dkstories

Hmmm...was the guy at least cute?

Actually they are filming the fourth here real soon...with the same actors.

Yeah, I noticed that too, Crabbe/Goyle are NOT supposed to be cute and cuddly. That one I just wanted to cuddle while ravaging Draco...Oh nevermind.

Angela, will you then put yourself in jail for having violated the law? Do the ends justify the means? Ah, got to love such philosophical questions....

Well, I went to the first showing this morning and was teary-eyed for about two hours after the show. Prisoner of Azkaban wasn't my favorite of the books, but it IS my favorite of the movies so far. Daniel Radcliffe, in my opinion, captured the pain, the anger, and the pure unadultered fury of Harry Potter perfectly. Frankly, I can't wait to see what he does with Book 5. I think people are going to like it a lot more once they see it on the screen. "I hope he does find, because when he does I'm going to KILL HIM." That was...spine-tingling, as was were the softer, more friendly conversations between Remus and Harry about his parents. How the anger transferred from Sirius to Pettigrew in the Shack was absolutely beautiful. Even more wonderful was the moment when Harry accepted that it wasn't his father that had saved him earlier, but himself, and all that dove-tailed from that understanding. I also enjoyed the look on Harry's face when he looked at the 'note' from Malfoy. Trelawney was delightfully batty, and Dumbledore was good (the new guy). Lupin was...perfect, as was Snape (in fact I'd say this film was the first that really gave him his due on-screen). Ron was wonderfully Ron, and Hermione..YEOW. Watch out for that girl in the future (I especially liked "So that's what my hair looks like from behind!") Sirius was played perfectly. When the time comes for OoTP to be made into a film, I expect not a dry eye in the theatre. The moments between Harry and him were absolutely wonderful, from the throat strangling to the quiet talk by the Whomping Willow. Buckbeak was on-screen so much more than what I had imagined from the books. The first time he flies with Harry was absolutely special, and that made the subsequent scene with Draco all the more delicious. The kids around me whimpered when they saw the axe fall, and I might have if I didn't know what really happened. From the beginning we saw something in Harry that's been missing on screen from the first two movies. His raw emotionalism was what this movie needed, and made it so good. From the beginning with Aunt Marge as he bristled in outrage, anger, and pride about his parents, this was the Harry Potter I've been wanting to see for a while. The sadness and anger after hearing what everyone thought Sirius Black had done to his parents was so...strong that my eyes were full of tears at that point, and the helplessness of Hermione and Ron to deal with those emotions was a great foreshadowing of what is to come. They can help him, they can support him, but they don't understand what he feels because they've never really suffered the loss like he has. Yes, there were changes from the book, as there must be in any adaptation. There were small moments, special moments, funny things, etc. that didn't make it to the screen, but you know what? I don't miss them too much. Yes, the firebolt did not come at Christmas, but so WHAT? The story was well-told, well-made, and contained every major thing needed from the original book. It was special, magical, and yes there were tears on my face and a soft smile as well when I walked out of the theatre. In fact, I have some writing to do now, because the biggest block in finishing my HP fanfic has just been taken of by seeing this movie. Now I know how to write that scene I could never figure out.

I was watching a CNN interview with a Government Official on the Jose Padilla case. For those that don't remember, Jose Padilla is an American citizen arrested two years ago, in the United States, and declared an 'enemy combatant'. He was denied seeing a lawyer for over a year and has been held in violation of his rights as a US citizen (in other words he hasn't been tried for a crime). The government today released reems of documents relating to his case. Likely, this is an effort to sway the upcoming supreme court case on whether it is possible to strip a citizen of their rights by declaring them an 'enemy combatant.' Several administration officials have been hitting the airwaves to support this case and something that was said in one interview made me shudder completely. The CNN reporter asked a gov't. official: "Is it the administration's position that in some cases the concept of 'innocent until proven guilty' may not apply to all US citizens? The government official answered (paraphrased here): "the American people should not be concerned about minor things like that. They should rest assured that their government will leave no rock unturned in our hunt for terrorists and that we are working to keep Americans safe." The concept that any citizen of the United States, no matter what they have done, might be stripped of their rights without being tried in a court of law scares me. It scared the founders of this country who cited such behavior by the Crown as a reason to rebel (It's in the Declaration of Independence). In all likelihood Padilla was working with al-Quaeda, was planning a terrorist attack of some kind, and should be punished in accordance with the laws of this nation, not at the whims of the Executive branch. You know what's really scary? I wrote an interview scene for a future chapter of Dawn of Tears that was VERY much like that interview I saw today, and the bad guys were using the same reasoning that the government official in the REAL interview used. It's really tough to write fiction that finds so many...correllaries in real life.

Actually I've gotten the bounced e-mail spoof twice...fortunately I'm smart enough to check and see if it was an address I'd actually written to before opening anything, and I do have my virus checker on. Phillippines is a major source for viruses lately as well...

You're a year closer to 30! Enjoy the day, ignore my bad humor. Love ya man and thanks for this site!

Today has been a very bad day for me, emotionally. Today I found out that one of my cousins, Doug Strange, died last Saturday. Everyone is being told that it was from a Diabetic-related seizure, but the reality is that drug paraphernalia was found in the room by the police. Doug was staying with and taking care of my maternal grandparents who live right around the corner from my paternal grandmother, which is where I'm staying right now. I didn't go see them last weekend because both Nanny and Papa have Alzheimers and it is emotionally draining. I found out today from the newspaper obituary column. I also found out another cousin, Christopher, is on life-support at a local hospital after a bad reaction to a prescription drug. He's not expected to live. For those of you who remember my "christmas" story I posted a while ago, Chris is the first person I ever had sex with, and I realized today just how much I still care for him. I've been crying for hours now, and am feeling very, very lost. Life will go on though.

Okay, since I'm going to be off line for a bit, I thought I'd go and find some stories to download for reading while I'm off-line. Since I never started Aladdin's Awakening, that's going to be one of the stories I download. Now, I'm also looking at some other stories, and after the fifth one, I feel this total rise of anger and frustration out of me. I have to wonder how many people fall asleep in EVERY DAMN english course they ever took in life and get some basic things so wrong. It actually irks me to read the first few paragraphs of a story, think 'this might be okay' and then...the characters start talking and it is ONE LONG PARAGRAPH. I get lost after the third line and move on. Part of me wants to say "Hey buddy, you made a great start until your characters started talking." But then I just get caustic when frustrated and stressed out (gee, can you tell I'm moving today? Let's not even talk about the damn U-haul company messing up my truck pick-up location so that I had to walk two and a half miles to the nearest bus stop and then take a bus for one hour, thirty-five minutes to get there. Anyway, I noticed that there were six stories I looked at on Nifty that all had the exact same problem with character dialogue. I mean the rule is so simple, you start a different character speaks, they get a new paragraph. I remember my third grade teacher giving that rule, and marking a paper where I messed up on that myself. Now, I'm not perfect with grammar (some of the more complicated rules kick my ass and I have a habit of ending some sentences with prepositions. A lot of the time while I'm writing a character's conversation or relate their thoughts, I break grammar rules on purpose (for instance, you might notice that Dylan, Henry, and a few younger characters from Dawn say "There's many things I don't like" or something similar when correct grammar should be "There are many things I don't like". Character conversations come in many forms. You can start a paragraph with them, you can put spoken words in the middle of the paragraph, or at the end. Here's an example (using first person from Dylan perspective): "What are you thinking, Dylan?" Paul asked with a concerned tone. Paul's question caught me off guard. I mean, the guy could see I was in the middle of having sex with Jimmy, so he must have known what was going on. It's not like this was the first time he'd walked in on Jimmy and I having sex. "What does it look like we're doing?" I snapped at him slightly angry, but his raised eyebrow made me think, and I suddenly remembered I was supposed to be at a class right now. "Crap, Paul, sorry, I'll be ready in five minutes." "Better make it fifteen and take a shower, you smell like sex." Paul chortled softly before closing the door. Jimmy just let out a sigh of frustration. "Why is it I never get to have you alone these days?" Jimmy groaned aloud as I got out of bed and headed to the shower. *** Now, when I see it like this I go crazy trying to keep track of who is talking. "What are you thinking, Dylan?" Paul asked with a concerned tone. Paul's question caught me off guard. I mean, the guy could see I was in the middle of having sex with Jimmy, so he must have known what was going on. It's not like this was the first time he'd walked in on Jimmy and I having sex. "What does it look like we're doing?" I snapped at him slightly angry, but his raised eyebrow made me think, and I suddenly remembered I was supposed to be at a class right now. "Crap, Paul, sorry, I'll be ready in five minutes." "Better make it fifteen and take a shower, you smell like sex." Paul chortled softly before closing the door. Jimmy just let out a sigh of frustration. "Why is it I never get to have you alone these days?" Jimmy groaned aloud as I got out of bed and headed to the shower. *** Okay, enough griping and back to work. I really don't want to offend the writers who are actually putting together a decent story and trying hard, but I do get frustrated after the fourth or fifth story I read like that.

And I still have a lot of posts...this will be my last day before the move...I disconnect my computer and load it on the truck bright and early in the morning.

Hehe, that is funny, Taryn. next week I'll be driving down the I-10 to L.A., then up the 210 to I-5 North. Then it's Highway 99 all the way up to Modesto.

For everyone's information, I will begin moving next Sunday from Arizona back to my grandmother's home in California. There's several reasons for this move including the fact that things aren't going to well back there. My internet access from next week on will be very, very shaky, but I should at least have a dial-up service within a week.

Welcome all. Pull up a seat, relax at the fire place and enjoy! Don't forget to drop a line every now and then either!

Rainbow (british) Enjoy if you have a fast connection

Um, he first did it for a movie....

I posted a link of this on a mostly straight board and they had almost as much of a laugh as we did (except the three people that said they didn't get it, so I had to explain it to them). It reminds me of a guy I knew that could sit on a traffic cone without a problem. Yikes.

It actually took me all of about two seconds before I was ROFLMAO.

Um, is that a happy birthday?

I love this one..

Take a deep breath and remember the phrase "I love you." You're not alone BM, not alone by a long shot.

Hint here: I'm TheJudge on that board (it's a gaming board that I've been a part of since 2000) Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (show all) Dash Jones Captain Reged: 07/01/01 Posts: 3144 Loc: My parents don't want this public. On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? #300035 - 04/07/04 12:56 PM Edit Reply Quote Seeing some of the attitudes toward pornography in general, and the approach of Ashcroft in the US, as well as other places, I thought the following article would be interesting to note and discuss. I know my parents are VERY much against pornography, and against many other items. When at home with them, my internet use is HIGHLY restricted and extremely monitored (you can always tell when I'm with them as I don't come here as often). They may be conservative, or perhaps just smart...who knows. However, on the topic of pornography, there are some that say it is harmless, whilst others say it is the devils own creation. I can see how it is harmful in the context of today, and what seem to be their target audiences. Heck, I get pornographic emails, and have been for several years, now it goes in the spam pile separated by the email providers luckily. However, it seems that there is a LOT of it targetted towards children. I shouldn't look up something, like say, disney, and have porn show up. On the otherhand there are those who say it infringes on their rights, and as long as it is used by only those who can, it is harmless. However, on that topic, I found the following article, with it's relative ideas pertaining to crime and sex stores, as well as sex businesses rather enlightening, and showed me that a lot of my suspicions were not all that misplaced on the influence of Pornography on crime and other activities. The article is a PDF and rather long. http://www.enough.org/justharmlessfun.pdf And now, what is your opinion? -------------------- "You can't give yourself up, they might kill you, and then we'd have spent all that time in that smelly fish for nothing." -Adventures of Baron Munchausen Post Extras: GE-Raven Captain Reged: 04/07/00 Posts: 2569 Loc: Wisconsin, USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Dash Jones] #300049 - 04/07/04 01:04 PM Edit Reply Quote **************Obligatory de-railment post********************** I think it is VERY harmful. My arms are tired!!! -------------------- Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore!" Post Extras: Death_Merchant Lieutenant Commander Reged: 10/13/03 Posts: 755 Loc: Southern California Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Dash Jones] #300051 - 04/07/04 01:07 PM Edit Reply Quote Are we talkin' porn with ugly or pretty chicks? Post Extras: JMM Commodore Reged: 01/23/03 Posts: 5170 Loc: Austin, Texas Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Death_Merchant] #300061 - 04/07/04 01:15 PM Edit Reply Quote Great answer DM! Although in my younger days I am guilty of being with women who were "models" after a good couple of rounds of drinks, only to wake up wondering how quickly I could escape without being rude or mean! -------------------- Jack Morris Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: JMM] #300065 - 04/07/04 01:18 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great answer DM! Although in my younger days I am guilty of being with women who were "models" after a good couple of rounds of drinks, only to wake up wondering how quickly I could escape without being rude or mean! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Been there, done that, and I'd stayed home with my porn instead of going out, I'd have never woken up with gay, Jewish, Republican, with a pony-tail and who was ten years older than me. Porn is good...it keeps me out of trouble. -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison Post Extras: JMM Commodore Reged: 01/23/03 Posts: 5170 Loc: Austin, Texas Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: TheJudge] #300074 - 04/07/04 01:26 PM Edit Reply Quote http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~ad361896/anne/c...isticspage.html Funny how in countries that do NOT have a problem with porn or legalized prostitution, rape and sexual assaults are FAR LESS. http://www.nmsu.edu/~frontera/may01/secr.html This is not to say that porn or legalized prostitution is good or bad, we will all have our views on the issue and they will differ, but I find it very interesting that the more you permit something that is a lesser evil, the lesser evil it breeds. Hope that makes sense. -------------------- Jack Morris Post Extras: 762 Commodore Reged: 01/18/01 Posts: 6435 Loc: Huntington, NY Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Dash Jones] #300079 - 04/07/04 01:33 PM Edit Reply Quote mmmmmm pr0n -------------------- Fleet Rear Admiral 762_XC Director, Recruiting & Compliance Dept. XenoCorp FLTCMD762@xenocorp.net Hydran ARM, Storm Season II "War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means." - von Clausewitz "Practice is the key to alacrity of execution. " - Corbomite Post Extras: GE-Raven Captain Reged: 04/07/00 Posts: 2569 Loc: Wisconsin, USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: 762] #300084 - 04/07/04 01:41 PM Edit Reply Quote great thread... How long until we start pm'ing each other to start swapping pictures of our wives, girlfriends, moms, or sisters? (or just swap the actual people) I can give my IM details if need be GE-Raven -------------------- Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore!" Post Extras: Lono Lieutenant Reged: 01/05/01 Posts: 269 Loc: Denver, CO. Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Dash Jones] #300088 - 04/07/04 01:44 PM Edit Reply Quote Well... Porn is inherrently destructive to a monogamus relationship because it creates an "erotic" ideal that can not possibly be fufilled by one's exclusive partner. Therefore, since I believe in the institute of marrige for both religous And social reasons, I think it is very, very destructive. Do romance books also create an unrealistic "romantic" ideal that one's partner cannot live up to as well? I'd say probably so - especially over time... Post Extras: Sethan Vice Admiral Reged: 08/23/00 Posts: 11808 Loc: Arlington, TX, USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Dash Jones] #300097 - 04/07/04 01:55 PM Edit Reply Quote I think porn is probably very much like most other potentially harmful substances: something that should be kept out of the hands of minors, and something that is probably OK for some adults, in moderation. For other adults, it is just plain bad. If you are ever in the position of having porn alter your view of / relationships with the opposite (or same, for the Judge ) sex, then it is probably not a healthy thing for you. The trick would be determining when / if that happens. -------------------- Academics get paid for being clever, not for being right. - Donald Norman - I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant... and filled it with a terrible resolve. - Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto Post Extras: Gambler Commander Reged: 03/19/03 Posts: 1338 Loc: The Hell Hole that is Mississippi Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Sethan] #300102 - 04/07/04 02:05 PM Edit Reply Quote Before one can decide if porn is harmful or not, one must first define porn. Is it just naked people? If so then MIchelangelo's David is porn. Is it specific body parts that are naked? That could make a picture describing how to perform a breast self exam porn. Is naked okay as long as they aren't doing specific acts? Which acts are prohibited and which are allowed? Do the depictions have to show an actual act or just a simulation? What about context? -------------------- Not knowing for a certainty, I cannot with any degree of accuracy presume to assert. For fear in making such an assertion, I may absentively err or make an erroneous statement. Reality is for those who cannot handle Science Fiction. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No matter how stupid, ignorant, and idiotic that opinion is. Vote Cthulu...Why chose the lesser evil. Post Extras: ActiveX Captain "Tightpants" Reged: 09/17/02 Posts: 4042 Loc: DynaVerse Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Dash Jones] #300129 - 04/07/04 02:47 PM Edit Reply Quote Pornography is our answer to being clothed... Do countries with common nudity have more or less issues dealing with porn legal or not? -------------------- Captain ActiveX (Independent) Serenity, Firefly class You got a job we'll do it, don't much care what it is. Post Extras: Stormbringer Commodore Reged: 01/26/03 Posts: 4302 Loc: Ft Livingroom Oklahoma Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: ActiveX] #300131 - 04/07/04 02:51 PM Edit Reply Quote Have you seen German or other European porn? It makes our stuff look like June cleaver revealing a little ankle in comparison. -------------------- Trauma is the engine of initiation. U.S. Army-Retired -Now Electrician in Training and and General Lay About and Forum Gadfly. (spending the year deceased for tax purposes.) Post Extras: ActiveX Captain "Tightpants" Reged: 09/17/02 Posts: 4042 Loc: DynaVerse Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Stormbringer] #300133 - 04/07/04 02:53 PM Edit Reply Quote Hehe, I dont think porn itself is our problem its our sexually suppressive society, we were largely derived from Puritans, and so are our laws... We are getting less tight over time though so one day depression might actually decrease... -------------------- Captain ActiveX (Independent) Serenity, Firefly class You got a job we'll do it, don't much care what it is. Post Extras: thefish Lieutenant Commander Reged: 01/08/03 Posts: 989 Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: ActiveX] #300142 - 04/07/04 03:00 PM Edit Reply Quote meh like most young adults most of my sexual education came from porn......seperate the good bits from the crap and well....i've never had a problem pleasing my partner (even the first time:p).......so in that instance, for me its great:D I can see though where there may be a problem...........alot of pr0n focus on teenage girls, the younger the better (18+)...i can see how this could lead to an addiction of sorts as people want to see younger and younger girls getting jiggy with mr biggy to the point where they start viewing the less legal stuff (-18)...... same in the case with other "extreme stuff".......i.e. people have been known to kill their partner accidenty by asfixiation (sp?) or choking them.....intentionally or not its still something catered for by the porn industry and may give a few wackos a few too many ideas....... I can see how someones only experience of a woman other than in pr0n is of a 30 stone heffa due to their less then desirable looks and this could lead to rape as they see how "nice" it could be to screw a pretty little mid 20's thing. Then you have to take into the account wheither or not the girls are treated well, are they paid well, do they get threatened if they dont want to do a movie, are they effectively raped on camera(i.e. forced to do anal)...........................besides one thing thats always confused me.......why is it ok for a girl to get paid for screwing a stranger on camera but not ok for them to screw random strangers off the street for money? -------------------- Generalwolfe said: "I am not don dawson, I am Englishman," Letters, words, sentences, PARAGRAPHS! Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Gambler] #300149 - 04/07/04 03:12 PM Edit Reply Quote I thought this might be somewhat relevant in a sexually repressive society. I know it's good news for me. Sex lowers Cancer Risk All hail the prostate! -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison Post Extras: GE-Raven Captain Reged: 04/07/00 Posts: 2569 Loc: Wisconsin, USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: TheJudge] #300159 - 04/07/04 03:28 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought this might be somewhat relevant in a sexually repressive society. I know it's good news for me. Sex lowers Cancer Risk All hail the prostate! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No offense, TheJudge, but I would think your specific "brand" of sexual contact would outweigh the relatively small benefits of the increased sexual contact. So while this is "better news" for you. I would think the myriad of information about the increased risks any homosexual male runs would outweigh such a benefit. Just don't want to make it sound like more sex, regardless of the type of sex, is healthier than not. Quite frankly from what I read it appears that masturbation would be the "best" way to up these figures safely. If that is what you originally meant, I apologize, for the misunderstanding. GE-Raven -------------------- Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore!" Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: GE-Raven] #300188 - 04/07/04 04:05 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought this might be somewhat relevant in a sexually repressive society. I know it's good news for me. Sex lowers Cancer Risk All hail the prostate! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No offense, TheJudge, but I would think your specific "brand" of sexual contact would outweigh the relatively small benefits of the increased sexual contact. So while this is "better news" for you. I would think the myriad of information about the increased risks any homosexual male runs would outweigh such a benefit. Just don't want to make it sound like more sex, regardless of the type of sex, is healthier than not. Quite frankly from what I read it appears that masturbation would be the "best" way to up these figures safely. If that is what you originally meant, I apologize, for the misunderstanding. GE-Raven -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let's just say I play it safer (since there is no such thing as totally safe except abstinence). And yes, I like watching porn when masturbating. Funny thing is, after watching porn and masturbating, I am less likely to actually try to pick someone up at the bar or when I go out....So that can be an example of porn as a positive influence. In a committed relationship, I have to admit that porn didn't play much of a role except maybe getting one of us hot and bothered, and giving ideas for new things to try. It wasn't a steady presence, nor was it a detriment. Again, I think it depends more on the individual and how they use it, like anything else in this world. I'm also fairly uninhibited about answering questions that many would balk at....so sorry if anyone gets squeamish. -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison Post Extras: Death_Merchant Lieutenant Commander Reged: 10/13/03 Posts: 755 Loc: Southern California Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: TheJudge] #300208 - 04/07/04 04:35 PM Edit Reply Quote Well, there's two mental images I didn't need.... Post Extras: Ravok Lieutenant Commander Reged: 07/09/03 Posts: 562 Loc: PinellasPark FLA. USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Dash Jones] #300225 - 04/07/04 05:06 PM Edit Reply Quote I have no problem with it as long as it doesn't involve children, and is not abusive to women. I can see why Ashcroft wants to go after some of the stuff out there it is really pushing the limit, BUT the problem with a zealot like him self is he wont stop there. I don't need the government dictating morality to me What people do that is not illegal in their own homes is nobody's business, Especially some repressed Govt official who covers up statues breasts. I would much rather have porn available only over the Internet, Than have a porn store & its associated weirdos in or near my neighborhood. -------------------- Brain! Brain! Brain, What is Brain? Post Extras: Lurker Lieutenant Reged: 10/16/03 Posts: 281 Loc: United Kingdom Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Death_Merchant] #300231 - 04/07/04 05:12 PM Edit Reply Quote Well I look at Porn. Yes, I'll admit to it. I don't think it is harmful to myself. But there's porn and then there is...other porn. What type of porn would you regard as harmful? The Sun, a UK tabloid, has a girl showing her tits on page 3 every day and can be legally bought by anyone. Then of course you could have some kind of wierd kiddie dungeon sex with snakes or something. Such things could promote pedophillia or rape. I think I'd go with Sethan on this one. Provided the porn subjects are not being exploited, (and that could be a fine line to draw), and the porn is not creating something negative in the voyeur then I don't think it is harmful and maybe of some theraputic value. Also there's the question of free porn. Is it right to file share and rip-off copyrighted pornographic material? I don't think many people would have any qualms about that, would they? -------------------- "From feudal serf to spender, this wonderful world of purchase power" Manic Street Preachers - Motorcycle Emptiness Post Extras: SL-Punisher Commodore Reged: 10/02/00 Posts: 5166 Loc: San Diego Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: Dash Jones] #300274 - 04/07/04 06:30 PM Edit Reply Quote ::gets out double barrel shot gun:: You best keep your hands off my porn, if you know what's good for ya. -------------------- I'm going to start charging people to listen to their assnine opinions....that'll cost you a buck! www.lp.org JOIN THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY! Edited by SL-Punisher (04/07/04 07:18 PM) Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: SL-Punisher] #300310 - 04/07/04 07:16 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ::gets out double barrel shot gun:: You best keep your hands off my porn boy if you know what's good for ya. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You own your own porn boy? Isn't that expensive keeping him around the house like that. -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison Post Extras: SL-Punisher Commodore Reged: 10/02/00 Posts: 5166 Loc: San Diego Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: TheJudge] #300311 - 04/07/04 07:17 PM Edit Reply Quote You know I hate it when I forget to add a punctuation mark. -------------------- I'm going to start charging people to listen to their assnine opinions....that'll cost you a buck! www.lp.org JOIN THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY! Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: SL-Punisher] #300313 - 04/07/04 07:18 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You know I hate it when I forget to add a punctuation mark. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is he for rent? I've been looking at too much porn today.... -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison Post Extras: SL-Punisher Commodore Reged: 10/02/00 Posts: 5166 Loc: San Diego Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: TheJudge] #300323 - 04/07/04 07:25 PM Edit Reply Quote Wouldn't that make him a rent boy, something I hear you're quite familiar with? lol -------------------- I'm going to start charging people to listen to their assnine opinions....that'll cost you a buck! www.lp.org JOIN THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY! Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: SL-Punisher] #300335 - 04/07/04 07:33 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wouldn't that make him a rent boy, something I hear you're quite familiar with? lol -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEY! I've never paid for sex (as long as you don't count buying drinks, drugs, flowers, dinner, the movies, or condoms). OUCH! I messed up there. That should be: I've never had to pay for sex with a GUY! (Bought a prostitute in the Phillipines to keep up the straight image, and then ended up sleeing with her Marine boyfriend as well...but I didn't PAY FOR HIM, he was just a side benefit. She got to take the second night off and spend it with her daughter while I spent it with him.). -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison Edited by TheJudge (04/07/04 07:35 PM) Post Extras: SL-Punisher Commodore Reged: 10/02/00 Posts: 5166 Loc: San Diego Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: TheJudge] #300350 - 04/07/04 07:48 PM Edit Reply Quote SO you paid for the woman to get her guy? Umm...sounds like robbing peter to pay paul --- err I mean stealing peter from paula after you paid her. -------------------- I'm going to start charging people to listen to their assnine opinions....that'll cost you a buck! www.lp.org JOIN THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY! Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: SL-Punisher] #300369 - 04/07/04 08:04 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SO you paid for the woman to get her guy? Umm...sounds like robbing peter to pay paul --- err I mean stealing peter from paula after you paid her. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No, no ,no. He showed up AFTER I paid for her and I had no idea he was going to be there. it was just a VERY lucky circumstance for me. Especially since three guys from the ship saw me leave with her, but never saw HIM since they didn't follow us to where she lived. She didn't even know he was going to be home. Luckily my "I don't mind both of us having fun" comment led to something I very much preferred than just her. -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison Post Extras: SL-Punisher Commodore Reged: 10/02/00 Posts: 5166 Loc: San Diego Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: TheJudge] #300371 - 04/07/04 08:07 PM Edit Reply Quote lol I see....so you can cross off "Hire Phillipino hooker" on your things to do list BTW: How much is a Philipino hooker? -------------------- I'm going to start charging people to listen to their assnine opinions....that'll cost you a buck! www.lp.org JOIN THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY! Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: SL-Punisher] #300377 - 04/07/04 08:10 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- lol I see....so you can cross off "Hire Phillipino hooker" on your things to do list BTW: How much is a Philipino hooker? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I paid $20 a day for two days as her 'bar fine'. You don't pay her, you pay the bartender at the bar you meet her at (don't pick them up off the streets. The ones in the bar are checked by Navy doctors for diseases and receive health ID cards. The ones on the streets caught something and don't have that ID card anymore and can't get work in the bars). Her name was Merlinda and had the cutest four-year old girl (half-American). I actually considered (for about two minutes) marrying her and bringing them both back to the states as a "cover" but decided I really didn't care enough to go through that much trouble. -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison Post Extras: SL-Punisher Commodore Reged: 10/02/00 Posts: 5166 Loc: San Diego Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: TheJudge] #300383 - 04/07/04 08:14 PM Edit Reply Quote You know I find it constantly amazing how far people are pushed to cover their true lives. -------------------- I'm going to start charging people to listen to their assnine opinions....that'll cost you a buck! www.lp.org JOIN THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY! Post Extras: TheJudge Commander Reged: 09/09/00 Posts: 1626 Loc: Phoenix, AZ USA Re: On the topic of Porn, how harmful do you think it is? [Re: SL-Punisher] #300388 - 04/07/04 08:18 PM Edit Reply Quote Quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You know I find it constantly amazing how far people are pushed to cover their true lives. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bringing this back on topic....remembering that little event, I'd have to say porn was very helpful. Watching MMF bi-sexual porn made me at least look like I knew what I was doing at the time. (MMF is short for Male on Male on Female). -------------------- "There are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." President James Madison

Based on some quick mathematics after looking over their package prices, it is possible to make a profit for your investment. You will not likely get rich, unless someone in the media picks up on your book, or a major publisher looks at it and goes 'wow'. However, it does get your foot in the door. If you want to think about this process, it begins with the three packages. Let's say you pick the "Professional" package at $900. If you sell about 650 books at the the DIRECT sale rate, you break even. A little more than 1,500 books sold through distributors gives you the break even point (and more obviously a combination of the two is most likely). These figures are based on paperback sales at $5.99 per copy If you use their editing services (something I would recommend), that adds a cost of approximately $5-$6 per 500 words. For the ENTIRE Mists of Fate book, that would have cost me $2,589.22 at the $5 rate. Hmm, maybe I wouldn't have used that editing service after all. Based on the number of reader responces to Mists of Fate, if 25% of the readers of that story had purchased the story, my profit (without editing) would have been about $500. That's just based on visible costs. Invisible costs I'm not sure of yet. I think though that this gives you a good idea of the positives and negatives of this approach to publishing, if you have the starting capital to pursue this line.

While I don't know about this specific company (they claim to be a subsidary of Random House Publishing so you can run a google search on Random House for a phone number to call and ask if this company is real), I do know that self-publishing companies do exist. The key to working with them is that instead of the publisher paying YOU to print your work, you pay THEM to print and distribute. Depending on how much you pay, you get some editing and limited number of books, as well as limited distribution services. That gives you some print exposure, but the majority of their published works don't make a whole hell of a lot of money and the author rarely breaks even. It takes an investment in your capital (money) to make it work, and success in the publishing world is often as much of an issue of marketing and distribution as it is actual writing ability. If you're really interested in publishing, your best bet it is to develop a story for publishing, and research the different publishing companies that take unsolicited manuscripts. Follow their guidelines carefully and submit your manuscript exactly as to their specifications (most editors who reveiw them throw out those that don't comply immediately without ever looking at them). I've never submitted a manuscript although I've thoughten about it a lot. I don't like rejection and that alone has kept me from trying. However, don't let it stop you! I've had links sitting on my destop for different publishers for a long time, but I've never actually taken the bull by the horns and printed out a manuscript. Try it if you want though! (I even took a course at a community college one time about publishing works and still haven't submitted, even though the instructor told me to. Some of his expert advice included making sure your first 10 pages set up the main character(s) and their setting well enough to make them come alive for the reader/editor who is reveiwing your work. They get so many to read that if you can make them WANT to find out what happens in the first few pages, they'll read through the whole thing instead of setting it down and moving onto the next one.)

Ah, the great Made in America campaign of the early 1980's What fond memories.