W_L

Since I saw some people did not have a good understanding of philosophy or the terms from the discussion on war in the soapbox, I guess we need a Philosophy 101. As the title suggest, Philosophy can range from a very simple to complex subject depending on interpretations. I have studied it, but I understand various philosophical points due to my knowledge of history: American, Asian, and European (I want to study Africa later on, too ). So in essence, I have a historical point of view, when talking about philosophy. That is why I am adherent to Hegelian Thesis. As Asian and Eastern philosophies are intermix with various spiritual studies, I have an understanding of source Taoism, Buddhism, a few forms of Hinduism (there are many schools of hinduism), a bit on Jainism, Mohism (Basically, Eastern Empiricism), and various schools of legal, ideological, and cultural philosophies. Certain eastern philosophies are not moralistically based; though, eastern adherents have chosen to make them moral as religious practices, i.e. Buddhism is not really a religion under the original ideas, but certain groups made it a religion in the far east and the western world sees it as a religion. Daoism is the same way; luckily, the western world has not tried to create shrines for Laozi. As to the basis of philosophy: I don't want to pin them down to categories, because some believe in post structuralism as a philsophy arguing against categorization. However, if I do not organize them; other people will not understand it. So I will try what I know best, an historic first step to philosophy by introducing concepts and discussing them one at a time: Absolutism (Oddly I started with an "A" philosophy, don't kill me for being semantically categorical)- One of the earliest philosophical thought. Basically, it believes that everything has meaning and everything is the way it is by its nature. This is a simple way of describing Absolutism, but it works with how the view goes with concepts of absolute constructs. Example: A rock is a rock. The early idea of absolutism created the concepts of religion and divine absolutes to explain everyday phenomenon and meanings. It is particularly interesting to think about how this philosophy is still affecting the world with defined notions of morality and human societal beliefs. Some descendant philsophies with applications from philosophy: Legalism (Eastern philosophy for government) and Moral absolutism (Western/Middle Eastern philosophy for ethics)

You're 46 years young in my book!!!! Happy Birthday, my favorite GA Porcupine

Come on, Gov. Lynch, you can do it. L-Y-N-C-H, is the five letters we need to endorse the document in a week.

New York state passed it through assembly: Reuters on first stage of gay marriage in new york If New York successfully passes, then it will come to New Jersey. I hope it will pass!

I just looked up an interesting philosophical and religious conception of death in Theosophy, the blending study of multiple religious ideals seeking a spiritual plurality. It's interesting blending of various religious ideals and human growth through life and death. I guess, my first posting on death was dealing more with the detail of death, but there is much more to it. Through death, we grow and understand our surroundings by cherishing those things we have in our temporal state. I was just reminded of the dichotomy of life and death by the movie: What Dreams may come It poses a lot of questions about loss and growth for both human beings dead and living. Does the death of another aspire creative impulse or destructive deconstruction? Are human trapped in a tragic spiral merely, because we can not forgive ourselves over incidents that were not our faults? Or Can human beings leap beyond such fates and create our own worlds of hopes through a belief held in our heart?

Happy Birthday Mark, the biggest cat of GA!!! Joe you're still big cheese.

Damn, I actually enjoy the cold appetizers.

Interesting in about four days, I will receive my Master's degree at the age of 21. I worked hard to get it, but I don't feel any sense of accomplishment. There was nothing in my studies that surprised me or challenged me enough to above and beyond. Perhaps, the truth is my desire for a challenge was never met in my educational choice. Friends, I have made plenty over the years, but I have no defining moment in my college life as it comes to a close. I prevented a flood in the library, argued for change and reforming of the Republican Party, and just was myself. A bit quirky, a bit confrontational, and a bit non-comformist ideologue that seeks to understand everything. You know I realize why I like the TV Show House M.D now. Other than the psychotic break that Gregory House had in the season finale; we are very much a like in our desire to seek the answers to life. I look at in the grand scheme of things, while House just seeks medical puzzles. Perhaps, why I don't feel joy is that there was no puzzle for me to solve or understand. Education in my case is training without the challenge. ------- As for the Bankruptcy, My mother had to declare it after the recent economic downturn forced most of her businesses to operate a significant losses. She is the model of the American Dream, college educated manager turned entrepreneur. With the loss of her interests, I basically have lost my inheritance from her. I am fine with that. She left my father, when I was 12 and married rich. The middle class life style was not her favorite choice, so she took her young looking appearance and beauty to pursue a wealthy man. She divorced him and got another wealthier husband, ending with number 3 right now, who had significant interests in real estate and restaurants. I had flat out told her I wanted nothing to do with her money when I was a kid and did not go live with her out of loyalty to my father, but her bankruptcy is creating a strange feeling in me. It's ironic, I don't care for her money, but I feel strange at knowing its gone. ------ Life is strange mixture of fighting and realization. It's a complicated mess of emotional truths and the occasional silver lining. I don't know where to go next, but I feel like reaching out and moving beyond my current position. I want to journey and seek the answer of life: Why are here? What do I want? Who am I? It's an emotional and personal journey; I wish that I had companion to share it with, but if I am alone, then so be it. It is a question that must be sought.

Veto or passing without a signature (aka placid acceptance or silent protest depending on the polls, hehe) I love American politics, so double edged.

Kevin remember, when you break up with me let me down easily. Vegetarians are fun, but I got to ask do you eat cheese and use other processed animal stuff, which is not meat or murder. Do you wear wool, eat eggs, and other stuff. I know this is more a vegan question, but it's also something interesting. I hope you find a guy right for Joe.

Happy Birthday dude! :D

Agreed with open mouth kissing in private and closed mouth pecks. I do like both, but the open mouth kissing usually leads to more in my experience, well not to say much about my experience, it's just three boyfriend, so it might be different for you guys. Also, did not know he was gay!!!

Iran nukes Israel, Israel nukes Iran, Pakistan nukes Israel, and India nukes Pakistan and Iran. What's wrong with a limited nuclear war in the middle-east and near east? If big nations don't touch the affected countries, then it gets limited. If they do, we are all going to be screwed.

Most likely survive through some kind of coincidence. Subways used to be old bomb shelters, so pray you are a good commuter. (It's actually a good idea to hide in the transit tunnels and use them to get out of major cities) Additionally, Australian population in the desert might be able to survive along with the Arctic researchers and Space station guys. Now should we survive, what doesn't kill us, will most likely kill us in the decades of nuclear winter. Afterward, the last remnants of mankind can try to figure out what's next.

The choice is your own. I can make a million points that sound pretty and articulate the facts of life to you, but I suspect you already heard it. What can I say to change your mind about the world? Nothing if you are resolute about it. Yet, I believe you still care about the world and about your life, if you did not then you would not have came on here voicing this issue. We are all here for you. Yes, we can't be there for you like give you a shoulder to cry on, an ear to speak your mind, or a hug to give you the comfort that you need and should be given. Yet, what your friends here on GA can do is give you hope. It's the last thing in the world between life and death; it is what people throughout the ages have lived on. I hope that you keep the hope alive; the decision is your own to make.

Some one has read too many issues of Crisis on Infinite Earth, Myr, you looking guilty! DC comics did the same thing to divide the three ages of Comic books; Golden age back-stories, Silver Age, DCAU age, and now. Batman's origin story changed a few times over the years as one example from people that know their character backgrounds.

Enjoyable film, impressive cinematic and Leonard Nimoy was perfect with blend of surrealism and honesty. The alternate universe thing was fun and interesting. Uhura was one of the few women not attracted to Kirk on TOS, now we know why. (She's into emo's.....I mean Vulcans, hehe!) Hot characters, Christopher Pine, hot ass and package. Sulu looked adorable. Then Finally, Checkov, I love you!!!!! 9/10, until they add the gay character promised by Gene Roddenberry decades ago, I cannot in good conscience give it a perfect score.

You are the hero of this story.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Yum! (That's all I got to say)

SG1 had a great run 10 seasons is difficult to manage, so congrats. If RDA did not leave, then it could have gone for season 20, but MacGuyver needed to stop some terrorists, while building a spaceship out of paper clips and a Alkaline batteries. Stargate Atlantis was axed too soon and it was getting interesting again with the introduction of the Lost Tribe of Asgard, the little grey guys are cute in a sort of "I like probing ass" type of way. Firefly should have gone to Universal and not Fox, which is too much about reality TV. The only show I watch on Fox is House, which they are slowly destroying with too much melo-drama and not enough medical mystery. I don't like Grey Anatomy type drama, it's like the worst soap ever, why are you destroying my favorite drug popping, nihilistic, and socially awkward doctor? (By the way for shippers, the bets are 2-1 for Cuddy to stay with House, 5-1 for Wilson to realize he's actually gay/bi and go with House, and 10-1 for Cameron to dump Chase and hook up with House)

Aww, cool blue, I love comics! As for the Belly, I gained 6 pounds this week of finals; it stinks, but I knew it was coming. 3 weeks of dieting and losing 20 pounds versus 5 days of sit in studying and take-out. Go for jogs and cut down on the food intake slightly and progressively.

Blasphemy!!!!! Time to send some one to the ice planet of death! Some Trekkies are a little extreme, one reason why I left the Church of Trek.

Can I still propose to you?

There's also another issue to with regeneration. The time lords still must die after a certain amount of regeneration, so how many more times can you kill him before you get the "You killed Kenny effect"? According to wiki 13 regeneration is max. We're on the 11th Doctor, not good odds. You could break the rules, but it is still a little off.