Hurlshort

Ok, so I bought Assassin's Creed Revelations, but I had never played Brotherhood. I didn't want to miss the story, so I am watching the youtube movie version of Brotherhood to get caught up. It feels a bit silly, but I really didn't want to run around Italy anymore after finishing AC2. The movie is 3 hours long, so I'll start on Revelations after I finish it tonight.

I teach 12 year olds, so I have to be somewhat careful with both blood and sex. Just based on the first episode, the intro where he is sticking his sword through people might be a bit too much. The bedroom scenes are uncomfortable, I think I can just hit fast forward because they aren't really important to the story and it will keep all my immature boys from flipping out. Oddly enough the beheading is fine, they hold up this very fake looking head afterwards and I think the kids will laugh more than anything. I'm not terribly worried about the continuity, I'm more interested in showing Viking culture and life during the time period, which I think they do well. I also love all the boatbuilding and navigation stuff they go into.

I bought this on DVD. Originally I thought it might be a good series to show my students at the end of the year when we are done with instructional time, but I'd have to skip over quite a bit!

Do you want me to recommend some books on the topic? There isn't really a simple answer to that question, but I'd venture that's the same for most countries. I once had a history professor describe it this way. In the US, if our doorbell stops working, we fix it. I think his point was about the pioneer spirit of America. If the roof needs shingling, we get up there and do it ourselves. We invent stuff. We restore stuff. It's not exactly unique to just the US, but it is rather widespread. First in flight, first to the moon, Al Gore inventing the internet, etc.

You seem to be talking about some agenda where society is forced to adopt a bunch of cultures that are not even present. Japan as a hub for Libya? We have enough culture clashes throughout the world, we don't need to make up hypothetical scenarios. You are correct that we are naturally becoming multicultural due to trade and commerce. It's a small world, diversity is everywhere. I'm not saying society needs to create policies to speed up the spread of culture, that is happening fast enough. Society need to help teach tolerance, so that people don't freak out when their neighbors act differently. Here is your first question, which I didn't have time to get to. 1 - I've addressed it already, but I don't see why any culture needs to be threatened by new traditions, ideals, and languages. Laws of the land, on the other hand, should be used to make sure people can practice their traditions and live by their ideals freely. For example, it does not affect me if my neighbors wear a hijab, but it also should not be forced on me to wear one. That also doesn't make my nieghbor any less of an American. You can have a strong sense of nationalism and still be different than your neighbors.

Jesus, do you have a unicorn in your garden that craps rainbows, too? Does Rainbow Dash count?

I'll answer these out of order to be confusing In regards to 4, The idea that Japan will lose their distinctness because they've embraced another culture is not realistic. The Japanese have been embracing all that is American for decades and it is still very distinct. Just look at Japanese Baseball. 3, Considering the clashes between ethnic groups in Africa, it seems like every country would be better off with an acceptance of multiculturalism. There are obviously much bigger issues in 3rd world nations, but accepting other cultures would be part of the solution to those issues. 2, Public policy is often needed to enact social change. It would be wonderful if it happened naturally, but that can also be a painful and long process. People resist change.

I prefer to think I am better insulated.

I read that every team that has started 7-0 has made it to the Superbowl somewhere. My guess is the Chiefs will break that record. They are a good team, but I'm not sure I see them beating Denver.

You rolled a one, I'm not allowed to tell you anything. It's really not that much different than SR2 Reboot, but the graphics are polished. I'd compare it to going from a DVD to Blu-Ray. The pirates are also fleshed out a good deal more, they take over systems like the dominators, except you can still land on the planets and everything. I haven't started the quest line with them. For me it was worth the upgrade, but I played the original a lot and I figured they deserved my $20.

If we are just talking about preserving our own culture within the US, I don't see what the problem is. I'm incredibly proud to be an American and I travel the country every summer sharing as much of this country as I can with my kids. It does not make me insecure that there are other cultures around.

Shariah is a silly talking point for shock jocks trying to drive their ratings up. It preys on the ignorance of the average American about Islam. We have a separation of church and state, that isn't going to change because we have Muslims in the country.

Are these the same people that blew up the twin towers and shot JFK? I'm pretty sure egalitarianism is something to strive for.

Different people in this thread have latched on to their own definition, it's helpful to understand which one it is. So...I'm a bit confused. Do you feel that fits your definition? That seems to fit my definition pretty clearly, mainly the multiculturalism is a society “at ease with the rich tapestry of human life and the desire amongst people to express their own identity in the manner they see fit.” Do you really think that's a fair description of America? Try to cite something outside of your own anecdotal experience. Of course it isn't honest to say the US is some idealized wonderland of multiculturalism. The struggle to get people to embrace what is different is far from over. But you have a fantastic selection to look at for historical precedents. Do we really need to go over the history of New York, San Francisco, etc.?

If you re-read it you'll see there are several meanings offered there, you just picked the one you happen to like. And if your definition includes expressing you own identity in the manner you (not society) see fit, such as having a harem of wives and beating them to keep them in line, then I'm sorry for you. The definition I would pick involves the refusal to assimilate (as indicated in the last line) and refusal to conform to societal norms (because hey man, my culture is every bit as good as yours, so what if we burn widows and kill female children). I guess you want to address the legality of multiculturalism, how droll. We shouldn't have to even say that the laws of the land apply to everyone regardless of culture. Let's keep this conversation interesting instead of resorting to lazy what-if scenarios. I still really don't see how any of the definitions fit yours.

Different people in this thread have latched on to their own definition, it's helpful to understand which one it is. So...I'm a bit confused. Do you feel that fits your definition? That seems to fit my definition pretty clearly, mainly the multiculturalism is a society “at ease with the rich tapestry of human life and the desire amongst people to express their own identity in the manner they see fit.”

Japanese will serve you well in many business markets, so if that is an aim then I would go do it. Learning a language is not exactly that easy, especially at an adult age. I don't know a single second generation Mexican-American that does not speak English though, so I'm not quite sure where you are going with this. They move here for the jobs, their kids learn English, what is the big problem? Most of them understand English better than you'd assume, it's just a lack on confidence with speaking it. It's also your mother's job as an ESL teacher to help them speak English. You kind of make her out badly with your comments, I'm hoping that is simple hyperbole on your part. Does she teach children or adults?

My great grandmother was full blooded Italian. My wife's dad is full blooded Mexican. My wife has two grandparents that were full blooded French. My children dance ballet folklorico. They attend Eid celebrations at local mosques. We hang out with a family that runs a Japanese Grocery Store, and we go to Portuguese Crab Feeds with another. Our babysitter has us over for dinners regularly, her mom only speaks Spanish and she makes the best salsa I have ever tasted anywhere. My kids understand her perfectly. Multiculturalism makes my world a beautiful place, if you don't think it works, I feel extremely sorry for you. Also German Chancellors don't have the best track record when it comes to multiculturalism, I'd hesitate to use that as your tagline.

I would attend the heck out of that business conference.

That's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it? Multiculturalism implies they don't have much use for your culture. That's not accurate at all. Multiculturalism works best when all cultures are being respected and celebrated by everyone in the community. And...where has this happened? All over the US? I work at a school with any religion and ethnic group you could name. Sikhs and Muslims, Persians and Jews, Japanese and Koreans, Indians and Pakistanis. You name it, we got it. They keep their cultures and traditions, I get a wide selection of dining choices. edit: For a bigger example, you can look at how Mexican-Americans thrive all over the US, or how Vietnamese-Americans adjusted after coming over in large numbers after the Vietnam War.

I don't have anything against Sikhs, but if they refused to participate in the surrounding culture, that would be ultimately be harmful both to them and the nation. I don't see multiculturalism as merely the retention of certain cultural aspects which are not in conflict with the prevalent culture, I don't see why anyone but hardcore racists would be opposed to that. I understand multiculturalism as a refusal to assimilate into the prevalent culture. Using the word assimilate always conjures images of the Borg for me. WoD aren't you in Texas? Aren't you surrounded by a combination of Mexican, Native American, and Cowboy culture on a regular basis? Which one is prevalent? edit: Tsuga, it's easy to just say get rid of the rabble, but it's pretty tricky to siphon out just the bad immigrants from the good. Unless you are talking about closing the borders for good, in which case you don't understand how our economy works.

I'm not sure what the point is. If a game is good enough you'll see people buying at normal price and not waiting for a discount. Plus, is the argument about long term monetary or creative value? The guys seem to confuse the two. I need to avoid reading things from GOG. I like the company better that way.

That's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it? Multiculturalism implies they don't have much use for your culture. That's not accurate at all. Multiculturalism works best when all cultures are being respected and celebrated by everyone in the community.

I do question how different the standard of living is compared to 1984. I know people who make very little, yet they have smart phones and flatscreen TV's.

I love low level D&D. Every time you pull your sword out, there is a good chance you will die. I used to play on a NWN permadeath server called A Land Far Away and everyone was pretty much in the levels 1-5 range. When you met someone higher than that, it was like they were gods among men.