Cantousent

Communism calls for the eradication of all religion. I think you'd find out the answer to that age old question, "where are the legions of the Pope?" should you decide to ban Catholicism. I'm not too old to be a legionaire if comes to that.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I have a TS and a Ventrilo server running right now also. I have to use two port forwarding addresses, which irritates me, but running both doesn't seem to cause any problems. If you get the chance, you can stop by the Order of Obsidian Knights TS. The password is: Obsidz0 The clincher will be security. If Ventrilo is at least as secure as TS, then I'm scratching the TS server and keeping Ventrilo.

Another area where we find agreement. Nazis are a safe group to hate. It's politically correct to despise them. I don't hate nazis, but I sure as hell don't want their policies in my country and fervently hope we don't see them in other countries either. National Socialim is a very specific idea. Of course, I feel the same way about Communism. I wonder, though, if Communism got a bad rap. You know? "The Russians tried it and it didn't work? Well, if the Russians can't get something right, then no-one can!" Still, being Catholic and all, I'm opposed to Communism as a concept. BTW: Life is harder for Christians when our fellow pick the wrong battles. The battle over evolution is not the place we need to make a stand. First of all, even many of the Christians who bristle over the issue have mixed feelings. Many of us don't have mixed feelings at all. I think the science that is best supported by observation and evidence should be the science that children learn. Pitting religion against science in this case serves neither the children nor religion.

From what I can tell, Schmarth, you're feverish enough already. What you probably need is a cold shower. BTW: Carrie Fisher in that costume looks about a million times hotter than any cartoon/book character on your ridiculous list.

I don't care about a limit. I usually play with one or two friends. Calax and I try to join forces from time to time, but I'm always in a mission, it seems. Still, I don't need a huge capacity for clients, just enough to play and not have the client software on my computer steal resources. I've actually used TS client without any problems on my end, but other folks keep complaining that it doesn't work as well for them. I guess I should switch.

I thought you were taking an attack of opportunity against the Catholic church because of Ratzinger's induction in the Hitler Youth. I can see now that you might have genuine concerns on those lines. I continue to disagree regarding the Hitler Youth experience, but not without some questions on my end. After all, I have looked to find more about his involvement with the "nazi Mathematics professor," but there is very little real information other than Ratzinger's account of his youth. There is some speculation to be found, but I distrust speculation in the first place and I despise speculation without significant evidence to, at the very least, build a foundation for discussion. Until there is some compelling reason to do otherwise, I imagine I'll give Pope Benedict XVI the benefit of the doubt.

Ah, then it wasn't just a random shot. I can undersand your irritation better now.

Okay, expert, there's a debate raging right now, and I'm wondering which one is better. A lot of folks go for Ventrilo. It doesn't use up much by way of resources, it seems, but it's a pretty bare-bones package. I don't like the interface, but it's simple enough to use. A lot of folks go for TeamSpeak. It's more of a resource hog, but it has a good interface and it's loads easier to look for servers. Which one should I use? Which one is more secure? Is there a signficant difference in resource usage for clients? (I will use a separate computer for the server anyhow, and my wife has no problems using any of her software while the server runs) Any other tid-bits I should consider? Informed advice is welcome.

See, that's quite clever!

That doesn't stop you from making suggestions, does it? Am I right, Fellas? I mean, am I right? :D

Okay, How about we send one from the whole forum? Something like, "Don't let our obvious desperation and lack of prospects disuade you from considering our application. Should you choose the Order of Obsidian Knights, you may decide upon one of our many candidates or, perhaps, enjoy a single date with many candidates until you find the 'perfect' fit. Indeed, our desperation could very well turn out to be a positive attribute in the long run. After all, we will be most loyal and conscientious and, while we may be social misfits, our hearts are true. So, in short, do not turn your back on our application. We ask for neither more nor less than one thing... a chance to prove ourselves." I mean, we'd have to beef it out to 500 words, but I was aiming for a little tongue in cheek humor that wouldn't be hurtful to the young lady in question. She seems to have fallen on hard times, hasn't she? So, we can put together a letter that is clearly not meant to be taken seriously, but which is still sincere and genuine in its own way. Also, I do think she's kind of a cute in a kind of toothy sort of way. So, at least some of us can claim that we are writing because of her photo. I'm willing to help work on the letter if you're serious, Walsh. Just say the word and I'll put together a rough and we can compare our drafts.

I've seen some hot English chics, guys. Don't fool yourselves into thinking they're dogs.

You just love reminding us don't you? Every one of your posts is "My girlfriend this" or "My girlfriend that", "Hey eveyone, I have a girlfriend!" I think we have all had enough of your girlfriend. Am I right fellas? I mean, am I right? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Jealous? Just wait until you hit puberty, soldier. I'm sure you'll have plenty of women at your side.

I see JE managed to beat me to the punch. I should have waited until the end of the thread to write a response, although it occurs to me that you were born into a Jewish family, Commissar. ...At least I seem to recall something to that effect. Perhaps the pope's membership in the Hitler Youth has some personal significance to you? BTW: the Father answers the older son by saying, "[m]y son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." That. THAT is why the parable of the lost son is one of the most beloved all bible passages. It addresses the concerns of the older son who is angry that his wayward brother comes home to celebration. It says that we should not waste our time wondering why someone who was a member of the Hitler Youth is pope, but be glad that he serves the church and does good works. We cannot wait for perfection, because there will never be a human pope if we do.

I agree. It's probably something of a normal human response. Good to know that the leader of the Catholic church is nothing but normal, though. You wouldn't expect an exceptional man to hold such a post. Nothing of the hero...the commoners like a man of the people. Strong moral compasses are for sissies, not leaders of the faithful. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The pope comes from the people. In fact, would it matter if he had murdered someone in his youth? Truly holy men who abhor violence sometimes come from lives filled with it. Look at some of the founders of Christian orders who had military backgrounds. Let's not pretend that this is anything but an opportunity for you to attack Catholicism. ...And it's not even as if you have a strong hatred of Catholicism in particular, I know. It's just that it's a religion and you have an opportunity to say something nasty about it. Well, think of this, my friend, perhaps it might be a good thing that the current pope has faced some real moral dilemmas. Maybe we should be glad to have someone who has lived in the Holocaust and faced the evils of nazi Germany to have some insight into our condition. As much as I hate nazis, and I doubt you despise the movement any more than I do, joining the Hitler Youth at the young age of 14 (sorry, I was wrong. By law he was forced to join at 14) like I was saying, joining the Hitler Youth at 14 does not equate to some sort of indelible moral stain, especially when you didn't have a choice. It's very easy for you to pass judgment (how very religious of you by the way) on a 14 year old boy living in a fascist state.

The members here are cretins, so why not? What? I'm a member here also? It just goes to prove my point.

Apparently, membership was mandatory for the, then 16 year old, Ratzinger. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cardin...E2.80.931945.29 He was also required to serve in the military. Hmmm. You guys are right, though. Like Stalin asked, "The Pope? How many divisions has he got?" He's just a guy in a funny hat.

Let's see... Alpha Centauri Stronghold Thief (1 and 2, couldn't find them for the longest time) Silent Storm <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I like Alpha Centauri, and I've replayed Alice and PS:T many, many times. There are quite a few single player games I enjoy enough to replay. Some of them I've bought more than once when I've misplaced the originals or lent them out and not had them returned.

You know, Azarkon, you went about this all wrong. You should have singled out some group to insult. How do you think you'll get any wind under this thread unless you question the members' intelligence or integrity or sincerity? On a more serious note, I don't think it's always that folks are mercenary. That's part of the problem, but that's not all of it. Let's take global warming as an example. Some folks see it as a dire threat. Some folks see the warming temperatures as a natural phenomenon that occurs regularly over the long term. As I understand it, the folks who see it as a dire threat concede that the earth has undergone periods of both warming and cooling, but that 1. this time, the warming having been instigated by humans, will not lead into a similar period of cooling or 2. That a period of warming, particularly when exacerbated by humans, is not beneficial to humans anyhow. So, we might have a potentially devastating problem on our hands, but we are not united because we do not agree on the nature or severity of the problem. In fact, I have only the most cursory knowledge on global warming, so added into the mix is a healhty dose of ignorance. The same will undoubtedly be true for any real thret we face as a species. After all, aliens might come in blasting, but a good number of peole will want to negotiate or talk to the aliens. Should it become clear that there is no negotiation possible, we might not know until it's too late. For the record, it's probably a good idea to try to negotiate with aliens. ...But that's another knott in the problem of a united humanity. Maybe we should have pulled out all the stops right away when the aliens came in blasting, but going to the mattresses (just for you, Gorth) right away might have been worse in the long run. I don't think humans, as a species, will exist forever. Our grasp on life is limited to one planet that is not all that secure a place in the universe. Let's face it, just because we've been lucky so far doesn't mean that we're going to unite to do the one thing that translates to a significant step towards the survival of our species, branching out to a few other places to live. Right now, all our eggs are in one basket, and just because that baskat has been relatively safe for us for what we see as a long time doesn't mean it's going to be safe forever. Indeed, the fact is, science gives us a good idea that the solar system is unstable in the long, long haul, even if nothing "extraordinary" happens. Of course, we can only know ordinary from extraordinary based on what we can observe, and that's not really much when it comes to planets. After all, how many other planets have we actually seen. Hell, we can hazard a guess at very few planets by conjecture, but they must exist, right? So, we don't know normal. We only know normal for us, which means we might not even have time to unite to face a challenge, because we might not know there's a challenge until something that's perfectly normal that we've never observed springs out and destroys the lot of us. ...And that, children, is my inspirational sermon for the day. Please feel free to suggest this post as light-hearted bedtime reading to all your friends.

Alas, although 500 words is not much, I can see no reason to solicit the charms of a 24 year old woman living in England. I hand enough of a problem with a wife and 20 year old female friends here in the United States. However, the vast majority of women would be lucky to have any one of the young men on these boards. Even Surreptishus.

I never look for prizes in my cereal. I wonder if I ended up eating any...

The problem isn't that humanity lacks some "other" to unite us. Even at the worst of times, at the height of German power during the early 20th century or when the Mongols invaded eastern Europe, factions within nations and communities continued to strive against each other. In fact, Ghengis planned on using French and English rivalry to separate the only powers in Western Europe at the time who could have stood against him. We don't lack some alien "other." We have nature, which is ultimately an unkowable force that acts upon mankind. We know more about nature as time progresses, but it still doesn't prevent us from facing deadly natural disasters. Humanity can't even unite against starvation or disease. If aliens, or dinosaurs, attacked humanity tomorrow, there would be some folks trying to make deals with them and other folks taking advantage of the situation. If we succeed when faced with such a threat, it will because enough people unite in the cause to face the threat. ...But that unity will never be unanimous.

Well, we do churn the waters from time to time, don't we?

Why do I feel like I'm back in class all of a sudden? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry. Far too much time spent training people. :"> <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ah, don't worry too much. Commissar gets so tied up in these arguments, he might as well be back in a classroom.

Do you doubt the existence of Socrates? He didn't write anything either. I've actually met some modern day Satanists. I thought it was a joke or something until I sat down and had a discussion with one. That's story for a another thread. I'm just trying to make sure I don't get another thread deleted by our less than judicious mod team.