THOTH

Perhaps somewhat tagental (non-Armenian related) - but kudos to Greece for pulling it off....job well done it seems...

Seems like we've discussed this before... Anyway - my take on this is that it was alwas a big turn on when the gal made the first move....and this can be from asking out - to first kiss or intimate contact - to initiating/suggesting sex....my take/experience anyway....so yeah - I'm all for it!

agreed...but I personally value my free time more then my concern about national productivity and growth. Unlike many I am blessed with ample leave and take advantage of it - and I even take leave without pay on occasion because travel and free time are of great value to me. I think Europeans - in general - are better off for this - but perhaps their economies taking a toll and unemployment resulting are a price that they are paying....nothign is perfect I guess...and I hear you about other places being worse off and things being relative...

wow great recs - both of you. Anileve - I haven't even heard of some of these - but I will check them out - seem essential in this day and age - and I am not at all convinced that the stuff I have been using is worth shit...

Thanks guys... And Anileve - I have rarely ever been depressed in my life - really - sure occasionally - and there are things/situations that have brought me down certainly...but overall I cannot say that I exhibit the tendency for depression (quite the oposite - I'm known for being very upbeat most all of the tinme..and its true/not an act etc)...I'm also know as a person of exeptional creativity (in thought) and I would agree that that is true as well. OK - pehraps I havent produced any great masterpieces...and I know that I am not brilliant - but I do fit the creative badge I think and I certainly am a socail animal - though do work well by myself and can easily function on my own without external inputs (and be productive and content - at least for a time) - (and I can't imagine that I have ever been in a state requirring - or where i would even beefit from psychoactive drugs of any sort...[and thus no withdraw symptoms or such...])- so what gives?

...and who is lagging behind who?

I can't agree that there is no such thing as happiness. For one - I have found in my life - that for the most part - I would consider myself happy - or in a state of happiness....really...and in particular - I think I have felt this way since having children. I would be curious as to the differences in outlook regarding happiness - with childen and without...and perhaps we need to consider this idea of fulfilment (of which being content is perhaps a subset - and if even total fulfilment is necessary for happiness - I think not...)....etc. And obviously the conditions, the expectations etc for happiness change as we age and go through cycles/periods in our lives....and of course differ from individual to individual as it must be. Children can be happy just by swinging on a swing. (me too BTW - lol)...and may be considered happy (and more then just content - but joyful...) with some very basic fulfilments met...as we get older our expectations tend to grow - as do our worries and concerns about the details of life that can erode our "happy state".....as we move beyond these years of yearning into our elder years I think most tend to simplify these expectations once again...one might be considered (and consider themselves) happy if they are free of pain, have no intimate/immediate health worries, and have some friends and family to interact with and that one knows care. etc Bottom line - I think - its not really so difficult to be happy...its all a state of mind - no? And Anileve - interesting point concerning creativity and stress....but cannot one be stressed and/yet still be creative and also happy? I think so - very much so. I think it is entirely possible to be happy even under dire conditions...things need not be rosy perfect and tranquil...as you imply - this may not be the ideal...this may create its own angst. Many are only happy when they are struggling (and hopefully, eventually - overcomming their obstacles and triumphing)....and self confidence is I think key to this...if one is confident in ones abilities to overcome and achieve - then nothing can (easily) get one down. Again - happiness..its a state of mind...many choose unhappiness (conciously or not...) - mostly because of unrealistic expectations (and the feeling that one needs to "have it all" to be happy)....and perhaps a certain laziness and expectation that it should just come to you...and wanting more then one has (realistically or not) - for whatever reason. I would love to own (and live on) an ocean going pleasure craft to flit from port to port with no worries in life...and perhaps envy - just a bit - those who have the means for such (as I do not)...but not having such has never made me unhappy or overly worked up or such. Sometimes being a bit realistic and simplyfying ones expectations is the key to being happy - regardless of ones situation - IMO. Thus I think one can be content - even if not entirely fulfiled - and content even if still stressed or what have you.

agreed...and concerning your other points as well...

agreed - both are clearly true...(ie christianity is a cult - particularly in its origins..of course it is numerous cults now that all share a central theme - but not necessarily much else)..and yes - Jesus - a cult leader (if he existed)...more likely he is just fiction or an agrandizement of perhaps an insightful and caring man turned into...well...I'll leave it at that...certainly he is a complete aglomeration of various savior/rebirth gods from many neighboring civilizations as well as having his "history" crafted to fit the various (and in particular - though not exclusively) Jewish messanic traditions...

...any given sunday - as it were...and I don't recall that they were blowouts. Any week a good team may tank or a bad one do well - just happens - playoffs also tend to be screwy as some teams rest starters near seasons end etc....and this year will be for revenge regardless!

perhaps - but if you look at the team that was handed me at the beginning of the year (and i just wanted to quit at that point - I was very POed)...well i transformed it froom a bottom dweller into a powerhouse team that played in the final...so my record speaks for itself...

unworkable really - you will see..but IMO it will favor me - becausse of my level of knowledge/iinterest etc - I will best be able to exploit...you will see...

Thats labor day weekend Azat...yeah I am going to be out camping and putting on a big ass fireworks show! ...and the weekend before I will be in Maine... I'd love to do a live draft...but I'm not sure it will be workable....

I agree with Domino here as the same has hapened to me - my posts were edited by sasun for no reason but his disagreement with the thoughts presented -- nothing offensive in them at all.

Yes this was much as they did to me last year...moved the draft up o it occurred while i was away and I had no time to rank my players and such (it was an automated draft - what I think we will end up with..)...I was all upset about it...rightfully...but i ended up with an OK team...at least one I could work with (by dumping 1/2+ of my players and picking up new ones...

Domino - yes Accel did well - but he obviously already had a bit of a sports fan mindset - important here i think...and he worked at it (oh and yes - he did get pretty lucky with a very nice draft...( I don't know what to say Domino...accept that I think if the league has too many newbies it may not be so fu as you will get taken advantage of... Anyway - regardless - by all means do make an attempt. I wont be around to explain things and such until later in August - but I suggesst you read about fantasy sports in general and fantasy football in specific - and try to makes some sense and gain some understanding of what you will be getting yourself into... As for Chinmoy....I think we must rely on temporal judgement and punishment...

Oh and Sip - live draft? I like it...but are your sure you meant for this? And have you explained that everyone will need to be available (and for a couole of hours) for this one? I'llneed to check my calander - but I think i have another draft that night... actually its good...but I will be camping that weekend...may possibly be able to get to an internet connection...but not sure I'll want to...etc

Yes it is fairly demanding to play it well - IMO. Somehow I don't think you have what it takes Domino - not anything to do with intellect - but more with interest...I predict that you will (fail to appreciate the nuances of the game and will) drop out quickly and fail to manage your team (consider that a challenge)....I am very curious as to Extra's approach and how she will fare...lol

OK - I'm in. Actually the bench is way too small. With bye weeks and such....the way its dne is that you always have a few more players in each position that are needed to start - this isn't enough. It will skew the game as what o you do - let your good player go on his bye week to pick up another? It will be brutal. I suggest expanding the rosters a bit (if i am understanding correctly) And later everyone - be seeing you August sometime...

what exactly is my "extreme"...I am not a biological determinsit BTW - just felt that biology should not be ignored and that it is certianly a factor - as is language (nad its key - I agree) - as are other facotrs...I just object to folks having to make such a big deal about it....and being exclusionary about it..and - in your case - trying to be precise about it - but using definitions that are clearly insufficient - like that "English" person we were talking about - lol (can't wait till they find out you claim that they are "English")

...you really think so?

Even if it is/was - it is insuficient and always will be. It is a question that cannot have a clear answer. And why do we need one anyone? Nairi's definition is sufficent for most cases - I mean who that isn't really cares to be - and if they do - they probably have a good (positive) reason - and like Azat says - they should be welcomed. Anyway - this issue is perhaps as meaningless and unanswerable as those concerning religion..and certainly can never be answered with some catch all 3-4 point definition. Like Boghos's sig says - simple answers = wrong answers

Oh & Domino - your equation of language with ethnicity probably has less validity then connecting it purely with nationality...think about it.... Russia - a nation of many ethnicities....but what they - for the most part - have in common - they speak Russian. And speaking of - there are a great many Armenians from Armenia who are far more comfortable speaking in Russian as opposed to Armenian....so these are not Armenian either? Sorry again - your draconian pronoucement of who can be considered Armenian is as worthless as your equally inept/inadequate attempts to define what constitues a religion....

Sorry Domino - this person thinks in English...so what "ethnicity" are they? Regardless this blows holes in your argument that language is sole determinate of culture. Face it - you lose again. Oh and Nakahar - belief in something or non-belief is not sufficient to constitute a religion. Anyone who has bothered to consider the various accepted definitions of religion should be able to understand this. Again - I don't believe in santa clause - does this constitute a religion? And for Domino - I don't believe that Santa Clause is divine and created the earth with the North Pole at its center....does this constitute a religion...? :fyou:

Domino - I know a person who has never been to the US and who at one time had never been to an English speaking country - yet this person had gone to schools where English was the primary language and in fact this person thinks in English - so is this person an American or and English person? Other then the fact that they think in English this person lives - more or less - according to their local culture - and of course genetically they are of that culture. So no Domino - your definition is insufficient and wrong...much as you are wrong concerning Atheism as religion and same sex unions as not being passible to be considered marraige. Sometimes I wonder what universe you live in.