear. - In Asheville, North Carolina, it is illegal to sneeze on city streets. - In Alabama it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle. - An old Virginia law was titled, "An Act to Prevent Corrupt Practices or Bribery by Any Person Other Than a Candidate." - In 1985, an Arizona legislator proposed that each candidate for the legislature take a reading and an I.Q. test three months before the election. The scores would have been posted on the ballot, had the bill passed. But a majority of legislators, for whatever reason, voted it down. - A Utah legislator proposed a resolution urging that each TV weather person be required to provide an ice cream cone to every member of the state House of Representatives whenever the forecast was wrong. The resolution failed, perhaps on First Amendment grounds. - A law passed in the '50s by officials of Avignon, France, made it illegal for any flying saucer to land in the city. - A Minnesota tax form is quite thorough. Some would say too thorough. It even asks for your date of death. - It is illegal to loiter in the city morgue in Detroit. - A regulation in San Francisco makes it unlawful to use used underwear to wipe off cars in a car wash. - In New York it's unlawful for any person to do any thing that is against the law. Lest there be any confusion. - As in many towns, you need a permit to run a barbershop in Christiansburg, Va. But the wording of the town's law indicates that the permit will be revoked if you're caught operating without a permit. - A Wisconsin legislator recently introduced a bill making it illegal to tattoo someone under the age of 18. He was quoted as saying, "I'm going to save the buttocks of a few juveniles." - Because people were using them for cheap furniture, it's now illegal in North Carolina to take and sell labeled milk crates. - In the state of Washington it's illegal to catch a fish by throwing a rock at it. - In Idaho, it's illegal to hunt from the back of an animal. - In Iowa, it is illegal to hunt from an aircraft. - It's against the law in Fairbanks, Alaska to give a moose a beer. - Tomatoes are actually a fruit, but legally speaking, they're a vegetable. Ruling in an 1893 tariff case, the U.S. Supreme Court said that because tomatoes are normally eaten during a meal and not afterward, they are legally vegetables. - You need a license to sell condoms in Washington state. - In the old days in Nevada a man caught beating his wife was tied to a stake for eight hours a day with a sign that read, "Wife Beater" fastened to his chest. - The use of chili sauce and similar hot spices on jail and prison food is outlawed in Peru. An edict was handed down by the Interior Minister because these items were claimed to "have aphrodisiac qualities" and would "arouse sexual desires." This bureaucrat deemed chili sauce and other spices to be "not appropriate for men who are forced to live a limited life style." - A married woman in La Paz, Bolivia, is not allowed to drink more than a tiny bit of wine. One who does is considered by law to be morally and sexually lax, and her husband may divorce her for one sip too many. - Masturbation is outlawed in French Guiana because of the "danger it presents to the masturbator." The law notes that such a physical act "is recognized as a common cause of insanity." Ridiculous? Well, it wasn't but a few years ago that young people in the United States were taught that masturbation would make them go blind! - A bride in Ecuador had better be prepared for her wedding night. According to the law, the girl can be returned to her parents if her new husband determines that she is not a virgin. - When a bride is deflowered in Cali, Colombia, the law says, it must be done by the husband while making love, and this initial lovemaking must take place while the bride's mother sits close by and witnesses the activity.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:00:34 GMT
Flu season is heading in fast and furious, and that means that everyone is going to be sharing their germs. It’s a season for cold medicines of all sorts, and plenty of trips to the pharmacy. Luckily though, it might not be as necessary this year. There are several different herbal remedies that you can try to help ease the symptoms of the flu. And unless you are allergic to one of the ingredients used, it’s completely harmless and side-effect free. Herbal remedies, for those who aren’t quite aware, are remedies made from all natural things you can find in your own home. No additives, no preservatives; everything is fresh. It works because there are many plants in nature that have healing properties to them; the trick is to find them. If you think about it as well, most of your medicines today have a plant base to them, with other chemicals added in either for flavor or consistency, maybe even other reasons. There are a few different ways that you can prepare an herbal remedy as well. None are very difficult or involved though, and should be fairly simple to create. They are as follows: Compress To create a compress, simply soak a piece of cloth in a bowl of hot or cold herbal extract. This can then be placed on irritated joints and muscles, and can also to help with burns and rashes. The best cloth to use is lint or cheesecloth. Apply it to the affected area and renew when needed. | Steam Inhalation For steam inhalations, first heat up some water and place it in a bowl. Then, add in an infusion of the herb(s) you wish to use, drape a towel around your head and the basin to keep the steam in, and inhale with slow, deep breaths for a few minutes. This works well for stressed or inflamed lungs. | Infusion An infusion can be drank hot or cold, but is prepared the same way. First, warm a teapot and add about ¼ dried herbs, or ½ fresh herbs. Onto the herbs, pour 2 ¼ hot water. Then, cover the pot for about 10 minutes. Strain this through a plastic tea strainer. Toss the herbs and keep the liquid. You can add a little honey or unrefined sugar if you want. Drink this. Store in the refrigerator up to 48 hours. |
Since there are so many different ways to help with the flu season symptoms, things will be as organized as possible. Remember, not everything is guaranteed to taste the greatest. These also aren’t the only things that you can try, simply a few choice ones. One of the best ways to boost your immune system and prevent sickness is to consume garlic or echinacea. You can eat cloves of garlic (known as garlic neat) as well for bronchial and lung complaints. Should you do this though, consuming a sprig of parsley or dandelion leaf will help freshen the breath. Echinacea is available in a tablet form should you want to try that. If you’re unlucky and start to catch it though, make up a footbath that contains one teaspoon of dried mustard to a bowl of hot water. Mustard has a warming effect, and by inhaling the infusion you help clear phlegm and draw infection & congestion away from your chest. Two great, traditional remedies for the flu are lemon and honey. They also compliment one another! Lemon is full of vitamin C and improves the body’s ability to expel toxins, and honey will soothe a sore throat. Mixing a hot drink with two to four lemons and a dessertspoon of honey can be a very comforting remedy. Other things that help you to expel toxins from your body are ginger and peppermint. Adding them to a footbath will help you to perspire and rid yourself of the sickness. Ginger is also nice because it draws heat away from your upper body (especially the head) to the feet, and can help reduce the heat congestion that gives your body that icky feeling when you’re sick with the flu. Onions are another great thing for flu season. Putting a thick slice into boiling water with a half a teaspoon cayenne pepper to drink before bed helps relieve symptoms. Strain the mixture before drinking it though. This is one of the mixtures that might not taste too great, be forewarned. To counteract congestion, create a steam bath using a handful of fresh pine needles and 2 cups hot water. Afterwards, you can even add a little lemon and honey to what water remains and drink it. This increases vitamins A and C, which help you to recover faster from illness. Yogurt is another great thing for killing bacteria. Eating plenty of it helps with that, along with aiding your body in creating more antibodies and boosting its immune system. Coughing is another problem associated with the flu. For persistent coughing, a poultice of roasted onion applied to the chest every two hours is helpful. For a chesty cough, an infusion of fresh grated ginger root mixed with spices and cloves can work wonders. The there is cabbage, which is wonderful in its ability to draw toxins out of the body. When your chest is tight from coughing, a cabbage leaf poultice just might help. Crush the leaves with a rolling pin until the juice oozes out, then place three or four leaves over the chest area. Cover these with gauze and place a warm blanket over it to keep it in place. If a sore throat kicks in, a gargle of salt, lemon juice, or cider vinegar diluted in warm water helps. Salt works the best because it helps to destroy the bacteria and relieve the burning sensation. However, it doesn’t taste too great. Be warned. Squeezing the oil out of a whole garlic clove, and then mixing it in a bowl with cayenne pepper and warm salt water to be applied to the neck is instant relief. You can apply it by soaking a cloth and wrapping it around the neck. Blackcurrants are also good to counter infection and inflammation. An infusion of a cupful of them crushed makes a wonderful drink. Don’t strain the fruit out though, because should be chewed on. Blackcurrants look a lot like blueberries. The most famous remedy for sore throat is a tea made from red sage mixed with a dash of cider vinegar. It will work wonders, but might not taste too great. Finally, we have fevers. Applying a cool water compress to the legs and feet can help to relieve this. Remove the compresses as soon as they warm up. If you want to combat infection, use a cooled rosemary infusion instead. An infusion of angelic root helps to bring down a fever. To make it more palatable (“tastey”), add juice from two lemons and some honey. Remember, these are not all the remedies available to you, but a few choice ones. Checking the internet will bring up more, but always read carefully and be sure you understand what they’re telling you. Also be advised that some remedies tend to include small amounts of alcohol. Do not use any of these without express consent of an adult until you are of legal drinking age. It is true that alcohol has healing qualities as well and can work as a preservative, but that doesn’t make it any less illegal to drink underage. So head on out to your local supermarkets and prepare for flu season. It’s coming, and it’s ready to infect the unsuspecting and the unprepared.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:00:50 GMT
The Ender Series, originally meant to be a trilogy, consists of the four books entitled “Ender’s Game,” “Speaker for the Dead,” “Xenocide,” and “Children of the Mind,” by author Orson Scott Card. It follows the lives of three siblings, the oldest and youngest both boys, and the middle child a girl. Each is a genius and watched intently by the government. In a time when birthing more than two children is considered obscenely greedy, Ender is labeled a “Third” by his peers, a derogatory term said with hate. “Ender’s Game” follows the development of Ender from the age of six, when he is ripped from his family to undergo military training, until he is 11 and forced into early graduation. It is a linear story. It moves flawlessly forward page after page. The reader sympathizes with the hero and fears his genius in the hands of the military. Ender is to be trained as a military leader, to lead Earth into a battle against an alien species called Buggers, a species which has already lost once to Earth’s fleets, as the government feared the launch of a second wave decades later. His older brother, Peter, was the first born for the purpose. Peter proved to be too malicious; his sister, Valentine, was too mild and sensitive for the role. So a third was born, a son with the best qualities of both his older siblings, according to the military: a killer instinct balanced by compassion and intelligence. While Ender trains on a military base far from Earth, Peter and Valentine use their own genius to rule the internet on Earth, swaying world leaders to their brand of thinking, no one suspecting they were mere children. The three change the fate of the Universe more than anyone suspected, and Ender almost goes mad in the process. The three books that follow are no less interesting. Card tackles an extraordinary spectrum of philosophies and religion. He meets the schools of thought head on, and lays his thoughts in the open, creating believable characters and species and “what if?” situations. Peter, using his hunger for power to unite the earth’s governments, successfully places himself as earth’s president. A period of peace surprisingly follows. Ender, impressive as an adult, with Valentine by his side, develop the universe's countries and colonies on hundreds of planets, and the two were never content to remain on earth. Traveling light years at a time, they explore new worlds, defying the ages and living for thousands of years due to their lengthy travels through space, sharing what wisdom they’d gained during their unusual childhood. Ender finally settles on the planet of the Piggies, a third species sharing the universe with Humans and Buggers. He falls in love with a scientist who has spent her entire life studying the Piggies, a scientist whose heart has been through more than most could survive, and whose family Ender is determined to heal. Card creates stories, civilizations and religions that feel real, and characters that break the reader’s heart. Any fan of philosophies of religion, politics and science will find more than they dare hope by reading the Ender Series. It will raise questions you may willingly spend your whole life trying to answer.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:01:10 GMT
That's right, this month, I'm taking a stand. Ska boys and girls everywhere unite! What is ska?For those too lazy to read all that, ska is a style of music that originated in British Jamaica that combines mento, calypso, jazz, rock, and blues into one kick-ass style. In short, it's an up beat, highly energetic style of music. This month's CD Review is of The Great Distraction, produced by my gods of ska, Razbari Sumthing. With songs like The Great Distraction, Into The Grey, and my personal favorite Crystal Green and Gold, whose lyrics can be found in my sig. The brass section adds livelihood to this album, and the bass and the drums conspire to create a great dance beat. The vocals are simply superb, and the lyrics rock. My vote: 5 stars out of 5.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:01:28 GMT
Oh. Em. Gee. Three words to sum this game up in its entirety. Think Studio Zero version 2 marries SSD version 6, and they have child. Then imagine the gods endow that child with godliness. This game's still more awesome and entertaining. A leap of faith on Square Enix's part, they took their Final Fantasy game away from the traditional turn based battles, and brought it into real time, mirroring their success in doing so from Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. The game quickly develops into the immaculate marriage of an RPG and a first person shooter, bringing the ultimate fantasy of any gamer to life. You play as Vincent Valentine, the product of an experiment that infuses him with the power of Chaos, a beast of legend, and also fuses his mind with that of Chaos. He maintains control, sort of, through something called the Protomateria. You will battle your way through numerous stages, including the ruins of Midgar and the lost city of Deepground, to attempt to stop an insidious plot by the Deepground, led by their elite officers, the Tsviets. A mystery man named Weiss leads them, as they try to bring about the coming of Omega. I'm not going to give any more of the plot away. All I can say is that you should definitely play this beauty of a game.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:01:47 GMT
While last month's feature focused on Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda, the Twilight Princess, this month's focus will be on Capcom's ambitious project, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, an Xbox 360 exclusive, set for release on the twelfth of this month. Click on each thumbnail for the full size screenshot. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition is an action/shooter game and takes place on a foreign, unknown planet covered in tundra and populated by an innumerable amount of vast, but deserted, cities. The main plot of the game revolves around a rapidly escalating conflict between humans, the surrounding predators, and an invasion force of a mysterious species in an all-out fight for survival. Featuring beautiful, high-res graphics and a seamless-loading engine, the game promises to be an intense, uninterrupted experience from start to finish. That's not all however, as the game features a large, sixteen player online mode with many features thanks to the Xbox Live service. The online mode has four types of gameplay: Elimination, Team Elimination, Post Grab, and Fugitive Hunt, which promise to be different and more compelling than your typical Capture the Flag and team co-op type online modes seen in most games today. Each mode allows up to sixteen players per map playing as a team or individually in large, expansive environments, each allowing for the use of large vehicles, weaponry, and natural landmarks and features, all along with the standard Xbox Live services featured in all online games for the Xbox 360 console. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition promises to deliver an in-depth single player campaign complimented by an exciting, action-packed online mode that will expand the replay value of the game and bring even more fun and memorable moments. Look for Lost Planet: Extreme Condition on your local game retailer's shelves January 12, 2007.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:02:19 GMT
Author's Note: Before I jump into the article, I'd like to make a brief statement. Over the past year, Gaming Insight has been very hit or miss and served purely as a regurgitated source of gaming news most had already heard. With 2007 in mind, I have decided to reevaluate my goals with this article. Starting with this edition of The Herald, I have decided that Gaming Insight will now be more of a gaming editorial than a news source; that means, however, that the editorials will be based off of news and events from the month in question (and possibly previous months). With that said, let's move onto the main article.
The focus for this month's article will be looking at what we can expect from the gaming industry in 2007. As such, I'd like to present this gamer's look towards 2007. The end of the year brought two mammoth events in the gaming industry to light: the releases of the Sony PlayStation 3 and the (Nintendo) Wii. Each company and its respectful console carries ambitions of changing the market and strengthening their market share. However, in this generation race, market share and industry dominance are not the only things up at stake. This new year will play out the question that has faced gamers since the three new-generation consoles were revealed nearly three years ago: Will the gaming industry continue in the current direction of improving graphics and pumping out more resource demanding games or will the industry need to be revamped and return to the focus on games and how we interact with them? The lines have been drawn and the companies have chosen their sides. With Microsoft and Sony backing the improvement of sheer power and technology, Nintendo is alone fighting for changing the way we play games, claiming that if the industry does not change its ways, its days are numbered. The winner of this fight is not clear, but one thing is for sure: whatever the end result may be, it will change the direction of gaming for sure. On the front lines of this "war" of company missions are the games. While the three companies may say their way is the path that needs to be followed, one school of thought is not producing any more games than the others. 2007 will see the releases of high technology, advanced games such as Halo 3, Mass Effect, Too Human, BioShock, Lost Planet, Metal Gear Solid 4, Motor Storm, and Heavenly Sword, all of which promise to push the abilities of their consoles to the max to produce the most realistic sound and photo-realistic graphics. On the other side of the lines, however, Nintendo has plans to release games that promise to change the way we play games and change the way we expect our games to be in the future. Some of Nintendo's ambitious efforts (along with third party supporters) are: Wario Ware: Smooth Mooves, Battalion Wars 2, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Sadness, Super Mario Galaxy, No More Heroes, and Wii Play, among many others. Based solely on the sheer number of examples each company is using to push its goals, gamers will see the pros and cons of each school of thought and will have to evaluate which one is better for them. While it is impossible to predict where the gaming industry will be at this time next year, I can assure you now that 2007 will be the year to watch as it promises to challenge the industry's tried and true way of working with the prospect of improving games by our connection (via input) to them. In the end, the gamers, and non-gamers alike, will decide which path will be taken and how are industry will change in the future, for better or for worse.
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:02:43 GMT
Giving and receiving comments isn’t always an easy thing. In fact, a lot of people don’t even know the first thing to leaving a comment. Keep reading through, and you’ll find how to have a much better idea as to what’s going on, how to be a constructive critic, and how to receive and handle comments of your very own. The first thing you must remember is that commenting is a two-way street. You have got to leave comments to receive them back. If you never comment anyone else, then no one will comment you either. Take the initiative—comment someone! If someone comments you, make an effort to give them a comment back. Then everyone feels loved and is happy. Of course, it’s not always easy to leave a comment. Sometimes you really just hate whatever it is you’re looking at. However, keep in mind that someone’s time and effort went into that piece of art, and giving them nothing but negative commentary just won’t do. Look at it, and try to find at least one thing good in it. Perhaps they had a great colour choice and shading, but horrid proportions. Let them know, but do it kindly! Chances are, they’ll appreciate it. Of course, if you absolutely can’t come up with a good comment, just don’t leave one. Spare yourself the internet drama. Then there are also times that you don’t know too much about the art form they used—if anything. That’s a good cue not to be a harsh critic. Simply congratulate them on a job well done and be on your way, or don’t comment at all. Of course, you could also inquire into the art form if it intrigues you, and try it out yourself. That’s a possibility as well, and it will be sure to flatter the artist. Keep in mind while commenting that everyone has different interests as well. This means that just because you think that, for example, anime is way too trend to be art, doesn’t mean the artists or others feel that way. So never, ever judge another’s art based on if you feel they’re doing it to be a trendwhore or not; it isn’t worth the time or the effort. If you happen to be commenting something that asks for a 1-10 rating, back up your choice! There is nothing more irritating than to receive a low rating with no explanation as to why. Help them to improve and explain your choice - it’s only fair to the artist. Of course, knowing how to give a comment isn’t everything. You'll also need to know how to receive and reply to comments given as well. This is probably even more difficult to do than giving a comment, for we artists seem to loathe criticism. A big thing to remember is that most people are only trying to help. Sure, there are a few who will be a jerk while commenting, but just ignore/report them and move on - they’re not worth the trouble. When you do get a comment that is helpful, try not to argue with the person, unless it is an arguable point. If you must argue the point though, make sure to explain yourself kindly and accept the comment graciously anyways. For the most part though, you should just thank them and continue onwards. Another thing you shouldn’t do is tell them that they don’t know what they’re talking about, and that their comment was useless. They took the time and made the effort to comment your work, so be appreciative. If necessary, just ignore it. Once more, remember that it’s a two-way street. Now that the person has taken the time to comment you, go comment back. You may even find that they’re an excellent artist just waiting to be discovered! You never know. But returning the comment just might get you a new admirer. Other than that, just use common sense and follow the golden rule of commenting: Comment others the way that you want to be commenting, or receive no good comments at all. By doing that you should be in others good favour in no time. Good luck, and have fun commenting!
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Post by The Herald on Jan 2, 2007 9:02:59 GMT
This month, it'll be all photographers. I want to give some recognition to them for once. These all will be photographers from around deviantART. All are very talented, and have great potential. =closer-to-heavenThis girl is a great photographer. It also helps that all the shots she takes are gorgeous. So far I haven't seen a bad one by her. Her location in Finland helps her out, but she's a natural. Take a closer look at her gallery. *SolkkuThis Nature Photographer has an eye for Waterscapes. All of his are absolutely beautiful and stunning. Yet another resident of Finland as well. He manages to have great contrast, perfect color, and a wonderful gallery. ~barnsAnother Nature Photographer with talent! He's in beautiful Austria, and his photographs show the beauty clear as day. Take a look and make a judgment for yourself. *CrooshxPhotosHas to be one of my favorite photographers. She recreates different time periods, and does them well using different, but always a beautiful, models. ~andrebernardoSelf-Portraits, are something that he pulls off well. He's got an odd, but interesting taste and angle, but it's a great one. Check out his gallery.
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