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my world(would appreciate ideas) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #45
quote:
Originally written by arghhhhhhhhh:

quote:
If you have very different elves, fine
they are, they don't even have pointed ears

That's hardly much of a difference... what about your elves' culture?

And again, please stop double posting...

(why do I even bother saying that anymore?)

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Name in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #3
I'm personally rather adept at forgetting stupid things I say, at least in the long term. That said, I can't remember much.

Come to think of it, I tell a lot of incredibly bad jokes... but that lends itself to improvisational comedy just fine, so it usually works out well.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
my world(would appreciate ideas) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #39
EDIT: Tags... drat.

quote:
Originally written by arghhhhhhhhh:

quote:
Elves? Stealing from Tolkien is a good way to doom an otherwise acceptable world to mediocrity.

ever read dragonlance?
AND ERAGON!
AND MANY OTHER FRICKIN FANTASY SETTINGS

Yes, a precious few worked well. Most of the rest are garbage...

quote:
Originally written by arghhhhhhhhh:

it's my world
and i am creating to write a book in thuryl

I'm certain that Thuryl will appreciate having a book written in him. :P

quote:
Originally written by arghhhhhhhhh:

quote:
Originally written by Ephesos:

All of this is impossible. If the moons can align to where they cause apocalyptic tides, how did life ever stick around long enough to get established? The same goes for the meteors and volcanoes... nothing should have survived on that clearly blighted continent.
this has never happened before.
it happens every(er um a) 4 billion years)
THE PLANET HAS EXISTED 2 BILLION YEARS
muhahahahhahhahhaah
take that.

Your logic is irrefutable as always, arghhhhhhhhh. Fine, let it be like that... but the fact that the life on the planet is doomed anyway kind of trivializes anything that happens before the apocalypse.

Please stop double-posting, by the way.

quote:
Originally written by arghhhhhhhhh:

oh yeah the 90 post.
( jumps up an starts dancing on my computer desk and screaming, oh yeah the 90 post, oh yeah the 90 post

Quoted for posterity.

[ Monday, February 20, 2006 12:40: Message edited by: Ephesos ]

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Eep! Christians! (Split from Christian Radio) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #71
quote:
Originally written by Jewels:

-Why Christians say they've had a supperior experience-

(stated from my experience)
Because I have.

How magnanimous of you to participate in this discourse, and to share your divine experiences with us heathens! And I thank you profusely for backing up your point with such irrefutable logic... I find that I am instantly swayed to repent and give up my life to Christ. I have seen the error and inferiority of my ways at long last!

</venom></sarcasm>

Seriously, NO. That attitude is way past annoying, landing somewhere in the range of "please make it stop." It's not helpful, and it doesn't do anything to bridge the gaps between faiths. This kind of elitism will get humanity nowhere.

quote:
Originally written by Jewels:

It's the very reason I am more then willing to be insulted, attacked, and hated. I found something extraordinary, and I want to share it.

The best thing is: IT'S FREE, AND ANYONE CAN HAVE IT RIGHT NOW!

You don't have to work for it. You don't have to change. All you have to do is accept it.

Kind of reminds me of those ubiquitous free AOL cds... not really useful, but free and easy. So then your description these experiences you speak of lead me to think of them as a cheap-cd-turned-frisbee.

But really, no. Just no. I tried Christianity, I got confirmed, and then I decided it wasn't for me.

As for the willingness to be attacked, insulted, and hated, that just sounds rather self-defeating to me. Wouldn't it be more productive to try and find common ground with others, instead of trying to convince them to go all the way to your side and experience what you have? And wouldn't it enable more cooperation than preaching (which can invoke attacks, insults and hatred)?

quote:
Originally written by PoD Person:

Ephesos - Funny, I've got the same qualifications for being okay with atheists.
Glad to hear it, and I honestly mean that.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Moral dilemmas in Avernum 4
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #17
quote:
Originally written by Randomizer:

Jeff ought to restore the reputation from earlier Avernum games but use it for morality. Then you can choose to play the game as good or evil with your actions tied to that choice. The major quests would still be there but given by different people and for different reasons and rewards. The evil side would be eliminating a future competitor. In A4 that would mean eliminating the shades as bad for business, etc.

Also there could be some quests that could only be done by good or evil. This would make for a different game for each type.

Undoubtedly, this would be awesome. I honestly felt bad completing some of the quests in the game (I believe I only completed one bounty quest), and I get the feeling that there should've been more consequences for them...

Given the current trend of Avernum becoming modernized (relatively, anyway), I doubt that reputation will make a strong showing in the future. I personally hope for the best, though.

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Thuryl: "Runescape: for people who are too stupid to save their games."

Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Eep! Christians! (Split from Christian Radio) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #56
quote:
Originally written by Synergy:

I’d even suggest that in many ways, the two are the same thing: to be connected through love with other people is a good part of our way of connecting with God. Someone in the equation has to have relationship with the Source, like plugging in an electrical circuit.
I'm sorry, but I flat-out disagree. Why does someone have to have a relationship with "the Source"? It seems like that would trivialize the entire relationship by reframing it in terms of the third party.

quote:
Originally written by Synergy:

You despise Christianity for the same sorts of reasons that I despised and rejected the institution at age 16.
I don't get why so many people view this kind of thing as simple rebellion, easily waved away as teenage angst. Could it be that people who reject religion are just trying to find a better way of thinking before they get jaded with life? After all, why not seek salvation on our own terms?

quote:
Originally written by Synergy:

Disease is the result of things we keep doing to ourselves which result in dis-ease.
Pardon me, but I don't think humanity can claim responsibility for disease. Or was this just meant to be a play on words? If so, it failed.

quote:
Originally written by Synergy:

The problems in the world are no obstacle to a person knowing and believing into God. It happens to lots of people of any conceivable kind. Something finally interjects into their life and experience and they get it. They see God. Something begins to change in them in that moment. Again, for the many for whom it has never yet happened, God has not worked (through people typically) to make God known to them. And the simple reason for this is it is not the time yet for all the masses of the world to know God. God is working through some people to do some things for now, with promises that this prepares for a far greater revelation to all.
Ouch... just ouch. This kind of stuff really hurts, because it seems to say "You're wrong, but don't worry. One day you'll see the light that is my overwhelming reason and correctness. You'll realize how completely and utterly wrong you've been."

What about the people who die before seeing God (surely there must be a few)?

quote:
Originally written by PoD Person:

quote:
Originally written by TM
This is why I absolutely, flat-out hate ATHEISM- its believers set themselves apart on the basis that they have a superior set of experience than non-adherents!

FYT

Fair enough, but I have an objection. I used to be Christian (heck, I'm a confirmed Episcopalian), and I chose atheism not because I think it's above any other beliefs... it's just my take on life. No concept of superiority, just that I don't believe in everything espoused by Christianity, and atheism works for me. I personally have no objection to people's faiths, on two conditions:

1) They don't abuse it or the system enshrined by it. I hate seeing people warp the few good ideas out of a religion (what ever happened to "Thou shalt not kill?") just so they can say they're right.
2) They respect others' beliefs, which some Christians (not many, but a disproportionately annoying few) simply cannot do. Ever hear someone say "I'll pray for you" when you say you're a nonbeliever? Not fun.

quote:
Originally written by Semodius:

quote:

quote:It is the family of God with the qualities of God in process of being refined and remembered.

I guess atheists are disowned cousins then, hunh?

I am obliged to be disowned from the family of religious bullsh*ttery.

Agreed.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
In the topic of strange spirits... in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #42
quote:
Originally written by Proud Owner of:
:
quote:
Originally written by Milla:

...Polaris not appearing to me...
Seems to work just fine with me. Sorry, if I'm stating the obvious, but you do know they've moved, right?

Not only that, but they've moved again. This one was more recent, though.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
"The End of Blades" Discussion in Blades of Avernum
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #67
I do solemnly swear to finish at least one quality scenario by the contest deadline. Two, if DoK2 survives its time on the shelf.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Hooray. in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #32
I personally like Shasta... but I'm not really into root beer. I mean, Shasta's selling point seems to be the sheer variety of flavors... and they're all really good for such dirt cheap soda.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Eep! Christians! (Split from Christian Radio) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #41
quote:
Originally written by PoD person:

"The idea that trying to make life better for each other is a worthwhile cause" is also what I advanced as a large cause of religion. As people were "able to be selfish fools without destroying (much) the society at large" religion is what grew up to exert pressure on that contingent.
I fail to see the application of said pressure... anywhere. But in my eyes, it's like overuse of antibiotics... after so long of an exposure to religion, we're left with selfish fools who are completely resistant to the good messages a religion may contain. This includes televangelists.

quote:
Originally written by PoD Person:

Perhaps my belief stems from the feeling that people get cancer, people get in freak accidents, and people fall prey to their own kind, regardless of how harmful or beneficial they've been to society, and it's a darn shame if all the good they did was for nothing.
For nothing?!?! Of course it's not for nothing! The good that a person does should outlive them, or it wasn't any good at all! (Did the reforms of the civil rights movement disappear after King died? I think not!)

Pardon that outburst.

quote:
Originally written by PoD Person:

I've also not been sufficiently clear about what I mean by afterlife. I posit a condition in which consciousness is detached from physical reality (a fairly inescaple element of any afterlife-idea). Without worldly pleasures, I imagine those who love and glory in their fellows, and the total essence of it all that we call "God" will be quite a bit happier than those with contempt and hatred for the world. Purely a psychological heaven, hell, or shade of gray - no fire, milk, brimstone, or honey here. Basically, the purity of your intent while on Earth will determine your ultimate happiness, not the slick November roads, the caprices of your own biology, not geopolitics, not someone's desire for your life-insurance policy or to cut costs or for cheap labor. My scenario is simply the most just one I can think of, and thus the one in which I choose to believe.
This just kind of confused me even more. I want to understand it, but I can't quite get it.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
my world(would appreciate ideas) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #23
quote:
Originally written by arghhhhhhhhh:

the reason with the many Vs is becuase that is what the planets denizens call it, naturally they would want to associate there minor objects and places with incredible majestic grandness of their planet.
I don't see what that would have to do with it... I mean, it's not like that happens on Earth.

quote:
Originally written by arghhhhhhhhh:

why can't there be large life?
maybe the dragons live in harmony with the elves?
and elves create superficial meat for them to eat(hey that rhymes

Because large life needs a lot of small life to eat. What are the dragons eating, here? What on earth is superficial meat?!

Please don't double post, arghhhhhhhhh. (I'm getting a feeling of deja vu)

EDIT: Please don't triple post either...

EDIT2: For the love of god, stop posting so much!!! All of it could be condensed to one post! You quoted the same post twice! ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!

[ Sunday, February 19, 2006 18:57: Message edited by: Ephesos ]

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Eep! Christians! (Split from Christian Radio) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #35
quote:
Originally written by Synergy:

quote:
none of this comes even remotely close to answering my question! At least Ash, Giz, ben et al. have the Hitler-God who will obliterate me for kicks.
Christianity has turned it backwards. The obliteration has already taken place when we got the thick notion in our head that we were alienated from God and that we lack somehow. Awakening and restoration of spiritual relationship is what we can expect. We are living our obliteration, our hells right now. Sucks, don't it? Why do you think so many people ARE in torment right here right now? It's not punishment. We did it to ourselves. God is gracious enough to be patiently working to save us from ourselves. It's simply a work not yet complete.

Why do I think so many people are in torment right here right now? Because some people get it into their heads that they're so much better than everyone else that they get to rule supreme, and then the idiots act on that idea. God's got nothing to do with it... people caused the suffering that most of the world goes through today, and another god figure in our lives will not save us.

Seriously, how much good can it do to restore our spiritual relationships if we forget to fix the human ones?!

quote:
Originally written by PoD Person:

As to the real thrust of your point, the assertion that an omnipotent God permitting suffering is morally bankrupt, I will offer a semi-mathematical rebuttal. Assuming a metaphysical component to humanity which survives physical existence into eternity, the ratio of physical suffering to whatever happens post-physical-existence is necessarily infintessimal. Now, that's not a reason to believe, but I think it is a logical way of seeing the situation that at least moves the concept of God above the level of scorn.
This assumes a lot. And if there's no afterlife? Besides, that's still fear-mongering in the sense that our actions in a brief existence on earth will decide our soul's eternal fate.

quote:
Originally written by PoD person:

I hold that the core human impulse behind religion is an innate desire to rationalize an innate desire to be good to one another. People use it to explain fear-inducing natural phenomena, as the contempuous scientists and logicians will have you know, and the chic 'net-liberals on this board would be right to say that many people simply want to be smug in their self-righteousness. Still, is it so horrible to believe that we were created so that we might learn to love one another (or "act for the benefit of one another," whichever you prefer) in our time on Earth? Furthermore, is it not more just to believe that there will be a time free of suffering when loving like we've learned to will truly make us happy? (And, conversely, when those without a deep and abiding respect for humanity as a whole will be miserable?)

That's why I've come to believe in a Christian God, despite being a math/science type of guy. For the universe to be just, the people that live their lives for others and get crap in return need to be rewarded.

Okay, this assumes we were created. I prefer to believe that we evolved with the sure social knowledge that cooperation was required for survival. Once survival became less of a priority, people were able to be selfish fools without destroying (much) of the species at large, though some held on to the idea that trying to make life better for each other is a worthwhile cause. So I think it's there in everyone's mind, independent of religion.

And I just don't get the "time free of suffering" bit.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
my world(would appreciate ideas) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #18
quote:
Originally written by Eating My Food:

Mankind lived through the apocalyptic meteor collision 60 million years ago, despite it having the strength to kill off the dinosaurs and the nuclear winter that followed....what's keeping anyone from living through a flood?
True... except that "mankind" at that time was a tiny species of shrew-like mammals, with noticeably lower metabolic requirements than the modern McDonalds' customer today.

We're lucky our ancestors were tiny.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
my world(would appreciate ideas) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #16
quote:
Originally written by The anti-POK:

Magic is tidal now?
Well, it seems to be a relatively common theme in fantasy... kinda hearkening back to astrology, really. And besides, if these moons have the power to cause apocalyptic tides, I expect that their gravitational pulls combined would do interesting things to the rest of the planet as well, including the forces of magic.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
The Spiderweb Instant Custom Title Generator? in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #179
You know, this is starting to remind me of TM's moniker thread. And with how titles keep piling up, the similarities are getting to be disturbing.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
In the topic of strange spirits... in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #38
quote:
Originally written by Jewels:

Oh... then there's the most revolting vice possible...

I... I admit it.

I'm addicted to Runescape. Or at least I was. Two days ago though I sat down with my calulator and figured out how much time it would take me to become skilled enough to smith full rune. 1500+ hours if I were to mine all the minerals myself... I have not had the same urge to play since the discovery.

Normally, I wouldn't recommend this, but I think you need to see a priest, rabbi, monk, shaman, and/or voodoo specialist pronto. That's a magnitude of vice that requires deep holy cleansing immediately, preferably administered via every single religion you have access to.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Physics, and a dumb teacher in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #30
quote:
Originally written by Dikiyoba:

Well, if Thralni knew the math behind the physics equation, he wouldn't wonder how the equation was formed.

Dikiyoba.

And yet it might become even more confusing as a result. I've found that looking at the derivations of some of the equations used in chemistry and physics (Schrödinger's comes to mind) just leaves me with a pounding headache, wondering where the heck they pulled the numbers from.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
my world(would appreciate ideas) in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #14
quote:
Originally written by Dikiyoba:

I'm wondering how a traditionally-sized dragon finds enough to eat. Surely, the inhabitants of an entire village aren't enough to keep a huge beast alive for two centuries, even if it is cold-blooded and sleeps the whole time.

Dikiyoba.

Any dragon worth its wings would know some summoning magic. Hence, summon a huge flock of sheep and go to town. Of course, with larger than average dragons, this wouldn't work nearly as well. I'm also going to guess that there are more dragons around than usual (just judging from the apparent themes of the planet), so this would be even less possible.

You could probably just assume magic, but then I'd think that the seven moons would make said magic unpredictable, resulting in a lot of spontaneously combusting dragons.

quote:
Originally written by Zephyr Tempest:

Hmmm, that sounded a bit cruel.
Well, in all fairness, he wanted feedback.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
THE ABOMINABLE PHOTO THREAD REVOLUTIONS in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #245
quote:
Originally written by Archmagus Micael:

(giant images and self-pity)

- Archmagus Micael

Don't be so hard on yourself, man... everyone's seen worse.

I will say that those images are painfully large (to a board-stretching level), but that's about it.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Hooray. in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #18
quote:
Originally written by Chocolateking:

[quote]Nah - Coke's still better than Doctor Pepper.
One word, pepsi.[/QB][/quote]You're both wrong. We've got a place in town called Fitz's, and they make their own soda. It's infinitely better than Pepsi or Coke (partially from the fact that it's neither Pepsi nor Coke).

Local places are almost always better than über-franchises, anyway.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Ihrno-fort key help? in Avernum 4
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #1
It's completely appropriate to ask for help here... that's what the boards are for.

But anyway, the problem. It sounds like you didn't fully explore the southwest part of the lower level of the fort. You have to go through there to open that gate, and there's a bit of a fight between you and the necessary lever.

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Thuryl: "Runescape: for people who are too stupid to save their games."

Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
"The End of Blades" Discussion in Blades of Avernum
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #56
quote:
Originally written by Thralni, The flying Dutchmen:

Since I posted here information about my scenario, I thought I'd post here some more information. I put up some screenshots on my website. Feel free to look and tell me what you think, but don't expect me to change anything. Also, there seems to be a problem with the enlarging. I have no clue of why this happens.
While expanded images would be more helpful, those look quite promising. A few of the captions sound a little strange, and some suggest bad things about the plot. I can't wait to see it...

And those ads are really annoying, Thralni.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
A Year of Stats in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #56
quote:
Originally written by Arancaytar the Grey:

If anyone is interested, it sort of works.
Either it's just me hallucinating, or the peak numbers changed since the last time I looked at that graph. I could be wrong, but it had looked like nothing was over 200 before.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Physics, and a dumb teacher in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #14
quote:
Originally written by ben12C8:

I dunno if the wavefuction of a small frog is so much of a mystery. After all, using common sense can tell you both the position and the velocity. At the same instant. Weird.
Alright!!! Small frogs disprove quantum mechanics!!!

(Yes, I know it's wrong. But the idea of tossing a frog into these calculations, literally or otherwise, has a pleasant sort of certain comic ring to it.)

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00
Everything you never wanted to know about Christian radio... in General
Law Bringer
Member # 4153
Profile Homepage #23
quote:
Originally written by Thuryl:

I take it you're a fan of Sigur Ros, then?
Actually, no. I keep hearing the name, but I've never heard the music...

quote:
Originally written by Thuryl:

Are there very many philosophies devoted to the idea that they're wrong and somebody else is right? :P
That would be an interesting cult.

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Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice.

I hate undead. I really, really, really, really hate undead. With a passion.
Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00

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