In a thread titled "Sharks join America's war in Iraq": JDAppleton: Do they have friggin lasers on their heads?
Same Thread: Matthias: I bet the Jets will be quite pissed they're left out.
In a thread asking if you believe in destiny: xocachmys2ox: Is there a plan for us in life? yelena216: Short answer, no. xocachmys2ox: and Long answer? chips2001: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
In a thread titled "Man jailed for pissing on dying woman": xpaperxdollx: Maybe he thought she was stung by a jellyfish.
From MrDeoltoid’s journal titled 'Help me pass time before work - (Ask me any question and I'll answer from a drug addict's point of view)' in which an hour passed with 14 posted questions and zero responses: Kungfullama: I think the drug addict's point of view is to just pass out and wake up the next day not remembering she ever offered to answer our questions.
Joke of the Week
Golf on Christmas morning
Four old-timers were playing their weekly game of golf when one one of them commented on how nice it would be to wake up on Christmas morning, roll out of bed - and without an argument, go directly to the golf course to meet his buddies for 18 holes. All three of his friends unanimously agree, “Let’s do it! We’ll make it a priority, figure out a way and meet here early Christmas morning!”
A few weeks later it’s Christmas morning - and there all are standing next to each other on the first tee box. One friend exclaims “Boy this game cost me a fortune! I had to buy my wife such a huge diamond ring, she can’t even take her eyes off it.” Another friend says, “I spent a ton, too. My wife is at home planning the cruise I gave her. She was up to her eyeballs in brochures.” The third friend replies “Well, my wife is at home admiring her new car… reading the manual.” Silence from the fourth guy…
The other three friends in the group look puzzled, while the final guy in the foursome is staring at them like they must have lost their minds. “I can’t believe you all went to such and expense for a round of golf. I just woke up, slapped her on the butt and said, ‘Well babe, Merry Christmas! Golf or sex, what’s it gonna be?” and she said “Take a sweater.”
The member of the week is carolineYES. A member since October 2006, Caroline has fit in at YT from day one. She's been especially helpful lately in the newbie forum answering questions and welcoming folks to the site. Congrats!
JoeInterview's Member Feature
This week's interview features Ophelia*. This interview was conducted by Chips2001 and travbowman.
JoeInterview: How did you find YT?
Ophelia*: I found it among the careless internet security settings in my highschool's "Communications Technology" course. I got bored one day, and tried to hack the Catholic School Board's "blocked" sites. Not only did I hack it, I visited all the sites that looked entertaining. YT was one of them.
JI: Good Lord! Those poor Catholics! What keeps you coming back? I know you exile yourself every now and then, but you seem to return…
O*: I always think my life is way more exciting than it is. At that time, I quit YT in a huff claiming it's wasting my life away. The truth always remains that I have been on YT for going on four years, and find it almost every bit as interesting as it was way back when. It's like having a really big group of really diverse, and often brilliant friends that you can choose to partake in the drama of, just like "real" friends. Or, you can watch from the sidelines, just like "stalkers" do. But who's labelling?
JI: You recently did a stint in New York. How was life in the Big Apple?
O*: At the risk of sounding like a crazy existentalist; It was everything and nothing all at once. It was the hub of the Western world, it was convenience, it was culture. Somehow, it still managed to feel like the lonliest place on earth. I did have the time of my life. I snuck into a handful of Broadway shows, was featured in the media as an up-and-coming fashion designer (long story!) and came back a new person in some small ways. I loved that city more than my own hometown, and I'm sure I'll be back there again soon. This time, for keeps!
JI: Are there any other places where you'd like to have a similar stints?
O*: Oh yes. What's the point of existing on Earth if you don't travel as much of it as possible? I don't have many specific places I want to go, though. I figure life will take me places, with a little push from my living-attention-deficet-disorder. I guess if someone said "Hey! I will fly you anywhere in the world right now for free!" I'd go to Australia somewhere. Or maybe Czech?
JI: What's the best thing about coming home?
O*: In the words of Moody Blues "You can never go home again." I always enjoy coming back to my friends, and to this place where I feel most comfortable in my surroundings, but I never feel that "coming home," is generally a good thing for me. There's always that little crazy person in my head that jumps at chances to find a new love, and a new "home." Perhaps I sound too metaphorical and slightly bitter. Coming home is great, if you're ever feeling lost, as someone like me often does.
JI: Tell me about your home town. What is there to love? To hate? What's it's flavour/colour?
O*: My home town. To any visitor, Calgary is bleak, vast, pretentious, over-priced and lacking culture. To me, it's it's own self-obsession. I know the ins and outs of this city (Which, btw, is 11 times the land mass of New York City.) and I know where to go for everything I need at any time of night. Calgary is at it's "tipping point," if you will. Crimes are at it's peak, and the middle class is being pushed out by Big Oil. The downtown core fills up with million dollar apartment suites and shiney new Encana buildings. Things are in a constant state of change, but always going in the wrong direction. But, I won't be pushed away.
JI: But with all the things pulling Calgary apart, at least Jarome Iginla can unite the whole city?
O*: Oh no you did not just say that to me.
JI: Care to elaborate? Not a fan of Flames hockey?
O*: If anyone is familar with the "red mile," you'll know that in the playoffs of 2005, the Flames were in the finals. The city went insane, they took over the street I was living on (happened to be the street downtown with the most pubs) and trashed cars, stores, people, etc, every day for the whole run of the playoffs. In a city of over a million people obsessed with the Flames, that's a scary thought. Not to mention how many date rape cases were filed by women who were so drunk they were incapacitated and raped on a regular basis. But I digress. Most physical activity already leaves a bad taste in my mouth - let alone sporting events supporting the vandalisim and rape of my hometown.
JI: What does the meditation room in your mind look/sound like?
O*: The room is 8 stories up, in a broken down studio apartment building, with ceiling to floor windows and a view of some sort of harbour. The room is empty, save a huge, white bed, and maybe huge, obvious, white flowing curtians. There's some sort of music coming from a controlled source, like a CD player, or something, and it's echoing off the windows. It sounds like a Cirque du Soliel soundtrack. I am wearing an india-cotton Moo-moo thing, made out of two layers of navy blue comfortable, airy, wonderfulness.
And maybe there's a sleeping naked lady in the bed. hah.
JI: Why does photography interest you? What does it mean to you? How does it fulfil you?
O*: I don't know why it interests me. It's the instant gratification version of art. It's creative in the split second reaction, and it's mauliable when digital. It's so rediculiously strange. I don't consider myself talented or creative in any way. Photography is the only thing that I see myself doing forever. It's this werid constant that I wouldn't be myself without. It just fills a hole - it's as simple and as difficult as that!
Sorry to get all existential on you, again.
JI: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
O*: I'm newly 20 years old - do you have any idea how many times I've had to answer this question?
I will be a single mom, in a high-rise New York apartment with an interracial baby. The apartment will have a million cats and a million plants, and I will also be a noted Jazz Singer/Curator/Performance Artist/Theatre Adminstrator/Poet. Pick one.
JI: Will you have a favourite amongst these cats?
O*: The interracial one - duh!
JI: What would be the perfect concert to attend?
O*: You know, I feel so lame in that I hate, actually HATE live music. I work occasionally at a bar, and I have to work only nights without live performances, just because it annoys me so much. But interestingly - jazz music in any form heals me. So, I guess in this case, the perfect concert would involve the ressurection of some of my favorite performers. I'm going to limit myself, and say - Chet Baker on Trumpet, Antia O'Day, Billie and Ella on vocals, Sachmo on sax, and various members of the Glenn Miller Orchesta circa 1949. It makes me too excited just thinking about it!
JI: Did jazz die in the 1950s?
O*: If jazz did die in the past, it would've been in the 60's, with the crazy influence of uber-pop, etc. But jazz didn't die, so that's beside the point. Jazz isn't something that can really cease to exist. It's like Abstract Painting, or knee-high boots. It's always there, and people will always love it, but only sometimes is it en vouge.
JI: What gives you hope for humanity's future?
O*: Ah, such an important question. What gives me hope, are the proud minorities. The people fighting for change, because they see it in themselves. The unique, the brilliant, the logical and the creative. These are the people I see inheriting the next generation, and that gives me hope. This is the generation of information and the internet. Of freedom of speech avaliable to most everyone, and even a small percentage of us are willing to just make change. The future terrifies and excites me. People aren't as impressionable as they used to be. Either we are well-informed, or apathetic. Although the latter stops a revolution of sorts from occuring, the former is the catalyst for something amazing. I can't wait.
JI: Is there any cure for apathy?
O*: Of course: proper education. And I don't mean necessarly in the instutitutionalized way, I mean just in the way of common sense. There are so many things going on in the world all the time. It's important to be informed to the best of your ability, be open to discussion and to changing your opinions, and to be rid of general ignorance, finally. Apathy, in the political sense, is killing democracy, and I stand by that. People must have the right knowledge of things that they might feel passionately enough to vote, or to even just sympathize with the rest of the world. It's a big, beautiful place, and it's all we know for sure. Too many of us take this life for granted.
JI: Is it impossible to inform the masses without having some sort of biased agenda?
O*: No,it doesn't have to be just one source informing the masses. It's the simple idea of spreading knowledge and gaining knowledge that we are missing. If people WANT to learn things about the world, they will search out what's true. People are too easily persuaded by Life After Death and Pornalicious Female Figures to notice the truth and reality of what's behind the glitter. I feel so bitter writing this. hah. Perhaps you've caught me at a bitter time in life.
JI: What are you looking forward to most in 2008?
O*: Flying cars, I think. If Back to the Future 2 is factually accurate, and I see no reason why it shouldn't be, we've only got 7 years to perfect the flying cars and sky-ways. Also self-fitting jackets and self-lacing shoes. Seriously, science nerds, get on this stuff. WE'RE ON A DEADLINE, HERE.
JI: Buddy decides to sell YT to you for a dollar. What's the first thing you change about the site?
O*: The PG13 rating of the site. There'd be a disclaimer when you join that you have to be over 18 years of age to join. This way, we can talk about dirty things, and not have to ban all our veteran members for having underage relationships. QuizTron and IAB are their own sites now, I don't know why they need to be included here. Think about it! No more pornocide. Porn and political debates live ajacent to eachother in these forums.
One can dream, can't they?
JI: You did join when you were a teenager though. How have you changed the most in that time?
O*: If I could go back in time and see myself in 2003, I'd punch myself in the face. I was such a pretentious little crap bag. hahaha. It's funny to say that - considering it was only 5 years ago, but that's when we become who we are. I've changed in every possible way, except for my social consious and fearless approach to life. The two things I actually liked about myself. But isn't it hilarious how we really do think we know everything at that age - and you'd hear older people say that all the time and scoff. Here I am, proving my idiot emo self wrong. Oh, so much bitterness.
JI: Any final words of advice to share with YT?
O*: I advise you to VOTE, to live life with an open mind, to laugh about everything, to love with your whole heart, to hug your friends, to experience everything, to document your thoughts, to avoid ignorance, to love your body, to respect yourself, and to constantly grow. That's all I've got for you.
Bannings This Week
Bannings: ripkurt715, rutledgegurl, mookiepoo, ohmybig (permanent), A_C_Jobim, Hemophagist (permanent), jdog7.
Link Section Link of the Week
Warantless Wiretapping
Excerpt: On Friday, December 16, 2005, in an article by James Risen and Eric Lichtblau, the New York Times published an article that it claimed to have held for one year at the request of the Whitehouse. The headline: “Bush Let’s U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts” was followed by multiple accusations that were slanted in typical New York Times fashion.
Unhappy? Do something.
Excerpt: A year ago I was a completely different person, I was shy, unhappy, and not living my life the way I wanted to. As a child I always wanted to be someone and do something really different but as an 18 year old, I was badly letting myself down.
