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No New Posts  Prisons (Pages 1 2 3 ...4 )
HeatherMarie Posted on: 16-Dec-2004, 06:18 PM

Replies: 47
Views: 2,098
Bubba, did your friend serve in a state or federal penitentiary?

I think it's sad how it's ok to use prisoners as whipping boys for our desire for retribution. No thought is given to how some criminals have been created by society to begin with, or how our current prison system teaches convicts how to become more efficient criminals, or to try and think up better ways to rid ourselves of the crime problem. After all, convicts are hopeless cases who have chosen to spend their time in jail rather than become productive members of society, right? They chose to do the crime, so they deserve whatever sadistic punishment we can think up. After all, there are innocents living in worse conditions than these rapists and serial killers, so let's make sure they REALLY regret whatever they did! ...All said with an evil gleam in the eye and very little thought about how punishment works, psychologically.

But anyway, this guy can explain it much better than I can. He's actually been there. If anyone wants to hear how it really is, from an insider, that site is a great read. Otherwise, please...continue with the torture chamber designing.
  Forum: General Discussion  ·  Post Preview: #98643

No New Posts  Prisons (Pages 1 2 3 ...4 )
HeatherMarie Posted on: 16-Dec-2004, 12:05 PM

Replies: 47
Views: 2,098
QUOTE
Please oh please bring back capital punishment and get rid of the prisoners on death row for good.

There's at least a hundred people who think we should do otherwise. We convict innocent people who later walk free, but once you kill someone, you cannot take it back.

Prison-as-punishment does not work. Virginia is learning this for itself right now. They focus on punishing prisoners, don't educate them or ready them for real life work, and wonder why their prisons are full of repeat offenders. Sure, we get the criminal off the streets for a short time, but they will be let out eventually. It's in society's best interest to try to ensure newly freed prisoners will have the knowledge and skills to live a new crime-free life.
  Forum: General Discussion  ·  Post Preview: #98568

HeatherMarie Posted on: 16-Dec-2004, 11:11 AM

Replies: 190
Views: 5,277
Reddrake, I chose that page for two reasons - one being that he states that he is a Christian and seemed to have no agenda to disprove the actual existance of a god, and the other being that I could actually understand it. smile.gif Not a physicist, geologist, mathematician or biologist here, nor do I ever intend to be. Needless to say, the two pages you linked to flew entirely over my head, but I did understand your explanations.

Maisky, when you've got the time I'd love to hear elaborations on why you believe in isotope dating's accuracy, and what arguments you consider to be whining. With that, I'll return to observing the geological and evolution aspects of this fascinating discussion from afar.

QUOTE
random thought: Why is it that many people are ready to debate using evolution but no other reason for not believing the Bible?

Other reasons for not believing the Bible are given earlier in the thread - errors in translation, gaps between the date of the recorded event and the date on which it was recorded, and contradictory extra information that was not included in the original Bible.
  Forum: Philosophy & Science  ·  Post Preview: #98560

No New Posts  Prisons (Pages 1 2 3 ...4 )
HeatherMarie Posted on: 16-Dec-2004, 10:30 AM

Replies: 47
Views: 2,098
Life of luxury? How is being a prisoner luxurious? Let me ask you this: Imagine you lived in a palace. The palace is huge, has cable TV, a sauna, swimming pool, gym, library, and other amenities to make your stay more comfortable. However, you're not allowed to leave the palace. And you know that you'll be stuck there for let's say the next 15 years. All the freedom you had before you moved into the palace is gone. You can only see your friends and family during certain hours of the day on certain days of the week. On top of all this, there's also another 1000 people that live in the palace with you, some of which are not the nicest characters and are apt to pick fights with you for no apparent reason. You have virtually no privacy or time to yourself because the palace is so crowded. You don't even have your own bedroom, you have to sleep with a complete stranger.

Would you consider this life luxurious?

Now I'm not trying to say that prisoners in the current Federal system have things too hard, but I don't think things need to be made harder either, especially not as hard as Mr. Arpaio is making things. Being a prisoner and having your freedoms removed is punishment enough. Prison's purpose in society is not only to punish criminals, but also rehabilitate them. By increasing the punitive aspect and minimizing the rehabiliatation aspect to nearly none, Mr. Arpaio is rendering the prison useless. These prisoners will have no idea how to reenter society. Telling them "Don't come back if you don't like it" will not deter them because if they commit another crime after they are released, the chance is small that they will be sent to that same prison. Not only is this prison inhumane, it's ineffective and a waste of taxpayer money.
  Forum: General Discussion  ·  Post Preview: #98556

HeatherMarie Posted on: 15-Dec-2004, 02:44 PM

Replies: 190
Views: 5,277
I don't have the time to do more than skim the whole thing right now, but this page gives some good evidence in support of an old Earth, as well as an argument for C14's accuracy.
  Forum: Philosophy & Science  ·  Post Preview: #98407

HeatherMarie Posted on: 13-Dec-2004, 01:43 AM

Replies: 49
Views: 1,325
Well, I live in the salad bowl of Michigan - Hudsonville. At least, that's what the welcome sign says as you drive into town. And by "salad bowl," they mean "Dutch." (But hey, if you prefer stuff that is impossible to pronounce to salad, Hudsonville is for you!)

The only things we have that are really unique to the area are our festivals. The big one out here is Tulip Time, and it affects just about the whole west coast of Michigan. Although people do drive from all over the country to see our tulips. I've heard of people even coming in from the country of Holland, but I can't imagine why. Seems like that would be like flying out to Paris just to eat at McDonalds. For a few days at the end of May, after the tulips have had time to bloom and be torn apart by spring rains, we have this whole Dutch heritage celebration. There's a parade with Klompen dancers, art shows, tulip fields are open for people to walk through, and wooden shoe factories run at record speed. Most importantly, kids in area schools get a short week because of it. biggrin.gif

Of course, no one knows where Hudsonville is, so I tell everyone I'm from Grand Rapids (which doesn't always help things). Food is pretty much the same as you'd find anywhere in America. We have a pretty good local music scene, though. Some of our more famous bands are half of the Verve Pipe (the other half came from East Lansing), Molly, Troll for Trout, 19 Wheels, and Papa Vegas (last I heard, they were called "Miles to Mars," but they may have broken up again since then).

Athalay, we have Renaissance faires here where people get together for a few days, set up camp, and basically do everything as they would have during the Renaissance. It's mostly a role-playing event for those who dress up and take part, but it's also open for anyone to walk through and try to experience history. Your fencing group reminded me of this. Do you have anything like this where you live?
  Forum: General Discussion  ·  Post Preview: #97909

HeatherMarie Posted on: 13-Dec-2004, 01:06 AM

Replies: 46
Views: 1,164
Ours is fake. It's pretty and easy to put up (just leave the lights, garland and ribbon on and carry it downstairs after Christmas), but I'd still rather have a real one. Unfortunately, that decision isn't mine to make.

It just doesn't make much sense to me to have a fake tree when the whole tradition of bringing a tree into the house is to bring life into one's home in the midst of winter. Granted, the very act causes death (of the tree at least), but I'm sure our ancient ancestors had their hearts in the right places. In any case, they didn't put up a painting or a sculpture or a recreation of a tree, it had to be an actual tree.

Not to disrespect anyone who prefers plastic to paper (well, wood) - to each their own, I say. I just look at the fake trees and fake videos of fire and fake spray-on hair, and it reminds me of our convenience-oriented society. "If it looks good enough, use it." We're more concerned with saving time than honouring our traditions.

Yeah, that's right. Give me Diet Coke and a computer with an internet connection at 2 in the morning and I WILL bring down your mood! Heh...sorry about that... sad.gif unsure.gif Um...carols, anyone? note.gif Oh, Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...uh...lalalalala something.... note.gif
  Forum: General Discussion  ·  Post Preview: #97908

HeatherMarie Posted on: 12-Dec-2004, 11:28 PM

Replies: 7
Views: 270
Hehe... Congrats! Looks like guided mode asks you to put the text in a pop up box, whereas normal mode just inserts the tag you want into the typing area. As for your second question...click on the "BB Code Help" link under the smileys for everything you can do with the code. biggrin.gif
  Forum: Technical Support  ·  Post Preview: #97904

HeatherMarie Posted on: 09-Dec-2004, 11:00 PM

Replies: 14
Views: 585
Well I guess you've got me beat here. My first computer was a 286 that ran DOS...eh...5.1, I believe, with the 5 1/4" floppy drive. I was about 12, so I pretty much just used it to play BASIC games and word processing. I actually remember the first time I saw a 3.5" floppy, at school. I didn't understand how a disc could be called a "floppy" and not bend. (But of course, what should they be called? "Hard drive" already refers to something else, and "stiffy" just doesn't sound right.) I thought the school computer was so awesome, with the point and click Windows interface and OMG...MSPaint! I was so excited when we upgraded to a 386 that had Windows 3.1 and I could make ugly 16 bit pictures at home and use a font other than Terminal for school reports.
  Forum: Retro Computers  ·  Post Preview: #97544

HeatherMarie Posted on: 09-Dec-2004, 05:58 PM

Replies: 27
Views: 1,032
Aragorn, what is religion essentially? It's a way for humans to understand and honour God. For the most part, all religions tell us the same things: love God, love oneanother, love yourself, trust in God and He will help you. I think if you take all the religions of the world, strip them of their local customs and mythologies, you'd wind up with a message of hope, love, and peace.

Actually, speaking of mixing religions with Christianity, there are three independant religions that came about from mixing Catholocism with the native religion of Africans brought over to the New World. They are Vodou, Santería, and Candomblé. This wasn't done by choice, obviously; it was done out of necessity since Africans were baptized before being sold, and couldn't practice their religion in the open. But while the saints were originally used as a cover to hide the African orishas, most people who practice these religions today pray to both the orishas and the saints and consider themselves Catholic. So, it can be done. No one can know for certain which way is the right way, if there is a right way at all.
  Forum: Kirk and Chapel  ·  Post Preview: #97497

HeatherMarie Posted on: 09-Dec-2004, 12:27 PM

Replies: 27
Views: 1,032
Dragonboy, I was originally going to say no because Christianity has that clause that states that it is the only acceptable religion, but then I realized the wording is actually "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." This could be interpreted to mean that as He is the creator-god, and therefore is higher and more powerful than any lesser god, so to hold a lesser god in higher reverence than the creator would be blasphemous. Does God ever specifically say that He is the only God that you may worship?

I know, it's probably written a dozen times in the Bible, but I thought I'd ask just in case. But, of course, if there is not more than one god, why did He say, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness;"?

But anyway, from a purely logical stance, assuming that Christianity claims to have the right way and the only way, it is incompatible with any other religion. Same goes for Judaism, and probably Islam. (Wow, there are a lot of One True Ways, aren't there?)

Of course, that's not to say that people don't mix them, or that you can't. I don't think any of us really have the answers, even those who claim they do. Actually, especially those who claim they do. If you can find a way to worship God, have it make sense, and make yourself feel good, then whatever you're doing, you're a step ahead of a lot of us.
  Forum: Kirk and Chapel  ·  Post Preview: #97460

HeatherMarie Posted on: 09-Dec-2004, 11:41 AM

Replies: 31
Views: 783
Legolas? Bleh. He's pretty enough, I guess, but he strikes me as a bit on the dim side...

Now Pippin on the other hand.... drool.gif Aragorn, too. Rowr! king.gif = wub.gif
  Forum: General Discussion  ·  Post Preview: #97455

HeatherMarie Posted on: 09-Dec-2004, 11:34 AM

Replies: 36
Views: 1,107
Like I said, you are free to decide what any given holiday means to you, and that's perfectly fine. That's exactly what the Bishops did centuries ago when they decided to celebrate Christ's birth near the winter solstice and the resurrection near the spring equinox. These were already holidays by the non-Christian folk, so they just decided to change the meaning around a bit. Instead of the winter solstice being a celebration of the literal return of light to the world, they decided that they would celebrate the figurative birth of light in Jesus Christ. Instead of easter being a time to celebrate life and growing and fertility, they would celebrate the resurrection.

What puzzles me is the customs that go along with the holidays that a lot of Christians practice without really thinking about why they exist. The Christmas tree, for example. What does bringing in a tree have to do with Christ's birth? Was Jesus exceptionally fond of indoor potted plants? Same thing goes for the Yule log. I realize that wood was probably a common source of heat in biblical times, but there's nothing about it that specifically pertains to Christ's birth. For one, everyone would have lit a log if it were cold, and if Jesus was born in the summer like a lot of theologians think he was, they wouldn't have had one lit at all. And don't even try to convince me that Mary and Joseph had a piece of mistletoe hanging in the stable. biggrin.gif

Easter is steeped in Pagan customs too. The Easter bunny? Now there's a symbol of fertility if I ever saw one. Coloring eggs? I can't even begin to think of a connection between colored hard boiled eggs and crucifixion. The egg hunts, the candy, the pastel EVERYTHING has more to do with the changing colors of the earth than anything Christian.

So the thing I am curious about is not why Christians celebrate a holiday that has Pagan roots, but why they practice uniquely Pagan customs.
  Forum: Kirk and Chapel  ·  Post Preview: #97454

HeatherMarie Posted on: 08-Dec-2004, 01:03 PM

Replies: 36
Views: 1,107
QUOTE (Annham @ 07-Nov-2004, 06:38 AM)
Just curious,

Are there any original Christain holidays?

Yup, Thanksgiving. Even though nowadays Thanksgiving is mostly secular, it was originally celebrated in Plymoth to thank God for saving the pilgrims from near certain death. I know every elementary school has the "First Thanksgiving" play with Squanto and the pilgrims and everyone gathered around the long table with the turkey, but that doesn't have a lot to do with how the holiday was really started. Here's an article that tells it a lot better than I can.

The two major Christian holidays, Christmas and Easter, are made up of almost completely Pagan traditions, with the exception of the Mass itself. For that reason, I find it somewhat amusing that abbreviating Christmas to Xmas causes offense, especially since the abbreviation has been in use since long before anyone would have thought of, or dared to for fear of heresy, trivialize the holiday (sometime in the 1500's).

But then again, all this doesn't mean a thing. Each person who celebrates a holiday knows in their heart why they celebrate, be it to gather with family and friends, welcome the reincarnation of the Sun God, or celebrate the birth of their savior. That's all that matters.

Heather
  Forum: Kirk and Chapel  ·  Post Preview: #97329

HeatherMarie Posted on: 05-Dec-2004, 11:18 PM

Replies: 13
Views: 245
"Feliz Navidad" is definately up there. It reminds me of my high school Spanish class. Good times. happy.gif

Other than that, there's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," "What Child is This/Greensleeves," "We Three Kings," and "O Come Ye Merry Gentlemen," performed by whomever, as long as there's not a lot of deviation from the traditional tempo or melody.

Heather
  Forum: General Discussion  ·  Post Preview: #96856

HeatherMarie Posted on: 05-Dec-2004, 11:04 PM

Replies: 44
Views: 1,533
QUOTE
Granted, the LOTR stuff sucks.

Ok, I'm going through a little LOTR obsession right now, so I have to ask, what LOTR stuff? Is there LOTR-related music besides the three songs from the movies? If not, I have to agree; I can't stand any of the songs except "May it Be."

Other than that, I can't really think of anything since I haven't been listening all that long. In general though, I'm not too crazy about songs that use more modern instruments. "Pagan Girl" by Emerald Rose comes to mind here. Personally, I don't think Celtic music and electric guitars belong anywhere near eachother.

Heather
  Forum: Celtic Music  ·  Post Preview: #96855

HeatherMarie Posted on: 05-Dec-2004, 10:52 PM

Replies: 6
Views: 357
Oh, that is beautiful! I especially like the one called "Chanson de Mai." Thanks for the link! My mono-linguistic self can't seem to find the song you mentioned in the second post, though, can you tell me which link to click on to get to that one?

Thanks again,

Heather
  Forum: Celtic Music  ·  Post Preview: #96854

HeatherMarie Posted on: 05-Dec-2004, 12:33 AM

Replies: 7
Views: 1,355
Haha, veggies unite! I always wondered what haggis tasted like when I was eating meat, but knowing what was in it, never got up the nerve to try any. Same thing goes for the headcheese that my mom and grandma were so fond of. Meh. I'm a wuss, I guess.

But this sounds great, I'll definately be giving it a try!
  Forum: Scottish Recipes  ·  Post Preview: #96760

HeatherMarie Posted on: 05-Dec-2004, 12:20 AM

Replies: 6
Views: 357
Wondering if anyone would know where I can find recordings of music written in Europe between about 1000 and 1500 AD? I'd love to hear some ancient Celtic music, but I'll settle for anything from Europe, really. Or what the oldest known music is from that area? I'm guessing it would be some chanted hymns from some monestary, but I don't really know.

Thanks,

Heather
  Forum: Celtic Music  ·  Post Preview: #96759

HeatherMarie Posted on: 05-Dec-2004, 12:05 AM

Replies: 22
Views: 2,418
Hm...one of those ambiguous stories that give the reader something to ponder at the end. Nice job, congrats on finishing it! happy.gif
  Forum: Short Stories  ·  Post Preview: #96758

HeatherMarie Posted on: 03-Dec-2004, 12:19 PM

Replies: 29
Views: 923
<img src="http://images.quizilla.com/P/poproxncoke/1035325158_turesAlbus.jpg" border="0" alt="Albus"><br>You are Dumbledore! You're smart, you know how to<br>turn stuff into gold. Everyone looks up to<br>you, and dont forget that your older than god.
<br><br><a href="http://quizilla.com/users/poproxncoke/quizzes/Which%20Harry%20Potter%20Character%20are%20You%3F/"> <font size="-1">Which Harry Potter Character are You?</font></a><BR> <font size="-3">brought to you by <a href="http://quizilla.com">Quizilla</a></font>
  Forum: General Discussion  ·  Post Preview: #96522

HeatherMarie Posted on: 03-Dec-2004, 11:17 AM

Replies: 22
Views: 2,418
Ooh, that is really good! I love the way you take the time to describe every little detail of a scene. Keep going, I'm curious to find out more about the secret, and why, if the Glass is such a secret thing, the old man would trust a complete stranger with it. Unless Donovan isn't a complete stranger...

Hm....very interesting!

Heather
  Forum: Short Stories  ·  Post Preview: #96517

HeatherMarie Posted on: 02-Dec-2004, 10:22 PM

Replies: 2,123
Views: 63,587
Hello! So glad to have found this place! I never really listened to Celtic music outside of what they play on Thistle and Shamrock every week, but I just stumbled over Emerald Rose yesterday, and now I'm in love. Your radio station is just awesome. Thanks so much for a really great service!

Heather
  Forum: Introductions  ·  Post Preview: #96447

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