Archmonarch

Ah, my mistake. By quoting my statement, I thought you were attempting to imply I supported PETA's actions in these situations. I suppose some of our earlier debates colored my perception. Apologies.

I never mentioned valuing animal lives above that of humans. I simply believe that both groups have the right to live free of pain and torment.

I did all the missions for one person before moving onto the next. I think Big Smoke was the second person for which I did missions. I had some trouble with that mission, more from having to shoot the enemies within the time limit than controlling the bike. The guy at the fast food restaurant (from which you receive the dancing mission) I attempted last.

I must defend my honor! Ha! 5! I am victorious!

The first time, I didnt exactly understand the controls so I failed. Once I got the rythym down, I beat it easily the second time.

Amen! I rented it a few months ago when it first came out for the PS2. I got through every mission, until I had to steal a stereo system from a DJ at a beach party. Apparently, she wont even let you look at it until you impress her with your dance moves. And so it degenerates into a DDR minigame at which I suck terribly. I dont remember the exact score needed, but I do remember not even being able to reach half that despite two hours of trying. Eventually, I gave up. I never did beat that mission.

I'm sorry, I thought animal abuse was a bad thing. My mistake. While I may not agree with all of PETA's methods, I do believe cruelty towards animals should be prevented and those guilty of it punished in a court of law. A simple small fine is not sufficient (nor would any amount be) to invalidate a creature's right to live.

Whats the lowest you can get? Mine is so far 9. P.S. Letting him fall to the ground doesnt count. You have to actually shoot him.

Aww, I only got 89.

The Queen is Dead! A New Prime Minister! by Jordan Collier Today, the 22nd of January 1901, our sovereign mother Queen Victoria has left us. Having reigned the longest of any British monarch, her time will be remembered as politically tumultuous, yet bountiful for the Empire. Her son, Edward, is expected to succeed to the throne. This tragedy has brought about a riot of activity in the Houses of Parliament. As I am sure you all know, the Prime Minister is chosen by the controlling party of the House of Commons. Following this terrible event, the balance of power has shifted within this governmental body to the Liberal Party. Their selection is Arch Regis, a man known for forward-thinking and quite popular with the people. Though he was not available for comment directly, Regis' office has released a statement for the new PM. "This is a great day for England and all the British Empire. Through diplomacy and industry, our land will continue to swell and our economic might grow. Though we have had our differences with the Continent, we expect reason and logic to rule the day. Expect great things for our future."

There is a fairly recent series (in the last several years) called "The Golden Age" by John C. Wright, comprised of three books: The Golden Age, The Phoenix Exultant, and The Golden Transcendance. It is quite interesting, on both a theoretical and entertainment level, and was reviewed quite highly. In this possible future, humans are immortal, existing as semi-digital beings in a both electronic and physical world. Technology has provided certain opportunities we lack today, such as choosing a neural configuration. By this I mean, humans can literally change the way their brain functions. While most are what is called "base neuroform," basically as we are today, though smarter through technological enhancement, many other groups exist. Some join mass-minds, amalgamations of any number of human psyches. Others are Warlocks, those who have connections between the hemispheres of their brain, allowing them superior intuitive capabilities. Others choose the path of the Cerebellines, transferring their minds into a lifeweb of many plants and animals. This society is founded on the use of Sophotechs (meaning Wise Machines), comprehensive AIs so powerful as to render humanity practically obsolete. It covers much more than for what you're looking, but it is fairly comprehensive on the subject of human-AI relations.

Im aware of the conjecture and projections behind the "Multiverse Theory." I make use of it in my writing. I also remember a certain test (I forget the exact name) in which light is shot through a board with two slits in it. Theoretically, the light could go through either hole and this dichotomy creates alternate universes in which the beam goes through either hole. As this makes no real difference on reality, the two universes condense back into one. It is thereby (if I remember correctly) impossible to tell through which hole the light traveled. So as to connect to my earlier post, "Sliders" was a '90's sci-fi show starring Jerry O'Connell (currently in Crossing Jordan) as a physics student named Quinn who was working on solving a certain equation proposed by his professor, a noted expert in the field. His intent is to create an anti-gravity device with it. He comes close, but is finally unable to solve it. Suddenly, a wormhole opens and out pops another Quinn. This version solved the equation and his device became a wormhole generator through a technique he calls sliding, thus the name. After warning the "original" Quinn of the multitude of realities and the difficulty in returning to your home, etc., blah, blah, blah, he leaves. Original Quinn decides to test the machine anyway. He invites his professor (portrayed by John Rhys-Davies) and a co-worker to the demonstration. Naturally, something goes wrong and the three along with a washed-up soul singer driving by the house are sucked into the vortex and end up in an alternate world in nuclear winter. And so they travel from world to world, trying to find their way home and meeting their alternate selves, while battling injustice and the evil Kromaggs (aliens who posses a variant sliding technology). Over time, every original member of the team dies or is subsumed into a double (the term for the identical people from different universes) of themselves (Quinn is eventually used to 'repair' a version of him that looks completely different and has a broken back). A fairly cheesy show, but it entertained me as a child.

Employees of any corporation involved in a contest are usually barred from entering, so as to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

That was the entire premise of the show "Sliders."

Actually, a non-evil drow is now a cliche known as Drizzt (I forget where the ' goes) due to the horrible, horrible writing of the paradoxically successful R.A. Salvatore.

It must be nice to have absolutely no grasp on reality.

Then my earlier supposition was correct. Your tastebuds ARE faulty. As are you, if you believe McDonald's food will not increase your weight. Tell that to the natives of underdeveloped areas from which they bought large masses of land for a pittance in order to engross their potential profits. The original idea, it seems, was to save money on costs by raising their own cattle and selling it to the consumer at the same price as if they had bought the meat. The cows had devoured all plant life they could reach within a month. Over 300 acres destroyed. Everyone suffered here: the natives who were displaced from their homes with almost nothing due to language barriers and differing concepts of value, the flora and fauna of the areas which died from overgrazing and destruction of their habitat, McDonald's who were forced, so as to avoid an environmental press fiasco, to cease their efforts to raise cattle in the Amazon and continue buying meat, and the remainder of humanity who will one day have to fix the errors of corporate firms, such as McD's, in causing Global Warming. I admit the part McDonald's played in this last is minor, yet they still played a part.

You had to ruin my little experiment, didnt you? :angry:

@ Volourn: You are entitled to your opinion, unless it harms others. In this case, the propagation of the plague known as McDonald's harms everyone. Either your tastebuds are faulty, or you do not understand the meaning of quality. See, where I come from, it means superior, of a high grade. McDonald's has neither of these qualities. Their food is prepared hours ahead of time, in many cases, and sits there in its own juices. McDonald's=Disgusting. Of course, this is a general fact of most fast food. A few such as Arby's (IMO) avoid this by offering alternative choices. Despite any objections to the contrary, they were one of the pioneers in healthier food items among drive-thru establishments.

According to a new article on the BBC website, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4097258.stm, time travel may be possible under a new model proposed by US and Austrian scientists. Based on quantum mechanics, this theory eliminates the Grandfather Paradox by introducing a feedback loop whereby traveling to the past would only complement the present. In other words, you cant change history at any level by going into the past. Some force would prevent your actions. Of course, they fail to mention forward time travel in this brief article. I wonder if the same rules would apply.

True enough, but would not towns grow up around areas where it is easier to survive? And thus, would not the jobs follow the people who move to said town? Besides, seven hours to get water? If the locals protect the water so diligently, how do you get any at all? Even if they do protect it and you have to sneak in, you could move at least somewhat closer.

Why not relocate to the water?

While I am usually an avid reader, as of late, I have been engrossed in my own writing and so find myself reading fewer books. However, I have just begun a book titled "Elantris" by Brandon Sanderson, an English professor at Brigham Young University. It seems to be highly reviewed, though I will surely have my own impressions as I venture farther into it. From a casual perusing, it seems fairly creative and meticulously planned. I only hope my work will one day show the same polish.

I'll play, but I must ask what version. Several are listed on that site.

He lives again!