I agree. What is one person's favorite topic may be another one's hated topic. They are fine as they are. Those sections will probably change any way once the games are out to get their own total sections like Kingdom Hearts, CoM and Kingdom Hearts 2 do.
Many teachers go into the job caring about the kids. I think you guys are harsh on teachers and don't get it that if a teacher does become disheartened it's mainly for three reasons. 1. The Administration - Teachers will often report things they see wrong or try to get kids out of the class that do things to others and are harmful and disruptive. However, they get ignored often. The Administration such as an uncaring Principal, school board etc really can be upsetting to teachers and they find that they either do their job with bad kids still circulating around doing whatever or they walk out because it's stupid. Teachers are also forced to do a lot of things they don't want to like models of a curriculum that is designed with holes. Teachers are there to educate students and feel pressured in this way and I can see why a crappy administration sucks the life right out of a teacher. 2. Bad Students - There are students like these 12th graders or others that do things right in your classes and you've known for years they are bad eggs. You think the teachers don't know, but often they do. They try to divert things not having the power to discipline the kids that are disruptive, rude and cruel to others. Some will sit there and talk back to a teacher and ridicule everything, bringing up why this class is stupid etc or mocking the teacher and students. With no power to offer any kind of discipline, teachers are stuck with the brats and so are we. They also will try to help some kids who have a negativity to life but often are stuck with how far they can go to help a kid, especially if the child doesn't want it. They are just as stuck as other students are with these kids. 3. Bad parents - Even if kids are found out to be really bad, too many parents are lazy and the only fight they will do if they hear their kid is bad is to fight the school board and teachers, trying to get them ousted out of jobs or sue the school. These parents do not want to believe their children are not the angels they pretend to be at home. Some, even if they do believe it figure that it is wrong for -anyone else- to insinuate so and thus fight for no reason other than this superimposed honor system that fails. The administration therefore can only do so much before parents will attempt to find loopholes and counter with suing and saying that their children are receiving biased treatment. So to me, I think the problem is not the teachers themselves but the fight between the Administration and the Bad Parents who let their kids do whatever. There is so much red tape out there it is pathetic. I'd give the teachers a break and realize they are trying to do their jobs and have bad crap happen to them from two sides of the coin while students do not. I've known plenty of teachers including one of my best friends that finally quit the job from all the stress she received. When people cry at night surrounded by crappy homework students hand in that looks like a 3rd grader's but is in fact a 9th grader's work and she can't do crap about it because it would be insensitive, there's a problem. When a teacher can't kick out of the class a kid or two that is defaming the class and insights passive aggressive attacks on the teacher, the material and students, well there's nothing to be done. I do hope those 12th graders are punished, to get back to the point, because that is extremely wrong and should be dealt with. 12th graders should not even be at a junior high school. Since there's a video tape and all, it is only a matter of time. However, realize that what we will see out front is not the truth when it comes to how these teens are going to be dealt with. There is, as I said, miles of red tape and the parents will probably get involved and not discipline their children, but instead fight the system. The principal may be a lazy jerk because of this. No school can afford to keep repeatedly getting sued by parents who just want to make a buck. Of course, this is not to say that there are not rotten teachers out there. But I do say that the majority at one time did come into the education system with the purest of intentions and somehow probably got royally screwed over by the other three groups I mentioned and so are disheartened. They should leave the jobs and move on but teaching, despite how some teachers gripe, pays pretty good in a time like now where people are desperate for jobs. So, we get stuck with a few rotten eggs. I do try to give teachers though a respect if they deserve it because of all the crap they deal with. I am not so easy however on sucky parents or a bad administration because they are the core reasons why education sucks. Money can't fix bad parenting or a crappy administration that does things -their- way to avoid problems and try to keep as many kids as they can in school despite how dangerous they are. Of course, we can also look that this goes on a state level, since states determine how education will be ran in each place. The administration gets orders from above, just as teachers do.
Harvey Birdman looked at the judge now and stood up once more. "The reason I asked her these questions is because the Offense will not play up to the fact of her actual abuse, being imprisoned in the Castle Oblivion and though she was wrong to do some acts she did, out of her own selfishness for wanting company that would be 'friendly' to her, she was coerced by Vexen, Marluxia and Larxene." He takes a breath and then sips some water that was on the table. "She was also manhandled by Larxene and Marluxia, and used as a hostage. These things should be noted clearly for the record and since the Defense was not at all bringing this to light, I figured it truly should be out there. She may not be the perfect witness as in being 'innocent' but she is someone who was clearly held against her will, abused, threatened, physically abused and assaulted, held as a hostage and as a minor was still coerced into erasing Sora's memories and replacing them with pseudo ones. He was forced to make the sacrifice of his own true memories or the ones at the Castle because of the nature of her powers. It is very clear that this girl suffered at the hands of Marluxia and Larxene mainly." "Now the problem remains that we are trying the Org but have to look at each individual here for charges, rather than going after the whole group. It is clear that they did not obviously get along, because Namine's own testimony in itself shows a division of lines. Therefore we want to get each charge correct to the proper member of the Organization and not just lump them together. The Organization technically may have issues even against their own people that are not so addressed, such as the coup led by Marluxia with Larxene assisting. So, I will hope, your Honor, as we bring up each person whether of the Organization or not, that we have time to cross-examine and study their situations individually to get a feel for each member of the Organization and charge them justly." "Thank you, your Honor. We will now let the Defense go." *goes and takes a seat once again at the table.*
OOC: Thanks. Riku will get over it. Just he's probably not going to trust her for a while and well, debates on if her statement is going to haunt him or not. lol. It could be used in skillful hands. Riku is a thinker. He'd know how it could be used. Harvey Birdman gave a nod. "Thank you. One last thing, Namine. What is the charm that you had altered and that Larxene had stolen from Sora? What is its significance to Sora?" *Once answered* "That will be all of the questions from me for the moment. Thank you, ma'am." Harvey walks back to his seat, stepping on a skateboard precariously placed in the room, slides and drops into his seat... and looks at Pikachu to see if he was going to add anything. If not, cross-examination time. Riku sighed. "Guys, please stop defending her. It's not like I'm going to do anything about it and don't hate her or something. She can feel how she wants. I'm fine. She was fine to say the comment in the first place. She'll be great. I'd really like to think of something else than this...like Donald seems to be going to zap you in a moment Goofy." *smirks* Sora held Kairi's hand and gave Riku a smirk. He knew Riku would sooner or later let it go but if he really did feel as he did, that would hurt. Friends 'used' each other all of the time but it was a mutual thing of shared company or favors back and forth. It was obvious Riku would 'let it go' but he was certainly not feeling a 'friendship' with Namine. Sora assumed Riku had thought her a friend to some degree or he wouldn't have been so angry about it. In the end, he was sure it would work out, even as perspectives changed. It was only a sentence or two. Who could stay mad forever for that? Of course, Sora could 'forgive' about anything if someone was sincere and real about it.
Riku really was upset and angry but exhaled slowly to release the rage that built up. He had learned to control his feelings a lot more than probably any teen could claim after what happened to him over the last couple years. He was not miffed about the Org at all. As far as he was concerned, it was a trial and justice would be served and that's all that mattered was the truth would be known and this would get over. He was more upset at Namine herself who had never been a friend obviously if she felt so wretched about him that he used her for his own selfish desires. He had left DiZ because he did not agree with his methods and only had stuck around long enough to ensure Sora would awaken...which is what Namine was there for too. He had even tried to help Roxas. But Namine didn't notice and why would she? He felt she was rather self-absorbed to miss things like that or the fact he got Namine away from DiZ and disobeyed DiZ's order in the first place. He understood DiZ wanting revenge but he did not condone it. All he could wonder about now was how this was going to be used by the Defense because when Riku went to testify, he would probably have to refute that claim which could either toss out Namine's statements or his own...or he would have to lie to save both statements. He did not like this at all but he sat and mulled over what he would do. Lying would be wrong...so it crossed his mind he'd just have to say it was her opinion and he did not share it and hope no one was called for perjury. Harvey checked out his watch and looked at Pikachu doing his antics. It was just another day. "There was another time you also stood up to Marluxia, wasn't there, Namine? After the battle where he used you as a shield and set Sora and Axel to combat...you were in another area with Marluxia and what did he tell you to do that you refused to, and what did you do? Also, explain the scene here in detail leading up to Marluxia and Sora's battle."
I'm not sure but it's very plausible that Sleeping Beauty was already put to sleep in BBS and that she was brought to the Hollow Bastion castle later since she was easily captured. There is a scene with thorns and such on the castle of the King and Queen so this seems likely at this point. Then she was freed by Sora and the dragon stuff happened. So in the end, the Prince had not got to her. The KH people saved her instead.
Riku would whisper but his voice was not happy; especially with Kairi trying to push such ridiculous things on him to validate the blond haired girl who had screwed him and Sora over if anything. She hadn't even bothered to care about Riku or Riku Replica hardly at all and only helped Riku when Zexion was going to kill him because Riku could not bear to strike at the real Sora and would have let him kill him for justice. "Kairi, with all due respect, stay out if it. I can put myself in her shoes having been used by Maleficent and her cronies and Xehanort. Lay off me and get a clue. She had no right to do what she did. I did not use her for my own selfish desires and if you ever insinuate again I did, I see how you take sides. She is not helping me. She is hindering my statement on the stand and making assumptions she does not in fact -know-. That is wrong. If anything she weakened me. Thanks for seeing logic, Kairi." Riku glared. He then looked off. "Sit down before you make a fool of us." "Come on, Riku,...she maybe did mess up but she was trying to help you." Sora sighed and knew to not push Riku anymore. He looked really mad now and would only put up with this for so much longer.
The point is when you have a computer to type at, typing txt talk is not going to be faster than typing regularly unless you really suck at typing. The phones, sure I can see it but to txt talk when on a keyboard for everything you say...it is an excuse of lethargy and so it does show if that's all you type in that there is a serious lack of caring about anyone else that has to struggle reading it. As I said before, I have no problem with it being done now and then in the right setting, but on a forums where people should -think- before they hit the submit reply button...it just cries out rudeness in some forums and all if this is what people see. Especially when someone is typing all angry and uses it as a way to emphasize themselves. Then it really makes the person look stupid; not just lazy. Also, you may get As and Bs in school but I bet it's because you don't write reports in text type or do homework that way. If you did write txt type on homework, your teachers should be flogged for giving such grades. So the point is that to type fully in circumstances where it would be considered annoying to others to have to waste time deciphering just seems to be the polite thing to do. For fun, there's nothing wrong with it, but it really does in the wrong places make someone look like they are either lazy or lame.
The point is that the dog was -intentionally- starved to death and died. Art would have been if the guy found the dog, took a picture of it to show others and raised some opinion etc. If the man caught the dog, starved it to death intentionally etc, that is indeed animal cruelty. I am not sure why people don't see that. So in the end, we need to know whether he starved the animal intentionally or not. Because that is what in effect makes it not art at all but a set up animal morbidity to satisfy himself and his pocket book off a dog he made suffer. The articles I have been reading all seem to say he did in fact starve the dog intentionally. Thus, the dog would have lived longer without his interference. And I'm not going to even bother going into the religious aspect of this since the Bible says that humans own all animals etc which has been used as an excuse for years to mistreat them. St. Francis made a change with this stance saying people should take care of them but the Bible is wrought full of animal sacrifices etc and labeling which animals are good and bad and which ones can be eaten and can't. It's not a good source to go off of.
OOC: Not that much longer. The point is to validate the charges. If it wasn't done, then the cross-examiner would do so without proof of in the first place her being abused at all.
OOC: I don't mind. it's not affecting me OOC even if Riku is now very angry lol. Harvey gave a curt nod to the judge. "In fact it does, your honor. If you'd allow me to continue... Namine, were you armed when Larxene hit you for standing in the way of harming Sora?" *when answered* "Now, you also mentioned Marluxia, which can you describe the scene you were in that put you in the way of Sora and Marluxia in the first place? Why were you there?" Riku just shook his head, refusing to answer Kairi. As far as he was concerned he had done more than his fair share to help Namine and right now he was ticked off at her. There was no way to apologize for what he considered a lie. Yeah, he was now grumpy Riku. "Maybe you'll have your chance to say your side, Riku. In the end it might be hard for her to think anyone wasn't just using her for their own ends." Sora whispered and looked at Namine. This was very confusing but he was sure somewhere there was an explanation. "Don't trouble yourselves. I'm just fine." He sighed and mentally thought..'just fine for someone stabbed in the back but no reason to worry that much about it.'
I have to go Phoenix Wright. He rux. Though DN is alright too, but just not as there to me.
Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear for a girl he really liked. He was kind of not one who was very adept at social situations and what people would call an 'oddball'. Also, self-mutilation is one thing. I do not believe Vincent van Gogh ever harmed animals or other people. He was a nut but not cruel apparently. You are right that a good group of people like gory art, but at the same time most art isn't created by making something forcibly suffer and then it dies the next day in a cruel way because the thing has no more use. There is a ton of morbid artwork out there but most of the time if it is 'real' people either came upon some gory scene that stuck in their minds to paint it etc. This is just a 'picture'. I'm not seeing how it even qualifies as art. I could go take a picture of some starving bum and I'd still say it's a picture; not artwork in any sense. Now, some photography I can call art because some photographers really go out of their way to get the best shots of scenes, items etc..., but this...not really. It's an emaciated dog that someone decided to put that way and have in a crappy scene that probably the dog was stuck living in as it was. In the end also, it doesn't stir much but revulsion or pity for the dog. Considering that the dog never had to suffer in the first place, the revulsion in many people is going to be superior to the pity and thus it makes this not a piece of artwork. Had some photographer captured a picture of a dying dog and not been responsible for putting it that way, sure, the picture then would invoke pity and a hope the dog could have been helped and if it could not, at least the dog had some understanding after his death and it would be remembered. -That- is art, if I care to actually acknowledge such a crummy picture anyone could take as art. It gives a message that this guy was trying to give by doing the mistreatments himself. Instead he fails and earns petitions and loathing. It was not about the dog. It was about making money, pure and simple in this guy's mind and he didn't care about the thing he was doing but to make money. To others who look at the picture, it will be about the dog. To an artist, it would be about the dog and capturing how bad the situation is so others draw some emotional reaction about it and take something from it. So, see the difference?
Ah, now I get what you mean. I do think Scientology is very bad with this. In other religions of areas if you leave you face ostracizing and belittlement but it is from family and/or peers. In Scientology, you are right, higher ups do interfere and mess with them. I would believe the major reason for this is probably to keep the conspiracy going because if it doesn't and someone who invested a lot into the classes 'knows too much' and it would take away their whole money scheme. I do see now where you are coming from and I would agree with you that is very wrong.
Riku shook his head and let out a sigh. He had never used Namine for selfish purposes. In fact he had saved her from DiZ as well as covering for her being on the run from the Org. That really did not sit with him well at all. However, she was obligated to her opinion. He really was not happy with the accusation at all though. He had thought her an ally and it was apparent her feelings about him. He looked away from both Kairi and Namine, just not really wanting to talk to either. He didn't even want to look at Sora. His shoes looked nice now. He had just bought them last week. He really just did not know what to say or think right now. Out of all he had done wrong, he did not want to accept this charge that she had given because it was false. Harvey Birdman frowned. This girl was making things kind of more difficult. "Namine, did you ever do anything to stand up against the orders of Marluxia and/or Larxene during this time? Also, how is it you were freed from your imprisonment? Sora looked at Namine and then at Kairi..then Riku and just wasn't sure what to think. Why would Riku use Namine for his own selfish desires. That didn't really seem a 'rikuish' sort of thing to do. And yes, in Sora's mind that word existed. Whatever DiZ had gone and done he wasn't sure of. All Sora really knew of the man was that he was Ansem the Wise and had gone to Darkness and had some revenge plan schemed for the Organization but changed his mind at the end, destroying himself and the big Heart in the sky. He ooked back at Namine as things continued.
I do think there must be other life out there that has a probability of being sentient. We have already found signs of life in our own solar system, though of course in basic form. I would find it hard to believe that in the great multiverse that is out there, there is nothing save for us. Of course, I don't say absolutely there is life on other worlds that is sentient because I do not know for sure, but I do lean towards it has a good chance of being out there.
Meh, how rotten. That is not art. Art is painting a picture of an emaciated dog, drawing one, singing a song about a dying dog. This is plain animal cruelty and people should be ashamed instead of catering to this kind of sick entertainment. I will sign the petition. This is just low and someone shouldn't be making money off of a dog starving to death. There is no way he should be let to do it again and I hope the authorities where this person is at arrest him for animal cruelty. It's sad there aren't some more laws protecting animals from creeps like this. It seriously makes me wish I could go kidnap him, starve him and wait till he's barely alive and skeletal appearing and take a picture of him and sell it. But of course, that would be a ton of charges and I'd be in jail for premeditated actions etc. Also, I have a soul still. Though I can't say he does. What is perhaps most sick is the dog's name was Natividad. This means 'Christmas' in Spanish. So he just cashed in well for the holiday, didn't he?
Really, the FF 7 people more fit with Judaism and Kabbalah than Christianity. Jenova - could be an altered name of Jehova in a way. Genesis - the first book of the Bible for Judaism and Christianity as well as it is 1 of 5 in the Torah etc. Sephiroth - Orbs on the Tree of Life. These orbs on the tree are meant to help people get closer to God...Sephiroth obviously wanted to 'become' a god. Cloud - could be referring to celestial heavens in a way. Aerith - has 'earth' implied in her name which is the base where humans of course and life dwells. She may have served as a prophet or Jesus sort of figure, or maybe a Moses sort of figure, leading people on a path. So to me, it kind of refers more to names taken from Judaism and Kabbalah which is an early form of Judaism. Also, another thing to note is the formula you see when Sephiroth casts Super Nova. Kabbalah is heavy in maths and symbolisms like that. This is not to say that Christianity is not also included since it has Genesis and the name Jehova. It just seems to me it does reflect the other two religions more though.
Okay but how? People -choose- to believe in this crap and donate money. That's their personal choice. It's like someone spending money on gambling. They are doing it to themselves. I'm not trying to say I like Scientology here but maybe even if it sounds cold here...people do not have to grow up to be Scientologists. It is not a dominating religion in the world. These people give their money and all to learn secrets that a sci-fi writer made up. It's their choice. Absolutely the only people I feel sorry for in any of this is the children who get stuck and don't want in this crap. Of course, I feel the same way about any children forced into a belief they don't want. I am also not seeing how it is restricting basic human rights except by dominating parents who might try to force the junk on kids. For others, they choose to do this to themselves. It's no different than people that would whip themselves to bleed over religion and repentance they thought. Some people, you just have to figure, are kind of masochistic or really not using their heads if they decide to give up their basic human rights. If you want to talk about giving up basic human rights...There are girls ages 10 to 16 at least that get sold like crazy on a black market for sex places in India. The police also tend to cover it up because prostitution is a huge seller there and mostly girls are taken from the small villages. The reason this is gotten away with is because the way people think there, which is also brought on by some sides of Hinduism and also the fact that poor people are on the low end of the totem poll...and girls are worse because they owe dowries before they can be wed. Sometimes girls are sent away to work and they get kidnapped from these jobs and sold into slavery for sex. They also never see anything of what they 'earn' from being raped continuously and held in small rooms to make sure no one knows but the well paying customers who want girls instead of woman prostitutes at madam's houses. Hinduism and the culture demands women must marry with a dowry so girls are screwed and not as valued as boys. Another thing about talking about losing human rights...some women marry men in India and there have been cases of men killing off their wives by throwing them in the stove. Then they will remarry to get another dowry. This is of course murder, but because of the view of women and girls, these hideous crimes happen and these girls have little hope except for some activist groups that try. That to me is losing basic human rights so I am a bit confused why you say this. Can you explain? Scientology is voluntary for the most part. These people live in a culture like this. I could give at least 15 other examples of people that live very poorly and I feel they have nothing just because they were born into where they were.
I kind of thought the "why did he pick you?" thing was referring to Axel picking Sora to help rather than continuing to try to separate the two. I am not so sure on it, but it is what I thought at the time along with the possibility that it might have deeper meaning from something in the past.
