THOTH

For me it has always been - Monty Python and the Holy Grail (really)...of course there are many that I really like - The Fellowship of the Ring is certainly a favorite. And like Azat I really am into both Silence of the Lambs and Pulp Fiction...thumbs up for Goodfellas as well. Other movies of note for me include: Brazil (Terry Gilliam), Repo Man! ( ...always intense...), Terminator II, Blade Runner, Silent Running, and of course Ararat! I'm very much into Sci Fi in general - but in that regard (movies yet to be made in) the future are currently more apealing (me imagining them - as Hollywood has done few right to date IMO). I'm really hopin gto see some Tim Powers, David Brin or Greg Bear novels done well one day...shame on David Lynch for his mihandling of Frank Herbert's Dune - one of my all time favorite novels/series (and author...have read literally all his stuff...and actually met him in 1984, just before he died...

quote:Originally posted by MJ:The link between Al Qaeda and Iraq is a fact. This is a completely and utterly untrue statement.

quote:Originally posted by nairi:I don't know if women are better off with Christianity. I'm sure you remember some of Tigran and the like's posts. Mind you, I'm not saying they'll be better off with Islam. I just don't see much difference between the two. On some levels this is certainly true...though to some degree its dependent on the "flavor"...some are more liberal...reasonable even...well for the most part. But with Islam - I have some very fundemental (pun intended) issues...though much is certainly the same to me.... But as for these girls...who are we to judge? Perhaps they have had some sort of eppiphany or such...again - we don't like when others try to make our decisions for us...we should respect others in the same manner...

MJ - I am very offended by any insinuation on your part that I would in any way desire to see American body bags. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this attack will increase terrorism against us and also increases not decreases the likelyhood that state and non-state entities will attempt and eventually succeed in aquiring and using nuclear or biological attacks against us. If indeed we wished to fight and blunt terrorism I feel this is very much the wrong approach. (I was 100% behind the action in Afghanistan BTW). I am no apologist for Sadaam - in no way. I was all for pushing on to eliminate him and his regiem durign the last war - and thought we should go after him in the interveening years. I applaud the attempt to crater him and the start of the war (in fact I advocated such before it was done)...and who knows perhaps we got him eh? I also understand that a war against Saddam and his regiem may have been inevitable...I just don't think that the approach taken was the correct one - for a great number of reasons. But of course I hope everything turns out favorable to us. I very much want to be wrong in my concerns/predictions.

Sure it has been relatively bloodless - so far....will that last? - well I hope that it will...is this likely...all depends on Iraqi resiliance and willingness to take punishment...unfortunatly many of the (Saddam loyalist) troops may think they have nothing to lose (and everything to gain) by fighting it out. And sure terroristic type attacks are (for the most part) not militarily significant (w/o use of WMD...) but could be responsible for a steady stream of body bags for years to come....a price worth paying? perhaps...but tell that to the parents/children etc of the dead...at some point I expect that many Americans will become more critical of this war (and even the occupying "peace") as it drags on and more Americans are lost (even the issue of reservists kept away from home/family/careers etc...)...and even with the President stating that this war will likely be more costly (in deaths etc) then people realize I still think there was clearly a fundemental expectation put forth that this would be a fairly easy and relatively bloodless endevor...thats just my take...and its not a Priori at all but based on observation...the whole thing was pretty much a given - just listen to the statements - "we will win" "the outcome is without question" etc etc - well in war the outcome is never without question...please... Also - I understand the various factors (as you have stated) for the first war ending....however the issue of additional casualties for pressing to Bahgdad was certainly one of the factors... Weather the various estimates of casualties (military and Iraqi civilian) will come about is entirely dependent on weather the Iraqis will capitulate (as had already been expected by now based on the original "war plan") or if they dig in. The #s of casualties may rise significantly if the Iraqis are able to succesfully repel and do some damage (like with WMD or just fierce/determined resistance). If the US nose gets bloodied the gloves may come off...to date the (collateral damage/casualty etc) restraint shown on the part of the US & British forces has been comendable...but that is because it is still percieved that this war cannot be lost (and perhaps that is accurate...with the air & firepower available...etc)...but you wouldn't have thought we could have "lost" in Vietnam either...I do certainly hope that we can pull this one off with the minimul of losses/commitment and with the minimul negative political, economic and terroristic fallout...but we are in fact rolling the dice big time with this one...

quote:Originally posted by MJ: [ April 02, 2003, 08:24 AM: Message edited by: THOTH ]

MJ - sure - no one wants war. But Americans were basically sold that this "action" would be one sided and essentially bloodless (I said essentially, not entirely)...much like the video game shoot em up of the last war. There were many reasons why we did not pursue Saddam in the last war - one of them was the realization that any action were troops had to go into urban areas to root out the (native) enemy was going to be a bloddy one. Additionally the entire Arab world (and a good portion of the rest of the world) has serious reservations and doubts about this war. And it may be essentially unwinable - another Vietnam or Algeria (or worse - because the terror type attacks will actually be trans-border - resulting in American civian victims...etc). there are so many reasons why this action was a bad idea. Even if we can subdue the nation and destroy Saddam & Co. and capture/destry any bad stuff it still may (likely will) be a net loss in the long haul (in so many ways - politcal-economic-safety...etc). I do honestly hope I am wrong in my thinking...

OK OK - so he is an idiot too...well i already knew that...I still see him as an American hero...anyone who stirs it up like he does is a hero in my eyes...it needs to be done and he is doing it...so he lacks style (well he does have a certain stlye...LOL)...and he doesn't have all of the facts...sure nobody is perfect...he is a rabble rouser in the great American dissenting spirit...and thats what counts IMO - we need more like him...to hell with all of the sheep...

Boghos - good post. Of course one cannot say that this war is going entirely by "the plan" can we...I mean after all the Iraqi's werent even suposed to fight at all. they were to be "shocked and awed" into submission and give up as our tanks rolled into Bahgdad...and clearly that has not happened. I also think that the US has underestimated/ignored the Arab mind set on all of this. No matter if it is a quick war or a long drug out?Vietnam like one - I fear we have stirred the Arab hornets nest yet again and this can only amount to more wasps flying out to sting us...and folks have been known to die by bee stings you know...

AEKDB - Welcome to the forum. I feel exactly as you do. I find that I'm even agreeing with hagarag's latest post!

hyebruin, don't know maybe...but with my friend most of the time the gals just wanted sex from him (and this was sometimes very explicitly said...)...or they were in a relationship with him and the sex was good, and he was an absolute hunk, and he was/is a very decent guy - a great guy actually...so they wanted to kep him, forever like...LOL - even in relationships where he would clearly state that he wasn't interested in any long tern thing - right up front - didn't matter. In fact I was present when he told different gals that he was only interested in the sex (this was after he was already burnt out etc)...and they would say OK! ...but it never turned out that they were satisfied with this...it was really all something to see...meanwhile the rest of us (prety much nice/decent) guys were struggling just to get a date, etc...so, no - I think gals are just as warped/screwed up (and sometimes just as calous) in their expectations and relations...

Hyebruin - thats funny really - as most guys think similarly about girls...its the old Mars & Venus thing I guess. Back when I was (well I would guess) your age I had a very good friend (and roomate)...actually he is still a good friend...well he was basically a super hunk type of guy. He's half Coation and half Irish (of all things) - tall/dark/well built/athletic/in great shape/etc...Gals were always after him - in extreme ways that you probably wouldn't even believe. They left (explicit) love notes on his motorcycle, they basically threw themselves at him. Once I returned to our place from somewhere I was out at night and there was a party going on at our place. When I went to my room he was there with this gal who had disrobed and was attempting to do the same to him...she was all over him (he wasn't interested...but as usual was basically duped on some pretext of checking out something in my room...likely liquor - I had a full bar built into my room - well stocked too!) ...anyway I helped him get her clothes back on and escort out of my room. On another occasion a (very pretty) gal invited him over to her place under the pretense that she was throwing some sort of party...but in fact he was the only one invited and met him at her door in a red neglige...anyway they dated for a while...but after he had extracted himself from the relationship he actually swore off women - lasted perhaps over a year. He thought women were manipulators who were only after his body...etc So it can go both ways. He did have a problem (because of his good looks and great disposition etc) there were several instances where gals would get pregnant in hopes he would marry them (and of course they liead about being on the pill etc) - it was actually really tough for him (of course most of us guys would dream about such...)...but it was funny/eduicational for me to see what he was going through. He actually swore off women - declared himself celibate (and kept to it...) - yet gals were constantly all over him. I just wanted to pass this on becuase - as in most cases - it goes both ways...its not just guys who can be wierd about these things...(all is a terue story in fact...and thankfully he is happily married to a really nice gal now...but his life has not been without some pretty strange and difficult times relationship wise...)

Woah! thats pretty strong Hyebruin...I hope you really don't feel that way. Sure there are plenty of schmucks & such...but not all guys are so bad...really. I'm sue you will find someone nice one day...your experiences may have something to do with what you look for in a guy. What at first may seem attractive may not turn out to forebode longevity or such in a relationship...don't know really - but you shouldn't just give up so soon (IMO)...

quote:Originally posted by parik:Sasun this was the most acurate discription of the situation in Armenia i read so far, one more thing it is not easy to erase 75 years of comunist rule , teaching them democracy is going to take some or maybe long time. <img border="0" alt="[thumbup]" title="" src="smilies/thumbup.gif" /> Another very good point that many folks don't understand. Actually I think many of the previous few posts have made some good points (even if perhaps/seemingly contadictory)...thanks all for taking the time to enlighten us...

quote:Originally posted by parik:Thank you THOTH When iraqis were asked if they read the leaflets US aeroplains droped on their cities they answerd yes but complained that they were not soft enough , you know after 12 years of starving them they could not aford bying toilet papers . <img border="0" alt="[babysmile]" title="" src="smilies/babysmile.gif" /> no doubt. I actually have a few of the leaflets dropped in the first war...signed by their authors/designers no less...fairly interesting/amusing little souveiners. I'll have to see about getting some of this war's batch...that is when I can stop crying and laugh about it...

quote:Originally posted by hyebruin:here's a funny joke i heard recently...it fits real well in here: you've heard the saying: once you go black you never go back? well, this white guy (black audience) was trying to show off and started out confident trying to win over the black women by saying: once you go white, you go right back!! <img border="0" alt="[lol]" title="" src="smilies/lol.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[lol]" title="" src="smilies/lol.gif" /> LOL - that is funny. I once had a secretary who basically only dated black guys (and had a beuatiful little girl with one..whom she subsequantly lived with). She used to say that "...never go back" all the time (and was entirely serious about it. dl - I'm not sure your Turkey preference analogy really applies (for everyone). And truly I would hope that peoople could really see beyond race and other generalizations and just consider the person as an individual. Its amazing what you find when you open yourself up to accepting someone as a unique individual and not just a "something"....

quote:Originally posted by hyebruin: quote:Originally posted by hyebruin:

Well as a Haliburton stock holder (really!) - I say "Its about time!" - LOL . No Azat - I do understand your concerns. It all stinks a bit eh - if even just the appearences...just like my old friend (well not really...) Richard Perle...LOL..I suspect that history will not judge America/this administration well when it is all said and done...just imagine it - Hillary in 2004...this will be their final legacy...LOL I was certainly not a supporter of the approach this adminstration has taken - letting their game plan come before all rason and diplomacy...not letting the inspections or international process work...but now that we are in there I very much hope for a swift victory with minimal collateral damage/issues...though it seems this is not to be as the game plan (Iraqi's buckling under and following instructions dropped by leaflet) is not going to work...no matter what the war outcome I fear that the international ramifications (incl further radicalization of the Islamic world) will be severe and not good for the U.S. (or the West) in the long run...(and certainly if this becomes Vietnam 2..or somthing akin to the French in Algeria...certainly a disaster...but perhaps a [costly] lesson...things will really be in chaos in the world...and the cost...the cost - in multiple dimensions...do we truly "do what it takes to achieve victory" no matter what the costs in resources and the blood of our young?

Domino - not everyone has the time, inclination or knowledge to assemble a machine themselves. And I got to hand it to Dell - they have been doing this a while and it shows. Of course there are other manufacturers that are makin gsome good products as well and one should attempt to check them all out to see what meets their needs (I did). Emachines makes a pretty nice real cheepo machine BTW that may do what you want just fine. And of course one can always replace ort add components and such as needed and for some it really doesent matter to have some specialty components when the generic set 9made by whomever) will do...

You wouldnt believe the system I got from Dell just the other day for around $1K. Just awesome... Pentium® 4 Processor at 2.53GHz w/533MHz front side bus/ 512K L2 Cache Qty: 1 Unit Price: 1,208.00 (+$150 rebate!) Floppy Drive and Additional Storage Devices 64MB Dell USB Memory Key and Floppy Drive Mouse Dell® 2-button scroll mouse CD or DVD Burner for 2nd bay - New 48x/24x/48x Max CD-RW Drive Sound Card Integrated Audio Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 1Yr Ltd Warr plus 1Yr At-Home Service + 90Days Dell SecurityCenter (McAfee) Software Bundles WordPerfect® Productivity Pack with Quicken New User Edition Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional Memory 256MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz Monitors 17in (16.0 viewable,.25dp)M782 Monitor Keyboard Dell® Enhanced Multimedia Keyboard Digital Music Dell Jukebox powered by MUSICMATCH Speakers Harman Kardon HK-395 Speakers with Subwoofer Multi-Function Lexmark X75 Multi-Function Printer (Print, Scan, Copy, Fax) Hard Drive - 60GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive Network Interface Integrated Intel® PRO 10/100 Ethernet 16x Max DVD-ROM Drive Digital Photography Dell Picture Studio, Image Expert Standard Modem 56K PCI Telephony Modem Mail-In Rebate Offer Save $150 with mail-in rebate. Price shown before rebate. Video Cards 64MB DDR NVIDIA­ GeForce4 MX™ Graphics Card with TV-Out Internet Access Service 6 Months of America Online Membership Included [ March 28, 2003, 03:28 PM: Message edited by: THOTH ]

parik - good point - and it has been forgoten - all that can be remembered is the arcade shoot em up of 1991. I knew this would come back to haunt us (the U.S.) one day...I predict that this will be a very costly "lesson"...

log - so wrong. I have no self estem problem whatsoever - far from it - I am very secure in who I am - imensly so in fact. (not saying I'm perfect or such - far far from it)...lets just say that I believe myself to be supremely "adjusted"/even keeled whatever... Another thing - I'm not "getting back at you" - please...nor has anything you have said really upset me or anything - exactly how have I "got back at you" and for what? I really don't understand. Just having some fun. And believe me - you are really off the mark about me... As for multiple partners & such - well - if sex is a good think (I think that it is) - lots of sex is even better - no? LOL Of course it is not so simple - and again it is much more then this (relationships etc versus "just" sex - etc) - believe me - I don't really fit the profile of the type of person of which you speak - and I understand the drawbacks and perhaps deficincies of a person who is so driven - but at the same time I can appreciate the flip side of such as well...and I certainly wish that I might have had more of such expericnes whicl young! But now I am old(er) and my lifestyle is of course much different...still I think most people are too hung up on this whole chastity/purity thing or whatever. they'd be better off letting loose more and enjoying themselves...the whole world would have much less problems if all the sexual tension and various complexes associated with sex (or lack therof) coud be lessend/eliminated...etc

Dell is certainly nice (just recieved and set up a Del desktop for the kids last night! - blows my 4 yr old Micron away...though not by as much as one would think...)- I think the Toshibas might be worth looking into as well for laptops...and again the most important thing is to consider your needs - what will you use it for. As I do a lot of video work and have been frustrated by the clugeyness of PC based applications (some of them have never worked righ/lots of crashes/interupt issues etc) I am very seriosly considering a moblie MAc G4 Powerbook. An awsome machine - that will also to near full PC emulation (except for 3D graphics/games). Its pricy - but may be worth it depending on your needs...

Well truly, any "sex ed" would likely have to be conducted in person...LOL (or at least accompanied by pictures and/or a demonstration...)...and so if your were'nt talking about me just who might have you been refering to?

Azat/hybruin - I have not discussed any fantasies or such - just imparted some of my experiences/beliefs in an attempt to educate a bit or a least provide another perspective. And plenty of others have made comments concerning celebs etc that they admire - why single me out? I'm sorry i you find my comments too racy or such - not my intent per se.. and as for racisim - well I do feel strongly about it - and have seen its ugly face. I reduse to tolerate it...even though I'm a very tolerating type in general...