logo Sign In

JediSage

User Group
Members
Join date
22-Mar-2005
Last activity
10-Jan-2011
Posts
2,109

Post History

Post
#160723
Topic
Ethics
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/160723/action/topic#160723
Time
I heard a very interesting discussion on the Glenn Beck radio program the other day. The gist of it is as follows:

According to the story, a man in the UK tested positive for HIV on multiple occasions, but now for some reason he is totally free of the disease. The doctors are baffled, and feel that he may hold the key to curing the disease. The catch is this: He refuses to give his blood or DNA for testing.

Now, this poses an interesting set of questions:

1. Are you not the ultimate authority over your body? Do you not have the right to say who gets your blood and DNA?
2. Does this person not have a duty to submit given that he may hold the key to curing millions of people?

What are your thoughts?
Post
#160720
Topic
Movies you enjoy even though you know they're bad
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/160720/action/topic#160720
Time
Originally posted by: zion
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey is probably my all-time favorite horrible movie.

"Dude, this is a totally deep hole!" "Yeah!"

I also love Surf Ninjas, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2, and National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1.


Dude, Loaded Weapon rules!

There's a horror movie from around 1992 called "The People Under The Stairs". Totally awful, but also totally awesome.

Post
#159868
Topic
France
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/159868/action/topic#159868
Time
Originally posted by: ricarleite
Originally posted by: JediSage
Hating the French is not racism, since "French" is a nationality, not a race. There's a difference. That being said, yes I (and most Americans) do harshly criticize the French. We're hardly in the minority of people (especially in the western world) that criticize others (I'm reminded of the "How can 40 million people be so dumb" quote from the UK newspaper after Bush was reelected).


I do not hate any nation (except for my own, and it's different). I hate SOME countries political leaders, and only a few of those. I do not hate the people from any country. I don't personally know any French, but they are good people I suppose. And I belive Americans dislike SOME political moves by France, not the people or the culture itself.

That quote from the UK newspaper, I belive that is stupid, the media should not take sides at all. That's why I criticize this newspaper's headline, it's ridiculous, and also that's why I criticize Fox News. I mean, Fox News does the same, dosen't it? Do I belive the republican party is the best for america? No. Neither is the democratic, either. Would I say something like "how can 40 million people be so dumb"? I would, if moved by the emotion of the moment. Would I print it on a newspaper's headline? No.

Also, don't point your fingers at europeans for this headline, as I've heard harsher things being said about the Bush administration in america itself, so...

And before anyone accuses me of being, like, anti-american or anything like that, as I've been accused before, lemme say I have nothing against America itself, nothing. I work with and for americans, and I only have good things to say about them. I have nothing against the american cultural invasion, with pop culture and movies and fast food chains, I say welcome, you are saving us from horrible foreign food and movies. It's a great people and a great country, which I do admire and respect. What I dislike is the actions taken by the government over the years, which, I belive, do not follow what it's country and people is suppose to stand for.


Right, but I can criticize a fellow American for criticizing Bush without being accused of "racism". What I can't take is the double-standard. Criticism should be a two way street. Personally, I don't care if anyone on this board likes what I have to say or not. But I'll defend the same right for them as well.

Post
#159763
Topic
France
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/159763/action/topic#159763
Time
I was only asking a question...trying to get a feeling for how you perceive right and wrong. That's all. I was not trying to drag anyone into an argument, and I apologize if it came across like that.

Hating the French is not racism, since "French" is a nationality, not a race. There's a difference. That being said, yes I (and most Americans) do harshly criticize the French. We're hardly in the minority of people (especially in the western world) that criticize others (I'm reminded of the "How can 40 million people be so dumb" quote from the UK newspaper after Bush was reelected).
Post
#159727
Topic
France
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/159727/action/topic#159727
Time
Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
Eh. There are corrupt politicians everywhere.

Jed's point is that France goes on and on in the UN and in public discourse about how everyone else should be as humanitarian as they are, and yet their people walk by a homeless guy on the street and don't seem to be batting an eyelash.

Texas and the US in general let their actions speak for them, be it for good or ill.*

(I'm not defending or attacking this position, just commenting)


England and America both consider themselves to be good nations with good morals and standards, and we are just as guilty and have just as big a homelss problem (have you ever been to San Francisco? Seriusly, it is shocking). Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means a fan of the french, but this is just french bashing for the hell of it. What about that BumFight website? That was American. There are thousands of Homeless in England, and I'm sure there are people who ignore and walk by them every day. I mean, I try to give them some change and even stop for a chat but not all the time. Sometimes I'm late for work or I don't have any money or I want to buy something with my money. If you want to talk about the homeless problem in general, or the sad fact that society totally sucks and many get left behind, be my guest, but dissing the French as if your shit don't stink, well, it's hypocritical at the least because that's exactly what you are angry at them for doing in the UN.



Let me ask you something YIYF, and also Ric if he's watching: Do you believe that any country/people on earth are morally better than anyone else? Or do you believe "perspectives" can be used to justify anything? For example, do you believe the nations that support Al-Queda are less moral than the US or UK? Or is it that their actions are ok because "we're all evil too"?
Post
#159470
Topic
France
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/159470/action/topic#159470
Time
Originally posted by: ricarleite
Really, only three to five?

I've talked with a man from Houston, and he said that sometimes the local government moves away the homeless people there for other parts of the city, depending on the need, sometimes when there's a chief of state, or turists, or something.


I find that quite hard to believe, to be honest. I've never been to Texas, so I can't say for sure, but I will say that Texas is extremely protecting of their freedom, and I can't imagine too many people going along with that.

Post
#159292
Topic
France
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/159292/action/topic#159292
Time
I work at a drug/alcohol rehabilitation center that also has a homeless initiative program, so I'm not really a fair test case. I see homeless people all the time in that capacity. Prior to working there, I had perhaps seen 3-5 homeless people in my life, and I live in the tri-state (NY, NJ, CT) area of New England between 2 major cities, in a town of about 35,000 people.
Post
#159240
Topic
France
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/159240/action/topic#159240
Time
Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
If that is what Sage was trying to say, he should have explained it better. I'm no fan of France, but there are sadly places in the UK and America where the same thing would happen.


I honestly don't know why this is causing so much confusion. The word "France" is really not that misleading. Yes, this type of thing happens elsewhere, but the previous poster has it correct. For all the BS that the EU puts out about how humanitarian they are, this picture and other incidents in the past go to show that their system places absolutely no value on individual life. Which is why they have government funded abortion, free heroin clinics, state-sponsored euthanasia, etc.

Post
#156089
Topic
is there any Star Trek Enterprise fans here?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/156089/action/topic#156089
Time
Originally posted by: dark_jedi
well i like Enterprise,i will watch the very last episode tonight,i think Captain Archer,T'Pol,Trip,Reed,Hoshi,Phlox,they are some of the BEST characters,i know alot of people didnt like Archer(Scott Bakula)but i think he was a great Captain,but now that i think about it,i like all the captains,yes even Janeway LOL
DJ


I thought Voyager's characters had GREAT potential. With the exception of the Doctor, Neelix, and Seven...none of them lived up the hype.
Post
#155945
Topic
is there any Star Trek Enterprise fans here?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/155945/action/topic#155945
Time
I thought Enterprise in the final season was way better than anything they did with Voyager, however the first three years were so God awful it's unbelievable. I attribute this rebirth to the writing of Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens and the departure of Brannon Bragga.

The problem with the Trek franchise after DS9 was that it became so formulaic and relied too much on techno-babble and "reset button" solutions. None of the characters ever changed or grew, nobody ever died permanently (except a MACO, like anyone cares).

That's why I like the new Battlestar Galactica. I haven't heard a word about how the ship works and I DON'T CARE. Show me interesting characters and I'll tune in.
Post
#155765
Topic
Visual Basic Programming
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/155765/action/topic#155765
Time
Anyone have any programming experience in VB 6? Need an API call to shutdown a machine on command. I'm working on a login script that offers the terms for using our systems, and has an "I accept" and an "I don't accept" button on it. If they don't accept, they pop up a message telling them they're not authorized and I want it to shut the machine off.

A. Is this possible?
B. Any clue on implementation?
Post
#155697
Topic
BSG
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/155697/action/topic#155697
Time
Originally posted by: Shimraa
Great, hey has anyone ever seen Babalon 5 i have a friend that claims that show is better the Battlestar galactica.


B5 is a different animal. B5 was created from day 1 to be a 5 year story, with a beginning, middle, and end. Episodes in the first season would pay off in the 3rd season or even later, the same with seasons 2, 3, etc. There's one episode in particular in season 1 that doesn't pay off until the very last episode of the series.

Starting in the middle of season 2 through the rest of the 5 season run (with 1 episode being the exception) every single episode was written by the creator, J. Michael Straczynski. The reason being that he knew where the story "arc" was going, and he needed to be at the wheel.

Battlestar has an arc of sorts, but only so much as the basic premise (the colonies have been wiped out, now they're on the run). I think Battlestar has a lot of points in it's favor as a sci-fi series when compared to B5.

1. Battlestar has a massive following, and the network is responding by giving the show concrete orders for future episodes and solid backing. B5 never had that type of support, and as late as season 4 it was unknown whether or not the 5th and final season would be produced.

2. Battlestar seems to have a lot of mainstream support. For example, TVGuide has run many stories and even covers on Battlestar. B5 didn't get anywhere near that type of recognition until it's last episode. I remember reading an article at the time (can't remember where) regarding the final episode, where the reviewer said something like "I get the feeling I missed something special by not watching this show".

3. Battlestar seems to have an adequate budget for sets, special effects, etc, as well as an awesome cast. B5 had a great cast, but suffered from chronic budget issues and had to rely on a lot of CGI, before CGI became what it is today. As a result, even on the dvds B5 can look a little dated at times.

4. The television scifi landscape is bleak to say the least right now, as a result, any competition Battlestar would have is on the same network (both Stargate series). B5 was on during a time when Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and Voyager were being pushed out there by Paramount, and B5 had to struggle against them. DS9 was a titan, Voyager less so but it had the advantage of being UPN's flagship.

Personally, I couldn't choose. B5 has an awesome story to tell, and it's not all happy ending to be sure, but that's what I always liked about it. The characters grew and changed, people died and moved on. Straczynski has said that he always enjoyed basically flipping a coin and seeing who he could get rid of every season. The one negative I'll give B5 is that the dialogue, especially in the first season, at times can be painfully bad and cliched. However, it's not as bad after the first year. My major gripe with BSG so far is the "So say we all" line. God, get over it. Cringeworthy, to be sure.

BSG seems to be headed in the right direction. I hope they keep it up.
Post
#155323
Topic
What the Hell is Going on in France?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/155323/action/topic#155323
Time
Originally posted by: Warbler

Talk to me when you've lost a job to someone in order to fulfill a quota (even though you're more qualified)


a black person's response would be: have you ever lost a job because someone did not like your skin color?


My family was discriminated against for being Irish, back when the Irish were less than dirt and there were signs in the window that said "No Irish need apply". They dug themselves out through hard work and dedication, not unfair quota systems.

I gone back and forth on this issue. Both sides have good points. I am not sure which is right.


Should we maintain the status quo then? Eye for an eye...
Post
#155322
Topic
What the Hell is Going on in France?
Link
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/155322/action/topic#155322
Time
Originally posted by: Yoda Is Your Father
The slave might have spent it on a slap up meal and some hookers for all we know. Saying he would have passed it along to his offspring is an assumption. I think the money should be given as a symbolic gesture to some kind of scheme or project aimed at promoting true equality. And I don't mean some stupid gimmick like an 'I love black people day', I mean an actual government funded project with serious commitment from all involved. Exactly what that is, I don't know, but I don't see why somebody should be able to go and buy themselves a new BMW courtesy of the government because their great grandfather had a bad life. What happened back then is awful, and I am ashamed to be a white westerner at times because of the way we have treated (and in some cases continue to treat) other nations, but this just smacks of people cashing in to me.


The reparations game is a dangerous one. Black people are not the only ones to have ever been taken advantage of. The Roman government still exists, why not pay reps to the descendants of their slaves?

My family comes from Ireland. How's about London sends me some Pounds Sterling and we'll call it even?

I'm more inclined to agree with YIYF on this, however I believe reps shouldn't be paid to anyone.