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Post by Emizael on Mar 3, 2007 4:29:49 GMT -5
It has to be a girl-name thing...cause...hell, nobody talks to Graile. They must know its me. The only person that whispers me ever is Valand, and ...
Well, you know how all of those kinds of conversations are gonna go...
Valand: Hey, Emi! What's up?
Emialt: STUPID VALAND!!! DIE!!! DIEEEEEE!!!
Oh, then of course, one time, Gudran whispered me, and he was perfectly conversational...
Gudranalt: Hey, Emi! Long time no see, how're are ya?
Emialt: Dude, go get Guds right now and zerg me through Scarlet Mobastery, Lawlz.
Oh, and then there was the time Anna was on her shaman, and she sent me a whisper to ask a perfectly reasonable question...
Annafishalt: Hey, Emi, when you did this thing like yesterday, was the thing blue or red that ya needed to whatever for the quest?
Emialt: ANNA! ZOMG! HEALZ MEH PLZ KKTHNKSBAI! ZULFARRAK!!! *spams group invite* GIMME FISH PLZ!!! AND EPIX! HaXxOrZ! LAWLZLAWLZ!!!1!
I would just like to add here, that lately, I have been a bad person. I do not regret my actions in the least . That having been said, I also now want all your phat lewtz. Gimme.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled rants, already in progress....
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Post by Albured on Mar 3, 2007 12:41:43 GMT -5
Moving
What kind of society do we live in that they expect you to pack everything you own up and put it into boxes and load said boxes onto trucks just to drive 20 min and take it all out. And they put my leg in a walking cast so my wife is like bring the boxes out of the basement I'm all joy stairs but at least the guns are in the basement so if she starts complaining too much.... 3 years ago everything I owned except my car fit into 1 bag which coincidently fit in the car that was freedom now a week and a half later 2g to movers I still have a few trips left and whats with movers they will move my lawn mower but not a bottle of bleach? And the movers themselves did they speak english...hell no try telling them be careful all I get is Si which is one of the 3 words in Spanish I speak the other 2 being f u not that I have anything against Mexicans I am half Mexican myself but for Christs sake lean the language if your coming here and looking like them one tried to have a conversation with me in Spanish so I tested the non English speaking theory I said I will give you 100 bucks to go away no he just kept babbling at me. Then you have to unpack all your stuff and you notice just how much crap you own I need to rent a dumpster now I should of sorted threw the stuff before moving it because the crap I don't want I could of left there (they are demolishing my old house to build condos saved on cleaning the place) so I rented a house for us till my new one is complete and then it hits me the house I rented has a 3 car garage I have 8 running street legal cars and 2 more in various stages of rebuilding so now I have to find a garage to rent to keep them so I can tinker with them because any car restorer knows that they need constant work and most of them don't have a roof so it is not like I can keep them in the driveway.
Moving sucks
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Post by Emizael on Mar 14, 2007 1:36:39 GMT -5
Allright. This one isn't a rant, as much as it is a discussion of a dissapointment that I faced, recently.
So, sometimes, we form these notions, these images, of who and what a person is like, and...sometimes, we start to take these images for granted.
Here's how it is. I'm at work, doing the Work-y things required of me to earn a paycheck, and most of life is going well! I was getting comfortable with some of the people that work around me, and even found what I thougt ...THOUGHT might be some kindred spirits, in an intellectual sort of sense. That is to say, in a very sort of Emi way, that I kind of liked some of these cats, due mainly to the fact that these cats in question were video gamer nuts, and also knew a bit about some of the same hobbies that I am interested in. And, one of these cats in particular, seemed pretty cool, and even kind of smart, to the point where I had to wonder to myself, why does this particular cat work at Home Depot?
I mean, it is uncommon at the very least for a young, highly educated guy with a bright future ( supposedly? I mean, at this point, I really dont' pry into folks personal lives, but, you work with someone close enough, and you start to get to know them fairly well...sometimes, ya know?) and this person is working at The Home Depot, schlepping along, and not doing anything with all that brightness and good brains, and fairly insightful and sarcastic comments on the Universe as a whole. I'm wondering why this guy works at the Home Depot, and, I'm actually liking this guy, and find it generally *fun* to work with this cat.
Then, we get into some pretty deep and interesting discussions, during the downtimes and slowtimes, when there really isn't much work to do, and we talk about the big heady stuff, religion and politics, and D&D 2nd Edition Vs. 3.5...you know, all the important stuff.
And, then...
So, yesterday, we got on this discussion, and he brings up the French, and he goes on to expound on some of the French Virtues ( of which all rational and sane people know there are none) which in turn, inspires me to rant, quite a bit actually, about the French. It got to the point in the conversation wherein I mentioned a trifling bit about " Melting down that Copper Bitch in the Harbor into pennies and air-dropping the whole lot on Paris" and suddenly, just like that...
Not only had the conversation ended poorly, but, now I think the sot thinks rather rudely of me. Which, partly I care about, because it affects my work environment, and , partly I don't care about, because he is a French-loving-surrender-monkey-weasel-face.
So, really, I kinda feel let down, because I let petty predjudice ruin what could be a perfectly excellent oppurtunity to make new friends, especially at work, wherein it is typically good to have friends, but, on the other-other hand, compounds the fact that I feel let down that there is yet another America-hating Frenchman sucking up my air, in the very country that he hates so very much. I actually felt sad for this poor cheese-head, due mostly to the fact that I am truely of the opinion that, if you hate America so very much, then, by all means, GET THE HELL OUT OF MY COUNTRY AND STOP SUCKING UP MY AIR!! I know that this isn't really a very fair statement, but, currently, I am of a mind to not be fair anymore. The complaints about this country will end, when all the whiny asses have had thier say 'bout how much the country sucks. The complaints and the whining and crying about how our Government is controlled by asses and elephants and nothing ever gets down, and how the American way of life is so inferior to the way everyone else does it right....
Just remember this. Take a deep breath with me, and remember this. You have the right, and the ability to say such things, because of our country. You have the ability to say whatever you like, whenever you like, because you do live in a free world. This is the only place in the world where it doesn't matter how or where you are born, all you have to do is work hard, and you can have anything. No other country can say that.
The Door to America is always open. Lets not forget that it goes both ways.
Naievety aside, and for the sake of simplicity, of course its all more complicated then that. The real rant here is that I am tired of hearing how much America sucks. I am sad that there are many in this world, mostly of the dissafected youth generation that can't see what freedom really is. I am sad to see that for the most part, I am alone in my invective ranting patriotism amongst most of my worldly comrades. I can't agree with every single thing that America as a Nation does, or lets happen, I don't agree with every policy of our government and the current Administration, but I can see that no other place on earth is like what we have. Sure, other nations have healthcare nicked, but, at least here, you have your choice of doctors, and don't have to make sure you aren't Euthanised when diagnosed with the common cold. I like the very idea, that I can go where I want, when I want, and I can do that in any method that I so choose. I like the fact that this is a nation of equals, no matter who you are, and that the same rules apply to every other citizen.
We're not perfect, but, neither is any other place at all. At least in America, you can't make me dissapear without a fight. Here, I have a voice, and the power to control my destiny. I have the rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. You cannot make me worship what I do not wish to worship, you cannot mutilate me without consequence, you cannot attack me without repercussions. You cannot take what is mine without any right, you cannot impune upon me in any fashion that I deem distasteful, without facing the full and awesome might of justice, either meeted at the end of a court battle, or by my right to defend myself. I am free, and I am saddened by the fact that some folks, aren't.
They are trapped by the weight of ignorance.
I haven't the real right to preach here, and I am sorry if I offend by my ranting, but then again, you have the right to NOT read this. You also, have to right to disagree. In the end though, its all about freedom of choice, and that , we have in abundance.
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Post by Annalira Delshannon on Mar 14, 2007 10:04:22 GMT -5
I suppose I could write a long response about how not all French people hate Americans (they don't), and if you'd ever seen how most Americans act in Paris (I have), you'd hate American tourists too, and how we all need to stop bitching at each other and solve these major world problems (like pigeons... why are there still SO MANY PIGEONS!)...
but, deep down, I think I agree with you Emi, and I like you. And I don't think it would do anything but get us off on some kind of tangent instead of focusing on the good stuff.
And I think the comment about the pennies is kinda funny >.>
(Also, if the guy you work with can't get past the fact that you and he have disparate opinions on, of all things, the flipping French... well... that's kind of sad for him)
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Post by Celera on Mar 14, 2007 12:10:44 GMT -5
The thing about the statue of Liberty was a little harsh. I think that's where you left the realm of passionate discussion and went somewhere else. I'm not personally offended by that remark -- but I can see how someone would be. Just like some people are offended by flag-burning, or a Madonna video where she takes religious symbols and uses them in a sexual context. These symbols are important to people. It's one thing to get past disagreements with someone, especially political ones. It's another thing to have someone speak so hatefully about something that to him (and to most Americans) is such a beloved icon. I can see where he might have gone from disagreeing with you to actually not liking you, because that statement felt less like an opinion and more like an attack.
People who express their criticisms of America, or the virtues of the French, in overbroad terms, are only doing the same thing that you are doing -- taking complex issues and boiling them down to what they see as the basic underlying principles, and then adding a fair amount of emotion-- because we are all emotional about our opinions.
I couldn't disagree with you more completely about the French, or about...pretty much everything you said in your post. But, I have known this for some time, and that's why I just don't talk to you about this topic. Because, I understand how you feel, and what you believe. And I think I understand why you think and feel that way. And I don't think I could change your mind, or that it's my place to try. And the worst thing that could happen is for us to have some sort of argument where our friendship would be damaged, and neither of us would really be any more enlightened.
Friendships are more important than political opinions. Cordial working relationships are probably also more important than political opinions -- you will never change this guy to your way of thinking. You will only make it harder to get along with him at work, and how does that improve your life?
I've lost track of the point of this post...but you are a good friend and I'm really happy that you have a good job that you enjoy, and I know how passionate you are on this subject, and I hope it all works out. And, there's a reason why you aren't supposed to talk about politics or religion -- it hardly ever works out well.
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Post by Gudran on Mar 14, 2007 12:28:49 GMT -5
Damn pigeons....
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Post by Fechak on Mar 14, 2007 12:56:23 GMT -5
I had this great conversation with a pigeon the other day... they're really misunderstood... much like the French.
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Post by Annalira Delshannon on Mar 14, 2007 13:29:51 GMT -5
<hijack> Once you have been to Venice, you never see pigeons the same way.
There are more pigeons than people in Venice - and not by a little bit. It is... disturbing. Everyone there wears hats, because they get pooped on. I wouldn't be surprised if small children regularly go missing in St. Mark's square because of pigeon kidnappings.
</hijack>
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Post by Celera on Mar 14, 2007 14:03:35 GMT -5
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Post by Val on Mar 14, 2007 15:11:58 GMT -5
GIANT FROGS! GIANT FROGS! WHAT CAN I SAY? .... back to you.
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Post by Vangelis on Mar 14, 2007 15:47:46 GMT -5
rofl on the ducks!
EDIT: Not saying anything about politics. Or religion.
Or sex? Naaaaaahh...
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Post by Polrena on Mar 14, 2007 18:54:57 GMT -5
You know what gets me? People who think they can "help" me, when I'm doing just fine, thankyouverymuch. I hate to generalize, but women tend to let me get dirty and fix stuff. It happened to be a guy today, so forgive me if I generalize that it's guys who think they can do better...
I was using the copier. Nobody else. Just me. I had a paper jam. No big deal; happens all the time. I know how to "read" the little LED that says where the paper jam is. I know how to move all the little green buttons so the copier knows something has been moved. This particular paper was being stubborn, however. I'd removed 2 pieces of paper, and by the size of the hole in one, I knew there was scrap left somewhere. So I was digging around in the copier, trying to locate the little scrap.
Up comes this guy. Do I LOOK like a helpless female? I'm managing, thank you. Few copiers have failed to get repaired, by me, even when others have called the service guys. Once, actually. The ONE time I couldn't fix a copier was when the panel fried. (Not my fault, btw.) But no. He doesn't even ask, but removes one of the trays of the copier and roots around in there, and happens to find the scrap of paper.
Ok, fine, he found it, no big deal, thanks and everything, now go away. But no. Now he has to try to put the tray BACK, and he can't. I stand politely out of the way, letting the big macho man try to FORCE the tray in, off the track of the wheels, and I'm mentally rolling my eyes.
Meanwhile, my copies are not getting made.
So I wait, and wait, and wait. Finally, I ask him if I can try. I ASK, mind you. And how that galled! So I'm lining up the tracks, and he lifts one end. Like it was too heavy for me??! Good grief. So Now I'm trying to line up the tray, and this ... guy ... is throwing off the balance and taking it off the very track I just put it on! He asks to try it again. Like he ever let me actually try!
So he tries AGAIN and I wait patiently again. Finally, I ASK him to let me try again, and when he does the "helping" me lift one side, again, I ask him not to. In 10 seconds after he lets go, I get the tray in, put the rest of the copier together, and tada, it's done.
I make my copies and go on my seething way.
What IS it about some people (I won't say men) that they think they HAVE to "help"? Do I LOOK helpless? I'm built like a firking Amazon, and I'm not exactly a shrinking violet. This particular man should have known better, since to date, I've fixed at least three pieces of office equipment that he gave up on. WHICH by the way, I only fixed after he had well and truly given up and had either thrown it away or called the repair man.
Arrrrgh!
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Post by Polrena on Mar 14, 2007 19:03:03 GMT -5
Ok, I *may* have rubbed his nose in it alittle bit over the label maker. The two of them had junked the whole thing, and I found it in the trash. So I fixed it, and typed out "Renee Rules" in the label part and left it on his desk.
But really, it wasn't a threat to his masculinity or anything. I'm just smarter, and he really just needs to accept that.
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Post by Emizael on Mar 15, 2007 1:30:03 GMT -5
See? That's what I'm talking about. It never really is about the logic, its just the fact that sometimes, WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND SOMEONE ELSE IS SCREWING IT UP!!!
Now, about the whole man thing...its okay, Polly. You can say it. It is a man thing. If we see a woman doing technical stuff, we instantly lose all intelligence we ever thought we might have had, and are forced by our genetics into a caveman like session of grunting, wherein we must do everything in our power to get on your nerves. This, particuarly, is one of the reasons that we are men.
Cel, and Anna, both of you know that I tend to generalize things for the sake of the shortness of argument, and that most of the time, I do it all for the sake of humour. Both of you are right, at times, I am completely insensitive, especially towards the Frenchies, but, I would never dare attempt to force my opinions upon youse guys. Unfortunately, I can't stop myself from saying those kinds of things sometimes. Again, it is a man-thing. Yes, we almost never talk about those kinds of things, because both of you are nice people. I wouldn't think less of you because you happen to disagree with me, but, then again, I never hear either of you moaning about your dislike of the U.S.
Okay, and also, I am an Asshole. I am proud of the fact, too! It is part of my undeniable charm. It really is, just ask Val.
The whole pidgeon thing? I can't figure that one out one bit. I dunno which is worse, having a bird crap on your head, or falling into a deep pit filled with sharp sticks and vicious llamas, but, I am leaning towards having a bird crapping on one's head being right up there with possibly the worst thing that could happen to an individual. I mean, a bird crapping on your head really ruins your day.
If there is a point to any of this, and if there was , I never really knew about it in the least; then the point should be, that ...we should make cats with wings. Then, they could go eat the birds. Wouldn't that be funny. Then we could make dogs with wings, to catch the cats, and...uh...no wait. That would just be silly. Dogs shouldn't have wings.
Dogs...should have lazers.
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Post by Celera on Mar 15, 2007 10:57:32 GMT -5
One time I met a guy for brunch -- sort of a blind date, let's see if we are interested, kind of thing -- and we were sitting outside in this lovely cafe or something, and a bird dumped on my head.
I don't know if it was a pigeon, but I would have given anything if I could have had one of my cats with me at that moment. Or a laser.
Wasn't that interested in the guy anyway, since he'd had an extremely traumatic breakup about an hour before that. (OK, maybe it was a week. But he was totally not done with it.)
Which reminds me that if I was still on match.com (which is a great way to meet people, if you do it right) I could have made an excellent rant about stuff people put in their ads. For example --
Learn to spell. At least learn to spell the basic words like dining (not dinning!). And you are probably looking for a soulmate, not a solemate.
5'9" is not taller than six feet.
Being smart is fine unless you mostly use it to show other people how stupid they are. Then you are just an ass.
Eating in and eating out does not constitute a wide range of interests.
"Still able to climb up from the couch" is not the same thing as "athletic build."
If you are "separated" from your wife, but you haven't filed for divorce and you still live together -- you are married. That's it. You are not in any way single. You are just married.
It's been a few years now, so that's all I remember. I did meet some nice people, including Jon, but reading through the ads was always good for a laugh.
And Emi -- we agree on at least one thing. You are undeniably charming.
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