Questions of the Week

1. If a parent allows their child to become obese, is it tantamount to child abuse?
Added by: Dicarinella

2. Should people be allowed to sell their organs?
Added by: pankate

3. Do you think that the current legal system should (/would) still be applied if it were believed that free will did not exist?
Added by: Floor Demon

4. Is Scientology a religion or a business concept?
Added by: analyser

5. Do you "groom" your significant other?
Added by: anthropology

1. Which song by the Beatles are you?
Added by: rexsteelflex

2. 90's Action Heroes!
Added by: mike2223

3. What OS are you?
Added by: User.ID

4. What karate attack are you?
Added by: Mizu

5. What kind of Ancient Greek soldier would you have been?
Added by: gabcab

Funniest Comments of the Week

In a thread in which it was announced that former YTer Wafer was engaged:
LaBostella: Oh! I liked Wafer. He had poofy hair. I like poofy hair! Congrats!
Sammy: I don't remember wafer with poofy hair..I remember him with a buzz cut
Taintedmuse: I don't remember poofy hair either.
LaBostella: Then I must be thinking about someone else. In that case: I hated Wafer! He was rubbish! Arrrggghhh

In a debate on where an old joke was heard first (Australia, or elsewhere):
Cindy_: Maybe you're just young. I've heard that long before I had internet.
wilde.: Probably while you were on vacation to Australia, OLD LADY.
Cindy_: Are you kidding? I'm so old, I witnessed the formation of Australia! Ah, Pangea...the good old days.

In the news thread about PETA wanting to rename fish "seakittens" :
aldod: I'm looking forward to LOLfish.

In the failed Disney Trivia thread:
Explodo: Don't get me started in disney and sex. That mary poppins is obviously a closeted slut!
Rik_Khaos: Yeah, it doesn't even take a spoonful of sugar to make her go down.

Q: Are you a scientist?:
LegalizeIt: No, my sister's a chemist, but I'm a bus boy. Don't do drugs, kids.

Joke of the Week

What did the tampon say to the other tampon?

Nothing..........they are both stuck up bitches!

Member of the Week

The member of the week is CameronVance. A member since December 2002, Cam is always a ton of fun to talk to in threads. It's also his birthday this weekend. Congrats!

JoeInterview's Member Feature

This week's interview features Amadeus. This interview was conducted by travbowman.

JoeInterview: First off, how did you find YT?

Amadeus: I found YT from a friend who had a Quiztron account. She was taking a "Which Animal Are You?" quiz and I was interested, so I signed up under the name "snoopdawg." It wasn't until I began receiving PMs that I realized there was more.

JI: What would you say is the biggest reason you keep coming back for more?

A: The people who I've met while on YT, most definitely. I've made so many friends and met so many people who I'm closer to than I'd ever be to anyone in real life. YT lets you meet people who share common interests, beliefs, etc. If YT didn't have the forums, or the ability to send PM's or add people to your buddy list, I would have given up on this godforsaken site a LONG time ago.

JI: From snoopdawg to Amadeus...coincidence or is music a huge factor in your life?

A: Well, the main reason I changed from "snoopdawg" to "Amadeus" is because I was tired of all of the taunts and insults I received because of my username. When I made the Quiztron account, I was only making it as a way of taking quizzes, not interacting with people over the web; therefore, what I was known as didn't matter. Then, while stuck in the middle of an absolutely crazy journal in which people were tossing insults at me left and right, I decided right then and there that I HAD to change it. Thus, Amadeus was born.

And yes, music is a huge part of my life. I'm not too fond of rap or hip hop (no idea why I chose "snoopdawg" at all), but I've always loved the classical genre. My dad is a classical guitarist, so he introduced me to a whole lot of the classical that I listen to today. I'm also a pianist.

JI: What sort of music gets the most spin from you lately?

A: Lately, I've gotten into a lot of indie alternative rock. I generally like most genres, depending on my mood. The only types I don't typically enjoy are rap/hip-hop and country. It all depends how I'm feeling at the moment. I can be in a Landon Pigg mood one moment, and the next, I'm craving Vampire Weekend or Simon and Garfunkel. I live in Nashville, TN, where a lot of bands get their starts. My dad also likes to drag me to various concerts (mostly country rock) of his favorite music, which I sometimes enjoy. Others....eh.

I've learned about a lot of new music from fellow YTers I meet who share semi-similar music tastes.

JI: What's the best show you've seen live so far?

A: Hmm....I've been to a few that have just blown my mind. My first was Kelly Clarkson (meh, I was 9), then Jason Mraz, then Los Lonely Boys, then Jason Mraz again. The Los Lonely Boys show was absolutely AMAZING. They're one of those bands that sounds better live than on their CD's. At one point, both Henry and JoJo were both playing the same guitar! :D

I may be going to The Bravery concert in May, and that one will be my new favorite if my dad ever gets tickets. He waited to get The Killers tickets, and we learned our lesson after that. :P

A word to the wise, YT: If a band you like is coming to town or somewhere relatively near, DO NOT HESITATE to get tickets early! You'll experience a big sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize the only way to get tickets is for twice as much on eBay!

JI: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

A: In ten years? Let's see....I'll be 23-24. Fresh out of college, sharing an apartment with megaproto123, his friend, and my friend. :P

Well, seriously? I hope to major in some sort of art in college, whether it's writing, graphic design or photography. I've always loved art; it's one of my passions. It's definitely something I'd love to carry with me throughout the rest of my life. Then again, there's always the cozy cardboard box...

JI: When did you start getting into photography?

A: Well, I remember the first digital camera we ever got...it was one of those humongous silver Kodaks that no one ever uses anymore. I loved fooling around with it, taking pictures of random household objects and seeing them on the computer screen. It was always fun for me. It wasn't until my dad had a look at the number of pictures I was taking daily that he decided it was time for me to get my own camera.

It was a Kodak as well, an EasyShare CX7430. Within 2 hours of getting it, I dropped it on the pavement and the lens cracked. I lived in Upstate NY for a while, and there are numerous beautiful waterfalls and gorges there, which provided amazing backgrounds for my photographs.

When my parents realized how interested I was in photography and the quality of my pictures, I received a Canon Rebel in December '07. It was my only Christmas gift, but an amazing one at that. Photography is just a fascinating concept to me. Capturing life in one press of a button is just...incredible.

I'm the one at social events who's always taking pictures, the one who people rely on to have some documentation of special nights. My parents now worry that I'm "living my life behind the lens," and not participating fully in life, but I'm still attempting to convince them that this isn't the case...I'm just DOCUMENTING it. :P

JI: Whose photography do you really enjoy looking at?

A: Professionally, I love Ansel Adams' work. It's so simple, yet so complex at the same time. The fact that his are all landscapes eventually becomes a bit boring, because I love taking close-up shots myself. And of course, Andy Warhol. :) Gotta love him.

JI: What's the best way to spend a weekend?

A: For me, the best way is sleeping until noon or later, waking up groggy, stumbling downstairs for breakfast, realizing that it's really lunchtime instead, and spending your time doing whatever you please. My mom likes me do get homework done early on the weekends, but that's just ridiculous to me. Weekends are made for relaxing!

My dad likes for us to go for "Family Walks," with the dog, and that's fun sometimes, but not when it's blisteringly hot or below zero. He's a big nature person, so he likes to get out and take hikes and explore stuff on the weekends.

JI: Other than homework nagging and family walks, what's your relationship with your parents like?

A: Well, I used to be EXTREMELY close to my parents. I'm an only child, so I got all of their attention, and it was usually good attention. They were always strict when I was little, and had high expectations which I had no trouble meeting easily.

Lately, though, I've found myself growing less close to them. It could be teenage/puberty stuff, or it could be from the fact that I'm finally discovering exactly WHO I am, and learning that I have a right to not be pushed around by them. I've learned for myself that their expectations are ridiculously high, and that I might not be able to reach all of them anymore like I used to.

They, too, have had some trouble coming to their senses and realizing that I'm not perfect, and never will be, but that I'm truly trying my hardest. My mom and I are a lot different. Most of YT, from what I've told them and what they've inferred by themselves, don't like her. And I'm not liking her much, either. She's the one with the REALLY high expectations. She's extremely organized, and always wants a plan, a schedule, etc.

I'm definitely more like my dad. We both procrastinate, waste time, and have right-side dominant brains. :P We just think alike, and that's what's really brought me closer to him in the past year or so.

JI: What's the best thing about being an only child?

A: Well, it has its pros and its cons. For one, there aren't any hand-me-downs, you get all the attention of your parents, and no older or younger siblings to annoy you. Some of those same reasons are why I hate it, though. I get lonely really easily, especially when my family takes vacations and long trips away from home, so it would be nice to have someone to talk to during those times. Sometimes I wish I had an older sibling, a brother. Someone I could look up to, someone who could be protective of me. I wouldn't want a younger sibling, though. Other times, I want a twin. Brother, not sister.

I have vague memories of my parents trying to have another child after me. My mom had a bum uterus and my dad's sperm was screwed up or something, so it was really hard for them. I remember my dad giving my mom shots and me putting the Band-Aid on her.

JI: What's your most prized possession and why?

A: Hmm. Hard question. I keep a box on my desk of all things that are important to me. All of the things that I'd want to take with me in the event of an emergency...silly things, really. They just hold memories that I'd like to remember.

My most prized possession at the moment, though, would probably have to be my first love note. :) I feel so shallow for thinking that's the best object I own, but I like the reassurance. Most people don't think about cheesy love notes like I do (especially ones that just say "Kate - you might not love me but I love you. - NP"), and I know that childish love and infatuation is silly, but I still treasure it.

Whenever I'm feeling crappy, I just take out the worn yellow Post-it and look at his sloppy cursive writing, and I feel better.

JI: What are you most looking forward to in '09?

A: Probably high school. It's going to be a humongous change, and I'll have more responsibilities, important decisions, and just scariness in general. But just being able to say, "I'm in high school," or even, "I survived middle school," is an accomplishment.

JI: What's the most difficult thing about being a teen in America in 09?

A: I'm doing a controversial issues project for school on teenage pregnancy and the distribution of birth control in high schools, and judging from the statistics I gathered, teen pregnancy and dropout rates are increasing yearly.

If the media keeps going on the way it is (putting out shows like The Secret Life of the American Teenager, in which teen pregnancy is a potent factor), then things are going to keep changing. There will be more failure to use common sense and birth control, and the rates for underage, unmarried mothers will increase (however, it is also arguable that the rates will decrease due to more awareness about the dangers of teenage pregnancy).

It's difficult for some teenagers (girls, in particular) to exist in this time period and make responsible decisions. Living as a high-schooler in 2009 will require common sense and the responsibility to make good decisions.

JI: So where do we start on cutting the teen pregnancy rate?

A: Well, there isn't a whole lot that can be done. Maybe sex education (this, however, could backfire and cause teens to become even MORE interested in sex) about the dangers of pregnancy and STDs. Distributing condoms, maybe...that still doesn't guarantee that teens will use them. Encouraging abstinence, even (HAH, fat chance that'll work :P), and parental involvement. Of course I sound like a huge hypocrite there.

Again, there's not much that can be done; teenagers (of course) have minds of their own.

JI: What's a hidden talent of yours that very few on YT know about?

A: I don't have very many hidden "talents," per se, but there are quite a few strange things about me that a lot of people don't know.

JI: Name some that YTers might find interesting.

A: Well, my third toe on my left foot is crooked due to an accident concerning my grandfather and his love of tickling. I really cannot stand buttons, or any round things for that matter. I am an extremely picky eater, and when I say extremely, I mean EXTREMELY. I'm 5'7", and have abnormally bushy eyebrows (thanks to Dad). I love the smell of newspaper, and hate the smell of most flowers. I name inanimate objects, such as my electronics, which are named as such:

iPod - Sir Galahad

Flash Drive #1 - King Arthur

Flash Drive #2 - Sir Lancelot

Flash Drive #3 - Sir Robin

Laptop - Sir Bedevere / Joe

Camera - Felix

I like to dip my pizza in ranch dressing. I collect wine corks (my parents are NOT alcoholics, they're just wine fanatics). My goal is to go to over 250 concerts in my lifetime.

JI: Why did the laptop get lucky enough to end up with two names?

A: Welllllllllll. Long story. :P In a nutshell:

As much of YouThink knows, I had a relationship with another YTer. We decided to name our computers after each other, but things happened and when it didn't end well, we changed the names.

JI: You had a relationship with a YTer named Mr Belvedere?

A: Oh, yes. I found his tunic oh-so sexy.

JI: If you could meet any three YTers anywhere you wanted, who would you meet and where would it be?

A: 1. SovietGuy - I don't know where yet, but we have a bunch of plans (like making sandwiches and then catapulting them at random bypassers, getting extremely drunk, and watching V for Vendetta and Monty Python and the Holy Grail).

2. Macarena. - We have so much in common, it's scary. We actually plan to have a huge YT gathering sometime.

3. Giles_Momma - He's my YT husband and I can't NOT meet him. We'd probably randomly run into each other sometime, and be all, "WAITAMINUTE, I KNOW YOU!!!"

Also, if there could be a 4th, I'd pick hannah_h and we'd go to IHOP.

JI: Who outside of immediate family has been the biggest influence for you in life so far?

A: Hmm, difficult question. Sometimes just random people I meet for a short period of time have an influence on me; maybe their outlook of life (which can sometimes be determined by their actions), actions, and just the way that they live can be inspiring.

Two people who I really love are my piano teacher and my math tutor. My piano teacher is so sweet; she has a 7th grade daughter, and is exactly the kind of mom who I'd want to be, should I ever become a mother. She doesn't have the best financial situation, and she and her daughter don't have the BEST relationship, and sometimes she goes off on a rant about destiny and hope and stuff like that, but she's really a good person. The ways that she looks at life are inspiring.

My math tutor is also a really great guy; he's also pretty crunched for cash and time, but being quiet and shy, when he actually does say something, it's genius.

JI: Do you have a parting shot to share with your fellow YTers?

A: Ne teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum.

This week's article is titled 'Girl attempts suicide to save her father', and the thread was posted by angeleyesgr.

This week's link is titled 'Little boy stoned on laughing gas', and the link was posted by indysara.

Best Avatar of the Week	Best Profile Design of the Week
falconwing	"Artistically Old School" by dots

Featured Article of the Week

English class and I do not mix
Excerpt: After our English class was stranded in a remote Canadian lake (oh no, bears!), I strived to create a direct democracy centered on the preservation of the commune. Every person will (well, almost everyone) will have a say in the creation of rules in the society we create.

Written by emoafterall

Check it all out at YouThink.com!