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starkiller

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7-Nov-2003
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7-Mar-2008
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Post
#70932
Topic
It's official...
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
Electronic machines, IMO are a good idea.

The idea that "black" people can't use them is just insulting. I thought that democrats were supposed to be the party that supported and cared for those of African descent, and yet here they are insulting their intelligence.
That is a misconception that I wish could be dispelled.
1. Republican Abraham Lincoln is the one that signed te Emancipation Proclamation.
2. Ever heard the term 'Southern Democrat'?
3. The pro-segregationist party that was formed during the 50s and 60s were the dixie'crats'...not dixie'cans'.
4. Might I remind (or inform) everyone, Democrat Robert Byrd of West Virginia was a card-carrying member of the KKK (though this is just 1 man's choice).

I think there are 2 reasons people think that democrats are for blacks:
1. Democrat Lyndon Johnson is the one that signed the Civil Rights acts of the 60s.
2. Because activists like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton say the republicans are evil.
Post
#70863
Topic
It's official...
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Hal 9000
"Ooohh.... scary machine."

I think electronic voting machines are a good thing. Have we forgotten last election in Florida yet? My God!
National studies on the issue demonstrated ballot-spoilage rates across the country range between 2-3 percent of total ballots cast. Florida's rate in 2000 was 3 percent. In 1996 it was 2.5 percent. --from The 2000 Election: Where's the Disenfranchisement?
It was the closeness of the vote in Florida that triggered the Democrats to demand the recount, and started the mess.

Where I live (not in Florida), we use the butterfly ballot. From my personal experience, there is no flippin' way that people, even the elderly, could NOT get a proper bunch. You've got an inch-long stylus that goes into a hole with your ballot about 1/2 an inch below. The only possible way, and this was suggested, is if people were trying to punch their ballots with ballpoint pens, rather than the provided stylus.
Post
#70824
Topic
It's official...
Time
Why don't we convert over to a total electronic system?

Well, I could lean to the right and accuse liberals of using the butterfly ballot as an excuse to "interpret" ballots (with their dimpled and hanging chads) in their favor.

But, why should I do that, when I could just show you this:

Black Voters 'Afraid' of Electronic Voting Machines, Activist Says
By Marc Morano
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
September 30, 2004

Miami (CNSNews.com) - An African-American civil rights spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the new computerized voting machines "terrify" her, and that blacks are "afraid of machines like that."

Joanne Bland, the director and co-founder of the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute in Selma, Ala., told CNSNews.com on Wednesday that the new computerized voting machines are going to intimidate black voters in Florida and elsewhere and suppress their vote in the November presidential election because many blacks are not "technologically savvy."

"The computers really terrify me. The electronic voting -- the new machines -- I think it will turn off a segment in my community, particularly the elderly. We are not as technically savvy, and we are afraid of machines like that, and they (African-Americans) probably won't go [to the polls] and they probably won't ask for assistance, said Bland, who spent the last week in Florida.

"It is going to turn them off totally and I want that to stop," said Bland, who also serves as a spokeswoman for the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Public Accuracy, which predicts that "several million voters" may be "deprived of voting rights again" in 2004.

When asked if she preferred low-tech punch-card ballots that produced the controversial hanging chads in Florida in 2000, Bland responded, "Now that was low technology to who? People that have been privileged to learn technology? There have been lots of changes in the United States, but if you look at the statistics, our biggest block of voters would be between 40 and 80, so when did those people have access to any kind of technology?"

As an 11-year-old in 1965, Bland took part in the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She has just concluded a speaking tour on the history of the civil rights movement in the Miami area.

"I got the hell out of there Saturday, and I would suggest you do, too. Until we get rid of those Bushes (President George W. Bush and his brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush), we're going to have a problem in Florida," Bland said.

GOP political operatives were quick to denounce Bland's comments.

African-American GOP consultant Tara Setmayer, who has worked on Florida congressional campaigns, called Bland's remarks "insulting" to black Americans.

"I think it's insulting to imply that African-Americans are unable to comprehend or assimilate modern-day technology," Setmayer said.

"As a registered voter in Florida, I am familiar with these touch screen voting machines,and they're very easy to understand, very voter-friendly," Setmayer told CNSNews.com. "Her claim is absurd," she added.

Syd Dinerstein, the chairman of Republican Party of Palm Beach County, also denounced Bland's comments.

"If there was ever proof positive that the black community needs a different set of leaders, statements like [Bland's] are exactly it," Dinerstein told CNSNews.com .

"I wish the Democrats thought as highly of the black community as Republicans do. We trust black parents to pick the right schools for their children, the Democrats don't. We trust black people to make informed electoral choices, the Democrats don't," Dinerstein said.

"It is sad that the soft bigotry of low expectations is at the core of the fundamental principles of the Democratic Party," he added.

Republican consultant and former political and government affairs director of the African American Republican Leadership Council Kevin Martin also rejected the idea that blacks can't grasp computerized voting.

"What Bland is trying to say is voters down there [in Florida] are dumb, they are not educating themselves. She is saying that African-Americans-- when it comes to voting -- are intellectually inferior," Martin told CNSNews.com.

"You have touch screens in grocery stores, at [state run motor vehicle offices] and African-Americans seem to have no problem using those," he added.

'Voter intimidation' by Republicans

On Wednesday, the eve of the first presidential debate between Sen. John F. Kerry and President George W. Bush at the University of Miami, the NAACP and People for the American Way announced the results of a new study entitled "The Long Shadow of Jim Crow: Voter Intimidation and Suppression in America."

The report alleges that the Republican Party is attempting to systematically suppress the voting rights of African-Americans.

Ralph G. Neas, president of People for the American Way, said, "Although voter intimidation has not historically been confined to a single political party, we are increasingly concerned about recent incidents indicating that Republican officials may be planning to challenge voters this year based on race."

Neas said, "There is more than one way to deprive people of their right to vote, from systematic and technical problems to inadequate voter education to illegal actions by public officials."

Martin, however, challenged the new report.

"I am sick and tired of hearing rhetoric about corruption. Show me some evidence. Name a government official involved in suppressing the black vote," Martin said.

"They can't [name officials] because it's nothing more than red herrings to feed to the black community to try to scare them so the Democrats can get 90 percent of the vote and people like Julian Bond, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and these groups can feel they have the right to sit at the table with Democrats like Kerry," Martin added.

Dinerstein completely dismissed any allegations of GOP vote suppression.

"In the [2000 presidential] election, not a single black person was deprived of their right to vote, but a significant number of the men and women in our service overseas were deprived of their right to vote by the Democratic Party," Dinerstein said, referring to the controversy over disqualified absentee ballots cast by members of the military.

Setmayer also rejected the new study from People for the American Way and the NAACP.

"I think it's a desperate attempt at trying to mobilize the black vote, because if you look historically at the areas in Florida where we have had the most voter fraud -- or suppression, as they call it -- [it has] been in the Democratic districts.

"It's an absurd claim," Setmayer said, considering that the election supervisors all have been Democrats.

"And they are taking that approach because they have a weak candidate. Kerry is a weak candidate because he has no rapport with the black community," she added.

Setmayer said Kerry's announcement on Wednesday that Jesse Jackson had officially joined his campaign was spurred by recent polls showing that Kerry's support is "slipping" in the African-American community."

A new Pew Research Center poll shows African American voters support for Bush has doubled to 12 percent from 6 percent, while Kerry's support has dropped 10 points since August.

Bland said it's too bad that black voters give such overwhelming support to the Democratic Party.

"One of our problems is we are classified as Democrats -- that whole block of African-American voters. The largest portion of us will more than likely vote Democrat, and that makes us not a party in the game
Post
#70447
Topic
Just noticed something in Jedi - Deleted scene?
Time
Yes, that is the result of what is thought to be a deleted scene.

As you recall, Han lures the lone scout into a group of Rebels, and the scout surrenders immediately. That's where the armor came from.
Shortly after, as the bunker door opens, if you look in the background, you can see the scout helmet going onto someone's head. That's a rebel putting on the helmet.

There is also a picture, and I've got it on the Behind the Magic CD set, of Han tossing the helmet to the rebel, right before they enter the bunker.

I don't believe I've ever seen anything about the story behind it, so that's the best I can give you.
Post
#70443
Topic
Are we wasting our lives?
Time
The real world stinks.
Crime, pollution, politics, jimbo, famine, lawyers, war, UN, disease, hunger.

So you curl up in a fantasy world where you know things are going to end up working out. Everyone wants something to provide them with a deversion from their problems.
Some people want more a deversion than others (ST fans that dress up as Klingons vs. ST fans that don't).
Some people want a different kind of deversion from other people (ST fans vs. SW fans).
Post
#70432
Topic
Holiday Special vs. PT
Time
Some of my DVD titles, in no particular order (I'm at work, have to do this from memory):

Animal House- Double Secret Probation Edition
Midway
Goodfellas (original not the newer release)
Goonies
Forbidden Planet
Gremlins
EP1, EP2, 2004 SW Set, Troops
Indiana Jones set
Mars Attacks
Tron
Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan- 2 disk set
Star Trek: First Contact
Who Framed Roger Rabbit Vista Series (which have you got jimbo?)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Robin Hood (Disney)
The Brave Little Toaster (the kid in me wanted it)
The Out-of-Towners (Steve Martin version...John Cleese is priceless)
Flight of the Navigator
The Black Hole
The Pink Panther Collection (The Pink Panther/ A Shot in the Dark/ The Pink Panther Strikes Again/ Revenge of The Pink Panther/ Trail of The Pink Panther)
The Marx Brothers Collection (A Night at The Opera/ A Day at The Races/ A Night in Casablanca/ Room Service/ At the Circus/ Go West/ The Big Store)
Walt Disney Treasures - Behind the Scenes at the Walt Disney Studio
The Last Starfighter
Allegro Non Troppo
Fantasia (60th Anniversary Special Edition)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
One, Two, Three (classic Cold War comedy)
Murder by Death
The Day the Earth Stood Still
12 Angry Men
E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial Ultimate Gift Boxed Set
Species (came free with a magazine I subscribed to)
Post
#70427
Topic
It's official...
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: jimbo
Yes but I am not running for President of the United States. Kerry is incosistant on important issues. I am just someone who loves jokes and Star Wars.
Murder is still murder, whether its Bill Gates or a homeless bum.
A flip-flop is still a flip-flop, whether its Kerry or you doing it.
Post
#70412
Topic
It's official...
Time
Link doesn't work?
Alright..."Changes in 2004 DVDs" thread, look for your post from Tue July 06, 2004 12:52 PM, and the next 15 or so posts.
Its page 22 for me seeing 20 posts per page.

You cannot do it in real life, so you do it online?? That's almost as 2-faced than Kerry (I say almost only because Kerry is moronic enough to do it all the time in real life).
Post
#70407
Topic
It's official...
Time
I'm still looking for the comment, but you referred to her in one of the terms I used in my first post on this issue ealier today. If you recall, I then chastized you for it, and you came back at me surprised about it.

I remember specifically saying "A woman should be placed on a pedestal (high enough to see up her dress)" if that helps jog your memory.

The search function isn't letting me go back any farther than August 25.
...
Ahh, found it:
What jimbo said about Portman, starts with the 3rd post, disccusion lasts about 15 posts

Ahh, I did make a mistake. You weren't making a reference to how she is, you were saying how you WISH she would be.

And if you look back and see, I was talking about jimbo's lack of respect back then too.
Post
#70392
Topic
It's official...
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: jimbo
I believe all my insults have been directed toward abortionists man or women. I believe I have made a very clear distiction between abortionists and good decent women.
Last time I checked, Natalie Portman was a good, decent woman, and you made those comments about her that I mentioned a few posts ago.
Quote

Originally posted by: jimbo
So what about foul language. Thats what I love about talking online. You don't have to impress anyone hear.
If spelling counts, don't worry, I don't think you have.

But seriously, Why would you not want people to not be impressed with you? If you don't impress people, show them that you are a comprehending, intelligent, understanding, respectful person, they will not listen to you.
Post
#70379
Topic
It's official...
Time
And may I also say that you're choice of words regarding women is mearly the tip of the iceberg.
Earlier you went on a tirade in which you dropped a f-bomb in practically every sentence.

Let me ask you something else:
Have you ever, ever seen me use foul language on this board??

No. You probably haven't, and you won't ever. About 99.99% of the time, I can get my point across without resorting to it.

Foul language is, as it says, foul. It is, itself, offensive. You offend and show disrespect to everyone here, male or female, when you use it.
Quote

Yet you insult me for not having respect for them.
Well, perhaps you can earn some respect, by showing some respect.
Post
#70376
Topic
It's official...
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: jimbo
I hate Rap music. Look at the things we hate thread. Rap really hurts my ears. So I should call someone those things even if they deserve it. Next you will be saying its wrong to call Osama Bin Ladin a terrorist. I see abortionists as dirt. Both the women who want them and the doctors who preform them. They did the most dispicable thing a human can do. Yet you insult me for not having respect for them.
See, we agree again. Yes, they are dirt. It is, indeed a most despicable act.

But your statement was that "I don't think I have been offensive to women." You made no distinction between normal women and pro-choice women.

I think you have been quite offensive, regardless of who you are talking about.
As for my statement, "even if they deserve it", I refer to a certain blond hotel-chain heiress and another blond, freshly-married pop singer. I believe these 2 may deserve being attached to those words, but you would never hear me saying it publicly.
Post
#70366
Topic
It's official...
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: jimbo
I don't think I have been offensive to women.
Somehow, I recall a large conversation we had...maybe a 1-2 months ago based on some things you said about Natalie Portman. I took offense at the your choice of words.
I believe, and you were shocked and surprised that anyone still had the values that I displayed in my posts.

But to sum up my feelings:
To refer to any human as a whore or slut is demeaning and several steps beyond nasty (even if they deserve it). You have done so on multiple occassions, in and out of this thread.
I must ask this one question of you:
Do you listen to rap (Retards Attempting Poetry) music??
If yes, I understand completely how you can be completely blinded to the full force of the words you use.

However, it still makes me question your mental state.
...
Just as I question the state of mind that John Kerry is in when he says that voting against the $87 billion supplemental would be "irresponsible," then goes ahead and votes against it himself.

Yes, jimbo, in a round-about way, I said you are a flip-flopper.
It pains me to think that we seem to share many political views.

To finish, I must use, what might be the best quote from a movie I have never seen:
"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Post
#69940
Topic
Did Boba Survive?
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: buddy-x-wing
Ever consider that the EU messed up the movies by having Boba escape the sarlaac? they should have CG'd some razor sharp teeth on that parrot's beak to remove any doubt that he survived.
Actually, they screwed things up by adding the beak.
The Sarlaac had rows of sharp, downward pointing teeth to prevent things from escaping. I remember it quite plainly.

Adding the beak removes the purpose of those teeth.
Post
#69933
Topic
It's official...
Time
I just found this in an article about the Cheney/Edwards debate tonight here in Cleveland

Fox News, about 2/3 of the way down the page

Quote

"What persona will these two men project? Worst case scenario for Edwards is that the vice president comes across as the sage Yoda and he comes across as the novice Luke Skywalker. Worst case for the vice president is he comes across as Darth Vader against Edwards' Jedi knight Skywalker," added Peter Giuliano of Executive Communications Group, referring to characters from the Star Wars films.
Post
#69930
Topic
when did you see SW first...
Time
I never got to see the originals in the threater...unless my parents took me to ESB or ROTJ when I was 1 or 3, respectively, and I simply do not remember.

Probably the first time I saw the movies was off the BETA tapes my dad had (and still has). My first ANH viewing would have definitely been a bootleg copy.
I can only guess that my parents saw ANH in the theaters. We've got 2 original movie posters in our basement, both the van Hildebrant edition. Neither is in very good condition.

I'm pretty sure my first action figure was a Death Star Commander. If all my figures, he's got the most wear, especially on his helmet. For whatever reason, I sucked on it.

Christmas of 1986(maybe 87) was the best year. I got the Ewok Village, Millennium Falcon, Shuttle Tyderium, POTF-edition Jabba's Dungeon, and maybe some other stuff as well (if I did, I don't remember it). That was also the year I found out there was

***Spoilers****

No Santa. I found several of my presents in the basement behind/under a bunch of chairs.

***End Spoilers****
Post
#69929
Topic
Best Movie Endings
Time
Quote

Originally posted by: Bossk
Sneakers is such an underrated and underappreciate movie. I loved it. Great cast.
Absolutely.

--I want peace on Earth and good will towards men.
--We are the United States government, we don't do that sort of thing.


--So, what you're saying now is that the CIA killed Kennedy??
--No, actually he's still alive.


--You know, they wanted me to join the NSA, until the found out my parent's were married.
Post
#69897
Topic
Starkiller's Fan Fic. Story
Time
I've gotten a little bit more done since my last post (starting with the beginning of Chapter 22, so I don't interrupt the flow of the writing):
Chapter 22: My Final Work For the Earth

I returned home. A stop on the Star Destroyer revealed that it was almost fully repaired, and Earth technicians were quickly picking up the knowledge they needed to use it. I landed on Earth the same way I landed before, and was greeted by practically the same crowd.
No reports were necessary from me this time. I was growing obsolete.
I decided to make a final suggestion to the President and then I would pack up my belongings and explore some more.
“Mr. President, “ I began, “I no longer feel I am needed on Earth. The current situation with the Empire has been averted and I think its time I went elsewhere. From the scientific standpoint, we have years of research to catch up on. From the military view, we have a warship capable of defending the planet and a military that knows how to use it. The public, well, to minimize the impact of what has happened, it’s best that they learn slowly.”
I continued, “I would like to make a recommendation to you and the rest of the world leaders. I think it would be helpful to Earth to create a trading station on the far side of the Moon. Have a place where terrans and aliens can trade and interact. It will allow those people that visit to adjust to the large galaxy they’ve become a part of, and it will strengthen ties between us and other cultures out there.”
I then returned home and began to pack. I planned on returning again, so it wasn’t a matter of stripping down my house for a move. I had to pack plenty of clothes. Not knowing where I might go, I’d need to be ready for any weather conditions. I grabbed a few books for long hyperspace trips. From my experience on the Motivator, I knew that ships power was DC-based, like the blaster power packs. It was not a difficult task to have B0B rig an appropriate AC outlet for a couple pieces of electronics, like a laptop. In preparation, I downloaded as many Star Wars references as I could find off the Internet, in the event that I needed information I did not have.
I was ready to return to space. I wasn’t worried about leaving my home for a long time, I asked the neighbors to keep an eye on things, and the government was happy to take care of any bills I might get, even though I had shut down as much of the house as I could, it wasn’t 100%. They said it was a minor thing to worry about compared to the benefits I had provided them with.
With that I was set, and I left.

Chapter 23: What did my future hold?

It was at this point, I did not know what I would do. I considered the possibilities of joining up with the Alliance right away. With the wealth of information I had at my fingertips, I could have used the money I had and made it grow through gambling. I could play tourist and visit the many places I had read about, like Ithor, Corellia, Yavin, the Kessel Run black holes. I started to research the Internet files I had downloaded. What would really be interesting is if I could actually see and be a part of one of the stories I’d heard about.
That is when I figured out what I could do.
In the book Tales of the Bounty Hunters, part of Boba Fett’s story was his first encounter with Han Solo. Han was forced into some kind of life-or-death combat against 3 men each twice his size. Fett attested that Han had won the match, despite all the odds being against him.
This was a chance for me to do several things. It gave me the chance to see another world. It gave me a chance to see Han Solo in person. Last, it gave me a chance to gamble on a fight I already knew the outcome of. The only thing in my way was the fact that I didn’t know when it happened. It could have happened already, or it could be happening too far in the future for it to be something I could do now.
I began to sift though the information on my laptop. Eventually, I found the information I was looking for. It happened on the planet Jubilar about 12 years before A New Hope, when Han was 17 years old. No, that wouldn’t work. Based on what I had been told be Captain Briera that would have taken place about 10 years ago. No, I needed to find something that “happened” 2 years before A New Hope.
I continued to search for some event.
There, that was it. It was perfect, even better than before.
Han was due to visit Bespin, run across the Cloud City Sabacc tournament, play into the finals, where he defeats Lando Calrissian and win the Millennium Falcon. This was luck. To watch as this soon-to-be most famous smuggler gets united with the ship that helped make him famous, it was perfect.
And if I was lucky, I could gamble on the outcome.
With B0B’s help, I plotted a course to Bespin. It was a long trip, but it gave me time to reflect on all that had happened since that fateful day when I spotted that fuzzy Star Destroyer on the news.
When I arrived at Bespin, I found myself having the same trouble as Han had in Empire Strikes Back.
“No, this is my first trip to Bespin, I do not have any permits. I can buy one if necessary, but I do not have one now.” I said. I could see why Han sounded so frustrated. These Cloud Car Pilots, or whatever they were called, were relentless.
“Do not deviate from your current heading. Once we have confirmed your ships registry you will be allowed to land, at which time you may choose to pay a landing fee or purchase a permit.”
At this point, all I could do was wait. It took several minutes, but I could only assume that my information checked out.
“You are authorized to land at platform 463. Follow us.”
I thanked them and was finally able to continue into the city. It was a spectacular view.
Upon landing, I was met by an official of the city.
“Greetings, welcome to Bespin’s Cloud City. How long had you planned on staying?”
”I wasn’t sure.” I told him. “I heard about a Sabacc tournament that is going to be played here, but I could not find out when it will be taking place. I wanted to stay through to the end of the tournament. Mind you, I’m not here to play. Just as a spectator.”
“Well,” He began, “the tournament is just over 2 standard weeks away, and will last for another week. At 200 credits per day for use of the landing pad, that comes to 3000 credits. A landing permit will cost you 5000 credits, but it gives you free access to the cities landing pads and a discount on any ship-related work you may require upon your visits. This would include restocking fuel, tibanna gas, repairs, and modifications. The permit will require renewing within 1 standard year.”
He continued. “Also, unless you wish to stay in your ship, there is a 100 credit per night charge at one of our mid-range hotels. This includes a choice breakfast menu every morning, and a one time 50 credits-worth of chips for use in any of our casinos. That would be another 1500 credits.”
I thought for a moment. Money was not an issue. I still had over 40,000 of the 50,000 I had gotten from the Emperor, plus the 5 Krayt Dragon Pearls. The real issue was if I wanted the permit or not. I may have money, but I wasn’t going to be stupid about using it.
“I will take the permit. I’ll need to get additional funds from my ship, however. If I require any of the ship-related work you mentioned, who do I speak with?”
He seemed happy. “Excellent. You can speak with me. You see, each pad is assigned someone to coordinates the activities going on at it. I work on this pad. Anything you require, you can speak with me about.”
“Fine, fine. I’m sure there are some items that my ship should have looked at.” I replied.
With that, I returned to Gaea to get the money I would require, plus some extra. On my way out, I gave B0B a heads up on what would be happening, and I asked if